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Political Science & Sociology

Dr Diana Stypinska


Contact Details

Lecturer in Sociology / Social Theory
School of Political Science and Sociology
Arás Moyola
University of Galway
H91 TK33, Ireland
E: Diana.Stypinska@universityofgalway.ie
 
researcher
 

Biography

I am a social and cultural theorist specialising in critical sociology, critical theory, and continental philosophy.

I have a BA in Sociology (2009, First Class Hons., Lancaster University), an MA in Social and Cultural Theory (2010, Distinction, Lancaster University) and a PhD in Sociology (2016, Lancaster University). I also hold a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP) from the Department of Organisation and Educational Development at Lancaster University (2015) and I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy / Advance HE (2021).

Prior to joining University of Galway, I worked in the UK as a Lecturer in Sociology at Liverpool Hope University (2016-2021), a Visiting Lecturer at University of Chester (2015-2016), and an Associate Lecturer at Lancaster University (2010-2016).

Research Interests

My current research covers three interrelated areas.

First of all, I am interested in the politics of contemporary critique (understood as both a cultural phenomenon and an academic method). Specifically, my research in this area focuses on two interrelated questions: What are the implications of today's culture of critique for politics and social change?; How do the academic problematizations of critique affect the understanding of critical theory and its potential impact on social transformation? My first monograph On the Genealogy of Critique: Or How We Have Become Decadently Indignant (2020, Routledge) intervenes into both contemporary academic debates on critique, and today's mainstream criticism, by reflecting upon the relationship between criticality and social change in the age of post-politics.

Secondly, I am interested in the sociology of theology, endeavouring to highlight the significance of this rather neglected field of study for social, cultural and political theory, with special emphasis on the questions of governmentality, subjectivity, counter-conduct, ethics, and alternative visions of the social. As part of this project, I am co-editing, with Dr Andrea Rossi, a Special Issue 'Pastoral Power Today' for Theory, Culture & Society. This volume aims to explore the defining traits and the continuing theoretical, political and social relevance of the formation of power that Michel Foucault analysed under the label of 'the pastorate'. It examines the relevance of pastoral power today by elaborating upon two interrelated problematiques: the relation between truth and subjectivity as a constitutive element of modern power relations; and, the theological subtexts of modern governmentality.

Finally, my concerns with the contemporary problematique of critique and the sociology of theology find a productive convergence in my most recent research project: 'Digitalization and the Social'. My main point of focus here concerns the social implications of digital technologies, which I explore placing special emphasis on subjectivity, social relations, ethics and social change. My latest book Social Media, Truth and the Care of the Self: On the Digital Technologies of the Subject (2022, Palgrave Macmillan) examines the ways in which different digital practices such as 'influencing', 'trolling' and 'digital activism' operate as technologies of the subject, shaping how we relate to ourselves, others and the world. At present, I am researching the digitalization of agitation and its impact on social relations and social change.

I am happy to supervise students working in the following areas, broadly conceived: cultural and critical sociology; critical theory (especially the first generation of the Frankfurt School); continental philosophy; media theory; aesthetics; and the sociology of theology.

More specifically, I am interested in collaborating with individuals whose research concerns: the politics of critique and criticality; construction of subjectivity; new social and cultural theories; social media and affect; contemporary political activism; new fascism(s) and despotism(s); and performativity.   

Books

  Year Publication
(2022) Social Media, Truth and the Care of the Self: On the Digital Technologies of the Subject.
Diana Stypinska (2022) Social Media, Truth and the Care of the Self: On the Digital Technologies of the Subject. London: Palgrave Macmillan. [Details]
(2020) On the Genealogy of Critique: Or How We Have Become Decadently Indignant.
Diana Stypinska (2020) On the Genealogy of Critique: Or How We Have Become Decadently Indignant. London: Routledge. [Details]

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2024) 'Spectres of critique: The nostalgia of social transformation'
Tom Boland and Diana Stypinska (2024) 'Spectres of critique: The nostalgia of social transformation'. Irish Journal Of Sociology, [DOI] [Details]
(2024) 'Pastorate Digitalized: Social Media and (De)Subjectification'
Diana Stypinska (2024) 'Pastorate Digitalized: Social Media and (De)Subjectification'. Theory Culture & Society, [DOI] [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2023) 'Confronting time out of joint... On economic rationality and imagination'
Diana Stypinska (2023) 'Confronting time out of joint... On economic rationality and imagination'. Journal of Classical Sociology, 23 (2):181-194 [DOI] [ARAN Link] [Details]

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
(2021) 'White Christmas: Technologies of the Self in the Digital Age'
Diana Stypinska, Andrea Rossi (2021) 'White Christmas: Technologies of the Self in the Digital Age' In: Philosophical Reflections on Black Mirror. :97-113 New York: Bloomsbury Academic. [DOI] [Details]
(2020) 'Religion and the Public Sphere'
Diana Stypinska, Michael Brennan (2020) 'Religion and the Public Sphere' In: Oxford Bibliographies in Sociology. New York: Oxford University Press. [DOI] [Details]

Conference Contributions

  Year Publication
(2024) Satire as Theory: A Symposium,
Diana Stypinska (2024) A Digital Perversion of Satire. [Conference Paper], Satire as Theory: A Symposium, University of Galway , 20-SEP-24 - 20-SEP-24. [Details]
(2024) The Ethics of Engagement and the Far Right: A Symposium of the Social and Political Theory Research Cluster,
Diana Stypinska (2024) Ideology and Critique. [Other], The Ethics of Engagement and the Far Right: A Symposium of the Social and Political Theory Research Cluster, University of Galway , 12-SEP-24 - 12-SEP-24. [Details]
(2024) Sociological Association of Ireland (SAI) 2024 Annual Conference,
Diana Stypinska (2024) The future without (a) future? On economicization and ecological relationality. [Conference Paper], Sociological Association of Ireland (SAI) 2024 Annual Conference, Maynooth University , 10-MAY-24 - 11-MAY-24. [Details]
(2024) Interdisciplinary Symposium on Paranoia in Contemporary Society,
Diana Stypinska (2024) Paranoid Critique. [Other], Interdisciplinary Symposium on Paranoia in Contemporary Society, University College Dublin , 30-APR-24 - 30-APR-24. [Details]
(2024) International Research Symposium 'The problem of Critique and Truth-Telling in Public',
Diana Stypinska (2024) Duty-to-Critique in the Age of Post-Truth. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], International Research Symposium 'The problem of Critique and Truth-Telling in Public', University of Galway , 26-APR-24 - 27-APR-24. [Details]
(2024) International Research Symposium 'Comedy, Carnival, Critique',
Diana Stypinska (2024) The digital serio-comedy of trolling. [Invited Oral Presentation], International Research Symposium 'Comedy, Carnival, Critique', Lancaster University , 06-MAR-24 - 06-MAR-24. [Details]
(2023) Affective Intermediality International Conference,
Diana Stypinska (2023) Pornographies: On Insolent Transformations. [Oral Presentation], Affective Intermediality International Conference, Cluj-Napoca, Romania , 20-OCT-23 - 21-OCT-23. [Details]
(2023) Frankfurt School: Passion, Profanation, Apocalypse International Symposium,
Diana Stypinska (2023) Counter-Revolution and Counter-Apocalypse. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Frankfurt School: Passion, Profanation, Apocalypse International Symposium, University of Galway , 31-MAR-23 - 31-MAR-23. [Details]
(2022) Economy and Society Summer School 2022,
Diana Stypinska (2022) Transformations and Agitations: In Conversation with Dr Tom Boland. [Invited Oral Presentation], Economy and Society Summer School 2022, University College Cork , 10-MAY-22 - 12-MAY-22. [Details]
(2022) Department of Sociology & Criminology Research Seminar Series,
Diana Stypinska (2022) The Pantomime of Critique: On Decadent Indignation and the (Im)Possibilty of Radical Social Change. [Invited Oral Presentation], Department of Sociology & Criminology Research Seminar Series, University College Cork , 04-APR-22 - 04-APR-22. [Details]
(2021) Pastoral Power Today,
Diana Stypinska (2021) Pastorate Digitalized: Social Media and (De)Subjectification. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Pastoral Power Today, online / Liverpool Hope University, UK and Koç University, Turkey , 16-NOV-21 - 16-NOV-21. [Details]
(2019) 12th International Critical Theory Conference of Rome 2019,
Diana Stypinska (2019) On Tyranny and Freedom in Blade Runner. [Invited Oral Presentation], 12th International Critical Theory Conference of Rome 2019, John Felice Rome Center of Loyola University Chicago, Italy , 08-MAY-19 - 11-MAY-19. [Details]
(2018) 2nd International Multidisciplinary Conference on Baudrillard Studies 2018 - 'Applied Baudrillard',
Diana Stypinska (2018) The Ecstasy of Critique. [Conference Paper], 2nd International Multidisciplinary Conference on Baudrillard Studies 2018 - 'Applied Baudrillard', Oxford Brooks University, UK , 05-SEP-18 - 07-SEP-18. [Details]
(2015) 'Political Theology: The Liberation of the Post-secular?' International Conference 2015,
Diana Stypinska (2015) 'Signatures: Subjectivity and Critique'. [Conference Paper], 'Political Theology: The Liberation of the Post-secular?' International Conference 2015, Liverpool Hope University, UK , 09-JUL-15 - 11-JUL-15. [Details]
(2014) London Conference in Critical Thought 2014,
Diana Stypinska (2014) 'Problematizing or Problem-solving? - A few remarks on the (Dis)positions of Contemporary Academic Critique'. [Conference Paper], London Conference in Critical Thought 2014, Goldsmiths, University of London , 04-JUN-14 - 06-JUN-14. [Details]
(2014) Intellectual Party / International Summer Conference 2014,
Diana Stypinska (2014) 'Disciplinary, Banal or Radical?: On the (Dis)positions of Contemporary Academic Critique'. [Conference Paper], Intellectual Party / International Summer Conference 2014, Lancaster University, UK , 12-JUN-14 - 14-JUN-14. [Details]
(2013) 'Fragments of Time' International Conference 2013,
Diana Stypinska (2013) 'Gino De Dominicis and the Time to Come'. [Invited Oral Presentation], 'Fragments of Time' International Conference 2013, Lancaster University, UK , 10-OCT-13 - 10-OCT-13. [Details]
(2013) London Conference in Critical Thought 2013,
Diana Stypinska (2013) `Radical Critique Today: Beyond ''Theory'' / ''Practice'' Divide'. [Conference Paper], London Conference in Critical Thought 2013, Royal Holloway, University of London , 12-JUN-13 - 15-JUN-13. [Details]
(2012) `Politics of Critique' International Conference,
Diana Stypinska (2012) `Beyond Post-political Revision: The Politics of Critique Today. [Conference Paper], `Politics of Critique' International Conference, University of Brighton, UK , 18-JUL-12 - 20-JUL-12. [Details]
(2012) CSS International Summer School 2012,
Diana Stypinska (2012) ''This area is being monitored for your personal safety and (in)security'': Aesthetic Critique and Street Theatre as a form of Problematization. [Invited Oral Presentation], CSS International Summer School 2012, Polish Academy for Science in Warsaw (CSS), Poland , 08-MAY-12 - 11-MAY-12. [Details]
(2009) `Ethnographic Dreamworlds' International Conference 2009,
Diana Stypinska (2009) `One-Dimensional Culture and Sociological Imagination. [Invited Oral Presentation], `Ethnographic Dreamworlds' International Conference 2009, Buffalo State, State University of New York, U.S.A , 03-MAR-09 - 06-MAR-09. [Details]

Book Review

  Year Publication
(2014) Book Review: `Biopolitics: A Reader edited by Timothy Campbell and Adam Sitze.
Diana Stypinska (2014) Book Review: `Biopolitics: A Reader edited by Timothy Campbell and Adam Sitze. Sociological Review Book Review [DOI] [Details]

Thesis

  Year Publication
(2016) Critique today : the persistence of an uncanny concept.
Diana Stypinska (2016) Critique today : the persistence of an uncanny concept. Lancaster, UK: Lancaster University Thesis [Details]

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
Advance HE Senior Fellow 29-JUL-21 /
Sociological Association of Ireland Member 01-SEP-22 /
Sociological Association of Ireland Co-Convener of Social Theory Study Group 14-SEP-22 /

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
2016 Lancaster University PhD Sociology
2010 Lancaster University MA in Social and Cultural Theory Sociology
2009 Lancaster University BA Sociology

Reviews

  Journal Role
Journal for Cultural Research Reviewer
European Journal Of Social Theory Reviewer
Theory Culture & Society Reviewer
Dearcadh: Graduate Journal of Gender, Globalisation and Rights Reviewer
Irish Journal Of Sociology Reviewer
Theory Culture & Society Series Editor
Irish Journal Of Sociology Series Editor

Modules Taught

  Term/Year Module Title Module Code Subject / Desc
Semester 2 Introduction to Sociology SP1126 First Year UG
Semester 2 Practicing Sociology SP1121 First Year UG
Semester 1 Practicing Politics SP1120 First Year UG
Semester 2 Contemporary Social Thought SP405 Final Year UG
Semester 2 Songs of Rebellion: Power, Resistance, and Affect SP3198 Final Year UG
Semester 1 Social Theory and Social Change: Power, Resistance, and Critique SP6148 MA