Transmitting Feminisms

This is a conversation between members of the Feminist Duration Reading Group, which has met in London, UK, since March 2015 to explore under-known feminisms from outside the mainstream Anglo- American feminist canon. Starting with and often returning to an emphasis on Italian feminisms, monthly meetings have encompassed various other regional and national feminisms, as well as radical aesthetic and political positions that aim to challenge the conservative appropriation and dilution of feminism under late capitalism.

The discussion considers the tactics that the group has adopted, including of reading aloud together; of juxtaposing historical with current feminist texts and urgencies; and of highlighting feminisms outside the mainstream canon. It touches on questions including the rise of reading and research groups outside academia; embodied citation as a feminist practice; relationships that groups like this have with host institutions, especially in an art context when they can be seen to provide ‘free’ programming content; and the institutional resources that are needed to sustain feminist practices.

Each of the authors has participated in the Feminist Duration Reading Group, by leading or hosting a meeting and/or attending regularly.