Category Archives: Reading Groups

“Imaginary” has become a ubiquitous noun in the humanities and social sciences in recent decades. Even the law professors are in on the lingo. What is signified by the substantive, what kind of analysis does it enable, what kind of ideologies might it encode? A new essay by Yves Winter, “What is an Imaginary?” schematizes these questions.

Join us for discussion – and come ready to propose summer theory ambitions!

on our calendar: InterCcECT seminar on Lacan’s Seminar 4, with special guest Professor Chris Breu, 29 June “Lenin With Du Bois: Theorizing the Revolutionary Counter-Mood” Jonathan Flatley, 15 April UIC English (2028 University Hall), 3pm “Free Gifts” Alyssa Battistoni 4 May, U Chicago 3CT, 4pm

Even after a long, intense, Hot Adorno Summer, we still can’t let go. Hang on to Hegel with a session on Adorno’s Three Studies. We’ll tackle the third study, Skoteinos, or How to Read Hegel, for Thursday September 25th, at 4pm. Lincoln Park Public Library Large Meeting Room (1150 W Fullerton Ave).

RSVP to interccect at gmail for PDF.

The year’s slate is open! As theory nerds confront back-to-school, be in touch with proposals for events. InterCcECT hosts mini-seminars, field trips, book talks, works-in-progress sessions, and reading groups, as well as hitherto unimagined formats. Contact us to propose events.

On our calendar:

Oct 29: What’s Funny About Student Debt? A conversation with novelist Kashana Cauley about her excellent new book The Payback, with Anna Kornbluh and Jason Wozniak of The Debt Collective

It’s been a long hot humid haul, and the cool kids triumphantly conclude on Wednesday, 13 August, 4pm, in full festivity at Moody’s. Finish the book!

RSVP to interccect at gmail for PDF or to launch fall projects.

So we press on: join InterCcECT for the penultimate session on Adorno (reading Part Three, Section 2 — “World-Spirit and Natural History”), Thursday, 31 July, 4pm, at Moody’s again (libraries full alas).

RSVP to interccect at gmail for PDF or with other hot summer concepts.

So we press on: join InterCcECT for the next round of Adorno (reading Part Three: Structure of the Third Antinomy through the end), Wednesday, 16 July, 4pm, Chicago Public Library Lincoln Park location (our old standby, but in the “small meeting room” this time).

RSVP to interccect at gmail for PDF or with other hot summer concepts.

So we press on: join InterCcECT for the next round of Adorno (reading Part Three: Models but just through “Contemplation” ), Tuesday, 1 July, 4pm, Moody’s Pub, 5910 N Broadway. (NOTE this is not a library session due to unavailability all over, but Moody’s tends to be quiet outdoors.)

RSVP to interccect at gmail for PDF or with other hot summer concepts.

So we press on: join InterCcECT for the next round of Adorno (reading part two: negative dialectics, concepts and categories), Wednesday, 18 June, 4pm, Lincoln Belmont Public Library meeting room. PLEASE NOTE due to Juneteenth this session is NOT on a Thursday, and due to availability it is NOT at the regular LP library location.

RSVP to interccect at gmail for PDF or with other hot summer concepts.

So we press on: join InterCcECT for the next round of Adorno (reading part one: relationship to ontology), Thursday 5 June, 4pm, Lincoln Park Public Library large meeting room.

RSVP to interccect at gmail for PDF or with other hot summer concepts.

The times call for Negative Dialectics. Join InterCcECT as we embark on an intensified summer project of Adorno. We’ll aim to meet every two weeks, for as long as we can stand it. Summer schedule remains open for your proposals for alternate/ additional events too.

First session: read the Introduction (pages 1-60, or as deep as you get).

Thursday 22 May, 4pm, Sheffield’s Beer Garden (outside).

RSVP to interccect at gmail for PDF or with other hot summer concepts.

How do the financial instruments deployed in Hollywood shape its aesthetic output? A new book tracking the financialization of culture industries offers a comprehensive theory of the derivative form structuring contemporary music, television, and film. Join InterCcECT for a discussion of Derivative Media, with special guest, Professor Andrew deWaard. We’ll read the Introduction and Chapter 2. University of California Press has an open-access initiative ; rsvp to interccect at gmail for pdfs.

Monday 7 April 2025

4pm

Lincoln Park Public Library (large meeting room), 1150 W Fullerton. (The library has a parking lot.) Red, Brown, Purple Lines: Fullerton

Mark your calendars now for our May event, a celebration of long time InterCcECTer Adam Kotsko’s new book, Late Star Trek! Thursday 8 May, 4pm, Seminary Coop and festivities after.

As spring dawns, let us know what’s on your summer theory agenda; InterCcECT always welcomes event proposals.