Fail We May, Sail We Must
Morning Comrades.
This is going to be a very short dispatch today. It’s 10pm on a Sunday and I am still wrapping, or rather trying to, my head around the last 72hours. As some of you may have picked up on social media over the weekend, I am, as of Friday last week, officially, a Doctor of Philosophy. A few short words about that shortly, but for now, let’s get you some new tunes.
Another week another 3hrs of whatever floated my boat last week. It’s definitely “out there” this time around but in a good way. Get into it, like it, share it and tune out. That’s all I can say about this one.
Semi-unexpectedly, I received the final confirmation that I am now officially done with this PhD. Nearly 6 years of continuously losing my mind, dealing with the a number of shitty circumstances, from Brexit to strikes, from teaching remote to having to do this damn thing on my own without much, if any guidance, all the while navigating the economic realities of being poor working class white trash that certainly doesn’t feel like they belong in this echelon of academia ( truthfully, I should really be in jail or in an asylum ) here we are.
There are too many thoughts and emotions floating around to go back to business as usual in regards to this newsletter so for the time being, let’s just say this: Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to everyone that was rooting for me, was involved in whatever way in this journey and that supported it. Emotionally, financially, physically. You know who you are. This award is as much your work than it is mine.
For anyone that is interested, and honestly, do not feel bad if you are not, I am going to include a download link to the introduction to this thesis. Specifically, it deals with the question of post socialism and post marxism in the historical context of Yugoslavia. It leans heavily on Gramsci and Althusser as well as the ever-long discussion of power from below and power from above. Gently put. I do not expect anyone to read to this, let alone enjoy it, but in the end, I did. What is important to remember is that this award is a tiny part of the reality we are all involved in, making the world we experience a better place today and tomorrow.
For the time being, I am tuning out and tuning in trying to navigate the feelings around this. From jubilation, to emptiness, from the massive case of imposter syndrome to some level of peace. One of these days I might come to some sort of peace with myself and what brought me here, today, to this point. For today, I am asking for your patience for me to collect my thoughts and continue this most enjoyable work that you allow me to do, here.
For the Revolution, for us and for them.
Yours, without compromise,
V.
Congratulations, Dr. Vogel!