We had some great conversations in the Emancipation for Economics study series this winter, and we are following up with a series of radical literature and coming up with our own education program!
We will begin with Caliban & the Witch because the author is coming to Toronto in May and we can organize a field trip going to her lecture together and maybe even reach out to discuss with her one on one. She is a very famous Marxist feminist activist, and this is a rare chance to talk to her!
⏰ Wednesdays, 5-7pm | beginning April 23th
Open to everyone! You do not need to be a York student to participate.
ABOUT THE SERIES
This is a really amazing book that describes the roots of patriarchy and racialization in the contemporary world. Federici portrays the violent conception of capitalism in Europe and its consequent unfolding into colonialism worldwide.
Our facilitator for this series is Susanna Hermanns who will facilitate a mini lecture followed by discussions.
The first meet up will be an opportunity to meet each other, get a copy of the book (we'll have a few extras, but please check the library!), and we will offer an introduction to the historical context Federici is writing from (see Marx’s Capital Volume 1: chapters 26-33, if you're a keener).
This is a participatory workshop series with a curriculum focused on group discussions, and group exercises.
ABOUT THE BOOK
(description from Rain Crowe)
The book Caliban and the Witch, by Sylvia Federici examines the historical European shift away from the village market economy and toward proto-capitalism. The book illuminates the campaign of terror which was imposed in order for capitalism to take root, and become what it is today. It also reveals the rich ancestry of uprising and other forms of political and social resistance from which we may draw upon in our own struggles for justice and liberation.
Learn how land enclosures, exploitation of workers, persecution of the impoverished, interruption of gender and class solidarity, criminalization of the wyld, magic, and the feminine, control of sexuality, misogyny and homophobia, and the mechanization of the body were all necessary undertakings for capitalism to thrive.
Note: While Caliban and the Witch speaks from a gender-essentialist voice (because of when it was written), and aspires to understand and present from the viewpoint of "women" as a class of people which we understand also includes other traditionally marginalized and persecuted groups.
Presented by OPIRG York and Rethinking Economics. Email opirgYork@gmail.com if you have any additional questions.
ACCESSING THE BOOK: If you want to purchase a copy of the book then you may have an opportunity to get it signed by the author this summer! We also have digital copies available for free. You can also borrow copies from the YorkU library, and from the Toronto Public Library here.
