coldhearted scientist وداد

Exceptionalism, nationalism, fascism, totalitarianism, identity politics, and authoritarian discourse

21/02/2013

This is what I wrote on these matters in a post yesterday: What is it about the Freyre apologists? 1. Arrogance: they are an enlightened elite and everyone else is unsubtle. 2. Argument by authority: because of their identity they have special knowledge nobody else can have. 3. Apologetics: they have excuses for everything; only they … More Exceptionalism, nationalism, fascism, totalitarianism, identity politics, and authoritarian discourse

La rebelión de las masas

21/02/2013

My classes are brilliant today because I am so well prepared and because I decided to be in a good mood — and also because I am a really good lecturer and discussion leader. The reason I am so well prepared is that I am prepared specifically, but also generally, based on years of study … More La rebelión de las masas

What I mean, #3

21/02/2013

Once again, I like The Compleat Academic because it is realistic and does not condescend. It does not assume incompetence, and it does not recommend fear. If I were a linguist I would you go through what is mostly said to graduate students and assistant professors and study the vocabulary. It is about how you … More What I mean, #3

Further appreciation for the Compleat Academic

21/02/2013

One of the things I like about this book is that it says teaching takes time, especially with new courses. It tells new faculty not to fault themselves if all their time is going to teaching. Then it tells you how to take research time back. This is realistic. Before I started quailing to the … More Further appreciation for the Compleat Academic

A teaching activity I do not think I should be doing

21/02/2013

I am taking the readings and marking them up in red — a sentence in English to summarize the point of each paragraph. I am also hyperlinking the references to famous people and events the students will not have heard of to definitions and encyclopedia entries. I am PDFing these documents and loading them up … More A teaching activity I do not think I should be doing

Belle ville du jour

21/02/2013

Santa Barbara, California, from Stearns Wharf yesterday. One of the things the Brazilians kept telling me was that I had never seen an ocean or a palm tree, but I had gotten there from here. It is where I learned Portuguese, in fact. Axé.

On authoritarian behavior

21/02/2013

What is is about the Freyre apologists? 1. Arrogance: they think they are an enlightened elite and everyone else is unsubtle. 2. Argument by authority: they are exceptionalists, and because of their identity they have special knowledge nobody else can have. 3. Apologetics: they have excuses for everything. 4. Projection, projective identification, or something like these: “You are an X, therefore you … More On authoritarian behavior

Criticism of racial formation theory

20/02/2013

I like formation theory, but it is apparently criticized from the point of view of systemic racism theory. Denise da Silva is not satisfied with it because, she says, it still treats race as a thing even though the intention is the opposite. Faegin’s work looks good. He is one of my tribe: he says … More Criticism of racial formation theory

Balboa, or stout Cortez

20/02/2013

A friend back home took this picture today, and I would like to be meditating like that man. In winter the ocean looks golden when the sun is low. Here is Chapman’s Homer, upon looking into which Keats felt like Balboa or as he said, stout Cortez upon first staring at the Pacific, “Silent, upon … More Balboa, or stout Cortez

Have you seen this book?

20/02/2013

My culture course is not as challenging as the version of it being given by the Spanish Professor, but the students are still having a hard time. That is probably because, as was revealed today in a study, a majority of courses at my institution lack sufficient rigor. My course imitates a course given at … More Have you seen this book?

Writing in Memory of Paulo Freire