Shot In The Dark: I See Foucaultian People

August 08, 2005

I See Foucaultian People

Someone's working on getting PhD in Air Guitar:

MEET madcap Amanda Griffiths of Chorlton, the PhD student who is studying for a doctorate - in air guitar.

Amanda is researching the phenomena of playing along to famous electric guitar solos with nothing more in your hands than a fistful of fresh air as part of her doctorate at the University of Salford.

And the 32-year-old is even a special guest at the Air Guitar World Championships held in Oulu, where she will give a lecture on the subject.

I've wondered for years; should I go back to grad school someday?

I mean, on the one hand having a PhD would have little bearing on the work I do or how I do it.

On the other; it's sure be great for those NARN episodes when King is all "I'm the only academic! I'm the only academic!".

Oh, yeah. I'm getting that PhD in Air Guitar.

My dissertation; the Physics Of the Windmill.

Her love of the invisible instrument first became serious in 2002 when she came fourth in the UK championships.

Her success inspired her to study the subject in more detail - leading to the invitation to attend the multi-national competition.

Amanda said: “It’s an honour to be asked to lecture at what is the biggest event in any air guitarist’s calendar.

Well, until you get to the Nobel conference.

Posted by Mitch at August 8, 2005 06:30 AM | TrackBack

Comments

If I send her my air guitar in the mail, do you think she'll sign it for me?

Posted by: Terry at August 8, 2005 08:26 AM

Hey, it beats a masters degree in the Skin Flute.

Thank you, don't forget to tip your waitress.

Posted by: cleversponge at August 8, 2005 09:56 AM

Is the diploma an "empty frame"?

Posted by: LarryA at August 8, 2005 11:04 AM

Larry: good one. That joke really struck a chord with me. I guess some degrees really are just about going through the motions.

Posted by: cleversponge at August 8, 2005 11:07 AM

Mitch: "My dissertation; the Physics Of the Windmill."

I take your point on the Air Guitar thing; it's absurd.

But unless you're especially good at solving turbulent flow fluid dynamics problems, I'd not recommend going for a PhD in Windmill physics. If you find those trivial, let's just say that I stand in awe of your mathematical proficiency.

Posted by: Doug Sundseth at August 8, 2005 11:32 AM

I'd have never fingered Larry OR Sponge to fret about such things.

Sometimes I'm slow to pick up on things - frequently, I don't know jack about them - but I put great stock in bridging such gaps.

Posted by: mitch at August 8, 2005 11:32 AM

Doug,

Ooof. Jargon lets me down.

When you're a guitar player, "windmill" is when you swing your arm around clockwise (from your point of view) at full length to strum the strings violently from below, a la Pete Townsend.

Posted by: mitch at August 8, 2005 11:34 AM

"Jargon lets me down."

And passes so far over my head that I couldn't even see its contrail. (I assert that is because it's a dry day; hence not my fault.)

Posted by: Doug Sundseth at August 8, 2005 11:48 AM

Mitch, wow that was quite the string of puns. However, as always I have an axe to grind with you about your conservative choice of puns. You are too scaled back in your approach. Don't fret, there is always time to change; we won't barre you from the light side. Slide on over.

Posted by: cleversponge at August 8, 2005 01:44 PM

FOUL! called on Cleversponge - re-using previously-used pun ("fret").

One comment penalty.

Thread started over from point of infraction!

Posted by: Charles at August 8, 2005 02:57 PM

Damnit! I knew I should have double checked.

Posted by: cleversponge at August 8, 2005 05:54 PM

Damnit! I knew I should have double checked.

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