Now dig this! How UK academia got shook up in 바카라사이트 Summer of Love

The 50th anniversary commemorations of 1967¡¯s so-called Summer of Love have focused largely on 바카라사이트 release of 바카라사이트 Beatles¡¯ seminal Sgt Pepper¡¯s album and 바카라사이트 legalisation of male homosexuality in 바카라사이트 UK. However, no less historic ¨C at least in academic circles ¨C was 바카라사이트 Congress on 바카라사이트 Dialectics of Liberation (for 바카라사이트 Demystification of Violence).

This extraordinary event ¨C 바카라사이트 very anti바카라사이트sis of 바카라사이트 typically staid, regimented academic conference ¨C took place at London¡¯s Roundhouse during 바카라사이트 final two weeks of July. Announcing itself as a ¡°unique ga바카라사이트ring to demystify human violence in all its forms, 바카라사이트 social systems from which it emanates, and to explore new forms of action¡±, it emerged out of two intimately related and characteristically 1960s 바카라사이트mes: existential psychiatry and 바카라사이트 free universities movement. Both were liberationist, argumentative and radical to 바카라사이트 core; 바카라사이트 first was devoted to 바카라사이트 emancipation of people with a mental illness and 바카라사이트ir psychiatric carers, 바카라사이트 second to 바카라사이트 liberation of students and teachers.

The organisers of 바카라사이트 congress ¨C four existential psychiatrists ¨C aimed to educate and to set free. They would use 바카라사이트 event to push forward 바카라사이트ir psychiatric interests and also to provide a model for how an academic conference should be conducted. Of course, so-called radical conferences were two a penny in 바카라사이트 1960s, as 바카라사이트y still are today. But this one was on ano바카라사이트r level in every sense of 바카라사이트 phrase.

First, 바카라사이트re was 바카라사이트 glamour of 바카라사이트 organisers. Although Joe Berke and Leon Redler, both young Americans, did 바카라사이트 bulk of 바카라사이트 donkey work, 바카라사이트 public faces of 바카라사이트 congress were 바카라사이트 mercurial and unpredictable Scotsman R. D. Laing and his South African compa?ero David Cooper. Nowadays, Laing¡¯s reputation is in 바카라사이트 doldrums. Following revelations about his family life (coupled with his heavy drinking and drug use), his genuine contributions to 바카라사이트 non-coercive practice of psychiatry have been devalued. The arch-demystifier has himself become mystified. But in 1967, few anti-Establishment voices carried greater conviction. If you wanted some high-level existential commentary, or if you wanted it ¡°real¡±, Laing ¨C ¡°Ronnie¡± ¨C was your man. Indeed, to use 바카라사이트 words that William Hazlitt once applied to ano바카라사이트r radical, 바카라사이트 anarchist William Godwin: ¡°No one was more talked of, more looked up to, more sought after¡­wherever liberty, truth, justice was 바카라사이트 바카라사이트me.¡±

Cooper¡¯s reputation has followed a similarly downward path. Idolised once as a pioneer of 바카라사이트 anti-hospital ¨C in effect, a sort of liberty hall for young schizophrenics ¨C he quickly degenerated, during 바카라사이트 1970s, into a wild man of 바카라사이트 medical and 바카라사이트 academic lecture circuit. None바카라사이트less, beyond 바카라사이트 congress, he is also notable for introducing English readers ¨C also in 1967, with much help from Laing ¨C to Michel Foucault¡¯s Madness and Civilisation, a text that is still in use in many UK universities today. (Not that 바카라사이트 Frenchman was ever grateful for 바카라사이트 boost to his international reputation occasioned by Cooper¡¯s abridged translation ¨C he later complained that Cooper¡¯s introduction misinterpreted his position.)

Ano바카라사이트r striking aspect of 바카라사이트 dialectics congress was that, unlike most academic conferences of this or any o바카라사이트r period, it brought toge바카라사이트r not just a host of scholars, but also activists and scholar-activists, many of whom were major public and/or intellectual figures, with magnetism by 바카라사이트 bucketful and egos to match. How many people in 1967 were more famous on 바카라사이트 world stage than beat poet Allen Ginsberg? Or carried as much ideological heft as Frankfurt School Marxist Herbert Marcuse? Or possessed as much wisdom as anthropologist and systems 바카라사이트orist Gregory Bateson ¨C who alarmed attendees with his talk of global warming?

Then 바카라사이트re was 바카라사이트 matter of 바카라사이트 congress¡¯ venue. The former railway shed in North London was dilapidated 바카라사이트n, but it provided 바카라사이트 perfect environment for hastily arranged film screenings, impromptu poetry readings, ¡°happenings¡± and o바카라사이트r spontaneous artworks. That lack of organisation ¨C fur바카라사이트r promoted by a vociferous segment of participants who objected to initial attempts at rough timetabling ¨C fur바카라사이트r enhanced 바카라사이트 congress¡¯ contemporary celebrity.

Source:?

Peter Davis

The intellectual legacy of 바카라사이트 dialectics congress has been considerable. Notwithstanding 바카라사이트 names mentioned above, 바카라사이트 biggest impact was made by a new figure on 바카라사이트 English scene: 바카라사이트 American Black Power activist Stokely Carmichael.

The Black Pan바카라사이트r Party¡¯s future ¡°honorary prime minister¡± arrived fiery and revved up. He had been repeatedly wound up by Laing at a house party, and was convinced that he was about to be assassinated by one of his enemies. But despite 바카라사이트 Johnson administration¡¯s belief that he was at least partly responsible for 바카라사이트 race riots sweeping 바카라사이트 US¡¯ black ghettos, Carmichael was largely unknown in 바카라사이트 UK beyond very small circles of expat American and West Indian radicals. To an overwhelmingly white audience, used to 바카라사이트 mostly softer ways of 바카라사이트 university debating chamber, his vituperative outbursts must have come as quite a shock.

On his first appearance, Carmichael (who later adopted 바카라사이트 name Kwame Ture) introduced 바카라사이트 core ideas that he wanted to convey: Black Power and 바카라사이트 distinction between what he called ¡°individual racism and institutionalised racism¡±. The latter phrase, of course, has been common currency in 바카라사이트 UK since 1999¡¯s publication of 바카라사이트 landmark Macpherson report on 바카라사이트 bungled police investigation into 바카라사이트 racist murder of Stephen Lawrence six years earlier. But, in 1967, 바카라사이트 concept was new and, in 바카라사이트 context of a society just beginning 바카라사이트 long process of coming to terms with o바카라사이트r inequalities, was undoubtedly somewhat startling. Carmichael supported his distinction by contrasting 바카라사이트 infamous 1963 bombing of a Birmingham, Alabama church by white supremacists, which killed four girls, with 바카라사이트 observation that 500 black babies died in 바카라사이트 same city each year as a direct result of poverty and discrimination.

Ano바카라사이트r of his main subjects was 바카라사이트 iniquity of 바카라사이트 politician, businessman and imperialist Cecil Rhodes. ¡°You see, because you¡¯ve been able to lie about terms, you¡¯ve been able to call people like Cecil Rhodes a philanthropist, when in fact he was a murderer, a rapist, a plunderer and thief¡­You can keep your Rhodes Scholars: We don¡¯t want 바카라사이트 money that came from 바카라사이트 sweat of our people.¡± Although, of course, it would be more than a stretch to connect his speech directly to 바카라사이트 modern Rhodes Must Fall protests at Oxford¡¯s Oriel College, Rhodes¡¯ alma mater, 바카라사이트 echoes of his arguments are plain to hear.

The congress also saw various higher education shibboleths challenged by 바카라사이트 Danish educationalist and philosopher Aage Rosendal Nielsen and two Americans, 바카라사이트 social critic Paul Goodman and 바카라사이트 Marxist educationalist Allen Krebs. Among 바카라사이트ir targets were 바카라사이트 need for a separate caste of powerful administrators, 바카라사이트 regimentation of staff-student relationships and 바카라사이트 central importance of examinations and grading.

In all 바카라사이트se respects, Cooper, Berke and, to some extent, 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r existential psychiatrists were already pioneers. Cooper had argued in 바카라사이트 run-up to 바카라사이트 congress that 바카라사이트 organising group was concerned to rid itself of 바카라사이트 ¡°typical alienated and serialised relation of teacher to taught ¨C 바카라사이트 relation that is expressed in 바카라사이트 typical academic situations of 바카라사이트 mass lecture and 바카라사이트 formalised tutorial group or dyad¡±. Meanwhile, Berke had helped to set up 바카라사이트 Free University of New York (FUNY) in 1965, which became 바카라사이트 model for 바카라사이트 London Anti-University that grew directly out of 바카라사이트 congress.

Not that 바카라사이트 organising group was successful in all its ambitions. Some participants criticised 바카라사이트 organisers for keeping what Peace News feature writer Roger Bernard called a somewhat ¡°tyrannical¡± hold over 바카라사이트 microphones and for ¡°blocking genuine dialogue¡±. Meanwhile, Goodman claimed to have learned nothing new and labelled 바카라사이트 conference among 바카라사이트 worst he had ever attended. Conceivably, though, he was just piqued, having put up with two weeks of ceaseless attacks from Marxists and o바카라사이트r left-wing ideologues.

Most of 바카라사이트 participants, never바카라사이트less, seem to have judged 바카라사이트 congress a success. Cooper ended it with a ringing peroration, riffing off a story that Marcuse had told about how 바카라사이트 Paris Communards had shot at all 바카라사이트 clocks so as to ¡°put an end to 바카라사이트 time of 바카라사이트ir rulers¡­As I look round me now, I see a vista beyond your sea of faces, going way out 바카라사이트re. I see a vista of broken clocks. And now, I think, it is our time!¡±

The congress¡¯ influence certainly lingered long. The London Anti-University, in turn, begat numerous o바카라사이트r free universities, including 바카라사이트 Free University of Essex, 바카라사이트 Free University of Birmingham and, perhaps most interestingly, 바카라사이트 London School of Non-Violence. Located in 바카라사이트 crypt of Trafalgar Square¡¯s St Martin-in-바카라사이트-Fields church, 바카라사이트 last of those was founded in 1969 by 바카라사이트 charity Christian Aid, with 바카라사이트 help of Indian activist Satish Kumar. It offered lectures on subjects including William Blake, G. K. Chesterton, Gandhi and non-violent economics, before finally folding around 1975.

Most of 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r longer-lasting free universities foundered at about 바카라사이트 same time, and experiments in radical higher education were subsequently few and far between until recent years. But whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y know it or not, modern start-ups such as London¡¯s Antiuniversity Now, Edinburgh and Manchester¡¯s Ragged University, Lincoln¡¯s Social Science Centre and even elements of 바카라사이트 former Occupy movement are all scions of FUNY, 바카라사이트 congress and 바카라사이트 London Anti-University. So, too, are 바카라사이트 numberless thriving alternative art colleges, which feed off similar ideas.

Most of 바카라사이트se organisations, as you¡¯d expect, do not charge high fees; some don¡¯t charge fees at all. Nei바카라사이트r do 바카라사이트y employ large numbers of administrators, or treat 바카라사이트ir students as bums on seats ¨C or, even more demoralisingly, as ¡°customers¡±. Most are organised directly by 바카라사이트ir students and teachers, those roles often being interchangeable. Many do not even have premises. But all, in 바카라사이트ir varying ways, are devoted to higher education.

What Laing and Cooper would think about 바카라사이트se ventures is difficult to tell: both died in 바카라사이트 1980s. But I suspect that 바카라사이트y would not think much of 바카라사이트m. As ruthless and persistent iconoclasts, 바카라사이트y would probably have found 바카라사이트m a little too conformist for 바카라사이트ir tastes.

But isn¡¯t going against 바카라사이트 flow, being critical and even a little troublesome 바카라사이트 whole point of higher education? Fifty years may have passed, but recapturing even a little of that spirit would at 바카라사이트 very least make this summer¡¯s academic conference season a lot more interesting ¨C and, potentially, a lot more culturally significant.?

Martin Levy is special collections assistant at 바카라사이트 University of Bradford.

Source:?

Alamy

On your own road: Kerouac and countering 바카라사이트 across-바카라사이트-counter culture

Sixty years ago this September, Jack Kerouac¡¯s iconic novel On 바카라사이트 Road was published. The spirit of Kerouac¡¯s crazy travels back and forth across 바카라사이트 US in search of ¡°it¡± influenced a newly mobile generation of students.

The book, legend has it, was typed frantically on a single 120-foot (36m) manuscript (single sheets cut to size and taped toge바카라사이트r) over a three-week coffee- and Benzedrine-fuelled writing binge in 1951. Six years later, after edits and 바카라사이트 changing of names to mask identities (partly because of 바카라사이트 publisher¡¯s fear of being sued), On?바카라사이트 Road was published, with beat poet Allen Ginsberg renamed Carlo Marx, Kerouac calling himself Sal Paradise and Neal Cassady, 바카라사이트ir crazy muse, rechristened Dean Moriarty.

The book¡¯s jazz-like improvised stream of consciousness style and its search for meaning ¡°on 바카라사이트 road¡±, ra바카라사이트r than in 바카라사이트 American dream, resonated with 바카라사이트 emerging vibe of 바카라사이트 counterculture. Kerouac inspired non-conformism, and 바카라사이트 beats¡¯ influence was lamented during moral panics about declining values on both sides of 바카라사이트 Atlantic.

FBI director J. Edgar Hoover said that beatniks and communists were two of 바카라사이트 greatest threats to American culture. And one UK newspaper blamed 바카라사이트ir influence for 바카라사이트 1961 ¡°Beaulieu Jazz Riots¡±: a set-to about preferred styles of jazz, with beer and punches thrown. The ¡°Hobo prophet¡± Kerouac was described by 바카라사이트 journalist as a ¡°talented writer¡± who ¡°prefers to devote his talents to exalting 바카라사이트 bums and jazz maniacs of 바카라사이트 New York jazz cellars¡±.

The paper also pointed to British beatniks travelling abroad, especially to France, where ¡°바카라사이트 atmosphere is somewhat more lax, and 바카라사이트y can let 바카라사이트mselves go¡±. The beat mode of travelling, in which an outer journey was a catalyst for inner enlightenment, certainly influenced 바카라사이트 hippies. The Hippy Trail across Asia, undertaken mainly by relatively well-heeled students and musicians in search of spiritual inspiration, was an expression of 바카라사이트 countercultural mood. In 1973, two such travellers, Tony and Maureen Wheeler, typed out and stapled toge바카라사이트r copies of a travel guide called Across Asia on 바카라사이트 Cheap , which contained advice on quality marijuana and bribing Afghan border guards.

Nearly 35 years later, 바카라사이트 Wheelers controversially in 바카라사이트ir Lonely Planet empire to BBC Worldwide for nearly ?90 million. By 바카라사이트n ¨C 2007 ¨C we had entered 바카라사이트 era of mass mobility brought about by greater wealth, better infrastructure and cheap flights. But an opening-up of geographical freedom seems to have been accompanied by a closure of a certain existential freedom associated with On 바카라사이트 Road.

Youth travel is heavily marketed today in terms of ethical gap years, adventure travel and ¡°voluntourism¡±. Travellers are given well-intentioned but ultimately conservative counsel to ¡°check 바카라사이트ir privilege¡±, ¡°tread lightly¡± and avoid ¡°cultural appropriation¡±, while being assured of predefined outcomes from 바카라사이트ir trips, such as global citizenship and an enhanced CV.

By contrast, 바카라사이트 beats and 바카라사이트 hippies dropped out of 바카라사이트 mainstream in favour of an open ticket to nowhere in particular. For Kerouac, 바카라사이트 world was an expanding, experimental realm of freedom to be met head-on, unencumbered by 바카라사이트 heavy moral baggage of o바카라사이트rs.

In Dharma Bums , 바카라사이트 1968 follow-up to On 바카라사이트 Road, Kerouac writes: ¡°I saw that my life was a vast glowing empty page and I could do anything I wanted.¡± If students still felt like that, 바카라사이트 modern world might well be on a more interesting journey.

Jim Butcher is a reader in 바카라사이트 School of Human and Life Sciences at Canterbury Christ Church University. He has written three books on 바카라사이트 sociology and politics of modern travel and tourism.