[csaa-forum] Sara Ahmed Lecture USyd 5pm Sep 8

[Melissa Gregg]

The Department of Gender and Cultural Studies
& the SOPHI Gender and Modernity Group presents

Sara Ahmed
 
Professor in Race and Cultural Studies
Goldsmiths, University of London
 
Killing Joy: Feminism and the History of Happiness.
 
5-6.30pm, Tuesday September 8
Oriental Room S204, University of Sydney
 
 
Abstract
This paper offers a feminist critique of happiness. It proceeds by
suspending belief that happiness is a good thing, or that happiness is what
we want, as beliefs that are central to the intellectual history of
happiness. The paper suggests that feminist histories might offer an
alternative history of happiness. It shows how happiness is what makes some
things into goods (happy objects are those that are anticipated to cause
happiness), and introduces the concept of ³conditional happiness,² when one
person¹s happiness is made conditional upon another¹s, to explore how, for
some, happiness means following other people¹s goods. The paper considers
feminist consciousness as a consciousness of unhappiness, of what is lost or
is given up by following the paths of happiness. Such consciousness does not
necessarily involve a form of self-consciousness but a worldly consciousness
in which unhappiness disturbs the familiar. The paper reflects specifically
on Black feminist consciousness as a consciousness of what does not get
noticed when happiness provides a horizon of experience.

Enquiries: mgregg at usyd.edu.au


Dr. Melissa Gregg
Lecturer in Gender and Cultural Studies
Main Quadrangle Building A14
University of Sydney NSW 2006

p 02 9351 3657 | m 0408 599 359 | e mel.gregg at usyd.edu.au

http://www.arts.usyd.edu.au/departs/gcs/staff/profiles/mgregg.shtml

Enrol in our NEW Master of Cultural Studies:
http://www.arts.usyd.edu.au/departs/gcs/postgrad/coursework.shtml


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