Theories of Astrology
This course takes a new historical approach to the study of astrology in an attempt to situate this much-maligned subject within established networks of cultural value.
Astrology engenders ontological concern, in that it is seen as promoting uncritical or weak-minded ways of understanding ourselves and those around us. Belief in astrology suggests ineptitude in the processes of forming oneself as a subject and as a member of society. What this course hopes to address, then, are the particular stakes pinned to this elaborated suspicion of astrology.
Why is astrology deemed an insufficient or unethical system for understanding identity? What alternative systems exist as points of comparison, and how are they seen as more convincing? To what standards is astrology being held, and for what historical reasons?
Examining the grounds on which astrology is delegitimized reveals an interconnected network of binaries through which epistemological legitimacy is determined and perpetuated: intellect/affect, industry/domesticity, rational/irrational, art/kitsch, seriousness/levity.
If the greatest anxiety oriented at astrology is the question of its scientific validity, this course makes no claims to address such a concern. Our aim is not to adjudicate on the basis of empirical dubiousness (or non-dubiousness, for that matter), but rather to ask why dubiousness should itself preclude the use of an identity-ordering apparatus.
It is by dubiousness, indeed, that we arrive at the basic premise of this course: to the extent that astrology is systematically reviled, devalued, and rendered insignificant in the economy of cultural capital, we are impelled to closer analysis of its social situation. If astrology is seen as a uniquely questionable way of organizing identity, our aim is to question its questionability, and to engage the discursive forces shaping its supposed spuriousness.
Course times: Meets weekly, Sundays 4-6PM @ Dreamhaus in Lower Allston, MA.
Readings include Bruno Latour, Theodor Adorno, Susan Sontag, Robert Wuthnow.
No monetary fee. Tips accepted in the form of miscellaneous ephemera.
Drop-in attendance welcomed and encouraged.
Contact [email protected] to be included on the class e-mail chain.
Astrology engenders ontological concern, in that it is seen as promoting uncritical or weak-minded ways of understanding ourselves and those around us. Belief in astrology suggests ineptitude in the processes of forming oneself as a subject and as a member of society. What this course hopes to address, then, are the particular stakes pinned to this elaborated suspicion of astrology.
Why is astrology deemed an insufficient or unethical system for understanding identity? What alternative systems exist as points of comparison, and how are they seen as more convincing? To what standards is astrology being held, and for what historical reasons?
Examining the grounds on which astrology is delegitimized reveals an interconnected network of binaries through which epistemological legitimacy is determined and perpetuated: intellect/affect, industry/domesticity, rational/irrational, art/kitsch, seriousness/levity.
If the greatest anxiety oriented at astrology is the question of its scientific validity, this course makes no claims to address such a concern. Our aim is not to adjudicate on the basis of empirical dubiousness (or non-dubiousness, for that matter), but rather to ask why dubiousness should itself preclude the use of an identity-ordering apparatus.
It is by dubiousness, indeed, that we arrive at the basic premise of this course: to the extent that astrology is systematically reviled, devalued, and rendered insignificant in the economy of cultural capital, we are impelled to closer analysis of its social situation. If astrology is seen as a uniquely questionable way of organizing identity, our aim is to question its questionability, and to engage the discursive forces shaping its supposed spuriousness.
Course times: Meets weekly, Sundays 4-6PM @ Dreamhaus in Lower Allston, MA.
Readings include Bruno Latour, Theodor Adorno, Susan Sontag, Robert Wuthnow.
No monetary fee. Tips accepted in the form of miscellaneous ephemera.
Drop-in attendance welcomed and encouraged.
Contact [email protected] to be included on the class e-mail chain.
Towards a Practice of Radical Relationships
I’m looking for folks to join me in pursuit of ideas, readings, and discussions about experiences that push our understanding of how we conduct our personal interactions to be closer in line with radical and liberatory political beliefs.Please email me to express interest and to work out a time for us all to meet.
I would like this group to be driven and led by all participants so topics will vary from this list, but may include: creating a working definition of “love”; transformative justice and intimate partner violence; sociological examination of relationships in wider culture; developing healthy communication skills. Some possible resources include:
Should Sex be like Jazz? (6 min video)
http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2013/03/01/should-sex-be-like-jazz/
The Ethical Slut: A Practical Guide to Polyamory, Open Relationships, and Other Adventures
http://www.amazon.com/Ethical-Slut-Practical-Relationships-Adventures/dp/1587613379
The Revolution Starts at Home: Confronting Partner Abuse in Activist Communities
http://www.incite-national.org/media/docs/0985_revolution-starts-at-home.pdf
Location: TBA- most likely in JP
Time: TBD by student request
Teacher: Sophia DeVito- [email protected]
I would like this group to be driven and led by all participants so topics will vary from this list, but may include: creating a working definition of “love”; transformative justice and intimate partner violence; sociological examination of relationships in wider culture; developing healthy communication skills. Some possible resources include:
Should Sex be like Jazz? (6 min video)
http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2013/03/01/should-sex-be-like-jazz/
The Ethical Slut: A Practical Guide to Polyamory, Open Relationships, and Other Adventures
http://www.amazon.com/Ethical-Slut-Practical-Relationships-Adventures/dp/1587613379
The Revolution Starts at Home: Confronting Partner Abuse in Activist Communities
http://www.incite-national.org/media/docs/0985_revolution-starts-at-home.pdf
Location: TBA- most likely in JP
Time: TBD by student request
Teacher: Sophia DeVito- [email protected]
the Concept of Tiqqun
Tiqqun is a French Philosophical journal that has been translated into English and has become very popular in radical circles over the past several years. It has been described as post-situationist social theory relevant to modern insurrection. Some have described it as on primary theory of communization and Tiqqun themselves discuss being somewhere between literature and theory. They critique many standard philosophical thinkers and draw inspiration from Giorgio Agamben.
Various members of Tiqqun went on to co-author The Coming Insurrection.
During this study group we will study excerpts from the collections of Essays published by Semiotexte/MIT press which include Introduction to Civil War and This is not a Program as well as other texts available online.
Teacher: Dave Whelpley
Meeting Date: Every Sunday
Meeting Time: 2:30pm
Meeting Space: My house. Email me for the address
Email: [email protected] for questions and to express your interest
Various members of Tiqqun went on to co-author The Coming Insurrection.
During this study group we will study excerpts from the collections of Essays published by Semiotexte/MIT press which include Introduction to Civil War and This is not a Program as well as other texts available online.
Teacher: Dave Whelpley
Meeting Date: Every Sunday
Meeting Time: 2:30pm
Meeting Space: My house. Email me for the address
Email: [email protected] for questions and to express your interest
introcivilwar_print.pdf | |
File Size: | 241 kb |
File Type: |
Music Theory Exploration Class
If you are one who enjoys philosophizing about the science behind music theory, or if you enjoy speaking your mind on how music develops while snacking on some pretty decent food, then this is the class for you. Come on by and join us this week, as we continue our discussion on the cultural roots of rhythm, and continue to play around with a recently found 90s Yamaha keyboard with some pretty funky sounds.
Wednesdays at 7pm
Contact: [email protected], [email protected]
Wednesdays at 7pm
Contact: [email protected], [email protected]
Untitled Writer's Cypher
With the Untitled Writer’s Cypher we hope to create a space to explore hip-hop culture as a tool for transformation. Artists who identify with the aesthetics of hip hop can connect through ciphering, writing workshops and sharing best practices for creating life-affirming experiences. Points of inspiration will be shared from various media through sampling and collage. We hope to develop our skills as artists while simultaneously using those skills to develop new visions for ourselves and our communities. We seek to create a supportive but challenging space that actively confronts and transforms the systems/dynamics of oppression and fosters opportunities for learning, healing and growth. As our practice develops we will collectively identify group rituals to ground our community. Our learning, as with our survival, is a collaborative effort. In the circle of the cypher we co-create our experiences. We envision participants taking turns presenting/facilitating meetings of the cypher.
In addition to our personal and collective growth we would hope to create tangible results of our communion. This could take the form of show, mixtapes, zines, a regular open mic, theatre pieces, graffiti pieces, fundraisers, funraisers, house parties, films, podcasts, radio shows, installations, a record label- whatever our minds can dream up and our hands, mouths, and hearts have the will to bring into being.
This is our vision as initiators of this project but in the words of Sam Siedel (author of Hip-Hop Genius:Remixing High School Education) “The hip-hop genius approach to education [or the world!] is that no structure or convention should be viewed as unchangeable” We hope that participants will help us develop this project to its fullest potential.
We plan to meet every other Saturday for two hours starting Saturday January 12 at 1pm.
Email: [email protected]
In addition to our personal and collective growth we would hope to create tangible results of our communion. This could take the form of show, mixtapes, zines, a regular open mic, theatre pieces, graffiti pieces, fundraisers, funraisers, house parties, films, podcasts, radio shows, installations, a record label- whatever our minds can dream up and our hands, mouths, and hearts have the will to bring into being.
This is our vision as initiators of this project but in the words of Sam Siedel (author of Hip-Hop Genius:Remixing High School Education) “The hip-hop genius approach to education [or the world!] is that no structure or convention should be viewed as unchangeable” We hope that participants will help us develop this project to its fullest potential.
We plan to meet every other Saturday for two hours starting Saturday January 12 at 1pm.
Email: [email protected]