Within Reason #40 Slavoj Žižek - Sex, Drugs, and Commodity Fetishism
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Sep 8, 2023 
Slavoj Žižek, a Slovenian-born political philosopher and cultural critic, discusses topics ranging from criticism of Stalin to the transformation of horror into pleasure. They explore the paradoxes of cancel culture and the self-destructive tendencies within the Western tradition perpetuated by the woke left. The conversation also touches on the motivations behind destructive sexual fetishes and the obsession of totalitarian regimes with false expressions of loyalty. They discuss the threats to democracy and the need for critical thinking in today's society.
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Commodity Fetishism
- Žižek discusses the Marxist concept of commodity fetishism.
- It's an illusion intertwined with reality, and removing it would disintegrate social life.
Pornography Paradox
- Žižek recounts a story of an actor in a hardcore pornography film.
- The actor loses his erection and requests his iPhone to watch porn for re-arousal.
Trump as Postmodernist
- Žižek analyzes Donald Trump's persona as a postmodernist.
- He embodies a cynical self-relativization where claims lack seriousness.