Process Reflection 2:
After my recent conversation with Dr. Holt, I am feeling confident about the state of my Capstone Project. During our conversation, we decided that it would be beneficial to narrow the scope of my project from the widespread implications of postmodernism on politics to the influence of biopolitics on the current coronavirus outbreak. I plan on exploring how the coronavirus pandemic reveals the extent to which humans are willing to relinquish their power in order to feel protection from the government and to what extent the government is using the outbreak to expand their control. At this point in my project, I plan on asking the questions, “why are people willing to give up their liberty to maintain public health,” and “why would we cede our individual capacity for change to attain stability and control?” I hope that these questions will transform my project from the discussion of a some-what incomprehensible issue to someone more manageable and relatable for my intended audience. Additionally, I hope that this will help me finalize my written component. In order to take the next step in my project, I will read Foucault’s theories of biopolitics, Bentham’s theory of the panopticon, and any articles I find about the nature of humans during this crisis. Additionally, I will look at the language used to describe the coronavirus to see if it has any effect on the ways in which we are responding to the outbreak. Finally, I will reach out to Dr. Holt for suggestions on my artifact, since my only idea right now is to make a stop sign, which is not interactive enough for this project.
Process Reflection 1:
In order to learn more about my topic, I have begun reading Foucault’s theory of biopolitics, along with Desmond Bell’s “Political Theory and Postmodernism.” By reading each of these scholarly pieces, I have learned more about how postmodernism deals with the ethics of politics and the idea of government control. For example, Foucault explains how understanding biopolitics, the idea that the state possesses an inextricable influence over our decisions, is paramount to understanding human nature and politics. This reminded me a lot of Stephen Greenblatt’s ideas on Renaissance Self-Fashioning because both Foucalt and Greenblatt grapple with how external forces play a vital role in the formation of our identities.
Within Galloway, I hope to speak with Dr. Holt and Mrs. Despathy, since they both have extensive knowledge on the intersection between postmodernism and politics. In my discussion with Dr. Holt, I will ask her if she has any ideas on where I should begin my research, along with her ideas on how certain authors, like Nietzche, Foucault, and Baudrillard have influenced politics. Additionally, I will ask her for a background on postmodernism, and whether different postmodernists have had different impacts on politics. In my discussion with Mrs. Despathy, I will ask her about the significance of theories like biopolitics and hyperrealities, and about why they are so controversial. Additionally, I will ask her if the debate space has had any impact on the prevalence of these theories in political discussions writ large.
Outside of Galloway, I will talk with Mikhail Epstein, professor of postmodernism at Emory University who has published a book on the intersection of postmodernism and Russian politics. I will ask him if he can provide insight on the geopolitical impact of postmodernism writ large. Additionally, I will ask him if postmodernists have had the same impact on Russian politics as they have on American politics.
In order to continue my project, I need help narrowing down the focus of my topic and finding a viable starting point for my research. Although I have begun my research on this project, I still feel slightly unsure as to whether I am on the right track or not. I hope that my discussions with internal and external experts will help me feel more confident about my research.