Indie Rock Academia

John K. Samson (of the Weakerthans) is an historian's musician.  Or maybe just an academic's musician.  From songs about arctic explorers dining with Foucault and discussing Derrida (see below) to his latest tribute to those of us who have struggled through that first graduate degree (above), Samson weaves themes of history and scholarly pursuits into fantastic songs that give us all good reason to get out and see a show.  As someone who wrote a decent chunk of my PhD dissertation during sound checks and in the back of tour vans, I've always felt that Samson could do no wrong.  Fittingly, I saw the Weakerthans about three times during grad school.  Each time was better than the last.

My master's thesis was fuelled by English Breakfast tea and healthy doses of the Daily Show, but I suppose Grand Theft Auto is an equally useful distraction.   The only thing missing from this song is a verse or two outlining the healing power of long bike rides and late pub nights with fellow graduate students.

Grad school really was the best.

Publishing for Undergrads

I always like to plug undergrad journals.  So, here you go:

The 2012 Edition of the SEED - UBC's Undergraduate Journal of Canadian Studies is currently accepting critical and scholarly work, from present or past course, on any subject matter relating to Canada. This is a great way to publish your work as an undergrad.
Deadline for submissions is February 27, 2012.
All interested students please send your submissions, including bibliography and footnotes, to 2012theseed@gmail.com (in .doc format)
If you have any question feel free to contact us.

Ignatieff Scholarship

At the Liberal Party convention this weekend, Michael Ignatieff launched his own scholarship fund for university students.  From the website:

"The Michael Ignatieff Scholarships will be open to all Canadian students enrolled in an undergraduate program at a Canadian university, CEGEP or college.  Award recipients will be selected taking into account financial need and academic achievement, as well as evidence of involvement with the Liberal Party of Canada or other contributions to the principles of Liberalism, equality of all persons, national unity, and political engagement."

In my view, the qualifier "or other contributions to the principles of Liberalism" is the most important element of this release, as it suggests that applicants need not be card-carrying members of the Liberal Party of Canada.  I'm somewhat uneasy about a political party offering funding only to members of that party.  For one, university is a time to develop ideas and ideologies that might not have formed during high school.  Furthermore, this model is dangerously similar to the "results-based" funding that hamstrings humanities programmes because they do not necessarily produce saleable (or trademark-able) goods.  Attending university should be about opening minds and creating better citizens, not about marshalling an intellectual force for political parties.  

Let's not politicize university access from the get go.  Help qualified students attend based on merit and need, and then see if what they learn brings them to any specific party.     

Black Robe

I'm teaching a course on French North America this semester, which means I get to show Black Robe.  Even better, I've assigned Greer's Mohawk Saint during the term when Tekakwitha will be officially sainted by the Pope.  It's not often that what I teach about the 17th century makes headlines in national newspapers.