In this episode of the Minor Compositions we’re joined by Silvia Federici to discuss her 1980 doctoral dissertation, The Development of Lukács’ Realism, recently published for the first time by Minor Compositions. Reflecting on her early intellectual and political formation, Federici discusses her engagement with Georg Lukács, the influence of Italian operaismo, and the tensions between Western Marxism and emerging critiques of capitalist exploitation. The conversation moves between literature, aesthetics, class struggle, and the limits of realism, exploring how Federici’s encounters with Marxist philosophy, feminist politics, and radical movements helped shape her subsequent work. Along the way, she reflects on studying in Bologna and Buffalo, the circumstances surrounding her dissertation, and the possibilities of art and political imagination beyond representation.
The Development of Lukács’ Realism is available directly from Minor Compositions, with distribution to the commercial book trade beginning in April 2027.
Marxism in Culture: Dave Beech, Esther Leslie, and Stevphen Shukaitis
Date & time: 20 Nov 2026, 17:30 – 19:30
Made in collaboration with Firefly Frequencies
Intro / outro music from Storie Di Un Impiegato by A.A.V.V. – Artisti Mandala Concerti, in collaborazione con unòrsominòre. e Capibarac