John Mullarkey, professor of Film and Television Studies at Kingston University in London, is the School of Critical Studies’ new Theorist in Residence. Mullarkey is on campus this week to host workshops and speak at various classes throughout the Institute.
Mullarkey is the author and editor of several books on philosophy. His work explores variations of “non-standard-philosophy,” arguing that philosophy is a subject that continually shifts its identity through engaging with supposedly non-philosophical fields such as film theory and animal studies. He is currently working on the book Reverse Mutations: Laruelle and Nonhuman Philosophy.
Among Mullarkey’s engagements this week is a public lecture Objects, Animals, and Cinema: Thinking Backwards at Langley Hall on Thursday (April 18) at 4 pm. The lecture will be followed by a response from and a conversation with Michael Pisaro, a member of the faculty of The Herb Alpert School of Music at CalArts.
Mullarkey is also scheduled to conduct a faculty workshop later today and guest lecture in James Wiltgen’s class Critical Discourse in the Arts and the Media.
“We’re obviously thrilled that John will be with us for a week. This should be an opportunity for some truly interdisciplinary conversation,” says Arne De Boever, director of the MA Aesthetics and Politics Program, which sponsors the new theorist initiative. “We hope that his visit will extend beyond the School of Critical Studies, especially as his work impacts fully on discussions in film and art practice.”
The Theorist in Residence is a “floating component” of the MA Aesthetics and Politics Program. For one week or longer, the program hosts a prominent contemporary theorist to “think” with the Institute. Past Theorists in Residence were Brian Massumi and Erin Manning, who also spoke at the TEDxCalArts Conference last month.