“Was not their mistake once more bred of the life of slavery that they had been living?—a life which was always looking upon everything, except mankind, animate and inanimate—‘nature,’ as people used to call it—as one thing, and mankind as another, it was natural to people thinking in this way, that they should try to make ‘nature’ their slave, since they thought ‘nature’ was something outside them” — William Morris


Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Sneering Machine

Derideo, ergo superior sum


My general advice to grad students: I know Deleuze and Guattari are active in nerdy circles, but they should be careful how much Marxism they try to import into theory mash-ups. Haven't they ever heard of, like, you know, false consciousness?”

“I know the young seem to find them oh so witty and amusing, but Deleuze and Guattari should think twice before they try to mash up their machinery with the likes of Hjelmslev. Don't they realize he's a structuralist?”

“I'm well aware they're popular on the college circuit, but Deleuze and Guattari shouldn't get involved in mash-ups involving Messaien. He's a Catholic. Duh. Ya know, shouldn't someone really educate them about, erm, religion?”

My general advice to those still picking their way through academia's junior hurdles: I know Deleuze and Guattari are considered cool by dorks, but they should be careful how much they try to import Nietzsche into theory mash-ups. They don't seem to realize the little question of his having a huge mustache and living a hundred years ago.”

“On this one occasion I shall condescend to dispense some well-worn
advice to those still struggling through the rudiments of learning: I know Deleuze and Guattari are considered fashionable by so-called smart people, but they should be careful how much they try to import Paul Klee into theory mash-ups. The man did drawings. Drawings, people! Come on, this isn't rocket science!”




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