Friday, March 25, 2011

So You Want to Get a PhD in the Humanities

Funny and depressing video shared by another grad student at the conference.  :)

The Innovative Critical Essay: Hybrid-Form as a New Direction for Cultural Studies Scholarship: A Roundtable

“Hybrid essays”

Ames Hawkins

The form of the academic essay is often taken for granted—a linear, four step process:
1) make an observation
2) define the terms
3) provide examples
4) discuss the relationship

The prose employs a particular discourse, reasserting a particular discourse. Ames proposes that cultural studies should work beyond the rhetorics of academic convention. This new form of writing is called the critical hybrid essay.

One example given by Ames includes narrative prose, poetry and lyric, drawing upon a previous more traditionally academic work. Another example, “Manifesting New Media Writerly Processes One Really Bad Flash Piece at a Time,” Ames utilized digital media, using ones and zeroes (binary) to consider queering language. In particular, the linear is abandoned. Footnotes become a space for prose commenting on an email above.

Ames further looks at the forms of writing when looking to write a memoir about her father as he was dying from AIDS. In particular, zie looked at the idea of love letters and Gemara. Zie took the envelope from the first letter from hir mother to hir father, and surrounded it with commentary and commentary on commentary.


Arielle Greenberg

Coming from the background of an MFA in poetry, focusing much more on form. She speaks to the ways in which college and college writing practices work to limit the ways in which students can write. She cites Susan Sontag and Joan Didion, who write beyond a traditional academic audience.

What does it mean to be a scholarly writer versus a creative writer?

In particular, the fine arts consider how form drives content, as opposed to the taken-for-granted nature of traditional academic writing.

Arielle has recently (Birth/Work- poletics) worked on a transgenre, collaborative, nonlinear writing piece, drawing out from an original thought seed. The piece itself, she explains, should not be linear because it speaks to a nonlinear issue- home birth.

She read from a book called Girlesque, for which she wrote one of the two introduction. The piece speaks to the idea of girlhood as something not to be taken seriously, invoking a voice of the silly, in your face, and generally ignored. Like girlhood, cultural studies is seen as silly and frivolous, and thus we should not be pulled or draw ourselves intentionally toward traditionally, serious writing forms.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

“Visual Geographies: Ways of Embodied Looking and Urban Representation”

“Visual Geographies: Ways of Embodied Looking and Urban Representation”

Representations of Trauma, Memories, & Identities: A Visual Negotiation for History, Territory, and Progress it Northern Irish Cities
-Alexis Buckley

This presentation considered violent conflict depicted through murals and the politics surrounding murals in Northern Ireland. Alexis spoke to the seeming disconnect between peace talks and positivity surrounding these relations in the media and broader discourse as opposed to on-the-ground conflict in Irish and British Ireland communities. There is a desire to talk about these issues, such as the painting over of paramilitary mural with “peace-devoted” murals, that is addressed somewhat in the murals.

The politics of these murals occur at two levels, the painting of murals and the removal of and painting over of murals, either sponsored by the government or through “paint bombing”. Whereas the original painting of murals speaks to issues surrounding violence and corruption that might be silenced in other ways, the painting over of murals is like a secondary silencing—the issues cannot be spoken in traditional ways, nor addressed through arts-making. “There are so many people who just want to be heard in this post-conflict conversation,” Alexis explained.

For example, the story of shared histories and conflict/violence is both addressed and given an opportunity to be spoken by the presence of these murals: “I know he [Ramond McCarthy] killed my cousin Walked right up and shot him on his front steps. (long pause- We used to play together as children. He was our friend.”

*Alexis wanted me to emphasize that these are individual opinions expressed, such as the view of McCarthy as a “murderer.”



The Politics of Homemaking: Black Women Transforming Politics in Newark, New Jersey
-Zenzele Isoke

Talking about the stories of Black women in Newark, New Jersey. How can we get beyond the rhetoric surrounding Newark--- a dystopic image of gentrification, deindustrialization, and chronic Black unemployment?

Zenzele created a portrait of Black feminist subjectivity, talking with folks from 20 to 70 years old in various locations and contexts. She came into contact with many of these women through gender justice and anti-violence organizations.

“Politics of homemaking” as a politics of resistance within the so-called private sphere. These women considered and developed what they meant by “identity,” rather than drawing upon traditional definitions. It is a politics of not forgetting and not looking away.

Three distinction of homemaking:
1) Politics of creating living history of resistance- Creating and participating in community resistance that consider Black history and engage in community activism.
2) Politics of reclamation- A politics of cultural and racial history–reclaiming Black cultural spaces in the city. Telling the story of Black local resistance. Reviving counter-narratives of Black activism.
3) Politics of selling in- Dedicating community and public life to the reclamation and uplifting of the city. Reveal and share these Black histories.

Zenzele told stories of women in the Central Ward, a predominantly Black district of Newark. These women talk about grappling with the histories of oppression difficulties surviving and educating, and engaging in community activism. In these stories, trauma is turned into action. Neo-slave narratives are transformed by these women into stories of empowering the Black woman in Newark through politics, reclamation, and public criticism.

In her research, Zenzele works to reconstruct Black women subjectivities through spacial geographies. The complexities of these women’s special stories were both therapeutic and disturbing, showing dire economic and social circumstances but also active spacial activism.


*Zenzele asks that feedback be sent to her.  I'm not posting her email here, but it should be pretty easy to find online :)

Free Breakfast!

Alright, Cultural Studies Association Conference program makers.  You forgot to include the most important aspect of the Conference-- free breakfast.  I just had a delicious cheesy Einstein Bros bagel and two cups of coffee.  Why? Because I am a dope, and misled us around downtown Chicago for a bit but it turned out fine because we got exercise galore and fresh air (Times Square).  Anyway, we missed the first session, but are going to check out the book and journal exhibits.

Also found out there will be free breakfast, lunch, and (except today) dinner.  Hurrah!

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

All That Jazz?

So, downtown Chicago hasn't exactly endeared itself to me yet.  Of course, I only got off the train about an hour and a half ago.  Going to hope that things are better the next three days, though I won't actually have any opportunity to sight-see until Sunday.  On a related note, how the devil are you supposed to spell sightsee?  Sight see?  Sitesee?  Site see?  Sight-see?

So, after the two hour late start (we got delayed another hour in the runway), I finally got to O'Hare Airport.  They have these fancy automatic toilet seat cover put-on-er things.  ...  Most people had layovers or stayed with the plane on to Boston, so there were only like twenty of us waiting for our luggage at the baggage carousel.  That part went quick at least.

I took the L train to my stop.  It took probably an hour, but it was a nice opportunity to stand.  I also saw a guy who looked a lot like Darren Cris from A Very Potter Musical and Glee.  I really hope it wasn't him though, 'cause this guy was kind of an ass.  Very handsome, but not handsome enough to be an ass.  Tsk.

But I got a bit lost after getting off at my stop.  I came out the wrong exit >.< genius!  And it was raining and pretty cold.  So I was not happy to be lost.  And I had to keep putting up my "don't fuck with me" facade because I was scared of getting all my stuff stolen. 

Eventually got directions from a drug dealer.  Didn't know he was at the time, but someone came and got what looked to be some crack right after he talked to me.  No judgment.  Still though, there were cops everywhere, so that dude's got some serious balls.

Then I finally got to the Travelodge, and the guy at the front said I'd have to show used to reserve/pre-pay for the room.  But my mom paid O.o  so he said I'd have to get her to fax him a copy of it and all this other stuff.  Good thing my mom is clever- she suggested I just pay with my card.  He had no problem with that- phew!

Now I am all unpacked and a bit rested.  I think I will go try the Thai and sushi place downstairs (Thai Spoon).  Hm, 3 out of 5 stars.  Not great.  But we'll see.  I am not picky.

Airport

So, I am on my way to Chicago for the Cultural Studies Association Conference.  Well, not on my way actually.  Sitting in the airport.

Apparently, there is heavy lightning in Chicago (the Weather Channel says it may snow there tonight O.o).  Anyway, it sounds as though an earlier flight (at 6 versus mine at 8:40am) also got delayed, and a lot of folks switched over to this one.  Our flight just got delayed to 9:30.  I don't mind waiting the extra hour or so, but I am a bit worried that the weather in Chicago will be so bad that I can't fly in today.  And the conference is tomorrow!  I present on Friday with D, so I guess it wouldn't be the end of the world not making it today, though quite annoying.  I just hope I can get there-- have been so excited about visiting Chicago and attending the wonderful conference!

So, that's out of the way.  Now, let's chat about the airport.

I didn't think security was too bad.  Although, I did get in the shortest line and it took the most time.  The x-ray lady kept making people open their bags because she either couldn't see well enough or there was something that looked suspicious.  Everyone I saw got their bags opened, except me!  Hurrah for not being suspicious or carrying anything that looks suspicious in an x-ray.

Also, I noticed that the bathrooms are super ADA compliant.  Which made me quite happy ^_^  The soap dispensers, sinks, and such were much lower than the "usual"/ableist bathroom model.  So while I had to stoop a bit to get soap, I was pretty durned happy.  Although there was only one wheelchair accessible stall in a pretty gigantic bathroom.  Would have liked to see two!

What else?  There is free WiFi in the airport...  That's all I got >.<

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Burnt Out

Well, today I got a gigantic envelope from the UW.  I thought it was from Comp Lit, and the thickness implied acceptance.  Actually, it was just an envelope stuffed with the disability resources newsletter.

It is a bit draining to get your hopes up for a few moments then see them crash on down.

Still have five programs to hear back from, but since I've got to do responses by April 15, I'm getting pretty on edge (wrote "edgy" first, but then realized that meant something else...).  I got a financial aid offer from SFSU, but haven't actually got accepted there.  I looked it up, and I guess financial aid is pretty separate from admissions, so it doesn't mean anything.  So that was an anti-climax as well.

UCSD's TA application deadline got bumped up to the last week in April.  Which means I'd better get started drafting my cover letter.  Even though I may not go there.  I guess it'll be good to have something to draw on anyway.

A bit down today. 

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

And now... a tap dance

(a rant)

May I just say, just put it out there, that I happen to have some experience as a community college student, 4-year college undergrad, and graduate student.  I've been all three!  So don't you get all bitchy but smiley with me, pretending you know the first thing about conversations going on among the grad students on campus or grad life in general as you go about your undergrad education.

I explained how most grad students are working at least 20 hours a week (with many working full-time), while raising kids and attending class.  She said that undergrads do this too.  But the POINT is that grad work is like undergrad work on crack.  For every course paper, you are expected to research- and that don't mean just 3-5 articles that may or may not come from a peer-reviewed source.  That means BOOKS, chica. 

Plus, you are working with folks that are eventually going to be determining whether or not you graduate.  If you turn in a lame ass term paper, is it really going to lead to graduation?  Well, probably you could pull through even with crappy papers, but it sure as hell doesn't help your portfolio/thesis review.

Then there is that long-term grad project (portfolio, capstone, thesis) that you have to work on outside of class.  So you spent 8.5 hrs a week in class (most quarters- and this is if you DON'T overload, which I do) plus, assuming the whole 2 hours of work for every one hour of class, which sure seems to hold true, an addition 17 hrs on readings and homework, AND a bare minimum of 10 hrs a week on your final project.  And that don't include any conferences or other CV-related things you've got to get involved with, like TAing for an additional 15 hrs of work a week because it makes you more hireable in the end.  Then you got your job on top of it, and if you're lucky, that's only 20 hrs a week.  Which adds up to 87.5 hrs a week.  Let's assume you sleep 6 hrs a night-- that adds up to 42 hrs a week.  There are 168 hrs in a week- minus sleeping, working and school you have 38.5 hrs a week, divided by seven is 5.5 hours a day to work on conference proposals, publications, extra courses, applying to PhD programs, bathe, eat, commute, get ready in the morning and night, etc. etc.

Now, I've also got a disability, which takes up about 10 hours a week, just to give some idea.  I have to work out at least five days a week, or my pain is uncontrollable.  I go to acupuncture twice a week.

So when I say I want to work with other grad students to set up a grad student union of some kind so that I can count my TAships as TAships in name, because without union rights we've got to call them "reader/grader" or "peer facilitator" positions, which don't make sense to no one, understand why I find it important.  And why I think your work to plan movie nights on campus is idiotic.  Sure, important to kids who have the three hours to have fun or whatever, but that ain't me.  And it sure as hell isn't any grad student I know who is actually going to graduate.

So don't you go thinking you can represent, when you don't have any damn idea the cyclonic pressure that goes into being a grad student. 

Bitch.

...

I feel much better now.  Thank you for listening.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Excuses

Let's just go with the one where I was too mesmerized by the beauty of my past post and the image's complete complementing of the blog design to write anything else. 

Anyway, it's been a busy month.  I'm just about to finish the quarter (ecstasy!) but that really doesn't mean much in terms of a graduate program (face plant!).  Working on a paper with a colleague tomorrow- we've both been working separately, so here comes the big "putting it together" party.  Then there's just the editing of my portfolio paper and sending that baby in for editing.

Oh, but after that...

The same paper I'll be co-editing and mashing tomorrow must be prettified to be presented at the CSA Conference.  Plus, I've got to finish a proposal, which I actually think I might be able to get done tomorrow- hurrah!  That is for a summer digital research institute, which is lower cased, so obviously not the precise name (if I was Bruce Wayne, my super alter ego would be brucewayneman).  Then I've got a bunch of other stuff-- getting the IRB turned in (getting approval for working with humans in research) for a research group, editing my capstone some more, possibly applying for TAships at wherever I'm going next year, reading materials for a seminar at the CSA Conference, working on putting together a Grad Student Union, trying to pass along the Graduate Women of Color Collective, possibly working on two other projects that I've got proposals in for, and possibly some other stuff that I've forgotten >.<

Anyway, at this point, it looks like I'll be at UCSD creative writing-it-up next year.  But I still have to hear back from five more programs, so who knows?