Introduction

The Criminologist: "I would like, if I may, to take you on a strange journey."
- The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Jim Sharman, UK/USA, 1975)

Ok, it may not be a strange journey, but it is a journey for sure. I am currently on a journey of discovery, and self discovery come to think of it, as I attempt to climb the ladder of academia. Currently I am undertaking my Honours at The University of Western Australia, as an English and Communication Studies Student.
One cannot help but admit that the journey is very daunting, but I am dedicated to it, as I feel most passionately about the opportunity of teaching at University level. Why you ask? You probably don't ask, but I will tell you anyway. Because there is something wonderful about the teaching method employed by Universities. It's hard to describe, but maybe if I borrow Catherine Belsey's words for a moment and say, "Academic life proceeds by debate" (p. 35 "Discursive Desire: Catherine Belsey's Feminism" Feminist Review, No.66, Political Currents. (Autumn, 2000) pp25-45)
This is the difference, 'debate'. This process of debate doesn't just exist between academics, but also between the academics and the students they teach. In my time spent studying and listening to lecturers, often they have remarked on the joys of suddenly hearing a student suggest an idea, or a interpretation of a text that even they, after numerous years of teaching, haven't considered.
To me, this suggests a lot about what it means to be an academic and a teacher. It suggests that we never stop learning, not only in our own research, but in our interactions with each other.
This is what my blog here is all about, and what my beliefs are in regards to academia.
Here I may write ideas, interpretations, views and opinions on topics that I have found interesting. But all of this is just a building block, a small contribution, in hoping that others will then be prompted to consider these ideas, to propose alternatives, to inform me and help me learn as well.
Afterall, in all my time as a student so far, I have never once read an essay or article, or picked up a book, that doesn't owe a debt of gratitude to those who have researched and progressed ideas before it.
So please, if you are an academic, or a student at University and you come across my blog and an idea written interests you, leave a comment, tell me what you think.
Thanks
-Hilary

Muse

I find it extremely frustrating that great ideas for ones PhD often come in the middle of the night, and at the point in time when you feel least inclined to get up and find a pen and paper of a computer and make a large number of notes!

Curse you muse! Curse you!

ATN-LEAP

So I have just started the ATN-LEAP modules, Project Management and Leadership and Communication.

The idea is that each ATN-LEAP module functions as a 20hr introductory course on a subject that adds extra skills to your PhD qualification applicable for employment outside of academia.

While I still have hopes of being an academic at this point, you never know what might come along and since I am not working until next semester, when I will hopefully being taking some tutorials, I thought this would be good experience.

My desk is still rapidly piling up with PhD work - ie readings and so forth.
DAC09 Abstract was submitted, and I should hopefully be presenting in november to the postgrad and staff group presentations at Curtin - where I think I may take the opportunity to talk about Postsecrets: Postcards in the Digital Age. :)

Anyway, until I get the chance to update again ENJOY :)

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DAC09

I will be a reviewer for DAC09 and also submitting an abstract.
Wish me luck!

More info at their website: www.dac09.uci.edu

Long Intermission

*start transmission*

Some may have noticed my extended absence from this blog.
My apologies - Facebook took over, along with my Candidacy and a large degree of sickness and personal issues.

However, I have returned.
Rest assured all is on track and updates are soon to follow.

*end transmission*

Tea for Two

Tea for Two, originally uploaded by Runamuk.

Nothing beats a cup of tea for getting the brain working!
It also helps when you have a cold.
Which I do at the moment while starting Chapter 1 drafting.

Sex Research Thoughts

Sometimes I feel like I am taking 2 steps forward and 1 step back in my research.
I read articles that have great ideas in them but then fall down with stupid statements that irritate me.

For example, I just read 'Sex as Play' by Nelson N.Foote, and it was good. However, he writes how humans are the only animals that produce copious amounts of sperm etc not related to procreation, and thus engage in sex as play or cultural interest. He also goes on to say that it is doubtful that any other female species achieves orgasm during sex.

Both these comments are a little ridiculous to be honest. I mean, even my budgie has engaged in copious amounts of sex almost bonking himself to death with everything. Masturbation for us is almost considered a cultural product rather than a natural one - yet look at my budgie? Isnt his constant humping classed as masturbation? Obviously he enjoys it - he didnt have any female budgies around and his activities werent restricted to certain times of the year related to breeding seasons. Of course, my budgie then got labelled to have Horny Budgie Syndrome by the vet.....does that mean that any human who indulges in masturbation is considered to have honry human syndrome? Why for my budgie is it classed as a syndrome or abnormality?
Plus, why would a scientist think that for some reason, humans out of all the species on earth would be the only ones to develop a cliterous (icantspell)? Ie a part of the body dedicated specifically to pleasure? Why would we be the only ones? Its not like culture has grabbed our bodies and placed upon us the clit - no, its developed naturally. And thus, one would assume, so has other variations for the numerous other species of the world. Afterall, even to argue from the point of procreation rather than sex for fun, it makes sense that the animal would enjoy sex as this makes it more inclined to engage in sexual activity and therefore increase the chance of conception.

There are also those Bonobo apes and Dolphins that have tonnes of recreational sex!

However, maybe we are the only species that has engaged in sexual activity to the point that we actively remove or annul its primative function of procreation. We remove from sex its basic purpose - taking away the physical and biological element to simply enjoy the benefits of intimacy and psychological blah.

An interesting point that I read was this:
Thus intimacy is not an inheritance but a social psychological achievement; it is th acme of communication and exposure of self. Every act of human coitus has something of the quality of drama; it commences with some form of pursuit and may be climaxed by total intimacy, but often is not. By itself, sex cannot substitute for intimacy; at best it then becomes mutual masturbation, a counterfeit currency of interpersonal relations.

So, maybe you should think about the mutual masturbation you have been having, rather than the intimacy it could really be.

Anymails

I found this site via Waxy.org
Amazing idea, emails as microbes!

ANYMAILS

The Geek in me Rebels!

World Leaders

Tony Blair has been in office for TEN years....I am in shock

I remember John Major and Margaret Thatcher.....

John Major was such a wet towel....but then again, I remember at the time, it felt like the end of the world for Tony Blair to be stepping in.

I am so deeply disturbed by the passage of time, it's no wonder I suffer from melancholy.

Then again, maybe one is equally disturbed by the passage of world leaders....and a fear of who will be empowered next.

Pornography - The Secret History of Civilisation

Thanks to Dwarf, my favourite Tech Support Senior, I have been given this wonderful official copy of "Pornography - The Secret History of Civilisation"! It is great, and definitely will be of use in my PhD studies.

As always, it is delightful to come across something informative that is not a gigantic book of a million pages.

I am very happy in my ability to add this to my DVD collection.

Postsecret Pick

Abstract Accepted

I will be attending AOIR 8.0 in Vancouver and presenting a paper on "Postsecrets in the Digital Age" for those interested.

There will undoubtedly be somewhat of a transformation from my abstract to final paper though.

The monster has been tamed - for Swancon!

And Thus, I have edited 17,000 words down to a mere, 7,000 for my 45 minute presentation at Swancon.

Now, some more editing!

ONWARDS MIGHTY PEN!!!!

And then some helpful notes, as I am sure Christian, as kind as he is, does not want to read 7,000 words in order to help me make a Powerpoint!

DO be sure to turn up on Monday the 9th April to witness it.

For, if you do not wish to read my entire Honours dissertation, but would indeed like to have an inkling of the argument and understanding of Masculinity and Slash in LOTR....this is your chance!

Citizen Reporting -

I will be interested to see how this works out - Citizen reporting - Wired and Assignment Zero

Will citizen reporting lead to a more accurate understanding of the day to day events in our world?

Less bias? Hardly

Though the traditional algorithm for the presentation and design of day to day news may be changed.

Will we find a more positive portrayal of life in the US for example? And escape the danger of Fox's limited interpretation of affairs?

Visual DNA

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Birthday 07

It was my birthday on the 7th of March and I turned 23.

Story of 'O' excerpt

"Nothing however had been of such aid to her as the silence, unless it were the chains. The chains and the silence which ought to have sealed her isolated self within twenty impenetrable walls, to have asphyxiated her, strangled her, hadn't; to the contrary, they'd been her deliverance, liberating her from herself. What might have become of her had speech been accorded her and freedom granted her hands, had the faculty of free will been hers when her lover prostituted her while he looked on? She had spoken, it is true, under torture; but may one designate as words these which are only plaints and screams? Again, they often stilled her with gags. Beneath those stares, beneath those hands, beneath those sexes which raped her, beneath those lashes which tore her, she sank, lost in a delirious absence from herself which gave her unto love and loving, and may perhaps have brought her close to death and dying. She was - who? anyone at all, no-one, someone else...."

Just for fun

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