Ideology, Affect, and the Politics of Disavowal: Notes on Syria

This talk is based on Prof Lisa Wedeen's book, Authoritarian Apprehensions: Ideology, Judgment, and Mourning in Syria (Chicago 2019). Drawing on extensive fieldwork and a variety of Syrian artistic practices, Prof Wedeen examines the way ideological investments sustain ambivalence towards autocratic political power. The talk will also explore some of the dynamics of civil war contention and ongoing activist visions of living otherwise.