[Poscgrad] Fwd: Friday, February 28 - Donald Zarate on "Here and Now: Black Perspectives on Antiutopianism"

[Donald Zarate]

Greetings, everyone,

Just sharing that I'll be presenting a working paper at the WPSA Political
Theory virtual community next Friday! If you can make it, I'd love to have
you be part of the conversation. One of the authors whose work I'm engaging
with will be my discussant, so I am extremely excited!

Thank you for your attention.

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: WPSA Political Theory VC <
virtualpoliticaltheorywpsa at 161776886.mailchimpapp.com>
Date: Wed, Feb 12, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Subject: Friday, February 28 - Donald Zarate on "Here and Now: Black
Perspectives on Antiutopianism"
To: <dzara016 at ucr.edu>


Join us for a discussion with author Donald Zarate and discussant Patricia
McManus
View this email in your browser
<https://mailchi.mp/a30e2acd013c/zarate?e=d10567df52>
Dear all,

We cordially invite you to the next meeting of the WPSA Political Theory
virtual community
<https://wpsanet.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c610e43507c4f81a0485bdd2b&id=584b0c9f0c&e=d10567df52>.
Please don't hesitate to join us, even if this is your first time attending.

We will read and discuss:


*"Here and Now: Black Perspectives on Antiutopianism"  *

by

*Donald Zarate
<https://wpsanet.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c610e43507c4f81a0485bdd2b&id=ece262adbe&e=d10567df52>
*(University
of California Riverside)


*Discussant*: Patricia McManus (University of Brighton)

*Friday, February 28, 2025*
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM Eastern Time
Through Zoom

*The paper is posted on our website. Please read it prior to the
discussion. *


*Abstract*: This paper responds to the theme of “elsewhere and elsewhen,”
which calls for reevaluating utopia as an ambiguous concept existing beyond
the present. Drawing inspiration from Suvin and McManus’s exploration of
antiutopianism (2023) as a contemporary trend marked by passive resignation
to the status quo, this paper argues that the prevailing notion of utopia
as elsewhere and elsewhen neglects the rich tradition of Black Utopias.
Specifically, I argue that contemporary black thinkers empirically
demonstrate how utopia can be realized here and now. Jayna Brown’s *Black
Utopias *(2021) is instrumental in showcasing the unique position of Black
subjects, who have been historically denied full humanity yet are resilient
in pursuing alternative paths to utopia through such avenues as music, art,
and spirituality. Black Geography, which explores how anti-black racism
shapes the conditions leading to premature death among Black individuals,
reinforces this argument and highlights practical implications. By
examining the works of Black geographic thinkers like Christina Sharpe
(2016), Rashad Shabazz (2015), and Carolyn Finney (2014), this paper
demonstrates how their utopian visions challenge the conventional elsewhere
and elsewhen dichotomy, positing that utopia can be realized here and now.
Through this exploration, this paper advocates reimagining an
antiutopianism that embraces the multiplicity of utopian perspectives,
particularly those emerging from marginalized communities, as a catalyst
for transformative change.

**

The paper and Zoom information for the meeting are available on the
members page for the Political Theory Virtual Community. Please see below
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