Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Have you ever felt pressure to propose a research topic that sounds serious and important? It is valuable to focus on themes whose societal impact and relevance are immediately clear. However, topics that may appear more frivolous can also yield meaningful results. In this video, Sonali Kulkarni argues that academics should not be afraid to study subjects that might seem expendable. Research into “fun” or popular literature, for example, can produce insights that can help academics to address issues such as the reading crisis.
Have you ever felt pressure to propose a research topic that sounds serious and important? It is valuable to focus on themes whose societal impact and relevance are immediately clear. However, topics that may appear more frivolous can also yield meaningful results. In this video, Sonali Kulkarni argues that academics should not be afraid to study subjects that might seem expendable. Research into “fun” or popular literature, for example, can produce insights that can help academics to address issues such as the reading crisis.
