"Mapping Critical Theory Today"

Razmig Keucheyan
Public Lecture
March 17, 2015
ABSTRACT:
As the crisis of capitalism unfolds, the need for alternatives is felt ever more intensely. A crucial battlefield, where the outcome of the crisis will in part be decided, is that of theory. Over the last twenty-five years, radical intellectuals - marxists, feminists, postcolonial theorists, ecologists... - across the world have produced important and innovative ideas. In this conference, we will reflect on the global cartography of the expanding intellectual field of critical contemporary thought. We will try to make sense of the current intellectual conjuncture, and situate thinkers and their theories in a broader historical and sociological perspective.
BIO:
Razmig Keucheyan is an assistant professor in sociology at the University of Paris-Sorbonne. He is the author of The Left Hemisphere. Mapping Critical Theory Today (Verso, 2013), and has edited a selection of Antonio Gramsci's Prison Notebooks. He recently published, in French, La nature est un champ de bataille. Essai d'écologie politique (La Découverte, 2014). Personal website: razmigkeucheyan.wordpress.com/

[@johanothman]

A brilliant talk. Congratulations Razmig Keucheyan. Thank you Institute for the Humanities for posting this.

[@bchapman1234]

As in the leftist criticism of conservatism. "Yes I know it works in practice, but does it work in theory."

[@tomdooley3522]

Why do you got to sum up the absurdity of the left and completely steal my thunder.

[@parveenmalik6728]

Beautiful mapping of critical theory really appreciateable

[@zacoolm]

Thank you Ramzig!!!!

[@Garland41]

The speaker uses the term abstract incorrectly. He uses it as a contrasts between empirical and nonempirical, or pragmatic vs nonpragmatic when it fact the supposed abstractness is the study of a perspective that asks why the revolution failed. Why conflate abstract, Metaphysics, and religiosity? Because they are part of the subject formation and they affect the actions people take as well as affect how groups form and act.

[@richardoaks]

Thanks!

[@edaradileep5227]

A very analytical, thought-provoking talk.

[@MultiBunnyhunter]

what thought did it provoke ?

[@flornocturna4990]

Interesting, he did not mention Garcia Linera's relation with narco traffic or the Kirchner's innumerable cases of corruption, I think that would had helped to the context

[@bestdjaf7499]

Well, Marx anti-Semitism & .... also could help.

[@SonDialer]

He should have mentioned Cornell West

[@excitingworld364]

excellent!

[@kenhaze5230]

NICE

[@Mr1100112233]

he missed 24:04 Open Marxism

[@glennewell2436]

If mapping is about developing a strategy this lecture should have moved beyond discussing the various characters involved in its construction. The relevance, or not, of CT appears therefore to be entirely missing from what appears to be little more than a 'review'. And as with all such venues someone needs to insist that questions are indeed real questions that are kept short and relevant!

[@diallomouhamadoulamine5568]

I all agree

[@diallomouhamadoulamine5568]

Amongst professional in critical theory where is Alexander Grothendieck's place? Since he was a mathematician and a literary writer of criticism in the way we live and scientific research's usefulness for our survival

[@trees3987]

Andrew Feenberg is a marxist he is the one speaking at 43:17 he studied under Herbert Marcuse and even helped him write a book. He also writes his own critical theory books of technology. you had a marxist right in that room with you.

[@psyche4283]

...so?

[@SSNewberry]

It is the sort of thing you will like if you like that sort of thing.

[@bestdjaf7499]

No, people who cannot create love to criticize. It's just a scam. That's why they cannot really take over the Applied Science. I mean, you can believe in the Flat Earth Theory, until you actually have to create something.

[@stevenyourke7901]

Left? What left? I don’t see any left? Do you see a left?

[@JOONYERful]

Kids, this is an example of getting utterly lost in theory.

[@ntodd6627]

I.e., too smart for you.

[@JOONYERful]

@@ntodd6627 cringe

[@Rabbittavo]

@James Tucker If none of these ideas are complex why are we still debating them after hundreds of years? lol If it was as simple as 2+2 we would all be learning it in elementary school. I call B.S Jargon is not only used to make things more complicated it gives a vocabulary to a field so as to have specific conversations. Jargon developed over time so only sustained activity will keep you up to date. Do you think music Jargon like diminished 5th, Bb nine, ect are just terms to make the art of music more complicated I mean music is relatively simple and can be grasped without the Jargon but we still have an academic way of talking about these things and if someone were going to perform Bach or Theloduous Monk it would be expected that they know these things. The logic just seems to undercut this field when Jargon is common to most professions.

[@onpegpocketedition2640]

Since you started with a lecture like this it’s no wonder you got lost. There is a level of experience with the subject matter that is assumed in this talk and discarding it because you don’t understand the terminology and context would be like sitting in on a pchem lecture and getting annoyed because the professor isn’t explaining the definition of entropy.

[@bestdjaf7499]

@@Rabbittavo What is complex? Criticism is Complex? I can criticize your comment. I can criticize your gender & color & your appearance... What is so complex? But have you tried to build an aircraft or car or house or a garden? To build something valuable is difficult. Criticizing is extremely easy.

[@tomdooley3522]

In our heart is a rancor you vain understand , I despise what you stand for. I believe there is a yellow flag with North American serpent on it , and some kind of rude logo on it. Now why this matters is what part of an intellectuals Anatomy it should be unceremoniously placed and what number of intellectuals this should be perpetrated upon . Until they are illuminated by a Critical reality, such as the crude logo on the yellow flag.

[@iamthatguyontv]

Critical Theory successfully overcomplicated nihilism and has no solutions to the failings of human systems to meet human needs.

[@RM-tr7bk]

I have to agree.

[@ntodd6627]

Just because you don't understand it doesn't mean that there is nothing to say.

[@iamthatguyontv]

@@ntodd6627 If you had an argument maybe you'd have a reason to comment. Try again.

[@451tintan]

wow never heard like that 👍

[@Rabbittavo]

CRT isn't nihilistic but it also isn't prescriptive it is descriptive the solutions are not part of the analysis we are just looking to see what is present. The idea that one solution will fix every problem CRT finds is not logical. Solutions will have to be created individually for each problem. The laws that created a race based system were developed with a specific goal and over different periods of time. Deconstruction of the old and rebuilding of new systems will help to reveal what we got wrong.

[@trustyshellback]

“Socialism is precisely the religion that must overwhelm Christianity.” 🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷 "In the new order, Socialism will triumph by first capturing the culture via infiltration of schools, universities, churches and the media [followed] by transforming the consciousness of society.” 🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷 Antonio Francesco Gramsci created “Cultural” Marxism in Italy during the 1920s due to the debunking of “Classical” Marxism during World War I. Gramsci had concluded that politics is downstream from culture. The Frankfurt School developed further this crafty infiltration strategy for their imposition of totalitarianism. The poison is Critical Theory. 🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷 🇺🇸 Marc J. Metivier 🇺🇸

[@kevinmclee7662]

I've noticed in the comment section that those who believe critical theory has value only attack the character of those who criticize it and that speaks volume on why those who are wise should speak out against this whenever it raises it's ugly head. A little common sense and wisdom will easily capture a victory over the proponents of critical theory.

[@galek75]

I've noticed in the comment section that those who believe critical theory doesn't have value only attack the character of those who champion it and that speaks volume on why those who are wise should speak out for critical theory whenever anti-intellectuals rear their ugly heads. A little common sense and wisdom will easily capture a victory over the detractors of critical theory.

[@DeFinitely69]

Such a waste of resources

[@galek75]

That is a political statement, and has little to do with actual resource scarcity. Get over yourself.

[@debblouin]

Critical Theory is toxic on every level.

[@jeffmoy8098]

Why? Answer on every level

[@bestdjaf7499]

@@jeffmoy8098 Because it's difficult to create something valuable, & it's extremely easy to criticize. I can write Feminist Slam Poetry & Criticize Society & "Patriarchy' & Capitalism & Whiteness...(& "Blackness", if allowed to).

[@Zalley]

Would you want this man organising your world? I don’t think he’d make a success of my local store.

[@jeffmoy8098]

Why