Forcings is something like ‘the collected works of A. J. Bartlett’ that no-one else will collect. The unpublished stuff, the lectures, the one-offs, launches, closes, the occasional digression and whatever else comes to mind.
The greater part of Forcings is the lectures (but let’s call them lessons). These were given over the course of a few short years and only once. So unless you were there, you don’t know them. They are written in accessible style, circulating between that of the hysteric, the master, the university and analyst.
As you’d expect, most of Forcings will demonstrate a concern or obsession with the work of Alain Badiou. If that puts you off then you need to take a long hard look at yourself, philosopher!
The lessons, for those interested in such things, include: a series on Badiou’s big books; two on the various figures Badiou treats with; a series on various philosophers and their Art; a series on anti-Platonism as registered in and as philosophy today. There are also shorter lessons on Badiou’s politics, Plato as educator, the varieties of Saint Paul, strange educators, and the four (other) discourses.
The series are, frankly, the result of a lot of work and if you have any interest in contemporary thought, some of the figures that populate it, the ideas that circulate, live and die within it then hopefully these will be of some use or even some pleasure.
The occasional pieces or one-offs swing between the caustic and the comic, the parodic and pathetic, the scholar and the scold. But always with intent.
As time goes on and subscribers permitting more occasional pieces will be added and new interventions worked up into suitable presentations. For the modest monthly fee and so as not to overburden either of us, I’ll keep it to no more than four posts per month.
Cheers
A.J.Bartlett
