You don't have to go to college.

Recently, problems involving the academic world have been plaguing my thought. Stemming from Byatt’s Possession: A Romance, my view of academia has been altered, perhaps not in the best light, and perhaps not that radically (though one might think the opposite, considering this article being written in the first place). Through Possession, Byatt takes the opportunity to ridicule academic circles and the absurdities of seeking large discoveries (to be the next super-sleuth) are somewhat mocked. This then leads into the discussion surrounding the importance of academia in the first place. Obviously academia must be present in society, should have at least some level of importance, yet should individuals be that concerned with academic circles? Some may argue that the purpose of college in the first place is to enable oneself into an intellectual sphere in which they can engage and contribute to these circles. Is this valid? A listener of the Animal Collective song “College” (on the album Sung Tongs) would be pushed to think that, “no, this is not a valid excuse”. The lyrics which reads, “You don’t have to go to college” is present. Though seen as perhaps simplistic or naive in scope, one can see the attitude of the members of Animal Collective (more specifically: Avey Tare and Panda Bear, the only members to play on Sung Tongs), which only serves to further the cause for rejecting the mindless routine of education.