Anonymous Comrade writes:
"This is Forever" Autonomist Discussion Series
New York City, Summer & Fall, 2006
‘This is Forever’: From Inquiry to Refusal
A Discussion Series Dedicated to Understanding the Current Composition of Political Movements and Struggles Using the Lens of Autonomist Thought.
@ Bluestockings Books, Cafe & Activism Center
172 Allen St. NYC
Bluestockings
‘This is Forever’ presents two upcoming events in the series:
Friday, July 21st — 7pm — $5 to $10 donation
Discussion: Will Weikart “Critical Mass, War Machine: Anarchy on Wheels? (or, What the Left can Learn from a Bunch of Bicyclists)”
On August 27 2004, just before the anti-RNC protests, the NYC critical mass bike ride reached its largest numbers here and possibly anywhere worldwide (est. 5000+). Nearly 300 were arrested, this also marked the beginning of an NYPD crackdown against the monthly phenomenon and now discourse, itself, about the ride. The presenter will give some background on the CM phenomenon (globally, but mainly locally, via his participation in NYC-CM). Why it is that NYC-CM has been the object of so much concern by local law enforcement?
His thinking here is influenced by theories of affect, Deleuze and Guattari's notion of nomadic war machine and smooth/striated space, and by Eugene Thacker's article "Networks, Swarms, Multitudes". He will go on to theorize critical mass-type movement (relatively leaderless and spontaneous, joyous) as an invaluable tool for Left tactics and praxis, one not characterized negatively by lack. The constant cry of "we need more organization!" is challenged and the inverse is argued — that we need more willful disorganization and "noise" to open the spaces of radical potential.
