Tag: Theory

Who cares if you look? On internal and external relationships with art. (Part I of III)

March 19, 2014

Each being equal and consistent with the intent of the artist the decision as to condition rests with the receiver upon the occasion of receivership. —Lawrence Weiner, “Declaration of Intent” (1968) Shepard Fairey’s OBEY sticker craze captures the core terms of any viewer-driven aesthetic. BY TODD CRONANEmory University “The OBEY sticker attempts to stimulate curiosity … More Who cares if you look? On internal and external relationships with art. (Part I of III)

Cover design process: Prismatic Ecology

January 29, 2014

Our hot-off-the-press book Prismatic Ecology: Ecotheory beyond Green uses color as a guide to theoretical reflection on innovations that arrive when ecotheory moves beyond the pastoralism of green. This book has a gorgeous cover and a pretty cool story behind that cover. We’ve asked the cover designer, Jeff Clark, to let us in on his … More Cover design process: Prismatic Ecology

Nationalist Heterosexuality and Migrants’ (Il)Legal Status

September 5, 2013

The Irish asylum process in the early years of the millennium. By Eithne LuibhéidAssociate professor of gender and women’s studies at the University of Arizona At the turn of the millennium, how did the general public come to believe that pregnancy might provide a visible sign that a woman was an undocumented migrant? And how … More Nationalist Heterosexuality and Migrants’ (Il)Legal Status

Social Death and the Criminalization of Resistance in the California Prison Hunger Strikes

July 31, 2013

BY LISA GUENTHERAssociate professor of philosophy at Vanderbilt University On July 8, more than 30,000 prisoners across California launched the largest hunger strike in state history. Now, three weeks later, more than 600 prisoners continue to refuse meals, in spite of direct acts of retaliation by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). Hunger … More Social Death and the Criminalization of Resistance in the California Prison Hunger Strikes

Prism leak reminds us to be critical of the seemingly essential—but risky—tools we use every day.

June 19, 2013

BY ULISES A. MEJIASAssistant professor of communication studies at the State University of New York, College at Oswego If leaked information about the surveillance program Prism is correct, the U.S. government is treating every citizen of the world as a potential terrorist. If the sign of a true democracy is that even the rights of … More Prism leak reminds us to be critical of the seemingly essential—but risky—tools we use every day.

Joanna Zylinska: Evolution is not all that.

May 29, 2013

BY JOANNA ZYLINSKAProfessor of new media and communications at Goldsmiths, University of London How do things emerge in the world? What is the relationship between an organism and its environment? In recent years both the humanities and the sciences have embraced a more process-based, relational way of thinking about these questions, with matter seen as … More Joanna Zylinska: Evolution is not all that.

On star stuff, ‘Science’s Unruly Earth Mother,’ and the scientific art of empirical rebellion

May 22, 2013

BY DORION SAGANAward-winning science writer, editor, and theorist “Every scientific idea passes through three stages,” wrote William Whewell in his 1840 Philosophy of the Inductive Sciences: First, it is ridiculed.Second, it is violently opposed or claimed to be of only minor importance.Third, it is accepted as self-evident.  Other versions and variations have appeared since, with … More On star stuff, ‘Science’s Unruly Earth Mother,’ and the scientific art of empirical rebellion

World-Making and World-Devastation in Adrian Piper’s Self-Portrait 2000

December 6, 2012

Adrian Piper’s Self-Portrait 2000 (2000; Scroll-Down Website Artwork) is featured in the introduction to The Reorder of Things by Roderick A. Ferguson. Here, Ferguson explains the significance of this piece to his book. Collection and copyright Adrian Piper Research Archive Foundation Berlin. BY RODERICK A. FERGUSONProfessor of race and critical theory at the University of … More World-Making and World-Devastation in Adrian Piper’s Self-Portrait 2000

Halloween special: A rare interview with the ancient vampire squid from hell.

October 31, 2012

How far apart are humans from animals—even the Vampyroteuthis infernalis, the “vampire squid from hell”?Let’s discuss. Considering the human condition along with the Vampyroteuthis infernalis condition seems appropriate because “we are both products of an absurd coincidence,” writes Vilém Flusser.  Q&A WITH VAMPYROTEUTHIS INFERNALISSubject of Vilém Flusser’s Vampyroteuthis Infernalis: A Treatise Q. How are you … More Halloween special: A rare interview with the ancient vampire squid from hell.