Apply to Birkbeck Critical Theory Summer School
The London Critical Theory Summer School (LCTSS) is now accepting applications for its 2024 session. LCTSS is offering 15 full scholarships for in-person OSUN students and 20 bursaries for virtual stream OSUN students. LCTSS will take place from June 24 - July 5, 2024 on Birkbeck's campus in central London.A truly exceptional list of tutors has agreed to take part in the 2024 program. Attendees will be offered a substantial program of debates, breakout groups, discussions, live and pre-recorded talks, as well as access to archival resources.
Each Summer School explores the genealogy and reach of critical theory, whilst encouraging intellectual elaboration and reflection. The aim is to stimulate progressive, dissident being and thinking.
The necessity for such thinking is as critical as ever today. Across the world reactionary and racist governments enshrine inhumane policies in law, and turn their eyes away from climate catastrophe. Over the past years, some right populist politicians have been defeated, others have been elected (Italy, Finland), or are aiming at a second chance in power. The world is faced with increased inequality, inhumane asylum policies, licensed ethno-nationalism, so-called 'culture wars', and vicious misogyny, newly exposed but undefeated. As we write, the Russian assault on Ukraine continues and the conflict in Israel-Palestine has been pitched into new levels of violence. We now exist on the other side of a global pandemic that introduced and extended myriad social and technological changes whose long-term effects remain to be understood. At the same time, we are offered hope by the rise in protest movements, even when met with the increased force of state, and the creativity of cultural and artistic production whose energies and commitment promise a better future. Our summer school offers a place to explore the ramifications of all this and to ask what it means to wield criticism against contemporary oppression while turning our thought towards freedom.
We invite students to immerse themselves in two weeks of discussion and debate in the company of our leading tutors. In 2024, we are delighted to welcome Juliet Jacques, Isaac Julien, Pumla Dineo Gqola and Fumi Okiji, alongside our returning speakers, Costas Douzinas, Stephen Frosh, Kojo Koram, Esther Leslie, Laura Mulvey, Jacqueline Rose and Slavoj Žižek.
Testimony from Lala Darchinova, Central European University, who received an OSUN scholarship in 2022
LCTSS shed a light on unexplored topics such as psychoanalysis and political aesthetics. Being in contact with top-tier professors engaged in critical theory such as Etienne Balibar, Slavoj Zizek, Jacqueline Rose, Esther Leslie, Achille Mbembe, Costas Douzinas, Jodi Dean and many others stimulated my thinking on many questions currently bothering me. The content of the school was highly rich and timely. Amidst the war in Ukraine, when all values and principles are questioned again, topics of war, nationalism, cosmopolitics, the future of capitalism, and the meanings of freedom and liberty were necessary to discuss and think about.
Full Summer School details here
Deadline to apply is Wednesday, January 10
Cross Reference: Application, Seminar,Opportunities,Birkbeck Summer School
Deadline Expired on January 10, 2024