Description

S:PAM lecture by Mlondolozi Zondi - 11:00 - 13:00 on Tuesday May 27

The Loss of Loss 

11:00 - 13:00 on Tuesday May 27 - Plateau, AUD G

What? Dr. Mlondolozi Zondi’s contribution explores the intersections of Black performance studies, Afro-Pessimism, and radical thought, critically engaging with movement as both a performative and political act. This topic is particularly urgent in contemporary research, as it addresses how embodied practices challenge dominant narratives, resist systemic oppression, and reclaim agency. In an era marked by racial injustice, migration crises, and socio-political upheaval, the study of movement as a site of knowledge production and resistance holds significant societal relevance. Zondi’s insights will not only deepen artistic and academic discourse but also inform innovative approaches to activism, decolonial methodologies, and interdisciplinary research. 

During the Q&A, we would like to stimulate in-depth conversation, specifically targeting PhD candidates, who will receive the opportunity to engage in a discussion on decolonizing their academic and/or artistic research with Dr. Zondi. In addition, their expertise in Black performance studies, Afro-Pessimism, and radical thought will also deepen PhD students’ understanding of movement as a critical practice, fostering valuable discussions on politically engaged strategies of art-making. This opportunity is particularly valuable as Dr. Zondi’s expertise aligns with the thematic focus of the lecture series, contributing to the development of PhD candidates’ critical thinking and research trajectories.

Who? Dr. Mlondolozi Zondi is a scholar of contemporary Black performance and visual art, working as an assistant professor of Global Black Studies at the University of Southern California. His research critically engages with the relationship between Black ontology and the ontology of performance, drawing on Afro-Pessimism and the Black radical tradition. With a PhD in Performance Studies from Northwestern University—complemented by certifications in Critical Theory, African Studies, and Gender and Sexuality Studies—his work moves across disciplines to interrogate Blackness as both an aesthetic and political formation. Previously a Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow at Wesleyan University’s Center for the Humanities, Dr. Zondi is not only a leading expert in his field but a key voice in rethinking the intersections of Black thought, performance, and visual culture today.