Posts by Hilary Stace
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Just another tool in the academic tool-box.
Still, pretty useful if you are looking at oppression, or marginalised groups - along with other great thinkers like Freire and Marx. What they say still seems to resonate with each new generation - just take out the sexist language etc, and apply the ideas to the new challenge.
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Fascinating article in New Scientist 28 March by Simon Baron-Cohen and his experience of media sensationalisation and misrepresentation of his autism and related research. He targets the Guardian subeditors who added inaccurate and emotive headlines and photographs to a report on his research on fetal testosterone levels (that was mentioned in a PA thread a while back). Scientists have to have their research pre-assessed by ethics committees to prevent harm to the public and he suggests similar media regulation.
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Off topic but somewhere up thread there was a mention of World Autism Day on 2 April. So it was heartening to read this from POTUS (there is probably a Foucauldian interpretation but let's just take it as a simple statement of respect for diversity).
Hello,
Kareem Dale, Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy,
advised me to send you the following attachments.Thank you for all that you do,
Matt Tranchin
The White House
Office of Public Liaison
(202) 456-4654It is with profound commitment to Americans with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), their families, and their communities that I join in celebrating World Autism Day. We celebrate the contributions of individuals with autism, their families and self advocates across the World.
We must build a world free of unnecessary barriers, stereotypes, and discrimination. Policies must be developed, attitudes must be shaped, and we must ensure that everyone has the chance to live independently as full citizens in their communities. For too long, the needs of people and families living with autism have gone unrecognized and underappreciated. That is why my Administration supports increased funding for autism research, treatment, screenings, public awareness, and services for ASD. We must also remember that children with autism become adults with autism who deserve our support, our respect and the opportunity to fulfill their potential.
As we celebrate World Autism Day, let us recommit ourselves to this cause and to the responsibility we have to support those with ASD and their families.
President Barack Obama
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I would like to see Russell interviewing Giovanni about the importance of Foucault. Perhaps ask Jim Mora along too as he often drops Monsieur F into his afternoon conversations.
As for those comments about journalists or historians writing history. The more history the better I say - all the more history to contest.
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I would like to think journalists have at least been exposed to Foucault's ideas. For example his ideas on biopolitics and how target populations are constructed as problematic and therefore require surveillance and interventions. So medical and other specialities develop to control them and profit from this apparent expertise over another group. And other citizens are encouraged to take on surveillance and intervention of these powerless groups of people too, which perpetuates it all.
This has been useful in my own understanding of autism for example, but equally important in understanding health, crime, economics, biotechnology, justice etc
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The Dompost today reports that Gerry Brownlee staffer Christopher Bishop (well-known young Nat around town) told his Facebook friends to keep the lights ON during Earth hour.
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(Pataka rocks.)
So does the Dowse
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A couple of weeks ago I saw the excellent 'Hatch' at Wellington's Circa. It was a play written and developed in Auckland, based on real events in Southland early last century. I went with a friend from Dunedin who had grown up in Hawkes Bay with the actor (writing and performing plays since they were seven) That's NZ culture.
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I'm a cultural tourist. I have been to Auckland, Dunedin and Christchurch over the years to see particular exhibitions. A few years ago I was at a conference in Auckland and was staying at a hotel near Sky City. I had some spare time and wanted to walk to the Auckland Art Gallery but couldn't remember where it was. So asked the hotel receptionist - who had no idea, never heard of it (and she was a local), and so she asked all the rest of the available staff. No one had any idea but eventually another tourist gave me directions.
I think that is what Simon W might have been getting at.
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even though it's more recognisably a museum than Te Papa
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Careful, Russell. There is a whole field of museum studies that could dispute such assumptions.I'm a Te Papa fan mainly because it is free which means it is not so much a destination as such as another public part of the waterfront so you can drop by (ie by foot) for a variety of reasons, for a quick look at your favourite exhibitions or artworks, or to meet friends, or a concert in the magnificent marae and a rub of the pounamu, or a free place to take visitors to show off our history. And as a very recognisable and accessible museum, it is also always buzzing.
The Te Papa people and the citizens lobby hard to keep it so. A newbie MP at a select committee had the temerity to suggest they sell off the giant squid as a fundraiser. This ridiculous Ak/Wn competitive arts thing runs the risk of encouraging such stupidity.