[lbo-talk] Platypus: what we are, what we do, and why

[Sean Andrews]

Oh dear.  Even after watching the video on youtube, I had thought we
were dealing with a somewhat green grad student interested in whetting
his chops at politics.  Much of the attention I paid was in an attempt
to give a critique to what I thought was misguided youth.  But this
guy is older than me--around 40.  That's disappointing.  Even more so
that, of all the possible photos he likely has of himself, he chose
one where he's wearing some kind of ascot. Talk about taking yourself
too seriously.  No wonder he didn't get along with folks here: (other
than his retrograde politics and middling theory) he looks like he has
no sense of humor whatsoever.

On the other hand, it is clear that he takes himself very seriously in
terms of theory--likely imagines that no one on this list could
possibly understand the depth of his thought on Adorno, etc.  It might
surprise him that a key member of this list has, sort of in his spare
time, provided the English speaking world with the go-to translation
of Negative Dialectics (thanks, BTW Dennis)--and many others, while
performing entire other careers, could probably go head to head with
him on readings of Critical Theory.  It is a helpful reminder to me,
as I get involved in this academic gig, to stay humble.  And, of
course, to stay away for ascots.

s

On Sat, Apr 10, 2010 at 20:16, Doug Henwood <dhenwood at panix.com> wrote:
> By the way, not to personalize this or anything (though Ian Bone would urge
> just that), but this photo reminds me of my old Party of the Right
> colleagues:
>
> http://home.speedsite.com/ccutrone/index.html