Returning guest Gabriel Rockhill discusses Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Žižek. They explore Žižek's background, the relationship between fascism and capitalism, Žižek's rise as a celebrity intellectual, and the nature of influence and controversial statements. They also discuss the lack of accountability in online spaces and the power of popularity.
The podcast emphasizes the need to critically examine celebrity intellectuals like Zizek and seek alternative voices deeply connected to global class struggle and the socialist alternative.
The discussion highlights the complicity of certain intellectuals, such as Zizek, with the capitalist cultural apparatus and their reinforcement of the status quo through packaging selective insights from Marxism into a reactionary discourse.
The speaker argues for a critical examination of the larger system of cultural imperialism and the limits it imposes on intellectual discourse and activism, which creates a hierarchy within the left and excludes alternative voices and anti-imperialist theories.
Deep dives
The Cultural Apparatus and the Intellectual Class
The podcast episode explores the phenomenon of the global theory industry and the consolidation of a critical theory tradition. It examines how theory is produced, circulated, and consumed within the capitalist cultural apparatus, highlighting the role of capitalist foundations and think tanks. The discussion critiques the celebrity status of intellectuals like Zizek, arguing that they are products of this system who give the system what it wants. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing the material forces behind intellectual production and the need to seek truly revolutionary theory outside the mainstream theory industry.
Zizek as a Showman and the Issue of Intellectual Commodity Fetishism
The podcast focuses on Zizek as a showman and a brand within the intellectual class. It discusses how his radical image, provocative language, and marketing as a rebel without a cause or a raunchy figure have contributed to his celebrity status. However, it argues that behind this image, Zizek ultimately reinforces the status quo and adheres to the interests of the capitalist cultural apparatus. The discussion also delves into the concept of intellectual commodity fetishism and how Zizek and similar figures in the theory industry package selective insights from Marxism into a reactionary discourse, appealing to a wider audience while obscuring the social relations of intellectual production.
The Importance of Recognizing Alternative Intellectual Voices
The podcast highlights the need to critically assess celebrity intellectuals like Zizek and to consider alternative intellectual voices that are deeply connected to global class struggle and the socialist alternative. It emphasizes the significance of intellectuals who engage with the masses and provide tools of analysis to move social movements forward, while stressing the limitations and reactionary positions prevalent in the theory industry. The discussion also touches upon the issue of intellectual celebrity and the material forces that shape the perception and impact of intellectual figures within society.
The Influence of Intellectual Labor Aristocracy and Cultural Imperialism
One of the main ideas explored in this podcast episode is the influence and complicity of the intellectual labor aristocracy and cultural imperialism within the left. The speaker highlights how certain figures within the academic and intellectual circles, such as Zizek, have gained prominence and celebrity status by aligning themselves with the dominant discourses accepted by the capitalist cultural apparatus. They receive financial support, speaking engagements, and promote ideas that are compatible with the imperial core's interests. This phenomenon creates a hierarchy within the left, where alternative voices and anti-imperialist theories are excluded and marginalized. The speaker argues for a critical examination of the larger system of cultural imperialism and the limits it imposes on intellectual discourse and activism.
Questioning the Influence and Provocative Statements of Zizek
Another key point discussed in the podcast episode is the questionable influence and controversial statements made by Zizek. The speaker criticizes Zizek's endorsement of Trump, his support for NATO, and his dismissive or misinformed views on various geopolitical issues. Furthermore, Zizek's use of provocative language and controversial remarks, often presented as jokes or provocations, allows him to evade accountability for his statements. The speaker highlights Zizek's tendency to contradict himself and the potential harm caused by his transphobia and patriarchal anti-feminist politics. The episode also questions the relevance and impact of celebrity intellectuals like Zizek and the value of investing energy in deconstructing their work.
