Author Archives: Timothy Burke

The Shameless Style

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Timothy Burke

When people feel no shame, watch out. Any cultural or political system that depends on participants living up to minimal commitments for quality, integrity, or diligence where there are no consequences besides embarassment for outright discarding those commitments can thrive … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Cleaning Out the Augean Stables, Information Technology and Information Literacy | 4 Comments

The Four-Year Itch

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Timothy Burke

We have a group of very smart, energetic, interesting students asking the college to divest from a list of fossil fuel companies. This puts me in the somewhat predictable situation of being the guy who fought for a cause when … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Africa, Politics, Swarthmore | 6 Comments

TL;DR for Historical Scholarship

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Timothy Burke

Because all the cool kids are doing it, let me dash off a quick thought on William Cronon’s essay “Professional Boredom”. I’m very sympathetic with Cronon’s reasoning on almost every point, particularly with his sense that what ought to matter … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Digital Humanities | 7 Comments

Debt: The First 500 Comments At Crooked Timber

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Timothy Burke

Some years ago, I was talking with a senior scholar that I had known well while I was in graduate school and in my early career. This person’s scholarly work is amazing stuff, a huge presence in African history, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Blogging, Generalist's Work, Oh Not Again He's Going to Tell Us It's a Complex System | 13 Comments

Yo Rick

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Timothy Burke

Wow, you learn something every day. I had no idea that the majority of the University of California schools don’t teach any American history at all. Thanks, Rick Santorum! Gosh, I wonder what they do teach, then. History of Lesbian … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Politics | 5 Comments

Pictures From an Institution 11 (Events)

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Timothy Burke

I keep pining for the creation of an “events czar” who would rule the college calendar with an iron fist, cutting down the sheer number of events while also keeping them from overlapping. It’s not going to happen, because each … Continue reading →

Posted in Pictures from an Institution | 1 Comment

Pictures From an Institution 10 (Spring)

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Timothy Burke

Ok, I give you this, spring around here is beautiful. But I rarely experience it as exuberance. The cool weather in fall always energizes me, but that’s probably because I have energy to spare. By the time I hit April, … Continue reading →

Posted in Pictures from an Institution | Comments Off on Pictures From an Institution 10 (Spring)

The Last Enclosures

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Timothy Burke

Another day, another “professors only work 15 hours a week” know-nothing shooting his mouth off in the public sphere. Except in this case, David Levy surely knows something, given his professional background and present business interests. Sometimes, I cut people … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia | 27 Comments

Bystander Training and Other Acts of Management

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Timothy Burke

I’ve been thinking recently about what distinguishes small residential colleges and universities from vast research institutions. My first thoughts always turn to curriculum, teaching, scholarship, the practices that are a part of my training and work. That’s what I write … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Politics, Swarthmore | 6 Comments

Kony Heads

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Timothy Burke

I’m not alone in my fascination with the YouTube video Kony 2012. It splits me right down the middle, tears at opposing sides of my identity as an intellectual. When you’re opened at the middle, your heart is exposed. So … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Digital Humanities, Politics | 6 Comments