Unconsciousness-Raising Reconsidered: Reply to Woods and Stevens

ABSTRACT

In their responses, Alexandra Woods and Garth Stevens take care to unpack my sometimes-clumsy efforts at finding the conceptual language for unconsciousness-raising. Similarly, both responses offer an immanent critique of how I put this language into practice. As such, their responses compelled me to reappraise many of my original propositions. For this, I am deeply indebted to both scholars. I begin this reply by offering my appreciation to Woods and Stevens for drawing attention to how my essay – despite proclaiming to do otherwise – differentiates unconsciousness-raising from consciousness-raising. Each of their responses offers useful ways by which to consider unconsciousness-raising and consciousness-raising as inextricably entangled, or part of a single, dialectical process. I then consider some of Stevens’ helpful remarks on lack and its relationship to organizational formations and solidarity, after which I engage with Woods’ illuminating critiques of my reflexive practice and my assessment of this practice. I conclude by reiterating my gratitude to Woods and Stevens for taking the time to offer such generative, fruitful commentaries.

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Nick Malherbe

Nick Malherbe is a community psychologist interested in violence, visual methods, and discourse. He works with social movements, cultural workers, and young people. He lives in South Africa.