One of my great ambitions is to create new models of education that work in and are relevant to the world we live in. To be honest, I was always a little afraid to construct my own long-term course. But after years of work, I’ve finally gathered the vision and confidence to do it. The Culture of the Current is my in-depth, intimate, interactive, and network-creating online workshop on creating a politics and theory of the present day. The description below will lay it all out for you (and I’ve included some photos of thinkers whose work I’ll be drawing on). It’s limited to only 20 participants and it’s going to be great. So read the description below and sign up here. Onward!
Do you get the feeling that something is off with our present moment?
Do you wonder if we’ve taken a horrible turn somewhere along the way to Now?
Are you mystified by the present moment and have no idea how, exactly, we’re going to move forward?
Maybe you’re tuned in to the “this changes everything” advances and stumbles of recent history. Some of these changes seem beneficial and hopeful: alternate forms of currency, 3-D printers, advances in medicine, accessibility to information and creative tools, and more. Others seem terrifying: climate change, growing political unrest, disparity in wealth, ethnic/racial/orientation inequalities.
While people of all eras have felt that theirs was a special one, that their challenges were
Lynn Margulis, biologist
leading to disaster or utopia, something is unique about our moment:
No one seems to have formulated a theory or politics to deal with the changes and challenges we’re facing.
It’s clear that the old structures — our representative government, culture of consumption, scientific theories, religious impulses, etc. — aren’t up to the task. They’re relics, trying — and failing — to keep up with the pace of The Current we live in.
This intimate, in-depth, and interactive four-session online workshop is an answer to those problems.
Instead of waiting for a theorist, economist, or politician to lead the way, you’ll join Conner Habib and your peers in co-creating a theory of the present moment, and developing alternative frameworks for politics and philosophies of everyday life. This is an intimate course, limited to 20 participants.
Together we’ll investigate the most pressing questions of our time:
- How are the social phenomenon and movements of our day — identity politics, the changing face of governments, internet connectivity and dissonance, environmentalism, and more — connected?
- What would a theoretical framework that binds all these changes and challenges look like?
- What does it mean to be human in an era when we have new relationships to space, time, identity, sexuality, and more?
- How can we best deal with the challenges facing us?
Bruno Latour, anthropologist
The course will start with introductions and Conner Habib’s broad but incomplete theory, “The Culture of The Current,” which will draw from multiple perspectives: scientific ones, philosophical ones, anthropological, occult, and sociological ones. Conner will talk about such wide-ranging topics as the relationship between citizens and their governments, sexual identity, privacy, mass shootings, selfies, and more.
Then participants will work with each other to develop their own theories, which we’ll eventually assemble together.
In this course you will:
- Demystify the noise and rush of events of the present day, and find a confident understanding of our moment
- Push the boundaries of your thought and what’s possible for action and activism, as well as everyday life
- Leave with developed ideas on the current moment and a new politics
- Have exclusive access to 3 lectures by Conner Habib during the course and 60 days after the course completes
- Get 15 hours of ineraction with Conner Habib and peers with similar concerns
- Create a supportive network of peers to engage with in our tumultuous time
- Immerse yourself in the writing and work of cutting edge thinkers who are working on progressive initiatives
- Find pathways forward in our changing world
- Get an exclusive essay, article, book, and film list of related writers and artists, curated by Conner
Your theories can come from wherever you want, so completely different viewpoints, areas
Franco “Bifo” Berardi, philosopher
of expertise, and interests are more than welcome. When the world is in such a dramatic flux that it no longer seems real to us, then nothing is off limits, not even the unreal. No one will be “right” or “wrong” so there’s no pressure to create a totally complete or perfect theory. This is a class of cooperation, not competition.
Each group will present their thoughts, and then we’ll move on to creating viable paths forward: How do we now envision new politics? Philosophy? Art? Economy? Science? Anatomies? Religion? Interaction with the natural world? Creativities? Views of identity?
Most importantly, we’ll have a better sense of the answer to this question:
What will it take to enact a hopeful new current of politics and everyday life to flow in?
PRACTICAL STUFF:
Doug Rushkoff, media theorist
The course meets four Sundays in a row, for three hours per session. There’s an intermission in each session.
There are readings which will be sent to you via email by Conner Habib. You’ll be expected to read a bit before the course starts, and then along the way.
This course will be fun, warm, and create a sense of community. It’s for participants who are serious about forming communities and developing real frameworks that address our present day. Participants are expected to:
- complete all required readings
- attend every every session
- communicate with partners
- complete all collaborative projects on time
Of course there are exceptions to every rule, and emergencies. That said, you’ll be generally expected to commit to all of the above for the duration of the workshop.
When you sign up, you’ll get a confirmation email. About 10 days before the course starts,
Rudolf Steiner, occultist
you’ll receive another email with the first reading and instructions on how to sign in. It just takes a few clicks, and it’s simple.
SCHOLARSHIPS
It’s so important to me to have dedicated and enthusiastic participants in this course, and I don’t want the fee keeping those people out. To that end, I’ve made two scholarships spots available, one for a full waiver and one for a half waiver. Since this course has taken me quite a bit of time and effort to put together, please only apply for a scholarship if you’re actually in absolute financial need and couldn’t take the course without it. To apply, send me an email and I’ll send you the scholarship application form.
SIGN UP HERE
Amber Hollibaugh, sex work acitivist
McKenzie Wark, critical theorist
Michel Serres, philosopher
Russel Means, activist
Ezio Mauro, journalist
Tags: academia, activism, Bruno Latour, classes, Conner Habib, Doug Rushkoff, Ezio Mauro, Franco "Bifo" Berardi, Lynn Margulis, Michel Serres, occult, philosophy, Russell Means, science, sex and culture, workshop
Conner Habib 