Mark Schmitt is Assistant Professor at the Department of Cultural Studies at TU Dortmund University, Germany.

“The book keeps its promise to outline diverse strands of pessimism and goes on to show how these strands are irrevocably interwoven … in cultural production, such as literary texts and films. Each chapter provides convincing and nuanced readings of these cultural texts and enriches each analysis with substantial theoretical, philosophical, and historical contexts. … Writing concisely and clearly, Schmitt succeeds in proving the great extent to which pessimism is an integral part of contemporary society … .” (Dilâra Yilmaz, Journal for the Study of British Cultures, Vol. 31 (1), 2024)“Over recent years I have read many books on utopianism, and this is quite simply one of the best. A very thoughtful and wide-ranging critical engagement with utopianism in the context of pessimism. … Spectres of Pessimism has a great deal of interesting things to say about the topic and will undoubtedly make a significant contribution to the production of further work in utopian studies. Highly recommended.” (John Storey, Utopian Studies, Vol. 35 (1), 2024)“Schmitt makes a strong case for the various ways in which pessimism may allow us to overcome our anthropocentric preoccupations. This makes his book paradoxically … optimistic: By inviting the reader to imagine a 'world-without-us' instead of a 'world- for-us,' … he offers pessimism 'as a corrective to overly optimistic … inflections of cultural studies' … suggesting that there is in fact a future to behold … . Schmitt’s book … suggests a future path for cultural studies … .” (Wieland Schwanebeck, MEDIENwissenschaft, Issue 3, 2023)“The author presents theoretical discussion of … a pessimistic future for humanity and also reviews imaginative work in novels and films which explore these areas of experience. Dystopian art forms are, Schmitt shows, strongly present and influential in contemporary culture. … the theoretical ideas presented—andthe related examples of dystopian literature and cinema—set out a significant field of contemporary work, which calls for attention in these hard times.” (Michael Rustin, The Political Quarterly, July 10, 2023)

• Chapter 1:  Introduction: “Being for Being Against”: Pessimism and the Cultural Moment.- Chapter 2: Pessimism of Theory, Optimism of Practice: Critical Theory vs. Cultural Studies.- Chapter 3:  Utopia Banished? Apocalyptic Pessimism and Utopian Optimism.- Chapter 4: The Kids Will Not Be Alright: Futurity, Pessimist Temporality and Procreation.- Chapter 5: Embracing Extinction: Cosmic Pessimism, Crumbling Modernity and Ahuman Futures.- Chapter 6:  Conclusion: The Virtues of Pessimism.

Mark Schmitt is Assistant Professor at the Department of Cultural Studies at TU Dortmund University, Germany.

“The book keeps its promise to outline diverse strands of pessimism and goes on to show how these strands are irrevocably interwoven … in cultural production, such as literary texts and films. Each chapter provides convincing and nuanced readings of these cultural texts and enriches each analysis with substantial theoretical, philosophical, and historical contexts. … Writing concisely and clearly, Schmitt succeeds in proving the great extent to which pessimism is an integral part of contemporary society … .” (Dilâra Yilmaz, Journal for the Study of British Cultures, Vol. 31 (1), 2024)“Over recent years I have read many books on utopianism, and this is quite simply one of the best. A very thoughtful and wide-ranging critical engagement with utopianism in the context of pessimism. … Spectres of Pessimism has a great deal of interesting things to say about the topic and will undoubtedly make a significant contribution to the production of further work in utopian studies. Highly recommended.” (John Storey, Utopian Studies, Vol. 35 (1), 2024)“Schmitt makes a strong case for the various ways in which pessimism may allow us to overcome our anthropocentric preoccupations. This makes his book paradoxically … optimistic: By inviting the reader to imagine a 'world-without-us' instead of a 'world- for-us,' … he offers pessimism 'as a corrective to overly optimistic … inflections of cultural studies' … suggesting that there is in fact a future to behold … . Schmitt’s book … suggests a future path for cultural studies … .” (Wieland Schwanebeck, MEDIENwissenschaft, Issue 3, 2023)“The author presents theoretical discussion of … a pessimistic future for humanity and also reviews imaginative work in novels and films which explore these areas of experience. Dystopian art forms are, Schmitt shows, strongly present and influential in contemporary culture. … the theoretical ideas presented—andthe related examples of dystopian literature and cinema—set out a significant field of contemporary work, which calls for attention in these hard times.” (Michael Rustin, The Political Quarterly, July 10, 2023)

• Chapter 1:  Introduction: “Being for Being Against”: Pessimism and the Cultural Moment.- Chapter 2: Pessimism of Theory, Optimism of Practice: Critical Theory vs. Cultural Studies.- Chapter 3:  Utopia Banished? Apocalyptic Pessimism and Utopian Optimism.- Chapter 4: The Kids Will Not Be Alright: Futurity, Pessimist Temporality and Procreation.- Chapter 5: Embracing Extinction: Cosmic Pessimism, Crumbling Modernity and Ahuman Futures.- Chapter 6:  Conclusion: The Virtues of Pessimism.

Mark Schmitt is Assistant Professor at the Department of Cultural Studies at TU Dortmund University, Germany.

“The book keeps its promise to outline diverse strands of pessimism and goes on to show how these strands are irrevocably interwoven … in cultural production, such as literary texts and films. Each chapter provides convincing and nuanced readings of these cultural texts and enriches each analysis with substantial theoretical, philosophical, and historical contexts. … Writing concisely and clearly, Schmitt succeeds in proving the great extent to which pessimism is an integral part of contemporary society … .” (Dilâra Yilmaz, Journal for the Study of British Cultures, Vol. 31 (1), 2024)“Over recent years I have read many books on utopianism, and this is quite simply one of the best. A very thoughtful and wide-ranging critical engagement with utopianism in the context of pessimism. … Spectres of Pessimism has a great deal of interesting things to say about the topic and will undoubtedly make a significant contribution to the production of further work in utopian studies. Highly recommended.” (John Storey, Utopian Studies, Vol. 35 (1), 2024)“Schmitt makes a strong case for the various ways in which pessimism may allow us to overcome our anthropocentric preoccupations. This makes his book paradoxically … optimistic: By inviting the reader to imagine a 'world-without-us' instead of a 'world- for-us,' … he offers pessimism 'as a corrective to overly optimistic … inflections of cultural studies' … suggesting that there is in fact a future to behold … . Schmitt’s book … suggests a future path for cultural studies … .” (Wieland Schwanebeck, MEDIENwissenschaft, Issue 3, 2023)“The author presents theoretical discussion of … a pessimistic future for humanity and also reviews imaginative work in novels and films which explore these areas of experience. Dystopian art forms are, Schmitt shows, strongly present and influential in contemporary culture. … the theoretical ideas presented—andthe related examples of dystopian literature and cinema—set out a significant field of contemporary work, which calls for attention in these hard times.” (Michael Rustin, The Political Quarterly, July 10, 2023)

• Chapter 1:  Introduction: “Being for Being Against”: Pessimism and the Cultural Moment.- Chapter 2: Pessimism of Theory, Optimism of Practice: Critical Theory vs. Cultural Studies.- Chapter 3:  Utopia Banished? Apocalyptic Pessimism and Utopian Optimism.- Chapter 4: The Kids Will Not Be Alright: Futurity, Pessimist Temporality and Procreation.- Chapter 5: Embracing Extinction: Cosmic Pessimism, Crumbling Modernity and Ahuman Futures.- Chapter 6:  Conclusion: The Virtues of Pessimism.