'Unsettling the Coloniality of Being', session #2

 Friday 17th February | 4:30 - 6:00pm | Meeting room G.01, House 10 Cavendish Road, School of English


In this session we will be continuing our discussion of one of Sylvia Wynter's most prominent essays 'Unsettling the Coloniality of Being/Power/Truth/Freedom: Towards the Human, After Man, Its Overrepresentation - An Argument', with a particular focus on section 2 (283-303). 


In this section, Wynter continues her exploration of the various shifts in the descriptive statements of the human and the respective order of knowledge to which they give rise. In this second part in particular, she details the invention of “the modern phenomenon of race as a new, [ostensibly] extrahumanly determined classificatory principle and mechanism of domination” (296). Through her distinctive ability to seamlessly bring together literature, biology, history and anthropology, she weaves together a fascinating and compelling analysis of the origins of our current conception of the human as ‘Man’ to make the case for new ways of thinking, acting and being human to one another. 


While the discussion will be focusing on 'Unsettling the Coloniality of Being', we are suggesting as potential further reading a short extract from David Scott's interview with Wynter 'The Re-Enchantment of Humanism: An Interview with Sylvia Wynter'. We recommend looking at the section 'History in the Age of Man' (174-190). 


This session is open to all with no expectation of any previous engagement with Wynter's work. Snacks will be provided and please do join us for drinks afterwards. The session will be held in House 10 Cavendish Road, meeting room G.01 immediately to the right of the entrance. If you want to attend the event virtually, please get in touch at quiltingpoints@gmail.com.

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