Here, however, is an American prof thinking grim thoughts about career and life prospects for graduate students in the humanities, and even suggesting freelance writing is a reasonable alternative.
They seem to think becoming a humanities professor is a reliable prospect — a more responsible and secure choice than, say, attempting to make it as a freelance writer, or an actor, or a professional athlete — and, as a result, they don't make any fallback plans until it is too late.Update: Bloggendipity: when two blogs coincidentally take up the same subject. For example, see Andrew Smith's take on the job market. (Less than 60 applicants for a position is about the best it gets)
Update, January 6: Alasdair Cheng offers an important comment and corrective:
I wondered whether Benton was actually suggesting that freelance writing was a viable alternative to academia: my reading was that he thought academia should realistically be considered just as implausible as making a living as a freelancer – i.e. just like it’s irresponsible to have “professional athlete” as a career plan without some more hard-headed backup. I think that your own success at freelancing would probably be taken as the sort of exception that proves the rule, like a secure, well-endowed research chair’s position…Yes, I think Benton meant these choices may be about equally risky, and I don't disagree.
