Freedom to roam and wonder

Posted on | May 9, 2005 |

On Friday night MACS met at the Normanby Hotel for the first time. It’s a pub close by QUT and it seemed only fair that we head over there to thank all the loyal folk who’ve trekked out to St Lucia for these events in the past. (St Lucia, the suburban home of my uni campus, is on a really anti-social bend in the Brisbane river. It’s on a point, which makes the transport kinda complicated. I don’t know whether this is another post-Sydney hang-up of mine, but I find working at UQ really affects my movements in this town, as well as my options for the feminist frat house project - but more on that another day).

As well as the long time supporters of MACS, it was great that some new faces came along. I can’t express how much I believe that grad students and early career researchers need to be made to feel a part of a community of scholars, that their work is important, that they are continuing a worthwhile tradition. You either believe in this vision of scholarship or you don’t: quite a lot of academics knock off at 5 o’clock and that’s the end of it. But the thing I love about this job is seeing that look in someone’s eyes when they realise someone else is excited by their project. It’s a moment of profound wonder and empowerment. These days there doesn’t seem to be time to do it often enough during office hours, which is why MACS started. To get a job where I could make that happen every day, tho - that would be it for me. I’m getting there, but there’s a long way to go.

Anyway, GT and John Hartley’s cheeky reminiscing about the fate of old cultural studies comrades was a show in itself on Friday night, and it got me inspired to start making formal arrangements for my research trip later in the year - the first priority being to get some time off from teaching. I had my request heard today and couldn’t be happier because it’s been agreed that I’ll be spared tutoring duties next semester. This means I can go overseas for a month or so, and do my lil road trip across the US/UK as I wanted to.

This is a very big boost for me right now. I’m still very daunted by the argument of my own book and I need the time to talk to people and make sure I adequately overcome a lot of the gaps in my knowledge. This is an age-related complex more than anything - I find it hard to believe that I have anything noteworthy to say at age 26. So I’m hoping to get a fairly decent draft of my book done by the time I head off. That way I can do some seminars while I’m away and ask for serious feedback before the manuscript deadline. It will be crazy scary and exciting at the same time. And a bit of a fantasy come true I guess, now that I really start to think about it.

So, to ask a serious question: UK and US readers, where are you on my map? I may not get back for a while, and I want to meet as many people as I can.

Category: Research, Travel

Comments

5 Responses to “Freedom to roam and wonder”

  1. Saccharin Mac Trick
    May 10th, 2005 @ 4:48 pm

    …you might say it was the return of the MACS. (cue very bad, very obscure early 90s hip-hop song, Return of the Mack, by Mark Morrison)

  2. danny
    May 11th, 2005 @ 9:53 am

    Hey Mel, congratulations!

    This is an age-related complex more than anything - I find it hard to believe that I have anything noteworthy to say at age 26.

    Cultural Studies as interpretation of cultural experience is one thing (and one a lot of people ride on) - but as you’ve made clear in your blogging and writing, the ethic of research is also about putting in the work. And you’ve done that, so it’s not surprising that your research is good, right? They don’t hand out book contracts to people with nothing to say. (Er… usually).

  3. Kerry
    May 11th, 2005 @ 10:38 am

    I’d be interested in hearing more about Aussie cult stud people overseas…I cant think of many…Meaghan Morris? Toby Miller? Ken Wark? anyone else?

  4. melgregg
    May 11th, 2005 @ 12:17 pm

    I’m not sure Kerry, I guess they are the big three I know of. I will be writing about Meaghan in the book; just deciding now whether it will be possible to talk to the others on the trip.

  5. Kerry
    May 11th, 2005 @ 9:49 pm

    A couple more names I thought of: Tony Bennett, Simon During

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