Academic grit…
This entry isn’t about the substance of Jay Rosen’s current essay concerning the potential of an emerging opposition press. You should read what he has to say. I simply want to highlight a statement from his essay that speaks to the academic state of mind:
But I was less for it than I was interested in it. I don’t only speak as an advocate for things, I also like to notice them.
To notice something is a powerful intellectual and creative act. By noticing–and naming–we bring things into existence from something like non-existence.
That’s the romance of it, anyway.
Noticing plays an important intellectual and civic role: It gets people talking.
Any good teacher is familiar with this role. We listen to students in class and try to notice things in their discourse. Once noticed, we comment. And if we have done a good job of noticing, then the conversation really gets rolling. Noticing is the grit around which crystals are born. Rosen’s noticing is the grit of an interesting conversation about the future of television journalism on cable.
I once described Rhetorica as “public notes to myself.” In other words, I try to notice and then let someone know about it. By letting someone know, I create the potential for conversation. And within conversation I hope to refine what I notice into that other important thing we academics try to create: theory.
Okay–I still have much work to do on my portfolio (re: previous entry). I’ll be back to work on Rhetorica on Monday.
And within conversation I hope to refine what I notice into that other important thing we academics try to create: theory.
It would be interesting to hear more about this process. Especially the structure “within conversation” that pertains to discussion, publication and peer-review — creating and refining theory.
You don’t ask for much, do ya Tim?
I’ll see what I can do next week. Right now I’m busy making myself look good for the re-app process.
I understand. “You Look Mahvelous!” from here.
Tim – are you really giving up on PressThink?
RH – I wouldn’t put it that way, giving up, but yes, I am not posting comments there anymore.
Smart folks there and I learned something from everyone.