Severally Seeking Sartre

This collection of twelve essays by scholars from the USA, Canada, the UK and Japan, presents fresh perspectives on familiar Sartrean subjects and novel approaches to neglected ones. Divided into four equal parts--Aesthetics, Philosophy, Politics and Revolt--its chapters reflect both the eclectic scope of Sartre's project and the dynamic attention it continues to attract. Moreover, this intellectual interest extends beyond the field of Sartre studies and across the generations, from established specialists to younger academics regarding Sartre from some surprising new angles: Pop-Art and jazz prove to be revealing prisms, as do dialogues with Dennett, Ilyenkov, Badiou and Genet, among others. In short, this is a book whose original essays make a lively contribution to the continuing critical conversation around the work of Jean-Paul Sartre. "This edited volume delivers on its promise to offer its readers unorthodox perspectives as well as new insights in sartrologie. The essays assembled examine a wide array of themes in Sartre's work, some well-known and others less prominent. Those better-known themes-such as authenticity, consciousness, humanism and Marxism-receive novel and thought-provoking treatments. Those less well-known-for example, Sartre's appreciation of photography, orality in the theatre, or the figure of the revolutionary-are brought to light in perceptive ways, enriching our understanding of Sartre's thinking. Thanks to the originality of approaches, the breadth of themes and the quality of scholarship, reading this volume will be worthwhile for neophytes and seasoned 'Sartreans' alike." -- Professor Christine Daigle, Brock University, Ontario