The Crisis of the Political: Movements, Culture, Agency

A Colloquium in Celebration of Larissa Lai's Writer in Residency at Simon Fraser University

Friday June 16th, SFU Harbour Centre, room 1700

1-4pm: Presentations and panel discussion with:
LARISSA LAI, RITA WONG, FIONA JEFFRIES, JEFF DERKSEN, SHIRLEY BEAR & CANDICE HOPKINS
moderated by GLEN LOWRY

7:30-9:30pm: Readings by:
WAYDE COMPTON, RITA WONG, WEYMAN CHAN & MARIE ANNHARTE BAKER

The purpose of this colloquium is to trace the connections, linear or otherwise, from the late 80s and early 90s oppositional/anti-racist movements to the current moment. Racism still exists; control and surveillance of human, animal, vegetable and mineral bodies have intensified. The nation state has shifted, capital has intensified and the power of militaries has increased while the justifications for
war have become increasingly absurd. How is it possible to produce culture in such conditions? How should cultural workers respond? How can we generate resistance in excess of mere response? How can we shape our refusals? What do we do with our complicities? Is it still possible for us to say "I"? What can community mean?

Reception to follow the evening readings, 9:45-midnight
Snacks and no host bar
The Wild Ginger Restaurant
88 Pender St West (at Abbott)
Second floor of Tinseltown Mall (unit 2015).
Space is limited to 50 guests,. Please RSVP to Simon Fraser University,
Harbour Centre, at cs_hc@sfu.ca or phone 604-291-5100
(fax 604-291-5098) by June 14.