Bioviolence : How the powers that be make us do what they want

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The inaugural event in the Brunel Research Spotlight Series, an online book launch and conversation with Professor William Watkin

In this very special first edition of the Brunel Research Spotlight Series, we&#x27;re joined by Professor William Watkin (Brunel University London) to discuss the recent publication of Bioviolence: How the powers that be make us do what they want in conversation with Professor David Herd (University of Kent).

<a href="https://www.routledge.com/Bioviolence-How-the-Powers-That-Be-Make-Us-Do-What-They-Want/Watkin/p/book/9780367438180" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Bioviolence </a>presents a contemporary history of the last ten, confusing, sometimes terrifying years, starting with ISIS and ending with Covid. At the same time, it is also a philosophical investigation of how power, force, coercion and violence has been upcycled by modern states into unique affordances of harm, often dressed up as concern for our wider wellbeing.

<blockquote>A week after ‘Freedom Day,’ in the midst of the ‘pingdemic,’ the British nation was in a state of anxiety over whether to wear a mask or not, whether to go to a rave or not, whether to delete the NHS app, go back to the office, on holiday to Spain, out for dinner, up the M6 to see their cocooned ones, or down the A30 for a rainy staycation spent in traffic jams and sad cafes…or not. In light of this national indecision, it seems a legitimate question to ask: Why can’t the powers that be make us do what they want during the Covid pandemic? </blockquote>

Drawing from the book, Prof Watkin will unpack bioviolence as a kind of philosophical tough love, a politics of being cruel to be kind....

<blockquote>“This is serious stuff, but it has humour, depth, and compassion. William Watkin writes with rhythm and precision. His watchful eyes observe subjects with a focused, logical gaze, and his passion is genuine. I get it, and now that I’ve got it, the way I see the world has changed forever. This is the book the planet needs. Intelligent, opinionated, but crafted in a way that does not ignore the common sense of the reader.” </blockquote><blockquote>Professor Benjamin Zephaniah</blockquote>

Professor William Watkin has published seven books in the areas of poetry and philosophy, most recently Agamben and Indifference (2014), Badiou and Indifferent Being (2017) and Badiou and Communicable Worlds (2021). Aside from many academic articles he is also a published journalist with articles in The Independent, The Week, Newsweek Europe, The Big Issue, The Conversation, The New Philosopher, TES and The White Review. Over the years he has made various media appearances talking about fake news. He is also a blogger, film-maker, podcaster and artist having painted the front covers of his last three books. He lives in small village with a very long name south of Oxford where he has been known to act in plays which from time to time he also creates. He has worked for the last 20 years at Brunel University London.Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/WWatkinBrunel?s=20" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">@WWatkinBrunel </a>Professor David Herd is a poet, critic and Professor of Modern Literature at University of Kent. He has published widely on Twentieth-Century and Contemporary Literature and for the past ten years his work has focused on the intersection between literature and human rights.

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Bioviolence : How the powers that be make us do what they want

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