School, Again

smoothmoniker · 06-19-2009, 11:51 PM

I've read that essay a bunch of times, and love it every time.

Yes, my little corner of academia is an idyllic little world all its own. I love being in a field that is actually relevant, where we are judged by whether or not our graduates can actually make a living in their chosen profession. It's immanently practical.

When they decided to build a commercial music program, they decided to go out and hire people who were actually making a living in the industry. Part of my employment contract for my faculty position is that I still make records, still perform live, and they give me all the flexibility I need to make that happen. They want us teaching students how things actually work in the industry now, not how things worked 20 years ago when we left the studio world for a classroom.

However, when our little world has to interact with the rest of academia, it SUUUUUUUCKS. Academia is the last remaining vestige of the feudal system, with petty fiefdoms, serfs, power plays, a ruling elite, attendant vassals, an arcane system of ranking and privilege - it's bizarre. Those of us who still make a living in the real world just stare in wonder at how it all works.

This is one of those cases where we have to bow to whims of the larger University. I was hired on as a professor without even having a degree (well, I have a master's in philosophy, but that doesn't count for anything) based entirely on my portfolio, who I had played with, what I had played on. That was all that mattered.

But in order to advance in academic life, I have to go before a committee of other faculty members from other disciplines, and they are incapable of understanding anything other than peer-reviewed journal articles, publishing contracts, and conference presentations. I can sit in front of them and say, "I played keyboards on the nation-wide promos for 'The Amazing Race'" and they would stare blankly down at their checklist, with no clue which box to put that in.

But they understand the phrase "Terminal Degree". If I have that, then they know that it's ok to take me seriously.

Bah. It's all so petty, and endlessly political.

xoxoxoBruce · 06-20-2009, 12:50 AM

Don't forget to tell them it's OK to make you king, 'cause you've already got the palace and the queen.

Trilby · 06-20-2009, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smoothmoniker

Academia is the last remaining vestige of the feudal system, with petty fiefdoms, serfs, power plays, a ruling elite, attendant vassals, an arcane system of ranking and privilege - it's bizarre.

that must be why I like it - reminds me of my other life as a Princess.

Srsly, I agree with everything you've said up there. Academia is nuttier than circus peanuts and twice as evil. The shimmering patina of a grad. degree no longer holds any allure for me. Bloom off the rose and all that; I see NOW who these people really are: Martin Prince as Oberon. Do you realize that I have corresponded with a man who signs his "e-missives" to me with "more anon," ? I mean, ew.

The fact that it's taken me 6 years to figure out what a complete asshole this guy is - a self-serving snob, a dirty old man, taking me on, no doubt, due to his fucked up notion of noblesse oblige to the poor little middle class- makes me doubt myself in a very real way.

DanaC · 06-20-2009, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianna

that must be why I like it - reminds me of my other life as a Princess.

Srsly, I agree with everything you've said up there. Academia is nuttier than circus peanuts and twice as evil. The shimmering patina of a grad. degree no longer holds any allure for me. Bloom off the rose and all that; I see NOW who these people really are: Martin Prince as Oberon. Do you realize that I have corresponded with a man who signs his "e-missives" to me with "more anon," ? I mean, ew.

The fact that it's taken me 6 years to figure out what a complete asshole this guy is - a self-serving snob, a dirty old man, taking me on, no doubt, due to his fucked up notion of noblesse oblige to the poor little middle class- makes me doubt myself in a very real way.

Umm....by 'these people' do you really mean 'that guy' ?

Just askin, 'cause it seems a shame to disregard the whole of academia and the value of a degree because of one rather sad cocksucker.

xoxoxoBruce · 06-20-2009, 05:43 PM

Exactly what is, "the value of a degree"?
Since you work so hard to get it, what exactly do you get in return?
The self satisfaction of having succeeded in impressing the people smoothmoniker described, enough to welcome you into the club?
The ability to get a higher paying job?

And what do the people that worked hard to put up the money for you to live and go to school. What do they get in return?

06-19-2009, 11:51 PM	#1
smoothmoniker to live and die in LA Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,090	I've read that essay a bunch of times, and love it every time. Yes, my little corner of academia is an idyllic little world all its own. I love being in a field that is actually relevant, where we are judged by whether or not our graduates can actually make a living in their chosen profession. It's immanently practical. When they decided to build a commercial music program, they decided to go out and hire people who were actually making a living in the industry. Part of my employment contract for my faculty position is that I still make records, still perform live, and they give me all the flexibility I need to make that happen. They want us teaching students how things actually work in the industry now, not how things worked 20 years ago when we left the studio world for a classroom. However, when our little world has to interact with the rest of academia, it SUUUUUUUCKS. Academia is the last remaining vestige of the feudal system, with petty fiefdoms, serfs, power plays, a ruling elite, attendant vassals, an arcane system of ranking and privilege - it's bizarre. Those of us who still make a living in the real world just stare in wonder at how it all works. This is one of those cases where we have to bow to whims of the larger University. I was hired on as a professor without even having a degree (well, I have a master's in philosophy, but that doesn't count for anything) based entirely on my portfolio, who I had played with, what I had played on. That was all that mattered. But in order to advance in academic life, I have to go before a committee of other faculty members from other disciplines, and they are incapable of understanding anything other than peer-reviewed journal articles, publishing contracts, and conference presentations. I can sit in front of them and say, "I played keyboards on the nation-wide promos for 'The Amazing Race'" and they would stare blankly down at their checklist, with no clue which box to put that in. But they understand the phrase "Terminal Degree". If I have that, then they know that it's ok to take me seriously. Bah. It's all so petty, and endlessly political. __________________ to live and die in LA

06-20-2009, 12:50 AM	#2
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Don't forget to tell them it's OK to make you king, 'cause you've already got the palace and the queen. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

06-20-2009, 05:43 PM	#5
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Exactly what is, "the value of a degree"? Since you work so hard to get it, what exactly do you get in return? The self satisfaction of having succeeded in impressing the people smoothmoniker described, enough to welcome you into the club? The ability to get a higher paying job? And what do the people that worked hard to put up the money for you to live and go to school. What do they get in return? __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

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