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I can only speak as an ex-postgrad philosophy major and Australian left-wing political activist, but I haven't heard anyone mention critical theory in an activi

I can only speak as an ex-postgrad philosophy major and Australian left-wing political activist, but I haven't heard anyone mention critical theory in an activist context for years.

stcredzero 9y ago
I suspect your circles are ahead of trash academic circles here in the US, at places like Mizzou and Evergreen.
- tomlock 9y ago
  Australia is, bluntly, seen as a bit of a philosophical backwater. Additionally some of the most recent en-vogue leftie thought has come from the US - particularly bell hooks, judith butler, etc.
  - stcredzero 9y ago
    Australia is, bluntly, seen as a bit of a philosophical backwater. One thing we've noted in traditional music: Sometimes something awesome gets preserved in the backwaters while progress devolves something in the hot-centers of rapid change. (Scottish music in Cape Breton.) most recent en-vogue leftie thought has come from the US - particularly bell hooks, judith butler, etc. Bell Hooks is a Marxist. She claims to be Marxist. She's a Marxist that likes some things from Postmodernist social construction.
    - tomlock 9y ago
      This is confusing. Now you're talking about "being ahead" as something negative, but just two comments you said you thought I was "ahead" of the "trash academic circles". Bell hooks may be a marxist but she's not just a marxist.
      - stcredzero 9y ago
        This is confusing. Now you're talking about "being ahead" as something negative, but just two comments you said you thought I was "ahead" of the "trash academic circles". Being behind could amount to being ahead. It all depends on your point of view. Yes, that is confusing/complex -- so be it! Also, didn't I say "perhaps?" I meant it if I didn't. Bell hooks may be a marxist but she's not just a marxist. True. I also respect her as an astute observer of the personal. My sister likes her. But still, the Marxian thing is a red flag for me.
barrkel 9y ago
Do you think that, say, "cultural appropriation", as a term owes anything to critical theory?
- tomlock 9y ago
  I think broadly, many movements on the left and right owe some of their language, some of their terminology - to critical theory. For example, media scepticism and the idea of education-as-propaganda were further developed by critical theorists. So do I think cultural appropriation as a term owes anything to critical theory? Yes. Do I think a broad swathe of terms used across the political spectrum owe anything to critical theory? Yes. Do I think a critique of critical theory necessarily undermines any of these other terms? No.

I can only speak as an ex-postgrad philosophy major and Australian left-wing political activist, but I haven't heard anyone mention critical theory in an activist context for years.

stcredzero 9y ago

I suspect your circles are ahead of trash academic circles here in the US, at places like Mizzou and Evergreen.

tomlock 9y ago
Australia is, bluntly, seen as a bit of a philosophical backwater. Additionally some of the most recent en-vogue leftie thought has come from the US - particularly bell hooks, judith butler, etc.
- stcredzero 9y ago
  Australia is, bluntly, seen as a bit of a philosophical backwater. One thing we've noted in traditional music: Sometimes something awesome gets preserved in the backwaters while progress devolves something in the hot-centers of rapid change. (Scottish music in Cape Breton.) most recent en-vogue leftie thought has come from the US - particularly bell hooks, judith butler, etc. Bell Hooks is a Marxist. She claims to be Marxist. She's a Marxist that likes some things from Postmodernist social construction.
  - tomlock 9y ago
    This is confusing. Now you're talking about "being ahead" as something negative, but just two comments you said you thought I was "ahead" of the "trash academic circles". Bell hooks may be a marxist but she's not just a marxist.
    - stcredzero 9y ago
      This is confusing. Now you're talking about "being ahead" as something negative, but just two comments you said you thought I was "ahead" of the "trash academic circles". Being behind could amount to being ahead. It all depends on your point of view. Yes, that is confusing/complex -- so be it! Also, didn't I say "perhaps?" I meant it if I didn't. Bell hooks may be a marxist but she's not just a marxist. True. I also respect her as an astute observer of the personal. My sister likes her. But still, the Marxian thing is a red flag for me.

barrkel 9y ago

Do you think that, say, "cultural appropriation", as a term owes anything to critical theory?

tomlock 9y ago
I think broadly, many movements on the left and right owe some of their language, some of their terminology - to critical theory. For example, media scepticism and the idea of education-as-propaganda were further developed by critical theorists. So do I think cultural appropriation as a term owes anything to critical theory? Yes. Do I think a broad swathe of terms used across the political spectrum owe anything to critical theory? Yes. Do I think a critique of critical theory necessarily undermines any of these other terms? No.