Research assignment

I've been reading A Room of One's Own by Virginia Wolf, and it has made me consider a different kind of writing assignment for English 102. Wolf starts out with the subject of "women and fiction" and develops a thesis arguing that women require money and privacy in order to write/create. In her discussion of her research and what led her to this conclusion, she describes in great detail the discovery process. She speaks about her play-by-play reactions to what men have written about women (since the subject of women seems to have been a favorite of men at this time). She talks of the anger she felt when reading one gentleman's discussion of the mental, physical, and emotional inferiority of women. She describes her experience sitting, watching a male colleague take meticulous notes on some scientific enterprise, while she has trouble reading her own scattered notes. And she describes the visual she conjures of this nasty, prejudiced, misogynistic professor who writes about the subject of women.

I haven't had much luck with annotated bibliographies in my research classes. Many times, it's difficult for students to grasp the concept of summary/paraphrase and doing the work necessary to write a cohesive annotated bib. Maybe, instead of entry-by-entry annotations, I could have students write a narrative of their research. They could describe, like Wolf, the ups and downs of their research and their frustration and anger towards their subject, the authors they are researching, or even me as the professor assigning this project. As long as it was anchored in research and it showed how they thought through the problem to arrive at a research question and then a thesis. Anyway, something to think about...

If only...

this archivist had found Eliza Gurney's letter that was supposedly in Lincoln's pocket at the time of his death. Wishful thinking on my part (related to my grad school project), but either way, it's encouraging that such a pivotal primary document related to the Civil War was discovered at all. The letter's contents highlight this period after Gettysburg as a turning point in the war, which Lincoln recognized and tried to convey to his generals. And yet, although less than 20 miles away, Lee and the rebels slipped through the union army's fingers, and 2 more years of bloodshed followed. As one of the articles suggested, at least this proves that history is still 'dynamic.'

Some think that since we already knew of the information in this document through other sources, that the discovery of this document is secondary. I can see how historians might think otherwise. Sometimes, it's nice to have documentary/visual proof even if it's of what you already knew.

McJob?

Do I have a McJob? The current definition according to the OED is "an unstimulating, low-paid job with few prospects, especially one created by the expansion of the service sector." While this could apply to many temporary positions as well as burger-flinging positions, I guess I am disqualified because I am not necessarily working in the service sector. The rest of the definition pretty much applies.

McDonald's quest to get the term "McJob" erased from the dictionary demonstrates its continued arrogance. If a word is taken out of the dictionary, does it mean that it won't be used? Won't it simply find a new home in a slang dictionary if the OED bends to McDonald's wishes? Even simply changing the nuances of the definition wouldn't do much to change the way people understand the word. Everyone knows that a McJob is a job that goes nowhere and pays very little. If only McDonald's spent its time and money on more beneficial enterprises - like actually changing the conditions of the job so that the word and its definition are no longer accurate. Wouldn't it be nice to see the definition of McJob become "a well-paid union job in the fast food service sector that guarantees pay at least 20% above minimum wage with employee benefits including health care plans and opportunities for career advancement and continuing education." Unlikely.

"Time Wasted, Perhaps It's Well Spent"

Even though all I do at work is waste time (since I have next to nothing to do), this article might be interesting for people who actually have some productive tasks to do during the day:

Slumber

This is just one of the great pictures published on slate.com of people in various stages of sleep.

CAMPANIA, Italy—1960.
© Henri Cartier-Bresson / Magnum Photos

"Adam and Eve in the Land of Dinosaurs"

The creation museum opens on the 28th, and this article in the New York Times gives a look into what exactly a creation museum is and does. With exhibits designed by the guy who did the Jaws exhibit at Universal Studios, there is no doubt that the creation museum offers multiple sights and spectacles for visitors to behold. But what kind of sights and for what rhetorical purposes? Aren't they preaching to the choir, here? Will skeptical visitors come to the museum and be persuaded of the museum's message of creationism over evolution? What is the purpose of such a museum? To persuade non-believers? To strengthen and legitimize existing beliefs? Museums are tools of persuasion, but science, technology, and history usually lie at the foundation of the stories they tell through their exhibits. But we are fooling ourselves if we don't acknowledge the way museums 'fill the gaps' in scientific and historical knowledge, developing narratives in order to make exhibits more visually appealing, persuasive, and memorable to visitors. Maybe we should admire the creation museum for its unabashed attempt to mix biblical legends and "truths" with science and ethics.

As the author says: The Creation Museum offers an alternate world that has its fascinations, even for a skeptic wary of the effect of so many unanswered assertions. He leaves feeling a bit like Adam emerging from Eden, all the world before him, freshly amazed at its strangeness and extravagant peculiarities.

And, of course, it's in Kentucky.

Go Carter, it's your birthday...

'White House Says Carter Criticism of Bush is Sad'