John Fekete Distinguished Lecture as part of CACS 2026: Upheavals

Posted: May 14, 2026

Please join us for The John Fekete Distinguished Lecture featuring CACS keynotes Dr. Colleen Lye and Dr. Deb Cowen

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Event Details

Thursday, November 5, 2026
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
City: Peterborough
345 Aylmer St. North
Building: The Peterborough Public Library
Cost: Free

This lecture series invites the public into contemporary conversations in cultural studies, featuring distinguished scholars who share influential new research and forthcoming work shaping the field of cultural inquiry. This year, the John Fekete Distinguished Lecture is part of the Canadian Association of Cultural Studies’ biennial conference on “Upheavals,” November 5-7, 2026. All keynotes and panels are open to the public. More information: upheavals.ca/program.php

Date: Thursday, November 5, 2026
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Location: The Peterborough Public Library
Speaker: Dr. Colleen Lye, UC Berkeley
Title: Activist Readings of Capital

Abstract: The 1960s represented a conjuncture that gave rise to new readings of Capital and to identity-based epistemologies, or ways of thinking that presented themselves antagonistically to each other. The 2010s presented another conjuncture. This time there were efforts at their unification or reconnection, through ideas such as racial capitalism and social reproduction feminism, which entailed reopening 60s history. My talk will sort through the major efforts of the 2010s to conceptualize Marx's theory of value in relation to race and gender, and in so doing, also propose to render a judgment as to what of those ideas---from the standpoint of the nightmare of our 2026 present---is still living and what is dead.
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A second keynote lecture is scheduled on the following day:
Date: Friday, November 6, 2026
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Location: The Peterborough Public Library
Speaker: Dr. Deb Cowen, University of Toronto
Title: Wild Infrastructure: Movements Beyond Apocalypse

Abstract: Geologist Charles Lyell developed the concept of 'upheaval' in the 1820s to challenge then dominant catastrophism in explanations for disruptive formations. His theory of 'uniformitarianism', emphasizing gradual, tectonic change, underpins modern Geology. Yet, Lyell's legacy is troubled by the contemporary cascade of catastrophes and scrutinized as a pillar of imperial science. How might diagnoses of disruptive formations that turn their gaze onto imperialism itself offer distinct conceptual infrastructure for these times? If an upheaval signals massive disruption within a system, then apocalypse goes further - naming the collapse of the system itself. Radical deployments of 'apocalypse' emphasize a scale of devastation beyond Lyell's upheaval, yet at once foreground the potential for fundamental transformation. The centrality of systems to the question of disruption places infrastructure centre stage, and this talk follows its otherwise forms -- those that emerge out of crises that they also seek to transgress.
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About Dr. John Fekete:
Dr. John Fekete is Professor Emeritus of Cultural Studies at Trent University, where he served as Chair of the Cultural Studies Department and Director of the Cultural Studies PhD Program. He is recognized for advancing cultural studies in Canada and for his leadership in defending academic freedom and freedom of inquiry in universities.
Professor Fekete has received Trent’s Distinguished Faculty Research Award and dedicated service awards from the Canadian Association of University Teachers and the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations. He is also a recipient of the Senate of Canada’s Sesquicentennial Medal for service to the nation. The John Fekete Distinguished Lecture honours his lasting contributions to cultural studies and public scholarship. More information about the John Fekete Distinguished Lecture.

Community Speaker Series

At Trent University, we believe in the power of lifelong learning and professional development for our alumni, staff, faculty, students, and community members. Each year, Trent offers public lectures featuring distinguished visiting scholars and experts, sharing ideas and knowledge on subjects such as the Environment, Business and Public Policy, Philosophy, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Thanks to generous philanthropic support, these talks are free and open to both the Trent community and the public.

Contact Info

More information: https://upheavals.ca/program.php or email culturalstudies-phd@trentu.ca.