What Has Become of Critique?

Book Reviews in Greece

Christos Mais (University of Thessaly) and Vassilis Lambropoulos (University of Michigan)

What is the role of the book critic in contemporary Greece? Criticism is a vital instrument in not only ‘policing’ ideas—in terms of scrutinizing knowledge and ideas disseminated in the public sphere—but also in producing new ideas through the production of meaningful discussions and debates. The lack of a robust practice of criticism may lead to the uncontrolled dissemination of ideas of dubious quality and the (re)production of an equally uncritical public sphere. By examining reviews of non-fiction titles published in 2021 in three online platforms (diastixo.gr, bookpress.gr, hartismag.gr) through the lens of Foucauldian critique, Christos Mais considers the consequences of Greek criticism reaching an all-time low, when book reviews often do little more than replicate the publisher’s press release.

The seminar will take place in Greek. This seminar is co-sponsored by the Program in Hellenic Studies.