Film: A Beautiful Mind. The custom of placing a pen...

[Bisquitlips]

Even before watching this movie (which I admit to have done only last year, and not particularly liked it), I initiated a tradition of gifting a fountain pen to [the good] doctors, graduating under my (co-)supervision -- in fact, gifting the very fountain pen that was used for correcting all drafts of their thesis.

 

The idea is that prior to their graduation I'd given all I could by correcting and commenting on their drafts using this pen -- but now, as minted doctors, they are on their own, they're to take up the pen and express themselves as the expert they are in their domain. I am no longer the expert, I am no longer their superior, but they're welcomed into the ranks by taking possession of the very instrument used for "imparting wisdom" on them. They're peers -- and I pass the proverbial (and physical) baton to them that way.

 

It's not a tradition that I've made a big spectacle of, and I have not presented the pens at the graduation ceremonies -- but afterwards in the privacy of my office after signing the "final paper"....the one that "releases them from my [and the school's] care". I hand them the signed paper, and the pen with a "Dr. XXX, I believe that henceforth this should belong to you -- as, like you, it now has outlived its tenure with me. I have enjoyed working with the both of you, on your thesis, through frustrations and pleasure. Now it is up to the two of you to continue the adventure together."

 

Unfortunately, neither I nor any dr's trained by me, have won a Nobel price (yet).

 

 

A perfect example of what I was hoping was meant by the "custom". Well done!

[gyasko]

It's not a tradition that I've made a big spectacle of, and I have not presented the pens at the graduation ceremonies -- but afterwards in the privacy of my office after signing the "final paper"....the one that "releases them from my [and the school's] care". I hand them the signed paper, and the pen with a "Dr. XXX, I believe that henceforth this should belong to you -- as, like you, it now has outlived its tenure with me. I have enjoyed working with the both of you, on your thesis, through frustrations and pleasure. Now it is up to the two of you to continue the adventure together."

 

This is absolutely marvellous, Voop. If only my doctoral supervisor had done the same! (And had a taste for fine writing instruments.)

 

 

I think my chair said something in academese like "Usually i take people out for a drink after this, but i have a lot to do tonight." That translates in English to "I hate you. Go away."

[DrScott]

Even before watching this movie (which I admit to have done only last year, and not particularly liked it), I initiated a tradition of gifting a fountain pen to [the good] doctors, graduating under my (co-)supervision -- in fact, gifting the very fountain pen that was used for correcting all drafts of their thesis.

 

The idea is that prior to their graduation I'd given all I could by correcting and commenting on their drafts using this pen -- but now, as minted doctors, they are on their own, they're to take up the pen and express themselves as the expert they are in their domain. I am no longer the expert, I am no longer their superior, but they're welcomed into the ranks by taking possession of the very instrument used for "imparting wisdom" on them. They're peers -- and I pass the proverbial (and physical) baton to them that way.

 

It's not a tradition that I've made a big spectacle of, and I have not presented the pens at the graduation ceremonies -- but afterwards in the privacy of my office after signing the "final paper"....the one that "releases them from my [and the school's] care". I hand them the signed paper, and the pen with a "Dr. XXX, I believe that henceforth this should belong to you -- as, like you, it now has outlived its tenure with me. I have enjoyed working with the both of you, on your thesis, through frustrations and pleasure. Now it is up to the two of you to continue the adventure together."

 

Unfortunately, neither I nor any dr's trained by me, have won a Nobel price (yet).

 

This is truly a great idea!!

[tfwall]

I initiated a tradition of gifting a fountain pen to [the good] doctors, graduating under my (co-)supervision -- in fact, gifting the very fountain pen that was used for correcting all drafts of their thesis.

 

How many students do you supervise? That could be quite a stable of pens (and quite a chunk of change) if you have 10-15 students, with 5 graduating every year.

[Neill78]

Nobody in my department uses fountain pens, but I am hoping my supervisor will give me one of his super nice microphones as a parting gift. Or a coffee grinder. But knowing him, I'll be lucky if he buys me a beer.

 

Neill

[BerneseMtDogEatsArco]

I dunno. If I were a prof at Princeton (yeesh, where's Pop-eye's spinach for brains when you need it?), I would expect that with all of the laureates, I'd be buying new pens every month.

[voop]

I initiated a tradition of gifting a fountain pen to [the good] doctors, graduating under my (co-)supervision -- in fact, gifting the very fountain pen that was used for correcting all drafts of their thesis.

 

How many students do you supervise? That could be quite a stable of pens (and quite a chunk of change) if you have 10-15 students, with 5 graduating every year.

 

Never more than that I am able to provide quality supervision. 3-4, tops, at any given time -- more than that, and it becomes less "supervision" and more "slavery", and I won't have that.

 

I cringe when I hear some German faculty members with 23 PhD students to "supervise" -- it's just not possible.

 

Quality over quantity ....

[crowdog]

I have to say, it is a movie. I thought the pen scene was touching. Yes it was a hollywood invention, but the scene wasn't 1955, and while professors aren't making loads of money, that aren't the poor professors that some people like to claim as well.

 

On the mental health issue. Mental illness is very hard to "act". What I mean is, I have had two Schizoaffective clients, that when on medication and stable, were fairly typical. When they were not, they both put their own lives at risks with their paranoia about food, eating, sleeping etc. I don't know if you could portray them without overacting some extent.

 

Also I have found a lot of people when talking about Mental Illness, as well as my other specialty, Autism, that think that both groups have many genius like abilities. I am not saying that medication is the answer for everyone, especially in Autism Spectrum Disorders, but all of my mentally ill clients, did significantly better, on psychotropics.

 

Sorry to bring this thread back up, but I just saw beautiful mind again after a long while. On a pen related note, what kind of pens were given in the ceremony in the film, could you tell?

 

Marty

[Dace]

I was also touched by this scene and shattered to find it was a Hollywood fabrication (although I learned this quite some time ago), so I took it upon myself to give a pen to my boss. How does one go about starting a tradition? Giving of pens would certainly make a nice traditional recognition of scholarly respect (I was SO tempted to use "gifting" there!). I did not give the pen to my boss in a public manner. It was just him and myself in his office, so that is not going to get any tradition started. I wonder if I can give another at my retirement party? Maybe I could arrange it that someone would give ME a Divine Proportion, with the calipers and box and everything at my party? Hmmm? Anyone have one they don't want? <img src="https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="wink.gif" />

 

My firm actually gives a pen at your five year anniversary. It used to be a Montblanc Meisterstuck ballpoint pen. However they have scaled this back (as they should in this economy) and now hand out Cross Townsend pens. I am going to try to convine the person who purchases the pens to do Bexleys next year. I think it would be much more meaningful gifting Bexley pens which are made here in the USA.

[penicillin]

The gift (not really the presentation) of a fountain pen (or many fountain pens) at bar mitzvah as been around for a very long time and is frequently parodied.

 

M