RSS FeedRSS FeedYouTubeYouTubeTwitterTwitterFacebook GroupFacebook Group
You are here: The Platypus Affiliated Society/Archive for category Stony Brook Upcoming Events

Monday, November 15, 7pm

Thomas Hunter Hall, 930 Lexington Avenue, Room 414

A n evening in conversation with

Alan Goodman (correspondent for Revolution newspaper, voice of the Revolutionary Communist Party)

Richard Rubin (The Platypus Affiliated Society)


Questions for the panelists:

1. Historically, what role has the Marxist Left played in the development of Israel? What would a critical Marxist perspective on Israel, the ideology of Zionism and the Palestinian conflict look like? Has a Left critique historically been applied?

2. What is the relationship between American political hegemony and Israel? How has this traditionally been understood by the "Left", and how is it now portrayed? Has this understanding obscured attempts at political and theoretical analysis? How has it affected the international "Left's" approach to the actual political opposition among Palestinians?

3. Why have leftist approaches to the conflict emphasized a politics of resistance over cogent political visions? Do measures, such as BDS campaigns and the Flotilla effort, that seek to 'delegitimize' Israel and the ideology of Zionism through resistance to its immediate means and policies ameliorate immediate social conditions or clarify political conditions? If not, what sort of approach should be emphasized?

Suggested background reading from the Platypus Review:

Which way forward for Palestinian liberation? (PR: April 2010)

http://platypus1917.org/2010/04/08/which-way-forward-for-palestinian-liberation-2/

Catastrophe, historical memory and the Left: 60 years of Israel-Palestine (PR: May 2008)

http://platypus1917.org/2008/05/01/catastrophe-historical-memory-and-the-left-60-years-of-israel-palestine/

Related Platypus events:

Which Way Forward for Palestinian Liberation? (Chicago: April 2010)

http://platypus1917.org/2010/04/04/which-way-forward-for-palestinian-liberation/

Platypus: Israel-Palestine and the One State Solution (Chicago: March 2008)

http://www.archive.org/details/PlatypusIsrael-palestineAndTheOneStateSolution

School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 112 S. Michigan Ave.

The Platypus Affiliated Society is proud to announce its second annual international convention, What is Left, and where to begin? Platypus has organized four days of activities. Starting on Wednesday May 26th with a film screening at University of Chicago’s Woodlawn Collaborative and Thursday with theater and poetry performances at Decima Musa in Pilsen. On Friday May 28th, the Platypus Affiliated Society will convene for the panel discussion on The Question of Imperialism in the 20th Century at School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). On Saturday May 29th, Platypus will host a selective series of workshops and panel discussions at SAIC (112 S. Michigan Ave.)  Activities will focus on political and cultural issues that have shaped the Left historically and today. Sunday May 30th, Platypus members will be leading a series of talks on The Platypus Experience: Perspectives from three generations and The origins of today’s Left in the 1970s New Left. Saturday and Sunday spaces are limited and require registration. Click here to register.

NOTE: If you would like to attend the convention and live in the NYC area, please contact us at newyork@platypus1917.org to arrange transportation with us. We will be finalizing all transportation arrangements by Wednesday, May 26th.

Forging a Left in Iran: Possibilities and difficulties

ATTENTION, LOCATION CHANGE: Tisch Hall, 40 W. 4th St. (4th and Mercer, on the South side of the street) Lower Level 2, Room. LC11.

A teach-in on labor, human rights and prospects for a Left in Iran with Ervand Abrahamian

The Platypus Affiliated Society, in collaboration with United for Iran, Amnesty International and the Network of Iranian Unions (NILU) has organized a teach-in on Iran for May 2nd, from 1-5pm at the Tisch Hall, 40 W. 4th St. (4th and Mercer, on the South side of the street) Lower Level 2, Room LC11. The keynote speaker for the evening  will be historian on Iran and outspoken voice on the recent events, CUNY professor Ervand Abrahamian. The day will consist of an opening informational (1-2pm) panel, a workshop (2-3pm), a break with refreshments provided (3-3:30pm) and the keynote address with Ervand Abrahamian followed by an audience Q&A (3:30-5pm).

We would like to raise questions about the direction of the Green movement in Iran, with an especial, though not exclusive, focus on labor organization in Iran, the role it's playing and what it may achieve in the future. This teach-in will produce political discussion around these questions and inform students, faculty, and the public at large of the ongoing events in Iran. We would like to brainstorm (during the workshop especially) what kind of political response would further possibilities in our time for a progressive leftist movement.

Please register for this free event at (we need a count for refreshments): http://iran.platypus1917.org/
Facebook Invite: Iran Teach-in with Ervand Abrahamian

This event was organized by the platypus affiliated society with the help of united for iran, amnesty international and the network of iranian labor unions (NILU).

http://newyork.platypus1917.org/

http://united4iran.org/

http://www.amnesty.org/

http://iranlaborreport.com/

Dear Platypi,

Please join us on the weekend of March 19th at the 2010 Left Forum. Platypus members from Toronto, Chicago, Boston along with New York City members will be there both presenting and chairing these panels.Ă‚  Below are a list of Platypus organized panels along with their respective line-ups and time slots.

--
Session 3: SATURDAY, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
The American Left and the “Black Question”: From Politics to Protest to the Post-Political
Benjamin Blumberg (Chair) - Platypus Affiliated Society
Tim Barker - Columbia University Student
Pamela Nogales - Platypus Affiliated Society
Christopher Cutrone - Platypus Affiliated Society
--
Session 4: SATURDAY, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Politics of the Contemporary American Student Left
Pam Nogales (Chair) - Platypus Affiliated Society
Ashley Weger - Platypus Affiliated Society (Depaul Chapter Head)
Hannah Rappleye - New School alumnus, former Senior Editor of the NS Free Press
Easton Smith - Sarah Lawrence student, Unite Here organizer
--
Session 4: SATURDAY, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Nationalism, Anti-Imperialism and International Solidarity Today
Jeremy Cohan (Chair)Ă‚ - Platypus Affiliated Society (New York University chapter)
Ryan Hardy- Platypus Affiliated Society
Spencer Leonard Platypus- Affiliated Society
TBA (Writer for Revolution Newspaper)
Peter Hudis (U.S. Marxist-Humanists)
--
SESSION 5: SUNDAY, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Marxism and Anarchism: The Relevance of Radical Traditions Today
Blair Taylor (Chair) -
Ian Morrison - Platypus Affiliated Society
Annie Day - Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP)
Peter Staudenmaier - Cornell University
--
SESSION 5: SUNDAY, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
The Left and Prospects for Democracy in the Middle East: Iraq
Laura Lee Schmidt (Chair) - Platypus Affiliated Society; History, Theory and Criticism of Art and Architecture, MIT
Issam Shukri - Worker-communist Party of Iran (WPI)
Kanan Makiya - Brandeis University
Christopher Cutrone - Platypus Affiliated Society; University of Chicago
­­­­­­­­
--
SESSION 6: SUNDAY, 12:00 - 2:00 PM
The Green Movement and the Left: Prospects for Democracy in Iran
Laura Lee Schmidt (Chair) - Platypus Affiliated Society; History, Theory, and Criticism of Art and Architecture, MIT
Siyaves Azeri - Worker-Communist Party of Iran
Hamid Dabashi - Columbia University
Christopher Cutrone - Platypus Affiliated Society; University of Chicago
Saeed Rahnema - York University
--
SESSION 7: SUNDAY, 3:00 - 5:00 PM
Between the Old and New Left: An American Post-war Balance Sheet
Ian Morrison (Chair) - Platypus Affiliated Society
Benjamin Blumberg - Platypus Affiliated Society
Chris Mansour - Parsons The New School For Design

Dear New Yorkers,

Please join us on the weekend of March 19th at the 2010 Left Forum. Platypus members from Toronto, Chicago, Boston along with New York City members will be there both presenting and chairing these panels.  Below are a list of Platypus organized panels along with their respective line-ups and time slots.

--
Session 3: SATURDAY, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
The American Left and the “Black Question”: From Politics to Protest to the Post-Political
Benjamin Blumberg (Chair) - Platypus Affiliated Society
Tim Barker - Columbia University Student
Pamela Nogales - Platypus Affiliated Society
Christopher Cutrone - Platypus Affiliated Society
--
Session 4: SATURDAY, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Politics of the Contemporary American Student Left
Pam Nogales (Chair) - Platypus Affiliated Society
Ashley Weger - Platypus Affiliated Society (Depaul Chapter Head)
Hannah Rappleye - New School alumnus, former Senior Editor of the NS Free Press
Easton Smith - Sarah Lawrence student, Unite Here organizer
--
Session 4: SATURDAY, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Nationalism, Anti-Imperialism and International Solidarity Today
Jeremy Cohan (Chair) - Platypus Affiliated Society (New York University chapter)
Ryan Hardy- Platypus Affiliated Society
Spencer Leonard Platypus- Affiliated Society
TBA (Writer for Revolution Newspaper)
Peter Hudis (U.S. Marxist-Humanists)
--
SESSION 5: SUNDAY, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Marxism and Anarchism: The Relevance of Radical Traditions Today
Blair Taylor (Chair) -
Ian Morrison - Platypus Affiliated Society
Annie Day - Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP)
Peter Staudenmaier - Cornell University
--
SESSION 5: SUNDAY, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
The Left and Prospects for Democracy in the Middle East: Iraq
Laura Lee Schmidt (Chair) - Platypus Affiliated Society; History, Theory and Criticism of Art and Architecture, MIT
Issam Shukri - Worker-communist Party of Iran (WPI)
Kanan Makiya - Brandeis University
Christopher Cutrone - Platypus Affiliated Society; University of Chicago
­­­­­­­­
--
SESSION 6: SUNDAY, 12:00 - 2:00 PM
The Green Movement and the Left: Prospects for Democracy in Iran
Laura Lee Schmidt (Chair) - Platypus Affiliated Society; History, Theory, and Criticism of Art and Architecture, MIT
Siyaves Azeri - Worker-Communist Party of Iran
Hamid Dabashi - Columbia University
Christopher Cutrone - Platypus Affiliated Society; University of Chicago
Saeed Rahnema - York University
--
SESSION 7: SUNDAY, 3:00 - 5:00 PM
Between the Old and New Left: An American Post-war Balance Sheet
Ian Morrison (Chair) - Platypus Affiliated Society
Benjamin Blumberg - Platypus Affiliated Society
Chris Mansour - Parsons The New School For Design