A Civilization of Discontents: Social Media Demystified

This is an Archive of a Past Event

First as Tragedy. Then as Farce. Then as Tweet. – Social Media Demystified.

Join us for a conversation with Eric Jarosinski, Editor of @NeinQuarterly, the Internet's leading "Compendium of Utopian Negation," about Critical Theory, culture, social media, German grammar, and other assorted specters haunting Europe.

Of the many academics who have turned to social media in recent years, Eric Jarosinski has quickly become one of the most visible. Inspired by an interest in European culture, critical theory, modern literature, art, and politics, his daily commentary on current events has clearly demonstrated the unique potential of a platform such as Twitter to reach new audiences outside of academia. At the same time, he has also worked to breathe new life into classical forms such as the philosophical aphorism by adapting them to a new technology and a dramatically transformed social context.

In addition to his work online, Jarosinski also writes a weekly column for the leading German weekly Die Zeit and the prestigious Dutch daily NRC Handelsblad. His work has been featured in numerous international publications –including The New YorkerThe Paris ReviewFrankfurter Allgemeine ZeitungThe Chronicle of Higher Education, and Der Spiegel – and his first book, Nein. A Manifesto, will be published this fall.