Self-isolation Reading Group

Following the Coronavirus pandemic and the temporary closing of the University of Cambridge, CPGJ is hosting an ad-hoc reading group online. Readings are selected on the basis of relevance to the current crisis – so far we’re sourcing from our Ontopolitics of the future reading group, which ran in AY 2018/9, but other suggestions for content available/accesible online are welcome.

Participation in the group is open to all. For each session, we select a text, and a volunteer writes a ‘review’/blog post introducing it (1000-1500 words). Once the review is posted, other participants are invited to comment/add their reviews via the Comments box. We hold ‘discussion meetings’ via Microsoft Teams every other Friday, approximately a week after posting the review. You are welcome to join both the discussion in writing and through videochat; if you would like to get involved but are not sure how (or if you do not have access to Microsoft Teams), subscribe to our mailing list or get in touch with Jana Bacevic at jb906@cam.ac.uk.

Session 1: Lakoff’s ‘Global Health Security and the Pathogenic Imaginary’

Read the review by Jee Rubin here

Online meeting: 3 April 2020, 4:30PM

Session 2: Mann & Wainwright’s ‘Climate Leviathan’

Read the review by Milan Stürmer here

Online meeting: 17 April, 4.30-5.30PM, BST. All are welcome; the link/invitation to Microsoft Teams meeting will be posted here.

Session 3: Kelly et al.’s ‘Uncertainty in times of medical emergency: Knowledge gaps and structural ignorance during the Brazilian Zika crisis’

Read the review by Jana Bacevic here

Online meeting: 1 May, 4.30-5.30PM, BST. All are welcome; the link/invitation to Microsoft Teams meeting here.

Session 4: Mbembe’s ‘Necropolitics’

Read the review by Simina Dragos here

Online meeting: 15 May, 4.30-5.30PM, BST. All are welcome; the meeting takes place via Zoom (meeting ID: 920 9347 3710; contact jb906 at cam.ac.uk for password).

Session 5: Povinelli’s ‘Geontologies: The Figures and the Tactics’ (Chapter 1).

Read the review by Harriet Cooper here

Online meeting: 29 May, 4.30-5.30PM, BST. All are welcome; the meeting takes place via Zoom; contact jb906 at cam.ac.uk for ID and password, at least an hour before the meeting.