Comments on: Leaving the scavengers http://www.sellingwaves.com/2007/11/17/leaving-the-scavengers/ A graduate student in mathematics and a modern languages major take on politics and culture with the following aspirational motto: ‘Deregulate your mind.’ Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:20:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Helen http://www.sellingwaves.com/2007/11/17/leaving-the-scavengers/#comment-64878 Helen Wed, 21 Nov 2007 14:04:22 +0000 http://www.sellingwaves.com/2007/11/17/leaving-the-scavengers/#comment-64878 <p>About the relationship between the critic and writer I have to say that they are co-dependent ( which I don't know it is a real word ) , the writers's works support the critics to make a living Meanwhile the critics make the writers' works controversial or being admired which also means gain more attention . For your article I am more interested in the part where you are talking about The One . About the One I would say : If a couple broke up naturally ,because she or he is not the One .If someone dumped me , because I deserve a better one. If I missed the One for some reason , because the best has not yet come . :)</p> About the relationship between the critic and writer I have to say that they are co-dependent ( which I don’t know it is a real word ) , the writers’s works support the critics to make a living Meanwhile the critics make the writers’ works controversial or being admired which also means gain more attention . For your article I am more interested in the part where you are talking about The One . About the One I would say : If a couple broke up naturally ,because she or he is not the One .If someone dumped me , because I deserve a better one. If I missed the One for some reason , because the best has not yet come . :)

]]> By: Curt http://www.sellingwaves.com/2007/11/17/leaving-the-scavengers/#comment-64643 Curt Sun, 18 Nov 2007 02:36:33 +0000 http://www.sellingwaves.com/2007/11/17/leaving-the-scavengers/#comment-64643 <p>Yes, it's true that there's a major difference between academic disciplines on this issue. I think that in many cases literary studies, lacking a clearly-defined focus, have settled into merely the study of books (aside from various unwelcome intrusions of literary theory). For my part, I have tried to make literature work for me as an approach rather than a subject of study per se. And yes, it's also true that in the last 50 years "literary" writers have been increasingly drawn to university positions, but some might claim that that is one of the major problems with literature today. Nor would I say that I can't be a creator in an academic setting, merely that the academic work in my field, is primarily interpretive rather than productive, and as much as I do enjoy reading and engaging with literature, I don't think it should be my primary, defining work, since I feel the urge to accomplish bigger things.</p> Yes, it’s true that there’s a major difference between academic disciplines on this issue. I think that in many cases literary studies, lacking a clearly-defined focus, have settled into merely the study of books (aside from various unwelcome intrusions of literary theory). For my part, I have tried to make literature work for me as an approach rather than a subject of study per se. And yes, it’s also true that in the last 50 years “literary” writers have been increasingly drawn to university positions, but some might claim that that is one of the major problems with literature today. Nor would I say that I can’t be a creator in an academic setting, merely that the academic work in my field, is primarily interpretive rather than productive, and as much as I do enjoy reading and engaging with literature, I don’t think it should be my primary, defining work, since I feel the urge to accomplish bigger things.

]]> By: shonk http://www.sellingwaves.com/2007/11/17/leaving-the-scavengers/#comment-64631 shonk Sat, 17 Nov 2007 22:37:39 +0000 http://www.sellingwaves.com/2007/11/17/leaving-the-scavengers/#comment-64631 <p>What I find interesting is the apparent dichotomy between your characterization of the academic's role and my own perception of the same. Not that we disagree; rather that we're engaged in substantially different disciplines. In mathematics, of course, virtually all of the practitioners are academics and the entire purported goal of the academic mathematician (at least, one with any pretentions to non-teaching pursuits) is to produce something new and creative. To say something like "I can't be an academic because I need to be a producer, not an interpreter" wouldn't make much sense in the context of a mathematics department.</p> <p>Of course, many writers, even well-known and critically acclaimed writers, pay the rent with checks drawn on accounts into which money is direct-deposited each month by some university's treasurer's office, so maybe the disconnect isn't so great as all that.</p> What I find interesting is the apparent dichotomy between your characterization of the academic’s role and my own perception of the same. Not that we disagree; rather that we’re engaged in substantially different disciplines. In mathematics, of course, virtually all of the practitioners are academics and the entire purported goal of the academic mathematician (at least, one with any pretentions to non-teaching pursuits) is to produce something new and creative. To say something like “I can’t be an academic because I need to be a producer, not an interpreter” wouldn’t make much sense in the context of a mathematics department.

Of course, many writers, even well-known and critically acclaimed writers, pay the rent with checks drawn on accounts into which money is direct-deposited each month by some university’s treasurer’s office, so maybe the disconnect isn’t so great as all that.

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