The Sidney Awards

Links to some great reading ... here and here

[sic]

Okay, this is a little strange but here goes. Anyone reading academic articles inevitably comes across that little notation "sic", inserted to indicate an error in whatever one is quoting. "Sic", which translates from the Latin as "Thus,so", is meant to indicate that the error is present in the original and not through the fault or oversight of the present writer.

I've always wondered why people bother – might as well just correct the 'error', especially if it's a grammatical or spelling mistake. But "sic" is often used as a dig at whomever one quotes as well. First, it demonstrates fallibility in one's sources, especially useful if you're arguing against them. Second, "sic" can be put to ideological uses as well. If one reads feminist journals, one comes across examples such as

"Speech is no mere verbalization of conflicts and systems of domination. . . it is the very object of man's [sic] conflicts" (Foucault 1972b, 216)

I'm assuming that "sic" was used because the authors of the essay objected to Foucault's (or the translator of Foucault's) universalizing use of "man" to refer to "humankind".

And what really prompted this entry. Check out the multiple "sic"s on the tracklisting of this CD of Rev. Gary Davis, one of the greatest blues/ragtime/gospel fingerstyle guitarists that ever recorded material! I can't for the life of me figure out why "sic" is used here. Ok ... maybe "Baby, What You Going To Do" (track 3) is ungrammatical (but come on, it's a title and these are the blues... ) and perhaps these were titles the Rev. gave to his performances aren't the proper ones.

Anyway – it's just really strange.

Nothing but the Radio on ...

It must be the terrible weather that makes you turn on the radio a lot (internet radio in this case) and hang out with voices coming across the void on waves of sound. A few weeks ago, we attended a "Sweet Honey in the Rock" concert. It was superb acapella singing for over two hours and extremely inspiring as well. I'd learnt about the group when I was in JC (and getting into the whole protest music phase) and it was a real treat to watch them in concert. Anyway, here's a link to the NPR page where they perform and talk about their music. At least listen to the track "I Remember, I Believe", which was written by the founder of the group Bernice Johnson Reagon. It's a tremendously good song and it's sung fantastically by the group.

Another thing I've been listening to is the "Prairie Home Companion". It sounds silly, but there's some great humor and bluegrass, folk, jazz, and gospel on the program. The host, Garrison Keller, is really funny and sings wonderfully too and they've got great special effects guys doing all sorts to sound effects acrobatics. A recent program featured Billy Collins, a former poet laureate whose office was right opposite mine at Lehman College (Never caught a glimpse of him though -- must have had different teaching days). Anyway, his poems are really great -- funny, smart and poignant. Here's a link to the program, and play the clip from about 10.35 to hear Collins read. The third poem, "Schoolsville", came on while I was picking up some groceries. He started reading it just about when I pulled into the carpark so I stayed in the car, because the moment was just perfect. The show also features the wonderful Madeleine Peyroux!