At the moment I am receiving what I believe to be all the correspondence, but thanks anyway John I appreciate the concern.
And for those who responded to my query thank you very much I am already seeing the difference in opinion in the academic geography with the Palin issue.
I have a meeting with Steve Hinchliffe today, in which we are going to discuss my progress. As I am also undertaking a visual analysis of the Palin series 'Around the world in 80 Days' in an attempt to examine Palin
'geographies' and his ability to try and bridge the gap between the IBG and the RGS which arguably still exists 're: expeditions'.
Is the merger or marriage as it was referred to at the time still in reality a gap as wide as it ever was, or is it closing?
Can a man with no 'academic' geography experience represent the viewpoint of the IBG?
And to Nick or anyone with an interest, you mention that it would be good if Palin was able to through the RGS promote Geography, what kind of Geography in your opinion does the RGS promote? Academic or popular?
Any help again would be much appreciated!
Kind Regards
Matthew
Can I check if this correspondence is reaching Matthew (who I suspect isn't a crit-geog subscriber)?
If not, are people happy for me to forward it to him?
thanks
john
Dr John Wylie
Senior Lecturer in Cultural Geography
School of Geography
University of Exeter
EXETER
EX4 4RJ
tel: +44 (0)1392 263339
He might do David [resonate] but I haven't read or watched everything that he's done; presumably no one, not even the most prolific of geographers can claim that; to capture the "vitality" of [all]
contemporary geographies! It's back to that problem of and debate about "expeditions" again!
I was merely looking at the positive side of his role as a 'president', what ever that means.
I like him, he's a good symbolic figure-head! Who should it be then?
Nick
-----Original Message-----
From: David Crouch <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:37
Subject: Re: Palin - President of the RGS??
yes, but can it be said that M.P. actually resonates currrent debates, contributions, and ideas, relevance, in the vitality of contemporary geographies? I am thinkimng particularly beyond `expeditions`...?
best, David
Dear Matthew,
With a famous name like that, and a "non-geographer" there must be an element of doubt about Palin.
However, it depends on what is meant by the role of a "president"; it could after all be symbolic and he is merely a figure head to help with publicity and promotion. Having travelled and made all those "geography" programmes he is obviously some sort
of geographer even if it is not the classical academic version. If the RGS can enable Palin to justify and explicitly promote the values and discussions within geography then that is surely a good thing.
If you and your professors (Hinchliffe and Cook) express in a little more detail what the concerns are then I could add more to my critical comment.
We, for instance, ran a southern African regional campaigning organisation. We used Basil Davidson (the world famous historian) to be a figurehead. It gained us political and practical respect, mainly becuase it showed that we were serous.
All the best and hope this dialogue continues.
Dear all,
I am a 3rd year undergraduate student based at the University of Exeter.
As part of my dissertation, I am interested in finding out academic opinion with
regard to the appontment of Michael Palin as Preseident of the RGS (with the
IBG). My dissertation supervisors Prof. Ian Cook and Prof. Steve Hinchliffe
advisied seeking opinion on this forum.
Any help and opinions would be much appreciated
Kind Regards
Matthew Hickey
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