Making Worlds Seminar: Thinking through and against Microfascism

How do we develop antifascist praxis when the enemy does not appear in organized, recognizable forms? 

How deeply rooted in Western culture and subjectivity is fascism? How has gender been both recognized and diminished in analyses of contemporary fascist resurgences? 

This seminar begins to answer these questions and others through a collective reading group facilitated by the author of On Microfascism: Gender, War, Death. Over the course of four Fridays, we will meet and work through the analytic and cultural underpinnings of “recent” fascism. 

Taking a concept scattered across the writings of Felix Guattari, On Microfascism traces the long history of the cultural production of fascist subjectivity as well as its most contemporary forms. Before fully formed fascism is possible (as a political party, state form, even social movement), its emergent qualities are patterned in culture. From the Book of Genesis to contemporary gamer squads, microfascism appears in initiation rites old and new, via Proud Boys and Boogaloo Boys as updated archaic warrior societies, and in necropolitical anti-masking protestors.The objective of the seminar is to help us perceive tendencies that can illuminate emergent fascist moments as well as the state-centered attempts to understand them, in the hopes of preventing both of these wars of restoration. 

Starting with the concept of “microfascism” we will elaborate the archaic and hypercontemporary dimensions of fascist selfhood. Each week will take up a chapter or two along with some key background readings that helped form the ideas in that chapter. If schedules permit, we will also invite authors to appear virtually for conversation. 

In Week 3: War and Death, we combine two chapters to explore how the gendered sovereign emerges from war (specifically a war on women), on initiation rites, and on patriarchal pacts as war bands (Mannerbund). Next we take up the concept of necropolitics from Achille Mbembe by situating it a long history of patriarchy as well as in contemporary events like mass shooters and homi-suicidal tendencies. 

Important Information:

Seminars meet on Fridays from 4pm to 6pm, March 25, April 1, April 8, and April 15. The community seminar is free and open to all levels. There is limited capacity of 15 participants and advance registration is required. We prefer that participants attend all four sessions. Registrants will need a copy of On Microfascism, which will be available on special discount. Other reading materials will be provided for free.

Among the topics covered: 

• fascism beyond nationalism

• defining fascism outside of state or organizational thought.

• understanding of fascist cultural theory (traditionalism when it comes to war and masculinity)

• the central role of gender, specifically the formation of masculinity through a war on women

• patriarchy as pacts, packs and squads.

• an intimate relation to death, even a love for it.

• necropolitics in the gendered register

• the role of digital culture, both forms (networked) and content (images, humor, memes).

• recent developments in antifascist thinking and action

• abolition versus eliminationism

Week 1: Intro | This week we will cover some basics in defining fascism, the importance of culture, and the centrality of gender. We will explore the key concept of “microfascism” in this light. 

Week 2: Sovereignty and Gender | This week we will explore a foundational concept of selfhood in Western thought and culture, focusing on a process of self-created selfhood, or “autogenetic sovereignty.” We then move to mapping some important work on 21st century misogyny (especially online) as well as a longer view of patriarchy as a gendered social order based on this autogenesis. 

Week 3: War and Death | This week we combine two chapters to explore how the gendered sovereign emerges from war (specifically a war on women), on initiation rites, and on patriarchal pacts as war bands (Mannerbund). Next we take up the concept of necropolitics from Achille Mbembe by situating it a long history of patriarchy as well as in contemporary events like mass shooters and homi-suicidal tendencies. 

Week 4: Micro-Antifascism | After three weeks of mapping out the variety of forms of fascism today, this final meeting lays out what it might mean to think of being anti-microfascist or developing a type of micro-antifascism. While reading about theories and practical cases will open this session, participants are especially encouraged to bring in experiences and examples of what such anti-microfascist praxis could look like. 

ABOUT THE SEMINAR LEADER

Jack Z. Bratich is professor of journalism and media studies at Rutgers University. He has written dozens of articles, book chapters, and essays about the intersection of popular culture and political culture. He has been a zine librarian at ABC No Rio in New York City and now sits as a member of its advisory board member. He previously co-organized and cotaught (with Stevphen Shukaitis) two seminars at Bluestockings Bookstore: “Strategies of Refusal: Explorations in Autonomist Marxism” and “Affective Politics and the Imagination of Everyday Resistance”

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IN-PERSON EVENT

Please note, out of concern for everyone’s well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic, we require proof of vaccination for entry to all in-person events. Attendees are asked to wear masks at all times. Advance registration via eventbrite is required for all events, so we can plan for attendance and gather safely. 

Event registrations will be honored until 15 mins after start time of the event; afterwards, availability will be on a first-come basis. 

LIVESTREAMING

We will also offer a livestream recording of our events, graciously hosted by Common Notions Press on their YouTube channel. Feel free to subscribe to that channel and spread the word!

The livestream typically starts 15 mins after the listed start-time of the event.

Note: there are ample opportunities to receive a free COVID-19 test, vaccine, or booster in most neighborhoods, at walk-in clinics or by appointment. All of the COVID-19 vaccines are free. They are available to anyone in the United States. You do not need to provide identification to receive a vaccine. Visit phila.gov for latest info and please support the work of the Black Doctors’ COVID Consortium.