"Cultural Studies, Political Culture, and a Politics of Hope": An Interview with Lawrence Grossberg

We hosted Emeritus Professor Lawrence Grossberg with his talk on "Cultural Studies, Political Culture , a Politics of Hope" on May 9, 2024, as part of "Individual Development Planning Course" event organized by the department of New Media , Communication at & Idot;stanbul Ni & scedil;anta & scedil;& imath; University. The questions in the interview were designed based on the contents of Grossberg's soon-to-be-published book titled We Would Build A New World If We Only Knew How (On the Way to Politics) by G & uuml;lden Demir. Grossberg's talk centers on a critique of the common metaphor of "building bridges" to link various groups or individuals. He argues that it is not merely about understanding and accepting differences, but about being willing to undergo transformation through the establishment of the relationships. He also emphasizes that cultural studies aim to understand the complexities of the world to inform potential strategies for change, rather than dictating specific actions, leaving the choice of strategies to others. He argues that affect is just as organized and constructed as meaning, highlighting the importance of truly understanding the perspectives and experiences of others, even those with conflicting views, as essential for meaningful dialogue and change. Finally, he stresses that cultural studies, characterized by its radical interdisciplinarity and contextual thinking, fosters better understanding and encourages democratic, inclusive intellectual discussions vital for societal progress.