The Bwog
Profs Say: Ridiculous Moments in Lit Theory Edition (I)
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This guy was really overdue for his own edition of Profs Say, seeing that Bruce Robbins loves offsetting his typically grave delivery with the occasional zinger--some of them completely over the heads of their intended recipients. This is by turns uncomfortable and hilarious to watch, espcially when said zingers crop up in bizarrely theoretical places. From today's lecture:

"(Psychoanalyst) Jacques Lacan didn't have much time for therapy. That's actually quite funny, but you wouldn't know why."

Ouch. But on second thought, ha! Good one, Bruce!

Read more: Bruce Robbins, Profs Say The Darndest Things

October 8, 2007 @ 5:15 PM | Comments 23 comments | Add comment Post a comment | Link to this article | | | Share on Facebook

Posted by Dear lord: [#1] [reply] [track]
( posted October 8, 2007 at 5:41 PM )
Did you guys post this STRAIGHT FROM LECTURE??

I just got out of this class what, like ten minutes ago??!
Posted by or even: [#2] [reply] [track]
( posted October 8, 2007 at 6:00 PM )
during lecture. but this is a perfect encapsulation of what makes me want to have this man's bald babies and then choke the life out of him.
Posted by Come on: [#3] [reply] [track]
( posted October 8, 2007 at 6:02 PM )
It's really disgusting that BWOG exploits teachers for entertainment like this. I've watched some of these posts being written in class on the laptops of students who make equally as obnoxious if not more pretentious comments than even your most arrogant Columbia professor. It's a cowardly thing to do, and I believe the writer of this post knows it, judging by the fact that he/she doesn't have the testicular fortitude/vaginal depth to leave his/hers initials.
Posted by unless: [#4] [reply] [track] (in reply to #2)
( posted October 8, 2007 at 6:05 PM )
it's evidence of my being dense that I meant the same thing you meant and interpreted it incorrectly. but my second point still stands.
Posted by You know: [#5] [reply] [track]
( posted October 8, 2007 at 6:19 PM )
what's not cowardly is trashing Bwog on Bwog and posting anonymously. Now that's testicular depth.
Posted by Come on yourself: [#6] [reply] [track] (in reply to #3)
( posted October 8, 2007 at 6:29 PM )
Brucey is a big boy. I think he can take care of himself without having you self-righteously voice your outrage in an attempt to defend him.

I also don't think he'd mind at all having some of his comments in lecture posted on Bwog. It's not like we found his diary, and as much as I too would love to have his babies, I have to admit that he is entirely narcissistic enough to get a kick out of this post.
Posted by exploits?: [#7] [reply] [track] (in reply to #3)
( posted October 8, 2007 at 6:30 PM )
you make it sound like an episode of law and order: svu
Posted by And by the way: [#8] [reply] [track]
( posted October 8, 2007 at 6:35 PM )
Two other lines of Bruce Robbins awesomeness from the first lecture of the semester:

“...and there’s no midterm exam to keep you honest...this is REALLY a bad idea. I suppose I could threaten you with quizzes...

I’ll just let that hang in the air.”

“I will try to spoil whatever book on this list is your favorite, generally giving you a perverse and disgusting view of it...I get paid for this.”

Posted by grad: [#9] [reply] [track] (in reply to #3)
( posted October 8, 2007 at 6:40 PM )
Did you use the term "vaginal depth" as some sort of female equivalent to "balls", meaning courage? VAGINAL DEPTH?
Posted by Alum: [#10] [reply] [track] (in reply to #9)
( posted October 8, 2007 at 7:19 PM )
You took the words right out of my . . . well, never mind.
Posted by Don't get it: [#11] [reply] [track]
( posted October 8, 2007 at 8:22 PM )
Still don't see why it's funny.
Posted by 20th century: [#12] [reply] [track]
( posted October 8, 2007 at 8:22 PM )
Another quote from today's lecture (one that would definitely catch you off-guard if you happened to have zoned out for a couple): "You see, Duras' theory of the self is very omelet-like."
Posted by Probable explanation: [#13] [reply] [track] (in reply to #11)
( posted October 8, 2007 at 8:28 PM )
The point is not that there's something funny about it (although there undoubtedly is), but that Bruce Robbins is the kind of guy who will point out to you the following:

a) That something he's saying would be terribly funny/clever/witty to you if you were well-informed/well-read enough to know what he was talking about.

b) That you're not so it isn't.

c) That he isn't going to waste his lecture time explaining to you why it's funny if you don't know already, so just deal.
Posted by I don't think: [#14] [reply] [track]
( posted October 8, 2007 at 8:38 PM )
this counts as 'trashing professors.' Bwog is just repeating the professor's own words, after all...he said it first.
Posted by hehe: [#15] [reply] [track]
( posted October 8, 2007 at 8:42 PM )
I took his class a couple years ago. He was great.
Posted by right.: [#16] [reply] [track]
( posted October 8, 2007 at 9:02 PM )
are the people posting his "funny" quotes freshmen? honestly, you think this man is funny? to top it off, he's a horrible lecturer.
Posted by fdjgkh: [#17] [reply] [track]
( posted October 8, 2007 at 9:13 PM )
can some explain the actual joke, not the humor from how he delivered the joke belittling my intelligence, but the actual joke
Posted by Lacan: [#18] [reply] [track]
( posted October 8, 2007 at 9:54 PM )
wouldn't schedule regular appointments, because he didn't want to be cut off if something important would happen. Rather, he would work with the "rhythm" of the session, so you might end up there for five minutes or for a few hours. He completely disregarded time. Get it? Get it?

(That's so unfunny I almost hope it isn't the answer. But I think it is.)
Posted by Wowzas: [#19] [reply] [track]
( posted October 8, 2007 at 11:58 PM )
Do you cater to people who need it explained that Lacan was a psychoanalyst? Or is that a meta-joke?
Posted by number 12...: [#20] [reply] [track] (in reply to #12)
( posted October 9, 2007 at 12:46 AM )
...wasn't listening in lecture. it was homme-lette like. number 19 seeeeeems to be a douchebag
Posted by number 20: [#21] [reply] [track] (in reply to #20)
( posted October 9, 2007 at 7:39 AM )
I think number 12 knew that, and was only trying to spell it the "other" way so that people who weren't in lecture would think it was remotely funny.

No one would get "homme-lette" without Robbins's background story.
Posted by when I : [#22] [reply] [track]
( posted October 9, 2007 at 11:45 AM )
took the class like 3 years ago, brucey specifically played up the omlette/homme-lette pun. he needs new material, but i'd still have his babies
Posted by huh: [#23] [reply] [track] (in reply to #22)
( posted October 10, 2007 at 1:20 AM )
There must be something in the water, because my French prof made an omlette/hommelette joke today, too.
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