Cory Booker suspended his presidential campaign this morning, leaving Andrew Yang, Tulsi Gabbard, and Deval Patrick as the only remaining candidates of color in what began as the most diverse candidate pool in American presidential history. According to RealClearPolitics’ poll averages, Yang is polling at about 3.5%, Gabbard at 2.3%, and Patrick didn’t even make … Continue reading Electability Politics and the Dwindling Democratic Diversity
Maybe Let’s Leave “I Don’t Care” to the Fascists, Yeah?
Beginning as early as 2009, a series of memes began circulating on social media that were intended to demonstrate in comical ways the lack of interest or care someone felt on a particular day or about a particular issue. Colloquially, they’re the “Look at all the fucks I give” memes, with the unmistakable implication that … Continue reading Maybe Let’s Leave “I Don’t Care” to the Fascists, Yeah?
Nazi “Science” and Jewish “Genius”
In March 1966, rhetoric and communication scholar Haig A. Bosmajian published an article in ETC.: A Review of General Semantics called, “The Magic Word in Nazi Persuasion.” In the article, Bosmajian wrote about how Adolf Hitler and other prominent Nazis realized very early on that, while they needed terror, violence, and intimidation to gain and … Continue reading Nazi “Science” and Jewish “Genius”
“Everything in Moderation” Doesn’t Prevent Extremism
“Everything in moderation” (or EIM, for short) is a hegemonic commonplace in 21st century American culture. That means, it is a belief that is so commonly accepted as to be nearly unquestionable. And it’s a serious problem for supporters of democracy in the 21st century. The reasons for the phrase’s popularity are easy to see. … Continue reading “Everything in Moderation” Doesn’t Prevent Extremism
Burke’s Unending Conversation in the Social Media Age
Imagine that you enter a conversation thread. When you arrive, others have long preceded you, and they are engaged in a heated discussion, a discussion too heated for them to even notice that you’re there, but it’s okay because it’s all archived. You listen for a while, like/heart a few things, and click through to … Continue reading Burke’s Unending Conversation in the Social Media Age
‘Remediation’ in the United States: A Brief History
‘Remediation’ in the United States: A Brief History San José State University Academic Retreat February 11, 2016 My area of research is the history of writing instruction in American higher education. More specifically, I study the functions that writing instruction plays in institutions of higher education. The organizers of today's event invited me to talk … Continue reading ‘Remediation’ in the United States: A Brief History
In, On, and Of Depression
I have suffered from clinical depression, to a greater or lesser degree, for at least the past two decades. Within that time, I have generally been fine (or at least functional), but I have also experienced a couple of prolonged episodes of severe depression, one of which I have recently started to emerge from. If … Continue reading In, On, and Of Depression
On Sadness after Ferguson, With Apologies to All the Victims of Injustice
For many years, prominent activists have meticulously documented the structural racism, sexism, classism, and other pervasive, systemic injustices that define the lives of Americans--all Americans, whether to their benefit or to their detriment--systemic injustices so well-worn that they can be hard to see even for people who suffer the consequences. Of course, people have been documenting … Continue reading On Sadness after Ferguson, With Apologies to All the Victims of Injustice
Why College Writing Matters
“Why College Writing Matters”Ryan SkinnellUNT Writing Program OrientationAugust 20, 2014Those of you who know me, and especially those of you who have taken my classes, know that I am pretty cynical about composition. My invitation to talk today about “Why College Writing Matters” may therefore seem like the height of irony. But obviously I don’t … Continue reading Why College Writing Matters
The Academic Job Market–One Thing I Wish I’d Been Better Prepared For
(originally written 10/11/11) I'm watching several friends take on this year's academic job market, and having just come off the market myself, I have one bit of advice I wish had been shared with me earlier in the application process. The job market is likely to be one of the most emotional years of your … Continue reading The Academic Job Market–One Thing I Wish I’d Been Better Prepared For
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