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January 02, 2017

Slavoj Žižek | How To Gain Power

I'm not certain quite when I stopped writing on this blog. I do know I'm not as certain about many things as I used to be. Avoiding editorial is one reflection of the feeling.

That said, posting something because I think it's interesting is editing whether you believe me or not when I say I often enjoy things, think things are interesting, when I disagree with them.

Philosopher Slavoj Žižek returns to Southbank Centre with a talk on power and betrayal in the wake of Brexit. Žižek explores what the referendum result tells us about the rise of populism and the balance of power today. Žižek discusses one of his main concerns: the link between knowledge and power, and how often those who control knowledge also keep power for themselves. Following on from Brexit and with populist movements gaining momentum around the world, how is this link between knowledge and power being manipulated to benefit elites?

The most interesting thing to me about Zizek, and this has been the case since Looking Awry, is how much angst he undergoes to arrive at the same bien pensant opinions as his audience. When half of England is convinced the European Union is Germania recidivus, an apologetic for Wagner delivers the angst while walking the razor's edge of being both tone deaf and entirely unnecessary. In its own way, its also an impressive bit of work to fetch up at the same easy banalities of café society on Brexit.

Posted by Ghost of a flea at January 2, 2017 01:48 AM