PhD life in two metaphors - MILESTONE ZERO 35th cycle ABCPhD - Politecnico di Milano

1. THE DOCTORAL PATH
(A SEVEN DWARVES METAPHOR)

2. At first, PhD students are like Dopey (Cucciolo) …

3. … and Bashful (Mammolo) …

4. In the middle, they are usually sick (Sneezy)…

5. …, tired (Sleepy), …

6. …, and irritable (Grumpy).

7. In the end, they’re called Doc, …

8. … and then they are Happy

9. [not completely true: someone keeps being angry … but that’s life]

10. To know the road ahead, ask those coming back.
[Chinese proverb]
A TIP: LOOK AROUND YOURSELF AND
EXCHANGE VIEWS WITH YOUR OLDER
COLLEAGUES

11. A WARNING: YOUR MOTIVATION MAY … SWAY
Motivation 1. Uninformed optimism
2. Informed pessimism
3. Crisis of sense
4. Defeat and depression
5. Informed optimism
1
2
3
4
5
By: Stefan Kostianev and Victoria Sarafian, Rector and Vice
Rector for Research at Plovdiv University; from their slides
presented at the 9th Thematic EUA-CDE Workshop about
Doctoral Supervision – practices and responsibilities
Delft, The Netherlands, 19-21 January 2016

12. ANOTHER METAPHORE
PhD as an ARTWORK

13. suppose this is
THE WHOLE KNOWLEDGE
The picture is «Trichotillomania, Bulimia Nervosa, and Major Depression», morgan

14. suppose this is Your area/field of work
THE STATE OF THE ART
of your field: this is the first thing you are required to realize/write

15. THE STATE OF THE ART
IS A PICTURE
It is the picture of your Research Area from your point of view and you are expected to become a master in this painting

16. IN ALL YOUR MILESTONES
YOU WILL GIVE A PICTURE
Your MILESTONE ZERO is a rough (but effective) picture, like a neolithic cave painting (Lascaux)
You will be the authors of a picture at an exibition (your writing, its clarity, the completeness
of your references …) and the actor who present it to a very exigent audience.
In every milestone you will perform a piece of creative work

17. IN ALL YOUR MILESTONES
YOU WILL GIVE A PICTURE
Your MILESTONE ONE picture is expected to be rich like a medieval painting and you to be gold-optimist

18. IN ALL YOUR MILESTONES
YOU WILL GIVE A PICTURE
Your RESEARCH PROJECT in your MILESTONE TWO is expecte to shine CLASSIC ICONIC BEAUTY

19. IN ALL YOUR MILESTONES
YOU WILL GIVE A PICTURE
Your MILESTONE THREE to paint all the contrasts and conflicts in your research (and may be your … sacrifice)

20. IN ALL YOUR MILESTONES
YOU WILL GIVE A PICTURE
Your MILESTONE FOUR (thesis project) is expected the show lights and the full detail of your research landscape

21. IN ALL YOUR MILESTONES
YOU WILL GIVE A PICTURE
Your MILESTONE FIVE (first thesis draft) is expected to paint the brutal reality of your research question and its IMPACT

22. IN ALL YOUR MILESTONES
YOU WILL GIVE A PICTURE
Your LAST MILESTONE EFFORT (final draft) will seem, to you, probably, an hallucinated nightmare

23. IN ALL YOUR MILESTONES
YOU WILL GIVE A PICTURE
But your FINAL THESIS is expected to be a brave, provocative masterpiece …

24. IN ALL YOUR MILESTONES
YOU WILL GIVE A PICTURE
… whose theoretical vigour will disrupt and silence every member of your FINAL EXAM commission

25. REFERENCES (à rebour)
1. Jackson Pollok, “Mural” (1943) University of Iowa Museum of Art; https://uima.uiowa.edu/collections/american-
art-1900-1980/jackson-pollock/mural/
2. Amedeo Modigliani, “Nu couché” (1917-1918), Louvre;
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nu_couch%C3%A9#/media/File:Modigliani_-_Nu_couch%C3%A9.jpg
3. Chaïm Soutine, “Houses” (1920-1921), Orangerie; http://www.musee-orangerie.fr/en/artwork/houses
4. Goya, “El tres de mayo de 1808 en Madrid” (1814), Prado;
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fd/El_Tres_de_Mayo%2C_by_Francisco_de_Goya%2
C_from_Prado_thin_black_margin.jpg/1280px-
El_Tres_de_Mayo%2C_by_Francisco_de_Goya%2C_from_Prado_thin_black_margin.jpg
5. Jean Antoine Watteau, “L'Embarquement pour Cythere” (1718-1719),
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Embarkation_for_Cythera#/media/File:L%27Embarquement_pour_Cythere,_
by_Antoine_Watteau,_from_C2RMF_retouched.jpg
6. Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1598);
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/Sacrifice_of_Isaac-
Caravaggio_%28c._1603%29.jpg/1024px-Sacrifice_of_Isaac-Caravaggio_%28c._1603%29.jpg
7. Botticelli, “Nascita di Venere” (1482-85); https://cdn.studenti.stbm.it/images/2016/11/04/nascita-di-venere-
botticelli-orig.jpeg
8. Duccio di Buoninsegna, “Maestà”, Siena;
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duccio_di_Buoninsegna#/media/File:Duccio_maesta1021.jpg
9. Grottes de Lascaux, Aurochs (15.000-18.000 a.C.); http://www.thalo.com/thumbnail/021913_3563f707-
564177729-5123c60c-91d8-865ede91/o.jpg
10. Masaccio, La Trinità, 1426-1428. Firenze, Santa Maria Novella, from: https://www.studiarapido.it/linvenzione-
della-prospettiva-in-arte/#.Xgc9Vxf0l24