Matthew R. McLennan - Philosophy and Vulnerability: Catherine Breillat, Joan Didion, and Audre Lorde

This book was achieved with the help of a wide and tightly woven web of affiliation. While it is not possible to acknowledge everyone who had a hand in supporting me through its creation, the contributions of the following people especially should be noted. Any inaccuracies or omissions in the text are of course entirely my own.

My family and friends played a central role in my ability to see this project through. In particular, I thank Anna Seifried, Leo McLennan, Moses McLennan, Susan McLennan, Doreen Richmond, Audrey Lundy, Louise Legault, Pierre Legault, Christopher Seifried, Louise Guay, Chris Casimiro and Morgan McMillan.

My job at Saint Paul University has afforded me invaluable working relationships and rewarding friendships. I thank all of my colleagues who have shared their warmth and generosity of spirit, but in particular, I thank the following for their mentorship: Manal Guirguis-Younger, Stephen Stuart, Monique Lanoix, Rajesh Shukla, Sophie Cloutier, Richard Feist, Louis Perron, Heather Eaton, Lorraine Ste-Marie and Marc De Kesel.

I am daily inspired by the philosophical militants in my midst. Chief among them are Deniz Guvenc, Devin Zane Shaw, Julie Paquette, T. Mars MacDougall, Lesley Jamieson, J. Moufawad-Paul and Tyler A. Shipley.

I am grateful to the many students who keep me on my toes and who push me to hone my craft. In particular, I would like to acknowledge my students and auditors in the spring 2018 graduate Public Ethics course Disadvantage, for their participation in wide-ranging discussions on themes that are important to this book. Thank you Kaelen Bray, Corrine Budge, Tami Cogan, Monique Comeau, Natalie Dupuis, Cristina Mirian Fernandes Amaral, Donna Joy Ghadie, Laurence Pelchat-Labelle, Merranda Rivers and Allison Trites.

Ann Elliott and the students and volunteers in the Discovery University programme deserve special mention for an unforgettable classroom experience, recounted in the books Conclusion. I hope that the programme continues to thrive and to serve as a meeting place for people of all walks of life who are passionate about learning.

Some of the material in this book received the benefit of testing before a critical public. Thank you to Scott Birdwise and the other organizers of the 2016 York University/TIFF conference Coming to Terms with Film Philosophy for allowing me the opportunity to test out my thoughts on Breillat. Thank you also to Lung Chieh Lim and the other organizers of the 2018 University of Ottawa/Saint Paul University/Carleton University/Dominican University College joint conference Actualities: Philosophy and Our Present for allowing me the opportunity to read and receive feedback on a version of the books Introduction.

My editors at Bloomsbury Press Frankie Mace and Liza Thompson were as always kind, patient and exceptionally helpful throughout the writing process. Critical input from anonymous peer reviewers at the prospectus stage of the project was also greatly appreciated. Finally, Devin Zane Shaw provided invaluable comments on the draft manuscript and he embodies for me the ideal kind of academic: a true friend who is also an honest critic.