Michel
Foucault’s work was described at his
death as “the most important event of
thought in our century”. As a philosopher,
historian and political activist he certainly
left behind an enduring and influential body
of work, but is this acclaim justified? Introducing
Foucault places his work in its turbulent
philosophical and political context, and critically
explores his mission to expose the links between
knowledge and power in the human sciences,
their discourses and institutions.
This
book explains how Foucault overturned our
assumptions about the experience and perception
of madness, sexuality and criminality, and
the often brutal social practices of confinement,
confession and discipline. It also describes
Foucault’s engagement with psychiatry
and clinical medicine, his political activism
and the transgressive aspects of pleasure
and desire that he promoted in his writing.
***
Chris
Horrocks is Senior Lecturer in Art History
and Design at Kingston University.
Zoran
Jevtic is an artist, commercial illustrator
and animator.
