Almost Out Of the Woods School-Wise
The 9 1/2 Weeks final project went swimmingly, although since it was a group effort I don't feel comfortable sharing the results here. (Suffice to say both parties would have gotten more of what they enjoyed, and less of what made them miserable, if they'd first been willing to discuss what they were doing period, and second if they'd been willing to negotiate boundaries and limits for their fantasy role-playing rather than imagining they were discovering some new, more "authentic" gender dynamics. Because, after all, "authentic" and "gender" are as oxymoronic as a "selfish lover." Eww!)
And speaking of oxymorons there's only one paper left to write by Thursday, a three page assignment to (paraphrasing) "Describe the history of human sexuality from its origin to the present day, concentrating especially, but not exclusively, on interpersonal communication, gender, technique, power dynamics, and and reproduction as it has impacted heterosexuals, gay, lesbian and bisexuals, asexuals, and the transsexual, transgendered, cisgendered, and intersexed at each stage of life. Be brief, concise and specific." :-)
Normal blogging and, especially, comment responses should resume after that. Thanks for your patience!
I gotta figure out where I can do more of this work, especially in groups, either in graduate programs or for (gasp!) work. Because it's not just good it's been *good* for me! It might stun you to learn that when I'm not blogging I can evidently write extremely well-structured, coherent, and relatively copy-edited work without seriously compromising either creativity, specificity, or warmth. It's certainly stunned me. Not that I'd want to do it all the time, mind you. But wow. Please sir, after 20 odd years out of college I want more. :-)
The tough part isn't just going to be finding a local graduate-degree program that'll fit what I want to do, it'll be finding enough others to seminar and collaborate on research with.
Describe the history of human sexuality from its origin to the present day, concentrating especially, but not exclusively, on interpersonal communication, gender, technique, power dynamics, and and reproduction as it has impacted heterosexuals, gay, lesbian and bisexuals, asexuals, and the transsexual, transgendered, cisgendered, and intersexed at each stage of life.
Hey, figleaf, that's what you've been doing here for the last few years. Although I have to say that a history of human sexuality has to allow for differences in cultures. I don't think that one could describe the history of sexuality without explaining why the denial of the flesh in Western Christianity existed at the same time artists of India were depicting the sensuality of the Hindu pantheon. Hard to be brief, concise and specific when you're trying to explain two such different views of the human body.
It might stun you to learn that when I'm not blogging I can evidently write extremely well-structured, coherent, and relatively copy-edited work without seriously compromising either creativity, specificity, or warmth. It's certainly stunned me.
Not stunned at all. In fact, slow tortoise that I am, I am daunted by your ability to write such thoughtful posts at a leporine pace.
And if you can't find the classes that you want to take, why not try teaching one online? I should not speak for my fellow readers here, but I think the class would be filled up before you even announced it.
Good luck on that paper.
[Thank you, Kochanie. I'll agree I've been reviewing (and sometimes making) the history of sex for the last few years. The hard part for me, though, isn't so much the history part as the "be concise" part. :-) I'm working on my final version righ tnow. Thanks. --fl]
Not stunned here, either. I think you're the only one, figleaf.
I've thought for a long time that you're born for graduate school, and I mean that in the nicest possible way. (And not like: Oh that figleaf, he's such a nerd! If you are that, you're at least a charming and sexy nerd.) I'm happy to have a longer conversation with you about grad school sometime - why I think you'd be good, how to play the admissions game, etc. I just think it's wonderful that you're thinking seriously about it. It's really not for everyone, but I think it'd be terrific for you.
As for group work: Most of grad school revolves around small seminars until you get to the thesis stage. Writing can get lonely. But you know that. Thesis candidates sometimes put together informal study groups, or mutual criticism groups, or even just groups for socializing with people in the same boat. For a while I wrote side-by-side with a friend, and that worked well for me.
If you *really* want to do true collaborative work, though, you won't find that in the humanities, and only rarely in the social sciences. The collaboration occurs mostly in the classroom. Which is one reason I enjoy teaching - I keep learning from my students. I'm sure I've said that before, but it bears repeating.
As for your exam: The bigger the question, the more your instructors will suffer, trying to grade the responses. One of my favorite students wrote me tonight saying that their take-home exam is his most challenging this quarter, and he didn't expect that. Final exams bring out the latent sadist in most instructors. So there's a certain SM dynamic in the professoriate. :-)
[I'm sure I've misrepresented my faculty, Sungold. They're less cruel than they are enthusiastic, and looking back I'm not sure what, exactly, they might have cut to make the course easier on us while keeping it meaningfully comprehensive. And thanks for your very kind words about my grad school prospects. I may take you up on your offer of advice. --fl]
Love that photo!
Three pages on that topic! I'm constantly being told I'm over-concise, but even I can see three pages is going to be a tight fit. Are you allowed reduce font size? :)
[I admit I fudged the kerning a bit. :-) Thanks, A! --fl]