New Books in Critical Theory

Marshall Poe

Episodes

Mentioned books

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13 snips
Sep 2, 2025 • 54min

Maddalena Cerrato, "Michel Foucault's Practical Philosophy: A Critique of Subjectivation Processes" (SUNY Press, 2025)

Maddalena Cerrato, an Assistant Professor of Critical Theory, delves into Michel Foucault's practical philosophy and its fresh take on freedom and subjectivation. She discusses how Foucault's critique challenges traditional views of power, emphasizing its productive aspects and individual agency. The conversation also highlights the nuances of Foucault's philosophy in everyday life, self-governance, and the dynamics of identity, advocating for a holistic approach to social transformation that moves beyond individualism.
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Sep 1, 2025 • 1h 10min

Cordelia Fine, "Patriarchy Inc.: What We Get Wrong About Gender Equality – and Why Men Still Win at Work" (W.W. Norton, 2025)

Cordelia Fine, a Canadian-born British philosopher and professor at the University of Melbourne, shares incisive insights from her latest book on gender equality. She critiques existing narratives about workplace gender roles, highlighting the cultural factors that shape these dynamics. Fine challenges the adequacy of evolutionary psychology in understanding gender and discusses how sexual harassment enforces traditional hierarchies. She advocates for a nuanced approach to gender equality and explores the intersectionality of gender, race, and class in workplace inequalities.
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Sep 1, 2025 • 56min

David Edmonds, "Death in a Shallow Pond: A Philosopher, a Drowning Child, and Strangers in Need" (Princeton UP, 2025)

David Edmonds, a bestselling author and Distinguished Research Fellow at the University of Oxford, discusses the ethics of altruism through the provocative drowning child thought experiment by Peter Singer. He probes the moral dilemmas of acting against personal loss versus saving a life. The conversation covers how this analogy sparked the Effective Altruism movement and critiques the role of wealthy philanthropists in democracy. Edmonds also examines the complex relationship between poverty and increasing inequality, challenging listeners to reassess their moral obligations.
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Aug 30, 2025 • 34min

Pauwke Berkers and Yosha Wijngaarden, "A Sociology of Awkwardness: On Social Interactions Going Wrong" (Taylor & Francis, 2025)

Yosha Wijngaarden, a media and creative industries scholar, and Pauwke Berkers, a sociology professor specializing in popular music, delve into the complex world of social awkwardness. They discuss how awkwardness in interactions is shaped by social contexts rather than personal traits. The duo reflects on navigating these dynamics in a post-pandemic landscape, emphasizing insights from their empirical research. Listeners will find relatable anecdotes and a fresh perspective on managing discomfort in everyday social scenarios.
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Aug 29, 2025 • 1h 20min

Patrice D. Douglass, "Engendering Blackness: Slavery and the Ontology of Sexual Violence" (Stanford UP, 2025)

Patrice D. Douglass, assistant professor at UC Berkeley, dives into the intertwined nature of sexual violence and racial slavery in her groundbreaking work. She argues that these historical traumas shape contemporary Black identity in ways often overlooked. Douglass challenges conventional feminist theories, emphasizing the necessity of revising narratives around Blackness. The discussion spans from the complexities of Black feminist historiography to the enduring legacies of slavery, urging listeners to confront difficult truths about memory, identity, and the ongoing impact of historical violence.
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4 snips
Aug 27, 2025 • 1h 4min

Ian Scoones, "Navigating Uncertainty: Radical Rethinking for a Turbulent World" (Polity, 2024)

Ian Scoones, a Professorial Fellow at the Institute of Development Studies, shares insights from his upcoming book on navigating uncertainty in today’s world. He challenges traditional risk management, advocating for flexibility and community-centric approaches in development. The conversation highlights the necessity of diverse knowledge systems, critiques conventional economic models, and examines the role of reliability professionals in managing crises. Scoones emphasizes grassroots climate action and the power of local voices in shaping effective responses to environmental challenges.
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Aug 26, 2025 • 60min

Aaron Hammes, "TransGenre" (Cambridge UP, 2025)

Aaron Hammes, an independent scholar and sex workers' rights organizer with a PhD from CUNY, discusses his groundbreaking book, TransGenre. He explores how contemporary transgender literature challenges and reshapes genre conventions, particularly through road novels and chosen family narratives. Hammes delves into the political implications of minor literature and critiques traditional family structures in favor of chosen connections. By analyzing works like 'Nevada,' he reveals how these narratives redefine identity and societal perceptions, enriching our understanding of trans experiences.
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6 snips
Aug 23, 2025 • 1h 15min

Michelle P. Brown, "Bede and the Theory of Everything" (Reaktion Books, 2023)

Michelle P. Brown, Professor Emerita of Medieval Manuscript Studies, dives into the life of Bede, a pivotal figure in early medieval scholarship. They discuss Bede's astonishing achievements, including the creation of tide tables and early Bible translations. Brown shares insights on Bede's cosmopolitan education, his influence on Western thought, and new discoveries about his work. The conversation sheds light on monasticism's contributions to English culture, emphasizing how Bede's scholarly legacy continues to resonate today.
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Aug 21, 2025 • 56min

Kathleen Wilson, "Strolling Players of Empire: Theater and Performances of Power in the British Imperial Provinces, 1656–1833" (Cambridge UP, 2022)

In this engaging discussion, cultural historian Kathleen Wilson dives into her work on the role of theater in the British Empire from 1656 to 1833. She reveals how performances transformed imperial provinces into historical stages, shaping identity and power dynamics. The chat explores the cultural exchange between British expatriates and local audiences, illustrating how non-British people adapted English traditions. With fascinating examples from Calcutta and St. Helena, Wilson highlights theater’s dual role as entertainment and a means of asserting authority and challenging colonial narratives.
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Aug 18, 2025 • 1h 32min

Alyssa Battistoni, "Free Gifts: Capitalism and the Politics of Nature" (Princeton UP, 2025)

Alyssa Battistoni, author of "Free Gifts: Capitalism and the Politics of Nature," dives into capitalism's failure to properly value nature. She critiques how certain aspects of the natural world are commodified while others, essential for ecological balance, are ignored. Battistoni discusses contemporary issues like pollution and reproductive labor, revealing how capitalism exploits these elements. Her thought-provoking insights challenge listeners to reconsider ecological values and emphasize the need for meaningful political intervention to protect our environment.

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