AFTER ANIMALITY, BEFORE THE LAW: interview with cary wolfe

Abstract

This interview discusses Cary Wolfe's book Before the Law with a focus on how animals fit within the framework of biopolitics. Wolfe takes on the distinctions between Foucault's and Agamben's development of biopolitics and finds room within Foucault's conceptualization for rethinking the role of animals within culture and philosophy. Additionally, the interview explores current directions in posthumanism and the Minnesota University Press series oversees as editor.

Keywords:

• posthumanism
• biopower
• animal
• Foucault
• Agamben

Notes

The following interview was conducted while at the Modern Language Association conference in Seattle. The conversation took place on 14 January 2012 at the Edgewater Hotel. Wolfe's book Before the Law: Humans and Animals in a Biopolitical Frame was still forthcoming and discussion of the book was from a completed draft.