Monday, April 25, 2005
- DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA: THE PRIVATE AND THE PUBLIC
Lecturer: Eduard van de Bilt
This was the last one, guys! Prof. van de Bilt asked us --as he usually does-- our opinion about the course and the reading list. In accordance with my self-imposed silence policy (I talk too much), I didn't utter a word (*). I think some of the pieces --Freud and Nancy in particular-- have nothing to with democracy in America. Still, I'm glad they were on the list.
The reason is simple: I was forced to think hard about what my Left-wing oriented friends think and read. For that I am grateful. Even if Nancy's paper is IMHO a total waste of time and energy, it gave me valuable information on why people would bother to read it. (See below my comments on Nancy.)
So, once again, I leave completely satisfied. Soon --too soon-- we will go back to the real life, and we will remember with great pleasure our American Studies at UvA!
(*) Just before the start of Monday's session, I overheard a conversation between two of my Dutch colleagues, visibly unaware of my status as a Dutch language student at the "Advanced Level". So I understood everything. These colleagues complained about a number of students who were "too eager to present their case", and too enthusiastic, both on the Left and on the Right (that would be me, I guess). They do have a point. But I will say this: it is among those who expressed "passionate political views" that we find the best book presentations of the course.
Lecturer: Eduard van de Bilt
This was the last one, guys! Prof. van de Bilt asked us --as he usually does-- our opinion about the course and the reading list. In accordance with my self-imposed silence policy (I talk too much), I didn't utter a word (*). I think some of the pieces --Freud and Nancy in particular-- have nothing to with democracy in America. Still, I'm glad they were on the list.
The reason is simple: I was forced to think hard about what my Left-wing oriented friends think and read. For that I am grateful. Even if Nancy's paper is IMHO a total waste of time and energy, it gave me valuable information on why people would bother to read it. (See below my comments on Nancy.)
So, once again, I leave completely satisfied. Soon --too soon-- we will go back to the real life, and we will remember with great pleasure our American Studies at UvA!
(*) Just before the start of Monday's session, I overheard a conversation between two of my Dutch colleagues, visibly unaware of my status as a Dutch language student at the "Advanced Level". So I understood everything. These colleagues complained about a number of students who were "too eager to present their case", and too enthusiastic, both on the Left and on the Right (that would be me, I guess). They do have a point. But I will say this: it is among those who expressed "passionate political views" that we find the best book presentations of the course.
# posted by Agustin @ 9:55 PM 
