Conversations with Tyler Slavoj Žižek on His Stubborn Attachment to Communism
Jan 8, 2020
Slavoj Žižek, a Slovenian philosopher and cultural critic, discusses his enduring commitment to communism alongside Tyler. He provocatively labels *The Handmaid's Tale* as 'nostalgia for the present' and expresses admiration for Greta Thunberg. The conversation includes Marx's insights on commodification, concerns about ecology in contemporary communist regimes like China, and the unsettling dynamics of modern political discourse. Žižek challenges liberal optimism and reflects on the necessity of maintaining academia’s 'useless character' while advocating for pragmatic engagement with real-world issues.
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Žižek's Nostalgia
- Tyler observes Žižek's enjoyment of Stalinist movies and songs.
- He theorizes this is nostalgia, similar to East Germans' fondness for old communist products.
Stalin's American Fascination
- Žižek explains his fascination with Stalinism's admiration for America, citing Soviet cinema's imitation of Hollywood.
- He quotes Stalin's definition of a Bolshevik as combining Russian dedication with American pragmatism.
Ideology in the Yugoslav Army
- Žižek recounts his time in the Yugoslav army, highlighting the paradoxical nature of ideology.
- He explains how the army was homophobic yet filled with homosexual innuendos, demonstrating how ideology functions even when not believed.
