Papers by Michael Braverman
The subject of this brief paper will concern the relation between pre-capitalist elements and mor... more The subject of this brief paper will concern the relation between pre-capitalist elements and more advanced elements of the capitalist mode of production, which can be categorized under the umbrella term uneven and combined development. To begin with, I will discuss Wainwright's and Basso's reading of Marx's 'Grundrisse' as an exposition of themes surrounding this term. I will attempt to derive an account concerning the relation between what Wainwright eloquently refers to as the 'labour/capital dyad' and the 'colonized/imperial dyad' as elements present within the process of uneven development. This will point to a thesis positing that the capitalist mode of production is a formation that inherently relies on colonial and imperial elements even at it highest stages of development-as a tendency to overcome its own spatial and temporal barriers. Concerning this point, a few questions will be raised regarding the logical or historical necessity of such developmental logic within capitalism. Lastly, the effects of primitive accumulation inherent in the 'colonized/imperial dyad' on communal ties will be discussed.
The aim of this paper is to characterize the melodic, harmonic, and structural resolutions that o... more The aim of this paper is to characterize the melodic, harmonic, and structural resolutions that occur in the auditory medium of music; where bars and beats provide an organizational framework for structure, proportion, and harmony; and the striking resemblance of music with the structures devised in other art mediums; such as architecture, sculpture, and poetry. The subdivision of _caesura_ (meaning verse in Greek) into syllables and vowels, and the positioning of sculptures and architecture according to the laws of symmetry and visual harmony—are strikingly similar to the manner in which music is devised and arranged according to the structural division composed of bars, beats, and notes. The melodic characteristics that are attempted to be demonstrated in this essay, are twofold; the first point, concerns the potential of music to express its inner content within the subjectivity of a beholder despite the medium’s temporal characteristics. The second point of this essay concerns the capacity of the medium to transcend _its own_ laws of symmetry, structure, beat, etc.—and achieve an incomparable level of expression of inner life and emotion—to which a few resemblances with poetry will be mentioned.
Drafts by Michael Braverman
In this essay I will discuss the various epistemological issues that surround the topic of Russia... more In this essay I will discuss the various epistemological issues that surround the topic of Russiagate. While the nature of the matter is deep and complex with developments unfolding while this essay was written, I will attempt to simplify the matter by identifying critically the underlying issues as briefly as possible. The attempt to do so critically in such a matter does not seem to be common throughout the current academic discourse, unless it consists of some attempts to justify Trumpism and succumbing to rationales that are farthest from critical. While the task of academia concerning Russiagate calls for a critical assessment of the matter, instead, while a war is wagged against it by the delirium of Trump-induced politics, academia has for the most part responded with an uncritical acceptance of a discourse largely imposed by liberal media and the US government. Although sensible at times of conflict, academia’s uncritical allegiance to such discourse through a form of *the enemy of my enemy is my friend* logic, does not alleviate the issue in any sensible way and only exasperates the current political climate. To narrow the focus, I will frame the discussion specifically around the "The Intelligence Community Assessment" report released on 6 January 2017, due to its questionable method of deriving evidence of crucial political importance and how it was disclosed to the public. In framing the discussion around this report, I will attempt to identify the distinctions between lying and misleading according to Jennifer Saul’s. definitions. After doing so, I will discuss the topic of moral responsibility in relation to the question concerning whose responsibility is it for misleading or becoming successfully mislead: that of the US government, the US media, or an uncritical public? Lastly, the repercussions of letting the current uncritical climate surrounding the issue of Russiagate to unfold will be posited as a problem. In conclusion, I will argue that a radical transformation of how sufficient evidence is gathered by the American State and communicated to its people, is an imperative, if Americans want to avoid their country succumbing into a State with values that are antithetical to the ones that it preaches.
Book Reviews by Michael Braverman
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Papers by Michael Braverman
Drafts by Michael Braverman
Book Reviews by Michael Braverman
Art/Film Commenteries by Michael Braverman