Author Archive

How Tavi Gevinson Restored my Love of Gramsci (and Hope for Feminism)

December 4, 2012
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How Tavi Gevinson Restored my Love of Gramsci (and Hope for Feminism)

Rookie's Tavi Gevinson offers a feminist, anti-elitist model of Gramsci’s organic intellectual.
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Posted in Perspectives | 2 Comments »

Advice on Surviving the Competing Demands of Academia

July 26, 2011
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Advice on Surviving the Competing Demands of Academia

We know there are certain things we must do to achieve tenure and maintain our employment. But we often become so obsessed with this—or the next step up after—that we forget to consider our reasons for going into the field to begin with.
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Posted in Columns, School/Work | 1 Comment »

The State of Reality TV: How Joel McHale and Chelsea Handler Saved My Life

February 10, 2011
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The State of Reality TV: How Joel McHale and Chelsea Handler Saved My Life

Much as with the celebrated film Showgirls, a lot of reality TV is unintentionally funny, and the comic framings of both shows aim to make you laugh at even the most serious moments.
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Posted in Columns, State of Reality TV | Comments Off on The State of Reality TV: How Joel McHale and Chelsea Handler Saved My Life

Back to School Fun: FALL TV RETURNS!

September 16, 2010
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Back to School Fun: FALL TV RETURNS!

For many academics, the coming fall television season offers excitement, but also the stress of managing what we watch.
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Posted in Perspectives | 2 Comments »

“I Don’t Give a Damn About My ‘Bad Reputation’”: Glee Talks Back

May 6, 2010
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“I Don’t Give a Damn About My ‘Bad Reputation’”: <em>Glee</em> Talks Back

I think this is the essence of Glee’s appeal: It “mashes” together the old and the new, the shallow and the deep, and in the end asks us to appreciate that our lives are much like popular culture.
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Posted in Columns, Current Events, Glee Club, TV | 10 Comments »

Life Unexpected Not Up to Expectations

February 6, 2010
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<i>Life Unexpected</i> Not Up to Expectations

Life Unexpected isn't living up to my expectations. I plan on holding my breath for improvement, though--I am hopeful that the network and producers will figure out where they want to go and follow the natural lines of the premise of this story.
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Posted in Perspectives, TV | 6 Comments »

The Return of the Family Sitcom

January 7, 2010
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The Return of the Family Sitcom

I have a long tradition of disliking family sitcoms, reaching all the way back to my adolescence. But this season on TV, I have fallen in love with two “traditional” family sitcoms, both on ABC on Wednesday nights: The Middle and Modern Family.
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Posted in Perspectives, TV | 2 Comments »