A School for Social Research
Revitalising critical theory as social engagement
An educational and research initiative dedicated to revitalising critical theory and building new, resilient forms of intellectual and social life.
About the Palm Springs School for Social Research
Our Mission
Building a new political subject
An initiative to revitalise critical theory and make class-based critique accessible beyond traditional institutions.
Our Approach
We combine intensive seminars, public lectures, and collaborative research to create a new model for critical education — one that is rigorous, accessible, and deeply engaged with contemporary life.
Our Team, Founder, and Board
Catherine Liu
Founder, Director & CEO
Professor of Film and Media Studies at UC Irvine and author of, among other books, 'Virtue Hoarders: The Case Against the Professional-Managerial Class.'
George Hoare
Deputy Director & CFO
Dr George Hoare has over a decade of leadership in non-profits with a focus on strategy, governance, and evaluation.
Tara Heffernan
Editorial Director
Art critic and historian, her cultural criticism has been published widely. She is the editor of the forthcoming collection Notes on Kitsch: Finding Art in the Slop Empire