Work: Beyond, Beneath, and Between

The reality of the past 10-weeks finally begins to set in. I have participated vaguely in two classes that I find no use for and have no interest in. As a result I've acted out by ignoring and avoiding much of the prescribed work. I don't tolerate bureaucracy well, and this fact seems to be a life-long condition. Now I must face the consequences, which could be dire. Or at least temporarily dire.

I'll know on Wednesday if I've lost my job, not because I can't teach, not because I shirked my duties, but because I have a difficult time putting energy into an intro to teaching class I have no reason to take (aside from "requirements"). I'd hate to lose the position, not only because I don't want to hunt for another job, but because I really enjoy teaching. But there's no point in worrying about it. I made my choices and will take the repercussions.

On other fronts, I have three more classes each with their own final projects, papers and presentations. The workload is really overwhelming when I think about it. I suppose taking four classes and teaching was an idiotic choice. Nevertheless, I have been able to make a dent in the work. Yesterday was especially productive. I managed to crank out a rough draft of my paper on climate change and modernity. The intro goes a little something like this:

One of the primary challenges posed to late modernity by climate change is the fact that old ways of political, economic and social functioning may well be fundamentally unsuited to meet the needs of the global climate crisis. While some posit that economic or political systems represent the types and scales of organizations required to handle a problem of such magnitude, it seems clear that current systems (particularly in the US) remain so deeply enmeshed in –perhaps even representative of -- the roots of climate crisis that they are unable to address the needs of the world.

For those engaged in social movements, the likelihood of pressuring the current power system to change –as has been the precedent in social movements like civil rights—may no longer be a viable option because the very nature of the system cannot change adequately without undermining its own power. Furthermore, without a precedent to show people what a successful model of social action might look like, social movements will need to be increasingly creative, potentially having to construct entire new modes of political and economic structure. Sadly, the structure of neoliberalism has in some ways worked to dismantle or co-opt creativity even in dissident movements. If climate change is a challenge to modernity, so too is modernity a challenge to those hoping to productively face the issue of climate change.

It's not awesome, but it's not too shabby. My final project partner and I also managed to record three more interviews and I have several more lined up for today. Hopefully by the end of this afternoon I'll have a draft of my gender and climate change paper done as well.

Basically, I'm eager for this week to play itself out, and even more eager for the winter break to arrive. It has been a tumultuous term...

On the bright side though... what lovely skies we've seen these past few days...