Neoliberalism’s Literary Rhythms: Engaging with Canonical Texts to Vanquish the Market Myth

Description

All are invited to join us for this event in the ‘cum panis’ seminar series, hosted by gloknos at CRASSH. The ‘cum panis’ seminars are a space to share work currently in progress and break bread (or cake!) with new intellectual companions.

In this session we are joined by Ian Bruff (University of Manchester) to hear about his ongoing research.

Abstract:
This talk makes the case against the widespread assumption that neoliberalism is, even if rather different in practice, a worldview that is fundamentally about the valorisation of free markets. It does so by returning to canonical and theoretical texts across the Chicago, Austrian and Ordoliberal approaches, and argues that they are less interested in the promotion of free markets than in the remaking of states and households in a manner which is anti-democratic and denies the possibilities for social justice. The implications for our understanding and critiques of neoliberalism – in theory and in practice – are considered, as are prospects for resistance and progressive societal transformation in the contemporary period. Finally, drawing on Gramsci and Benjamin, the notion of ‘literary rhythms’ will be reflected on as a means for studying, analysing and critiquing neoliberal texts. The talk relates to an ongoing book project and comments on any aspect of the talk will be gratefully received.

This event is free to attend, but in order to receive the advance reading material for this session please email to confirm your attendance.

Want to share this event? Download and print a poster here.

 

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gloknos is initially funded for 5 years by the European Research Council through a Consolidator Grant awarded to Dr Inanna Hamati-Ataya for her project ARTEFACT (2017-2022). ARTEFACT is funded by the European Research Council under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (ERC grant agreement no. 724451). For information about gloknos or ARTEFACT please contact the administrator in the first instance.