that meme that's going around, that cold that's going around too

[lolaraincoat]

Oh you know the one:

Pick up the nearest book to you.
Turn to page 45.
The first sentence describes your sex life in 2012.

Psychoanalytic theory would appear to be dependent upon the activation of scenarios with visual, auditory, and narrative dimensions.Well, that sounds promising. I'll have to try it out as soon as I get over this horrible cold

Comments

[cordelia_v]

I haven't read Scott's latest, having been sort of busy with other shiny things. Do you recommend it?

Appropo of that: wouldn't it be REALLY COOL if one could design and teach a course on feminist historiographies? I would totally teach that course. Or take it!

[lolaraincoat]

I'm ... not sure I recommend it. I read the introduction once and found it completely opaque, read it again and it was clear as day and very persuasive. I've been skimming around through the rest of it - it's really a collection of her essays, including a keynote at the Berks - pulling out bits I like, rather than really engaging. So probably I recommend it, but I'd have to read more thoroughly before I could be sure. I'm quite entertained to see that psychoanalytic theory is our new trendy thing. So retro!

I actually am teaching a grad historiography course in comparative 20th c. gender history this term, but too late to include this book. Maybe next time ...

[cordelia_v]

Send me the syllabus for your grad historiography class, plzzz?

Here's the thing about Scott's book, which didn't surprise me at all: that it is a collection of essays. Kathleen Canning (who was supposed to be the Next Big Thing in Continental European historiography) took the same out: a collection of essays.

I have a theory that this is an easier debate to participate in when you create one cogent, medium-length essay, than if you attempt a monograph-length study. Also, Scott's last two books originated as essay collections, I think.

I do see the temptation, granted. I myself would find it easier to create a book that was a collection of essays rather than something that was inherently and fundamentally a monograph . . .

[tournevis]

I repeat and second every work of cordelia_v's comment

[lolaraincoat]

And I repeat my reply to her. But also: Scott is speaking at our annual grad student conference, Feb 23-24. Any chance you could come? (You too, of course, Cordelia, but it's a longer haul for you.)

[tournevis]

That's our reading week, so it's not impossible, but would have to discuss it with Mamou, since he is not off that week and Chaton needs tending.

[lolaraincoat]

YES PLEASE COME. You could always bring Chaton - toddlers love conferences!

[tournevis]

Conference goers don't always love toddlers though. I'll let you know.

[tournevis]

DO you have the schedule? It's not online yet, it seems.

[lolaraincoat]

I haven't seen it around yet - but I know Scott's keynote is after the Friday dinner.

[cordelia_v]

OK, here is the thing. Feb. 23 is one day after I finish radiation treatment, and thus can travel. And I would love to hear Joan Scott. And I would LOVE to see you and Fishwhistle.

Porter Air is having a sale, too. Apparently, they often do.

Mr. Cordelia thinks that I really, really, really should not book a ticket for this, since i have NO idea who I'll feel in late February. But if I did feel reasonably OK and could get a cheap ticket---could I come stay with you for that weekend and go home on Monday? I would note that even if I'm feeling better than projected, I will undoubtedly need to be picked up and taken to the airport downtown.

I won't make a decision before the third or fourth week of treatment, and even then only if Porter Air is offering some deal. But hypotethically . . . ?

[lolaraincoat]

YES YES YES OMG YES!!! Of course we would meet you at the airport and take you back there. OF COURSE you should come stay with us. You can always get one of those tickets which cost more but you can change around the dates on for free. Porter has a lot of sales, it's true, so wait until they have one of those 50% off deals and then get the easy-to-change ticket, that's what you can do. Tell Mr. Cordelia that he can totally trust us with you, though I understand why he would worry. And OF COURSE if you're not feeling up to it, you don't have to come. Then you'll just have a ticket which you can use later.

[cordelia_v]

*iz thrilled and flattered by the response*

Mr. C. just had a grade A meltdown at the mere idea---he is sure that I will be utterly bed-ridden by late February. And wow, I JUST MISSED the end of the latest 50% off sale (ended two days ago). So I will wait and see . . perhaps make a decision two weeks from now.

But this feels like the appropriate reward for struggling through the radiation---a nice, three-day weekend with you and Fishwhistle. As long as you understand that I'll be pretty damn feeble, right around that time. I am going to hold this in mind, and if I am not too invalid by early February, I am going to press Mr. C. pretty hard, to obtain . . . dubious consent from him.

What time does she speak at this conference again, dear?

[lolaraincoat]

http://yorknewfrontiers.wordpress.com/

is the website for the conference. She is speaking after the dinner on Friday, which will be terrible food but jolly company.

I do understand Mr. Cordelia's feelings about this. And you know that you are totally welcome anytime (though I can't always promise you Joan Scott) so if visiting Toronto in late winter seems like a treat to you, you can always wait a month and come then.

I've watched a couple of friends go through radiation, so I have some idea - I think, maybe - of how debilitating it can be. But, too, it's a good idea to plan a treat for yourself at the end, and I would be flattered and joyful if we could be that treat.

[cordelia_v]

I have set a price alert on kayak.com, to track fares from my city to yours. We'll see how I feel around week 3 or 4 of this thing.

And yes, there is always our spring break (week of March 10). Not even Mr. C. could deny that I'll be on the mend by then.

I set a price alert for that week, too.

But he really thinks that this idea is just nuts. He is not shy about saying so, either. I know you can imagine the reaction there.

[lolaraincoat]

I don't blame him one bit for thinking it is nuts. It's not like he's completely wrong, you know. And my heart goes out to him, because this is so hard for him too.

But selfishly, I am hoping that you make it here anyway.