Olga! I loved reading this!! So special to have such an introspective, encouraging response to my post—I loved all the reflections you have on the sadness of insufficient leisure time, the feelings of pain and guilt when there isn’t time to take pleasure in research (so, so relatable…)
I also think your points towards the end of how more leisure + more time for research = letting people be more thoughtful, critical, and insightful! I genuinely think most people WANT to be precise and intellectually disciplined about their viewpoints; it’s just so hard to assemble the facts and interpret them properly when you’re living a very hectic and stressful life. When people don’t have the time to understand the world, they become more vulnerable to misinfo and propaganda and ignorance…it’s a systemic problem, not a problem with an individual’s moral character or intelligence
I really appreciate being able to read your writing and your reflections on research in one’s work and life ❤️ thank you! and I’m very much hoping we can both carve out time for the research and knowledge production we feel passionately about
omg yes I am a huge Zotero fangirl…when I went back to my MA programme to give advice to the year below me, I insisted that EVERYONE download Zotero and use it to organize their sources! I honestly can’t imagine managing citations and references without it
I couldn’t agree more! UT Austin started teaching a zotero workshop through the library for entering graduate students and it’s one of the most valuable things a first-year graduate can learn. Part of the professional development curriculum we were trying to build.
Loved coming across this, as a fellow research-lover. I agree that academia sometimes discourages “dilettantism”, ie sampling into topics further from one’s narrow field, and this can be frustrating and counterproductive. That said, the growing trend toward interdisciplinary or even “transdisciplinary” approaches is promising.
I think the most important key point made here is the need to combine media literacy with love of research, and to have an idea of what research methods actually look like. I know too many people who say, in casual conversation, that they have “done research” on something but what they mean is that they’ve read or watched some stuff on the internet, without any specific effort made to vet their sources, or to have a criteria for what counts as a credible source or form of information/ data/ analysis, etc. The list of resources and suggestion at the end of your post is esp appreciated, in this light :)
Also interesting thought about attenuation spans getting longer for good quality stuff… I’m not sure I’m sold on it? But I would like this to be true. Is watching GoT of Breaking Bad comparable to reading classical novels or long form nonfiction? Or even to consuming good quality long form writing online? I’m not sure. But I appreciate the optimistic note of that.
Thank you so much for reading, Nika! There’s so much more I want to parse out, it’s a topic that I could talk about for probably ever. I think a lot of structural changes need to take place for interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary scholarship to be produced within academia, everything from curriculum and program requirements to funding structure to faculty appointments, tenure structure and so on.
There’s also a lot of stigma or intellectual snobbery when it comes to dilettantism. One form of research is deemed lesser than other forms, a lot of this is of course rooted in white supremacy, colonialism, patriarchy and so on.
I’m trying to be cautiously optimistic and definitely want to do more research but there’s a lot of long form content that’s being created by artists with small followings but I have a strong feeling if they had the resources they need to be seen on social media they would be a lot more popular.
Agreed! I do think much needs to change in academia—and if for no other reason, then in order for it to survive as a relevant base of knowledge making. Funding and appointments are certainly an issue, as is trying to run educational/ research institutions like a business, and moreover, one that tries to please a “customer base.” There is indeed so much to parse out! And I think it’s great these conversation are happening off campuses and forums as well, in public forums and among artists, writers, independent research and so on—I much rather see that, than the total write off of universities as irrelevant or parochial. I think that’s as it should be; without this exchange and dialogue academia is really not functioning as intended.
Same! Did you check to see if your public library has full access to JSTOR? You can access JSTOR through the Austin Public Library. I do miss having access to all the online archives and databases that are now behind institutional paywalls and why I feel so strongly about open access.
I work in a public library and we don’t have access - it’s very expensive! At least JSTOR offers limited access for free, but it’s not the same - although I don’t need it like I did when I was working on my degree.
It’s hurts my brain and soul to think that public libraries have to pay to have access to information. Public libraries shouldn’t be expected to pay, it is just wrong. The prices for academic journals/books/databases are absolutely insane.
We pay for a lot of databases for our patrons to use (so they can read them for free) but academic ones aren’t usually what the public library patron is looking to use, so I don’t think our collection development team can justify paying for it when we could be spending the funds on what our patrons need instead.
I figure the writers and editors of the articles probably should get paid somehow - but then, I’ve never been paid for any of my academic publications, so where is that subscription money going? That’s the question. If I was getting paid, I could understand why there is a fee, but if I’m not, where does that money (and as you say, the prices are insane) go?
I enjoyed the article - thank you. I am in a similar mode myself and observe one aspect I’m unsure I like (about myself). I am v.happy to read/think/research and structure for myself (all inward activities) though have absolutely no interest in writing/sharing in a wider domain. If folk ask me about these things (my areas of focus), I can talk about the ideas forever but don’t seem to want to “shout out” or write/share. Is it maybe fear ( have happily presented ideas/reports in a work context), I think of this research is my own private/hobby - as you say leisure.
I think our society has conditioned people to not listen to their feelings especially those of excitement or curiosity. These things can undermine or be a threat to the systems we have in place, curiosity/leisure/research get in the way of systems extracting as much labor as possible from people.
Nice piece Olga. I think (don’t quote me tho) that originally “leisure” and “education” meant the same thing, or were considered very similar, before the school industrial complex drove a wedge between the two.
Thank you, Harrison! There’s so much to unpack with the word and concept of leisure. The ancient Roman concept of otium or a type of contemplative way of life specifically taking place in the countryside focused on intellectual self-improvement that very much can be equated to education in our day and age.
I loved reading this so much, articles like this get me in such an energetic mood to dig the internet and learn. I get it when you wonder where the last 8 years went and the bitter realisation of the passion not followed and whole the research time, lost - until now
Thank you so much, Carole! Means the absolute world to me. I’m going to try and get back into more archival research, too. As well as collecting oral histories from interviews. Thanks for acknowledging those difficult feelings and thoughts, it took a lot to trauma informed therapy to work through those limited beliefs that kept me feeling stuck in regret mode.
ah! wow i came across this piece on notes and resonate with your sentiment surrounding research a lot. i think i am still unlearning institutional research practices made for/by academia.
i think there is beauty in research that happens very organically. whether it’s going down a web rabbit hole or archiving a bunch of papers to read for later, i’ve been savoring the process that isn’t necessarily driven by output, timeline, or productivity. i think this is one of the reasons why i joined substack!! for academic freedom and to explore as i please :~) thank you for sharing your words!
I couldn’t agree more, Eileen! It took me ages and I’m honestly still unlearning the unhelpful modes of thinking about research, my work, myself, etc.
Academia promotes this very strong bond between research output and self worth. I think this has a largely negative effect on what I call the academic “ego” that instills in most faculty that they have to preserve the status quo of current institutions or else they risk devaluing their own academic work/worth.
Thank you so much for reading! 📖 means a lot, Eileen!
This was so good to read! I love that you quoted a few Substacks (that I also like!) as your inspiration :) The idea of 'otium' is indeed something we've lost and you're right in saying that academia blurs the lines a bit. It seems like the ultimate luxury to be researching for a living but then we're back to it being all work and no play. Talking about bullet journals, have you explored the concepts of 'second brain'? (not saying it's a MUST but it has some useful ideas that you might find useful)
Thank you, Barbs! I really appreciate you taking the time to read my work. There is so much to unpack when it comes leisure and academia. I think a lot of people and different media have a tendency to idealize the concept of academia or living a life of a professor, as if it is all reading, writing, and doing archival research full of sabbaticals. I watched way too many Woody Allen movies before going to graduate school.
The recent professionalization of the professoriate has really challenged this notion. Most faculty are overworked, stressed, and trying to prove to the academic world of their intellectual worth. Professors are tied to campus for most of their lives, with a handful of years dedicated solely to research.
The ultimate luxury is to be an independent researcher meaning being independently wealthy to pursue full-time research. The next essay will be on this very topic, the intersection of research and wealth. I will definitely be talking about 'Otium' since access to leisure in ancient Rome was very much tied to wealth.
Yes, I have heard of 'second brain.' I have a strange fascination with productivity systems.
Outstanding article. It is filled with the importance of discernment. With so much information out there, you have outlined a way to discern and to seek which is essential today in learning and acquiring knowledge and wisdom.
Olga! I loved reading this!! So special to have such an introspective, encouraging response to my post—I loved all the reflections you have on the sadness of insufficient leisure time, the feelings of pain and guilt when there isn’t time to take pleasure in research (so, so relatable…)
I also think your points towards the end of how more leisure + more time for research = letting people be more thoughtful, critical, and insightful! I genuinely think most people WANT to be precise and intellectually disciplined about their viewpoints; it’s just so hard to assemble the facts and interpret them properly when you’re living a very hectic and stressful life. When people don’t have the time to understand the world, they become more vulnerable to misinfo and propaganda and ignorance…it’s a systemic problem, not a problem with an individual’s moral character or intelligence
I really appreciate being able to read your writing and your reflections on research in one’s work and life ❤️ thank you! and I’m very much hoping we can both carve out time for the research and knowledge production we feel passionately about
Zotero forever ❤️
Same! I started using it in 2011 and never looked back. I tried Mendeley for a second but I prefer zotero.
Not to mention open-source vs developed by elsevier!
Yes!!! Open-source for life!
omg yes I am a huge Zotero fangirl…when I went back to my MA programme to give advice to the year below me, I insisted that EVERYONE download Zotero and use it to organize their sources! I honestly can’t imagine managing citations and references without it
I couldn’t agree more! UT Austin started teaching a zotero workshop through the library for entering graduate students and it’s one of the most valuable things a first-year graduate can learn. Part of the professional development curriculum we were trying to build.
Loved coming across this, as a fellow research-lover. I agree that academia sometimes discourages “dilettantism”, ie sampling into topics further from one’s narrow field, and this can be frustrating and counterproductive. That said, the growing trend toward interdisciplinary or even “transdisciplinary” approaches is promising.
I think the most important key point made here is the need to combine media literacy with love of research, and to have an idea of what research methods actually look like. I know too many people who say, in casual conversation, that they have “done research” on something but what they mean is that they’ve read or watched some stuff on the internet, without any specific effort made to vet their sources, or to have a criteria for what counts as a credible source or form of information/ data/ analysis, etc. The list of resources and suggestion at the end of your post is esp appreciated, in this light :)
Also interesting thought about attenuation spans getting longer for good quality stuff… I’m not sure I’m sold on it? But I would like this to be true. Is watching GoT of Breaking Bad comparable to reading classical novels or long form nonfiction? Or even to consuming good quality long form writing online? I’m not sure. But I appreciate the optimistic note of that.
Thank you so much for reading, Nika! There’s so much more I want to parse out, it’s a topic that I could talk about for probably ever. I think a lot of structural changes need to take place for interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary scholarship to be produced within academia, everything from curriculum and program requirements to funding structure to faculty appointments, tenure structure and so on.
There’s also a lot of stigma or intellectual snobbery when it comes to dilettantism. One form of research is deemed lesser than other forms, a lot of this is of course rooted in white supremacy, colonialism, patriarchy and so on.
I’m trying to be cautiously optimistic and definitely want to do more research but there’s a lot of long form content that’s being created by artists with small followings but I have a strong feeling if they had the resources they need to be seen on social media they would be a lot more popular.
Agreed! I do think much needs to change in academia—and if for no other reason, then in order for it to survive as a relevant base of knowledge making. Funding and appointments are certainly an issue, as is trying to run educational/ research institutions like a business, and moreover, one that tries to please a “customer base.” There is indeed so much to parse out! And I think it’s great these conversation are happening off campuses and forums as well, in public forums and among artists, writers, independent research and so on—I much rather see that, than the total write off of universities as irrelevant or parochial. I think that’s as it should be; without this exchange and dialogue academia is really not functioning as intended.
JSTOR, my love - I was married to it while working on my PhD and I miss having full access to it since. Sigh.
Loved reading this.
Same! Did you check to see if your public library has full access to JSTOR? You can access JSTOR through the Austin Public Library. I do miss having access to all the online archives and databases that are now behind institutional paywalls and why I feel so strongly about open access.
I work in a public library and we don’t have access - it’s very expensive! At least JSTOR offers limited access for free, but it’s not the same - although I don’t need it like I did when I was working on my degree.
It’s hurts my brain and soul to think that public libraries have to pay to have access to information. Public libraries shouldn’t be expected to pay, it is just wrong. The prices for academic journals/books/databases are absolutely insane.
We pay for a lot of databases for our patrons to use (so they can read them for free) but academic ones aren’t usually what the public library patron is looking to use, so I don’t think our collection development team can justify paying for it when we could be spending the funds on what our patrons need instead.
I figure the writers and editors of the articles probably should get paid somehow - but then, I’ve never been paid for any of my academic publications, so where is that subscription money going? That’s the question. If I was getting paid, I could understand why there is a fee, but if I’m not, where does that money (and as you say, the prices are insane) go?
What a way to end the day with a nice, thoughtful read. Thank you.
You just made my evening. Thank you, Loryne. Thank you for reading.
I enjoyed the article - thank you. I am in a similar mode myself and observe one aspect I’m unsure I like (about myself). I am v.happy to read/think/research and structure for myself (all inward activities) though have absolutely no interest in writing/sharing in a wider domain. If folk ask me about these things (my areas of focus), I can talk about the ideas forever but don’t seem to want to “shout out” or write/share. Is it maybe fear ( have happily presented ideas/reports in a work context), I think of this research is my own private/hobby - as you say leisure.
Wow, insightful article - I’m glad you’re doing more of what makes you happy. Thanks for the tools too :)
You are so welcome! Thank you for the kind words and for reading 📖.
Also, another way I like to think of research is as “chasing dopamine.” Not in the quick, cheap kinda way; but the “follow your excitement” kinda way
I think our society has conditioned people to not listen to their feelings especially those of excitement or curiosity. These things can undermine or be a threat to the systems we have in place, curiosity/leisure/research get in the way of systems extracting as much labor as possible from people.
Nice piece Olga. I think (don’t quote me tho) that originally “leisure” and “education” meant the same thing, or were considered very similar, before the school industrial complex drove a wedge between the two.
Thank you, Harrison! There’s so much to unpack with the word and concept of leisure. The ancient Roman concept of otium or a type of contemplative way of life specifically taking place in the countryside focused on intellectual self-improvement that very much can be equated to education in our day and age.
I loved reading this so much, articles like this get me in such an energetic mood to dig the internet and learn. I get it when you wonder where the last 8 years went and the bitter realisation of the passion not followed and whole the research time, lost - until now
Thank you so much, Carole! Means the absolute world to me. I’m going to try and get back into more archival research, too. As well as collecting oral histories from interviews. Thanks for acknowledging those difficult feelings and thoughts, it took a lot to trauma informed therapy to work through those limited beliefs that kept me feeling stuck in regret mode.
ah! wow i came across this piece on notes and resonate with your sentiment surrounding research a lot. i think i am still unlearning institutional research practices made for/by academia.
i think there is beauty in research that happens very organically. whether it’s going down a web rabbit hole or archiving a bunch of papers to read for later, i’ve been savoring the process that isn’t necessarily driven by output, timeline, or productivity. i think this is one of the reasons why i joined substack!! for academic freedom and to explore as i please :~) thank you for sharing your words!
I couldn’t agree more, Eileen! It took me ages and I’m honestly still unlearning the unhelpful modes of thinking about research, my work, myself, etc.
Academia promotes this very strong bond between research output and self worth. I think this has a largely negative effect on what I call the academic “ego” that instills in most faculty that they have to preserve the status quo of current institutions or else they risk devaluing their own academic work/worth.
Thank you so much for reading! 📖 means a lot, Eileen!
This was so good to read! I love that you quoted a few Substacks (that I also like!) as your inspiration :) The idea of 'otium' is indeed something we've lost and you're right in saying that academia blurs the lines a bit. It seems like the ultimate luxury to be researching for a living but then we're back to it being all work and no play. Talking about bullet journals, have you explored the concepts of 'second brain'? (not saying it's a MUST but it has some useful ideas that you might find useful)
Thank you, Barbs! I really appreciate you taking the time to read my work. There is so much to unpack when it comes leisure and academia. I think a lot of people and different media have a tendency to idealize the concept of academia or living a life of a professor, as if it is all reading, writing, and doing archival research full of sabbaticals. I watched way too many Woody Allen movies before going to graduate school.
The recent professionalization of the professoriate has really challenged this notion. Most faculty are overworked, stressed, and trying to prove to the academic world of their intellectual worth. Professors are tied to campus for most of their lives, with a handful of years dedicated solely to research.
The ultimate luxury is to be an independent researcher meaning being independently wealthy to pursue full-time research. The next essay will be on this very topic, the intersection of research and wealth. I will definitely be talking about 'Otium' since access to leisure in ancient Rome was very much tied to wealth.
Yes, I have heard of 'second brain.' I have a strange fascination with productivity systems.
That's going to be another very interesting read! Can't wait :)
archive.org is great for books
Absolutely! Public domain and public archives are so important.
Keep exploring!
Outstanding article. It is filled with the importance of discernment. With so much information out there, you have outlined a way to discern and to seek which is essential today in learning and acquiring knowledge and wisdom.
Thank you for the excellent meditations and resources! I love the idea of scheduling leisure time into one's schedule each week.