Slavoj Žižek (pronunciation: ) , born the March 21st 1949 with Ljubljana, in ex- Yugoslavia, is a Philosophe and a Slovenien Psychanalyste of continental tradition.
Žižek received its doctorate of Philosophie of the university of Ljubljana and studied the psychoanalysis with the Université of Paris VIII with Jacques-Alain Miller and François Regnault.
Žižek is post-doctoral researcher in Institut of sociology of the university of Ljubljiana, in Slovenia. It is regularly invited in the universities of the world, particularly with the the United States (Columbia, Princeton, New School for Social Research, New York and University off Michigan).
Žižek is well-known for its use of work of Jacques Lacan under the angle of the popular culture. In addition to its work as psychoanalysis lacanienne interprets, he wrote on great number of subject like the Fondamentalisme, the Tolérance, the correct Politiquement, the Mondialisation, the Subjectivité, the right of the person, the Mythe, the Cyberespace, the Post-modernism, the Multiculturalisme, the post-Marxism or on personalities like Lénine, David Lynch or Alfred Hitchcock.
Personality of the Slovenien reciprocating motions, in 1990 it arised as candidate of the Slovenien party liberal Démocratie ( Liberalna Demokracija Slovenije ) to the first free presidential elections which preceded independence by its country in 1991. More recently, it because an agitation in the world of the social theory by writing the text of a catalog of the company Abercrombie & Fitch. It is largely perceived as a coloured lecturer who is not afraid of the controversies.
Life and Works
Žižek had certain problems related to the political environment in Yugoslavia in the years 1970. Thus, one refused to him in 1975 a station at the university of Ljubljana following his report whose subject seemed politically suspect. It was only into 1989 that Žižek obtained an international recognition with the English publication of its first book " The Sublimates Object Ideology" off;. Since then, it did not cease developing its statute of foreign intellectual and nonconformist with the provocative tone. One of the polemical works was The Ticklish Subject (1999) which gave an opinion against the deconstructionnists, the partisans of Heidegger and Habermas and where the author also opposed cognitive sciences, to the feminists and so that it describes like new the " obscurantistes".One of the difficulties which Žižek raises is its apparent tendency to change with the wire of its books, and even from one page to another, its theoretical positions, as for example on the question of knowing if Lacan is a Structuraliste or a poststructuralist. Because of that, some critics showed it inconsistency and underlined its lack of intellectual rigor. However, Ian Parker affirms that there is no philosophical system " zižekien" because the author, with all his inconsistencies, tries to make us reflect more deeply on than we are ready to believe and to accept on behalf of one only writer (Parker, 2004). Indeed, Žižek itself defends Jacques Lacan constantly to have revised its theories, explaining why it is not the work of the Philosophe only to say what is the world but rather to put to the test our own ideological presuppositions. Thus, the philosopher is for him plus somebody who criticizes that somebody who tries to answer the questions.
Žižek is amply recognized like a burning and high lecturer colors who dares to face the controversies. Its documentary in three " parts; The Guide of the Pervert in Cinéma" was diffused on British television in July 2006. Žižek did not cease publishing in various reviews like " Lacanian Ink" (Ink lacanienne) and " In Times" Thesis; (In these times) with the the United States, like in the " New Review" Left; or the " London Review off Books" with the the United Kingdom. He usually speaks the Serbo-Croatian, the English, the French, the German and the Slovenien . He in particular married the philosopher Renata Salecl then the Argentinian mannequin Analia Hounie.
Philosophy
Formation of the subject
Žižek written on the identity S - its work is largely indebted with the explanation of the identity training of the psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan. The theory of Lacan is articulated in three concepts: the symbolic system , the imaginary and the real . The anxiety and the desire - and processes similar about the invisible one - generate direction and guide the actions in the construction of the reality . The symbolic system (the social order, for example) is also called the great Other by Lacan, in the sense that the Grand Other organizes and deploys the other symbolic system while itself remains excluded from him. The universe appears in the private individual, in the symptom, as for example the lapse reveals at Freud the truth.The unconscious one, structured like the language, is directed towards particular objects of the desire. Such objects are contingent, although they must find their place within our mental frameworks so that one can wish them. They have certain qualities - one of these beings which the object withdraws us. The desire, as Luis Buñuel said it, is always a “obscure object”.
These objects constitute the Symptôme human being, but they can also become its opposite: its Fetish. For Žižek, the fetish is indeed the counterpart of the symptom; functioning like a pretense, it structure our whole life with an aim of supporting it. the fetish is the incorporation of a lie which enables us to endure the unbearable truth. (Slavoj Žižek, 2000). This is reality itself (in its direction Lacan IEN), an isolated object (the “small object has”) of which the presence, attractive and significant, structured reality, the social order guarantees. This reality makes possible the distance with daily reality: one introduces an object which does not have a place, which cannot be named or symbolized in one way or another. Žižek affirms that any structure symbolic system must contain an element which incorporates the moment of the impossibility around of which it is organized. This is simultaneously impossible and real (in its effect). The symptom , on another side, is the return of the truth oppressed in a different form.
Žižek explains this small Objet has - what Hitchcock calls the MacGuffin - in this manner:
- “MacGuffin is the small object has pure and simple: lack, recollection of the reality which produces moving the movement symbolic system of interpretation, a hole in the center of the order symbolic system, the only aspect of secrecies having to be explained, interpreted, etc” ( Love thy symptom ace thyself , Aime your symptom like yourself .)
Ontology
The ontology at Žižek implies a return to the category of the Cartesian subject, ideology and notion of reality lacanien.The defense of the category of the subject first of all implies a justification of the concept of Subjectivité in order to make adequate any descriptive political theory. The author says indeed that the hegemonic modes function by challenging the individuals in their social roles and by electing them within a given political framework, so that we cannot include/understand the operation of the to be able without taking account of the psychology of the political subjects. Consequently, Žižek introduces the justification of " the category of the sujet" : according to Lacan, Žižek supports that subjectivity corresponds to a lack which always resists this same full authority, that prescribed with the individuals by the hegemonic modes.
In its deployment of the " category; Ideology " , Žižek finds the concepts of ideology at Marx and its " Allemande" ideology; who concentrates on the concept of " distort conscience" , which characterizes the state of shift for one period of subjective reflexivity new and generally accompanied by a Cynisme with regard to the motivations and by work of the leaders. The most original aspect of Žižek remains however its insistence on the model lacanien which helps it to stipulate that the major motivations of the individuals are of nature Inconsciente, which can be used to show that the ideology became less incoherent today because of its bond with the truth (than it would emphasize).
In the extension discussed on its referential analysis of the ideology, Žižek maintains that the dominant ideologies structure the direction of the reality of the subjects. However, reality is not the equivalent of the reality tested by the subjects like a totality ordered and responsible for direction. According to the author, Reality indicates points on the ontological fabric which the hegemonic systems of representation and reproduction weave, although these sites resist a plenary adhesion under the terms of these systems, so that active pockets of political resistances can thus appear.
In its book " The Parallax View" (2005), Žižek puts in scene confrontation between comprehensions Idéalistes and Matérialistes of the various aspects of ontology. Such a confrontation is expressed in lacaniens terms where the alleged capacity of the idealist to theorize the All is opposed to the comprehension materialist which defines an apparent Whole as being not-All. This tendency to put in scene similar confrontations pushed to describe its work in paradoxical terms, as being a " Theology Materialist ". Žižek adds also the fact that the conscience is opaque with itself, one of its first characteristics being which one can never know if a thing is really conscious or is simply only a Imitation.
The Métaphysique of Žižek is to some extent a anti-metaphysics because of its belief in the fact that it is absurd to theorize the Whole since something will always remain in-outside Théorie. That can be still explained there in lacaniens terms, relational terms between the Symbolique and the Réel. For Žižek, we can see a person in various manners, but these manners are excluded mutually. For example, we can see ethical somebody of having a free will or a given biological creature but not both at the same time. They are Symboliques interpretations of Reality, in the manners of using the language to include/understand what is not-All, which cannot thus be entirely seized by description. Žižek announces nevertheless which Reality is not something that one differently perceives according to a voluntary consideration; It would be rather the movement of an advantage towards another, from where " sight in Parallax ". Lastly, Žižek eludes the question of the Relativisme by affirming that there is an ontological cut in diagonal in the apparently incommensurable speeches, which underlines to them Intersubjectivité. That means that although there are multiple Symboliques interpretations of Reality, they all are not relatively " vraies". Žižek identifies two cases of Reality thus: the contemptible Reality, which cannot be symbolized, and Real the symbolic system which comprises several meaning never not being able to be adequately integrated in the horizon of the direction of a subject. The truth appears while making forward contradictions: reality is then the minimal difference, space between the infinite judgment of a Matérialisme Réductionniste and the Expérience such as she is lived.
Reality, symbolic system and the imaginary one
Reality
Here the real is a rather enigmatic term, and does not have to be confused with reality . For Slavoj Žižek, reality is built symbolically; reality, however, it is the hard core, the trauma which cannot be symbolized, i.e. expressed in words. Reality does not have a positive existence; there exists only while being barred.
It is not all the reality which can be uncovered like a fiction; only things - unspecified points - which have a relationship to social antagonism, the life, death and sexuality. Those must be supported when symbolized. Reality is not a kind of reality behind reality, but rather the vacuum which makes incomplete and soft reality. It is the screen of the phantasms, the only genuine screen which twists our perception of reality. The triad of the imaginary/real symbolic system/reproduces in each part of the subdivision. There are thus three methods of reality:
- the real symbolic system : the Meaning tiny room to foolish formulas, (as in Quantum physics which, like any science, seizure reality, but reproduces only hardly comprehensible concepts;
- the real reality : a horrible thing, which translates the direction of horror in films of horror;
- the real imaginary : something of unsoundable which impregnates the things of a trace of the sublime one. This form is reality becoming perceptible in the film The Full Monty, for example in the fact of stripping the characters without employment, in other words, through the voluntary gesture of degradation , something about sublime, becomes visible.
The psychoanalysis teaches that reality (postmodern) is precisely not seen like a narration, but rather than the patient must recognize, support, and make fictitious the hard core of reality in its own fiction.
Symbolic system
The symbolic system starts with language acquisition, they are corelatifs. It is of that only that the subordinates incline themselves in front of the king. At the same time, there is always a certain distance in direction of reality (except in the case of the Paranoïa): in fact only the case of the insane beggar which believes being king, but also of the king believes being really a king. This last has only “mandate symbolic system” of a king.
- the symbolic system reality is meaning it tiny room to foolish formula;
- the imaginary symbolic system as a symbolic system jung iennne;
- the symbolic system symbolic system as speech and judicious language.
The screen like means of communication in the Cyberspace: like an interface, it refers to us with the mediation symbolic system of the communication, an abyss between the transmitter and the “position of the transmitter” (like the nickname or the address email). “I” never coincide exactly with meaning, I do not invent myself: but rather my virtual existence was in a certain direction already cofondé with the advent of the cyberspace. Here also, like social life, the networks symbolic systems circulate around the cores of reality. It is an answer to a question of Žižek often put in the form of an inversion: “It is not a question to ask whether we can learn something from the cyberspace starting from the life, but rather if we can learn something from the life starting from the cyberspace. ” These inversions serve the theoretical psychoanalysis, that does not seek simply artistic work, but rather to create a new prospect with the daily newspaper, to renew a direction with the strangeness of the life of the every day, and via the objects to develop the theory.
The networks symbolic systems, it is our reality (social).
The imaginary one
The imaginary one is located at the level of the relation of the subject to itself. It is the fixed glance of the Other in the Mirror stage, the illusory error of recognition, like concluded Lacan, quoting Rimbaud: “I am another”. The imaginary one is the fundamental imagination which is inaccessible to our experiment psychic and high on the level of the echo of the phantasm in which we find the objects of the desire. Us can here to divide imaginary into real imaginary (phantasm which supposes the place of the reality), imaginary imaginary (the image/screen itself which is useful like a leure), and the imaginary symbolic system (prototypes of Jung and thought New Age). The imaginary one can never be definitively apprehended, and this, because any speech on him is already about the symbolic system.
According to Lacan (in the Séminaire XX ), all the levels are inter-connected in the form of Anneaux borroméens, i.e. as three rings connected together in such a way that the disconnection of one of the rings involves the disconnection of the others.
Post-modernism
For Žižek, the postmodern ones can be characterized by their too near distance with the Réel. In the postmodern art (or postmodernism), Žižek identifies several demonstrations of them, like the technique of the “ remplissement of the variations ”. In “filling the variations” and “saying all”, which one obtains is the vacuum as such, who is not, finally, another thing that the vacuum of subjectivity (at Lacan, the Sujet barred ).For Žižek, the current society - or postmodern - is based on the refusal of the authority of the Grand Other. Continuing the contemporary theorists of the company of risk who make the promotion of freedoms of choice - or reflexibility -, which would have replaced the authority, Žižek claims that these theorists are unaware of reflexivity in the heart of the subject. For Žižek, the lack of interdicts formulated by the great Other under these conditions makes so that reflexivity inherent in the subject appears itself in the form of attachments of subjection, paranoia and narcissism. With an aim of improving these pathologies, Žižek proposes the need for a political act (like the revolution), an act which would modify the conditions of possibility of the postmodernity (that it connects to the capitalism) and which would give rise to a new type of Order symbolic system in which a new environment for the subject would be possible.
For They Know Not What They C: Enjoyment ace has Political Factor .)
2. The Dislocated off the big Other. One key aspect off the universalization off reflexivity is the resulting disintegration off the big Other, the communal network off social institutions, customs and laws. For Žižek, the big Other was always dead, in the judicious that it never existed in the first place ace has material thing. All it ever was (and is) has purely symbolic order. It means that we all engages in off has minimum idealization, disavowing the rough fact off the Real in favor off another Symbolic world behind it. Žižek expresses this disavowal in terms off year " ace if". In order to coexist with our neighbors we act " ace if" they C not smell bad gold look ridiculous. The big Other is then has kind off collective dregs to which we all individually subscribe. (See Jacques Lacan one other/Other and Žižek' S For They Know Not What They C .)
3. The Return off the big Other. Paradoxically, then, Žižek wire-drawers that the typical postmodern subject is one who displays year outright cynicism towards official institutions, yet At the same time believes in the existence off conspiracies and year unseen Other pulling the strings. Correlative This apparently contradictory coupling off cynicism and belief is strictly to the dislocated off the big Other. Its disappearance causes custom to construct year Other off the Other in order to escape the unbearable freedom its loss encumbers custom with. (See Looking Awry: year Introduction to Jacques Lacan through Popular Culture .)
Žižek follows Louis Althusser in jettisoning the Marxist equation: " ideology equals false consciousness." Ideology, to all intents and purposes, is consciousness. Ideology does not "mask" the real - one boat achieve true consciousness. This being the box, post-ideological postmodern " knowingness" - the wink wink nudge nudge cynicism and irony off postmodern farming production - does not reveal the truth, the real, the hardware kernel. Knowing that we are being " lied" to is hardly the stuff off revolution when ideology is not, and never has been, simply has matter off consciousness (cynicism, irony, and so one), off subject positions, goal is the very stuff off everyday praxis itself. The cynics and ironists, not to mention the deconstructionists and Al , may know that reality is year " ideological construction" - nap cuts even read to their Lacan and Derrida - goal in their daily practice, caught up in year apparently unalterable world off exchange-been worth (capital), they C to their share to sustain that construction in any box. Ace Marx would say, it is to their very life process that is ideological, what they know, but what they think they know, being neither NOR young stag there. Farming The postmodern artefact - the " critical, " the " incredulity" - is itself merely has symptom/commodity/fetish. Capital Thus has commodified even the cynicism that purports to unmask its " reality, " to " emancipate."
Politicisation
Today, in the aftermath off the end off ideology , Žižek is critical off the way political decisions are justified; the way, for example, reductions in social programs are sometimes presented ace year apparently “objectify” necessity, though this is No to skirt has valid basis for political discourse. He sees the current talk butt greater citizen involvement farming gold political goals circumscribed within the rubric off the ace having little effectiveness ace long ace No substantial measures long are devised for the run. Goal measures such ace the limitation off the freedom off capital and the subordination off the manufacturing processes to has mechanism off social control -- thesis Žižek cal off has radical Re-politicization the economy ( has Plea for Intolerance ).
So At present Slavoj Žižek is arguing for has politicization off the economy. Tolerant For indeed the multicultural pulse, ace the dogma off today' S liberal society, suppresses the crucial question: Do How edge we reintroduce into the current conditions off globalization the genuine space off the political?? He also wire-drawers in favor off has politicization off politics ace has counter balances to Post-politics. In the area off political decision making in has democratic context He criticizes the two-party system that is dominating in nap countries ace has political form off has post-political will era , ace has demonstration off has possibility off choice that in reality does not exist.
Present Politicization is thus for him whenever has particular demand begins to function ace has off representative the impossible universal . Žižek sees Class struggle not ace localized objectifies determinations, ace has social position opposite capital drank rather ace lying in has radically subjective position: the proletariat is the living room, embodied contradiction . Only through Particularism in the political struggle edge any Universalism emerges. Fighting for workers interests often appears discredited today ( indeed in this domain the workers themselves only wish to implement to their own interests, they fight only for themselves and not for the whole ). The problem is how to Foster has off politicizing politics in the old Post-politics. Particular demands, acting ace has metaphorical condensation , would thus aim At something transcend, has off genuine rebuilding the social framework. Žižek sees the real political conflict ace being that between year ordered structure off society and those without has place in it, the share that has No leaves in anything yet causes the structure to falter, because it refers to i.e embodies year empty principle off the universal .
The very fact that has society is not easily divided into classes, that there is structural No simple milked for it, that for authority the middle class is also intensely fought over by has Populism off the right, has sign off this struggle otherwise class antagonism would Be completely symbolized and No to skirt both impossible and real At the same time ( impossible/real ). -->
Critical
Žižek, which is sometimes regarded as a philosopher-entertainer (philosopher-essay writer), applies its psychoanalysis to the problems of the contemporary company. It would be possible to see that like a problem since these theories, among others, were conceptualized at the time of precarious situations (see the use of Žižek of the term Symptôme , Sinthomme , etc). The change, for him, is thus always seen like a culminating point in the symbolic system, like a “action to cross the phantasm”. In this manner, it is impossible to speak about evolution, process of training and at the same time to include the social conditions and the mode of social action.
Slavoj Zizek becomes a voice in the intellectual landscape, increasingly important. Without yielding to the provocation nor to let itself influence by some reflections guided by a topicality still too hot, Zizek returns to us with analyze fine of all the instinctual and ideological investments which work our new world order. Slavoj Zizek: “The logic of the capitalism led to the limitation of freedoms” The work of the Slovenien philosopher is located at the center of the debates which, per hour of the capitalist globalisation, seek to redefine the terms of a policy of true emancipation.
Slavoj Zizek is psychoanalyst and philosophical. It is in the quasi total ignorance of the French, that Slovenia sheltered one of the intellectuals most included in the world, and already worship in Eastern Europe and United States. If one discovers Slavoj Zizek hardly today, it is a question however of remembering that he is heavy trucks of the world thought, a thinker impossible to circumvent like were Sartre, Bourdieu, Lacan or Derrida in their time.
Renata Salecl
Renata Salecl was the wife of Slavoj Žižek. After a thesis at the university of Ljubljana where she successively studied the Sociologie and the Philosophie, she occupies off from now on a post office in London School Economics and directs research to the university of Ljubljana. Enquiring prolific, she wrote many articles in various reviews, as well as books of which " (Per) versions of the Love and Haine" , " Anxiété" and a work on feminism and the psychoanalysis.Salecl in particular wondered during its course about the " Ideology and Social" Control; , " Discipline and Punishments with the école" or for its subject of thesis on the " concept of To be able in the work of Michel Foucault "
| Random links: | Agnes de Courtenay | Lyra Belacqua | Force of combat (Dragon Ball) | Rattus adustus | Finnstick |