What is a scholar?

Et voilà, now we know. Once again, that is what I would have said, at eleven, seventeen, twenty-four, thirty-one, until I met professors. Namely, assistant professors who had been protégés of famous people at famous schools, and had jobs for this reason. Also, associate and full professors who had attained these ranks by pleasing the … More What is a scholar?

On why it is difficult for us to feel relatively whole and to get things done in a normal fashion

My colleague says it is a uniquely authoritarian institution in a highly authoritarian culture and region. She compares it to Mexico in the 1820s but after reading an article about Argentine culture under J.M. Rosas as cruel and terrifying I am starting to wonder whether we are really 1840s Argentina. “Just get a book, dear.” … More On why it is difficult for us to feel relatively whole and to get things done in a normal fashion

One more insight about the assumptions in standard academic advice

1. It assumes your primary goals in life are suburban, and are house-driven rather than field-driven or research-driven. 2. It either assumes you are so interested in your work that you will put up with anything, anything at all, in order to do it, OR that you are in fact not interested in it and … More One more insight about the assumptions in standard academic advice

Insight Three

I never got comfortable teaching certain kinds of classes for the same kind of reason as some people, on purpose, do not learn to type: they do not want it to be their destiny. It would be easier if I got comfortable anyway. How to do this is the question, how to make the person … More Insight Three