John Baldacchino’s book, “Lessons of Belonging: Art, Place, and the Sea,” is the subject of an insightful review by Catherine Bernhard in Caliban, the French Journal of English studies.
The book investigates what Baldacchino, a professor in the School of Education’s Art Department and an affiliate of the Department of Educational Policy Studies, terms the “paradox of belonging,” including concepts such as un-belonging, transformation, and art’s capacity to transcend boundaries. It is the second book in a series for which Baldacchino is editor, “Doing Arts Thinking: Arts Practice, Research, and Education,” which looks at the relationship between the arts and education.
Bernhard’s review celebrates Baldacchino’s refusal to adhere to traditional theoretical systems, instead advocating for a “poetics and politics of unlearning.” She highlights the book’s unconventional structure and philosophical ambition, stating that it “offers a challenging take on many of the debates currently raging in the field of contemporary aesthetics and art.”
Reflecting on the review, Baldacchino expressed appreciation for Bernard’s analysis, noting that it captures themes he has sought to articulate throughout his career.
To learn more, read the full review in Caliban: French Journal of English Studies.