A Potential Academic Future

W. Joseph King and Michael Nanfito have written a fascinating future-history of the 21st century academy, epitomized by their vision wandering rōnin: peripatetic academics who use social networking tools and post-institutional "guilds" to connect with students priced out of a dying higher education system. Two representative quotes:

"Success in the flat-world economy [requires] training to think, communicate, strategize, and lead. It also [depends] on a mastery of the collective knowledge of humanity, an understanding of diverse cultures, and a desire to enter into the diaspora of global commerce." 

"The rōnin [are] free to pursue their work unfettered by tenure and promotion policies or antiquated accreditation boards. Rather than sinking into self-indulgent solitary research, as some had predicted, they [flourish] in dynamic collaborations with similarly motivated colleagues."

Does this stuff sound too high-minded and impractical? Don't worry. King and Nanfito offer plenty of specifics. You may disagree with their vision, but you can't ignore the sense that these folks may be onto something.


A Potential Academic Future: http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2012/02/09/essay-imagines-future-academe

NCA 2012 Abstract

Following up on yesterday's post, I've selected a name for my NCA 2012 paper, "Trade Your Trouble for a Bubble: Imagining the Enclavic Future at the 2010 Shanghai World's Fair." Here's the abstract:

Shanghai's 2010 world's fair epitomizes an enclavic rhetoric whose blurring of place, mobility, and communication provides a therapeutic response to the threats of public life. Transcending the Hausmannization of Victorian utopianism, though affirming an indisputably Chinese appeal to discipline, the Shanghai Expo's theme of "Better Life, Better City" advertises a vision of 21st century urbanism that departs from its predecessors in notable ways. Analyzing a constellation of texts, images, and responses concerning the SAIC-GM Pavilion (along with useful counterpoints found in pavilions hosted by Spain, Chile, and the United Kingdom), this paper introduces a theoretical revision of the omnitopian strategy of dislocation and, more importantly, considers the implications of Chinese urbanism that has learned much from Walt Disney.

Trade Your Trouble for a Bubble!

For some reason I've always liked this image from the February, 1946 issue of Amazing Stories (the "trade your trouble" theme reminds me of omnitopia, I guess). So I recently bought a copy via eBay.

While purists may protest, I spared no effort in the Photoshop cleanup. The original included too many rips and scratches to evoke James B. Settles's postwar future vibe.

Here's the text that goes along with the picture [including some occasionally odd grammar]:

"The world of tomorrow may see science progressed to the point where mankind will have a great deal more time for amusement than ever before. A great amusement enterprise may grow up. Here is one possibility for pleasure in the future, a giant pleasure ball that rolls along a thousand-mile scenic route."

(Continuing from page 178)

"Now that atomic energy is coming, we have asked artist James B. Settles to picture for us one of the developments in amusement to which it might be put. He surprised us with this huge rolling cross-country pleasure ball.

With atomic energy, it has been postulated that man will have many leisure hours that he never had before. He will have most of the day to pursue as he pleases, either for pleasure, or in pursuit of a hobby, or in art, or in just plain being lazy.

Now, envisioning this future leisure-rich man casting about for a way to pass the day pleasantly, he might see an advertisement in his television set which might go something like the title of this article and of Settles’ cover — “Trade Your Trouble for a Bubble” [—] and decide to go sightseeing across the country in this giant rolling ball of transparent plastic, balanced by interior gyro stabilizers controlling a suspended core which ever remains erect as it travels around its giant “track-ring."

This ring is magnetic, and powered by the atom, revolves along the roadway, which is a specially magnetized roadway. The same power that makes the ball move forward (or backward) acts for stopping the ball. There are no huge motors, no complicated apparatus, just the simplest of gadgets, and a complex and very interesting interior which is the last word in pleasure palaces. Games, terraces, ramps, restful lounging places, dance floors, swimming pools and just plain sightseeing would make this huge ball a pleasant place to while away a day."

Off-duty Stormtroopers

inspired by Stéfan's Stormtroopers 365 Project, I thought it'd be fun to peek into the off-duty lives of stormtroopers. When they're not serving the empire, these guys are always up for some fun.

Le Stormtroopers visit Paris

Bathroom spelunking 

"What the hell?"

February 28 update

"Move along! Move along!"

"TK 421, you can barely fit into that suit as it is!"

(Photographs by Andrew Wood)

Friday Fun Post: North Korean Accordion Version of "Take On Me"

Route 66 Yukon Motel

Here's a pic Jenny shot back in '96 from our first Route 66 adventure. I've always loved this shot, and I'm bummed that the sign was razed a few years back. At least we have this image to remember.

(Photograph by Jenny Wood)

Facebook Timeline Movie

As Facebook rolls out its new interface to a wary public, the company has teamed up with a marketing agency called Definition 6 to enable the creation of a brief video that transforms some of your pictures and stories into a commercial (both for you and for the companies involved).

Yeah, the whole thing is self-indulgent, maybe even a little creepy [in an earlier version of the movie, Facebook automatically selected a map showing where I live, followed by a picture of my house]. But when you see your own first draft, you'll want to start editing and tweaking. The video-app doesn't allow much customization, but the result is still kind of cool.

I uploaded this video because most people won't go through the initial clicking process until they see what one of these things look like [I used Snapz Pro to grab the video; any glitchiness comes from the conversion process]. So check out the video and then go get your own: http://www.timelinemoviemaker.com/