David Theo Goldberg
Encyclopedia
David Theo Goldberg, PhD (b. 1952) was born and raised in South Africa
, where he later received degrees in philosophy and economics from the University of Cape Town
. He also holds a PhD in philosophy from City University of New York
. Formerly Director and Professor of the School of Justice Studies at Arizona State University
, Goldberg was appointed Director of the University of California Humanities Research Institute (UCHRI
) in July 2000, a University of California
system-wide research facility for the human sciences and theoretical research in the arts. He also holds faculty appointments as Professor of Comparative Literature and Professor of Criminology, Law and Society at the University of California, Irvine
(UCI), and is a Fellow of the UCI Critical Theory Institute. Before he began his teaching career, Goldberg produced independent films and music videos (some of which aired on MTV), and co-directed with Michael Oblowitz an award-winning short film on South Africa, The Island.
and has delivered invited lectures on this subject at universities across the world (listen to a KPFA interview). His work is the subject of "On the State of Race Theory: A Conversation with David Theo Goldberg". Goldberg's extensive research ranges over issues of political theory, race and racism, ethics, law and society, critical theory, cultural studies and, increasingly, digital humanities.
He initiated the University of California
(UC) Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences Technology Council, a system-wide committee reporting to the UC Office of the President. He also serves on the UC-wide committee overseeing stewardship of research information and data (including libraries and digital libraries) for the university system.
Together with Cathy Davidson
of Duke University
, Goldberg founded the Humanities, Arts, Science and Technology Advanced Collaboratory (HASTAC
) to advance partnerships between the human sciences, arts, social sciences and technology and supercomputing interests for advancing research, teaching and public outreach. Davidson and Goldberg have published essays promoting the creative and dynamic use of digital technologies to advance research, teaching and learning in the humanities, arts, and social sciences. They co-direct the HASTAC-MacArthur Digital Media and Learning Competition, an annual international contest awarding up to $2m per year to promote transformative learning practices through the application of digital technology. In addition, he is the executive director of the Digital Media and Learning Hub.
He has edited or co-edited several collections, including Anatomy of Racism (1990) and Multiculturalism: A Critical Reader (1995) and is the founding co-editor of Social Identities: Journal for the Study of Race, Nation and Culture.
Goldberg is also the creator of the online digital project Blue Velvet: Re-Dressing New Orleans in Katrina's Wake
, an interactive look at the effects of Hurricane Katrina
on the city of New Orleans based his article "Deva-stating Disasters: Race in the Shadow(s) of New Orleans."
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, where he later received degrees in philosophy and economics from the University of Cape Town
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
. He also holds a PhD in philosophy from City University of New York
City University of New York
The City University of New York is the public university system of New York City, with its administrative offices in Yorkville in Manhattan. It is the largest urban university in the United States, consisting of 23 institutions: 11 senior colleges, six community colleges, the William E...
. Formerly Director and Professor of the School of Justice Studies at Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
, Goldberg was appointed Director of the University of California Humanities Research Institute (UCHRI
UCHRI
The University of California Humanities Research Institute , is a university system-wide research institute at the University of California under the University of California Office of the President and headquartered at the UC Irvine campus...
) in July 2000, a University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
system-wide research facility for the human sciences and theoretical research in the arts. He also holds faculty appointments as Professor of Comparative Literature and Professor of Criminology, Law and Society at the University of California, Irvine
University of California, Irvine
The University of California, Irvine , founded in 1965, is one of the ten campuses of the University of California, located in Irvine, California, USA...
(UCI), and is a Fellow of the UCI Critical Theory Institute. Before he began his teaching career, Goldberg produced independent films and music videos (some of which aired on MTV), and co-directed with Michael Oblowitz an award-winning short film on South Africa, The Island.
Research and projects
Goldberg is a leading scholar of critical race theoryCritical race theory
Critical Race Theory is an academic discipline focused upon the intersection of race, law and power.Although no set of canonical doctrines or methodologies defines CRT, the movement is loosely unified by two common areas of inquiry...
and has delivered invited lectures on this subject at universities across the world (listen to a KPFA interview). His work is the subject of "On the State of Race Theory: A Conversation with David Theo Goldberg". Goldberg's extensive research ranges over issues of political theory, race and racism, ethics, law and society, critical theory, cultural studies and, increasingly, digital humanities.
He initiated the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
(UC) Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences Technology Council, a system-wide committee reporting to the UC Office of the President. He also serves on the UC-wide committee overseeing stewardship of research information and data (including libraries and digital libraries) for the university system.
Together with Cathy Davidson
Cathy Davidson
Cathy N. Davidson is an American scholar and university professor. She has served as the Ruth F. DeVarney Professor of English at Duke University since 1996 and has held a second distinguished chair as the John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies since 2006...
of Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
, Goldberg founded the Humanities, Arts, Science and Technology Advanced Collaboratory (HASTAC
HASTAC
is a virtual organization of over 7000 individuals and institutions inspired by the possibilities that new technologies offer for shaping how society learns, teaches, communicates, creates, and organizes at the local and global levels...
) to advance partnerships between the human sciences, arts, social sciences and technology and supercomputing interests for advancing research, teaching and public outreach. Davidson and Goldberg have published essays promoting the creative and dynamic use of digital technologies to advance research, teaching and learning in the humanities, arts, and social sciences. They co-direct the HASTAC-MacArthur Digital Media and Learning Competition, an annual international contest awarding up to $2m per year to promote transformative learning practices through the application of digital technology. In addition, he is the executive director of the Digital Media and Learning Hub.
Books and publications
Goldberg has authored a number of books, including The Threat of Race (2008); The Racial State (2002); Racial Subjects: Writing on Race in America (1997); Racist Culture: Philosophy and the Politics of Meaning (1993); and Ethical Theory and Social Issues: Historical Texts and Contemporary Readings (1989/1995).He has edited or co-edited several collections, including Anatomy of Racism (1990) and Multiculturalism: A Critical Reader (1995) and is the founding co-editor of Social Identities: Journal for the Study of Race, Nation and Culture.
Goldberg is also the creator of the online digital project Blue Velvet: Re-Dressing New Orleans in Katrina's Wake
Blue Velvet (Digital Project)
Blue Velvet is an online digital history project about the city of New Orleans both before and after Hurricane Katrina.The project was published in the fifth issue of Vectors Journal of Culture and Technology in a Dynamic Vernacular, entitled "Difference." The full title of the project is "Blue...
, an interactive look at the effects of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
on the city of New Orleans based his article "Deva-stating Disasters: Race in the Shadow(s) of New Orleans."
External links
UC Irvine faculty profile- Contemporary Racisms: David Theo Goldberg and Paul Gilroy [video] (2007) - darkmatter Journal
- Threat of Race website
- Blue Velvet website