Given Sara MacKian's plea for a critical geography which is more than
critical moaning I though it relevant to remind people that the Critical
Geograpgy Forum is organising (with the History and Philosophy of
Geography Research Group) a day session at the RGS (IBG) Conference
at Exeter in January. I enclose below a copy of the session information.
Hope to see many of you there.
Martin Phillips
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The future of critical geography
The last few years have been one of considerable activity for a 'critical
geographer'. There has been a proliferation of new critical philosophies
entering geography; a range of new approaches to doing critical geography; an
explosion of critical geographies on new and old forms of alienation,
domination, exploitation, oppression, and resistance; a heightened recognition
of the links between power and knowledge, and a greater sensitivity to the
innumerable ways in which the practices of geographers themselves need to be
brought under critical scrutiny; and burgeoning linkages between critical
geographers and the critical theories and practices of other disciplines. In
Britain there has also been practical challenges such as the RGS/IBG merger,
corporate sponsorship and the establishment of a 'Critical Geography Forum'.
Rarely have so many geographers been engaged in so much critical work. And yet
never before has critique itself been so much brought into question
-not just in terms of its form and its practice - but also in terms of its
purpose, its legitimacy, and even its possibility. This day-length session seeks
to facilitate reflection on the various existing and potential relationships
between critique and geography and will proceed through a series of panel
discussions and open debate.
MODULE 1
Critical theories: forms, purposes, legitimacies and possibilities
Chair: Marcus Doel (Loughborough University)
Panel discussants:
Liz Bondi (Edinburgh University)
Gary Bridges (University of Bristol)
Tim Cresswell (St. David's University College, Lampeter
Richard Smith (University of Bristol)
Tracy Skelton (Nottingham Trent University)
Ulf Strohmayer (St. David's University College, Lampeter).
MODULE 2
Explorations in critical geographies (1)
Chair: Steve Pile (Open University)
Panel discussant:
Ed Brown (University of Loughborough)
Simon Naylor (Keele University)
David Slater (Loughborough University)
Pam Shurmer-Smith (University of Portsmouth)
Tim Unwin (Royal Holloway College, University of London)
MODULE 3
Explorations in critical geographies (2)
Chair: Martin Phillips (University of Leicester)
Panel discussants:
Rosie Cox (Coventry University)
Joe Painter (University of Durham)
Andy Pratt (London School of Economics)
Richard Phillips (University of Wales, Aberystwyth)
Michael Woods (University of Wales, Aberystwyth).
MODULE 4
What futures for critical geography?
Open discussion.
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