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Foucault reading group


Foucault

The Reading Group will resume 10 August 2010

Venue: Room L113/4
Queensland University of Technology
130 Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove
Brisbane, Qld, Australia

Map of Kelvin Grove campus. (Select Kelvin Grove maps)

Time: Every 2nd Tuesday 12-2 pm. People are welcome to join the group at any time.

Email enquiries:

Aims of the reading group

The work of Foucault is now being used widely across an enormous range of theoretical and applied disciplines. Many people using his work don't have the opportunity to interact with others who can help them clarify some of his ideas and suggest further applications. Others may simply be curious to know about Foucault's ideas but are uncertain where to begin. The aim of this group is to provide an informal setting to read and discuss Foucault's work. Members of the group are very welcome to nominate material by Foucault which they would particularly like to discuss.

Online membership

The group has a members only access online space on the Contemporary Theory, Poststructuralism and Governmentality Network. If you wish to join this network, please click on the link and register and then join the subgroup 'Foucault Reading Group'. This space enables me to post news about meetings and other information to members. It also offers the facility for members to make online contact with each other and to post discussion and manuscripts.

Please me if you have any questions

Note to those wishing to participate

  • Let me know if you have any suggestions concerning particular items by Foucault you would like to read or particular subject areas you would like to look at in his work (eg. methodology, medical history, architecture, literary theory, theories of the state etc. etc.) You may wish to consult the bibliography of Foucault's work on this site to help you find material of interest to your own concerns.
  • Participants will be expected to read the set material before coming to each session.
  • Please keep an eye on this website for updates on what's happening with the reading group.

History of the reading group

This group has been running most semesters since 2000

Program

If there is something you would especially like to read, or some topic you would like to focus on, please let me know and I can slot it in.

24 August

Michel Foucault, (2010) [2008]. The Government of Self and Others. Lectures at the Collège de France, 1982- 1983. Tr. Graham Burchell. New York: Picador. Chapter 1: '5 January 1983'.

7 September

Michel Foucault, (2010) [2008]. The Government of Self and Others. Lectures at the Collège de France, 1982- 1983. Tr. Graham Burchell. New York: Picador. Chapter 19: '9 March 1983'.

21 September

Michel Foucault, (1972) [1969]. The Archaeology of Knowledge. London: Tavistock. Part IV, chapters 1 and 5.

19 October