Why is everyone in graduate school so awkward? I went to a party this weekend, and I met a bunch of new people, most of them in the history department, all of them supremely awkward. Which made me concerned. Is this all of us? Is it that the more interested in history you become, the more your social skills decline? Is it inescapable? Am I becoming one of them? Am I already one of them?

Second week of classes over already? Sheesh. It's my last semester of classes, can you believe it? After this semester, it's all oral exams and dissertation. I thought I would miss classes, but I don't think I will, because too many I've taken haven't been that great. And yet I've had to read all the books, even when they're stupid; and sit in class discussions I couldn't contribute to, because they were stupid; and write papers at the end, even though they've been stupid, too.

It occurs to me that I may still be bitter about my film theory class from last semester. Any class that ever, at any point, poses the question, "How would Zizek repond to this?" had better also have previously provided me with an easy-to-read chart of possible answers. Because the best I can do is, "Probably in Slovene, before making a mental translation into English." So. After this semester, I can audit courses, so I can skip out of any class meetings requiring Continental philosophy as an unannounced prerequisite.

Listen, okay, Claudia, that was last year. Black Eyed Peas: Two thousand and late." Stella Adler: "Don't go back, go on." New semester, new times! Here's the lineup:

1. Research Seminar in Urban History

I have a lot riding on this class. At the end of the research seminar, we're meant to have produced a significant piece of original research, ready (or nearly ready) for submission to an academic journal. I totally need this kind of focus; don't tell anyone, but I don't know how to research. Also, I'm using this to try out an idea a project that may be able to turn into dissertation. And if my idea doesn't work, I have no idea what I'm going to for a dissertation. More on that as I work on it.

2. Sexual Modernity and Censorship: Lubitsch and Wilder

We're looking at the movies of writer-directors Ernst Lubitsch and Billy Wilder, and how their films played around with sexual relationships and the Production Code. Billy Wilder's movies you may know: Sunset Boulevard (1950), The Apartment (1960), Some Like It Hot (1959). Lubitsch is less well-known these days, mostly I think because his films are older. I loved The Merry Widow (1934) at one point in my life -- that Maurice Chevalier, what an adorable French rake. You may know The Shop around the Corner (1940) with Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullavan. Or you may know its remake, You've Got Mail (1998). (Interestingly, the original does much less stripping-the-female-of-everything-she-is-in-order-to-fit-her-into-the -male's-world-order.) And oh, my god, watch Ninotchka (1939) if you have any interest in feeling joy. Note: This is my last semester of class and yet my first seminar in Hollywood cinema, which was what I thought I came back to school for. But let's not talk about that.

3. Theatricality in Film.

I have no idea what this class is about, really, except that it's about time for me to take another film class to fulfill my requirement, and about time to take a class with Brigitte Peucker (MHC '60!), who I expect will be overseeing one of my oral exam areas. Once I figure out what it means to be "theatrical" in the context of film, I'll have a better idea of what I should be doing in here. Does it mean to be explicitly connected to a theatrical property? Does it mean to have a stripped-down production design? Does it mean to be uncommonly dramatic/melodramatic? My first reaction to the course was, "Well, once it's on film, it's cinematic, so it's no longer theatrical." That shuts down the conversation pretty quickly, though.

Off to read a book or two. As a last thought: I'm sure that everyone has done what they can to support the rescue and recovery efforts in Haiti. If you are looking for a way to do something else, keep Heifer International in mind. They have been supporting over 16,000 families in Haiti, and so many of them will need to start over. This is one way to offer a different kind of assistance, as the recovery phase moves into the rebuilding phase, and moves off of the front pages.

My second and final piece of writing for the Paley Center for Media is up on the Perspectives on Media section! (The first piece was on Def Comedy Jam, you may or may not remember.) It's the first link: "What Girls Want: 70 Years of Pop Idols and Audiences." If you have any interest in girls, pop, idols, or audiences, then I am sure you will find it brilliant and fascinating. But even if you don't, and if you read it, let me know what you think!

Also, sorry my blog sucks as of late. I've been doing other stuff. Though if you asked me what, I honestly couldn't tell you.