Oppositional aesthetics
Karen Simecek argues that artworks can perform an important role of resistance by adopting oppositional aesthetics.
Oppositional aesthetics
12 Feb 2025, 17:30 – 19:15
Inspired by bell hooks’ notion of the oppositional gaze, Karen Simecek argues that artworks can perform an important role of resistance by adopting oppositional aesthetics. Such artworks offer perspectives that challenge dominant ways of seeing that underpins social injustice and consequently, challenge ways of seeing in an audience. Oppositional aesthetics can be understood as works that:
- foreground the oppressed
- are responsive to injustice
- open-ended (not didactic)
- support different possibilities of interpretation.
Karen will conclude by responding to a potential objection that failure in uptake in the audience undermines the political potential of such artworks.
This event will be particularly useful for those interested in philosophy of aesthetics, art in moral education and the cognitive value of art.
Please note this is a hybrid event and can be joined either in-person or online. To book your place, please email Yuxin Su: stnvysu@ucl.ac.uk.
PESGB seminar series
This event is part of the Philosophy of Education Society of Great Britain (PESGB) seminar series. PESGB is a learned society that promotes the study, teaching and application of philosophy of education. Its London Branch hosts seminars every Wednesday in conjunction with the Centre for Philosophy of Education. These seminars are led by national and international scholars in the field, covering a wide range of issues of educational and philosophical concern.
All are welcome to attend.
Related links
Image
arinee via Adobe Stock.
Karen Simecek
Associate Professor in Philosophy
University of Warwick
Karen Simecek is Associate Professor in Philosophy at the University of Warwick. She is the author of Philosophy of Lyric Voice: the cognitive value of page and performance poetry (Bloomsbury). Her research focuses on the philosophy of poetry with particular emphasis on the value of reading and engaging with poetry in the live performance alongside issues in metaphilosophy, the emotions and the cognitive value of art, in particular, how art can enhance our moral education.
Further information
Ticketing
Pre-booking essential
Cost
Free
Open to
All
Availability
Yes
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