Žižek And So On Critique of Pure Desire w/ Russell Sbriglia
Aug 26, 2025
Russell Sbriglia, Associate Professor of English and co-editor with Slavoj Žižek, dives into his innovative album, 'Critique of Pure Desire.' He explores the intersections of philosophy, psychoanalysis, and literature, touching on Lacanian theory and the concept of desire. The discussion includes thought-provoking analyses of classics like Antigone and Hamlet, examining duty and fate. They also reflect on cinema's evolution, the Gothic allure of 'Vertigo,' and the intriguing blend of music and narrative in artistic expression.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Desire As A Non‑Pathological Ethical Force
- The album's title riffs on Žižek's 'critique of pure desire' which treats desire as non-pathological in a Kantian frame.
- Pure desire for Lacan entwines with the death drive and preserves an uncanny, unsymbolizable kernel of subjectivity.
Songs As Lacanian Synecdoches
- Each song on the album adapts a distinct literary or film work to stage a Lacanian critique of desire.
- The artworks serve as synecdoches that reflect the album's overarching philosophical theme.
Žižek's Impromptu Antigone Recording
- Slavoj Žižek recorded the Antigone passage at Russ Sbriglia's house in three takes without hearing the music first.
- Russ then layered Žižek's reading onto a rough mix and only trimmed one sentence to make it fit the song.
