Felix Guattari in Japan - 'Machinic Eros' with Gary Genosko
Dec 15, 2021
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French philosopher and psychoanalyst, Felix Guattari, joins Professor Gary Genosko on this episode to discuss his cultural exchange trips to Japan. They explore machinic value, control societies, and Guattari's enthusiasm for the Free Radio Movement. They also dissect Guattari's conversations with figures from the Japanese Avant-Garde and his invocations of bygone icons of Japanese architecture. Discover Guattari's insights on technology's impact on various aspects of life and his thoughts on cybernetics, control, and liberatory potential. The podcast also covers upcoming projects and activities related to the 30th anniversary of Kiosmosis.
Guattari's fascination with Japanese culture influenced his exploration of machinic eros and its impact on society.
His interactions with Japanese intellectuals and artists expanded his understanding of Japanese culture and its relevance to his work.
Guattari challenged traditional narratives of Japanese capitalism, highlighting its complexity and relationship with cultural expressions like manga and anime.
Deep dives
Guattari's work on Japan and his experiences there
Guattari's work on Japan was characterized by his fascination with various aspects of Japanese culture, including architecture, photography, food, and the city of Tokyo. He discovered fragmentary essays on Japan in the Guattari Fons and later compiled them into a chapter called 'Japanese Singularity.' Guattari's interactions and exchanges with Japanese intellectuals and artists during the 1980s played a key role in his exploration of Japanese culture. He participated in exhibitions, lectures, pilgrimages, and visits to various individuals and organizations. Guattari's work shed light on the cultural exchanges between France and Japan during this period.
The concept of machinic eros in Guattari's writings
Guattari was interested in the concept of machinic eros, which referred to the desire to engage with machines and the impact of technology on society. This concept involved being immersed in the world of machines, whether through technological devices, games, or repetitive activities. Guattari viewed machinic eros as an expression of a highly connected and mediated society. He explored the potential of this concept to challenge traditional notions of identity and to reshape social relations.
Guattari's encounters with Japanese intellectuals and artists
Guattari's visits to Japan allowed him to connect with numerous Japanese intellectuals and artists. These encounters were facilitated by exhibitions, intellectual exchanges, and other events during the 1980s. Guattari was particularly interested in figures like Shin Takamatsu, Tetsu Kogawa, Min Tanaka, Shintaro Matsumatsu, and K-Chitara. He engaged in discussions with them on various topics related to art, architecture, media theory, and more. These encounters contributed to Guattari's understanding of Japanese culture and its relevance to his own work.
Guattari's views on Japanese capitalism and culture
Guattari's examination of Japanese capitalism led him to question traditional narratives and representations of Japan. He challenged the notion of Japanese capitalism as infantile and highlighted the complexity and hybridity of Japanese cultural expressions. Guattari explored the connections between capitalism, cultural productions like manga and anime, and the formation of subjectivity. He also acknowledged the influence of Western projections on Japan and the cyclical flow of cultural ideas between Japan and the West. Guattari's observations aimed to understand the mutating nature of capital and its effect on society.
Reflections on Guattari's work and its relevance today
Guattari's exploration of Japan and his concepts of machinic eros continue to offer valuable insights into the intersections of culture, technology, and society. His understanding of the cultural exchanges between France and Japan during the 1980s provides context for ongoing discourses on globalization and cultural dynamics. Additionally, his examination of machinic eros serves as a reminder of the ever-evolving relationship between humans and technology. Guattari's work challenges traditional assumptions and offers novel perspectives on issues of identity, subjectivity, and social change.
On this episode of Acid Horizon, we're joined by Professor Gary Genosko to discuss essays from Machinic Eros, a collection of Felix Guattari's writings and interviews from this cultural exchange trips to Japan. We explore notions of machinic value and machinic enslavement, as well as control societies and Guattari's enthusiasm for the Free Radio Movement. We also go into some of Guattari's conversations with figures from the Japanese Avant-Garde, such as the dancer and performance artist Min Tanaka, as well as dissecting Guattari's invocations of bygone icons of Japanese architecture, which have since evaporated in the flows of capitalist desire.