Continuing on Simone Weil's essays "The Iliad, or the Poem of Force" (1939) and "Analysis of Oppression" (1934) with guest Corey Mohler. We talk about the self-contradictions of power, why oppression and war are so intractable, and her positive solution (what there is of it here). Weil cuts through our left-right political dichotomy in a way that might interest you. Plus, Continue Reading …
Episode 170 Second Opinions: Leftists on “Society of the Spectacle”
By popular demand, here's part 3 of discussion of Debord. Does PEL have the cred to discuss neo-Marxism? Do we just not GET IT, what with our bourgeois outlooks that always split the difference between extremes and so espouse moderation? Are we perhaps too blinded by the spectacle to even see it? Well, Mark and Seth use this extra hour to ask some leftist podcasters what Continue Reading …
Ep. 170 Second Opinions: Leftists on “Society of the Spectacle” (Citizen Edition)
By popular demand, here are more opinions on Debord. Does PEL have the cred to discuss neo-Marxism? Do we just not GET IT, what with our bourgeois outlooks that always split the difference between extremes and so espouse moderation? Are we perhaps too blinded by the spectacle to even see it? Well, Mark and Seth use this extra hour to ask some leftist podcasters what they Continue Reading …
Episode 170: Guy Debord’s “Society of the Spectacle” (Part Two)
More on the 1967 Situtationist book. Do we buy Debord's critique? Is any merely partial critique (i.e., not calling for revolution) just more spectacle? Is technology inherently dehumanizing? Haven't some of these passivity/anti-technology arguments even been launched back in history against things like books? Could Debord's model of authenticity be mass produced, i.e., is Continue Reading …
Episode 170: Guy Debord’s “Society of the Spectacle” (Part One)
On the 1967 neo-Marxist, Situtationist book. What is culture? In modern capitalism, Debord thinks that it's all about the economy. It's not just our jobs that keep us trapped, but our life outside of working hours is also demanded by "the system" via our activity as consumers, and this commoditization infiltrates every corner of our lives. Debord wants us to WAKE UP, Continue Reading …
Ep. 170: Guy Debord’s “Society of the Spectacle” (Citizen Edition)
On the 1967 neo-Marxist, Situtationist book. What is culture? In modern capitalism, Debord thinks that it's all about the economy. It's not just our jobs that keep us trapped, but our life outside of working hours is also demanded by "the system" via our activity as consumers, and this commoditization infiltrates every corner of our lives. Debord wants us to WAKE UP, Continue Reading …
The Fate of Slavoj Zizek
I’ve been wanting to interview the famous Slovenian philosopher for the last seven years and now I finally have. I discovered Slavoj Žižek’s work quite by accident when, wanting to check out Loren Singer’s novel The Parallax View from my local library I put Žižek’s book with the same title on hold instead. Looking back on this incident now, after having finally gotten the Continue Reading …
More on Marx? (on Diet Soap and Elsewhere)
[Editor's Note: Thanks for Doug Lain of the Diet Soap Podcast for weighing in here with his extensive experience with Marxism.] Mark, Seth and Wes finally arrived at the philosopher who matters most over at the pinko podcast Diet Soap. While I plan on writing a response to their comments, and most especially to respond to the problem of this split between base and Continue Reading …