Political Forms Reading Group: Grievability and the Politics of Mourning

During this meeting, we will discuss the notions of grievability, nonviolence, and the politics of mourning. We will read three texts by Judith Butler: 'Violence, Mourning, Politics’ from Precarious Life: The Powers of Mourning and Violence (2004), 'Nonviolence, Grievability and the Critique of Individualism’, from The Force of Nonviolence: An Ethics-Political Bind (2020), and an interview 'Mourning Is a Political Act Amid the Pandemic and Its Disparities’ (2020) published in Truthout. We will consider the dynamic relationship between violence and nonviolence, Butler’s take on modern practices of mourning and its links with the Covid-19 pandemic, and we will discuss what it means for a life to be (un)grievable in the contemporary world. 

If you are interested in critical theory and political philosophy, the political dimensions of art and literature, or interdisciplinary reflections on politics, please do join us. The group aims to connect researchers working across different disciplines once a month to discuss readings in an informal and friendly atmosphere. 

For more information and access to these readings please contact Rebecca Bevington (rb1371@york.ac.uk) or Wiktoria Tunska (wmt504@york.ac.uk).