Althouse: "Fat Studies."

November 4, 2010

"Fat Studies."

The college course.

50 comments:

rhhardin said...: I have a spectator's appreciation of the enormous overhang, but didn't know it could be made into a course.; 11/4/10, 10:19 PM
TomHynes said...: But being fat is contagious. The more fat friends you have, the more likely you will become obese.

http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-obesity-networks-20101104,0,1705270.story; 11/4/10, 10:21 PM
Jason said...: I think this is an excellent idea for a course.

Too bad the libtard liberal arts jerks are going to fuck it up.; 11/4/10, 10:25 PM
Irene said...: Diversity in a new dimension.; 11/4/10, 10:30 PM
MadisonMan said...: I rolled my eyes at the jargon: I tried to join a fat activist group, and I was rejected because I was not of size. How can you do a Fat Studies class if you're afraid to say the word fat?; 11/4/10, 10:36 PM
Bob_R said...: My life story made into a course. I'm thrilled.; 11/4/10, 10:38 PM
Unknown said...: This is why employers now want certifications in a lot of professions in preference over the much-sought degree.

Irene said...

Diversity in a new dimension.

Several, in some cases.

WV "bilicios" When it tastes good both ways.; 11/4/10, 10:39 PM
The Dude said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 11/4/10, 10:46 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: The mouth waters just thinking of the elective courses for those who major in fat studies:

How to bake the best chocolate chip cookies.
Big, fat juicy steaks done right.
The best french fries- McDonald's or your local cheesesteak shop?
Pork - the white meat.
You can live without broccoli.
Eat bacon & eggs for breakfast, lunch & dinner.
Fat - everybody dies of something so what's the big deal about a few extra lbs?; 11/4/10, 11:05 PM
Peter Hoh said...: I'll bring the donuts.; 11/4/10, 11:09 PM
Wince said...: Notice, for this article on "Fat Studies," The Daily Beast replaced the ubiquitous Althouse-at-study Icon with this.; 11/5/10, 12:44 AM
The Scythian said...: Althouse,

You're a professor, right?

Do people at colleges and universities get bonuses for coming up with the /least/ useful and relevant classes or something like that?

Like, they're just making up shit to stack on other made up shit at this point. Eventually, the bubble has to pop, doesn't it?; 11/5/10, 1:20 AM
traditionalguy said...: The fattest thing here is the education bubble that is about to end like the Dot Com bubble and the Housing bubbles ended.; 11/5/10, 5:15 AM
KCFleming said...: The ad next to it (for The Daily Beast and HP) reads (all caps):

IT'S TIME
TO DO
SOMETHING
BIG

Heh.; 11/5/10, 6:29 AM
Michael said...: It's about time. I have been looking to hire a few dozen people with this specialty and have come up empty as it were. I would prefer if they had a dual major in Womens
Studies but as long as they can pronounce hegemony I will let it go. We are building a big new kitchen so that should be a plus, a magnet hopefully.; 11/5/10, 6:31 AM
Clyde said...: I think it's all psychosofatic: The fat is all in their heads.; 11/5/10, 6:35 AM
KCFleming said...: "Xxxxx Studies" remains a singular marker for future employment as a barista.

"Fat Studies" is sure sign of the education bubble about to pop. So to speak.; 11/5/10, 6:35 AM
Nancy said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 11/5/10, 6:38 AM
The Dude said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 11/5/10, 6:41 AM
Scott M said...: You do realize, of course, that Rome collapsed under the weight of it's Fat Studies courses.; 11/5/10, 7:02 AM
tjl said...: "Xxxxx Studies" remains a singular marker for future employment as a barista."

Barista isn't the prime career for fat-studies graduates. Caffeine burns calories. McDonalds is a much better fit (so to speak) for their interests, training, and natural aptitude.; 11/5/10, 7:24 AM
lemondog said...: How can you do a Fat Studies class if you're afraid to say the word fat?

The other 'F' word.

Do I need a pc dictionary listing all the letters for all the words which cannot be uttered?

"Fat Studies" is sure sign of the education bubble about to pop. So to speak.

Seems to me we have a ways to go. Other suggested courses:

Short studies
Bald studies
Too tall studies
Big feet studies extended to include
*Flat
*High-arched
*Pigeon-Toed
Pock-marked face studies
Hirsute studies including hairy
*Face
*Back
*Legs
*Arms including under
*Ass
etc.; 11/5/10, 7:34 AM
TWM said...: Very un-PC . . . shouldn't that be BBW and BBM studies?; 11/5/10, 7:36 AM
KCFleming said...: Adiposity seems the better term; pretentious prolixity ideal for the postmodern bullshit factory.

Why use one syllable when five will do?; 11/5/10, 7:46 AM
Mr.Brightside said...: interesting post.
supporting!; 11/5/10, 8:01 AM
Shanna said...: teaches a course on weight and society at George Washington University

Oh god, this is my alma mater! Although we did have these one off classes called "700 series" that were not part of the core curriculum in any way and were basically experimental classes about random stuff, so maybe this is one of those.; 11/5/10, 8:03 AM
ErnieG said...: Lemondog is on to something. The list could go on. Take Ugly Studies: I couldn't join the Ugly Support group because I wasn't of appearance.

Then there could be Trifecta Studies, featuring unfortunate combinations of social stigmata, as illustrated by the following parody:

Short and fat and dumb and ugly
The girl from Ipanema goes schleppin'...; 11/5/10, 8:07 AM
Mr.Brightside said...: interesting post.
supporting!; 11/5/10, 8:09 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Colleges, like any other enterprise in bad economic times, should cut the fat first and then raise...

Oh wait a minute ;); 11/5/10, 8:10 AM
The Dude said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 11/5/10, 8:10 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: I suppose the fat cats that Obama talks about have to go to school too.. No?; 11/5/10, 8:14 AM
Scott M said...: eems to me we have a ways to go. Other suggested courses:

Short studies
Bald studies
Too tall studies
Big feet studies extended to include
*Flat
*High-arched
*Pigeon-Toed
Pock-marked face studies
Hirsute studies including hairy
*Face
*Back
*Legs
*Arms including under
*Ass
etc.

I am a man from Nantucket. There is no support group or studies course for my particular "affliction".; 11/5/10, 8:16 AM
KCFleming said...: If they want to attract young men, 'Fart Studies' would be popular.

vw: fater; 11/5/10, 8:25 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: The cocaine studies..

Where I got high scores ;); 11/5/10, 8:26 AM
Anonymous said...: But despite such courses' popularity among students, critics worry that such classes emphasize bleeding-heart politics over intellectual rigor.

Really? You think?; 11/5/10, 8:28 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Is this is what they mean by bringing home the bacon?; 11/5/10, 8:29 AM
KCFleming said...: Laziness Studies and Fat Studies seem like a good double major.

Why not just a Seven Deadly Sins Studies ?; 11/5/10, 8:34 AM
Scott M said...: Well, I suppose Fat Studies offers a rare opportunity for the students to mirror the costs of education...bloated.; 11/5/10, 8:34 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: The fat studies classroms will have to have a robust fire code.. an emergency door a la Jet Blue..

safety first.; 11/5/10, 8:35 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Fat Studies students have to pay double for the use of the gym.

call it the Kevin Smith fee.; 11/5/10, 8:41 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Of course as a female Fat Studies student you will fall under title 12.. title 9 just wont do.; 11/5/10, 8:44 AM
Anonymous said...: If you major in 'Fat'(studies) and have a double minor in 'Black'(studies) and 'Women'(studies)
you will have a degree in Fat Black Women.; 11/5/10, 9:02 AM
Scott M said...: If you major in 'Fat'(studies) and have a double minor in 'Black'(studies) and 'Women'(studies)
you will have a degree in Fat Black Women.

Doesn't that fully qualify you to work in a barbershop?; 11/5/10, 9:05 AM
Anonymous said...: "Doesn't that fully qualify you to work in a barbershop?"

No. You have to have a license to work in a barber of beauty shop but you are a perfect fit for that graveyard shift at Burger King.; 11/5/10, 9:09 AM
Scott M said...: If you major in 'Fat'(studies) and have a double minor in 'Black'(studies) and 'Women'(studies)
you will have a degree in Fat Black Women.

If you swap out the Fat Studies for Progressive Studies in the above mix, does that give you a degree in Angry Black Women?

WV - "ousisota" the little-known 51st state, carved out of the only cool parts of MN.; 11/5/10, 9:16 AM
KCFleming said...: "...the only cool parts of MN..."

Purely apocryphal, then.; 11/5/10, 9:18 AM
Anonymous said...: "If you swap out the Fat Studies for Progressive Studies in the above mix, does that give you a degree in Angry Black Women?"

I think that is a post-grad program.; 11/5/10, 9:21 AM
prairie wind said...: Sounds more like group therapy than studying.; 11/5/10, 9:35 AM
jr565 said...: a fat activist group? Does every single thing need to be part of an activist group? Help the fatties of the world overcome the oppression of the skinny overlords!; 11/5/10, 10:12 AM
Trooper York said...: The is a whole politics of weight thing going around. Most people just joke about it which is fine. We normally don't react until our ox gets gored. But the use of weight issuses to drive things like taxation (soda taxes) medical care (Weight panels that Michele Obama wants to institute) and even banning TV actors because they are too fat (see Mike and Molly controversy with that ignorant twat Maura Kelly of Marie Claire).

Since an abosolute majority of Americans would be classified as "overweight" maybe we should look at it.

I don't think there should be a college course though. I think most college courses are a waste of time. That's why professors...no all teachers should be replaced with robots.; 11/5/10, 11:42 AM