Today! "The Political Aesthetics of W. E. B. Dubois"
With Robert Gooding-Williams in conversation with Brandon Terry
The Political Aesthetics of W. E. B. Dubois: Robert Gooding-Williams in conversation with Brandon Terry
Date and Time: Monday 9th June 2025 at 11am PT/2pm ET/7pm UK/8pm CET (to check your time zone, you can use this site)
Cost: Free
Overview: What is beauty, and what is its political function? In what ways might it help undermine white supremacy and cultivate a more democratic political culture?
Robert Gooding-Williams’ new book Democracy and Beauty shines a light on W. E. B. Du Bois’ attempts to answer these questions during the decade surrounding the First World War and, in so doing, offers a groundbreaking account of the philosopher’s aesthetics.
In this event, Gooding-Williams will reconstruct Du Bois’ defense of the political potential of beauty to challenge oppressive systems and foster an inclusive democracy. White supremacy is a powerful force that defies rational revision, Du Bois argued, because it is rooted in the entrenched routines of its adherents. Beauty, however, has a distinctive role to play in the struggle against white supremacy.
You can find out more and register here.
