Procrastination is the name of the game
Would someone please save me from myself? :)
Well, I am updating, but mostly to procrastinate.
Yesterday, we spent most of the day in Amsterdam. We had a lecture in the red light district, which was a good lecture. (and yes, the red light district really has red lights . . .) I also bought two shirts, which doesn't sound all that exciting, but I have been wearing the same five shirts for about 2 months now. They kinda smell (though of course I have been washing them) and are getting a little worn. :) (speaking of smell . . . pretty much the whole city of Amsterdam smells like pot!)
Anyway, back to yesterday's lecture. It was talking about prostitution in Holland and the laws surrounding it. Basically, it is legal--the only thing that is illegal is coercian (as in pimping). This makes a lot of sense to me because then they can regulate health and working conditions in brothels, as well as decriminalizing women who really do choose this for their profession. I know how controversial that is, but what can I say?
Today, we had a lecture by Rosi Braidotti, who is one of the foremost scholars in feminst scholarship. She is almost too smart for her own good. Her lecture was very interesting. . . she was mostly interacting with us, reacting to our questions. She talked about sexual difference, embodied identity, post-structuralism, and psychoanalysis (a little bit) to name a few things. What was most interesting for me (although it was all interesting) was her critique of graduate students' tendency to chose a thesis topic related to defining identity . . . in other words, choosing a topic that relates to personal identity such as heritage, etc. . . her challenge to us (as soon-to-be graduate students) was to choose a topic that asks why we have this need to search for a definite identity, a certain truth written down out there. . . I don't give her challenge justice, but still, it was intriguing.
Tonight, we have a group dinner at a vegan restaraunt. It should be good. :)
Anyway, that's about all I have for now.
Jennifer
Well, I am updating, but mostly to procrastinate.
Yesterday, we spent most of the day in Amsterdam. We had a lecture in the red light district, which was a good lecture. (and yes, the red light district really has red lights . . .) I also bought two shirts, which doesn't sound all that exciting, but I have been wearing the same five shirts for about 2 months now. They kinda smell (though of course I have been washing them) and are getting a little worn. :) (speaking of smell . . . pretty much the whole city of Amsterdam smells like pot!)
Anyway, back to yesterday's lecture. It was talking about prostitution in Holland and the laws surrounding it. Basically, it is legal--the only thing that is illegal is coercian (as in pimping). This makes a lot of sense to me because then they can regulate health and working conditions in brothels, as well as decriminalizing women who really do choose this for their profession. I know how controversial that is, but what can I say?
Today, we had a lecture by Rosi Braidotti, who is one of the foremost scholars in feminst scholarship. She is almost too smart for her own good. Her lecture was very interesting. . . she was mostly interacting with us, reacting to our questions. She talked about sexual difference, embodied identity, post-structuralism, and psychoanalysis (a little bit) to name a few things. What was most interesting for me (although it was all interesting) was her critique of graduate students' tendency to chose a thesis topic related to defining identity . . . in other words, choosing a topic that relates to personal identity such as heritage, etc. . . her challenge to us (as soon-to-be graduate students) was to choose a topic that asks why we have this need to search for a definite identity, a certain truth written down out there. . . I don't give her challenge justice, but still, it was intriguing.
Tonight, we have a group dinner at a vegan restaraunt. It should be good. :)
Anyway, that's about all I have for now.
Jennifer
posted by Jennifer @ 7:19 AM
1 Comments:
At 9:05 AM,
Anonymous said…
Mom here,
i just read all your blogs, very interesting, some are eye openers. Seems you are learning a lot. I am envious. I am really looking forward to Thanksgiving.
Love you,
Mom
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