Bane of the Week

Even when it is actually wise, conventional wisdom is oppressive when misplaced, because on these occasions it interdicts further analysis and thought. Repeating it in such instances, is one of the main forms of bullying which exist in academia. Condescension is a principal attribute of this form of bullying. Some of the more famous pieces … More Bane of the Week

Films

If the globalized labor market is as good for people as its advocates claim, then why must films about globalized workers be shot on the sly? Films I would like to see include H-2 Worker, on the Florida cane fields, Mardi Gras: Made in China, on the conditions in which Mardi Gras beads are fabricated, … More Films

Blackwater

Reading for today is Jeremy Scahill’s work in The Nation on Blackwater USA, the mercenaries we hire, Nezua on the plight of immigrant children stranded after a March 6 raid, and Ellen Simon’s review of Robert I. Sutton’s book on workplace bullies. This was recommended by a friend, and it sounds to me good but … More Blackwater

L’hasard objectif

One of the great pleasures of life near a university campus is falling into conversation by chance with a random intellect in another field. This almost never happens here. This afternoon, to enjoy the spring sunshine at the end of a difficult week in which, nevertheless, much of value has been accomplished, I went to … More L’hasard objectif

Rosario Ferré

Today in one class we discussed La autenticidad de la mujer en el arte, the essay by Rosario Ferré on writing as a woman. I used to find this piece flat, but today I found it illuminating. I learned from the discussion that none of the students had been raised to believe women must make … More Rosario Ferré