>
> ...Now... Let's take Literary Theory-- or, to be more inclusive,
> Cultural Studies. What does this involve? Reading texts,
> basically... if a Cultural Studies person makes a mistake, or
> gets a fact wrong, or makes a bad argument... there's not much
> in the way of consequences. Are other people injured as a result?
> Nope. Is there any corrective for a bad theory (say, a fact that
> would falsify an argument)? Is there anything at _stake_ here?
>
> In other words, it seems to be that a career in Cultural Studies
> is sort of like a nursery school, where one can indulge in play
> to one's heart's content, without having to worry about
> consequences or responsibilities because there _aren't_ any.
> That's fine-- good work if you can get it. I won't have much
> respect for it, and a career like that indicates that one really
> shouldn't take a role that _does_ have consequences and
> responsibilities. (Including parenthood, perhaps.) ...
Oh jeez come on, your argument applies even better to artists. Do you also propose to sterilize all the artists in the world?
Yours WD "3 posts 3!" K - WKiernan at ij.net