#dissertationstation

I’ve been binge watching a lot of TV lately as I try to make it through this beast that is my dissertation, and one show has been particularly entertaining this week: Bob’s Burgers. As usual, I am woefully late to the game, only now reaching the end of season 3. However, as I always tell my students, better late than never.

My attention was drawn to the show after seeing numerous Internet posts and memes dedicated to Tina Belcher, as well as some pretty great Tumblr accounts. And I agree with what others have said about how wonderful Tina is: she most definitely puts a fresh spin on female teenage sexuality.

But, as much as my feminist heart wants to identify with her most strongly, I have found a special place in my heart for Linda. Her overly optimistic personality and love for her family seem particularly appealing to my own circumstances, which have been less than ideal the past 9 months or so.

Finishing a PhD program while raising a toddler as a quasi-single parent is exhausting. Friends frequently say, “I don’t know how you do it.” The question is puzzling to me because I don’t know how they do it either. It’s inspiring to be surrounded by so many accomplished and capable humans, and I frequently marvel at what my colleagues, friends, and family do. In that way, I get Linda because she thinks her family is brilliant - even if others fail to see what she sees.

Although this post may seem like one big “life’s great” statement, it’s really a tribute to how awesome media viewing experiences can be. Watching Bob’s Burgers and enjoying the characters is more than just a way to slog through my writing. The earnest affection Linda and the other characters show for each other is just as powerful as any other aspect of the show, whether it’s Tina’s independence or the normal depictions of middle-class life.