AESTHETICS AND RADICAL POLITICS

Sat 3rd Feb 2007, Manchester University

There has always been a strong connection historically between
aesthetics and radical politics, and this is no less true for the
global justice movement’s current preoccupation with cultural
approaches to political action. This conference seeks to bring
radical artists, activists, theorists and academics together to
discuss past and present convergences between the theories and
practices of artists and writers and the theories and practices of
movements for radical social change.

There is already a massive amount of literature on Marxist
approaches to aesthetics, art and literature, and whilst
recognising the usefulness of such approaches, this conference will
attempt to engage with these issues from other radical critical
positions - whether they be anarchist, autonomist, ecological or
otherwise. Such perspectives have often been overlooked
historically, but it is arguable that they now more centrally
influence the activities of radical artists and activists.The conference will feature presentations and discussions on:

Anarchist literary theory, Alexander Trocchi, Art activism and
theatrical interventions, politicised videogames and immaterial
labour, Utopian art, street art, the Situationist International,
SOMA, post-structuralism and anarchism, Walter Crane, William
Morris, Oscar Wilde and Ursula K. Le Guin.

Full details of the conference can be found at:

http://anarchist-studies.org.uk/aesthetics/

Registration fees:

£10 waged

£5 low/unwaged

to register email Gavin@cyber-rights.net for details