Assistant Professor of Ethnomusicology and Black Studies
Posted on 08/29/2013 10:56:24 AM PDT by fungoking
I read with interest Abigail Fisher's column, "What college can teach you about life and pizza" in your August 21, 2013 issue. I'm all for humorists and their clever work, but humor usually stems from kernels of truth with which a reader can identify.
Therefore, I am compelled to point out a problem with one part of her column. She says in the piece that "you can enroll in a three-credit class, miss every single lecture or discussion and pass with a 93 percent." She goes on to state that the class that can do this for you is "a multicultural hip hop class." I'm not sure if she is referring to my class, but since I teach a class called "Hip Hop: Global Music and Culture," I take her allegation personally. I imagine the students who enrolled in my class last fall and those enrolled this fall will take it personally also. I have never had Ms. Fisher in my class so I'm wondering how she came by these statistics. She may ask any of my students about the attendance policy and the work that they do in this class. Her choice of "a multicultural hip hop class" as an example of an academic waste of time brings to mind several questions: Does she have a problem with the "multicultural" tag? Or is it inconceivable that "hip hop" would be a course at this university? Does she mean to belittle the humanities generally? What is her intention?
By all means, be funny. However, be careful with demeaning the hard work that my students and I do, using cultural expressions like hip hop to understand the history, politics, and experiences of people all over the world. In this class I maintain a strict attendance policy because I want students to engage in class discussions and think critically about the world we live in. Degrading any class, by name, publicly, especially one you have never taken, is unfortunate and irresponsible. Again, I realize that Ms. Fisher's column was meant to be funny, but I seriously question the underlying intent of her flippant allegations. Perhaps, in the future, she might consider enrolling in a humanities course like "multicultural hip hop," miss every class, and see if she can make that 93% she boasted about.
Thank you.
— Dr. Stephanie Shonekan, Assistant Professor of Ethnomusicology and Black Studies
The really funny part isn’t how serious the good professor takes herself but the groveling apology the paper issued ASAP.
Well, Dr. Shonekan, do you teach your students to rap the words “you want fries with that?” If so, it is probably the only thing of any use they will gain from your course when the enter the real world.
methinks the lady doth protest too much....
(the maneater? what the hell>>>?)
You are correct, where else would we get our aspiring rappers since al the “good’ ones are dying in the streets??
at least basket weaving gives you a marketable skill.
One can also specialize: Left Handed Basket Weaving
These are not academic programs, they are job programs. These are not academic degrees, they are Affirmative Action degrees.
What they need is for something really offensive to cross their palate, so they can regain some helpfully informed perspective. Let's try this:
"Assistant Professor of Ethnomusicology?" What the EFF is that, if not a titular admission of having no real use, purpose or value in our system of higher education? The three-toed bayotch of a corn-fed, corn-rowed, corn-holed ho!
There, maybe THAT will help...
Your towering eloquence casts a humbling shadow over the plainness of my prose.
“Critical thinking” is a popular buzzword among academics. But I don’t know what it means.
I’m sorry but the subtlety of your comments makes your meaning elusive.
"Ethnomusicology"
WOW!
I can't recall better recent examples of the trivialization of college level studies than this joker's lofty title and his "Hip Hop: Global Music and Culture" class.
Will they have a class on "Twerking and Slut Dancing" next semester?
Go easy on her. She’s only an Assistant Professor. The fully-tenured professors are in their offices taking a nap.
LMAO!!!!
This recent trend towards snivelling, whining, race-baiting liars, beginning with that scumbag Black Congressman who fraudulently claimed that he was "spat upon" and called the "N" word back during the Obamacare kerfuffle, has been nothing short of a comedic goldmine.
These velcro sphincters are a laugh a minute, with no letup in sight. I may have to go into Stand Up Comedy if this continues. Talk about a target-rich environment with endless possibilities! I could be the next Archie Bunker/Andrew Dice Clay!
8^D
LOL!
;-\
That IS Hip Hop dancing.
The square ones are
A. Burgers
B. Fish
The round ones are
A. Fish
B. Burgers
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