This abstract has 567 words and in 11 point fits the page almost exactly. I am tired of it because it is due in ten days — ten days in which I must accomplish much else — and because time spent fiddling with it is time not spent on the article. I am thinking of … More El abstracto interminable
Someone said in print that the atmosphere of hiddenness in María fairly begs the reader to analyze it. I note that the only white women in this novel are Efraín’s blood relatives — to the extent that they are white. To what extent does this matter or not, or rather how does it matter, given … More Eminently interpretable
I had a conversation with a dean — a dean! of a unit in another school at the university who said the entire place is a hostile working environment. It is a good time to be studying the rhetoric of the Maréchal because we are Vichy State. Axé.
This is another deliberately provocative post. From a flyer just received: This will allow for the sharing of results stemming from this experience, and to discuss a possible adaptation to this model to Louisiana’s reality in the context of an inclusive and united Francophonie, and the necessity to invent new forms of cooperation. [emphasis added] … More On Louisiana exceptionalism and united Francophonie
I think I might be breaking up with Marc Bousquet. He is right about how the university works. The Los Angeles Times even quoted me making many of the same points, thirty years ago when we were founding what is now this union. But at the current crossroads it may be that adjuncts are not … More Further heresy
So I was reelected by a landslide to that position, and my candidate for co-chair lost by a 3% margin. This puts me in a toxic situation for the next two years given the counterpart with whom I have been saddled and given that a majority of the committee we serve voted for that person. … More The upshot
This was supposed to be an abstract for a conference, but it might be turning into the article already. I may have hit upon a good writing strategy: say I am writing an abstract for a longer piece. This is better than outlining or storyboarding, which I never really liked. I usually write from an agenda … More The darker side of mestizaje: a writing group post
This is apparently the current meme. Meanwhile I railed against negativity in the writing group today. I have never been an adjunct so I speak from “privilege” but believe me when I tell you I have been through more kinds of academic hell than most people still left standing. In particular I know what it … More Life after tenure
Myths professors live by. Read, then act. Axé.
…more of my bad style. I do not get to move a millimeter from here this summer, which is why I must place myself on virtual immersion. Read a lot in Spanish and Portuguese and also listen to people whose style I like, talking. Los proyectos de identidad mestizos no son exclusivamente latinoamericanos. Desde el … More Writing du jour
coldhearted scientist وداد 