About
As he often said, Foucault never wanted his work to become dead theory or inspire a cult following. From metaphors that compare his ideas to ‘a box of tools’ to characterisations of his work as a challenge or an invitation, his books and ethos continue to illuminate contemporary critical thought. His books continue to invite interpretations and re-interpretations. His ideas are taken up and made to work in the present. His lectures give us a glimpse of Foucault’s thought in action. His interviews show us how he positioned himself as a public intellectual. His life continues to offer us models of militancy, passion, experimentation and critique.
This seminar intends to engage as many facets of Foucault as possible. It is inviting engagements with any aspect of Foucault’s work – his books or lecture courses, particularly the more recently published ones. But we do not want to stop there. We want to also see how Foucault’s ideas are being used, and how scholars, practitioners and activists are extending his ideas and ethos into new and exciting domains.
Foucault’s works remain among the most drawn upon in critical work, within the humanities and beyond. So while exegetical approaches to his work remain crucial, particularly in light of how posthumous publications can re-orient our grasp of his work, it is also important to go beyond the interpretative task in order to open up new spaces for thinking, critical work and action.
In this spirit, we would like to gather Foucault scholars and users of his work to a 1-day seminar in Malta on the 38th anniversary since Foucault’s death.
