Philosophy Workshop-Linda Alcoff:Rape after Foucault @New School for Social Research, Wolff Conf. Rm.

Philosophy Workshop-Linda Alcoff:Rape after Foucault Thursday, May 03, 2012 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. The current period is characterized by a stark contradiction in regard to rape. On the one hand, sexual violence is a global epidemic, in both institutionalized and domestic sites, while on the other hand there is a great deal of uncertainty and confusion in the public’s mind, as well as among scholars, about the new categories of date rape and sexual harassment, whether incest and child sexual abuse are as rampant as some claim, and whether we are in the midst of a ‘culture of victimization,’ a social panic, or media sensationalism that over-dramatizes some incidents. The very significance and meaningfulness of sexual violence has become less clear, even while the global numbers stay at epidemic rates. The work of Michel Foucault has undoubtedly played a role in producing, and justifying, this uncertainty about sexual violence. Foucault sometimes writes as if experience is an epiphenomenon of power/knowledge and discursive formations. Foucault’s followers, like Ian Hacking and Gayle Rubin, have further muddied the waters of the categories of sexual violence. Clearly, we need to complexify the issue of the experience of sexual violence more than is sometimes acknowledged in the advocacy literature. I argue that such a complexification will actually have positive political effects, enlarging the scope of participants in the public discussion. While rejecting Foucault’s deflationary arguments, I will use Foucault to develop more effective and realistic strategies of resistance. I will also consider the insights he offers about the feedback loop between experience and discourse, and the utility of his accounts of subjugated knowledges and reverse discourses for the purposes of producing a more effective movement against sexual violence. In particular, I will explore the role of the speaking subject in regard to sexual violence---the survivor who speaks as a survivor---in relation to his concept of the complex enunciative modalities that involve distributions of credibility and authority, as well as the dangers of the confessional. These modalities are especially important to consider when survivors speak in the first person. Location: 6 E 16 St Room D 1103 Admission: Free; no tickets or reservations required; seating is first-come first-served

Spring Shopping Boutique @Montebello Jewish Center

Mother's Day * Father's Day * Graduation * Teacher's Gifts * Camp * Summer Entertaining You'll find everything you need at Montebello Jewish Center's Spring Shopping Boutique! Thursday, May 3, 2012 6-9 p.m. Montebello Jewish Center 34 Montebello Road, Suffern, NY Lots of fantastic local vendors will help you with the perfect gifts and necessities for everyone (including yourself)! Jewelry, artisan-made gifts of all kinds, cosmetics, hand-made kosher chocolate, Tupperware, Pampered Chef, Judaica, clothing and accessories, and so much more! Babysitting will be available for a small fee for children ages 2 and up. Free and open to the community! Vendor table fees benefit the Montebello Jewish Center Nursery School. For more information call the MJC office, (845) 357-2430.

Library Book Club @Broome County Public Library

If you like to read and share your thoughts about books in a friendly atmosphere, you are invited to join the Book Club. All are welcome to attend. We will discuss In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson at the May meeting. For more information, please call the Library’s Information Services Department at 607-778-6451.

An Online Arts and Culture Game: How Much Do You Know? @New Art Center

May 1st - 19th, 2012 / Opening: May 3rd, 2012, 6pm - 8pm "A Puzzling Display" (www.apuzzlingdisplay.com) is a new artist-created online arts and culture game, accompanied by an exhibition of related artworks at the New Art Center (NYC) May 1-19, 2012. Inspired by the annual "puzzle hunts" hosted by institutions such as MIT and Microsoft, Silicon Valley digital artist Tim Roseborough has created "A Puzzling Display": an Internet-based set of intelligent and challenging interactive puzzles covering topics such as art history, music, film and culture. Registered participants compete and test their knowledge of art and culture, and high scorers will win original prints signed by Roseborough. The "A Puzzling Display" web site will be accompanied by an exhibition of limited edition prints that translate the language of each online puzzle into Roseborough's signature "Englyph" writing system, which creates innovative hieroglyphic-like images from everyday language. In the 21st century, gaming and game-related paradigms are steadily integrating themselves into contemporary culture. "A Puzzling Display," continues Roseborough's exploration of the techniques and theories of gaming and play in the context of contemporary art. With an aim of blurring the distinction between fine art and diversion, Roseborough's virtual artwork incorporates interactivity, video, sound art, and computer animation to take a fresh look at arts and culture. Tim Roseborough is a digital artist and musician. His artwork and exhibitions have been featured in numerous publications, including Art In America, ARTNews, San Francisco Chronicle, SF Arts Monthly, SF Examiner, and the San Francisco Bay Guardian. Roseborough has performed and exhibited his artwork nationally, including the 2010 ZERO1 Biennial, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Root Division, Artexpo New York, The Garage San Francisco, ARTWork SF, and the Catharine Clark Gallery in San Francisco. Mr. Roseborough lives and works in San Francisco, California.

Opening Reception For Carmina Figurata: VITRIO, Photo Exhibition By Saana Wang (5/3) @Joy Wai Gallery

Carmen Molina curates VITRIO, an exhibition by Finnish Photographer Saana Wang that features a series of photographs from her visits to china from 2007 to the present. The Joy Wai Gallery presents the exhibition and will hold an opening reception on Thursday, May 3rd from 6-9pm that is open to the public. Guests can enjoy cocktails as they observe VITRIO, which is the first of a series of exhibitions that will be presented as part of a larger artistic journey entitled, ‘Carmina Figurata.’ The Joy Wai Gallery is located at 122 W. 18th Street.

Carmina Figurata Series Opens With VITRIO: Photo Exhibition By Saana Wang @Joy Wai Gallery

The Joy Wai Gallery presents VITRIO, an exhibition by Finnish Photographer Saana Wang that features a series of photographs from her visits to China from 2007 to the present, curated by Carmen Molina. VITRIO is the first of a series of exhibitions that will be presented as part of a larger artistic journey entitled, ‘Carmina Figurata’ which will explore visual arts as poetic form, as well as the value of the elegiac in the contemporary moment. The Exhibit will be open from May 3- June 4. The Joy Wai Gallery is located at 122 W. 18th Street and its hours are Monday- Friday 11am-7pm and Saturday 11am-5pm.

Giving Is Glamorous Charity benefit @Midtown Loft & Terrace

Giving Is Glamorous Charity & Beauty Benefit Be Bold.Be Beautiful. Be Inspired. New York's philanthropic society, local media, TV personalities, fashionistas and socialites are invited to attend the unveiling of City Girl Beauty Project?s first "Giving is Glamorous" charity benefit honoree. The Glamorous inaugural benefit event will be generously co-hosted by: TV personality and red carpet correspondent Tanika Ray. Tanika's hosting credits include: HGDTV Design Star, TV Guide's Oscar Pre-Show on the Red Carpet and the 59th Emmy Awards. Guests will enjoy specialty cocktails sponsored by Cognac Ferrard, hors d'oeuvres and desserts, raffle prizes, mini makeovers, complimentary gift bags, silent auction, and live music performances. Highlights of the evening will also include a few the unveiling of City Girl Beauty Project's 2012 honoree. This is a celebration for heroic women to come together to support and honor survivors for their bravery and ability to not let such negative incidents deter them from their true greatness. Event Coverage: Create & Capture Magazine,Lifestyle & Charity Magazine. Event Sponsors: Cognac Ferrard's Plantation Rum and Rayuela NYC. For more details about "Giving Is Glamorous" visit http://www.givingisglamorous.org