Sade: From Materialism to Pornography

Description Examines influences of materialist philosophers of the Enlightenment on Sade’s thinking and writing and how Sade adapts these various philosophies to create his own transgressive approach to materialism. In so doing, Warman shows how […]

Sade: Queer Theorist

Description Examines Sade’s multifaceted depiction of sexual desire, gender and biological sex and links this representation to queer theories which help better understand Sade’s denial of binary representations of sexuality. The polyphonic definitions of “nature” […]

The Enlightenment: A Genealogy

Description Edelstein argues for a narrative approach to the Englightenment, claiming that this was a story participants told themselves and each other. He traces shifts in disciplines of knowledge via changes in classical and modern […]

The History of Materialism and Criticism of Its Present Importance

Description Lange’s lengthy history contains a useful overview of materialist authors from Lucretius to Holbach, along with some (biased) discussion of the Kantian and post-Kantian reaction against materialist thought. Although Lange is sympathetic to many […]

Amadeus

Description Shaffer’s play, originally published in 1981, presents a conflict between composers Mozart and Salieri that centers on questions of genius and religious faith. Set in Vienna during the 1780s, the play explores connections between […]

An Experiment with an Air Pump

Description Inspired by Joseph Wright’s 1768 painting, Stephenson’s play juxtaposes scientific exploration in 1799 with scientific exploration in 1999. The play raises questions about scientific ethics with regard to dissection of human bodies and to […]