Sprezzatura, Daoism, and Flow; Technologies of Disappearance; Travis Holloway
An essay by Helen De Cruz; an event with Julian Reid and Brad Evans; a scandal in academia
Dear all,
If your new year’s resolutions involved the development of an aesthetic of studied effortlessness, Helen De Cruz’s new essay will be right up your street. Brad Evans and Chantal Meza’s “State of Disappearance” series continues with Julian Reid discussing “Technologies of Disappearance.” More on all this below…
Your Sunday Read
“Sprezzatura and Wuwei: A Daoist Approach to European Courtly Grace” by Helen De Cruz. In line with her forthcoming book on wonder, Helen looks to Confucius, Descartes, Zhuangzi, and others to outline some key principles of sprezzatura, defined as a kind of “nonchalance,” or “studied carelessness” in the execution of an action. The more the expert makes their action look effortless, the more the spectator’s admiration increases. You can read Helen’s essay here.
Here is one of Helen’s own images depicting the butcher as described by Zhuangzi:
Monday Event: 11am PT/2pm ET/7pm UK
“Technologies of Disappearance”
Julian Reid in conversation with Brad Evans
The “State of Disappearance” series asks urgent questions about extreme violence, the normalization of human vanishing, state and ideological complicity, and memorialization, along with wider concerns about what it means to be human in the twenty-first century.
When we invoke the concept “disappearance” we often think of extreme forms of violence and human erasure. But is there another story to be told? Might disappearance hold the key to resistance? Indeed, in today’s over-exposed world, could the act of disappearing be the only strategy left available for us? In this webinar, Brad Evans will be joined by Professor Julian Reid from University of Lapland to explore this alternative take on the idea. You can find out more and register here.
Travis Holloway and Tenure
I was shocked to read that Travis Holloway’s employment at SUNY Farmingdale was suddenly terminated by the university president after unanimous tenure votes last year. Over the past years, Travis has written for us a couple of times (most recently this essay), has participated in our events series, and even took me out for lunch in New York last year (!). Please read about his situation and consider signing this petition calling on the SUNY Chancellor to reinstate Travis Holloway at SUNY Farmingdale with tenure.
Ending
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Wishing you all a lovely Sunday, wherever you are.
Anthony Morgan
Editor