This fabulous article sums up what I love and hate about academia and academic conferences in one fell swoop. The description of the conference (MLA/Modern Language Association) is incredibly true to life, at least in my experience � from the incomprehensible papers to the truly insightful ones to those intended only to provoke without resolution to the evening searches for open bars. Moreover, the article discusses some of the issues I find most troubling, like the inextricable links between the field of publishing and tenure, the current prioritization of the hip as a way to define academia as useful and relevant, and the tendency towards incomprehensible jargon as a way for the academy to reclaim control over its own activities. A must read for all those inclined towards academic work.

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