In a new book by jane bennett vibrant matter a political ecology of things one such position is presented. Vibrant matter is a lucid and compelling account of how materiality, too often considered as an inert substance, can be rethought as a plethora of things that form assemblages of human and nonhuman actors or actants, to use the term bennett takes from bruno latour. Apr 22, 2010 jane bennetts vibrant matter is an important work, linking critical movements in recent continental philosophy, namely a vitalist tradition that runs from bergson to deleuze and even, on bennetts reading, bruno latour, with a political ecology of things that should speak to anyone conscious enough to be aware of the devastating. Bennetts fourth soleauthored book, vibrant matter may be considered the culmination to date of her thinking on the intersection of ethics, aesthetics, morality, politics, and things as the independent beings. A political ecology of things 2010 represents one more contribution to the new materialisms, affect, and posthumanism literatures now inundating the humanities. First, it is wonderfully written in a comfortable personal style, which is rare enough for academic books.
On a tuesday morning on 4 june in the grate over the storm drain to the chesapeake bay in front of sams bagels. Feb 04, 2017 the following is a very short thing written for a panel discussion on posthuman conceptions of community at the university of manitoba, 3 feb 2017 in her book vibrant matter, jane bennett develops. Crossings, energetics, and ethics 2001 and thoreaus nature. In vibrant matter the political theorist jane bennett, renowned for her work on nature, ethics. Bennett is professor and chair of the department of political science at johns hopkins. Vibrant matteroverview philosophy in a time of error. There is good reason bennetts book has, in short order, gained a wide following in. Things jane bennett vibrant matter a political ecology of things jane bennett vibrant matter a political ecology jane bennetts vibrant matter is an important work, linking critical movements in recent continental philosophy, namely a vitalist tradition that runs from bergson to deleuze and even, on bennetts reading, to bruno. In vibrant matter the political theorist jane bennett, renowned for her work on nature, ethics, and affect, shifts her focus from the human experience of things to things themselves. In other words, bennet attempts to challenge the normative discussion of philosophical materialist that. Bennett claims that her ambition is to develop a positive ontology of matter as vibrant, and to dismantle the divisions between the binaries life matter, humananimal, organicinorganic, and to do this with the purpose of. Beyond human subjectivity and back to the things themselves. This is an elegant book and it really gives itself over to descriptions of how matter moves us as much as anything else.
Buy vibrant matter by jane bennett from waterstones today. Ive just finished jane bennetts vibrant matter, which is an attempt to refocus social and political theory on the power of things and materiality. Oct 31, 2019 jane bennets renowned book, vibrant matter puts the reader in contact and conversation with things. For those familiar with her oeuvre, vibrant matter should be considered. Jane bennett s vibrant matter is an important work, linking critical movements in recent continental philosophy, namely a vitalist tradition that runs from bergson to deleuze and even, on bennett s reading, to bruno latour, and on the other hand a political ecology of things that should speak to anyone conscious enough to be aware of the devastating changes underway in the world around us.
Second, bennett makes an explicit break with the timeworn dogmas of postmodernist academia. Ethics, politics, and the wild modernity and political thought 1994, tying together well recent work in ecology and new forms of materialism. When humans are but one force in a potentially unbounded network of forces. God or nature and vibrant matter jane bennett jewish. This is a summary of jane bennetts vibrant matter, along with some of my own arguments about the p olitical implications of her work ok, disclaimer. The impact of new materialism on the study of rhetoric is indefinite. However, in modern philosophy there is a new trend that is bringing the importance of objects and matter back into our focus. An international journal of political philosophy from 201217. Her book vibrant matter is a stand alone work and an unique writing. Vibrant matter jane bennett haftad 9780822346333 bokus. Presentation 2 vibrant matter by jane bennett 042020. Against the classical notion that matter is inert and passive, the ideas are familiar and will come as no surprise to any casual reader of popular science. Toward that end, she theorizes a vital materiality that runs through and. Oct 11, 2012 ive just finished jane bennetts vibrant matter, which is an attempt to refocus social and political theory on the power of things and materiality.
By focusing on the thingside of affect, jane bennett seeks to broaden and transform our sense of care in relation to the world of humans, nonhuman life, and things. Last night i finished jane bennetts vibrant matter. Not only because bennett presents complex philosophical ideas in a simple, straightforward manner, but. Bennett is professor and chair of the department of political science at johns hopkins university, and her work in vibrant matter builds though vibrant matter is a standalone work and one need not have read these previous works on her earlier books, the enchantment of modernity. Im not sure why my first post on the book didnt contain the following excerpt it obviously needs to be shared. Vibrant matter jane bennett bok 9780822346197 bokus.
Vibrant matter serves as bennetts manifesto for the benefits of anthropomorphizing. Jane bennetts vibrant matter is an important work, linking critical movements in recent continental philosophy, namely a vitalist tradition that runs from bergson to deleuze and even, on bennetts reading, to bruno latour, and on the other hand a political ecology of things that should speak to anyone conscious enough to be aware of the devastating changes underway in the world around us. Toward that end, she theorizes a vital materiality that runs. May 25, 2010 jane bennetts vibrant matter is an important work, linking critical movements in recent continental philosophy, namely a vitalist tradition that runs from bergson to deleuze and even, on bennetts reading, bruno latour, with a political ecology of things that should speak to anyone conscious enough to be aware of the devastating. Vibrant matter by jane bennett cultivating alternatives. Bennett claims that her ambition is to develop a positive ontology of matter as vibrant, and to dismantle the divisions between the binaries lifematter. This is a summary of jane bennetts vibrant matter, along with some of my own arguments about the p olitical implications of her work. A political ecology of things a john hope franklin center book ebook. Vibrant matter is a lucid and compelling account of. Jane bennetts vibrant matter is an admirable book for at least three reasons.
Jane bennetts vibrant matter is an important work, linking critical movements in recent continental philosophy. A political ecology of things has itself been a vibrant matter of attention since its publication earlier this year. Now that i sometimes can find the leisure to read a book, bennetts latest has been at the top of my list. A political ecology of things, bennetts argument is that, edibles, commodities, storms, and metals act. Vibrant matter is a fascinating, lucid, and powerful book of political theory. She was also the editor of the academic journal political theory between 20122017.
May 11, 2010 in a new book by jane bennett vibrant matter a political ecology of things one such position is presented. A political ecology of things a john hope franklin center book. A pile of trash, a scrap of metal, an overtaxed energy grid, hungry worms, and embryonic stem cells. This book has a philosophical project and, related to it, a political one. In the first two chapters of her book vibrant matter, bennett brings out a philosophy that challenges the traditional definition of matter as passive, inactive, and inert. With a frankensteinian echo, bennet philosophically invites her readers to think through the notion that, its alive. A political ecology of things, she explores the role of inanimate bodies and how humans interact with them. Bennett argues that political theory needs to do a better job of recognizing the active participation of nonhuman forces in events. Mar 25, 2010 jane bennetts vibrant matter is an important work, linking critical movements in recent continental philosophy, namely a vitalist tradition that runs from bergson to deleuze and even, on bennetts reading, to bruno latour, and on the other hand a political ecology of things that should speak to anyone conscious enough to be aware of the devastating changes underway in the world. Jane bennett s vibrant matter is an admirable book for at least three reasons. Jane bennett political science johns hopkins university.
Jane bennett s vibrant matter is an important work, linking critical movements in recent continental philosophy, namely a vitalist tradition that runs from bergson to deleuze and even, on bennett s reading, to bruno latour, and on the other hand a political ecology of things that should speak to anyone conscious enough to be aware of the. Jane bennetts vibrant matter is an important work, linking critical movements in recent continental philosophy, namely a vitalist tradition that runs from bergson to deleuze and even, on bennetts reading, to bruno latour, and on the other hand a political ecology of things that should speak to anyone conscious enough to be aware of the. Jane bennetts eloquent tribute to the vitality and volatility of things is just what. A friend read this post and noted that jane bennett doesnt even really cover some of the stuff im talking about below. This manifesto for a morethanhuman politics has the same radical aims as bruno latours 2004 politics of nature.
Jane bennetts vibrant matter is an important work, linking critical movements in recent continental philosophy, namely a vitalist tradition that runs from bergson to deleuze and even, on bennetts reading, to bruno latour, and on the other hand a political ecology of things that should speak to anyone conscious enough to be aware of the devastating changes underway in the world. So this is more of a riff on bennetts book, rather than a close reading or a summary of ideas. Mellon professor of the humanities at johns hopkins university. In vibrant matter the political theorist jane bennett, renowned for her work on nature, ethics, and affect. A political ecology of things a john hope franklin. Jane bennett born july 31, 1957 is an american political theorist and philosopher. The following is a very short thing written for a panel discussion on posthuman conceptions of community at the university of manitoba, 3 feb 2017 in her book vibrant matter, jane bennett develops.
Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. This is a summary of jane bennett s vibrant matter, along with some of my own arguments about the political implications of her work. Jane bennets renowned book, vibrant matter puts the reader in contact and conversation with things. Jane bennetts vibrant matter is an important work, linking critical movements in recent continental philosophy, namely a vitalist tradition that runs from bergson to deleuze and even, on bennetts reading, bruno latour, with a political ecology of things that should speak to anyone conscious enough to be aware of the devastating. Jane bennetts vibrant matter is an important work, linking critical movements in recent continental philosophy, namely a vitalist tradition that runs from bergson to deleuze and even, on bennetts reading, to bruno latour, and on the other hand a political ecology. A political ecology of things, she explores the role of inanimate. Mellon professor of the humanities at the department of political science, johns hopkins university school of arts and sciences. Vibrant matter is a sequel of sorts to jane bennetts the enchantment of modern life. This is an elegant book and it really gives itself over to descriptions of. Second, bennett makes an explicit break with the timeworn dogmas of. Apr 18, 2020 her book vibrant matter is a stand alone work and an unique writing.