The Textual Politics of William Burroughs and the Master-Slave Epistolary | Oliver Harris

[@belacqua4435]

Burroughs' notion of words being a virus instead of a parsite is quite noticeable - a paracite is despite its dependence of the host still a living being with a will to nourish, develop and reproduce. The ontology of the virus is still hotly debated, but in opposition to a parasite or even a bacteria the virus isn't able to reproduce by itself. It needs a host cell to rewrite the genetic coding, so that the cell is programmed to produce copies of the virus. The word itself cannot oparate on its own, it has no meaning if there isn't a host who produces its meaning instead. And there is the predicament of whether we are the master of the words to be able to communicate and organize or the words have subjugated us and tricked us into thinking that we are in possession of souvereign power. I think Burroughs wanted to make a clear distinction between the parasites, the active and malicious participants in the 'Weltgeschehen', and the virus, that is the word that infects our very mind and being. Another thing that Burroughs alludes with the expression 'virus' is how easily a virus can mutate due to its simpler biological structure compared to a parasite which needs generations to get a significant change in its phenotype. The meaning and social status of words can drastically change in a relatively short period of time, and in the age of internet I witness - albeit through memes - how certain words lose their meaning while getting a new one in the process.

[@gavinyoung-philosophy]

This is a great explication of exactly what I think Burroughs had in mind! I was under the same understanding that viruses are not considered alive according to biology criteria since they cannot reproduce without a host. I think there's something very adaptable that Burroughs saw about the word virus, very similarly to how Deleuze & Guattari saw capital as a very elementary survival axiom that could adapt to new spaces and modes of being. They straddle the very narrow line of showing capital's adeptness and creativity whilst also highlighting its problematic and destructive nature for human society. It seems to me Burroughs had a very similar understanding of language.

[@Tryptich]

I like this style of visuals. I think it makes you focus more in the topic than seeing the face of someone talking. It’s more like a documentary, so its cool. Great video.

[@gavinyoung-philosophy]

@@Tryptich Glad you liked it! Decided I’d try something new (even though the footage is copyright so I’m not getting any ad revenue)

[@rama_lama_ding_dong]

*Neal Cassidy