Decapitated Economies

intercalations 5 ... is a book of provocations wherein the reader-as-exhibition-viewer learns that the “head,” despite its interminable rule over the body, necessarily underestimates the sophistication of corporeal desire when such desire is unleashed in accord with the principles of a general economy.

This long-awaited collection of carefully assembled contributions explores a wide spectrum of headlessness and its many operational forms—ranging from the invention of the guillotine to the maintenance of museum repositories, annual shareholder reports to Indigenous sovereignty struggles, neuroscientific advancements to brain surgery narratives, as well as the housing crisis, ocean pollution, settlement and cerealization, wheat banks, political murder, human extinction, and much more.

The editors are especially honored to include in this publication a conversation with James C. Scott, recorded in anticipation of the release of his landmark book, Against the Grain: A Deep History of the Earliest States. Sadly, Jim passed in July 2024, before we were able to complete this extensive collection. With a deep gratitude for his generosity and intellectual inspiration, we’ve excerpted the conversation and made the PDF available as a direct download here.

If you’d like to access the full publication, feel free to place it in your cart. Your print order helps us recover the costs of making this book—and supports our continued work.

This publication is finally available both as PDF and in print (physical copies shipping in January 2026). Sign up for our newsletter to be notified when intercalations 5 is being launched at an event near you. Can’t wait!