Slavoj Žižek: FOR A LEFT THAT DARES TO SPEAK ITS NAME - October 8, 2019

FOR A LEFT THAT DARES TO SPEAK IT'S NAME
Slavoj Žižek with Peter Bratsis and Jeremy Glick
"With irrepressible humour Slavoj Žižek dissects our current political and social climate, discussing everything from Jordan Peterson and sex 'unicorns' to Greta Thunberg and Chairman Mao. This is Žižek's attempt to elucidate the major political issues of the day from a truly radical left position"
Philosopher and cultural critic Slavoj Žižek is internationally recognized for his works on psychoanalysis, Hegel, cinema, political theory, and current events. He teaches at the European Graduate School and has been a visiting professor at Université de Paris VIII, Columbia, and Princeton, among other institutions. He is founder and president of the Society for Theoretical Psychoanalysis in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and is the author of many books on topics ranging from Christianity to the films of David Lynch.

[@aikitechniques1187]

I don't know if Zizek is becoming more coherent or I'm finally beginning to get my head around his key themes, but that's a enlightening lecture.

[@twoboxtoofurious]

lol. I absolutely agre. I even feel corageous enough to try again and read How to read lacan (by Zizek)

[@Thewonderingminds]

attended masterclass

[@debralegorreta1375]

lol

[@nightoftheworld]

oisin bourke Monstrosity of Christ and his Holberg ‘Why I am still a Communist” are as well.

[@sous-titreenfrancais8471]

yes ! il ne le dit pas mais on entend qu'il infléchit et subsume ("aufhebung" hégélienne) parfois son propos suite à des discussions avec des contradicteurs : Zizek est hégélien en acte !

[@XXBloodyElle]

Starts at 7:35

[@almafernandez7468]

When I read In defense of intolerance was revealing, the idea of ​​multiculturalism as a hegemonic ideology that denies the political is extremely interesting. Thank you for making this speech possible. Love from Mexico!

[@ethanstump]

Marx himself stated that capitalism spreads multiculturalism. specifically from the communist manifesto: " The bourgeoisie has through its exploitation of the world market given a cosmopolitan character to production and consumption in every country. To the great chagrin of Reactionists, it has drawn from under the feet of industry the national ground on which it stood. All old-established national industries have been destroyed or are daily being destroyed. They are dislodged by new industries, whose introduction becomes a life and death question for all civilised nations, by industries that no longer work up indigenous raw material, but raw material drawn from the remotest zones; industries whose products are consumed, not only at home, but in every quarter of the globe. In place of the old wants, satisfied by the production of the country, we find new wants, requiring for their satisfaction the products of distant lands and climes. In place of the old local and national seclusion and self-sufficiency, we have intercourse in every direction, universal inter-dependence of nations. And as in material, so also in intellectual production. The intellectual creations of individual nations become common property. National one-sidedness and narrow-mindedness become more and more impossible, and from the numerous national and local literatures, there arises a world literature. and as communists, we know that this woke imperialism denies the political reality of the working class.

[@vitoroliveirajorge368]

Last book by Zizek, "Sex and Failed Absolute" is a masterpiece. But all his philosophical work is fundamental. Those who only watch videos of his interventions do not know his actual importance in philosophy. His contribution is crucial.

[@shonagraham2752]

No it isn't I suggest you read other books lol!

[@OH-pc5jx]

Vitor Oliveira Jorge I’m hoping to slowly work my way up to reading his heavy theoretical work because I can see the weight and power of his ideas through his popular work, but I really struggle to penetrate it without an extensive prior knowledge of Hegel and Lacan

[@benjammin6692]

That's true.

[@jamess-shaw5464]

bruh I ain't smart enough for that shit

[@evanmcarthur478]

After years of listening to him, I tried to read the “The Monstrosity of Christ ” great book but I couldn’t get through the whole thing. Then I bought “Trouble in Paradise”, and read the whole thing. His lectures prepared me to get through a book of his, I thought I would never be able to read a book of his, book I got a little smarter and did it! His lectures really don’t do him justice.

[@michaelobama736]

GOTTA LOVE ZIZEK

[@99nej]

This is brilliant, thank you for uploading!

[@johnnada6831]

Žižek becomes both better and better and also more and more disjointed. Also funny to hear that his son shows him the dark web...

[@eidsongregory5795]

interesting point on dismemberment / disjointedness (it reminds me of what John Cage said about language that needs to become more arthritic)

[@FedeKai95]

@@eidsongregory5795 what does disjointed mean? Not an english speaker here.

[@Tokagawa89]

@@FedeKai95 It means lacking ordinary sequence, pretty much kinda making the point he'll make points you wont normally put together when talking about the political subjects he speaks about.

[@johnnybourgeois13]

The world is disjointed. Any attempt to describe it, reflect it or make a credible model of it, must take that into account. The discourse is a reflection of the background culture and it's underlying material order. And as he often says, philosophy cannot provide easy answers, it's more important task or function is to ask the right questions.

[@benjammin6692]

@Monetizing Dossent are you a philosopher? You sound credible and it would not surprise. Who can take on Zizek today? And by that I mean debate with him fully and dispassionately about the same subjects he takes on

[@TheRottenCheese]

Slavoj has a flip phone. Lmao.

[@l.w.paradis2108]

So do I.

[@tuffghost874]

Thanks for making this happen, much much love from Mexico

[@donacatanguma]

Outstanding !!! Thank you to Slavoj and all participants ☮️💚🌻💪🏼🕊

[@joontheory]

Thank you for obviously going over time with the QnA session.

[@jcrass2361]

His point about times being just before ww1, is pretty spot on. Never thought about that. Also, subscribed to the channel. Looks very interesting.

[@solmyr42]

That is almost too scary to contemplate

[@littlesigh]

I have listened to many of Slavoj's videos over the past few years and this is one of the top 3 if not the best. EXCELLENT! Thanks for posting. PS. If there is a plan to get a Psychologist into the White House then I vote for Slavoj Zizek !!!!

[@aboxintheblack9530]

That Black Panther quote was spot on.

[@aboxintheblack9530]

1:02:29

[@cjweston228]

I found the book where Newton and Erikson's conversation was transcribed at my school's library. I scanned Newton's chapter-- lemme know if you want it ;p

[@lxjunius9276]

aO102 I do, please! My e-mail: [e-mail]

[@l.w.paradis2108]

@@aboxintheblack9530 Now I understand the game the neoliberals play, and also why it does not work on Zizek on an emotional level (why it doesn't work intellectually is obvious): the neoliberals set up a little checkmate where everyone is too afraid to challenge identity politics lest they be suspected -- by everyone -- of secret racism. No argument will be listened to; the insinuation will stick. Once it does, it is ruinous. Of course they can't pull that on Zizek. He doesn't make his home in the West.

[@maratonec5]

thanks, great content

[@mmd2156]

Bravo!

[@Life_Of_Mine_]

The best Zizek video. I wish there were people I could sit, talk, and wonder about with the what-the-fuckness of this world.

[@gregorycomey]

Might be one of his best talks

[@l.w.paradis2108]

Huey Newton and Erik Erikson's dialogue is available in libraries in lots of places. Just ordered it, can hardly wait!

[@jpdalvi]

This title is also the title of a book written by Brazilian philosopher Vladimir safatle, published in 2011

[@SamuelHulick]

Actually starts at 7:43

[@Diana-qs3th]

OMG, I know all those four people, they were all my professors, and of course, I saw Zizek many times.

[@nightoftheworld]

10:26 “This is the permanent point that I repeat obsessively-and I think that’s what we need today in our political moment. We don’t need _geniuses_ there are enough of geniuses. Your president _beloved_ Donald Trump, he regularly designates himself as a stable genius I think, you know. We need what Kirkegaard called the opposition to genius: *apostle* . You are just a bearer of truth, you repeat again and again the same point. We need women who display toxic masculinity.”

[@jcrass2361]

The last couple mins of his talk is really great, “don’t be afraid to be a true leftist.” Against all criticisms, let’s change this shit for the better.

[@Corgifunni]

oh my god kurosawa's hamlet was perfect

[@CynicalBastard]

*The Master* Can teach one behind oneself how to 'reach beyond themselves', through contradiction of their own perfection [thru conscious paradox, antagonism], this is taught, and they never reduce their perfection: and through provocation and criticism [excoriation] of assented behavior.

[@mcjett5870]

Courage

[@ianbarr9925]

Zizek is really dumbing it down for these college students lol

[@cow_tools_]

Lets have an event with both Slavoj Zizek and Angela Nagle.

[@AlexDeLarge1]

The top two comments represent the duality of man.

[@mercmer....]

Žižek⭐

[@wrichik]

7:42

[@jamess-shaw5464]

hero

[@Androbott]

up up

[@benjammin4840]

thank you

[@fromeveryting29]

28:20 note to self about freedom

[@albdruck2575]

21:02 extremely rare "you on"

[@Anonimo-tb6ge]

Yes, a new idea of materialism is needed. Hopefilly, spanish philosopher Gustavo Bueno created a full system (yeah, full system like Hegel) named "Philosophical Materialism", based on 1. Materialism is plural (against monism) 2. Plato's Symploké concept 3. Idealism and spirits is just pure metaphisics (pseudo-ideas) One of its biggest works is "Sciences as categorical closures" (www.helicon.es/pen/7848542.htm) in which offers a theory of sciences and solves the epistemic problem by including epistemology inside gnoseology. Also is to mention his ontological theory named "doctrine of the 3 ontological materialisms", quite important! Plz, accept my apologies for not going further into this "plural materialism", but It would be stupid to try to summarise his enormous work. When you discover him and start reading, its a really mind-fuck. The guy is (actually, "he was" as he died 2 years ago) so brilliant I feel I must not hesitate to let every non-spanish speaker philosopher know about philosophical materialism! [=>] Sciences as categorical closures: www.helicon.es/pen/7848542.htm [=>] wikipedia entry: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustavo_Bueno [=>] Sciences as categorical closures at Google books: books.google.es/books?printsec=frontcover&id=qg42bnQtz74C&hl=en#v=onepage&q&f=false [=>] Biopicture of the philosopher : www.helicon.es/pen/7848542.htm [=>] His was forced into retirement: www.fgbueno.es/hem/1998r13.htm [=>] This interpretation of The Kingdom of Culture and the Kingdom of Grace is also a mind-fucker: www.fgbueno.es/ing/gbm/1991cult.htm Zizek sure will enjoy Bueno's theory of religions as theological inversion starting from Hegel to nowadays. [**] SERIOUS MATERIALIST PHILOSOPHERS PLEASE DO NOT IGNORE THIS INFO [**]

[@dddrrr7139]

somoene needs to subtitle zizek , do a crowd funding to pay for ur time

[@lunaridge4510]

Regarding the “eminent antagonism” of the position that transsexuals confirm the essentialism/biological determinism of the gender identity in patriarchal society rather than fight against it and/or become a true incarnation of the fluidity of the “gender roles”-sorry, Slavoj but it was Germaine Greer who had made this point a while ago and, sadly, still suffers the consequences of pointing this contradiction out, that is, being constantly abused and called stupid names.

[@abataaoigami6715]

I still think sexual and gender fluidity are fundamental concepts.

[@hiddeluchtenbelt6440]

1:36:35 “yeh” Sensual...

[@burjaivan]

In which year was the lecture?

[@afkaqualls]

Around 01:30:00 the most important message is expressed. Summary: the market cannot handle our Global problems nor can the state. What communism offers is a third point of reference. That of a Transcendent body which occupies a field outside of the market and of the state, and which finds ways to deal with these Global problems.

[@afkaqualls]

In this sense humanity is a divided subject. That we represent ourselves through abstractions, that is in one way the market and another way the state. Perhaps what we need is the concept of the Third position, which is the Communist position. And in order for this position to have any effect, it must gain power.

[@AlanDeAnda1]

Excuse me amigo, you're saying nonsense things. Market-State is a false dychotomy in the sense of both always exist in big or small magnitudes and complement each other. Think about ancient Egipt or ancient Mesopotamia, even ancient Mexico. Markets existed parallel to a state which intervened in a certain way on it. In terms of a large purchase of iron for weapons in wartimes or large ammounts of food and ornaments in festive days. So, you're saying communism is a total distinct way of market and state!? C'mon.

[@afkaqualls]

@@AlanDeAnda1 I never said the market and state are complementary. I said that we create abstract concepts, such as market and state, to mediate social relations. Family is another. Home. Work. A City. A Nation. These aren't real things as much as they are virtual ideas that organize interactions between people and things. I'm not diefying any of these concepts as necessary or natural. I'm saying that what Slavoj is describing is a way of solidifying a functional communist concept such that it occupies the global consciousness and translates into a globe-wide structural power which can challenge these other existing structural powers. So what is the strong, globally translatable Communist concept that will generate significant conditions which becomes a structural challenge to the mesh of concepts (not just market or state) that alter the real ontologically contiguous conditions of living?

[@ernstgross5852]

During a lecture my professor wrote "Slavoj Žižek" on the wall with a thick sharpie! No shit! Hahahaha

[@comidillo]

subtitles plzzz and i dont mean for Slavoj Žižek, come on youtube 2019

[@abataaoigami6715]

They're dismantling community contributions for subtitles. It's disgusting.

[@TupacMakaveli1996]

yakh!

[@joeygough5374]

When he is talking about breaking the fourth wall just after this (time)[kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6ndZa2hhMSWm5Y] he is looking straight into the camera. so weird.

[@adriaanlabout2441]

Flying is dirty . Careful in those NY basements.

[@FratFerno]

Zizek's point about avoiding democracy reminds me of his brief slogan on Big Think: "Don't act. Just think." We need to find a place to not only listen but to think and so on and so on. The world is complicated.

[@AudioPervert1]

Slavo is brilliant is far-out is so fluid and sometimes so off-hand. Horkheimer and Theodore Adorno of the Frankurt School of Critical Theory were never connected to communism, nor Stalin or any such left (or right) tendency.

[@danieltranter4164]

He was outlining the far-right conspiracy, not advocating it as true

[@l.w.paradis2108]

My Own Private Idaho! 12:33

[@fromeveryting29]

What he says about transsexualism is spot on. He gets it. It feels like a neccecity. Sexual function is so fundamental to every part of life. I was terryfied of all the surgeries and social stigma. But now I've gone through all the surgeries and stuff, I can live way more functionally. It greatly insults me how people on the left think of gender as some superficial, floating social identity. As a transsexual man I feel way more comfortable and accepted with conservative people. They take me seriously because 1. They see a man when they see me. 2. They understand how profound it is to BE a gender. Liberal "gender benders" have little respect for my privacy. I do not feel comfortable around them. They make terrible assumptions, ask terrible questions and do not understand the seriousness and trauma of changing sex out of neccecity. The irony of it..

[@aryehshershow2218]

Julian I great comment, thanks for writing this

[@Tom_Tom_Klondike]

Really interesting, Julian. Thanks for your comment.

[@verop124]

this really struck me. thanks for the comment. although i would assume conservatives dont ask questions only out of a mindset like „i dont wanna know i actually oppose this“. 🧐

[@philiphammar]

Sounds more like you need to find better liberal-oriented friends.

[@CynicalBastard]

*How does change* We see change in the mélange of [doing] theory, and in concocting mixtures of theory, hopefully one will change the world, and hopefully, to Marx's dream of Communism, and/or the closest thing to a "utopia" in terms of social emancipation.

[@mendozamargarita8728]

Let's have some new material Slavoj.

[@pritch481]

It's a continual process of clarification. See 1:15:00, for example. You see that the Real is in the contradictions, e.g class struggle, where individual struggles are common.

[@gaelwynmackwyn]

We're a little late for that.

[@Alejandro-te2nt]

I feel like he has been telling the same few stories and jokes my whole life.

[@danieltranter4164]

He is an apostle, not a genius

[@abataaoigami6715]

@@danieltranter4164 aha! Ah apostle of Apostles. Though his Written work is much more fleshy than his tired jokes and anecdotes. No one should have to rely on an anecdote that's more than 5 years old.

[@rustyroche1921]

there's always that one cringy indian going through life (oedipally) confusing the world and his mother

[@jansenmtan]

1:37:15 - 1:37:40 That is why I dont like hardcore i cant understand how expressions of pain are also expressions of pleasure

[@abataaoigami6715]

Japanese porn is worse. The sounds are.... Rather frighteningly painful-sounding.

[@amralharazi5373]

Typical BMCC moment at 19:12 The future Nobel laureate repeatedly heckling a lecture to make the brilliant contribution of “mole-people!” Yes, thank you for clarifying for the New York Post readers. The guy’s voice even sounds like he’s breathing through his mouth. Such a brief yet striking encapsulation of that place as an institution

[@nobumassiah]

this is really funny

[@Argacyan]

1:10:13 I feel like Zizek is trapped in ideology here. The point is not "if you assert german identity you are nationalist" or whatever, it's the fact that nationalists and racists say they were just "asserting german identity" while shooting people in the streets like the NSU and so on and so forth in the 2010's.

[@2unknown2111]

I believe this is what he refers to when he says, "I understand why it's bad." A bit vague, I agree, but I feel that the topic of what "national pride" means to white nationalists is a well discussed topic on the left. Žižek doesn't feel the need to reiterate this point and would rather spend time talking about white liberals and their GENERAL insistence on "identity for thee, not for me."

[@Chewychaca]

10:56 - Greta does not display toxic masculinity, but benevolent/wholesome/restorative masculinity

[@Alejandro-te2nt]

I think he means that she is brutal, accusatory and doesnt care about accomodating the feelings of politicians. she is assertive in a brutal way.

[@bradmodd7856]

toxic masculinity is aggression isn't it? that is available to all the sexes

[@jordangentges2631]

@@bradmodd7856 no, aggression can have legitimate reasons to exist. He's rejecting that there is something essentially toxic about aggression, and that it's most important to know what the aggression is in the service of. She acts as a mirror of the facts and simply says them straightforwardly. Your comment is why exactly why Sizek is skeptical of political correctness, because the critique of performance obscures what is the actual underlying ideology we want to achieve.

[@l.w.paradis2108]

He is kidding, in part.

[@PP266]

Mother Nature? In 2019? Fascism is coming my dear people and all this nature stuff will help it overcome all of us who want to be free.

[@Ratty2480]

Bit of "propaganda" about Fraulein Thunderberger being the "real deal" there by Ol' Slavoj Funny how it doesn't bother me as much coming from Zizek haha

[@hanagreg]

Why Fräulein lol

[@muhilan8540]

maybe propaganda, but it's true

[@NymphZoic68]

7:41