Thread by @page88

Now we’re talking.

Come for the Gramsci, stay for the Saussure.

https://twitter.com/marclamonthill/status/1404858163732664322

Important to note that Dr. James Lindsay (Ph.D., mathematics, 2010) is most known as a hoaxer who considers the language of the humanities gibberish and likes to send it up (as so many have done since the early 90s).

Where Marc Lamont Hill (Ph.D., American Studies, 2005 [I think]) has, along w/his work in journalism, directed a dozen dissertations & has a frankly exhausting CV that includes, among too many books & articles w/illustrious publishers to count, fluent Spanish & solid Arabic.

Dr. Lindsay is trained as a mathematician. His dissertation at the University of Tennessee is called “Combinatorial Unification of Binomial-Like Arrays.” Holy sh-t.

I’m not a mathematician but I assume Lindsay’s work makes a meaningful & erudite contribution to the subject of combinatorial unification of binomial-like arrays. And that my mystification at this string of words, and impulse to parody it, is NOT of interest or use to anyone.

AND because the topic intimidates me I like to think I’d ask Lindsay questions & be willing to learn in good faith rather than defend my ignorance & fear of high-level mathematics with all my might.

Lindsay is a person who does NOT think this is gibberish!!

“it is possible to expand the polynomial (x + y)n into a sum involving terms of the form axbyc, where the exponents b & c are nonnegative integers with b + c = n”

And Hill is a person who ON TV can tease out what’s compelling abt his own rarefied subject for a general, if educated, audience. Sure Hill “wins” this TV bloodsport. But much more importantly, he makes a crucial distinction b/n Gramsci (& Frankfurt) & Saussure.

I hope that Lindsay goes back to binomials, the subject on which he must have surer footing (and less anxiety), and that Hill continues to teach a broad audience about the rigors and subtleties of critical theory, now that for once it’s in the news!

Fwiw I tried my best with @kmele to make the case for CRT as above all damned interesting yesterday. Wish I’d had Hill’s dexterity.

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