Bungacast /476/ Freedom against the New Nihilism ft. Jensen Suther
Mar 25, 2025
Jensen Suther, a junior fellow at Harvard specializing in philosophy and literature, dives deep into the intersections of art, culture, and socialism. He critiques the concept of immediacy in contemporary culture, juxtaposing it with Hegelian thought. Suther discusses the autonomy of art from society, tackles the implications of cultural forms tied to economic shifts, and examines the response to the historical defeats of the working class, emphasizing the necessity of collective responsibility and agency.
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Immediacy: Not Just a Style
- Immediacy in art isn't just a style of late capitalism.
- It's a socially necessary illusion present throughout capitalism, according to Jensen Suther.
Autofiction's Double-Edged Sword
- Autofiction reveals truths about our historical experience, says Jensen Suther.
- It also has fetishistic and veiling aspects, necessitating nuanced critique.
The Importance of Context in Art Critique
- Critiquing art requires understanding its social necessity and the mistakes it makes, says Jensen Suther.
- Dismissing it outright misses its attempt to grapple with historical problems.
