Jacques Ranciere and the Contemporary Scene: The Philosophy of Radical Equality

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This book forms the first critical study of Jacques Rancire's impact and contribution to contemporary theoretical and interdisciplinary studies. It showcases the work of leading scholars in fields such as political theory, history and aesthetic theory; each of whom are uniquely situated to engage with the novelty of Rancire's thinking within their respective fields. Each of the essays provides an investigation into the critical stance Rancire takes towards his contemporaries, concentrating on the versatile application of his thought to diverse fields of study (including, political and education theory, cinema studies, literary and aesthetic theory, and historical studies). The aim of this collection is to use the critical interventions Rancire's writing makes on current topics and themes as a way of offering new critical perspectives on his thought. Wielding their individual expertise, each contributor assesses his perspectives and positions on thinkers and topics of contemporary importance. The edition includes a new essay by Jacques Rancire, which charts the different problems and motivations that have shaped his work.

Reviews

This finely tuned collection of writings from some of the most astute readers of Jacques Rancire throughout the world not only engages the analytics of his work, but put his insights to work. Rancire's own contribution - as a reader of his readers - is nothing less than incisive. In short, Deranty and Ross have edited a stellar set of essays that will become a primary source for anyone interested in the singularly unique, multidisciplinary aspects of Rancire's critical ideas. -- Davide Panagia, Canada Research Chair in Cultural Studies, Co-Editor, Theory & Event, Trent University, Canada
This collection of essays is a testament to the breadth and depth of the influence of Rancire's project to date. Staged as a series of specific interventions into the various fields that he has engaged withranging from film theory and aesthetics to history, pedagogy, politics, work and emancipationit provides the reader with a kaleidoscope of perspectives that appropriately mirrors Rancire's forceful impact on the contemporary scene. The final essay is a fitting capstone to this important collection since Rancire himself provides a sustained reflection on his own asystematic work as an idiosyncratic analysis of the work of dissensus that is at one and the same time a performative manifestation thereof. -- Gabriel Rockhill, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Villanova University, USA

Author Bio

Alison Ross is Senior Lecturer in Critical Theory at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. She is the author of The Aesthetic Paths of Philosophy (Stanford UP, 2007) and the editor of The Agamben Effect (South Atlantic Quarterly, 2008). Jean-Philippe Deranty is Associate Professor in Philosophy at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. In addition to his monograph on Axel Honneth, Beyond Communication (Brill, 2009) and several edited collections on contemporary Critical Theory, he is the editor of Jacques Rancire: Key Concepts (Acumen, July 2010). Deranty has been at the forefront of introducing Rancire's work to the Anglophone world. He has written numerous articles on the political and aesthetic dimensions of Rancire's work for international journals like Critical Horizons, Theory and Event and Sub-Stance, and also translated pieces by Rancire.