So here it is, the long awaited, critically acclaimed Post #4. Looks like my goal of 'once-weekly' was a little optimistic...
I know we’re only four post into this blog so it’s a little early for frivolous ‘speical editions’ but I’ve collected a number of photos taken here in London that bear sharing. They’re all variations on a theme and as such I’ve entitled this little exposition “The Signs of the Thames”. Corny, I know, but hopefully you’ll get a chuckle or two out of them. Drumroll please....
Taken near Hampstead Heath, this sign demonstrates the quintessential British desire for order and propriety. So what exactly do they mean by 'foul'?
Well, just to make sure the park isn't 'fouled', the Britons have come up with this ingenuous solution (above). 'Just carry around little pooper-scooper bags" you say? Hogwash!
Shifting gears... London's a big, BIG city with lots of people and more concrete than you can shake a stick at. Consequently green spaces are at a premium and every effort is made to keep them vibrant and healthy.
Hey, if we're allowed to get sick, why can't the trees?!
Finally let's move on to something of a British obsession. Those of you familiar with George Orwell's "1984" will already be acquainted with the concept underpinning of the CCTV (closed circuit TV). There is the unshakeable feeling that 'Big Brother' is always watching. One cannot walk 50 feet without coming across one of these security cameras perched atop a fence or protuding from the side of a building. So as to garner an aura of legitimacy, the Powers-That-Be have graciously posted signs informing people to 'smile-because-every-move-you-make-is-being-watched-by-some-guy/girl-in-a-control-room-somewhere-in-the-bowels-of-some-security-headquarters'. Case in point...
Now, the local populace has not simply bowed down to Big Brother...far from it. They have commited little acts of defiance to show their displeasure. The writing is hard to make out above so I'll just tell you what it says. Below 'for the purpose of;' someone has written "Interfering with your lives" and below 'for information contact;' we can read "MI5" [MI5 is roughly equivalent to CSIS in Canada or the FBI in the US]
Sometimes the acts of defiance aren't so little... 
Just so you don’t think I’ve become a shutterbug rather than a student, I’ll bring you up to speed on some of the goings-on at the LSE.
First and foremost I’ve finally managed to solidify my course docket. As it stands I’ll be taking the compulsory core course “International Politics” as well as “International Security” (which is being taught by a leader in the international relations field, Barry Buzan), and “Strategic Aspects of International Relations”. These are all full-year classes which take the structure of one lecture (1 hr) per course per week and one seminar (1.5-2 hrs with a group of less than 15 students) per course per week. Doesn’t sound like much until you consider the reading lists we’ve been given! Since none of my classes have set textbooks I’m constantly in the library looking for this book or that article which have been assigned for the next class.
The learning and teaching philosophy is very different here. The onus is on the student to learn what he/she thinks will be of greatest value in preparation for the final exam (did I mention that my finals are all worth 100% of my final grade? That’s right, 1-0-0-%. All the papers, presentations, etc. which I’m required to do count for nothing and are seen as “formative exercises”.) There is very little in the way of spoon-feeding here which is nice in terms of preparing for the ‘real’ world but also a little daunting. I hadn’t appreciated how relatively sheltered the North American system was until arriving here.
This place is amazing and of the highest caliber in a lot of respects. I really am afraid of my professors here. Part of that may just be due to cultural differences. Part of it may have to do with the fact that there is such a high post-graduate student turn-over rate. (As an aside, I’d like to share a brief story with you. At the end of his introductory lecture, the professor of a class I considered taking said in lightly accented English, “Some of you may haf noticed from my accent that I’m from Chermany…it goes vithout saying zat ziss vill not be fun.” He was so deadpan that none of us knew if he was serious or not.) I think most of all, however, it’s due to the fact that these are some really sharp cookies, so to speak. For example, I remember reading journal articles by Professor Buzan as an undergrad…now he’s sending me emails. It just seems kind of surreal. My classmates are top-notch too. I’m no longer the smart kid in the class (if I ever was). For the most part it’s really nice but sometimes there can be a little too much “Type A” floating around in the air if you catch my drift (those of you who know me well may be shocked to hear me say that!).
I’ve been keeping busy outside of school too and, much to everyone’s relief, have not cloistered myself in the British Library of Political and Economic Sciences. I’ve been involved with church activities and generally with wandering around. Most large museums here are free but nothing else is. I’ve done a lot of window shopping and meandering through parks, etc. all of which has been very pleasant and informative in its own ways but none of which constitutes anything to write home about.
OK. This should do for now. I’m in good spirits (though feeling a little bit as though I were drowning in a sea of academic literature) and thank you for your posts, emails, missives, etc.
Sometimes the acts of defiance aren't so little...
(Please notice the CCTV just to the right of the word 'nation'...these guys had guts!)
Just so you don’t think I’ve become a shutterbug rather than a student, I’ll bring you up to speed on some of the goings-on at the LSE.
First and foremost I’ve finally managed to solidify my course docket. As it stands I’ll be taking the compulsory core course “International Politics” as well as “International Security” (which is being taught by a leader in the international relations field, Barry Buzan), and “Strategic Aspects of International Relations”. These are all full-year classes which take the structure of one lecture (1 hr) per course per week and one seminar (1.5-2 hrs with a group of less than 15 students) per course per week. Doesn’t sound like much until you consider the reading lists we’ve been given! Since none of my classes have set textbooks I’m constantly in the library looking for this book or that article which have been assigned for the next class.
The learning and teaching philosophy is very different here. The onus is on the student to learn what he/she thinks will be of greatest value in preparation for the final exam (did I mention that my finals are all worth 100% of my final grade? That’s right, 1-0-0-%. All the papers, presentations, etc. which I’m required to do count for nothing and are seen as “formative exercises”.) There is very little in the way of spoon-feeding here which is nice in terms of preparing for the ‘real’ world but also a little daunting. I hadn’t appreciated how relatively sheltered the North American system was until arriving here.
This place is amazing and of the highest caliber in a lot of respects. I really am afraid of my professors here. Part of that may just be due to cultural differences. Part of it may have to do with the fact that there is such a high post-graduate student turn-over rate. (As an aside, I’d like to share a brief story with you. At the end of his introductory lecture, the professor of a class I considered taking said in lightly accented English, “Some of you may haf noticed from my accent that I’m from Chermany…it goes vithout saying zat ziss vill not be fun.” He was so deadpan that none of us knew if he was serious or not.) I think most of all, however, it’s due to the fact that these are some really sharp cookies, so to speak. For example, I remember reading journal articles by Professor Buzan as an undergrad…now he’s sending me emails. It just seems kind of surreal. My classmates are top-notch too. I’m no longer the smart kid in the class (if I ever was). For the most part it’s really nice but sometimes there can be a little too much “Type A” floating around in the air if you catch my drift (those of you who know me well may be shocked to hear me say that!).
I’ve been keeping busy outside of school too and, much to everyone’s relief, have not cloistered myself in the British Library of Political and Economic Sciences. I’ve been involved with church activities and generally with wandering around. Most large museums here are free but nothing else is. I’ve done a lot of window shopping and meandering through parks, etc. all of which has been very pleasant and informative in its own ways but none of which constitutes anything to write home about.
OK. This should do for now. I’m in good spirits (though feeling a little bit as though I were drowning in a sea of academic literature) and thank you for your posts, emails, missives, etc.
4 comments:
Hey those are some great photos, captures the stuff that travelogues don't. Very cool.
About what size are your classes?
I love the CCTV photos/comments. there's an art movement that began in London in response to the ever present cameras, where groups of actors will perform silent plays in front of the cameras. some of them are really clever and satirical. often a narrator will stare at the camera and flip through dialogue cards as the story unfolds in the back ground. I also heard of a band that used the access to public information act in the UK, to make a no-budget music video. They would set up in malls and on trains or anywhere interesting with cameras and play until security came to stop them, then they made requests for the footage and got it! well, in most cases anyway. I think the security people are good sports now, but there were some tough times early on for artists who tried to break the tension. Great post Graham. Best of luck and all that.
Ben
You have hit the big time. Barry Buzan is one of the godfathers of neorealism and security. You might recall the idea of the "nuclear taboo". Yeah that was him.
Well maybe you can remember my evil nasty monkey analogies. At best, this would be a fitting tribute I suspect.
I am glad to hear you are thriving.
Good for you Graham!
One can assume that you're still alive because you've commented on B's blog, but what's up in your neck of the woods?
Post a Comment