Comments on: Life Imitates Art School http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/09/22/life-imitates-art-school/ Self-Experimentation, Scientific Method, the Shangri-La Diet, etc. Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:57:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.7 by: Stephen M (Ethesis) http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/09/22/life-imitates-art-school/#comment-222300 Thu, 25 Sep 2008 23:11:59 +0000 http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/09/22/life-imitates-art-school/#comment-222300 Let me quote from another blog, just a bit ;) <blockquote> In 1990, the French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu wrote his wildly entertaining (though obnoxiously esoteric) book, Homo Academicus–a sociological study of academics as a social class. He calls his study a “comic scenario, that of Don Juan deceived or the miser robbed.” Lest I sound unkind in my reference, I point to the reality that scholars have made similar characterizations of their subjects for centuries…making labels, classing peoples. Yet I suggest that the analyzers of man might also profitably become the analyzed. </blockquote> Let me quote from another blog, just a bit ;)

In 1990, the French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu wrote his wildly entertaining (though obnoxiously esoteric) book, Homo Academicus–a sociological study of academics as a social class. He calls his study a “comic scenario, that of Don Juan deceived or the miser robbed.” Lest I sound unkind in my reference, I point to the reality that scholars have made similar characterizations of their subjects for centuries…making labels, classing peoples. Yet I suggest that the analyzers of man might also profitably become the analyzed.

]]> by: MT http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/09/22/life-imitates-art-school/#comment-222146 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 23:07:26 +0000 http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/09/22/life-imitates-art-school/#comment-222146 I've observed that on average every profession and every subculture idealise their profession or subculture and look down on every other profession or subculture. People at each station or position within different sectors tend to do so as well. It is subtle but seems real, and probably relates to some aspect of our need to affiliate -- so we do it on the available lines since we don't have true tribes anymore. (note: the following are gross simplifications, and averages with lots of exceptions, but I think the trends are accurate): Punk rockers look down on hip-hop, and vice-versa, grunge rockers didn't like glam rockers, and vice versa, bankers think academics are not practical enough, academics think bankers are shallow, non-profit workers think corporate people are greedy, corporate people think non-profit people couldn't cut it in the corporate world, etc. It creates a tendency to stay within our tribe that perhaps helps us extract the economic benefits of specialization. If people don't derive status from one thing (say money) they will derive their status from something else. Within the environmental movement (which I've been deeply involved in) it was eco-purity, and money was a bit disdained. People with materialistic predilections (I know lots of millionairres) tend to scorn those with less as ascetics. People who truly cut across areas are few and far between. I've had many dozens of jobs (36 in one ten year period) so a chance to observe this pretty closely. I’ve observed that on average every profession and every subculture idealise their profession or subculture and look down on every other profession or subculture. People at each station or position within different sectors tend to do so as well. It is subtle but seems real, and probably relates to some aspect of our need to affiliate — so we do it on the available lines since we don’t have true tribes anymore. (note: the following are gross simplifications, and averages with lots of exceptions, but I think the trends are accurate): Punk rockers look down on hip-hop, and vice-versa, grunge rockers didn’t like glam rockers, and vice versa, bankers think academics are not practical enough, academics think bankers are shallow, non-profit workers think corporate people are greedy, corporate people think non-profit people couldn’t cut it in the corporate world, etc. It creates a tendency to stay within our tribe that perhaps helps us extract the economic benefits of specialization. If people don’t derive status from one thing (say money) they will derive their status from something else. Within the environmental movement (which I’ve been deeply involved in) it was eco-purity, and money was a bit disdained. People with materialistic predilections (I know lots of millionairres) tend to scorn those with less as ascetics. People who truly cut across areas are few and far between. I’ve had many dozens of jobs (36 in one ten year period) so a chance to observe this pretty closely.

]]> by: Stephen M (Ethesis) http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/09/22/life-imitates-art-school/#comment-222007 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 03:26:44 +0000 http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/09/22/life-imitates-art-school/#comment-222007 <b>at least as much contempt for academics as academics do for people in finance</b> With more numbers ... Somewhat like the way Economists used to look down on "softer" sciences in the 70s when NASA had to go to Econ PhDs to handle linear programming. But yes, there is a solid feel in Finance, especially given the objective measures (e.g. how much money they are paid) that there is a merit system that puts them at the top, easily measured. at least as much contempt for academics as academics do for people in finance

With more numbers …

Somewhat like the way Economists used to look down on “softer” sciences in the 70s when NASA had to go to Econ PhDs to handle linear programming.

But yes, there is a solid feel in Finance, especially given the objective measures (e.g. how much money they are paid) that there is a merit system that puts them at the top, easily measured.

]]> by: mike kenny http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/09/22/life-imitates-art-school/#comment-221992 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:55:25 +0000 http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/09/22/life-imitates-art-school/#comment-221992 I wonder if we form a tribe or band with our fellow members of a profession. Professors have offices around each other. They get used to seeing each other regularly and this triggers tribal feelings. "He's one of my group." Ditto students of the same major, and finance people. We see others bands or tribes as competitors for resources whom we signal our dislike of to our friends. I wonder if we form a tribe or band with our fellow members of a profession. Professors have offices around each other. They get used to seeing each other regularly and this triggers tribal feelings. “He’s one of my group.” Ditto students of the same major, and finance people. We see others bands or tribes as competitors for resources whom we signal our dislike of to our friends.

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