INTERNATIONAL HERBERT MARCUSE SOCIETY 

We are very excited to hold the eleventh biennial conference of the International Herbert Marcuse Society at York University in Toronto, in December 2025. In the twenty years since its first conference, organized by Professor Arnold L. Farr, at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, the Marcuse Society has held ten biennial conferences; moreover, during this time, the Marcuse Society has organized various other events and activities, including a celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of Herbert Marcuse's One-Dimensional Man, held in 2014, at Columbia University's Butler Library, which this year will become the home of the Douglas Kellner Archive. The title of the Marcuse Society's 2025 biennial conference is "CRITICAL LEGACIES," and we will be examining the many contributions of Douglas Kellner, Andrew Feenberg, and Charles Reitz.

DATES

• PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP: December 4, 2025

  • Reserved for Marcuse Society PhD Research Fellows, Marcuse Society Postdoctoral Fellows, and their faculty dissertaion mentors/supervisors.

• CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS: December 5-7, 2025

  • The morning and afternoon conference panels are open to all invited conference speakers and moderators as well as to all participants who registered for the conference by the conference registration deadline back in September.

  • Those who register by the late conference deadline will be admitted into the morning and afternoon panel sessions depending on space availability. More information about Conference Registration appears below.

  • The evening dinner and program, held at the Schulich Executive Learning Centre (SELC) is a limited-seating event and is only open to the following: (a) Marcuse Society PhD Research Fellows, (b) Marcuse Society Postdoctoral Fellows, and (c) invited conference speakers and moderators.

LOCATION

The main venue for the 2025 conference will be York University, in Toronto.  The morning and afternoon sessions will be held in Founders College at York University. The room numbers for conference panels are listed in the Conference Schedule below.

WEATHER ADVISORY: VERY COLD WEATHER!

Reminder to ALL Conference Participants

Bring a warm coat, hat, scarf, gloves, and appropriate footwear (e.g., boots). Toronto's weather is likely to be cold, possibly with a mix of rain and snow.

CONFERENCE HOTELS

Most conference participants will be staying at one of two hotels. 

The first hotel is located on the York University campus and is called Schulich Executive Learning Centre (SELC). The hotel has a small café and is within walking distance from York University’s mall, York Lanes, which offers a variety of dining options. 

LINK TO SELC WEBSITE

SELC ADDRESS: 56 FINE ARTS RD, TORONTO, ON M3J 3M6

SELC TELEPHONE NUMBER: 416-736-5079

Hotel Check-In Time: 4pm

The second hotel is the The Royal Sonesta Hotel which is located n downtown Toronto, near the Museum and Bay subway stations, and the hotel s a short subway ride away from the York University campus.

LINK TO ROYAL YORK SONESTA HOTEL WEBSITE

ROYAL YORK SONESTA HOTEL ADDRESS: 220 BLOOR STREET WEST, TORONTO, ON M5S 1T8

ROYAL YORK SONESTA HOTEL PHONE NUMBER: 416-960-5200

Hotel Check-In Time: 4pm

DINING RECOMMENDATIONS DURING THE CONFERENCE

Aside from what is available at the two hotels listed above, here are some recommended restaurants and dining options:

• On-Campus Dining at York University

• List of Recommended Restaurants and Bars in Toronto

CONFERENCE PROGRAM

For the Marcuse Society's 2005 conference, entitled "Critical Legacies," we are prioritizing papers/presentations that critically assess the contributions of three scholars -- Charles Reitz, Andrew Feenberg, and Douglas Kellner -- who, for decades, have illuminated and extended the critical legacy of Herbert Marcuse. The conference will feature a Reitz Stream, a Feenberg Stream, and a Kellner Stream. We are seeking proposals that focus on any aspect of their work and on the questions that animate their longstanding engagements with Marcuse--so that we might delve deeply into their thought as a way of critically engaging themes and issues of contemporary significance. Papers/presentations outside of these three Streams will also be considered in a Critical Stream. 

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

CONFERENCE PROPOSALS FOR PAPERS/PRESENTATIONS   

• The DUE DATE (June 15, 2025) for completion of Conference Paper/Presentation Proposal form has now passed.

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

• No conference registration fee.

• DEADLINE (September 15, 2025) for completion of Conference Registration form has now passed.

• LATE REGISTRATION DEADLINE (December 4, 2025): Late registrants will be permitted into the conference in Founders College meeting rooms, space permitting. Check in at the conference desk each morning or afternoon for an advisory about space availability. Link for Late Registration here.

CONFERENCE ORGANIZERS

The Marcuse Society's three officers, Imaculada (Leca) Kangussu, Robert Kirsch, and Andrew Lamas, as well as past officer and current Board member, Terry Maley, and Marcuse Society PhD Postdoctoral Fellow Maor Levitin are serving as the 2025 conference organizing committee. 

Please direct inquiries to the Marcuse Society at: ATLamas@gmail.com 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

MAY I ATTEND THE CONFERENCE EVEN IF I AM NOT PRESENTING A PAPER?

• Yes, but you must register.  See above for the registration link.

WHO IS REQURED TO REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE?

• Anyone who attends the conference (regardless of whether or not they are presenting a paper) must register.

IS THE CONFERENCE AN IN-PERSON EVENT OR ONLINE?

• The conference is primarily an in-person event; however, some portions of the conference will be presented online. More information about the online portion (and relevant links) will be provided at a later date.

WILL ALL OR SOME OF THE CONFERENCE BE RECORDED AND AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR LATER VIEWING?

• Some of the conference sessions may be recorded and made available in 2026.

IF I AM PRESENTING AT THE CONFERENCE, AND I WANT TO CHANGE THE TITLE OF MY PAPER AND/OR MODIFY MY PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED ABSTRACT, MAY I DO SO?

• Yes.  Contact ATLamas@gmail.com with the revised information by November 1, 2025.

IF I AM NOT FROM CANADA AND WANT TO CHARGE MY MOBILE PHONE WHILE AT THE CONFERENCE, WILL I NEED AN ADAPTER?

•  As regards standard electrical outlets in Canada, please note: Canada uses Type A (two flat prongs) and Type B (two flat prongs and a round grounding pin) outlets. If your phone and laptop chargers are not a fit, then please be sure to bring a travel adapter with you. If you do not already have a North American or International travel adapter, we suggest you purchase one at the airport BEFORE arriving on York University's campus.

[MORE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS may be posted from time to time prior to the conference.]