Well, more than anything it sounds like you had a good teacher. I think the essence of this experience is possible with any material, provided the teacher is g

Well, more than anything it sounds like you had a good teacher. I think the essence of this experience is possible with any material, provided the teacher is good. I mean, your description almost reads like the kind of martial arts training you see in movies. (This is not a bad thing.) But, I'll agree that it's more likely in the humanities, in a small class, with a passionate teacher. The advisor/advisee relationship in grad school seems like a great place for it, in an ideal world.