Critical Theory in the 21st Century | Red May 2021

“The Sage Handbook of Frankfurt School Critical Theory,” writes Massimiliano Tomba, ”is and will be essential for anyone who wants to approach, study in depth and orientate oneself in that which falls under the name of critical theory… Extending the basis of the foundation of critical theory to include thinkers such as Bloch, Benjamin, Lukács, Kracauer, Sohn-Rethel, and others, (the authors) give us more of an image of a large bush than that of a tree whose roots are planted in the city of Frankfurt alone. In this way, critical theory is de-provincialized, meeting Bolívar Echeverría and Adolfo Sánchez Vázquez; and it branches out further in its encounter with contemporary social and political movements and theories, including feminism and gendered dynamics of social reproduction. Through the voices of these great volumes, critical theory acquires new vitality from its dialogue with other traditions and critical discourses of capitalist modernity.” A conversation between two of the editors of The Handbook (Chris and Werner) and two of the contributors to it (Amy and Christian).

Amy De’Ath, Chris O’ Kane, Werner Bonefeld, Christian Lotz (mod)

00:00 intro
04:10 Christian Lotz introduces speakers
08:53 Werner Bonefeld
32:17 Amy De’Ath
56:12 Chris O’Kane
01:16:06 Discussion

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Red May is a month-long spree of red arts, red theory, and red politics based in Seattle, Washington. We gather in bookstores, movie theaters, bars, parks, cafes, alleys, and auditoriums to share in discussion and plot ways forward toward a world in common: a world beyond capitalism. While we will continue our annual collective hurdle over the wire of our capitalist horizon, now you can join us throughout the other 11 months of the year.

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[Randomaited]

I was taught by Werner Bonefeld as an undergraduate student at York for two years, and he's a great scholar and teacher. I miss his lectures and seminars a lot