Bonnie Honig est une théoricienne politique et juridique spécialisée dans la théorie démocratique et féministe. Son travail explore l'interaction complexe entre démocratie, pouvoir et genre, examinant comment ces concepts sont façonnés et remis en question dans les paysages politiques et juridiques contemporains. À travers sa perspective théorique, Honig invite les lecteurs à s'engager de manière critique avec les implications plus profondes des structures politiques et leur impact sociétal, offrant des aperçus profonds sur la nature de la gouvernance et de l'égalité.
"This book, now in a 30th anniversary edition, has been called a founding text of agonism, which treats political contestation not as a regrettably necessary way to correct political imperfections but as a necessary, sometimes joyful feature of democratic life. By rethinking the established relation between politics and political theory, Honig argues that political theorists of opposing positions often treat political theory less as an exploration of politics than as a series of devices for its displacement"--
This interpretation of Sophocles' Antigone delves into the complex relationships between law, politics, gender, and humanism. It offers fresh insights into the timeless themes of the play, examining how these elements shape the characters' motivations and conflicts. The analysis encourages readers to reconsider the implications of Antigone's defiance and the societal structures at play, making it a thought-provoking exploration of its enduring relevance in contemporary discussions.
Looking at how emergencies in the past and present have shaped the development
of democracy, the author argues that democracies must resist emergency's pull
to focus on life's necessities (food, security, and bare essentials) because
these tend to privatize and isolate citizens rather than bring us together on
behalf of hopeful futures.
Bonnie Honig invigorates debate over the politics of refusal by insisting that
withdrawal from unjust political systems be matched with collective action to
change them. Historical and fictional characters from Muhammad Ali to the
Bacchants of ancient Greek tragedy teach us how to turn rejection into
transformative efforts toward self-governance.
The book explores the complex relationship between foreigners and national identity, challenging the conventional view by asking how foreigners might benefit society. It delves into the symbolic politics of foreignness, revealing how discussions about immigration and citizenship reflect deeper anxieties within liberal democracies. By shifting the focus from individual contributions to broader implications, it highlights the ways in which foreignness can both threaten and enrich democratic values and cultural identity.
"[A collection of essays] that gets to the heart of what feminist criticism can do in the face of everyday politics. Stormy Daniels offered a #metoo moment, and Anderson Cooper missed it. Conservatives don't believe that gender is fluid, except when they're feminizing James Comey. 'Gaslighting' is our word for male domination but a gaslight also lights the way for a woman's survival. Across two dozen trenchant, witty reflections, Bonnie Honig offers a biting feminist account of politics since Trump. In today's shock politics, Honig traces the continuing work of patriarchy, as powerful, mediocre men gaslight their way across the landscape of democratic institutions. But amid the plundering and patriarchy, feminist criticism finds ways to demand justice. Shell-Shocked shows how women have talked back, acted out, and built anew, exposing the practices and policies of feminization that have historically been aimed not just at women but also at racial and ethnic minorities. The task of feminist criticism - and this is what makes it particularly well-suited to this moment - is to respond to shock politics by resensitizing us to its injustices and honing the empathy needed for living with others in the world as equals. Feminist criticism's penchant for the particular and the idiosyncratic is part of its power. It is drawn to the loose threads of psychological and collective life, not to the well-worn fabrics with which communities and nations hide their shortcomings and deflect critical scrutiny of their injustices. Taking literary models such as Homer's Penelope and Toni Morrison's Cee, Honig draws out the loose threads from the fabric of shock politics' domination and begins unraveling them. Honig's ... essays take on popular culture, national politics, and political theory alike as texts for resensitizing through a feminist lens. Here are insightful readings of film and television, from Gaslight to Bombshell, Unbelievable to Stranger Things, Rambo to the Kavanaugh hearings. In seeking out the details that might break the spell of shock, this ... book illustrates alternative ways of living and writing in a time of public violence, plunder, and - hopefully - democratic renewal."--Provided by publisher
Bonnie Honig, a prominent academic at Brown University, specializes in Modern Culture and Media and Political Science. Her scholarly work explores themes of law, democracy, and political theory through various lenses, including film. Notable titles include "Antigone, Interrupted" and "Emergency Politics: Paradox, Law, Democracy," showcasing her interdisciplinary approach to contemporary issues. Additionally, she co-edited "Politics, Theory, and Film: Critical Encounters with Lars von Trier," reflecting her engagement with cinematic narratives in political discourse.
Drawing on Winnicott and Hannah Arendt, Public Things: Democracy in Disrepair
develops a lexicon for a political theory of public things. Indigenous
activism, racial inequality, and democratic citizenship; care, concern, hope,
and play all figure in readings of contemporary events and literary, film, and
political theory (Tocqueville, Melville, von Trier).
