For the first four weeks of my summer, I'm here at Wabash trying to publish one of my papers I wrote this past semester. The goal for this internship is to write an article discussing the interaction between race and humor; because race is such a sensitive subject for many to discuss, one "safe" way to begin the discussion is by using humor. Thus, we're doing a rhetorical analysis of how humor is an effective means to discuss race. We want to submit this article to a rhetorical studies journal. 

It's really funny how this project came about. It really began when I was in 10th grade. My cousin, Rodney, introduced me to this comic strip The Boondocks. He was always talking about how hilarious it was. So I began reading it and slowly became obsessed with the strip. It was some of the wittiest stuff I had ever read. The strip is all about race, but it mostly is a critique of Black culture... and its a pretty sharp critique to say the least. Because we didn't get the newspaper everyday, I began getting the strip emailed to me daily... so I could keep up with what was going on. 

I was ecstatic when I learned that the strip was being transformed into a TV show. I watched and just really admired the creator of the strip, Aaron McGruder. When I sat in Dr. Timmerman's class on humor this past semester, he asked us to pick an artifact that we found funny. I immediately thought of the Boondocks. I asked Grant Gussman if he was interested in working together on the assignment (I wanted to partner with him because he had just beaten in me in the Oratorical Contest again... was hoping to learn a thing or two). 

He agreed and when ended up writing a really insightful essay. Timmerman praised it and said that it was worthy of publication. Now all three of us are trying to extend it to about 25 pages and get it ready for a rhetorical studies journal.

I think the plan is to do most of the writing this week. We've been trying to outline where we want to go, and I think we have solidified a good thesis. But we'll see. 

I hope we get a draft done by the end of the week.

Posted by Daniel King at 11:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Today ended an era. Some of my favorite people have graduated, and now they are going into the "real world." I still can't believe that they're leaving Wabash. I know, I saw them accept their degrees, but it saddens me to know that I want see them again at meals, at parties, or just chillin' in the stairwell when I return to campus. 

Even more surreal, I am halfway done with Wabash. It feels like just yesterday I was being "rung in" with the rest of 2010. I still remember when the night when I met all my pledge brothers... all the good times we had during pledgeship.... all the good times we had after pledgeship ended. And now, I can't believe 2 years have gone by. 

 I keep wondering how to make the most of my time here. It feels like it just keeps slipping away. Its kinda like I have cupped my hands together to hold water, but the water just keeps flowing through the cracks in my hand. Sometimes I wish I could just stop time and have revel in the moment.

However, no matter how sad I am that the seniors on going on, I am really proud of them. They made it through, and they have some exciting times ahead of them. Congratulations class of 2008!

Posted by Daniel King at 08:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)