Bell, David
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Room: A1
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Tel: +44 (0)1158467081
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Fax: +44 (0)115 951 4859
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Email: David Bell
‘Towards a Nomadic Utopianism’
My PhD thesis draws on anarchist, open marxist and poststructuralist philosophy; musicology; contemporary art; and works of utopian literature to offer new ways of thinking about the concept of utopia. I develop- and argue for- a ‘nomadic utopianism’, in which a space is considered a utopia only to the extent that it remains immanently open to the future. To achieve this, the nomadic utopia must be constituted by multiplicity and non-hierarchical social relations.
I explore how such spaces relate to traditional understandings of utopia as a ‘perfect’ space closed to further change, as well as critical theories in which utopia is understood as a negative force disrupting the status quo. I then apply my theoretical arguments to offer ‘nomadic utopian’ readings of the practice of collective musical improvisation and popular education.
I am particularly interested in developing artistic, musical and educational practices which explore these ideas further, as well as considering how they may help social movements and those involved in the grassroots struggle for a better world. I am currently writing a book on improvising music and utopia entitled ‘The Shape of Utopia to Come’ for Zero Books.
Dr Tony Burns and Dr Lucy Sargisson
School Fee Waiver
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Utopia, utopianism and dystopia
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Anarchist theory and practice
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Political musicology and the politics of music
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Critical pedagogy and popular education
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The politics of architecture and the built environment
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Politics and art
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Social movements in the global south
Publications
Bell, David (2010) ‘Fail Again. Fail Better: Nomadic utopianism in Deleuze & Guattari and Yevgeny Zamyatin’, Political Perspectives 4(1)
Bell, David; Duffy, Deirdre; Motta, Sara & Watkins, Heather (2010) ‘Theorising Critical Pedagogy in the Teaching of Social and Global Justice: Practice Informed by Theory’ in Baker, Geoff, eds. Teaching for Integrative Learning: Innovations in University Practice, Vol. 4, Centre for Integrative Learning, pp. 7-14
Bell, David (Forthcoming) ‘For a Nomadic Social Sculpture’ in Nistrup & Sorensen, ed. A Minor History of Creativity, The Nordic Culture Fund
Bell, David (Forthcoming) The Shape of Utopia to Come, Zero Books