Acid Horizon Marxism, Anarchism, and the Power of Communist Imagination: Richard Gilman-Opalsky on Utopia and Revolution
Richard Gilman-Opalsky, an author and philosopher from the University of Illinois at Springfield, delves into the power of utopian thinking and the intersections of Marxism and anarchism. He argues that communism is not a distant goal but is reflected in everyday acts of resistance and care. The conversation critiques the failures of liberal capitalism, emphasizes the significance of imagination in envisioning alternatives, and highlights the revolutionary potential of small, transformative actions in the face of modern challenges.
01:09:18
Practicality vs Imagination in Revolution
- The demand for practicality in revolutionary politics historically reacts against revolutionary aims and misunderstands Marx's appreciation of philosophy and imagination.
- Marxism must reject the reductionist view that opposes imagination and embrace the imagination as a material struggle resource.
Communism as a Process, Not a State
- Communism is the active process that abolishes the present state of things, not a fixed stable state or ideology.
- This understanding combats ideological misrepresentations and continues the 21st-century struggle against Cold War misconceptions.
Integrating Anarchism into Marxism
- Marxism needs to integrate anarchist insights to overcome false ideological incompatibilities.
- Appreciating small-scale revolutionary acts, not just world-historical ones, revives a richer understanding of communism.
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Intro
00:00 • 2min
Exploring Utopianism and Revolutionary Practicality
02:10 • 3min
Reimagining Communism: Integrating Marxism and Anarchism
05:11 • 20min
Imagining Beyond Capitalism
25:19 • 19min
Reimagining Power: The Imaginary as Political Contestation
44:11 • 3min
Rethinking Communism Today
47:32 • 7min
Loneliness in Capitalism
54:28 • 12min
The German Ideology
The German Ideology
Friedrich Engels
Karl Marx
Reform or Revolution
Reform or Revolution
Rosa Luxemburg
Socialism
An Economic and Sociological Analysis
Ludwig von Mises
This book is a definitive refutation of nearly every type of socialism ever devised.
Mises presents a wide-ranging analysis of society, comparing the results of socialist planning with those of free-market capitalism in all areas of life.
He argues that a socialist commonwealth cannot apply economic calculation due to the absence of market prices, and defends capitalism against various criticisms.
The book addresses issues such as economic inequality, the impossibility of monopoly in a free market system, and the inefficiencies of centrally planned systems.
Black reconstruction
W.E.B. Du Bois
Published in 1935, 'Black Reconstruction in America' challenges the dominant views of the time by portraying the Reconstruction period as a critical time of Black advancement and a near-revolution of anti-racism and societal change.
Du Bois argues that African Americans were active agents of their emancipation and that the period was a second American revolution aimed at democratizing the South.
The book critiques traditional historians' views and highlights the significance of African American agency in building U.S.
democracy, despite the ultimate failure of Reconstruction and the rise of Jim Crow laws.
Illuminations
Walter Benjamin
Capitalist Realism
Is There No Alternative?
Mark Fisher
The Ego and Its Own
Pedro González Blanco
Mann, William
Roberto Calasso
Steven T. Byington
James Joseph Martin
Henri Lasvignes
Max Stirner
Survival in Auschwitz
Primo Levi
In 'Survival in Auschwitz', Primo Levi recounts his ten months in the German death camp, describing the systematic cruelty, dehumanization, and the desperate attempts to maintain humanity and sanity amidst inconceivable horrors.
The book vividly details the daily struggles, the social hierarchy within the camp, and the bonds formed among inmates.
It concludes with Levi's liberation by the Red Army and his reflection on the responsibility to share his ordeal with the world.
The age of extremes
a history of the world, 1914-1991
Eric Hobsbawm
Postmodernism, or, the Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism
Fredric Jameson
Anti-Oedipus
Félix Guattari
Gilles Deleuze
In 'Anti-Oedipus,' Deleuze and Guattari critique the Freudian/Lacanian psychoanalytic model of the ego, particularly the Oedipus complex.
They argue that human desire is not rooted in familial relationships but in broader socio-political contexts.
The book introduces the concept of 'schizoanalysis,' a method aimed at freeing desire from capitalist and familial repression.
It delves into the relationship between capitalism and schizophrenia, suggesting that capitalism exploits and commodifies desires rather than repressing them.
The authors propose a radical analysis that synthesizes political economy and psychology, introducing concepts such as desiring-machines, deterritorialization, and the body-without-organs.
Dialectic of Enlightenment
null
Theodor Adorno
Max Horkheimer
Max Horkheimer and Theodor Adorno's "Dialectic of Enlightenment" is a complex and influential work of critical theory, exploring the relationship between reason, myth, and domination.
The authors argue that the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason has paradoxically led to new forms of domination and control.
They trace the development of instrumental reason, which reduces everything to means-ends calculations, and its role in shaping modern society.
The book explores the interplay between reason and myth, arguing that myth is not simply irrational but can also be a source of critical insight.
"Dialectic of Enlightenment" remains a challenging but rewarding read, offering profound insights into the complexities of modernity and the dangers of unchecked rationality.
Grundrisse
Foundations of the Critique of Political Economy
Karl Marx
Written during the winter of 1857-58, the 'Grundrisse' develops the arguments outlined in the 'Communist Manifesto' and explores themes that would dominate Marx's later work 'Capital'.
It includes Marx's own version of Hegel's dialectics and his mature views on labor, surplus value, and profit, offering insights into alienation, automation, and the dangers of capitalist society.
The work provides a unique insight into Marx's wider-ranging philosophy and his hopes for the foundation of a communist state.
The Origins of Totalitarianism
Hannah Arendt
In this seminal work, Hannah Arendt explores the historical and philosophical roots of totalitarianism.
The book is structured into three essays: 'Antisemitism', 'Imperialism', and 'Totalitarianism'.
Arendt examines the rise of anti-Semitism in 19th-century Europe, the role of European colonial imperialism, and the emergence of totalitarian movements in Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia.
She argues that totalitarianism is a novel form of government that differs from other forms of political oppression by its use of terror to subjugate mass populations and its aim for global domination.
The book also delves into the mechanics of totalitarian movements, including the transformation of classes into masses, the role of propaganda, and the use of terror to maintain control.
The Soul at Work
The Soul at Work
Franco Berardi
Escape from Freedom
Erich Fromm
In 'Escape from Freedom', Erich Fromm examines the human relationship with freedom, distinguishing between 'freedom from' (negative freedom) and 'freedom to' (positive freedom).
The book discusses how the rise of democracy and the destruction of feudal societies led to a new kind of freedom that many individuals found overwhelming.
Fromm argues that this sense of freedom can lead to feelings of alienation, anxiety, and a desire to escape these feelings through mechanisms such as authoritarianism, destructiveness, and automatic conformity.
He also analyzes the psychosocial conditions that facilitated the rise of Nazism and other totalitarian regimes.
The book is divided into sections that explore the historical transition from medieval to modern society, the psychological factors at play in contemporary society, and the dissection of authoritarian societies with a vision of potential alternatives.
Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere
Jürgen Habermas
Jürgen Habermas's "The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere" is a seminal work in critical theory, exploring the historical development and decline of the public sphere in Western societies.
Habermas traces the evolution of public discourse from its origins in coffee houses and salons to its transformation under the influence of mass media and consumerism.
He argues that the public sphere, a space for rational-critical debate, has been increasingly colonized by private interests, leading to a decline in democratic participation and public deliberation.
The book's analysis of the relationship between power, communication, and public opinion remains highly influential in contemporary political and communication studies.
Habermas's work has sparked extensive debate and critique, particularly regarding its assumptions about rationality and its limitations in addressing issues of social inequality and power imbalances.
Despite these critiques, the book continues to be a cornerstone of critical theory and a crucial resource for understanding the complexities of public discourse in modern societies.
Evolutionary Socialism
Evolutionary Socialism
Edward Bernstein
Gamer Theory
Gamer Theory
Mackenzie Wark
Imaginary Power, Real Horizons, The Practicality of Utopianism
The Practicality of Utopianism
Richard Gilman Opalski
The imaginary institution of society
The imaginary institution of society
Cornelius Castoriadis
The philosophy of the limit
Drucilla Cornell
The revolution of everyday life
Raoul Vaneigem
24/7: Late Capitalism and the Ends of Sleep
Jonathan Crary
Communist Ontologies
Communist Ontologies
Bruno Gulli
Richard Gilman Opalski
Support Vintagia: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/acidhorizon/vintagia-i-ching-oracle-for-psychogeographers-and-creatives
What if communism isn’t a destination, but something already unfolding in everyday acts of resistance, care, and imagination? In this episode, Richard Gilman-Opalsky joins us to discuss the political force of utopian thinking, the ongoing tension between Marxism and anarchism, and the need to move beyond stale demands for “practical” revolution. Drawing from his two most recent books— Imaginary Power, Real Horizons: The Practicality of Utopianism—as well as Communist Ontologies (with Bruno Gullì) from Minor Compositions, we explore the imagination as a site of material struggle, the persistence of Cold War ideology, and the overlooked revolutionary power of small things. This conversation ranges from the German Ideology to Gaza, from the failures of liberal capitalism to the fragile flame of collective dreaming.
Imaginary Power, Real Horizons: The Practicality of Utopianism: https://www.akpress.org/imaginary-power-real-horizons.html
Communist Ontologies: https://www.minorcompositions.info/?p=1320
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