It's been several weeks since I officially started this honours thesis, so I thought now would be a good time to reflect on where I've come from, and where I'm headed. Admittedly, finding topics to write about is a chore, considering the amount of writing that is done in a thesis, but that is neither here nor there.
I started this thesis off thinking I was just going to talk about a new and interesting intimate practice. Tumblr, as an SNS, has received scant empirical attention to date, and I saw an opportunity to add to the pool of knowledge. It's interesting to note, at least to me, that this basic idea has of course changed since. I say 'of course', because anyone who has done an honours thesis before will tell you that what you intend to start off with is never what you end up with.
I admit, that my supervisors have influenced the direction I have taken so far. I have trusted in their knowledge and foresight, but there are times when I wonder, as I am sure you may have too, if is possible to sacrifice too much of your own desires or interests in the 'process' or 'game' that is academic supervision. I have an idea brewing in my brain-meat at the moment, that I have as yet to discuss with my supervisors, though I will get the opportunity this week. I don't want to jinx or hype anything, but if I am right, I may have discovered a new line or way of conceptualising intimacy, at least online intimacy.
Speaking of, have you ever had a research idea, and searched for something, and found nothing? Does this mean that you really could have a new idea? There have been a few occasions now when I've searched for literature arguing a certain angle, and found nothing. Of course, it's more likely that my searching-method needs refining, but it's interesting to think about. Perhaps it's a lack of confidence (which I am sure will improve over time), but surely a lowly postgrad student is unlikely to develop something definitive?
I also wonder who reads this blog. So far, several hundred people have read what meagre offerings I have presented (this could be largely due to my parents visiting often, keeping abreast of my activity). I am of course hesitant to make too many claims or divulge too much information at this stage (mostly because what I have still seems formative, but also because I worry that what I have brewing might in fact be new, and interesting - and I don't want someone to take away from my hard work). Are these the thoughts of a paranoid mind? I hope not! I wonder if these concerns could be termed "First world postgrad problems"....
As usual, here's an image from google to conclude.
I started this thesis off thinking I was just going to talk about a new and interesting intimate practice. Tumblr, as an SNS, has received scant empirical attention to date, and I saw an opportunity to add to the pool of knowledge. It's interesting to note, at least to me, that this basic idea has of course changed since. I say 'of course', because anyone who has done an honours thesis before will tell you that what you intend to start off with is never what you end up with.
I admit, that my supervisors have influenced the direction I have taken so far. I have trusted in their knowledge and foresight, but there are times when I wonder, as I am sure you may have too, if is possible to sacrifice too much of your own desires or interests in the 'process' or 'game' that is academic supervision. I have an idea brewing in my brain-meat at the moment, that I have as yet to discuss with my supervisors, though I will get the opportunity this week. I don't want to jinx or hype anything, but if I am right, I may have discovered a new line or way of conceptualising intimacy, at least online intimacy.
Speaking of, have you ever had a research idea, and searched for something, and found nothing? Does this mean that you really could have a new idea? There have been a few occasions now when I've searched for literature arguing a certain angle, and found nothing. Of course, it's more likely that my searching-method needs refining, but it's interesting to think about. Perhaps it's a lack of confidence (which I am sure will improve over time), but surely a lowly postgrad student is unlikely to develop something definitive?
I also wonder who reads this blog. So far, several hundred people have read what meagre offerings I have presented (this could be largely due to my parents visiting often, keeping abreast of my activity). I am of course hesitant to make too many claims or divulge too much information at this stage (mostly because what I have still seems formative, but also because I worry that what I have brewing might in fact be new, and interesting - and I don't want someone to take away from my hard work). Are these the thoughts of a paranoid mind? I hope not! I wonder if these concerns could be termed "First world postgrad problems"....
As usual, here's an image from google to conclude.
