Should what you study be dictated by what you are? A long and lively discussion thread over at [ academics_anon ] is stewing over that question.

The upshot: These days, a scholar’s race, heritage, gender, or sexual orientation is often the key to his or her academic interests. But academics whose curiosity has wandered outside of their in-groups are sick of all the funny looks.

“The Asian man in Renaissance studies is cause for surprise,” writes ne_pas. “The white woman looking at African American folk art is met with arched eyebrows.” (Also, down the thread, a black historical musicologist gripes about all the people who assume she studies jazz.)