Andrew Benjamin wed 9 May 2007

Centre for Cultural Studies Visiting Professor Andrew Benjamin talks at Goldsmiths

"Violence and Legitimacy"


Wednesday 9 May 2007

10am to 12 noon, Ben Pimlott Lecture Theatre

Professor Benjamin will present from work-in-progress on violence and legitimacy. His paper considers the fascination of violence and the manner in which it exerts a hold and commands notice despite its apparent warrant of revulsion. This fascination operates aesthetically across a range of media such that any easily formed distinction between art practices and journalism soon vanishes. Once removed from mere presentation violence oscillates between judgment and legitimation. The word’s ease of use does not belie the problem of definition. And yet, its definition is all too easily assumed. If assumptions, rather than being given centrality are deferred, then it may be possible to approach the violent by beginning with the complex interplay between fascination, judgment and legitimation.

Andrew Benjamin is Visiting Professor at Centre for Cultural Studies, Goldsmiths. He is currently Associate Dean of Research in the Faculty of Design, Architecture and Built Environment at the University of Technology Sydney and Professor of Critical Theory at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. Previously he has taught at Warwick University's Centre for Research in Philosophy and Literature.

All welcome.


And don't forget afterwards:

Wednesday 9 May 2007
Undercover Softness: Politics and Architecture of Decay
An intensive seminar with philosopher and freelance writer Reza Negarestani (Iran) 2-5pm, Room DTH109
The first in a new seminar series: Architectures of Abstraction. Contact Luciana to attend.
See <http://www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/cultural-studies/events.php> for more info on all CCS events.