Re: [Foucault-L] Reading Foucault

Apologies for the second post, but it just occurred to me that if I was to start reading Foucault from afresh, knowing what I know now, I would read as much Foucault as possible before ploughing into the secondary literature, which can, and often does, colour ones reading of Foucault in quite unexpected ways.

The first text I read by Foucault was, perhaps as with so many others, Discipline and Punish. And the next text I read was Dryefus and Rainbow’s study of Foucault; an interpretation that I have spent the past ten years or so trying to get free of.

It’s not that their interpretation is wrong or bad or anything like that. It’s just that it puts a particular spin on Foucault’s thought that can influence the way in which you apprehend or comprehend that thought.

Just some late night reflections,
Kevin.


> -----Original Message-----
> From: ngarner10@xxxxxxx
> Sent: Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:52:25 -0400 (EDT)
> To: foucault-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [Foucault-L] Reading Foucault
>
> Hello All
> I have been lurking here reading thoughts about Foucault for a year now
> because I always like what I hear about him. I have, unfortunately read
> little of him, very little.
>
> I would like to know where I should start reading him, I have finally
> finished de Beauvoir, Sartre, and Fanon, all of it. For the most part
> aside from what I had read in class as an undergrad and my inability to
> wait to read Les Damnes de la terre and Adeiux, I read all three in
> chronological order and I found it quite helpful in seeing the change in
> thier thought through the years. I am not sure where to start with
> Foucault, if I should start chronologically again or if there is a better
> way to start him. I am also not sure whether to try him in French or in
> English, my native language is English but I did read most of Sartre and
> de Beauvoir in French exclusively, the only Fanon I have read in English
> is Black Skin White Masks. I am at times a bit unsure of my French and
> am intimidated by starting Foucault so any help of where to start will be
> appreciated. It will be slow going though, I am also reading for my
> comps because I am finishing my masters in fall so I am rer!
> ea!
> ding Hegel and Marx and Spinoza right now. Unfortunately those are the
> highlights of our comps! It is all downhill to elitist hell from there.
>
> Thanks in advance for any assitance,
> Nicole
> The people come to realize that wealth is not the fruit of labor but the
> result of organized, protected robbery. Rich people are no longer
> respectable people; they are nothing more than flesh eating animals,
> jackals, and vultures which wallow in the people's blood. Frantz Fanon
> _______________________________________________
> Foucault-L mailing list

____________________________________________________________
GET FREE 5GB EMAIL - Check out spam free email with many cool features!
Visit http://www.inbox.com/email to find out more!


Replies
[Foucault-L] Reading Foucault, Nicole Garner
Partial thread listing: