The concept of “relationality” is currently very much in favour amongst researchers concerned with questions of subjectivity and affective life, and particularly amongst feminist scholars and gender and family researchers. This PhD course will explore the history of the concept and its contemporary uses across a number of fields, including philosophy and ethics, psychoanalysis, psychosocial studies, sociology and queer theory. It will pay particular attention to how the concept grapples with the challenges of understanding the complex emotional bonds between people in intimate relationships, and across generations, and the intersubjective elements of human experience.
We will look specifically at work by feminist scholars who, in various ways, employ a notion of relationality in theorising subjectivity and affective life, including: Jessica Benjamin, Nancy Chodorow and the American school of relational psychoanalysis; Judith Butler; Sara Ahmed; Valerie Walkerdine; Teresa Brennan; Lauren Berlant; Bracha Ettinger.
All participants will be expected to prepare short “think pieces” about some of the set readings in advance, for discussion during the afternoon sessions. Students whose research is particularly relevant can offer to present full papers.
Draft programme
Tuesday 3 March 2015
10.00–10.15 Registration and welcome
10.15–11.15 Lecture 1: A “relational turn”? an introduction to the course
11.15–11.30 Break
11.30–12.30 Lecture 2: Genealogies of “relationality” in philosophy, psychoanalysis and sociology
12.30–13.30 Lunch
13.30–16.00 Student presentations and discussion of “think pieces” about the set readings
Wednesday 4 March 2015
9.30–10.30 Lecture 3: Relationality and intersubjectivity: becoming and being human
10.30-10.45 Break
10.45–11.45 Lecture 4: Relationality and affective life: atmospheres, intergenerational relationships and trauma
11.45–12.00 Discussion: Is everything “relational”?
12.00–13.00 Lunch
13.00–15.00 Student presentation and discussion of “think pieces” about the set readings/ full student papers
15.00–16.00 Round-up reflections and close
Course literature
Participants will be expected to read 200-300 pages of course literature and to prepare one or two “think piece” presentations on an article or chapter. The exact choice of these will be negotiated with the course leader in advance. Course literature distributed (Friday) February 20.
Free entrance and open for all, but you will have to register by Wednesday February, 25. (extended registration).