Challenging the dominance of culture

A prominent literary theorist will focus on society’s obsession with ‘Culture’ during a public lecture at Northumbria University, Newcastle next month.

On Wednesday 4 February, Professor Terry Eagleton, will deliver a lecture entitled ‘Against Culture’ which argues that the concept of ‘culture’ has become overblown in our time, displacing far more important issues and concerns in the modern world.

Professor Eagleton is a Distinguished Professor of English Literature at Lancaster University, Professor of Cultural Theory at the National University of Ireland and Distinguished Professor of English Literature at the University of Notre Dame. He has published over forty books and is an influential playwright, critic, Marxist and cultural theorist with work spanning several decades. His seminal book remains Literary Theory: An Introduction (1983), but other important works include Reason, Faith and Revolution: Reflections on the God Debate (2009), On Evil (2010) andWhy Marx was Right (2011).

Professor Eagleton has been invited to deliver his free public lecture by the English and Creative Writing Research Seminar at Northumbria. He will argue that ‘culture’ has become inflated and will attempt to put it ‘back in its place’ in his usual combative style. His lecture will be followed by a question and answer session.

Dr Claire Nally, Senior lecturer in Twentieth-Century English Literature at Northumbria, is coordinating the lecture. She said: “This is a really exciting opportunity for staff, students, and members of the general public in the region. Professor Eagleton’s credentials in terms of cultural commentary and Marxism cannot be overestimated.”

‘Against Culture: Public Lecture by Terry Eagleton’ takes place in The Great Hall, Sutherland Building at Northumbria University on Wednesday 4 February from 6.30pm. The event will also include a complimentary cheese and wine reception in the Sutherland Building’s Great Hall.

The free event is open to the public but remaining places are extremely limited. To find out more, contact Dr Claire Nally at claire.nally@northumbria.ac.uk.