Warwick Social Theory Centre hosts a three day masterclass with renown feminist philosopher Drucilla Cornell and her co-author Stephen Seely, exploring themes from their new book The Spirit of Revolution: Beyond the Dead Ends of Man.
The book seeks to reclaim revolutionary politics and to embrace human agency for contemporary feminist and queer theory—in which both revolution and humanism have been effectively disavowed. Whilst holding onto the feminist critiques of the supposed sovereignty and universality of Man, they contend that we must nonetheless embrace human agency and the struggle against colonialism and capitalism. The book proceeds through a series of ‘creolised readings’, thinking Michel Foucault with Ali Shariati, Jaques Lacan with Franz Fanon, and Baruch Spinoza with Sylvia Wynter. Through this they demonstrate what is at stake in the ongoing debate between humanism and posthumanism, putting this in the context of contemporary global crises and possibilities of revolution.
In their defence of political spirituality Cornell and Seely push for a new trajectory in response to the gross inequalities of today, one that offers us a very different view of revolution and its present day potential.
The masterclass is open to faculty, researchers and postgraduate students. The class will run from 10.00 to 17.00 on November 8th to 10th. The event is free and will include lunch, but places will be strictly limited and registration is essential. Please register your interest in attending here.
The event is sponsored by Warwick IAS, Connecting Cultures GRP, Social Theory Centre and the Centre for the Study of Women and Gender.
Associate Professor of Sociology
Director of Social Theory Centre
University of Warwick
Latest paper: ‘Ecological Attunement in a Theological Key: Adventures in Anti-Fascist Aesthetics’