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January 31, 2010 11:25 AM Subscribe
Thanks. Just, thanks. :)
posted by six-or-six-thirty at 11:36 AM on January 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by six-or-six-thirty at 11:36 AM on January 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
she has a tiny Jawa by her lamp. hee.
posted by pinky at 12:08 PM on January 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by pinky at 12:08 PM on January 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
Neato. I'm glad she came out. We all knew.
posted by found missing at 12:11 PM on January 31, 2010
posted by found missing at 12:11 PM on January 31, 2010
Needs more didgeridoo.
posted by felix betachat at 12:21 PM on January 31, 2010
posted by felix betachat at 12:21 PM on January 31, 2010
"For this we put you through twelve years of school?"
Loved it, but my inner baba spoke up too
posted by boo_radley at 12:29 PM on January 31, 2010
Loved it, but my inner baba spoke up too
posted by boo_radley at 12:29 PM on January 31, 2010
'Tis worth noting that she's not the only student of Anthropology on Youtube; there seem to be a number of experts.
posted by koeselitz at 12:40 PM on January 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by koeselitz at 12:40 PM on January 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
-snickers- that was great. One for all of us who have had to say to our parents "GUESS WHAT I'm MAJORING IN!"
posted by strixus at 12:44 PM on January 31, 2010
posted by strixus at 12:44 PM on January 31, 2010
Awesome. Thankls for posting it. Made my evening... (yes, it is THAT kind of evening...)
posted by Chernobyl Bob at 12:47 PM on January 31, 2010
posted by Chernobyl Bob at 12:47 PM on January 31, 2010
That was beautiful!
posted by inconsequentialist at 12:48 PM on January 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by inconsequentialist at 12:48 PM on January 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
Thanks for sharing. Makes me hope that when my kids get to college, they have the same enthusiasm and love for the subject they choose to study.
posted by dealing away at 1:14 PM on January 31, 2010
I kinda hated it. The song was pretty crappy- repetitive chords and weak playing, and the lyrics were so jumbled and mish-mash and rushes it was hard to even understand. And the whole point seemed... self-satisfied. I mean, there's no backstory here about how her dad stood in the living room and shouted angrily "No daughter of MINE is going to be a goddamned anthropologist!", so what exactly is the reason I care that she's announced her major to her parents through song? Her major isn't even music related!
I think if she were going to announce her college major and newly discovered life's passion through a youtube video, it would be a cleverly made video that recounts human history and our long lineage, then focuses in on her own family tree, and then on herself as a burgeoning anthropologist, looking back at the long line of people who made her who she is today and how the people in her life- parents, grandparents, aunt, and uncles- helped her see value in re-weaving the human tapestry... well at least that would make sense and have a tiny bit of sniffle capacity. But why is a future anthropologist singing about it? Singing about anthropology is like dancing about architecture...
So she found something she's interested in- as do a lot of college kids, certainly those in the patchouli-reeking dorm rooms she seems to inhabit, because when you're 20-22 you think you've starting to figure out the world. This is not by itself impressive or meaningful or emotionally potent at all, certainly not when it's badly performed like every annoying coffee shop balladeer. Now, if the video was some stuffy looking VP walking into a board meeting armed with a guitar and his buddy holding a handicam as he played a beautifully sung, soulful ballad about how he's quitting his high paying job because he always dreamed of following his passion to pursue music, then I'd say "Bravo, man! Bravo." But this is another replaceable, over-earnest, bug-eyed hippie college kid insulated from life by her doting affluent parents singing... badly. Me = unmoved and a bit annoyed.
posted by hincandenza at 1:16 PM on January 31, 2010 [8 favorites]
I think if she were going to announce her college major and newly discovered life's passion through a youtube video, it would be a cleverly made video that recounts human history and our long lineage, then focuses in on her own family tree, and then on herself as a burgeoning anthropologist, looking back at the long line of people who made her who she is today and how the people in her life- parents, grandparents, aunt, and uncles- helped her see value in re-weaving the human tapestry... well at least that would make sense and have a tiny bit of sniffle capacity. But why is a future anthropologist singing about it? Singing about anthropology is like dancing about architecture...
So she found something she's interested in- as do a lot of college kids, certainly those in the patchouli-reeking dorm rooms she seems to inhabit, because when you're 20-22 you think you've starting to figure out the world. This is not by itself impressive or meaningful or emotionally potent at all, certainly not when it's badly performed like every annoying coffee shop balladeer. Now, if the video was some stuffy looking VP walking into a board meeting armed with a guitar and his buddy holding a handicam as he played a beautifully sung, soulful ballad about how he's quitting his high paying job because he always dreamed of following his passion to pursue music, then I'd say "Bravo, man! Bravo." But this is another replaceable, over-earnest, bug-eyed hippie college kid insulated from life by her doting affluent parents singing... badly. Me = unmoved and a bit annoyed.
posted by hincandenza at 1:16 PM on January 31, 2010 [8 favorites]
Countdown to her parents posting a video about her asking if you want fries with that and living in their basement in 3, 2, 1...
posted by localroger at 1:20 PM on January 31, 2010
posted by localroger at 1:20 PM on January 31, 2010
So she found something she's interested in- as do a lot of college kids...
Fewer than you think. This kind of enthusiasm isn't something I've seen commonly among my college-aged peers, even the upper-level students. Most (a plurality) are more excited about graduating and making money than actually learning about what they're studying. That isn't meant to be a strike against them; it's hard figuring out what you love, and not many find it while there's still time to change their lives to pursue it.
I think you're projecting a negative sentiment about the world onto someone who's just starting to open themselves up to possibilities. Rather than condemning the song for being corny or unoriginal (I think it's neither), this sort of courageous declaration of an interest in an academic field of study (especially one not viewed as 'useful' in the traditional sense) is something that we as a society should be encouraging. As long as a love of learning continues to be marginalized in mainstream American society, we'll continue to fall behind the rest of the world.
posted by anifinder at 1:32 PM on January 31, 2010 [7 favorites]
Fewer than you think. This kind of enthusiasm isn't something I've seen commonly among my college-aged peers, even the upper-level students. Most (a plurality) are more excited about graduating and making money than actually learning about what they're studying. That isn't meant to be a strike against them; it's hard figuring out what you love, and not many find it while there's still time to change their lives to pursue it.
I think you're projecting a negative sentiment about the world onto someone who's just starting to open themselves up to possibilities. Rather than condemning the song for being corny or unoriginal (I think it's neither), this sort of courageous declaration of an interest in an academic field of study (especially one not viewed as 'useful' in the traditional sense) is something that we as a society should be encouraging. As long as a love of learning continues to be marginalized in mainstream American society, we'll continue to fall behind the rest of the world.
posted by anifinder at 1:32 PM on January 31, 2010 [7 favorites]
anifinder, you write it out well, I am speaking now as a former Director of Graduate School Admissions.
posted by infini at 1:37 PM on January 31, 2010
posted by infini at 1:37 PM on January 31, 2010
Oh man i totally forgot today was intensely bitter day on the webs
posted by The Whelk at 2:18 PM on January 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by The Whelk at 2:18 PM on January 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
Every day is intensely bitter day on the webs!
posted by Justinian at 2:56 PM on January 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Justinian at 2:56 PM on January 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
asking if you want fries with that
Actually, the hot spot for anthropologists seems to be the drive-thru line.
posted by mediareport at 3:18 PM on January 31, 2010
Actually, the hot spot for anthropologists seems to be the drive-thru line.
posted by mediareport at 3:18 PM on January 31, 2010
Graduation card from my parents: "So, you're an anthropology major. Now what?"
Song was a little too earnest for my taste, but Malinowski FTW and all that.
posted by naoko at 5:29 PM on January 31, 2010
Song was a little too earnest for my taste, but Malinowski FTW and all that.
posted by naoko at 5:29 PM on January 31, 2010
I wonder when the Indigo Girls will cover this?
posted by ZenMasterThis at 6:31 PM on January 31, 2010
posted by ZenMasterThis at 6:31 PM on January 31, 2010
is something that we as a society should be encouraging
Should we, though? I mean, I'm all for self-actualization but doesn't there come a point where responsibility takes charge? Somewhere around when you start calling yourself an adult? It's great that you want to go into a discipline that you love, but if you can't get a job in four years because of it you're still going to have to pay for the lower parts of Maslow's pyramid. Unless you think it's ethically fair to ask your parents to sacrifice their lives in boring, soulless, 9-6 jobs that don't tap into their inner Genius. Taking their rent payments with one hand all the while writing ballads about how much they've sold out with the other.
Doesn't really seem fair to me.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 7:56 PM on January 31, 2010
Should we, though? I mean, I'm all for self-actualization but doesn't there come a point where responsibility takes charge? Somewhere around when you start calling yourself an adult? It's great that you want to go into a discipline that you love, but if you can't get a job in four years because of it you're still going to have to pay for the lower parts of Maslow's pyramid. Unless you think it's ethically fair to ask your parents to sacrifice their lives in boring, soulless, 9-6 jobs that don't tap into their inner Genius. Taking their rent payments with one hand all the while writing ballads about how much they've sold out with the other.
Doesn't really seem fair to me.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 7:56 PM on January 31, 2010
Really liked it. Great find.
For those suggesting there is no future for Earnest Anthropologists... like our entertainer alluded to (in a great song format, with some nifty syncopation, and very creative rhythm patterns)... anthropologists study in a vast variety of arenas... from studying bathroom stall graffiti to being forensics experts who know every part of the human body, and how they vary between people, also from studying genomes to studying our linguistics, communications, literature... (* I have barely begun to mention the billion or so other sub fields and interconnected disciplines. (unless you just meant that being a scientist or being really passionate is stupid; either way, her passion is live, and I very much like her enthusiasm...
Looking down upon University classes from the back row; seeing a literal sea of laptops, each dialed into facebooks, and messengers... blindly deafened, while professors talk of things that should be firing up the students to move for societal change... it gets sad sometimes... I have hope for the furthering of scientific ideas, and see the promise for a more thoughtful culture when I see various young people with passions. Especially when that passion intersects with learning about how life came to be, and how life works, and how societies can work better, maybe none of the cultures of the past did EVERYTHING right... but certainly they all did SOMETHING right... I think it is highly valuable to furthering our own society in order to learn and study these different modes of living, and thinking. Singing about anthropology is like living out your humanity... if you don't connect the value of song with anthropology, you are likely not an anthropologist.
posted by infinite intimation at 8:05 PM on January 31, 2010
For those suggesting there is no future for Earnest Anthropologists... like our entertainer alluded to (in a great song format, with some nifty syncopation, and very creative rhythm patterns)... anthropologists study in a vast variety of arenas... from studying bathroom stall graffiti to being forensics experts who know every part of the human body, and how they vary between people, also from studying genomes to studying our linguistics, communications, literature... (* I have barely begun to mention the billion or so other sub fields and interconnected disciplines. (unless you just meant that being a scientist or being really passionate is stupid; either way, her passion is live, and I very much like her enthusiasm...
Looking down upon University classes from the back row; seeing a literal sea of laptops, each dialed into facebooks, and messengers... blindly deafened, while professors talk of things that should be firing up the students to move for societal change... it gets sad sometimes... I have hope for the furthering of scientific ideas, and see the promise for a more thoughtful culture when I see various young people with passions. Especially when that passion intersects with learning about how life came to be, and how life works, and how societies can work better, maybe none of the cultures of the past did EVERYTHING right... but certainly they all did SOMETHING right... I think it is highly valuable to furthering our own society in order to learn and study these different modes of living, and thinking. Singing about anthropology is like living out your humanity... if you don't connect the value of song with anthropology, you are likely not an anthropologist.
posted by infinite intimation at 8:05 PM on January 31, 2010
Taking their rent payments with one hand all the while writing ballads about how much they've sold out with the other.
Doesn't really seem fair to me.
Isn't giving better than you got the basic point of perpetuating the species by breeding?
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:05 AM on February 1, 2010
Doesn't really seem fair to me.
Isn't giving better than you got the basic point of perpetuating the species by breeding?
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:05 AM on February 1, 2010
Isn't giving better than you got the basic point of perpetuating the species by breeding?
Sure... so what happens to these kids' kids?
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 6:58 AM on February 1, 2010
Sure... so what happens to these kids' kids?
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 6:58 AM on February 1, 2010
I was actually going to make that same point in my own screed, but felt it was getting long already. :) But watching that video yesterday prompted me to mentally run through the same argument in my head:
"Hey, if it's so noble to 'sacrifice your dreams so your kids can have a better life to pursue theirs'... then what do your kids do when they have kids? Give up on the dreams you sacrificed your own dreams for? Doesn't that make your own sacrifice pointless? Or is there just going to be one generation so 'special snowflake' that they get to not sacrifice at all, and their own kids can just suck it because mommy wants to be the goddamned 6-string Anthropologist?"posted by hincandenza at 10:15 AM on February 1, 2010
Civil_Disobedient, I have no idea what happens to the kids of a generation permitted to get erudite degrees they may or may not be able to support themselves with, unfortunately. Stay Tuned! My instinct is to say, I don't think we're the breeding type. Anecdotally, the kids become president. But generally, this whole fair/unfair leeching off the 'rents paradigm is patronizing to parents and artsy types alike. Many parents really want their kids to have all the opportunities (to fuck up, learn, whatever) that they weren't afforded, and many kids DON'T depend on their parents to pursue pie in the sky. We get what are known as "day jobs," and "student loans" and it's not a matter of ethics, it's a matter of neccessity.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 10:50 AM on February 1, 2010
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 10:50 AM on February 1, 2010
Its not an either/or debate, imho, it can also be both/and. there is a way that the two can be blended. Passion and good business sense.
I have faced both sides of the debate, as one person. My parents are traditional Indian parents, an engineer and his housewife. But of course I'm supposed to become an engineer (ja), doctor or mother - actually make that and mother, since I spent my entire twenties fending off marriage alliances.
But I found my own way, to a place that talks my language, although they use suomi and I use hinglish. I held on to a wisp of a dream even while I was pragmatic enough to create a resume that I'm proud of along the way.
I get to play all day at a factory ;p my parent's can't complain :) I'm an engineer after all ;p
so ease up on the youngsters, these four years are the last time they get a chance to play, if they must follow your rules
posted by infini at 1:36 PM on February 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
I have faced both sides of the debate, as one person. My parents are traditional Indian parents, an engineer and his housewife. But of course I'm supposed to become an engineer (ja), doctor or mother - actually make that and mother, since I spent my entire twenties fending off marriage alliances.
But I found my own way, to a place that talks my language, although they use suomi and I use hinglish. I held on to a wisp of a dream even while I was pragmatic enough to create a resume that I'm proud of along the way.
I get to play all day at a factory ;p my parent's can't complain :) I'm an engineer after all ;p
so ease up on the youngsters, these four years are the last time they get a chance to play, if they must follow your rules
posted by infini at 1:36 PM on February 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
Did any of you check out her other songs?
No, I'm Not on Facebook is good stuff too.
The Anthropology song has a great chorus, very catchy.
posted by NoraCharles at 2:42 PM on February 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
No, I'm Not on Facebook is good stuff too.
The Anthropology song has a great chorus, very catchy.
posted by NoraCharles at 2:42 PM on February 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
I just wrote a song too. It goes like this:
Get off my lawn
Get off my lawn
Get off my lawn
Get off my lawn
Get off my lawn
Get off my lawn
Get off my lawn
Get off my lawn
Get off my lawn
Get off my laaaaaawn
Get off my lawn
Get off my lawn
Get off my lawn
Get off my lawn
Get off my lawn
Get off my laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn
Get off get off get off my lawn
Get off get off get off my lawn
Get off my laaaaaawn
Get off get off get off my lawn
Get off get off get off my lawn
Get off my laaaaaawn
Kids!
Get off my lawn
posted by speicus at 3:46 AM on February 2, 2010 [1 favorite]
Get off my lawn
Get off my lawn
Get off my lawn
Get off my lawn
Get off my lawn
Get off my lawn
Get off my lawn
Get off my lawn
Get off my lawn
Get off my laaaaaawn
Get off my lawn
Get off my lawn
Get off my lawn
Get off my lawn
Get off my lawn
Get off my laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn
Get off get off get off my lawn
Get off get off get off my lawn
Get off my laaaaaawn
Get off get off get off my lawn
Get off get off get off my lawn
Get off my laaaaaawn
Kids!
Get off my lawn
posted by speicus at 3:46 AM on February 2, 2010 [1 favorite]
Before you work too hard refining that one, speicus, you should be aware of this prior similar work. Sorry about the short sample, but it's all I could find and should be enough to get the idea.
posted by contraption at 3:22 PM on February 3, 2010
posted by contraption at 3:22 PM on February 3, 2010
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posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 11:32 AM on January 31, 2010 [1 favorite]