Many of you have probably also seen a recent spate of virtual posters that are supposed to humorous expressions of different views of various jobs, such as Professor, Scientist etc. The ones I have seen are more bizarre than funny, and some are a bit disturbing.
For example, in a poster about being a professor, there were different images for What My Parents Think I Do and What My Friends Think I Do. This distinction assumes that our Friends are not also Professors. I have some of both species of friends, but quite a few of my friends are professors. Those who are not professors don't have any more idea of what I do than my parents do; those who are professors (whether of not they are Science Professors) have a pretty good idea about my job.
That was just odd, but I was most puzzled by the What My Colleagues Think I Do image of an attractive female student in short-shorts leaning provocatively over the desk of a male professor. The images in the poster as a whole are of male and female professors, so there is no general assumption that professors = male, but this particular part of the poster is quite male-oriented. In any case, do colleagues really think that male professors spend their days like this? I rather doubt it. I think mostly we picture each other grading and attending meetings when not working on the next grant proposal or manuscript.
My personalized version of the poster would look something like this:
FSP
What My Parents Think I Do: ?
What My Friends Who Are Not Academics Think I Do: ?
What My Students Think I Do: ?
What My Spouse Thinks I Do: The Same Things He Does At Work
What My Colleagues Think I Do: The Same Things They Do At Work
What My Cats Think I Do:
What I Actually Do:
top: Picasso, Sleeping Woman Before Green Shutters
lower: Pollock, Number 8
For example, in a poster about being a professor, there were different images for What My Parents Think I Do and What My Friends Think I Do. This distinction assumes that our Friends are not also Professors. I have some of both species of friends, but quite a few of my friends are professors. Those who are not professors don't have any more idea of what I do than my parents do; those who are professors (whether of not they are Science Professors) have a pretty good idea about my job.
That was just odd, but I was most puzzled by the What My Colleagues Think I Do image of an attractive female student in short-shorts leaning provocatively over the desk of a male professor. The images in the poster as a whole are of male and female professors, so there is no general assumption that professors = male, but this particular part of the poster is quite male-oriented. In any case, do colleagues really think that male professors spend their days like this? I rather doubt it. I think mostly we picture each other grading and attending meetings when not working on the next grant proposal or manuscript.
My personalized version of the poster would look something like this:
FSP
What My Parents Think I Do: ?
What My Friends Who Are Not Academics Think I Do: ?
What My Students Think I Do: ?
What My Spouse Thinks I Do: The Same Things He Does At Work
What My Colleagues Think I Do: The Same Things They Do At Work
What My Cats Think I Do:
What I Actually Do:
top: Picasso, Sleeping Woman Before Green Shutters
lower: Pollock, Number 8