Review: A Kafkaesque look at Academia
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 7, 2012
This funny little story is similar in some ways to Kafka's The Trial. Due to a severe funding shortfall cuts must be made, and while the cuts are in accordance with the University guidelines they are often anything but sensible. Though I've never worked in Academia there was a certain truth the hypocrisy and total lack of common sense in imposing the cuts I have experienced myself in the corporate world. It seems just like in the corporate world those in power in Academia  want to seem smart and officious even though their actions don't always mesh with what is actually best for the organization. The plot is tight and humorous, contrasts are presented such as a professor on the pay roll for doing very little and another extremely overworked and underpaid. The characters futile attempts to navigate the bureaucratic Academic labyrinth is what makes me compare this story to The Trial but a much less serious version of that story.**A word of caution** there is a racy undertone to the story some readers may not like. This is done for comedic effect, somewhat like it's done in the Rocky Horror Show. Given the high level of sexual tension present between students, professors and curious onlookers at any institute of Higher Learning I did find this was fitting and added to the story. This is not an ode to Walt Whitman or a serious meditation on learning. It's an Absurdist yet very realistic drama! This is a warning what happens when people blindly follow the rules to great comedic effect.