Luce Irigaray, one of the leading figures in French feminism, philosophy and cultural theory over the last 30 years, will be making a rare appearance in Scotland to deliver a free public lecture at the University of Aberdeen next month.
The lecture, entitled The Path Towards the Other, will be delivered in English on Thursday, May 12, in KCG8, from 5pm – 6pm. The lecture will be followed by a reception and book-signing, at which copies of the English translations of Luce Irigaray’s recent books will be on sale.
Luce Irigaray is the author of several extremely influential works such as Speculum of the Other Woman, To Speak is Never Neutral, This Sex Which is Not One, and Democracy Begins Between Two, in which she has forcefully challenged traditional modes of thinking sexual difference within linguistics, philosophy, religion, psychoanalysis and political theory.
Born in Belgium, she has occupied a number of prominent teaching positions at prestigious institutions around the world, and is currently Director of Research in Philosophy at the Centre National de Recherche Scientifique in Paris.
Her unique style of writing is deeply poetic and philosophical. She continues to be actively engaged in European feminist movements, particularly in Italy, where she has worked as an advisor to the European Parliament on citizenship legislation, and with schoolchildren in researching gender difference in early language development.
Michael Syrotinski, Professor of French in the School of Language and Literature, at the University of Aberdeen, said: “It is a remarkable honour to be able to host Luce Irigaray at the University of Aberdeen.
“She is without a doubt one of the most important writers and thinkers in France, if not Europe, over the last 30 years, and her work has been extremely influential across a whole range of different disciplines. Her visit will be a timely one in marking the advent of the new Centre for Modern Thought here at Aberdeen, and underlining the internationalism of its ambitions.
“Luce Irigaray’s lecture is an open public lecture and we advise interested people to arrive early to be guaranteed a seat!”
To book a place at the free public lecture on Thursday, May 12, in KCG8, contact Professor Michael Syrotinski on (01224) 272152 or email: m.syro@abdn.ac.uk.