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IRW Distinguished Lecture Series

IRW Distinguished Lecture Series 2026-7

Dissident Aesthetics and the Remaking of Life

Each year, IRW's Distinguished Lecture Series presents a variety of talks showcasing interdisciplinary work on women, gender and sexuality by a variety of eminent speakers. The lecture series revolves around an annual theme that is also shared by our interdisciplinary seminar and undergraduate learning community. In 2026-2027 our annual theme is "Dissident Aesthetics and the Remaking of Life."

Schedule

Thursday, October 22, 2026
"Revealing Disability Aesthetics: World Traditions and Contemporary Accommodations"
Jeff Friedman (Dance, Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University)
Alexander Library Teleconference/Lecture Hall, College Avenue Campus
4 pm - 5:30 pm

Nadja Al-Ali small image

Thursday, November 5, 2026
"Last Work, Late Style: Reflections on James Baldwin’s 'The Welcome Table'"
Dagmawi Woubshet (English, Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania)
Ruth Dill Johnson Crockett Building, Douglass Campus
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm.

Judith Butler small image

Thursday, November 19, 2026
"Camille Billops: Dissident Aesthete"
Rujeko Hockley (Arnhold Associate Curator, Whitney Museum of American Art) 
Ruth Dill Johnson Crockett Building, Douglass Campus
 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm

Agnieszka Graff small image

Thursday, February 25, 2027
"Feminist Internationalism in Translation: Inji Aflatoun and the Women's International Democratic Federation"
Samah Selim (Modern Arabic Literature, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University)
Humanities Seminar Room, Academic Building 6051, College Avenue Campus
4 pm - 5:30 pm 

Agnieszka Graff small image

 

 

 

  

 

Thursday, March 11, 2027
"Desiring Pleasure: Bodily Sovereignty, Clitoraid’s 'Pleasure Hospital,' and the Politics of Aesthetic Dissent"
Naminata Diabate (Comparative Literature, Cornell University)
Ruth Dill Johnson Crockett Building, Douglass Campus
4 pm - 5:30 pm 

Agnieszka Graff small image