The snow has finally settled and it’s quite thick on the ground, I am very reluctant to set out when the weather gets like this. So I explore other options, I become bored and pensive and engage in a conversation with a good friend of mine. We get onto the topic of what it would be like to be homeless in these kinds of conditions and then we speak about charity and so on.
This is an animated lecture by the Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Zizek. What Zizek does is use popular culture and current affairs to explain the theory of Marxism and Lacanian psychoanalyses. RSA the animation company behind this have cleverly enforced Zizek’s methods of using popular culture to reflect philosophical thought by turning the lecture into a short film.
The premise of Zizek’s lecture seems to be about the damaging effects of cultural capitalism, or when capitalism is influenced by socialism. The two theories juxtapose in many ways, but have in the last decade or so been fused closer and closer together and this as Zizek says seems to be through the idea of eco capitalism and people’s own sense of guilt.
The West seems to harbor a kind of self righteous guilt at its so called strong economy. What seems to be of interest is that we probably shouldn’t be feeling so self gratified- our countries deficit is no signifier of economic stability and the latest fiasco in Ireland certainly shows that we are not on the right track.
So perhaps before we throw a little money at issues in third world countries, enough as Zizek says to cure a child’s hair lip, we should think about the repercussions. That child’s life will certainly be better, but he will ultimately go back to the slum where he could die of diarrhea from drinking dirty water.
Charity is obviously a very positive aspect to our society but it seems to have become a different kind of issue, one that we turn to because we need our consumerist souls to be eased, as apposed to having any kind of real conviction in wanting to solve the underlying problems.
Zizek goes onto say how, “the worst slave owners were the ones who were kind to their slaves”. This for me anyway, evokes the words of George Orwell and consciousness, “until they become conscious they will never rebel, and until after they have rebelled they cannot become conscious", so whether people are being kept unconscious with kindness or pain, the results are still the same. Perhaps the only way to solve poverty and other issues is through starting again.
Although on this point Zizek accurately notes that charities are unlikely to ever solve the issues and situations that they try to improve, he does not in that animation, nor in his HARDtalk interview, nor in fact in any of the interviews I've watched with him, clearly define an alternative that doesn't resort to name checking communist leaders and then conceeding that they were terrible!
ReplyDeleteHe is well known as a thinker - which is great - but has never been able to offer an alternative to the systems he deconstructs.
His contempt for 'ordinary' people seem to fit well with his negative opinions on 'western-style' democracy, but I've always found his views on tolerance and choice deeply disturbing (a few good examples of which can be found at around 1:40 in the following interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjEtmZZvGZA )
A point which Stephen Sackur raised, and which I totally agree with, is that all the choice and freedoms which Zizek claims are fabricated have actually allowed him to write his books, read material he chooses and air his views to people. He doesn't seem to realise this.
Though it isn't clear quite where his ideas would lead a society, I don't feel that such a place would allow someone like him to say what he does. Which doesn't mean his ideals are flawed - it just means they probably aren't particularly nice.
What you write about "the need to ease our consumerist souls" rather than "having any kind of real conviction in wanting to solve the underlying problems" is absolutely true - that's how we as people generally are unfortunately, and that selfishness, and instinct to look out for ourselves before others is exactly why capitalism and democracy (where every person votes on what will make their life own better) has always worked far better than communism, which requires a powerful ruling body to enforce faux-selflessness.
...and who was it that said:
ReplyDelete"So long as you have food in your mouth, you have solved all questions for the time being."
;)
I wondered how you would react to this, and you didn’t disappoint me.
ReplyDeleteI am not saying that this is my political position or that Zizek has the capabilities or the knowledge to improve society, especially in the revolutionary way in which he would do it, but I do enjoy his ideas on consumerism and greed.
I did a lot of work on consumption in the 19th century at uni and it’s very interesting to hear his opinions on a subject from a different perspective, charity and business.
Regarding the youtube clip, he is contradictory- he dislikes passiveness but then says we need more authority figures? But then contradiction seems to be a founding principle of communism, maybe you should have a word with him Joey?
Oh and Kafka always his priorities right!
Were I to speak to him, I imagine I would grow incredibly impatient with his constant contradictions.
ReplyDeleteHe seems very able to present interesting ideas, but far less adept at forming a cohesive strategy from which to go about implementing his ideas.
With any luck he'll continue to write books, but if he was ever going to get into politics properly it would have been when he ran for Presidency of the Republic of Slovenia. It seems he's not taken seriously enough anymore.
I'm looking forward to the next blog entry ;)