Eugene W. Holland, "Perversions of the Market: Sadism, Masochism, and the Culture of Capitalism" (SUNY Press, 2024)

Feb 21, 2025

Eugene W. Holland, Professor Emeritus of Comparative Studies at The Ohio State University, explores the troubling intersection of capitalism with sadism and masochism in his work, 'Perversions of the Market.' He delves into how globalized capitalism institutionalizes these behaviors, reshaping identity, consumption, and production. The conversation touches on psychoanalysis, the complexities of consumer pleasure and pain, and the urgent need for reevaluating capitalist structures in light of class, race, and ecological implications, highlighting a path towards potential social change.

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Intro

00:00 • 3min

Psychoanalysis and Capitalism: A Critical Examination

02:41 • 22min

The Paradox of Pleasure and Pain in Consumerism

24:15 • 5min

The Undercommons and Capitalist Shadows

29:01 • 16min

Intersecting Identities: Class, Race, and Capitalism

44:43 • 2min

Desire and Capitalism: An Intricate Dance

46:52 • 15min

Axiomatics of Capitalism

01:01:59 • 7min

The Flexibility of Capitalism

01:08:46 • 10min

Capitalism's Legal Framework and Its Implications

01:18:46 • 6min

Capitalism, Science, and Environmental Ethics

01:24:50 • 18min

Exploring Utopian Ideals in the Context of Capitalism

01:42:33 • 3min

The Undercommons

Stefano Harney

Fred Moten

A Thousand Plateaus

Capitalism and Schizophrenia

Félix Guattari

Gilles Deleuze

A Thousand Plateaus is a key text in the 'Capitalism and Schizophrenia' series by Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari. It advances a unique philosophical approach that draws from but critiques both Freudian and Marxist theories. The book is structured as a series of 'plateaus' that can be read in any order, each exploring different concepts such as rhizomes, stratification, and the distinction between smooth and striated space. It is essential reading for those interested in critical theory, feminism, literary theory, and contemporary Western culture.

Anti-Oedipus

Félix Guattari

Gilles Deleuze

In 'Anti-Oedipus,' Deleuze and Guattari critique the Freudian/Lacanian psychoanalytic model of the ego, particularly the Oedipus complex. They argue that human desire is not rooted in familial relationships but in broader socio-political contexts. The book introduces the concept of 'schizoanalysis,' a method aimed at freeing desire from capitalist and familial repression. It delves into the relationship between capitalism and schizophrenia, suggesting that capitalism exploits and commodifies desires rather than repressing them. The authors propose a radical analysis that synthesizes political economy and psychology, introducing concepts such as desiring-machines, deterritorialization, and the body-without-organs[1][3][4].

The Code of Capital

Katharina Pistor

Perversions of the Market

Sadism, Masochism, and the Culture of Capitalism

Eugene W. Holland

Eugene W. Holland's "Perversions of the Market" examines the intertwining of sadism and masochism within the framework of capitalism. The book explores how global capitalism distorts free markets, leading to societal patterns of sadistic production and masochistic consumption. Holland uses Deleuze and Guattari's schizoanalysis to analyze the psychodynamics of the capitalist market, integrating Freud's and Lacan's perspectives. He argues that these perverse relations must be addressed to prevent capitalism's destructive impact. The book's historical and theoretical analysis offers a critical perspective on modern culture.

Coldness and Cruelty

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Willis