Coop and Taylor interview Adam and Craig from Acid Horizon podcast discussing chapter 3 of Lyotard's Libidinal Economy. Topics include the interconnection of desire and political economy in Marx and Freud, the growth of edifice in relation to capitalism, Leotar's writing and critical negative modality, feedback loops and potlatch in capitalism, and the difficulty in finding guests to discuss a particular book.
Capitalism is deeply intertwined with libidinal economy and desire, challenging the assumption that it persists because people desire their own servitude.
Leotard's text can be seen as a critique of the capitalist system and its effects on the body and desire, showcasing the horror of demanding clarity and power over intensities.
Leotard's critique of alienation emphasizes that it is an intense experience beyond the reduction of pleasure or pain, exploring the concept of Sansation, an unbearable pleasure beyond life and death.
Deep dives
Leotard's Critique of Marxism and Desire
Leotard's podcast explores Leotard's critique of Marxism through the lens of desire. He challenges the assumption that capitalism persists because people desire their own servitude. Instead, Leotard argues that capitalism is deeply intertwined with libidinal economy, where enjoyment and desire are inextricably linked. He critiques the concept of clarity and the demand for theoretical precision, emphasizing the horror of trying to regulate and control intensities. Leotard's work delves into the complexity of desire, the destruction of the body, and the tension between positive and negative feedback loops in capitalism.
The Horror of Intensities and the Body in Leotard's Text
Leotard's text can be seen as a body horror, exploring the intense and horrifying aspects of desire. He uses examples from literature and film, such as Hillraiser and The Fly, to illustrate his points. Leotard emphasizes the enjoyment and pleasure within capitalist systems and critiques the concept of a non-alienated region outside of capitalism. He showcases the horror of the demand for clarity and power over intensities, arguing against the concept of an outside or transcendental horizon. The text can be seen as a critique of the capitalist system and its effects on the body and desire.
Leotard's Renunciation and Lack of Critiques
Leotard's text has not received many strong critiques or direct responses. The lack of engagement may be due to various factors, such as the challenging and poetic nature of his writing style. Leotard's renunciation of the text could be seen as a response to the lack of feedback and engagement he received. He may have expected more attention and discussion, especially considering the success of his previous work, "Anti-Oedipus." This overall lack of critical response could be due to the unique and complex nature of Leotard's ideas, making it challenging for others to engage and provide meaningful critiques.
The Critique of Alienation and Sansation in Leotard's Text
Leotard's text delves into the critique of alienation, arguing that it is an intense experience rather than simply a reduction of pleasure or pain. He explores the concept of Sansation, an unbearable pleasure beyond life and death. Leotard challenges the distinction between conscious pleasure and unconscious enjoyment, emphasizing the intensity and endurance of Sansation. His critique of alienation aligns with the idea that everything in capitalism is alienating, while also highlighting the intense experiences that arise within the system.
Critique of Marxist interpretations
In this podcast episode, the speaker delves into a critique of various interpretations of Marx and Marxist theory. They question the motivations and desires of intellectuals and theorists who attempt to impose their own ideas onto Marx's work. The speaker suggests that these interpretations often prioritize theoretical discourse over actual revolutionary outcomes, and that they become caught in a never-ending cycle of producing more theory without tangible results.
Performing subject positions and shifting perspectives
Another key theme discussed in the podcast is the idea of performing subject positions and shifting perspectives. The speaker points out that the text itself performs a shifting of subject positions, from 'we intellectuals' to 'you intellectuals', highlighting a sense of hysteria and irony. This shifting of perspectives reflects the hyperactivity of the libidinal band, and allows for multiple readings and interpretations. It also resonates with the concept of identifications in dreams, where one can identify with multiple characters and perspectives simultaneously.
Coop and Taylor participated in a livestream for the Zer0 Books YouTube channel, alongside Adam & Craig from Acid Horizon. We looked at chapter 3 of Jean Francois Lyotard's Libidinal Economy, titled The Desire Named Marx.
Video Link:
https://youtu.be/4Opu6yggeYA
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/acid-horizon/id1512615438
https://twitter.com/acidhorizonpod?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
https://www.patreon.com/acidhorizonpodcast/posts
https://www.instagram.com/acidhorizonpod/?hl=en
https://acidhorizonpodcast.buzzsprout.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqzFQr1LCC8xrr0fMcRctYg
Zer0 Books YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/Zer0Books
Happy Hour at Hippel's (Adam’s blog): https://happyhourathippels.wordpress.com
Destratified (Matt’s Blog): https://destratified.com/
Revolting Bodies (Will's Blog): https://revoltingbodies.com
Split Infinities (Craig’s Substack): https://splitinfinities.substack.com/
Music: https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/
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