Other
What is other seems self-evident. Yet, the other is not separate from the self, but mirrors, echos, amplifies, shadows, and wraps itself around and through the self. The theorist Homi Bhabha wrote about an “otherness which is at once an object of desire and derision, an articulation of difference contained within the fantasy of origin and identity.” Though he was speaking of the other embedded in colonial discourse, his vision of otherness and the complex multitudes it contains can be applied more broadly. The philosophy professor Charles Taylor has said that the effort to understand the other is “the great challenge of this century both for politics and social science.” Here, we navigate the other and its inevitable relation to self–whether that self be an individual, a nation, a group, or the unknowns beyond our planet.
Key themes
Guiding Questions
Dynamic Interplay of Self and Other
Navigating Difference and Diversity
Power, Privilege, and Marginalization
The Emotional Landscape of Otherness
Otherness in Language, Representation, and Abstraction
Ethical Engagement with the Other
The Transformative Potential of Embracing Otherness
How do our emotions (such as fear, desire, or empathy) shape our perceptions of and interactions with the "other"?
What role do travel and tourism play in challenging or reinforcing our notions of otherness?
How do various "-isms" (e.g., racism, sexism, ableism) and "-urbs" (e.g., suburbs, exurbs) create and maintain boundaries between the self and the other? What strategies can be employed to dismantle these barriers?
How do we navigate the complexities of the identity and difference in our relationships with others? What role do power dynamics play in these interactions?
In what ways do the metaphors of darkness and light shape our understandings? How can we move beyond these binary distinctions to embrace greater complexity?
What are the ethical implications of our interactions with the other, and how can we ensure that our actions are guided by principles of fairness, respect, and compassion?
How do abstract concepts and representations influence our perceptions and behaviors? What role does language play in shaping these abstractions?
In what ways can engaging with the perspectives and experiences of others foster personal growth, self-awareness, and increased empathy?
What is other within ourselves and how we can acknowledge, know, or meet our own otherness with grace and courage?
