I had a long conversation about writing with a student earlier today that kind of reminds me of what you say here. She’s an excellent writer but sincerely asked what she can do to get more out of her writing. I suggested she try to find the joy in it, marrying the intellectual work with playfulness, with what amuses and engages her. Evidently this was a revolutionary thought. Since when do we only teach grim duty in scholarship? Sigh.
Well, since No Child Left Behind + credentialism in higher ed, I think. They're not wrong in reading the tea leaves that way. This book is poking around in that but it doesn't historicize enough to make it really concrete. An invitation to playfulness, for many of our students, is either unfamiliar or it is a trap.
I had a long conversation about writing with a student earlier today that kind of reminds me of what you say here. She’s an excellent writer but sincerely asked what she can do to get more out of her writing. I suggested she try to find the joy in it, marrying the intellectual work with playfulness, with what amuses and engages her. Evidently this was a revolutionary thought. Since when do we only teach grim duty in scholarship? Sigh.
Well, since No Child Left Behind + credentialism in higher ed, I think. They're not wrong in reading the tea leaves that way. This book is poking around in that but it doesn't historicize enough to make it really concrete. An invitation to playfulness, for many of our students, is either unfamiliar or it is a trap.
It’s my Theory class. I fear too many of our colleagues lose their sense of humor when it comes to theory.
For sure. That's where Hitz completely has a point--we're both too serious and not serious enough at the same time, often.