Alex Rossen

2 months ago | publicseminar.org | Evangeline Riddiford Graham |Claire Potter |Alex Rossen |Assaf David

For years now, those of us who are paying attention have heard a range of political positions, from those held by moderate Democrats to socialism, described by MAGA Republicans as something called “the Left.” Sometimes “the Left” is simply invoked by the shorthand “they,” as in: “They tried to assassinate Donald Trump;” or more commonly, “They want you to believe,” followed by some caricature of an idea about women, race, gender, or sexuality.

2 months ago | publicseminar.org | Alex Rossen |Katherine Kelaidis |Heather Richardson |Ihar Babkou

Putin’s Retrotopia | Canva / Generated by Magic Media AI Image GeneratorIn September 2024, the United Nations convened for the Summit of the Future. In it, diverse global communities came together to dream of the utopia tomorrow might offer. Yet as the Russian state declares its desire to restore the territorial holdings of the old Russian empire, these same global communities face a difficult quandary: Why is the past more tantalizing than the future?

Dec 5, 2024 | publicseminar.org | Alex Rossen |Gregory Laski |Josephine Houman |Miranda Young

Joint Landscape (15-9-1546) | Shen Zhou / Public DomainIf you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of a negative outlook on humanity, then David E. Cooper’s Pessimism, Quietism, and Nature as Refuge (Agenda Publishing, 2024) might be just the book for you. Cooper’s “negative judgement on the moral and spiritual failings of humankind” focuses readers’ attention on our species’ fundamental and inalienable propensity for envy, anger, egoism, insatiable greed, and deceit.

Nov 5, 2024 | publicseminar.org | Alex Rossen |Adam Brown |Henry M.J. Tonks |Achilles Kallergis

Vector Illustration (2008) | Elisanth / ShutterstockFor the past year, political commentators from all sectors of the American political spectrum have remarked on the impending enormity of the 2024 US presidential election. I am here not to join them but to offer a token of wellbeing. This week, Public Seminar’s editorial team is turning to music for escape, rejuvenation, and for truth.

Jun 10, 2024 | publicseminar.org | Alex Rossen |Justin Joque |Mitchell Abidor |Ihar Babkou

(1953) | Martin Manhoff / Public domainThe twilight of the Soviet Union marked more than the demise of a major global superpower. It also marked a major paradigm shift for one of the most prominent ideologies of the last century: Marxism. When the dust settled after Stalin’s death, new types of Marxist and leftist movements fragmented in many different directions.