New Books in Critical Theory

Michael Tondre, "Oil" (Bloomsbury, 2024)

Jan 23, 2025
Michael Tondre, a cultural historian and English professor at Stony Brook University, dives deep into the complex legacy of oil in modern life. He reveals how oil shapes selfhood and societal norms, critiquing simplistic narratives of its discovery through the lens of race and exploitation. Tondre discusses the cultural impacts of oil on literature and art, highlighting works by Proust and Antonioni. He also explores the innovative Museum of Carbon Ruins, emphasizing collective action for a post-oil future amid climate change challenges.
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