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Switching gears between talking about physics pedagogy and Technolust is pretty rough for me. Before I move onto film-mode (traveling from the island of science into the land of what david called the non-technical laypeople realm), I'd just like to reiterate one thing. I realize that I may seem a bit stubborn at times in my insistence on a need for changes in upper level physics pedagogy. And that may be confusing, since my experiences cannot be accessed as texts in the class the same way that something like Barad's writing can be. But I am stubborn because I really believe it's possible and necessary. It troubles me deeply to encounter the attitudes that both "real physics" cannot be understood without sophisticated math and physics for physicists cannot be taught in any new way without threatening students' graduate school chances. I am not interested in legitimizing barriers to knowledge. I agree with Liz that education and science literacy is about accessibility. And this accessibility cannot be gained with insistence on hierarchical models of knowledge. Just because a change in pedagogy is hard does not mean it is impossible or even would not be more effective. But all of this writing is just talk, since I am a physics drop-out and cannot actually teach innovative upper level courses myself. I don't know that all our critiques from mostly outside the physics community would be as effective as one person changing from within (i.e. Barad). After all, I'm just one of the non-technical laypeople now.

But back to Technolust-- Wow! I liked it! Not sure how I felt about the idea that a successful female scientist is, of course, a lonely, frustrated virgin who uses her mind to make herself a family that pursues sexual exploits she doesn't have the guts to. Weaponizing of sexuality/stealing masculinity certainly did not seem very new or interesting to me. What I was interested in was the exploration of personhood. I liked the parts about patenting life, talking in code (time = love) and especially autonomy as crucial to happiness.

Looking forward to discussing it further.

Flora