Entomological Communications: Theory and Praxis

"...many of our prejudices are irrational and founded on assumptions that may never be consciously thought through"
- Nicholas Packwood

Is it true that Nick of the Flea is the same Nick who teaches Communications at Wilfrid Laurier University? Here I thought the Flea simply was unaware of the impact that posting girlie pics on his blog could have on readers, sexual objectification of women, and popular culture, in general. Au contraire, he would appear to know quite a bit, I surmise, about that kind of communication:

Nicholas Packwood teaches in cultural studies and anthropology at Wilfrid Laurier University and courses in pre-Columbian archaeology at the University of Toronto. His dissertation, "Communicating objects: mapping inter-organizational relationships through the flow of material assemblages" is based on four years of field research in the United Kingdom with firms in civil engineering, construction, auto manufacturing and defense industries. Nicholas edited a commemorative issue of Space and Culture (Sage: London) on the life and work of Pierre Bourdieu as part of his ongoing interest in social space, power and virtuality. He publishes his blog "Ghost of a flea" as a daily meditation on pop culture, current events and the life and thought of Kylie Minogue.
From Into the Blogosphere.

Oops, I think they meant the body and lingerie of Kylie Minogue. Want a cultural studies piece about Kylie Minogue? Read Melissa Campbell, from whom you'll receive schooling, not drooling.

The Flea's apparently into the study of social space, power, and virtuality, as well as the study of communicating objects. Too bad he treats women like sexual objects in his social space. Wonder what he'd theorize about my g-string flea as a "communicating object"? I bet he'd kick me out of his class.

Then, again, maybe the Packwood at Laurier isn't the Flea. I'd be happier if't'were so, although they both seem to overfocus on pussies of various types. How very Freudian and creepy. Note how the long Soviet bayonnet penetrates the large, furry, er, kitten. Packwood goes on at length about Freud, but I wonder if he's ever thought about his own images.

While the Flea blogs on about human rights, dignity, and the shame of racism, his brand of Red Ensign victory doesn't seem to include respect for the rights and dignity of women. To him, it seems, women are eye-candy, and many Flea readers willingly buy into the merchandise.

Yes, the Flea has his supporters. If you read comments on his blog (the ones he doesn't delete), even women thank him for his "free ice cream," including pics of ladies in lingerie. Instead of being the circus master, I think Professor Low-Brow would be a better fit. It's "eclectic cultural cuisinart," indeed: high on queasy; low on art. In 500 years, when people are escavating the ruins of the blogosphere, what will they take from the Flea's droppings?

Here's what I see:  he deletes my very innocuous comment about whether he prefers the tomato sandwich or the girl in the ad (as well as other mildly critical commentary from at least one other reader who contacted me) but doesn't delete comments like this:

This is crap.  Why isn't that girl nude!

I, for one, am grateful for your work, Nicholas. (And grateful for the nice eye candy every few days. Like today. Gracias.)

She's hot, but not that hot. But I like sinewy.

For those not following: 'pitchers' (as in 'jugs') instead of 'pictures'.

Ok. So that's an order of Jessica Alba in a chocolate tipped waffle cone, some butter brickle and Scarlett Johansson a la mode. No wait, that last one was not a la mode.

Of course, don't forget those stunning pics on his blog of Avril Lavigne, reportedly intoxicated at the time, in a Hooters outfit. Very professorial -- he just had to post that. Then, again, he makes his opinion clear:  "This is not a forum and I am not interested in debating my views."  Yes, sounds like much of academia to me, especially with regard to women.

I hope he doesn't teach like that. What does this say about the Red Ensign? Surely they must condone this fleabag stuff.

I've had enough. I can't keep overlooking or shrugging off the girlie posts. I just can't read the Flea.

The quality isn't there.
The magic's gone.
We don't go to the circus any more.

Update here.