Seeking MacArthur Fellows Program Nomination

Patrick…From what I’ve heard in the past, a MacArthur check is only bestowed on someone who has been around for quite a while and has exhibited a significant cultural contribution with his/her medium. Not someone who just needs the bucks to survive…we ALL do. Sort of like the lottery. Forget about it and don’t torture yourself.

Thanks for the info Gregory, I appreciate it.

Just to clarify one thing though, I haven’t publicly published half of the material I’ve produced.
I’ve written numerous manuscripts, some of which I have released in small circles, and some of which have had a “shadowy” role in significantly shaping a lot of practices in a few mainstream journalism institutions.

Only some people are in the know, however, and certainly not most.
This post should be targeted more to those in the know.

Damn Patrick, you have to be the first person in history to solicit for a nomination for a MacArthur grant….

either, in your beautiful youth, you are completely “clueless” (and i offer that word lovingly) about what a MacArthur means (again, nothing personal, but i find lots of this youthful hunger this, or rather, the lack of understanding of what that award means) or so beautifully ballsy that you deserve one, right out…:)))))

i dont know whether to be terrified and depressed by your Call for Nomination (surely a sign of your age) or inspired by it….either way, i wish you the best….

just dont depressed if they look the other way….

though the Mustache Program is brilliant :)))…

but just a loving hint: most of the MacArthur’s probably had no idea (or interest at all) about the fellowship that they hadn’t even thought of the award: the work was too consuming to merit a digression to think “how can i get the fucking thing…” ….

good luck amigo :)))

cheers
bob

Thanks Bob ;)

I must say, I only know about the MacArthur Fellow Program
because I’ve been told by “Academians” that I might be qualified for it.

Check this out..

This textbook was released on February 15, 2008,
notice the photographer on the front?

IE “visual global journalism” that is.

One of the authors, David Weaver, recently gave a presentation at UNC entitled
“Journalism Research in an Age of Globalization” for which more can be read about here:
http://journalism.indiana.edu/notices/weaver-presentation-at-unc/

Now I don’t know if I’m cited in this new textbook, I’m usually not cited,
but I do remember handing out copies of an old, unfinished “skeleton” 25+ page thesis of mine
entitled “Reforming Journalism For A Global Era” at the 8th annual International Symposium for Online Journalism
about a year-and-a-half ago at the University of Texas Austin.

Yeah. Just one example.

Regardless of whether or not I get a MacArthur grant,
it should be a lot easier for me to find a sponsor now that so many of my ideas have hit the mainstream.

And they have hit the mainstream.

Also, just to clarify, I consider my unpublished work to be my best work and my most innovative.

I’ve grown pretty weary of having my ideas plagiarized by so many without proper accreditation,
that I stopped publishing my best work a long time ago.

The huge mountain of cutting-edge, sure-to-be-influential material that I am sitting on as of right now
will absolutely not be published until either:

a) somebody pays me for it – or
b) I find an adequate sponsor/fellow/grant.

Perhaps while pontificating about your own greatness and your inevitable monumental status in the photo world, you didn’t realize that lots of people have the same ideas and some get them published more quickly than others… which isn’t plagiarism.

i honestly can’t tell whether to take this seriously or not. it’s so over the top, egotistically, that I can’t help but laugh but then I see some seriousness in it. Then again, the idea of someone seeking a Genius Grant and at the same time making up a word like “Academians,” begs to be read as satire. now’s the time to say it’s satire and save face.

I regret you perceive my honesty and candor as some kind of egotistical joke but I am not joking one bit.
I have been plagiarized many times, and I can prove it. It’s really not even worth disputing. You’re just wasting your time.

Go ahead and write me off as an egoist but you clearly don’t know me, haven’t ever met me,
and you CLEARLY are not privy to the same information that I am.

You know, when I was younger I might have had something to prove,
but not anymore. I’m not trying to prove anything anymore.

Most everything important to me that I have ever set out to prove in the past has been legitimized, more-or-less.
I’m not really trying to win or compete with anybody anymore.

If you want to be shitty and dismissive, then be my guest.
It’s not going to change anything.

And just so you know, most of the stuff I’m sitting on has not been plagiarized because nobody else has seen or thought of it yet.
And I’m talking about a LOT of material.

Your fake mustache work is amazing. I find it as inspiring as past winner Shen Wei’s choreography during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Like Shen Wei, you have endured much hardship in having your original genius visions and like Shen Wei, you have transgressed this hurdle. I have nominated you. You have my vote for the McArtur prize. As well, I will be forwarding my recommendation to the Nobal committee. Please expect the check to arrive in 6-8 weeks at your cabin in remote Montana.

Patrick – the beauty of the McArthur is that the people who win generally have no idea they have been nominated, it’s a silent process (much like your revolutionary ideas) and is generally not acceptable to solicit a nomination. Why not settle for the lesser Guggenheim? You can apply yourself and just find four references.

Also, Patrick, McArter fellow is secret. I suggest you delete this thread. We’ll pretend the secrets never got out. Shhh!

Thank you Donald.

If I receive a MacArthur Fellow grant
I will go on the road to provide free (or cheap) hands-on multimedia training at various papers, magazines, and schools.

I will travel with all the equipment necessary to setup a circular multimedia classroom with me wherever I go.
I will drive (or fly) from state to state, country to country.

I will focus on providing multimedia literacy training to less fortunate communities.
I will also videotape many of my lessons/lectures and make them freely available on the web.

If I get this MacArthur Fellow grant, then almost ‘everybody’ wins. I will spread the love.
Lightstalker members in particular will serve to gain a great deal from the videos and tutorials which I will post on this site.

But like I say, I will need capital for this to be possible.

Patrick I admire your guts, why not, definitely innovative. But for me your request falls down esp. " I will not be able to continue my work if I can not locate a sponsor or a grant for my work", no offence, but working with zero budget while living in poverty doesn’t say much positive to me re: what you think you or your work are worth. Ironic. Not to put too fine a point on it – but you need to convince people that your work is worth investing in for a bigger reason than because it’s been plagiarized, or you starve for it, or it’s important to you. The creative world is a business and grant foundations are its investors – if you give your work away for free, the key question is why should they even think about funding (paying) you? Anyway try this http://www.dmlcompetition.net/young.php or there are thousands of other grants/scholarships around. Good luck!

EDIT: P.S. Just read your reply above – so yes there are thousands of grants available – try also Soros, Gates etc. Or online http://foundationcenter.org/newyork/ Library. Again, Best!

Nobody can afford to pay me my day rate.
I’ve turned down numerous assignments because nobody can pay me enough to make a living.

Moreover, I like to have editorial control over my work,
which can be absolutely essential for multimedia if your assignment editor/gatekeeper
knows nothing about multimedia.

Which most of them still don’t.

People can always afford something if they think it’s worth it, you just need to convince them/ yourself. As far as editorial control that will probably be a sticking point until you have more leverage.

There is a methodology to these sorts of things. For instance, instead of asking to be nominated for the brass ring have you applied for a Guggenheim or any of the dozens of other awards and grants that are out there?

I think asking a bunch of strangers to nominate you for this is not very realistic. There are lots of ways to fund your vision but this thread doesn’t represent you very well…

Not be be a total dick, and having read what you want to do, you might be a good match for a Knight Fellowship http://knight.icfj.org/ Happy hunting!

Many thanks Angela! And thanks for the ‘tip’ Damaso.. =)

Am i still in the twilight zone or what??