International Centre for Contemporary Art Research
CFAR International Centre for Fine Art Research (BIAD/BCU)
Prof Johnny Golding / MA Contemporary Philosophy & Aesthetics
Mediations on Metaphysics: is there an ‘after’ Auschwitz?
Adorno claims that racism is not the expression of a capitalist mode of production, it is, rather, its ‘ground’. We explore this claim in the last lecture of this course, linking epistemology-politics-philosophy with the well-known, painful cry: how does one write poetry (art, laughter, sex) after Auschwitz?
1. In what way could it be said that racism is a ‘requirement’ (ground) of our contemporary society?
2. What does sexuality, neurosis and desire have to do with Adorno’s demand/ plea that one must continue ‘after’ Auschwitz?
3. What does it mean to ‘write’ poetry after Auschwitz?
Readings:
1. Adorno, Negative Dialectics selections, Part III, pp. 361-408.
2. Adorno, “Toward a Theory of the Artwork: intensity”, in his Aesthetic Theory, pp. 187
3. (optional) Adorno, “Art, Society, Aesthetics,” and “Situation,” in his Aesthetic Theory, pp.1-15 and 16-44.
Course Link:http://www.bcu.ac.uk/biad/courses/media-arts-philosophy-practice
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