The following quotation is taken from Elizabeth Laragy’s page on “hybridity” in Wikipedia; the page references are to Bill Ashcroft et al., The Post Colonial Reader. And this blog is an open invitation, particularly to our colleagues in Oshawa
The term hybridity has been most recently associated with Homi Bhabha . In his piece entitled ‘Cultural Diversity and Cultural Differences', Bhabha stresses the interdependence of coloniser and colonised. Bhabha argues that all cultural systems and statements are constructed in what he calls the ‘Third Space of Enunciation'. [6] In accepting this argument, we begin to understand why claims to the inherent purity and originality of cultures are ‘untenable'. Bhabha urges us into this space in an effort to open up the notion of an inter national culture “not based on exoticism or multi-culturalism of the diversity of cultures [sic], but on the inscription and articulation of culture's hybridity. ” [7] In bringing this to the next stage, Bhabha hopes that it is in this space “that we will find those words with which we can speak of Ourselves and Others. And by exploring this ‘Third Space', we may elude the politics of polarity and emerge as the others of ourselves”. [8]
I find this citation from Bhabha strangely apt when thinking about the Academic Plan and Trent in Difficult important questions we all need to answer.
Posted by Ben Bauer (1 of 2)
ReplyDeleteI imagine that my response to your 'Colonies' posting was one
of the victims of the 'Glitch' that you subsequently mention.
I will recompose and resend.
What I do want to credit you with in the 'Glitch' posting
was the top-notch sardonicism: "A number of colleagues have
been unable to post comments using non-windows operating
systems ... A reminder: this blog is a venue that values
academic freedom." which schmecks of "Any customer can have
a car painted any colour that he wants so long as it is black."
But seriously folks.
It is easy to make and to dismiss slippery slope arguments
but it is painfully clear when one is nearing the till at
the bottom of that slope. So, here we are. The reasons
for the steepness of the slope are many, and I might nominate
high-school and university grade inflation, provincial neglect,
post-modernism, and several insidious social experiments foisted
upon us in the late 20th century ( me-generation, entitlement,
trying to run publicly funded institutions as retail businesses,
etc. ).
So here we are. An undergraduate degree is now a commodity
item. Those who resisted dilution of the degree are vindicated
but known only to themselves. Those who sacrificed academic
standards and gave in to the mediocrity are anonymous.
We have slalomed down the slippery slope and undermined our
own value as educators, modelers of critical thinking, those
who profess to know, and who value argument and dissent. Another
failed social experiment. (If you [general term] don't deserve
to be painted with this broad brush, congratulations.)
So here we are. You ask us to nominate other disciplines and
programs for constructive discharge as if we are somehow weaker
with them. Now, the university is a zero sum game? Prune
or doom? I urge you to rethink this strategy and consider it
self defeating. Yes, there are pressures, but a university
is an ecology ... a non-linear system. If you want to see
blow-back from NOT understanding this, see Michael Crichton's
discussion of Yellowstone and other debacles in Fear and
Complexity and Environmental Management in the 21st Century.
Posted by Ben Bauer (2 of 2)
ReplyDeleteSo here we are. ** THEN ** "Trent once enjoyed the reputation
of being Canada's outstanding small university. We were
known for our student-centred pedagogy, small classes,
interdisciplinary collaborative work, top rate research, and
excellence in the liberal arts and sciences." ** Now ** 'Blame
the victim'. In other words, "somebody screwed up royally,
so what are you (faculty, staff, students, etc.) going to do
about it." If this is a conciliatory confession meant to avoid
bruising the big egos, then I understand and accept it as a
plea for sanity. At the same time, if Trent does not learn to
"aim to win", then this death by a thousand cuts will continue.
The "It is the Trent way" chestnut, needs to be countered with
"It was the Trent way, but we know better now". Nunc cognosco
ex parte. So how do we go from here to there? What would allow
us to regain our status? How do we differentiate? Let us stop
playing victim. Let us aim to succeed. We can no longer enjoy
the shade-trees of those who set Trent in motion because these
trees have fallen victim to the poison soil of neglect or worse.
Let us invigorate the soil and plant new trees. Let us have a
university with the highest proportion of tenured/tenure-track
and other permanent instructors over 'contingent faculty'.
This would surely catch the eye of the top-end students that we
need. If we need a 'selling feature', then make it "A university
done right!". While the other universities gut their ranks and
head to 'below critical mass' status, let us prepare for the
defections and make Trent a recapturing of university spirit.
The other direction is a continuation of the spiral. If you
want to join the till at the bottom of the slope, same ol'
same ol'. Otherwise, nurture the sapling.