Difference between revisions of "Enjoyment as a Category of Political Theory"
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| − | <blockquote>"All politics relies upon, and even manipulates, a certain economy of enjoyment."<ref>[[Slavoj Žižek]] and Glyn Daly. ''Conversations with Žižek''. Cambridge, U.K.: Polity, 2004. p. 114</ref></blockquote> | + | <blockquote>"All [[politics]] relies upon, and even manipulates, a certain [[economy]] of enjoyment."<ref>[[Slavoj Žižek]] and [[Glyn Daly]]. ''[[Conversations with Žižek]]''. Cambridge, U.K.: Polity, 2004. p. 114</ref></blockquote> |
Throughout his [[Slavoj Žižek:Books|work]], [[Žižek]] draws out the workings of [[enjoyment]] (what [[Jacques Lacan]] calls ''[[jouissance]]'') in [[racism|racist]] and [[racism|ethnic]] [[ideology|ideological]] [[fantasy|fantasies]], in [[socialism]]'s [[bureaucracy|bureaucratic]] [[excess]]es, and in the [[cynicism]] of the [[narcissism|narcissistic]] [[subject]]s of [[capitalism|late capitalism]]. | Throughout his [[Slavoj Žižek:Books|work]], [[Žižek]] draws out the workings of [[enjoyment]] (what [[Jacques Lacan]] calls ''[[jouissance]]'') in [[racism|racist]] and [[racism|ethnic]] [[ideology|ideological]] [[fantasy|fantasies]], in [[socialism]]'s [[bureaucracy|bureaucratic]] [[excess]]es, and in the [[cynicism]] of the [[narcissism|narcissistic]] [[subject]]s of [[capitalism|late capitalism]]. | ||
| − | [[Žižek]] frequently invokves the seemingly nonsensical ceremonies and redundancies that accompany political institutions. | + | [[Žižek]] frequently invokves the seemingly nonsensical ceremonies and redundancies that accompany [[political]] institutions. |
<blockquote>"Our politics is more and more directly the politics of ''jouissance'', concerned with ways of soliciting, or controlling and regulating, ''jouissance''."<ref>{{Z}} ''[[The Parallax View]]''. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 2006. p. 309</ref></blockquote> | <blockquote>"Our politics is more and more directly the politics of ''jouissance'', concerned with ways of soliciting, or controlling and regulating, ''jouissance''."<ref>{{Z}} ''[[The Parallax View]]''. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 2006. p. 309</ref></blockquote> | ||
| − | In this chapter [[Dean]] introduces the category of [[enjoyment]] as the key to understanding [[Žižek]]'s [[Slavoj Žižek:Politics|political thought]]. | + | In this chapter [[Dean]] introduces the [[category]] of [[enjoyment]] as the key to [[understanding]] [[Žižek]]'s [[Slavoj Žižek:Politics|political thought]]. |
| − | [[Dean]] demonstrates the importance of [[enjoyment]] as a category of political theory. | + | [[Dean]] demonstrates the importance of [[enjoyment]] as a category of political [[theory]]. |
---- | ---- | ||
| − | It contributes to thinking about our attachment to and investment in violent, destructive, and authoritarian modes of being. | + | It contributes to [[thinking]] [[about]] our attachment to and investment in violent, destructive, and authoritarian modes of [[being]]. |
| − | For political theorists, his work is indispensable to understanding the deep libidinal attraction of domination, that is, the passion of our attachments to objects constitutive of our subjectivities. | + | For political theorists, his [[work]] is indispensable to understanding the deep [[libidinal]] attraction of domination, that is, the [[passion]] of our attachments to [[objects]] constitutive of our subjectivities. |
---- | ---- | ||
| − | In considering [[enjoyment]] as a category of political theory, [[Dean]] begins with a general discussion of the concept in [[psychoanalysis]]. | + | In considering [[enjoyment]] as a category of political theory, [[Dean]] begins with a general [[discussion]] of the [[concept]] in [[psychoanalysis]]. |
| − | She then turns specifically to [[Žižek]]'s work, taking up the role of [[enjoyment]] and [[fantasy]] in his reworking of the theory of [[ideology]]. | + | She then turns specifically to [[Žižek]]'s work, taking up the [[role]] of [[enjoyment]] and [[fantasy]] in his reworking of the theory of [[ideology]]. |
| − | After attending to the place of [[enjoyment]] in [[ideology|ideological]] [[interpellation]] and addressing more specifically [[Žižek]]'s use of the concept for understanding [[racism]] and [[racism|ethnic nationalism]], [[Dean]] analyzes some of the specific, formal features of the concept. | + | After attending to the [[place]] of [[enjoyment]] in [[ideology|ideological]] [[interpellation]] and addressing more specifically [[Žižek]]'s use of the concept for understanding [[racism]] and [[racism|ethnic nationalism]], [[Dean]] analyzes some of the specific, [[formal]] features of the concept. |
| − | Here she emphasizes [[enjoyment]] as it fixes the place of the [[subject]], [[enjoyment]] and our relation to others, and the [[superego]] support of [[enjoyment]]. | + | Here she emphasizes [[enjoyment]] as it fixes the place of the [[subject]], [[enjoyment]] and our relation to [[others]], and the [[superego]] support of [[enjoyment]]. |
| − | Then [[Dean]] argues for [[Žižek]]'s account of the challenges of freedomin in communicative capitalism as a compelling alternative to current emphases on multiplicity and pluralization. | + | Then [[Dean]] argues for [[Žižek]]'s account of the challenges of freedomin in communicative [[capitalism]] as a compelling alternative to current emphases on [[multiplicity]] and pluralization. |
[[Žižek]]'s emphasis on [[enjoyment]] enables us to confront the [[excess]]es generated by [[capitalism|global capitalism]] as they fix and attach contemporary [[subject]]s into relations of domination and exploitation. | [[Žižek]]'s emphasis on [[enjoyment]] enables us to confront the [[excess]]es generated by [[capitalism|global capitalism]] as they fix and attach contemporary [[subject]]s into relations of domination and exploitation. | ||
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| − | The basic psychoanalytic account of [[enjoyment]] tells a story of the infant's primary connection with its [[mother]]. | + | The basic [[psychoanalytic]] account of [[enjoyment]] tells a story of the [[infant]]'s primary connection with its [[mother]]. |
| − | This story begins by positing an ideal oneness that was never fully realized, but whose loss helsps make sense oof human psychic life. | + | This story begins by positing an [[ideal]] oneness that was never fully realized, but whose [[loss]] helsps make [[sense]] oof [[human]] [[psychic]] [[life]]. |
Latest revision as of 06:36, 24 May 2019
Introduction
"All politics relies upon, and even manipulates, a certain economy of enjoyment."[1]
Throughout his work, Žižek draws out the workings of enjoyment (what Jacques Lacan calls jouissance) in racist and ethnic ideological fantasies, in socialism's bureaucratic excesses, and in the cynicism of the narcissistic subjects of late capitalism.
Žižek frequently invokves the seemingly nonsensical ceremonies and redundancies that accompany political institutions.
"Our politics is more and more directly the politics of jouissance, concerned with ways of soliciting, or controlling and regulating, jouissance."[2]
In this chapter Dean introduces the category of enjoyment as the key to understanding Žižek's political thought.
Dean demonstrates the importance of enjoyment as a category of political theory.
It contributes to thinking about our attachment to and investment in violent, destructive, and authoritarian modes of being.
For political theorists, his work is indispensable to understanding the deep libidinal attraction of domination, that is, the passion of our attachments to objects constitutive of our subjectivities.
In considering enjoyment as a category of political theory, Dean begins with a general discussion of the concept in psychoanalysis.
She then turns specifically to Žižek's work, taking up the role of enjoyment and fantasy in his reworking of the theory of ideology.
After attending to the place of enjoyment in ideological interpellation and addressing more specifically Žižek's use of the concept for understanding racism and ethnic nationalism, Dean analyzes some of the specific, formal features of the concept.
Here she emphasizes enjoyment as it fixes the place of the subject, enjoyment and our relation to others, and the superego support of enjoyment.
Then Dean argues for Žižek's account of the challenges of freedomin in communicative capitalism as a compelling alternative to current emphases on multiplicity and pluralization.
Žižek's emphasis on enjoyment enables us to confront the excesses generated by global capitalism as they fix and attach contemporary subjects into relations of domination and exploitation.
What is Enjoyment?
The basic psychoanalytic account of enjoyment tells a story of the infant's primary connection with its mother.
This story begins by positing an ideal oneness that was never fully realized, but whose loss helsps make sense oof human psychic life.
- ↑ Slavoj Žižek and Glyn Daly. Conversations with Žižek. Cambridge, U.K.: Polity, 2004. p. 114
- ↑ Žižek, Slavoj. The Parallax View. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 2006. p. 309
