Special Topics in Comparative Literature (488-0-10)
Topic
Foucault and After: From Biopolitics to Necroresis
Instructors
Penelope Deutscher
847/491-5293
Kresge 3245
Meeting Info
Kresge 3438 Philosophy Sem. Rm: Tues 6:30PM - 9:20PM
Overview of class
This course in Foucauldian and contemporary post-Foucauldian biopolitics offers an introduction to the field organized by the themes of biopower, resistance, necropolitics, and thanatopolitics. In this context, to think with the interrelations of race, gender, sexuality, class, poverty, health, citizenship, immigration status, abilities, and nationalist exceptionalism, is also to consider the intersections of heterogeneous techniques of power. We'll consider engagements with and challenges to the Foucauldian lexicon of power (including the terms: sovereign, discipline, pastoral, governmental, biopolitical, security, neoliberal governmentality) that have been contributed by post-Foucauldian analyses whose lexicon also includes: domination, exploitation, occupation, expropriation, coloniality, and decoloniality, and which has asked how contemporary forms of resistance to power have centered around such as problems as: the formation of a sovereign right to maim; of freedom as burdened individuality; of neoliberalism as am omnipresent form of governmentality; the making of endebted life, and the deadly aspects of biopower.
Registration Requirements
(A) At least one previous course (or equivalent) in critical race, decolonial, gender, or sexuality studies
(B) One introductory level course (or equivalent) (including undergraduate level) on Foucault.
Learning Objectives
Consolidation of prior familiarity with foundational concepts developed by the French philosopher Michel Foucault. - Advanced level introduction to the further contributions of Foucault's College de France lectures (as associated with graduate level competence in Foucault) central to the development of the contemporary field of biopolitical theory. - Introduction to, or further study of, a range of philosophers and critical theorists associated with the development of post-Foucauldian understandings of "biopower," "necropolitics," "thanatopolitics "; and corresponding concepts of control, domination, and resistance. -Familiarity with the impact of, and critical responses to Foucault in a one or more major strands of contemporary gender, sexuality and critical race studies. -Competence in at least one approach related to intersectionality studies and forms of analysis integrating multiple concepts and modes of power.
Class Materials (Required)
All class materials will be available on Canvas at NO cost to the student.
Excerpts from set works will be provided on Canvas. In addition to these electronic materials, participants should expect to obtain their own copy of one main work by Michel Foucault (based on student choice) from which excerpts have been presented and discussed in class. This will form the basis of independent reading, and a partial basis for their long paper. However, electronic versions of a number of Foucault's main works and College de France lectures are available either through Northwestern library or on the Canvas website (or both). It is possible to take the course without text purchase, using digital resources, however, participants should ensure they have a means of annotating their personal copies of core texts, digital or print.
Class Materials (Suggested)
A) Overviews of the field of biopolitical theory 1) For those preferring to read a general introductory overview of the field, two excellent suggestions are: -Catherine Mills, Biopolitics (Routledge, 2017); ISBN-13 978-1844656059 -Thomas Lemke, Biopolitics: An Advanced Introduction ( NYU Press, 2011) ; ISBN-13 : 978-0814752425.
OR
B) Foundational works by Foucault: (while these are reviewed at the start of the course, the course assumes a functional prior familiarity with these works ) -Michel Foucault, History of Sexuality, volume one (Vintage, 1990) ISBN-13 : 978-0679724698 -Michel Foucault, Discipline and Punish (Vintage, 1995) ISBN-13 : 978-0679752554
Class Notes
Final paper.