History of Consciousness
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In Memoriam – Teresa de Lauretis (1938-2026)
A pioneering thinker who brought semiotics and psychoanalytic theory to bear upon cinematic representations of desire, de Lauretis taught at the University of California, Santa Cruz, from the mid-1980s until her retirement in 2008 as Distinguished Professor Emerita.
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Distinguished Professor of Literature Carla Freccero dies at 69
Carla Freccero, distinguished professor and chair of the Literature Department and a beloved mentor to hundreds of graduate students, died this week at Stanford Hospital, surrounded by loved ones. She was 69.
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Centering nourishment at The Humanities Institute
The Humanities Institute (THI) at UC Santa Cruz is exploring the theme of nourishment this year, inviting the campus and community to reflect on what sustains life, fosters connection, and makes flourishing possible. “What does it mean to be nourished in our bodies, our minds and our communities at a moment of profound social, political,…
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Arts & Culture, Campus News, Climate & Sustainability, Health, Social Justice & Community, TechnologyNine major wins worth celebrating for 2025
From amazing research discoveries to high-impact new education and fundraising initiatives, UC Santa Cruz created significant positive change, despite headwinds
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UC Santa Cruz Professor Banu Bargu Awarded 2025 David Easton Prize for ‘Disembodiment’
UC Santa Cruz History of Consciousness Professor Banu Bargu, an acclaimed scholar of political theory and resistance, has spent her career exploring some of the most extreme and harrowing forms of political protest, including hunger strikes. Bargu’s work has now been recognized with the 2025 David Easton Prize from the American Political Science Association.
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A Renaissance dream reimagined: Sir Isaac Julien’s major new installation opens in Italy
Acclaimed artist, filmmaker, and Distinguished Professor of the Arts and History of Consciousness Isaac Julien has created a Renaissance-inspired dreamscape for the 21st century.
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Eighth US-India Conference to explore dynamic and evolving relationship with a focus on AI, global dynamics, and biomedical breakthroughs
This year’s conference, US India: Normalization or Reset?, examines how the two countries can review their priorities and either restore normalcy or redefine the relationship for a multipolar world.
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Amending worlds: Rewriting futures at The Humanities Institute’s 25th Anniversary Night at the Museum
On the night of June 5, the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History will come alive with squid lights, video projections, interactive computer games, the sights and sounds of archives, and the rustle of recycled fabrics and flags.
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Donna Haraway, Distinguished Professor Emerita in the History of Consciousness Department, receives international honors
This spring, Donna Haraway, Distinguished Professor Emerita in the History of Consciousness Department, received two international honors for her impact not just within academia, but across disciplines, borders, and possible futures.
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Sir Isaac Julien’s dreamworld comes alive at the de Young Museum in San Francisco
Featuring 10 major video installations made between 1999 and 2022, alongside several early single-channel films including his iconic Looking for Langston (1989), this exhibition is the first comprehensive survey of Julien’s work in a museum setting and his first retrospective in the United States.
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Six UC Santa Cruz professors awarded 2025 NEH Grants for groundbreaking research on AI, colonial violence, and social justice
Six UC Santa Cruz professors have received prestigious 2025 National Endowment for the Humanities awards this year, advancing scholarship on topics ranging from colonial violence to the ethical implications of artificial intelligence.
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Critical Imagination in Crisis Times: A Conference on the power of the Humanities at UC Santa Cruz
In times of growing inequality, political upheaval, and climate crisis, how do we imagine a different future, one that breaks free from the cycles of crisis and oppression? This question will be explored in depth at UC Santa Cruz’s Critical Imagination in Crisis Times conference at Merrill College on Tuesday, March 11.