Publications and Presentations

2025 to present: Editor-in-Chief of SideQuests: A Magazine of Philosophical Reflections

The aim of the magazine is to give academic researchers the opportunity to explore work that falls beyond the scope of their research, and to make philosophy accessible to a broader audience. Every issue will contain eight articles of between 800 and 1,000 words. The first issue was published in January 2026.

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• 2026: South African Society of Critical Theory at the Nelson Mandela University (co-presented with Nathisvaran Govender, PhD candidate, University of the Free State) (abstract under review).

Paper title: Walter Benjaminian in the Third Space: Toward a Critical Theory of Architecture.

• 2026: Postgraduate Symposium at the University of the Free State (abstract accepted).

Paper title: Infrastructural Brutalism and Rhythmanalysis in a Concrete City: Aesthetic Resistance in Johannesburg.

• 2026: Philosophy and Science Fiction Conference at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (abstract accepted).

Paper title: The City of the Dead: Philip K. Dick and the Global Necropolis.

• 2026: Philosophical Society of Southern Africa at the University of Cape Town (co-presented with Dr. Asheel Singh, senior lecturer, University of Johannesburg).

Paper title: Obtaining Life’s Meaning Through Suffering: A Discussion of Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea.

• 2025: South African Society of Critical Theory at the Nelson Mandela University (co-presented with Nathisvaran Govender, PhD candidate, University of the Free State).

Paper title: Walter Benjamin and Those Kitsch Casinos: Toward a Critical Theory of Architecture.

• 2025: University Capacity Development Programme (UCDP) Conference at the University of Johannesburg.

Paper title: Colour and Chromophobia in the Chaosmopolitan: Aesthetic Resistance in Johannesburg.

• 2025: Postgraduate Symposium at the University of North West.

Paper title: Colour and Chromophobia in the Chaosmopolitan: Aesthetic Resistance in Johannesburg.

• 2025: Philosophical Society of Southern Africa at the University of North West (co-presented with Dr. Asheel Singh, senior lecturer, University of Johannesburg).

Paper title: Exploring Life's Meaning Through Literature: The Tragic Flight From Purpose in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Beautiful and Damned.

• 2024: South African Society of Critical Theory at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (co-presented with Nathisvaran Govender, PhD candidate, University of the Free State).

Paper title: Erich Fromm and Spontaneity within the South African Built Environment: Toward a Critical Theory of Architecture.

• 2024: Postgraduate Symposium at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Paper title: Aesthetic Resistance: Frommian Spontaneity in the South African City.

• 2023: South African Society of Critical Theory at the University of the Free State (co-presented with Nathisvaran Govender, PhD candidate, University of the Free State).

Paper title: A Benjaminian Analysis of the Built Environment: Toward a Critical Theory of Architecture.

• 2023: Postgraduate Symposium at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Paper title: Ideology, Discourse, and Power in the South African Built Environment: A Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis of the Mangaung Intermodal Transport Facility.

• 2019: Postgraduate Philosophy Association at the University of Johannesburg.

Paper title: Ideology, Discourse, and Power in the South African Built Environment: A Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis of the Mangaung Intermodal Transport Facility.

• 2009: Wastecon in Johannesburg.

Presented a paper about community recycling projects.

• Govender, N. & Otto, C. 2025. A Benjaminian analysis of the built environment: Toward a critical theory of architecture. In: Acta Academica. 57(2). pp. 233-256.

Read full paper here (open access).

RECIPES

• Otto, N. 2020. Spiced pecan and carrot bread. In: OFM Radio's Real Good Recipe Book. pp. 36-37.

FLASH FICTION AND SHORT FICTION (SEE WRITING PORTFOLIO SECTION)

• Under review: Otto, C. 2025. ‘House of cards’. In: AZURE.

• Under review: Otto, C. 2025. A late-night game. In: The Molotov Cocktail.

• Otto, C. 2024. Green. In: Active Muse. Winter issue.

• Otto, C. 2024. Time travel. In: Moyé Magazine. (Accepted for publication; to be published July 2025).

• Otto, C. 2024. (Un)reality. In: Moyé Magazine. (Accepted for publication; to be published July 2025).

• Otto, N. 2003. Ek wonder ek wonder en ander stories. Umsinsi Press: Durban.

• Otto, N. 2003. Ilanza en Zanika red die eende. Umsinsi Press: Durban.

• Otto, N. 2003. Leer ‘n les! Umsinsi Press: Durban. 

GHOSTWRITTEN WORKS

I have written fourteen manuscripts ranging in length between 25,000 and 55,000 words; topics include health and fitness, psychosynthesis and psychotherapy, personal development and motivation, science fiction, folktales, esotericism, technology and engineering, and crafts and hobbies. 

SUBSTACK

• Otto, C. 2026. To all the humans: It's okay to be a little bit sad. In: Substack. (Read here)

• Otto, C. 2025. Tell me a story: Why fiction can be more valuable than fact. In: Substack. (Read here)

• Otto, C. 2025. People and their pets: A love letter to Sparky. In: Substack. (Read here)

• Otto, C. 2024. On living and dying. In: Substack. (Read here)

• Otto, C. 2024. Blocked. In: Substack. (Read here)

• Otto, C. 2024. On dreaming and waking. In: Substack. (Read here)

• Otto, C. 2024. Beauty, meaning, and magic: Welcome to the world of a logophile. In: Substack. (Read here)

ELEPHANT JOURNAL

• Otto, C. 2026. The legacies we leave behind: Lessons from Fahrenheit 451. In: Elephant Journal. (Read here)

• Otto, C. 2026. The philosophy of YOLO. In: Elephant Journal. (Read here)

• Otto, C. 2025. Time travel and the eternal return: Should we desire to change the past? In: Elephant Journal. (Read here)

• Otto, C. 2025. Disappointment: Finding meaning when things go wrong. In: Elephant Journal. (Read here)

• Otto, C. 2025. The language of kindness. In: Elephant Journal. (Read here)

• Otto, C. 2024. Is the world dog-eat-dog, or is it a good place? In: Elephant Journal. (Read here)

• Otto, C. 2024. The art of doing nothing (so we can do more). In: Elephant Journal. (Read here)

• Otto, C. 2024. Live once, live again: On the importance of making choices. In: Elephant Journal. (Read here)

• Otto, C. 2024. On losing, loving, remembering, and moving with the current. In: Elephant Journal. (Read here)

LINKEDIN ARTICLES 

• Otto, C. 2025. Vladimir Nabokov and metafiction: Breaking the fourth wall in Pnin. In: LinkedIn. (Read here)

• Otto, N. & Otto, K. 2015. The feasibility of landfills in the Gauteng region: A GIS study. Interwaste.