Who is 'Dark Deleuze'?: A Discussion with Andrew Culp
Aug 23, 2020
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Guest Andrew Culp discusses his book 'Dark Deleuze' and challenges to Deleuze's philosophy. Topics include negativity/positivity in Deleuze and Foucault's philosophy, politics of blame and ressentiment, radical groups and actions, conspiracy and imperceptibility, and tactical media and resistance.
Dark Deleuze challenges the prevailing academic reception of Deleuze's thought, aiming to revive its radical heritage and update it for contemporary times.
The concept of the destruction of worlds challenges the idea of creating multiple worlds within anti-globalization, focusing instead on dismantling systems that perpetuate oppression.
Imperceptibility involves evading detection while exploiting power asymmetries, emphasizing the need for creative strategies and utilizing online platforms as tools for subversion.
Deep dives
The Significance of Dark Delos
Dark Delos is an important book that aims to revive the radical heritage of Delos's thought and update it for contemporary times. It critiques the prevailing academic reception of Delos, which is seen as dry, technocratic, and centrist. The book received mixed critical reception, but found a wide readership with small anarchist presses around the world. The author emphasizes the impact of the book outside of traditional academic circles and its resonance with readers who have picked it up and run with its ideas. The importance of keeping the radical spirit of Delos alive and challenging conventional interpretations is highlighted.
The Reception of Dark Delos
The book challenges the prevailing academic reception of Delos's thought, which some argue has leaned towards a more technocratic and centrist perspective. The author shares his initial concerns about potential condemnation of the book, but is unapologetic about its radical approach. He points out that the best reception has been from small anarchist presses in various countries, where readers have embraced the book's ideas and applied them to their own contexts. The book's impact goes beyond academic circles, finding resonance among readers who see it as a call to keep the radical heritage of Delos's thought alive.
Negativity and Positivity in Delosian Philosophy
One of the key discussions in the podcast episode focuses on the interplay between negativity and positivity in Delosian philosophy. The guest speaker explores the concept of sad passions, which refers to negative emotions and affects that hinder revolutionary movements. He argues that Delos and Foucault's emphasis on eschewing sad passions is more about rejecting certain manifestations of negative emotions within political movements, rather than rejecting all forms of negativity. The guest suggests that there's a need to understand historical context and the specific meanings attributed to sad passions in different time periods and political contexts. The importance of harnessing the creative potential of underlying forces and embracing alternative frameworks, such as the destruction of worlds, is highlighted.
Destruction of Worlds as a Key Concept
The concept of the destruction of worlds is discussed as a core idea in the podcast episode. The guest speaker explains that this concept challenges the prevailing approach of creating multiple worlds within the framework of anti-globalization. Instead, the focus is on the destruction of systems that perpetuate oppression, moving beyond the pluralistic vision of many worlds being possible. The guest points to the George Floyd uprising as an example of a moment where the concept of destruction of worlds can be seen in action, transcending traditional identities and focusing on the composition of individuals in a riot. The importance of understanding the radical nature of Delos's thought and reimagining its relevance in contemporary struggles is emphasized.
Imperceptibility and its Role in Political Action
The concept of imperceptibility is explored in relation to political action and evading the capture of the state apparatus. The guest speaker suggests that imperceptibility involves finding ways to evade detection while still exploiting the asymmetries within the systems of power. The podcast episode highlights the importance of strategies that go beyond conventional methods of resistance and focus on creative means to disrupt and challenge dominant structures. The speaker mentions the use of online platforms and technology as tools to be both utilized and manipulated, suggesting that exploiting these platforms can help subvert the system and maintain a level of imperceptibility. The importance of finding moments of convergence and encounters outside traditional academic settings is also discussed, emphasizing the need for a strategic and transformative approach in political practice.
Andrew Culp is the author of Dark Deleuze, the controversial piece of Deleuze scholarship which challenges appropriations of Deleuze by academics and professionals uncommitted to a program of radical politics. Craig, Will, Matt, and Adam together interrogate Andrew on the finer points of the book. Also, we discuss the similar dilution of Foucault's legacy. Some concepts on the table are negativity/positivity, ressentiment, the outside, imperceptibility, asymmetry, fugitivity, and destroying worlds.
