Benjamin Maffa
Benjamin, a senior at Brandeis, decided to study English because he is exhilarated by the process of writing and enjoys generating a creative lens in making an argument—perhaps one that nobody has made before. He loves that English covers a lot of topics, from nature to world tragedies, and he appreciates that the subject allows him to explore film, theory, and unique subjects such as screenwriting for television. Benjamin is excited to embark on his senior thesis and explore “Articulation”—an investigation of how humans communicate through both art and speaking in everyday life, and how it may be more influential than the subject matter we absorb ourselves in.
Benjamin’s favorite English class he has taken at Brandeis is “Environmental Literature in an Age of Extinction.” In this class, he was able to read pieces including Walden and Silent Spring that brought him peace because they reminded him that there are things bigger than people. Regularly, he reads poetry by Mary Oliver, and he frequently rereads her book Felicity. A book that he would recommend to other English majors is Kudos by Rachel Cusk.
In the future, Benjamin hopes to publish a self-help book and to incorporate his use of language into his career as a hip-hop songwriter. In addition to his writing hobby, he is a passionate tennis player!