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Critical Studies Research Group
Postgraduate Conference
18th & 19th July 2012
University of Brighton
Key speakers:
Amr Abdelrahman (University of Essex)
Ben Noys (University of Chichester)
Daniel Steuer (University of Brighton)
Alan Finlayson (University of East Anglia)
Mark Wenman (University of Nottingham)
Mark Devenney (University of Brighton)
Places are limited, so please register as soon as possible. To register
and find out more visit http://arts.brighton.ac.uk/politics-of-critique
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About the conference:
The present moment bears witness to a dynamic proliferation of events and
transformations that are reshaping our socio-political horizon. In recent
years, the effects of the financial crisis and neoliberal governance have
materialised in the form of the radical imposition of austerity measures.
In response, waves of revolt and resistance - from student occupations at
UK Universities to the ‘Arab Spring’, from organised strikes and
demonstrations to the London riots, from Athens to ‘Occupy’ – have spread
throughout the world. For a brief moment, these manifestations of
political rebellion appeared to have created a historical sense of
possibility which not only furnished emergent forms of activism with
confidence but also, as engaged intellectuals have been eager to assert,
seemed to have validated the premises of classical critical
frameworks.Yet, despite continuous resistance and revolt, we have seen the
installation of unelected technocrats in Greece and Italy; despite a
politically active and engaged student community, we have seen the
implementation of education cuts and an unprecedented rise in University
tuition fees in the UK; despite vocal opposition from across the social
spectrum, we have seen the NHS bill being pushed through parliament.
Whilst the necessity of critical political engagement has by no means lost
its urgency, the prevailing sense of opportunity has given way to a
fundamental scepticism regarding the scope and possibility of radical
thought and action. When the question ‘what is to be done?’ seems to be
ever more difficult to answer, we believe that this is a decisive moment
to examine the limits and scope of critique and its relationship to
practice. It is the aim of this conference to render productive this
moment of crisis and disorientation to pause and reflect on the
fundamental logics, questions and commitments that underlie critical
political thinking. In short, the challenge of this conference is to
rethink the politics of critique.
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