It's true what conservatives say: we college professors exert a dangerous influence over our students.
Walking into class today, I was hailed by a student who had taken Shakespeare with me last semester, but whom I'd known only slightly. After a moment or two of how-was-your-summer chit-chat, she held up her inside right wrist to show me the tattoo emblazoned there: MEMENTO MORI.
"That day you brought in the skull?" She said. "And wrote this on the board? That really stuck with me."
So there you have it: I inspire students to deface their bodies and meditate on death. And I couldn't be more proud.
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commented at 3:53 PM~
I (re-)discovered your blog randomly by typing in something ridiculous ("Who needs a Miltonist?") into Google.
By the way, I was at the same conference in London. Not sure how I feel about it--I found it at once very fun and productive and demoralizing.
Hmm. Somehow this attempt at an online greeting sounds creepy.
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Thoroughly Educated commented at 5:13 PM~
I, too, have had students get tatoos as a result of their classes with me. ("Wyrd", in this case.) I'm not sure I can really shoulder that responsibility. I think I'd rather not know.
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Flavia commented at 5:40 PM~
TE: That's awesome. We should form a club.
EF: You know, I saw that search in my stats the other day and was curious about it. I'm guessing that I know who you are, just by name and by sight--I saw someone who might have been you, close enough for nametag reading, and noted that said person taught at an institution where a good grad school friend of mine--also an Early Modernist--recently started teaching, and almost introduced myself. (Also, hell: young people were scarce on the ground at that conference, and I had a weird sense that it my duty to get to know all those who were. . . a sense that was tempered, however, by my desire not to seem like a crazy person.)
So yeah. Now I'm the creepy stalker. But if that sounds like it might be you, feel free to drop an email.
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neo commented at 6:43 PM~
I loff you.
... That's all.
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Renaissance Girl commented at 7:17 PM~
Probably you shouldn't teach Titus Andronicus.
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medieval woman commented at 8:50 PM~
I think that needs an entirely separate section on your CV.
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commented at 9:24 PM~
Good god, I forgot all about stats and tracking hits. "Who needs a Miltonist" is weird enough, but I sure am glad I didn't type in something gross like "Milton + skimpy lingerie."
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Sisyphus commented at 9:32 PM~
I can only aspire to such heights of student corruption. Nevertheless, I will continue to work at it!
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Doctor Cleveland commented at 10:23 PM~
I like to think of Flavia as leading a tribe of highly literate bikers.
Skull tattoos for all!
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life_of_a_fool commented at 10:23 PM~
that's awesome. I agree with M.W.- add that to your cv! :)
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Flavia commented at 12:14 PM~
RG: now that's something to aspire to.
Later, during the class's 10-15 minutes of student introductions, the woman in question showed off and explained her tattoo. I saw looks of bafflement and vague concern on several faces--as if trying to figure out what weird cult of personality they'd accidentally signed up for.
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hck commented at 2:58 AM~
Great posting! Thanks! I linked to it (with some comments) over at
http://www.phil-hum-ren.uni-muenchen.de/W4RF/YaBB.pl?num=1219822557/#1
I don't know whether I should envy those teaching on Shakespeare, or just rest in awe, and consider myself that I don't teach on Shakespeare ... [:-)] ... .
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Meansomething commented at 5:54 PM~
Fabulous, fabulous story.
When I went to AWP last year, I collected pencils and trinkets from the book fair for my workshop students. By far the most popular souvenirs were the temporary tattoos handed out at the Kenyon Review booth: a little drawing of a skull with the words "Write Hard, Die Free." Maybe some university press will make up "Memento Mori" temporary tattoos to hand out at this year's MLA!
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Tenured Radical commented at 9:12 AM~
Maybe I'll get Carpe Diem tattooed on my forehead......
TR
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Pamphilia commented at 3:28 PM~
I am, like, so totally jealous. My students don't get tatoos, or piercings or slash their tee-shirts. It's a J., J. Crew world, down here in the south. Did I mention I was jealous?
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Pamphilia commented at 3:31 PM~
PS Can I have your tattooed students come and be my material texts when we cover Juliet Fleming's chapter in my Renaissance poetry show-and-tell class?
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Flavia commented at 6:04 PM~
P: you betcha!
