Against the Grain

Radical Critique, Utopian Aspirations

The failed German Revolution, in which he was a participant, marked the Marxist philosopher Herbert Marcuse for life.  But unlike some of his more pessimistic colleagues in the Frankfurt School, particularly after the rise of fascism, Marcuse did not give up on liberatory possibilities.  In the 1960s, Marcuse became one of the key philosophers of the New Left, in which he found a mass audience.  Author and illustrator Nick Thorkelson has written a graphic biography of Marcuse and he discusses his life, ideas, and continuing relevance.

Resources:

Nick Thorkelson, Herbert Marcuse, Philosopher of Utopia: A Graphic Biography City Lights Books, 2019

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