This is the Sound of Uncool: Spandau Ballet & the Biopolitics of Cool
So what sorts of practices would or could potentially critique or subvert neoliberalism? I agree with Jason Read’s claim that “a political response to neoliberalism must meet it on its terrain, that of the production of subjectivity, freedom, and possibility”…
A Few Quick Thoughts on “Accidentally Racist”
I just want to briefly weigh in on the “Accidentally Racist” discussion. For those who don’t already know, this is a song by Brad Paisely featuring LL Cool J. The gyst of the song is that Paisely’s white narrator is…
Philosophy as Medium & Material Practice
This past weekend at the American Philosophies Forum, I argued that philosophy is a medium and material practice, and that philosophers needs to (for reasons both philosophical and ethical/professional) engage transmedial practices. Basically, my argument was this: If philosophers are…
Rihanna’s Melancholic Damage
Here is my looong, unedited, still-in-process post on Rihanna, “Look, I Overcame!” Gaga Feminism, goth damage, and multi-racial white supremacy. Unlike most people who talk about Rihanna, Breezy, feminism, & race, I will actually discuss her MUSIC–chords, compositional and performance…
“Look, I Overcame!”: Feminine Subjectivity, Resilience, & Multi-Racial White Supremacist Patriarchy
In his recent essay in Radical Philosophy, mark Neocleous argues that the ideal of “resilience” has replaced the ideal of “security,” both as a structure of individual subjectivity and a principle of social/national policy.[i]Briefly, he defines resilience as “the capacity…
Rednexpolitation & Multi-Racial White Supremacy
In 1993, Coco Fusco & Gabriel Gomez-Penia performed “Couple In A Cage”–they dressed up in stereotypically “native” attire and displayed their performance of exotic primitiveness for scopophilic consumption. The work interrogates the role of non-whites in liberal multiculturalism: whites prove…
From Gucci Gucci to the Thrift Shop: white rappers & black culture
I was in the car this morning running some errands when (unsurprisingly) Macklemore’s “Thrift Shop” came on the radio. Stuck in a bit of traffic, I actually listened to the lyrics this time. It had always been obvious to me…
The Rain In Spain Falls Mainly On The Plain: On Sound & The Virgin/Whore Dichotomy
Here’s an excerpt from a rough draft of a paper I’m working up for the American Philosophies Forum at Emory in April. The theme of the meeting is “The Ineffable,” so I’m writing on Vladimir Jankelevitch‘s and Carolyn Abbate‘s work…
I’m Teaching Philosophy of Music This Summer
Syllabus coming soon. My summer 2013 course in Philosophy of Music is open to both undergrads and grad students from UNCC & elsewhere. Registration opens in a month!Students from outside UNCC: if you can locate yourself in Charlotte for 5 weeks…
Rihanna’s Unapologetic Shadow Feminism, part 2
As always, this is pretty raw, first-draft stage material. I welcome your feedback 🙂 Thanks to everyone who has read and given feedback on part 1 of this series! The continued outcry and worry about Rihanna and her album clearly…
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