The Power of The Chomsky Effect

Ok. This story is just too funny. Even I can't believe it's true.

In 2005 I wrote this post:

Well, last year I get an email from Robert F. Barsky, who is Professor of English, Comparative Literature, French and Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt University (The fact that someone with so much intellectual chops would contact me is pretty darn amusing in itself). Apparently Mr. Barsky (who is a Noam Chomsky expert, since he's friends with the guy and all) was writing a new book about Noam, called The Chomsky Effect: A Radical Works Beyond the Ivory Tower. Part of the book deals with Chomsky's popular appeal – the fact that people outside of the 'Ivory Tower' are also talking about this outspoken political dissenter. So Mr. Barsky thought that my silly post about Noam would be perfect for the book, and asked if he could use it in one of his chapters (it's actually in Chapter 1 on page 4).

I got a copy of the book last week. It's 381 pages, hardbound, and chock full of great material about Noam. And it's published by MIT Press. And my writing and art is in it. I even get listed in the index at the back. So...even though it's my husband Guy who is the real Noam aficionado; Guy – who taught me everything I need to know about Chomksy, and who thinks Noam is an intellectual God – it's me, the smart-ass cartoonist and writer of all things light and fluffy who gets into an academic book about Noam Chomsky published by MIT Press. Thankfully Guy can see the humour in it as well. And I think he thinks it's kind of cool, too. (I think. I mean – he hasn't strangled me yet). Of course what's really embarrassing is that I never did another 'I'm Drawn To You' post after the Noam drawing! But I promise that will change, since I have now been shamed into doing more sketches, having got that post printed in a book and all.

So there you have it. Read it and laugh (or weep at the utter irony of it all). I'm sure though, that this will be the first and last time that I ever get published by MIT Press. That is, of course, unless they start publishing kid's books. Stranger things have certainly happened, haven't they?

Comments

[Beth]

Very impressive. Way to go!
And, hey, more of those "I'm Drawn to You" caricatures would be great to see.

[Isabella]

Ya, I'd been wondering what ever became of that category...

Congrats! Wierd, but very wonderful.

[sandra]

>>the smart-ass cartoonist and writer of all things light and fluffy<<

...that has quite a nice ring to it...

[Roberto(Gloria Mundi)]

Bravo Patricia! A great news to end the year. I'm sure Guy is proud too. Hope you'll give us more intellectual comic food this year like those you did in the past (Chabon et al). Not only the children need your stuff.

Happy New Year!!

[Captain Cat]

This is utterly brilliant! What a find, stumbling on your blog. Will definitely pop back here.

x

[Lyn Hopper]

Love Noam (thanks to my husband also) and love your blog! Am adding you to my blogroll. Would love to read this book, too...maybe I could understand it more easily than Chomsky's actual writings! :)

[Lyn Hopper]

P. S. And I am a shameless peanut butter addict (Kroger natural crunchy)--why be recovering? It boosts your HDL (or whichever is the good kind...)

[Patricia]

I was eating WAAAAAAY too much peanut butter, I'm afraid. Could not control myself. Yes, it's good for you, but in small doses. A concept that I was never quite able to grasp.