I think some people may appreciate this link in Holy Moly this week:
Alain de Botton yet again attacks bloggers who review his work
Check out the venom at the bottom of the post (thank you HM for highlighting that particular section).
Showing posts with label funny. Show all posts
Showing posts with label funny. Show all posts
Saturday, 4 July 2009
Tuesday, 27 March 2007
Bob Dylan and Post-Structuralism?
I think my last entry was a little depressing so this one is going to be light hearted. Well, as light hearted as I can do.
I was in a Sociology lecture the other day for a 'Topics of Comparative Historical Sociology' class which focused on the concept of liberalism stretching from the Enlightenment going right up to Charles Taylor (know as 'Chuck' to the lecturer) and Ernest Gellner. This lecture was a revision lecture and the teacher is so passionate about the subject it's hard not to agree with everything she says. The following comparison made me smile. This is somewhat paraphrased:
"OK, lets try and explain the differences between the Enlightenment and post-structuralism, post-colonialism and everything else post! Think of Bob Dylan, Blowing in the Wind and that 60s feeling of we're going to change the world for the benefit of everyone else?" pause "Everyone in this room is too young for Bob Dylan, aren't they? Anyway, go and listen to Blowing in the Wind and that should explain what I'm talking about. Then, jump to post-everything else and think of Radiohead, No Surprises. This is what Western intellect has become, this narcissistic naval gazing self-absorption with ourselves. While people are being killed for being different ethnic identities, in the West Sociologists are worrying about the affects of the Ipod on teenagers."
So, while I was waiting on the bus home, my Ipod alternated between the Folk Singer and naval gazing.
I was in a Sociology lecture the other day for a 'Topics of Comparative Historical Sociology' class which focused on the concept of liberalism stretching from the Enlightenment going right up to Charles Taylor (know as 'Chuck' to the lecturer) and Ernest Gellner. This lecture was a revision lecture and the teacher is so passionate about the subject it's hard not to agree with everything she says. The following comparison made me smile. This is somewhat paraphrased:
"OK, lets try and explain the differences between the Enlightenment and post-structuralism, post-colonialism and everything else post! Think of Bob Dylan, Blowing in the Wind and that 60s feeling of we're going to change the world for the benefit of everyone else?" pause "Everyone in this room is too young for Bob Dylan, aren't they? Anyway, go and listen to Blowing in the Wind and that should explain what I'm talking about. Then, jump to post-everything else and think of Radiohead, No Surprises. This is what Western intellect has become, this narcissistic naval gazing self-absorption with ourselves. While people are being killed for being different ethnic identities, in the West Sociologists are worrying about the affects of the Ipod on teenagers."
So, while I was waiting on the bus home, my Ipod alternated between the Folk Singer and naval gazing.
Friday, 15 December 2006
Andrea Dworkin will be spinning in her grave
Taken from this week's Popbitch email:
"Barbie is the top toy for girls in the US this
year. Nice to see feminism is alive and well."
Just to extend on this quote, the rise in 'fem feminism' could attribute to large sales numbers for Barbie. Or it could be the US is reinforcing tradition gender stereotypes. For Christmas, girls get a plastic blonde to aspire to whilst boys receive 'manly' toys such as cars and pesudo power tools.
"Barbie is the top toy for girls in the US this
year. Nice to see feminism is alive and well."
Just to extend on this quote, the rise in 'fem feminism' could attribute to large sales numbers for Barbie. Or it could be the US is reinforcing tradition gender stereotypes. For Christmas, girls get a plastic blonde to aspire to whilst boys receive 'manly' toys such as cars and pesudo power tools.
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