I've thought about this a lot also because I see aspects of Foucault's,
Butler's et al. theories that should and need to be a part of a radical
social movement. When I do mention these theories of social activists they
either give me blank stare or write it off as inapplicable theory. I know
that Foucault was active in prison reform (though I don't know the details
of his activism). Does anyone know if/how well he applied his theories to
those causes? Perhaps, dare I say it, post-modernism/post whatever needs a
manifesto?
Sean
Sean Guillory
guillory01@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
AIM: seanguill, ICQ: 75192809
PO Box 1312
Claremont, CA 91711-1312
Vote Socialist! www.votesocialist.org
> I agree with Jeremiah. More should be done to impliment the theories which
> are too often only expounded within the closed framework of lists such as
> this. At least for myself I feel that I am not doing enough to effect the
> world within which I exist. Too much time is spent debating the best path
or
> action. Jeremiah's post reminds me of the line from Yeats' poem "The best
> lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity".
But
> the real question is how to effect the changes we seek.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jeremiah Luna" <jeremiah.luna@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: "Foucault" <foucault@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2000 7:20 AM
> Subject: what about us
>
>
> > I have this to say, It seems to me that our current debate between Lynne
> > Cheney's views and Foucault4s theory are fruitful to a certain degree.
> > Between Cheney, Nussbaum, the Nation and Butler we as Foucaultian or
> > intellectuals of some sort naturally withdrawn into our own click, our
> > faction of leftist-intellecutal force. But the debate between the "post
> > structuralist left" represented by Foucault and the Nation is maybe
> > important for a minute or too, but in the larger scope world political
> > events it is beside the point, since the "left" as a whole with all of
its
> > factions composes an extreme minority with almost no influence over the
> > events of our day. And it seems to me to keep defining ourselves
"against"
> > this or that is a typical gesture of group identification and
> > construction,
> > which in the end produces yet another "sub culture" pushing for it
> > particular view as opposed to 100 of others while missing the bigger
> > challenges faces our era and generation.
> >
> > therefore I ask the question what about us
"pspseudo-intellectuals" -just
> > in for the hype- possessing no the academic skills to be professionals
> > within the context of the university as a highly competitive capitalist
> > "knowledge institutions". Where does our reading and education
> > influence our daily life as citizens with our larger society? We all
have
> > the tendency to identify with the opinions and positions put forward by
> Butler
> > and Spivak as alternative to the Nation and god forbid Cheney or
> > NutTree, but when I stop to think about what we really have for "real
> > intellectual community" in Tuebingen or at Berkeley I can't exactly say
> > that I am very happy. I mean sure I can go to lectures, buy books, sit
in
> > cafes trying to spark up some theory discussion here and there which
> > often result in failure. I don't know do you guys see what I am getting
> > at.
> > Maybe what I am trying to say is this, that theory needs to be taken
out
> > of the university context. What about our own projects? Why are their
not
> > more artist colonies? why can't we situate our reading in a context
> > outside of our professional academic career aspirations? Why are there
so
> > few reading groups advocating "postmodern vertigo"? its easy for
Marxists
> to
> > complain about anarchists or post modernists to complain about
modernists
> > and and, but in the end we are responsible for our " theory subculture"
to
> > see that it more than just the idealization of a few big names on some
> > unversities some where. Maybe I would be more interest in a discussion
of
> > our situation as "hum drum theory people" just getting by working odds
> > jobs here and there, or at least entertaining the question how are we
> > going to integrate our theory back round into a non academic corporate
> > work environment? In my circles I have seen allot of really motivated
and
> > energetic people just . . stop talking theory, or reading, kinda loosing
> > their critical perspective on things, and I think it is part due of the
> fact
> > that when one is finished with school at there is not the community
there
> > to drive you to it and maybe a whole host of other reasons.
> >
> > with kind regards
> >
> > Jeremiah
> >
> >
> >
>
>
Butler's et al. theories that should and need to be a part of a radical
social movement. When I do mention these theories of social activists they
either give me blank stare or write it off as inapplicable theory. I know
that Foucault was active in prison reform (though I don't know the details
of his activism). Does anyone know if/how well he applied his theories to
those causes? Perhaps, dare I say it, post-modernism/post whatever needs a
manifesto?
Sean
Sean Guillory
guillory01@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
AIM: seanguill, ICQ: 75192809
PO Box 1312
Claremont, CA 91711-1312
Vote Socialist! www.votesocialist.org
> I agree with Jeremiah. More should be done to impliment the theories which
> are too often only expounded within the closed framework of lists such as
> this. At least for myself I feel that I am not doing enough to effect the
> world within which I exist. Too much time is spent debating the best path
or
> action. Jeremiah's post reminds me of the line from Yeats' poem "The best
> lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity".
But
> the real question is how to effect the changes we seek.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jeremiah Luna" <jeremiah.luna@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: "Foucault" <foucault@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2000 7:20 AM
> Subject: what about us
>
>
> > I have this to say, It seems to me that our current debate between Lynne
> > Cheney's views and Foucault4s theory are fruitful to a certain degree.
> > Between Cheney, Nussbaum, the Nation and Butler we as Foucaultian or
> > intellectuals of some sort naturally withdrawn into our own click, our
> > faction of leftist-intellecutal force. But the debate between the "post
> > structuralist left" represented by Foucault and the Nation is maybe
> > important for a minute or too, but in the larger scope world political
> > events it is beside the point, since the "left" as a whole with all of
its
> > factions composes an extreme minority with almost no influence over the
> > events of our day. And it seems to me to keep defining ourselves
"against"
> > this or that is a typical gesture of group identification and
> > construction,
> > which in the end produces yet another "sub culture" pushing for it
> > particular view as opposed to 100 of others while missing the bigger
> > challenges faces our era and generation.
> >
> > therefore I ask the question what about us
"pspseudo-intellectuals" -just
> > in for the hype- possessing no the academic skills to be professionals
> > within the context of the university as a highly competitive capitalist
> > "knowledge institutions". Where does our reading and education
> > influence our daily life as citizens with our larger society? We all
have
> > the tendency to identify with the opinions and positions put forward by
> Butler
> > and Spivak as alternative to the Nation and god forbid Cheney or
> > NutTree, but when I stop to think about what we really have for "real
> > intellectual community" in Tuebingen or at Berkeley I can't exactly say
> > that I am very happy. I mean sure I can go to lectures, buy books, sit
in
> > cafes trying to spark up some theory discussion here and there which
> > often result in failure. I don't know do you guys see what I am getting
> > at.
> > Maybe what I am trying to say is this, that theory needs to be taken
out
> > of the university context. What about our own projects? Why are their
not
> > more artist colonies? why can't we situate our reading in a context
> > outside of our professional academic career aspirations? Why are there
so
> > few reading groups advocating "postmodern vertigo"? its easy for
Marxists
> to
> > complain about anarchists or post modernists to complain about
modernists
> > and and, but in the end we are responsible for our " theory subculture"
to
> > see that it more than just the idealization of a few big names on some
> > unversities some where. Maybe I would be more interest in a discussion
of
> > our situation as "hum drum theory people" just getting by working odds
> > jobs here and there, or at least entertaining the question how are we
> > going to integrate our theory back round into a non academic corporate
> > work environment? In my circles I have seen allot of really motivated
and
> > energetic people just . . stop talking theory, or reading, kinda loosing
> > their critical perspective on things, and I think it is part due of the
> fact
> > that when one is finished with school at there is not the community
there
> > to drive you to it and maybe a whole host of other reasons.
> >
> > with kind regards
> >
> > Jeremiah
> >
> >
> >
>
>