Dr. Vicki Kirby

Biography

Vicki Kirby is Emeritus Professor of Sociology and Anthropology in the School of Social Sciences at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and a Visiting Professorial Fellow at the Institute of Art and Architecture, Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. Her research explores uncanny resonance in poststructural understandings of 'the life language' and scientific evidence of 'the language of life.' She is known for her critically acclaimed books, including 'Telling Flesh' (1997), a philosophical critique of the semiological capacities of flesh, and 'Judith Butler: Live Theory' (2006), which examines materiality and language within contemporary feminist political theory. Kirby has held teaching and research positions in multiple countries and has frequently contributed to the fields of feminist theory, new materialism, and posthumanism. She is a chief investigator for the ARC Discovery Project Grant titled 'The Life Language Language Life' and actively supervises postgraduate research at UNSW. Her commitment to academic excellence is evidenced by her notable supervision of honors students, many of whom received top honors. Kirby is also a founding member of various editorial boards and advisory panels, demonstrating her influential presence in the international academic community.

Research Interests