Hannah Arendt has a complicated relationship with art, especially how her work applies to contemporary performance, participatory actions, and social practice. Though her conception of political action relies upon public engagement, her attitude toward the work of art as politically potent is dismissive. I am interested in Arendt’s political theory and its many intersections with performance and radicality.
Visiting scholar, Hannah Arendt Center for Politics and Humanities, Bard College
Lecture: “Hannah Arendt and Revolutions,” Texas Woman’s University Video
Lecture: “Hannah Arendt’s Origins of Totalitarianism and fascist performance,” Texas Woman’s University Video
Paper presentation: “Photography as Action: Rethinking Arendtian Action through Diane Arbus’ Photography,” Hannah Arendt Annual Circle Meeting at University of Arkansas
Paper presentation: “Arendt’s Unbearable Loneliness: Adrian Piper’s ‘The Probable Trust Registry,” New Mexico Texas Philosophy Association
Paper presentation: “The Participating Body: Spencer Tunick’s ‘Everything She Says Means Everything” at Hannah Arendt Circle, University of California Davis Video
Performance and its various disciplines are a lively mode of public life and provide opportunities for engagement. This is a focus of research and creative practice.
Lecture: “What is performance art?,” Jung Center Houston
Paper presentation: “Suzanne Lacy as Rortyan Strong Poet,” New Mexico Texas Philosophical Society Conference
Creative practice presentation: “Vanishing Discotecas,” University of Cambridge Centre for Research of Art, Social Sciences and Humanities, ART / MONEY / CRISIS Conference
Lecture: “Artist Adrian Piper Confronts Donald Trump: Can Art Give Us Insight Into How Political Discourse is Failing?” Texas Woman’s University
Publication: “Suzanne Lacy: Right Time, Right Place:” Experimental Action Link
Publication: “What is the difference between performance art and the performing arts?:” Experimental Action Link
Publication: “Performing a Seduction: Performance Art Houston’s ‘Political Seducer’s Diary:” Political Animal Magazine Link
Publication: “An unlikely alliance in Houston: art and oil:” TribTalk
Political philosophy is a powerful means by which to interrogate what constitutes the public, action, and ethics. My interest in political philosophy focuses on 20th century thought and its relationship with civic life.
Paper presentation: “What is a Democratic Body? : Judson Dance Theater and Helene Landemore’s Open Democracy,” American Society for Aesthetics Eastern Conference
Lecture: “Appiah’s Cosmopolitanism: Ethics in a World of Strangers,” Texas Woman’s University
Creative practice presentation: “Revolution! Scholars and Artists Rethinking Political Action,” Frontiers of Democracy conference, American Political Science Association & Tisch College of Civic Life, Tufts University Video
Lecture: “Richard Rorty and the Problem of Pluralism,” Texas Woman’s University
Paper presentation: “Reenacting War Crime Trials: Performance Artists and a New Form of International Justice,” Centre for Applied Philosophy, Politics and Ethics, Radical Interventions: Politics, Culture, Society Conference, University of Brighton
Publications: “Pink Sneakers and Pussy Hats: The Performative as Political,” Performance Philosophy Journal
Feminist Italian philosopher Adriana Cavarero has a theoretical practice that weaves together multiple disciplines – from art and science to literature and philology. I am interested in her thought as it relates to public space, art practices, and performance especially as it relates to the thought of Hannah Arendt and Judith Butler.
Lecture: “Adriana Cavarero’s Inclinations: Art, Ethics, Politics, and Feminism,” University of Houston Video
Philosophy becomes especially meaningful as it departs from academic discourse and moves into communities. I seek out exchanges between theoretical and creative practices to re-examine the ways that philosophy is a catalyst for public life.
Publication: “On the Strange Agreement Between Artists and Trump Administration: Doubts About the International Criminal Court,” Political Animal Magazine Link
Publication: “Make America Great Again: Regina Jose Galindo’s Performance Art Illustrates the Struggles of Immigration,” Political Animal Magazine Link
Publication: “Bare breasts but no bunga bunga,” Political Animal Magazine Link
Publication: “To Arts its Freedom”: Right-wing Arts Policy in the New Austria,” Political Animal Magazine Link
Lecture: The Imagery of Lynching,” Texas Woman’s University
Lecture: “Are we all performance artists?” Philosophically Drinking Video
Publication: “Recapping PERFORMA 2021: Art and Oil and Gas” Glasstire
Publication: “Recapping PERFORMA 2021: But Was It Performance Art?” Glasstire
Arte Studio Ginestrelle Art Writing Residency, Assisi (IT)
Editor, Thinking Cap for SAP at Paris Institute for Critical Thinking
Jeanette Joy Harris 