Critical Studies Research Group

The Critical Studies Research Group resumes its activity with a new series of work-in-progress presentations. We conceived the series as a way to present our work within a supportive and welcoming environment, sharing thoughts and ideas over lunch break. This term we will start next Tuesday (January 14th) with Tim Huzar‘s presentation on Judith Butler’s concept of nonviolence. He’s prepared a brief outline of his presentation:

“In this presentation I offer an overview of Butler’s account of nonviolence, situating it in the context of ‘proper’ and ‘improper’ forms of resistance. As Judith Butler has noted, liberal understandings of nonviolence are flawed in that they typically refuse to recognise the ubiquity of the variety of forms of violence attendant to the modern subject. In this way the modern subject finds themselves “mired” in violence – a violence which is often beyond their control – making the notion of a nonviolent act, ethos, or ethics unsustainable. Nonetheless, Butler maintains that the question of what nonviolence could mean is still pertinent precisely because of the ubiquity of violence in the continuing formation of the modern subject. Can we understand nonviolence as an improper form of politics?”

We will continue meeting between 1-2pm in room 303, Pavilion Parade Building (between 12-13 Pavilion Parade and Pavilion Street). Entry is free and open to all students and staff of the Universities of Brighton and Sussex. For the door code to gain access to the building, please contact us.

The following work-in-progress presentation will be given the 21st of January by Ana Zivkovic on the British Discursive Constructions of the Struggle for Independence in Montenegro until the Congress of Berlin in 1878. We will post soon a full list of this term’s presenters, as a well as some more information about the graduate conference we are preparing.