4.0334 Queries II: Job for USSR Emigre; Heisenberg (2/38)
Elaine Brennan & Allen Renear (EDITORS@BROWNVM.BITNET)
Tue, 31 Jul 90 22:46:31 EDT
Humanist Discussion Group, Vol. 4, No. 0334. Tuesday, 31 Jul 1990.
(1) Date: Tue, 31 Jul 90 16:11:13 EDT (11 lines)
From: Willard McCarty <MCCARTY@vm.epas.utoronto.ca>
Subject: jobs in the West for Russians?
(2) Date: Mon, 30 Jul 90 21:59:30 EDT (27 lines)
From: Sarah L. Higley <slhi@uhura.cc.rochester.edu>
Subject: an uncertain humanist
(1) --------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 31 Jul 90 16:11:13 EDT
From: Willard McCarty <MCCARTY@vm.epas.utoronto.ca>
Subject: jobs in the West for Russians?
Is there any mechanism for individuals who wish to emigrate from the
USSR to get jobs in the West? I have an inquiry from a highly qualified
computational linguist and lexicographer, but I have no idea what to
suggest to him. Any assistance will, I'm sure, be appreciated.
Willard McCarty
(2) --------------------------------------------------------------39----
Date: Mon, 30 Jul 90 21:59:30 EDT
From: Sarah L. Higley <slhi@uhura.cc.rochester.edu>
Subject: an uncertain humanist
How many times have you read or heard of Heisenberg's Uncertainty
Principle applied to literary criticism and theories of reading? The
"Uncertainty Principle" declares that we can never chart the exact
position and velocity of an electron without moving it off course; if we
were to direct a beam of photon particles at it (the most exact way of
measuring its position) these would alter it. The more we refine our
beam the greater energy it emits and the more we disturb the object of
our scrutiny. This theory did in the major claims of determinism and
introduced an element of uncertainty into all modes of inquiry;
obviously, it is consonant with many post-modern concepts of reading.
The more we shed light on the text, the more it moves away from us. I
came to Heisenberg independently through my interest in science fiction,
but I was warned against using it in my analysis of uncooperative Welsh
poems because it was "trite." This from a colleague. Okay, just how
trite is it? "EVERYone these days is applying Heisenberg's Uncertainty
Principle to the study of texts. Jesus. Get original." Fine. Who has
quoted him and where? (no answer) So I pose it to you with keen
memories. I want some names.
Just a medievalist and a science fictionist who thinks that it is not
WHOM you quote that makes you original but HOW you quote whom.
Sarah Higley slhi@uhura.cc.rochester.edu