Slavoj Žižek – BBC’s The Culture Show
This is a clip from The Culture Show (Episode 22) which aired on 28. January 2010 at 19:00. The description on BBC’s website reads: “Paul Mason meets Slavoj Žižek, described as the most dangerous philosopher in the West, and asks him about his book First as Tragedy, Then as Farce.”, but it wasn’t really a serious discussion. What we got instead is another manipulation of video material from BBC, so in the end it just looks as a very strange mashup of unconnected statements.
But (to play as a cynical Devil’s advocate) isn’t that precisely the problem with Zizek’s political programme, to the extent that it can be discerned? Zizek has always said that he feels uncomfortable when he talks actual politics as if he’s faking it, and he frowns upon those who view him as the new messiah of the Left. Characteristic of Zizek though, he then proceeds to propound his political “positions” in most promiscuous ways. Is it any wonder then that such positions seem strange and disjointed?
On another note I actually quite enjoyed the clip; it was an amusing distraction if nothing else.
The ending is worth it.
Would really appreciate it if somebody could upload the entire interview.
@noen
The ending is REALLY worth it. I must say, the interviewer was not up to the task. He was way too fascinated by Žižek & he was searching for stunts. He was not waiting for them. He tried to provoke them.
Overall, Žižek pointed out one or two of his beliefs. Not to be taken as a boring academic & the most important that the THEORY is above everything. No matter how brutal (or funny) it seems, it most be presented as it is – without having it polished with quasy political correctness.
And this is probably the point of the philospher – searching for the bit of a problem. Without any balast.
@si_Martin
I understood his point about Theory as a ‘Communist’ one: It’s not about him as a person, it’s about the Theory that’s being developed. Just like he points out that Communist leaders applauded with the crowd, while the Fascists just accepted it. This is crucial for understanding Žižek, at least from my perspective.