You know you’re an American Studies major when…

It’s official. I am truly an American Studies major.

For the very first time, I have used a Simpsons reference in an academic paper. In the past, I may have used pop culture references from Home Alone, South Park, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and Jurrasic Park… but the Simpsons is a whole new level. That’s as American as you can get, as much Americana as one can possibly stomach.

My paper, you see, is about poor, white, southern folks. Rednecks, hillbillies, hicks, white trash, you name it. My aim is to evaluate these groups as “ethnic groups” and to see if that works. Are rednecks an ethnic group? Do they view themselves that way? Does the academy view them that way? Does society?

In a section on hillbillies, specifically, I used The Simpsons’ “Cletus” to prove a point about the incest stereotype.  In this scene, Cletus and his partner Brandine are making out in the back of a pickup truck at a Nascar-sque rally.

“Dang, Cletus. Why did you park by my parents?”

“Now honey, they’s my parents too.”

Topped off by a toothless yokel playing a bajo riff in the next truck.

Do I still get to consider myself a serious scholar? You be the judge.

American Studies rules, and Sociology…

I really hate sociology.  I find it incredibly presumptuous.  It is an attempt to evaluate class and culture, yet it somehow believes those topics can be scientifically evaluated through objective, scientific, “studies” and experiments.  But these studies are the most subjective things ever to have the audacity to enter data into a table.  Like the ones that are based on the observations of the sociologist, for example. 

Besides, it is an incredibly isolated approach.  American Studies, on the other hand, is an interdisciplinary approach.  How can you fully evaluate class and culture without looking at a mixture of history, literature, film and tv, pop culture, and cultural theory?  Frankly, without making those ties and connections, and truly providing context for your inquiry, how can your work seem relevant, or god forbid, interesting?

Yes, you guessed it.  My research, being interdisciplinary, has crossed over into some sociological texts.  I suppose that is the only real downside of the interdiscipline.  You often have to read sociology.

Bright Shiny Deceptive Day

Today is gorgeous.  70 degrees, sunny, and campus had been through its annual makeover.  There are flowering trees lining the grassy spots, and tulips and daffodils all over the place.  And, like any campus on a picture perfect day, the students are outside, wearing shorts, sunbathing and studying out on the grass.

Weather like this usually makes people so happy.  I didn’t really have time to pay attention to it, however, because I was going to take a final exam.  Once I finished my exam, I really took some time to enjoy the sun.  I walked around campus, and since Brandeis is a small place, I knew I would bump into a bunch of people, and maybe find some people to sit and lounge aroudn with.

But instead of inviting me to lounge, or even engaging in some friendly conversation, everyone was short and snappish.  Those I said hi to in passing gave me back a rushed “hey, can’t talk,” and hurried off.

Yes.  It’s finals.  Everyone is stressed.

But I never thought that finals stress could be so incredibly pervasive and weighty that it would cancel out a beautiful day like today.

Things that become very important when you should be working on your thesis:

1. Scrapbooking
2. Blog-surfing
3. Grocery shopping
4. Leg waxing
5. Simpsons reruns
6. Making Jello

Yeah, I apologize if all of this month’s posts are about my thesis.  It has moved in, and completely taken over.

See Mommy? See what stress can do???

This is a little peek inside my mind as I work on a paper. A paper due tomorrow. A paper I started writing at 11:55 pm. Welcome to theworld of a real life college student.

12:23 YAY! I wrote a paragraph!

12:23 YAY! I have pickles!

12:25 I’m going to make this super-opinionated to cover up for the fact that I have no idea what I’m talking about! BRILLIANT IDEA!

12:26 Wow. I just used the name of the course in my paper. That is not a good sign.

12:27 Huh, I’m punchy. It’s probably a good thing I didn’t have a beer.

12:30 It was probably not such a good idea to eat so many pickles. I feel ill.

12:35 There, I wrote an introduction. Wait, the second half of that introduction is my conclusion. [Pause] *whines* “Do I really have to write the middle?”

12:36 Okay, I’ll write the middle. But I’m peeing first dammit!

12:40 Peeing and making hot chocolate, apparently.

12:42 I should really blog this.

12:50 I whine to a friend, “Why do we have to back up our arguments with evidence anyway? THE SYSTEM IS FLAWED!”

12:51 He says, “Because your teacher needs to know you read the assignments. It’s an ego thing.”

12:51 “But I didn’t read the assignments. Hence the flaw.”

12:56 I like Enya.

1:01 I think I cut my toenails too short.

1:27 Shit. I’ve been working on another project for the past fifteen minutes! How did that happen?

1:37 I am still on page 2. Popcorn? No, chocolate. No popcorn. Chocolate. Chocolate.

1:45 This is only getting worse.

2:45 That’s it. I’m quitting school and running away to join the circus.

2:54 Time for popcorn. My roommates will just love me for this. Waking up to popcorn popping at 3 am. Oy.

2:58 I always knew I would someday encounter a paper I just couldn’t write. I’ve come close before, but always pulled it off at the last minute. But I think I may have finally found it. The One. I thougt I’d be done by 4 am. I’m only 1/3 done. And it’s crap.

3:05 I’d rather be writing my thesis.

3:34 Um. Maybe I should just take the MTEL and give up all aspirations of a PhD right now.

3:47 Okay. So you’ve passed the halfway mark. Good. But you’re out of material? Shit. Maybe I should floss my teeth.

4:16 Yep. Circus it is. Get me some hair extentions, I’ll be the bearded lady.

4:23 The sugar and caffeine just left my body. Like water going down a drain. Suddenly, this isn’t so funny anymore. I’m tired.

4:24 The New York Times just emailed me tomorrow’s headlines. That’s …. oy.

I gave up and went to sleep at 4:45. I woke up at 8, went to class, and finished both the paper and a big sandwich by 11:30.

I would like to go to sleep now.

And in case anyone’s interested, the topic of my paper was, “Does the Web increase the potential for ethical and/or legal quagmires in journalism?”

The answer: Probably, but I do know without a doubt that the Web most definitely increases the potential for procrastination and emotional quagmires in journalism students.