usyd arts and leftist politics (1 Viewer)

[bhsrepresent]

Where does usyd arts lay politically? Is the uni, or more importantly, the content of the lectures (and the professors/lecturers themselves) primarily based around a leftist oriented bias?

I ask this because over the past two days I've attended a series of lectures and all I can notice in terms of students and lecturers, as well as the general uni sentiment, is a socialistic culture revolved around left-type beliefs - a 'breeding ground for Marxism' if you will

A few points of discussion:
- Is the 'critical thinking' arts is supposed to reinforce really something you can attain by studying arts at usyd? Or are you subject simply to one end of the spectrum?
- Can you genuinely attain good marks if your own views are contrary to your professors/ the general uni sentiment?
- Is arts at usyd politically oriented? Is this bias inevitable no matter the uni you attend?

 

[mAsTAR]

Even as a centre-leftist, I found ECOP1001 to have a somewhat disconcerting left-wing bias.

I think social sciences are inherently left wing, given the extra emphasis that the left tends to put on social issues. But compared to the other social science departments (sociology, economics etc.), political economy seems to be especially dismissive of right-wing ideology.

Of course, most subjects on the 'arts' side of the faculty are apolitical as there generally isn't any political context to their content.

 

[soloooooo]

Way too many commies at uni.

 

[bhsrepresent]

University students in general tend to be more left-wing, and universities are stereotypically a hotbed of left-wing ideas. But we do have some quite conservative groups around the place as well (just think of the Liberal club).

Lecturers are supposed to be apolitical, but depending on the content, that doesn't always happen. Some subjects are worse than others at this though and while I've never had an issue in history/english/philosophy classes, I've heard arabic can be particularly bad.

You can definitely present your own views in any assignment, you're encouraged to, but you absolutely MUST back them up with relevant evidence.

And you can gain critical thinking skills anywhere and everywhere at uni, just arts is particularly good because it encourages free thinking because the syllabus tends to be free enough to let you pursue your own interests and ways to analyse and express them, unlike some subjects where there's very specific course content that needs to be learnt.

Really though? How 'free' are you to think what you want if your course if inherently going to be biased? Conservative thought/ideology was used for comedic effect during one of the lectures I attended, and the entire class of students would laugh/ agree....I'd say if an individual was more conservative they'd be more able to pick up on the leftist undertones of ALL the lectures/content no matter the subject

and would they really be impartial in their marking? Say I write an essay on the negative impacts of marxism or feminism or the failures of left-wing economics - and it's read and marked by a Marxist/feminist professor... would they really award me full marks even if my essay deserved it?

also from what I've gathered the majority of the students lean toward the left (all you have to do is look at the posters of all over the damn uni - socialist alternative is everywhere), and so I'd there'd be a hell of a lot of conformity in terms of what INDIVIDUALS believe

so at the end of the day is it critical thought, or is it just a system of full-fledged indoctrination at the social, educational and cultural level?

 

[bhsrepresent]

Even as a centre-leftist, I found ECOP1001 to have a somewhat disconcerting left-wing bias.

I think social sciences are inherently left wing, given the extra emphasis that the left tends to put on social issues. But compared to the other social science departments (sociology, economics etc.), political economy seems to be especially dismissive of right-wing ideology.

Of course, most subjects on the 'arts' side of the faculty are apolitical as there generally isn't any political context to their content.

that's pretty funny considering leftist economics don't work and generally make everybody worse off (socialism's great till the rich run out of money)

 

[lordfraction]

i guess it's balanced by the right wing business faculty

 

[someth1ng]

I just get pissed off when they try to impose leftist views (eg Socialist Alternative) on other people. They are the only thing I hate with a passion in the university community.

 

[enoilgam]

University students in general tend to be more left-wing, and universities are stereotypically a hotbed of left-wing ideas. But we do have some quite conservative groups around the place as well (just think of the Liberal club).

Lecturers are supposed to be apolitical, but depending on the content, that doesn't always happen. Some subjects are worse than others at this though and while I've never had an issue in history/english/philosophy classes, I've heard arabic can be particularly bad.

You can definitely present your own views in any assignment, you're encouraged to, but you absolutely MUST back them up with relevant evidence.

And you can gain critical thinking skills anywhere and everywhere at uni, just arts is particularly good because it encourages free thinking because the syllabus tends to be free enough to let you pursue your own interests and ways to analyse and express them, unlike some subjects where there's very specific course content that needs to be learnt.

I agree with this. Obviously, I'm not a USyd, but generally speaking I dont think politics are that much of an issue when it comes to your education. I go to a Catholic uni and one of the biggest misconceptions is that it is a socially conservative and strongly religious institution. I mean, the extent of religion where I go is maybe an email or two a month about optional religious gatherings, a requirement that you do a couple hours worth of theology and an optional mass prior to graduation. If you take those things out, you wouldnt even be able to tell that it's Catholic.

The bottom line is, all lecturers and institutions will have their own values, ideals and political leanings, but it isnt forced on you and I dont believe that it has a bearing on your education.

 

[bhsrepresent]

I agree with this. Obviously, I'm not a USyd, but generally speaking I dont think politics are that much of an issue when it comes to your education. I go to a Catholic uni and one of the biggest misconceptions is that it is a socially conservative and strongly religious institution. I mean, the extent of religion where I go is maybe an email or two a month about optional religious gatherings, a requirement that you do a couple hours worth of theology and an optional mass prior to graduation. If you take those things out, you wouldnt even be able to tell that it's Catholic.

The bottom line is, all lecturers and institutions will have their own values, ideals and political leanings, but it isnt forced on you and I dont believe that it has a bearing on your education.

IMO a catholic university would be more inclined to make sure it is impartial and less political as it would be more prone to criticism in the broader social sense...

Whereas with usyd, alot of leftist ideals would go unquestioned as they are the predominantly politically correct views within society.

Put it this way: Notre Damn WOULD be deeply criticized and shun for teaching anti-abortion/ pro-life christian values, whereas usyd promoting anti-catholic or pro-asylum seeker views is unlikely to receive as much or as harsh of criticism

Ultimately I think your being idealistic to say the majority of students are not going to be swayed by their lecturers/ culture they surround themselves with - Ok, sure, you and I are independent minds, open to evidence and serious debate - but is every student going to be as such?

 

[bhsrepresent]

Because we all have the ability to research outside the course. Yes, the lecturer may present things in a certain way, but we're all independent thinkers here and we all have the capacity and resources to look into the issues if we think there's a problem with bias. There are also methods like course feedback where you can make such comments (and those things are read by higher powers it's a formal and legitimate system and feedback is taken into consideration).

So what if people laugh at a conservative joke? Lots of people laugh at how ridiculous extreme left ideas are as well. Doesn't prove your point or mean anything in particular.

And some subjects definitely have more of a leaning towards a political affiliation than others. It would be really weird if my Intro to Logic subject had a heavy political bias because it's just not relevant or applicable. By the same token, it would be strange if my history subject didn't have any kind of bias because part of what we deal with is how bias and society influences how we perceive the past and context etc.

Just because there are posters around doesn't mean that everyone believes that. Eg take the strikes which one would typically think was a very 'leftist' thing, yet not many students choose to partake in them, or picket, or rally. Posters just mean they have a dedicated team of people who have the time to poster. Next semester, you'll probably see a lot of EU posters around, but that doesn't mean that everyone on campus is a Christian. The point you're making here is completely unfounded.

As I said earlier, my experiences has been one of critical thought. I've only experienced lecturers giving very balanced approaches, or when appropriate, acknowledging their own bias and explaining why they hold that view. I can't speak for absolutely everyone's experience though.

What I don't understand is why you're getting so riled up about this. If you're worried about it, just don't do an arts degree. Doesn't seem like it's for you.

What I'm trying to say is that these jokes are indicative of the general uni sentiment/ predominant ideology, not institutionalized sources of leftism

Yes, subjects based on science can't be ideological - I'm referring predominantly to cultural/ social studies - english lit, philosophy, economics (pretty sad economics isn't impartial anymore), anthropology etc - But the question is, where do these courses lean toward?

You're actually trying to tell me the arts faculty as well as its cohort (and to a degree, the entire uni to a degree) are not predominantly socialist? If so, I think you have some serious misconceptions about academia as a whole - Ever heard of the Frankfurt school? Where do you think 'critical theory' came from? Postmodernism? Why is there no unit on Austrian economics or libertarian-ism?

The fact is that here and now you prove my point - I point out what seems to me and many others (who aren't idealists) a very real and present issue and I'm criticized for being unfounded and absurd - Unionship used to be COMPULSORY and is still a large faction of the uni; if that doesn't speak ideology to you, I don't know what does

I'm not riled up, I'm simply trying to spar a discussion and 'critically' think about the culture of a university - if that's wrong and I should suppress potentially real issues, I don't want to think about the culture of the uni itself. Also, to your standards, critical thought and discussion, I think I'm more suited to an arts degree than you'd think.

But then again, ain't nobody got time to flip burgers

 

[Kiraken]

mebbe its cos lefties are just radder

 

[lawstu]

i guess it's balanced by the right wing business faculty

And the Law School.

The main thing I see (and do not like about) Sydney is that too many people give too many shits about politics or are immoderate, even to the point of steadfastly far from the centre.

 

[Sathius005]

My experience as a Business student at UTS is that the faculty of law/business has a strong right wing bias, which is a very good thing. After all the purpose of business is to make lots of money.