McKenzie Wark: The Uncommons

In this talk, McKenzie Wark presents her views on the commons, developed over two decades of writing, activism and research. A renowned theorist, writer and educator, Wark has played an instrumental role in reimagining and advancing the concept of the commons through her critical engagement with culture, politics and media theory. The "Uncommons" serves as a counterpoint to the commons, focusing on what exists outside − and beyond − collective ownership and shared resources. It reflects her exploration of marginalised or disruptive spaces, identities and practices that challenge dominant structures, including capitalism, heteronormativity and traditional forms of cultural production.

The writings of Wark explore the intersections of power, property and digital culture, challenging traditional notions of ownership and control. Her works, such as A Hacker Manifesto and Capital Is Dead, have been pivotal in articulating how information, knowledge and cultural practices can be reclaimed from commodification as shared resources.

But Wark’s contributions extend beyond her theoretical writings: she actively engages with communities and collective practices, advocating for the democratisation of knowledge and tools. Her explorations of auto-textuality − the self-referential dialogue within an oeuvre or text − and the body as a site of transformation further underscore her commitment to a commons that is not only material but also embodied and lived-in. She interrogates how identities, relationships and social structures can be reclaimed and reconstituted through shared practices of care, resistance and creativity.

By bridging the digital and physical realms, Wark has paved the way for commons-based alternatives to emerge within art, academia and activism. Her influence is felt not only in her groundbreaking texts but also in the conversations she inspires, making her a key figure in the evolving discourse on the commons.

McKenzie Wark is professor of Media and Culture at Eugene Lang College in New York. Her books include A Hacker Manifesto (2004), Gamer Theory (2007), The Beach Beneath the Street: The Everyday Life and Glorious Times of the Situationist International (2011), Molecular Red: Theory for the Anthropocene (2015), Capital Is Dead: Is This Something Worse? (2019), Reverse Cowgirl (2020) and Raving (2023).

The talk is hosted at K1, Avenue du Port 1, 1000 Brussels. Drinks will be served from 15:30, with the talk starting at 16:00 sharp. The event is free and in English. The Uncommons is prefaced by two other talks in which Wark explores key themes in her work: on 25 January, she will talk about queer and rave culture at De Singel in Antwerp and on 26 January about writing as a technology of (self-)transformation at Celador in Brussels.

This event is organised in partnership with De Singel and Celador. Image: Z. Walsh.