New Materialism's Second Phase

New Materialism's Second Phase Tobias Skiveren (bio) Influx and Efflux: Writing Up with Walt Whitman by Jane Bennett. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2020. Pp. 224. $25.95 cloth. Language matters. Discourse Culture There is an important sense in which the only thing that does not seem to matter anymore matter. —Karen Barad, "Posthumanist Performativity," 2003 Almost twenty years have passed since Karen Barad launched her now widely cited polemic against dominance of textualism critical theory. Since then, slogan materialism has resonated across humanities social sciences, leading ultimately emergence consolidation a new set academic agendas. Today, objects matter, affects intensities cyborgs yes, even itself And yet, there this turn made other matters much anymore. As interests take center stage old ones fade background, it may be pertinent at point ask ourselves: Are we missing out on something? That question currently being raised some very same scholars who initially incited move beyond discourse, language, culture. Within around field materialism, several key figures return topics one would think were date view polemics like Barad's. In latest book, Rosi Braidotti, for instance, explores [End Page 309] development "posthuman knowledge"; Elizabeth Grosz examines ontology "the incorporeal"; N. Katherine Hayles similarly grapples socalled "cognitive nonconscious."1 For these thinkers, words, what just but knowledge, immateriality, consciousness. seems, entered second phase. With Bennett's book (2020), can add another scholar list. author Vibrant Matter (2010), Bennett played role making laying workings nonhuman assemblages, power, materialist vitalism charismatic wit philosophical ingenuity. While work certainly extends insights interests, however, also differs significantly placing appears anthropocentric concept—subjectivity—at its inquiry. Rather than explicating liveliness things, asks: "How bespeak I alive world vibrant matter? How write up efforts endeavors?" (xii). To explore questions, turns writings Whitman, whose poetry particular provides attitudes, sensibilities, visions fit purpose developing model subjectivity. depicting lyrical "I" as partaker constant fluctuations his/her natural environment, helps re-envision subject, subjected discourse emerges between body's impressions expressions, kind hovering midst influx efflux world. Nevertheless, main concern believe, develop alternative rather virtue ethics sorts. At least, major parts pivot character, she investigates kinds subjective disposition need order advance truly democratic egalitarian recognizes multitudes life within well outside human. sure, provocative suggestions endeavor. anonymous newspaper scribbles, shows, he airs idea right corporeal "posture" "gait" influence political moral character favorable ways (Chapter 1). He leads see sensibilities reflections larger "sympathy," perceived here cosmological attitude manifest Earth's acceptance all elements inhabitants 2). urges us general, argues, postpone "judgment," suck suspend 310] obstinate opinion favor open complaisant "hovering...