Author Archives: Timothy Burke

Closing the Open Ends

Posted on January 30, 2006 by Timothy Burke

I was struck this morning by a poster put up by a student group encouraging students to come to a discussion about social class. The poster quotes a typified person saying that class isn’t very important (I’m paraphrasing here) and … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Politics | 16 Comments

The Shape of the Gordian Knot: Synthetic Worlds

Posted on January 18, 2006 by Timothy Burke

I’m going to take a tour over the next month or so of some specific instances of the intractable dilemmas facing academics at the moment, challenges to which I see no ready or straightforward solution. All of these problems, as … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Blogging, Games and Gaming | 7 Comments

Book Notes: Franco Moretti, Graphs, Maps, Trees

Posted on January 13, 2006 by Timothy Burke

Of all the odd things Iâ€™ve heard in recent years, one of the oddest would be that there are objections in principle to the research paradigm that Franco Moretti describes in Graphs, Maps, Trees. It really doesnâ€™t matter what your … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Books | Comments Off

Coughing Break

Posted on January 12, 2006 by Timothy Burke

I was very sorry this weekend to miss the AHA panel on history blogging, and all the more so because to my considerable surprise my own blog was singled out for some recognition. I’m really touched and all the more … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Blogging | 6 Comments

History of the Future, Spring 2006

Posted on January 11, 2006 by Timothy Burke

Week 1 January 16/18 The Construction of Time Overview of course Lecture: Time and the Future in Human Societies Film clips Week 2 January 23/25 Millennialism and Eschatology in Medieval Europe Norman Cohn, The Pursuit of the Millennium The Book … Continue reading →

Posted in Popular Culture | 15 Comments

Africa in the Era of the Slave Trade, Spring 2006

Posted on January 10, 2006 by Timothy Burke

History 8a Africa in the Era of the Slave Trade Spring 2006 Professor Burke Swarthmore College This course is a survey of a broad era in African history, from around 1200 AD to 1850 or so, concentrating on the 17th … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Africa | 2 Comments

Rome vs. Oyo

Posted on January 2, 2006 by Timothy Burke

I’m really enjoying HBO’s series Rome. I gather BBC viewers have had a less detailed, more sex-focused version of the series to watch, which is a pity for them. What I’m enjoying in particular about the show is the meticulousness … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Africa | 5 Comments

Theirs, Not Mine

Posted on December 29, 2005 by Timothy Burke

So I’ve been wrapped up in family life, grading and a persistent cold since about the 22nd. One thing I did have a chance to do is take my daughter down to Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross’ house … Continue reading →

Posted in Domestic Life, Politics | 5 Comments

Precautionary Principles, The Local Version

Posted on December 28, 2005 by Timothy Burke

So among the things we got for my daughter for Christmas was the boardgame Zathura, based on the film and book of the same name. She and I saw the film earlier in December, and she really enjoyed it. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Domestic Life | 5 Comments

The Consequences of Representation

Posted on December 21, 2005 by Timothy Burke

John Holbo was kind enough to pick up on my posting about tropes for my Image of Africa course this semester and add a new item, a really interesting one: the extent to which imaginative fictions feel comfortable inventing countries, … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Africa, Popular Culture | 8 Comments