It has been three weeks since the beginning of the Laidlaw research summer. It means we are already halfway through! Scary. To briefly introduce you to my research project, I am working on 'Retelling Medieval Tales: Storytelling and the Global Middle Ages' with Dr Victoria Turner at the University of St Andrews. My role involves reading two English translations of medieval Spanish chivalric story 'Los Siete Infantes de Lara' and analysing the depiction of Moors in the literature. The older version is from 'Estoria de España', created in the 13th century, while the newer version is from 'Crónica de 1344,' translated from Portuguese. With a time gap of approximately 100 years, the story was modified in the latter version, incorporating more detailed and developed character depictions, presumably due to the historical context in Iberia. Comparing the two versions has been interesting because the modifications were driven by political motivations. I will delve into the detailed comparison in my research essay, so here, I would like to record my research experience and thoughts at the halfway point of the Laidlaw summer.

Reading Full-Time? Or Just Reading?

 So, what exactly does my research entail? As you might be able to tell from the title, my 9-5 work consists of 'just reading.' Yes, I have been reading all day, every day, and that is my research. A great friend of mine, Ele, who does a STEM Laidlaw project, asked me, ‘But what are you going to do after reading your books?’ [1] I replied, ‘I am going to read something else.’ Despite my effort to sound reasonably confident, I have to admit that I was not entirely confident about my research method, especially when compared to STEM Scholars who go to the lab every day and conduct 'actual research.' I know my research does not involve either microscope or telescope, but it would feel more like research if I were conducting experiments. However, my research method solely involves reading. The analysis of literature cannot begin until I finish reading the books, and even afterward, I reread the text, compare, and explore secondary sources to learn what other scholars have said. Reflecting on the conversation with the friend, I re-evaluated my research method and considered how I can contribute to the production of knowledge.

'Just Reading' — Can It Be Difficult?

I addressed the issue of 'just reading' within the Laidlaw community. Fortunately, some of my fellow humanities Scholars reassured me that reading all day was acceptable as long as I approached it mindfully. Moreover, other Scholars confirmed that even 'just reading' can be challenging. Although reading full-time may sound like a dream for bookworms, it has been difficult. However, if I cannot even manage the seemingly simple task of reading, my research would collapse. So, I sought reading tips from my fellow Scholar and great friend, Carlota. She suggested, ‘Imagine the picture of the story. Not you reading words, but the scene that the words describe.’ [2] Since she shared this tip with me, I have adapted it, and it has improved my research process.

Action and Learning Set (ALS): Am I Contributing to My Supervisor?

However, my main concern regarding 'just reading' was whether my research would contribute to my supervisor's work. As a researcher on a pre-defined project, it is essential to align my work with my supervisor's research. After all, I didn't want to be unhelpful by pursuing something completely unrelated. I addressed this concern in the Action and Learning Set (ALS). I mentioned that my topic could easily deviate from my supervisor's research, and I was uncertain about how to contribute effectively. Fortunately, I received some great advice from my ALS group and fellow Scholars. Allow me to share some of the insights here.

Unlike other famous foreign literature, 'Los Siete Infantes de Lara' is significantly understudied in the English-speaking world. Therefore, there are not many secondary sources available, and even accessing translations of the original stories has proven challenging. Although the lack of sufficient resources makes the research more difficult, it also means that my publication about the legend in English becomes one of the few available sources for English speakers. By intensely studying this under-researched literature for six weeks, I can become a ‘mini-expert’ in the field. [3] It may not be a story my supervisor has ever read, but I can take charge of a small 'branch' of my supervisor's research and provide insights into topics she may not be familiar with. If my supervisor's project is the headquarters of the research, I can aim to be a 'branch' responsible for exploring different regions. Studying medieval Spanish literature allows me to do so by adding different perspectives from various parts of the world.

How Can I Contribute to Knowledge?

Before the ALS, I was uncertain about my research direction and my research capabilities. After all, what could I produce as a researcher? I don't conduct experiments or surveys; I am simply reading. The only output I can produce is my analysis. As a researcher, my goal is to contribute something new to the existing body of knowledge. I want to produce something meaningful and communicate with the world through my findings and analysis. However, I can't deny that it sometimes feels trivial—a contribution so small that it feels almost invisible. Yet, I remembered a metaphor used by Prof. Kishan Dholakia in his lecture. If knowledge is a circle, a researcher's work is like poking the circle of knowledge from the inside, hoping to expand it even just a little bit. [4] As a researcher, you do not have to expand the circle only by yourself. It is okay to poke only just a little bit, and other researchers would do the same. With the collective effort of researchers attempting to expand the circle of knowledge, the circle expands. One tiny finding leads to another, and the accumulation of such findings eventually results in a great discovery. When I started viewing the research process this way, I felt reassured. In the limited time of six weeks, making a ground-breaking discovery might be challenging. However, even small findings and the act of gathering information from around the world can contribute to broader knowledge and be helpful not only to my supervisor but also to other scholars studying the literature. It is interesting that research is like a relay. You can only play a certain part in a race, but no matter how small your part is, your part matters. My part is a continuation of previous research that has been done, and future research will be the continuation of the research I am currently undertaking So, no matter how small my research output is, I hope it contributes to expanding knowledge, even if only to a small extent. I hope my research provokes other people to explore this legend further since the story is fascinating yet understudied. I am grateful to be part of the relay of academia and the expansion of knowledge. I am truly thankful for the Laidlaw programme, which provides me with the opportunity to be a part of knowledge production, and I intend to make the most of this opportunity.

Lastly…

One final thing that I learned from my friend Oliver in ALS: the Laidlaw research project is a valuable opportunity in a way that I can research WHATEVER topic I am interested in. Even if I become a researcher in the future, the topic I can research will probably be constrained by the resources and funding available. [5] So now as a Laidlaw Scholar, I would like to appreciate the experience of pursuing the topic I am absolutely passionate about.

Acknowledgement

I would like to demonstrate special appreciation to my supervisor Dr Victoria Turner for offering me kind support. I would also like to thank Lord Laidlaw and the foundation for this great opportunity. Finally, I would like to thank everyone in the St Andrews Laidlaw cohort 2023 for being the most supporting colleagues and friends.

Reference:

[1] Elena Rico Hernando [https://laidlawscholars.network/users/elena-rico-hernando]

[2] Carlota Bloch Varela [https://laidlawscholars.network/users/carlota-bloch-varela]

[3] Professor Kishan Dholakia

[4] Noura McNelis Mahmoud [https://laidlawscholars.network/users/noura-mcnelis-mahmoud]

[5] Oliver Righton [https://laidlawscholars.network/users/oliver-righton]