"Herbert Marcuse taught me that it was possible to be an academic and an activist, a scholar and a revolutionary." Written as a tribute to her teacher – the famous German philosopher who was celebrated as the "Father of the New Left," Angela Davis composed these words to inspire a new generation of critically engaged intellectuals. This exhibition displays materials – from books, magazines, and newspapers to political buttons and music albums – which document the scholarly and activist interventions of Herbert Marcuse and Angela Davis at times of systemic crisis and radical possibility during the past several decades.
This exhibition is presented in conjunction with Critical Refusals, a major conference, sponsored by the International Herbert Marcuse Society, organized by Andrew Lamas (Urban Studies), to be held at Penn on October 27-29, 2011. Angela Davis, the keynote speaker, will be joined by distinguished scholars, students, and activists from more than twenty countries to explore the continuing relevance of Marcuse, the Frankfurt School, and contemporary critical theories.
