There’s something almost poetic about a tweet. Consider what Audre Lorde had to say about poetry: “Of all the art forms, poetry is the most economical. It is the one which is the most secret, which requires the least physical labor, the least material, and the one which can be done between shifts, in the hospital pantry, on the subway, and on scraps of surplus paper … poetry has been the major voice of poor, working class, and Colored women. A room of one's own may be a necessity for writing … [Read more...]
Comparing Hannah Arendt and neoliberalism on the family
The family is at the heart of neoliberalism. Thus argues Melinda Cooper in her 2017 book Family Values. Usually when I hear the term neoliberalism I think about the individual and personal responsibility. Yet, Cooper demonstrates, the family is central to its operations and maintenance. I think Arendt’s critique of the family can be especially helpful in illuminating this claim. But, she also naturalizes the family in a way — similar to neoliberalism. Personal responsibility equals family … [Read more...]
A love language
In a previous post, Katy pondered what love might have to do with visiting other worlds. She partly landed on love as a way of preventing us from objectifying the other, to engage with others respectfully. I want to take that a little further. Katy admits that she is uncomfortable with the idea of love in politics. But I think love can be a kind of language that allows us to start thinking about politics. Visiting According to Hannah Arendt, visiting is the process of expanding our … [Read more...]
Positive and negative solidarity in pandemic times
In a previous post, Janet raised questions about how solidarity might spontaneously arise during the pandemic to challenge anti-Asian racism. Drawing on Arendt and Dean, Janet emphasizes that responsibility to others, rather than feelings of affection or good will, must be central in a conception of solidarity. I have also drawn attention to the need for a relational account of solidarity in relation to public health ethics. In the past month, the spontaneity of solidarity seems to have … [Read more...]
Spontaneous solidarity – a new way forward?
What does solidarity mean? This is a question I’ve been grappling with since the pandemic started. It might be a strange topic to be thinking about, given that a lot of people are concerned with public health and vaccines, but I think their questions and mine are related. Think about it this way: aren’t the lockdown measures a symbol of solidarity? By complying with the stay-at-home orders, we’re demonstrating solidarity with the sick and vulnerable, friends and colleagues, our family, and even … [Read more...]