The podcast delves into the voice, May 68, early days in Ljubljana, Lacan, rumors and gossip, name significance, and paternal authority decline. Exciting insights from Mladen Dolar, co-founder of the Ljubljana School, on psychoanalysis, French philosophy, German Idealism, and art theory.
Mladen Dolar's exploration of the decline of paternal authority sheds light on ideological conflicts within Marxism.
The podcast delves into the tension between formal Marxism and radical interpretations post-May 68, challenging conventional Marxist views on alienation.
The rich intellectual scene in Yugoslavia blended critical Western Marxism with structuralism, showcasing diverse philosophical debates and revolutionary prospects.
Deep dives
The Encounter with Zizek and Structuralism
The speaker reminisces about encountering Zizek during their undergraduate years, noting their shared fascination with Hitchcock films and the alignment with the structuralism movement post-1968. They discuss the philosophical context in Yugoslavia, blending critical Western Marxism with the Frankfurt School's influence. The conversation delves into the intellectual revolutionary prospects linked to May 68, highlighting the tension between the formal ideology of Marxism and the more provocative interpretations represented by figures like Althusser.
The Controversial Ideology and Alienation in Marxism
A critical exploration of the ideological conflicts within Marxism unfolds, focusing on Althusser's divisive thesis on ideology. The conversation dissects Althusser's assertion that ideologies are perpetual and inherent to human subjectivity, challenging traditional Marxist views on alienation as a negative state in need of eradication. The discussion on alienation as a constitutive element and a pathway to truth versus the conventional Marxist perspective of alienation as a hurdle illustrates the divergence within Marxist interpretations.
The Influence of Hegel and Althusser on Marxist Thought
The dialogue navigates the influence of Hegel on Marxist philosophy, particularly dissecting Althusser's departure from traditional readings of Marx by separating him from a Hegelian context. Althusser's controversial stance on ideology as an eternal facet of human existence and the critique of alienation as a fundamental aspect of human subjectivity challenge prevailing Marxist dogma. The emphasis on the autonomous ego and its relationship with alienation unfolds as a point of contention within Marxist discourse.
The Philosophical Landscape and Intellectual Currents in Yugoslavia
A reflection on the philosophical landscape in Yugoslavia unveils a rich intellectual scene blending critical Western Marxism with structuralism. The interplay of formative intellectual figures such as Foucault, Lacan, and Barthes against the backdrop of a socialist context underscores the complexity of intellectual currents shaping philosophical discourse. The interaction between Marxism, structuralism, and critical theory within a socialist paradigm highlights the multifaceted intellectual debates that characterized the Yugoslavian philosophical milieu.
The Evolution of Intellectual Alliances and Cultural Context in Yugoslavia
A nuanced exploration of the evolution of intellectual alliances and cultural dynamics within Yugoslavia emerges, showcasing the intersection of critical Western Marxism and leftist movements post-1968. The conversational journey delves into how philosophical ideologies clashed and coalesced within the Yugoslavian context, embodying a blend of traditional Marxist frameworks, structuralist interpretations, and critical philosophical perspectives. The alignment with May 68 ideals, coupled with the exposure to divergent intellectual currents, shaped a unique intellectual landscape marked by ideological tensions and revolutionary prospects.
This week, we present the third episode in our series of interviews with the Troika — after Slavoj Žižek, and Alenka Zupančič . We’re speaking with Mladen Dolar, Professor and Senior Research Fellow at the Department of Philosophy, at the University of Ljubljana.
Dolar is the co-founder of what has become known as ‘the Ljubljana School’. His principal areas of research are psychoanalysis, modern French philosophy, German Idealism, and art theory. He has lectured extensively at universities in the US and across Europe, and he is the author of over a hundred papers in scholarly journals and volume collections. Apart from ten books in Slovene, his book publications include most notably A Voice and Nothing More and Opera’s Second Death.
We’re talking the voice, May 68, the early days in Ljubljana, Lacan, rumours and gossip, what’s in a name, and the decline of paternal authority.
