# Is there a doctor in the house? Yes! Me! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 9, 2004, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-doctor-in-the-house-yes-me/278948 "2004-12-09T17:00:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gotterfunken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@Gotterfunken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gotterfunken)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-doctor-in-the-house-yes-me/278948/1 "2004-12-09T17:00:55Z")
Doctor of Philosophy (in Art History), that is… I’ve successfully defended my dissertation. From now on, you may all call me **_Dr_. Skopo**. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![jgroub](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b77776/32.png) [@jgroub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jgroub)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-doctor-in-the-house-yes-me/278948/2 "2004-12-09T17:19:29Z")
Although I don’t know you, congrats are in order. So I’ll let someone else do it. 😛 But seriously, well done. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-doctor-in-the-house-yes-me/278948/3 "2004-12-09T17:25:09Z")
> [@Skopo](#): > > I’ve successfully defended my dissertation. Title? Congrats Dr. Skopo! ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-doctor-in-the-house-yes-me/278948/4 "2004-12-09T17:34:53Z")
Congrats, Dr. S! It’s a wonderful moment, when the years of study, research, and writing finally turn into those three little letters that can’t be taken away from you. Enjoy the moment! ---
**Author:** ![Salem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Salem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Salem)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-doctor-in-the-house-yes-me/278948/5 "2004-12-09T17:40:24Z")
Wow, I’ve never watched someone become a doctor. It was much easier than I thought. Huge congrats to you, Dr. Skopo! Very cool accomplishment! ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-doctor-in-the-house-yes-me/278948/6 "2004-12-09T18:15:23Z")
Did you get your degree in Latin? If not, I’m afraid my lowly B.A. is far cooler. 🆒 And congratulations. Enjoy the red robes and the funky hat. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-doctor-in-the-house-yes-me/278948/7 "2004-12-09T19:06:36Z")
Doctor of Philosophy, huh? Listen, Doc, it hurts when I reason like this…what should I do? Congrats! ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-doctor-in-the-house-yes-me/278948/8 "2004-12-09T19:09:09Z")
Congratulations! ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-doctor-in-the-house-yes-me/278948/9 "2004-12-09T19:44:21Z")
> [@Doctor Jackson](#): > > Doctor of Philosophy, huh? > > Listen, Doc, it hurts when I reason like this…what should I do? > > Congrats! All together now… “Then don’t reason like that!” ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-doctor-in-the-house-yes-me/278948/10 "2004-12-09T19:58:05Z")
Congratulations! Enjoy your victory. ---
**Author:** ![Gotterfunken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@Gotterfunken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gotterfunken)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-doctor-in-the-house-yes-me/278948/11 "2004-12-09T20:49:07Z")
Thank you all. The title of my dissertation is **‘England’s Giorgione’: Charles H. Shannon and Venetianism in Late Victorian Art**. No, you probably haven’t heard of the artist before. Some of his paintings are on display at the [National Portrait Gallery](http://www.npg.org.uk/) in London (and a few other public galleries around the UK), but they’re not very famous. In a perverse way, I’ve really enjoyed researching and writing this thing, though it’s taken a lot longer than I expected it would (owing mainly to several false starts and detours down blind alley as I pursued issues which turned out to be not really germane to my central thesis–but which I may adapt for future articles/books). In the weeks to come, I will be sending off applications to various universities, and figuring out how to start paying off my student loans ( :eek: ). But I’m enjoying this little moment of accomplishment while it lasts… ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-doctor-in-the-house-yes-me/278948/12 "2004-12-09T22:13:24Z")
So, doctor, I have this cough… Congrats! Now, riddle me this. What exactly can you do with this prestigious degree? ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-doctor-in-the-house-yes-me/278948/13 "2004-12-09T23:57:39Z")
> [@Skopo](#): > > Doctor of Philosophy (in Art History), that is… For a moment there, I was read this as saying you had gotten your doctorate in “the philosophy of art history.” :smack: ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-doctor-in-the-house-yes-me/278948/14 "2004-12-09T23:58:53Z")
> [@tim314](#): > > I was read this as saying My command of the English language is obviously very great today :smack: :smack: ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-doctor-in-the-house-yes-me/278948/15 "2004-12-10T00:11:03Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > So, doctor, I have this cough… > > Congrats! > Now, riddle me this. What exactly can you do with this prestigious degree? He can put the smackdown on …well… someone who has poorly formed views concerning how the effects of Medici patronage can be viewed though a deconstructionist lens. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-doctor-in-the-house-yes-me/278948/16 "2004-12-10T00:43:25Z")
> [@Skopo](#): > > The title of my dissertation is **‘England’s Giorgione’: Charles H. Shannon and Venetianism in Late Victorian Art**. You mean this dude did one weird-ass painting of a naked lady and her kid in a storm? ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-doctor-in-the-house-yes-me/278948/17 "2004-12-10T00:51:17Z")
Congratulations! As a friend once said, you’re now “a doctor who doesn’t help people”. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-doctor-in-the-house-yes-me/278948/18 "2004-12-10T00:56:59Z")
Congratulations, **Doctor Skopo.** The closest I’ll ever get is the Doctor of Divinity degree I got from a mail-order minister mill in Modesto, California. And, before you ask, I did learn how to make that whipped candy. Only after I had heard the same question a dozen times, though. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Gotterfunken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@Gotterfunken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gotterfunken)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-doctor-in-the-house-yes-me/278948/19 "2004-12-10T15:56:54Z")
Good question, **Shirley Ujest**. Basically, teach–though as any university prof can tell you, it involves a lot more than that. Most PhDs in art history intend to stay in academics, doing research, attending conferences to present your research, publishing said research, and defending it against the critics (it’s in such scenarios that you get to put the smackdown on the deconstructionists, as **astro** described–and let me tell you, there’s nothing as much fun as bitchslapping a deconstructionist!). And performing a myriad of other responsibilities on campus, such as advising students, attending various committees, and generally demonstrating your commitment to the local community. Oh, and even _teaching_ (for some professors, this rather key ingredient often gets overlooked–but it’s honestly my favorite aspect, in addition to doing research. I can put up with all the other responsibilities so long as I have my students and my research). Other than academics, the only major venue for art history PhDs is the museum world–most curators of major art museums have a PhD (and they still have to do a lot of academic stuff, including publishing, and also dealing with bitter art history profs who don’t like how you’ve arranged or presented a particular gallery or exhibit). Art history grads have some other options outside academics and museum work, but most of these other fields don’t really require a PhD–an MA would suffice. **Giraffe** ’s friend actually puts it fairly accurately. 😛 **matt\_mcl** : heh, actually, Shannon _did_ do a painting of a naked lady with her kid in a storm–though that particular painting doesn’t look that much like Giorgione’s _Tempest_. He did borrow a lot of themes and figurative motifs from the Venetians, however, which form a substantial percentage of the dissertation’s focus. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-doctor-in-the-house-yes-me/278948/20 "2004-12-10T16:08:40Z")
Why do I get this vision of a **deconstructionist** as someone who blows up buildings? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-doctor-in-the-house-yes-me/278948.md?page=2)