I'm with Jeff, but also identify with the poster here, since I had my
share of grief in dragging forward a PhD (unfinished) on the
resplendently vacuous topic of 'The Semiotics of Ambient Music'.
The postmodern condition casts us adrift in a relativistic flux where
notions of what has value are easily characterisable as
hegemonically constructed. When I read that last sentence, I am
simultaneously struck by its pretentiousness and its salience.
QED.
A PhD on 'The Teleology of Oral Cancer' is sanctioned and
protected by being sited in an academic discourse community
which is partly legitimised by its interface with widely recognised
social and functional goals. A PhD on 'Air Guitar' is more
vulnerable to ridicule since it is not so consensually situated and
sanctioned.
'Silliness' is, as they are wont to say in these circles, a social
construct.
And did not Sylvian (1983) observe, in an early project in this field,
"I play my air guitar"?
alan
Quoting therealmxyzptlk@comcast.net:
quoted 7 lines And just to clarify:
> And just to clarify:
> My own 'contribution' to this topic was not to deride women or
> guitars and I do believe I said that "part of me can grasp the
> theoretical implications" of the whole shebang...but there is that
> part of me which exists that reacts to the initial slap of the idea.
> Certainly the notion that there is such a reaction speaks to layers
> of imbedded hierarchical training with regard to what is and is quoted 2 lines waste of time. Additionally, I can be as self-effacing as the next
> waste of time. Additionally, I can be as self-effacing as the next
> guy/girl with regard to my own academic pretentions, so it is not quoted 1 line though the pot, in this case, does not understand its own shade
> though the pot, in this case, does not understand its own shade quoted 1 line observing that of the kettle. Without more information about what
> observing that of the kettle. Without more information about what quoted 2 lines thing is - and even with it - there is a lot to wade through in the
> thing is - and even with it - there is a lot to wade through in the
> Foucauldian sense when looking at why some things are quoted 2 lines practical than others.
> practical than others.
> You gotta admit, though - those who are not given to close quoted 1 line the implications of post-grad air guitar (and even those who
> the implications of post-grad air guitar (and even those who quoted 1 line so inclined) are presented with a trophy example of what they
> so inclined) are presented with a trophy example of what they quoted 11 lines consider 'air-academics' on the surface of it. (which, of course,
> consider 'air-academics' on the surface of it. (which, of course,
> make it an even more valuable object for such scrutiny.
> Aporia-riffic...accent on the "riff")
>
> jeff
>
>
> > Ok, two last things:
> >
> > 1. I'm curious to know if this person is applying for a PhD in
> > Performance (which would actually make it a DMA in most quoted 2 lines rather in a Cultural Studies/Ethnomusicology/Anthropology sort
>
> > rather in a Cultural Studies/Ethnomusicology/Anthropology sort quoted 4 lines study of Air Guitar as a social phenomenon. If it's the latter,
>
> > study of Air Guitar as a social phenomenon. If it's the latter,
> then
> > that is nothing new, and no more or less silly than a doctorate quoted 2 lines the use of slang and neologisms in Buffy episodes (a real
>
> > the use of slang and neologisms in Buffy episodes (a real quoted 3 lines topic).
> topic).
> >
> > 2. As much as it is easy to make fun of someone (in this case quoted 1 line woman, which adds another layer of meaning in this context)
> > woman, which adds another layer of meaning in this context) quoted 5 lines wants
> wants
> > to do a PhD in Air Guitar, I'm reminded of the derisive laughter I
>
> > used to get (and sometimes still do get) when I first started to
> > study electronic dance music. A couple of decades ago, quoted 2 lines got
> got
> > the same treatment for studying Rock and Jazz music quoted 4 lines racially-inflected stuff). What is acceptable and what is "silly"
>
> > racially-inflected stuff). What is acceptable and what is "silly"
>
> > says a lot about tides of cultural power, and it does not seem quoted 9 lines bode well for women and guitars.
>
> > bode well for women and guitars.
> >
>
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