Lise's Lens: March 7, 2024
This week I am thinking about amazing student performances, the value of the humanities, and the history of Jewish female stand up comedians.
WHAT I’M READING
- As a humanist myself, I was totally pulled in by this grabby headline from the opinion pages of The New York Times: “I Teach the Humanities and I Still Don’t Know What Their Value Is.” In it, University of Chicago Professor Agnes Callard explains how she doesn’t see teaching the humanities as a means to a specific end. Rather, she sees teaching and learning as a way of searching for value. “The humanistic spirit is, fundamentally, an inquisitive one,” she says, cautioning other humanists against defending the value of humanities study, because “a defensive spirit is inimical to an inquisitive one.” Our culture has, in many ways, become so obsessed with assigning value to pursuits. But I think we can also pursue certain subjects simply because we enjoy them, assuming we are afforded the privilege to do so.
WHAT I’M THINKING/TALKING ABOUT
- The end of each mod always brings with it incredible performances and showcases of talent, and this mod was no exception. From Still Human (this year’s annual Dance Concert) to Einstein’s Dreams (the Theatre Department’s submission to the MA High School Drama Festival) to the music of Modest Mussorgsky (performed by our instrumental ensemble), I have been so impressed and moved by the work and care our students have put into their studies. I think one of my favorite things is seeing students in these new and different contexts, expressing themselves so openly, but also professionally, at the same time. I am still glowing from it all.
WHAT I'M WATCHING/LISTENING TO
- I enjoyed this conversation with scholar Grace Overbeke, who recently gave a lecture at UW-Milwaukee on the history of Jewish female standup comedians. In this recording, she focuses specifically on Jean Carroll, the first Jewish woman to do standup as we understand standup today. She was really a pioneer in making standup more personalized, rather than a series of more generalized punchlines and jokes. In fact, for Marvelous Mrs. Maisel fans, it is believed that the character was in many ways inspired by Carroll. I also thought it was interesting to hear how women doing standup were received in the 50s and 60s. People were baffled and confused to see women doing comedy without also integrating singing or music.
WHAT CAUGHT MY EYE
Check out this photo of the robot our Competitive Robotics D Block students have been working on. I love the branded gryphon!
The Cambridge School of Weston is a progressive high school for day and boarding students in grades 9–12 and PG. CSW's mission is to provide a progressive education that emphasizes deep learning, meaningful relationships, and a dynamic program that inspires students to discover who they are and what their contribution is to their school, their community and the world.