Scope and Contents First and second day of The Presence of Myth in Contemporary Life conference, sponsored jointly by The New School's Graduate Faculty and The Cooper Union. Recording begins with the last 10 minutes of a lecture by Robert M. Adams on myth, language and eschcatology from the first day. The recordings continue with a second day roundtable discussion titled, ''Visual and Performing Arts,'' with Dore Ashton, Bruno Zevi, Timothy Clark, Earle Brown, Paul Rotterdam, Kenneth Frampton and William...

Scope and Contents New School sociologist Jeffrey Goldfarb holding Democracy Seminar on Hannah Arendt and Agnes Heller and the meaning and usefulness of the term, "totalitarianism." Goldfarb mentions Adam Michnik in prison asking for a New School observer at his trial and a concurrent seminar being held in Poland with the same readings. Questions and discussion begin at 22:26, with Henri Zukier. Cuts at 29:50 to outside, with loud noises and children's voices. Returns to discussion at 30:40, with Andrew Arato...

Scope and Contents Democracy Seminar on Milan Kundera. Second meeting of the year for 1986. Elzbieta Matynia mentioned as initally absent, Andrew Arato present. Adam Michnik mentioned. This seminar was supposed to be discussing Kundera and the work of Erving Goffman, although participants never discuss Goffman. Discussion centers around the novel form and its relation to politics. Recording concludes with a singing lesson unrelated to the seminar. Inscription: "10/23 Democracy 12/1 #2 Oct 86 Tape 1, Side...

Scope and Contents Recording begins with final part of a conference talk by John P. Diggins presenting a paper on Hannah Arendt and Charles A. Beard, discussing Alexander Hamilton's views on the French Revolution. Discussant is William Galston from the Roosevelt Center for American Policy Studies. This is followed by Eva Brann responding to Wilson Carey McWilliams's paper. "Civil Religion in the Age of Reason: Thomas Paine on Liberalism, Redemption, and Revolution." Brann then introduces the final discussant...

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Democracy Seminar on role of ideology in Eastern Europe, featuring Jeffrey Goldfarb and Andrew Arato. Discussion on relevance of left/right distinction to Poland and the relationship between ideology and "interests." Inscription: "10-24-86."

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Democracy Seminar on democracy and authoritarianism held for Steven Lukes, who was a guest at the seminar. Featuring Jeffrey Goldfarb, Andrew Arato and Aristide Zolberg. Budapest seminar is mentioned as starting in a few weeks. Discussion on Marx and his concept of "Recht." Inscription: "Democracy Seminar 1/16."

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Democracy Seminar on democracy in China, discussing the work of Judith Shapiro, the Cultural Revolution, and academic freedom and the situation of intellectuals in China. Inscription: "Shapiro Oct 16, 1987 Tape 1, Side 1; Shapiro Oct 16, 1987 Tape 2, Side 2."

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Democracy Seminar on Donald Scott's work on knowledge and democracy in nineteenth century America. Jeffrey Goldfarb introduces Donald Scott, who discusses his book, The Pursuit of Liberty. Inscription: "Don Scott Dec 11 1987 Tape 1, Side 1."

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Democracy Seminar featuring Adam Michnik's colleague Czeslaw Bielecki. The seminar discusses papers by Czeslaw Bielecki and Elzbieta Matynia on Adam Michnik and his critics in Poland. Inscription: "Dem Sem. 4/29/88 Tape 1 Side 1; Dem. Sem. 4/29/88 Tape 2 Side 1."

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Democracy Seminar on totalitarianism and whether it applies as a model to Eastern Europe. Discussion of Andrew Arato's unidentified manuscript on totalitarianism. Jeffrey Goldfarb discusses his article on totalitarian culture. Discussion of the "post-totalitarian mind." Inscription: "'Dem + Lib' Session 2 3-18-88 Tape 1 Side 1."