Slavoj Žižek: The Sublime Object of Ideology

Slovene philosopher and cultural critic Slavoj Žižek became widely recognized as an important theorist of contemporary times with the publication of ‘The Sublime Object of Ideology‘, his first book to be written in English, in 1989. Since then, he has taken the contemporary philosophical world by storm, as one who is never afraid of confrontation. Žižek’s work, indeed, cannot be categorized easily. He calls for a return to the the Cartesian subject, the idea that there is a split between the mind and body, and that the human is a ‘liberal autonomous subject’. He also calls for a return to ‘The German Ideology’, in particular the works of Hegel, Immanuel Kant and Friedrich Schelling. His work draws much on the works of Jacques Lacan, all the while moving his theory towards modern political and philosophical issues, and miraculously, finding the potential for liberatory politics. Watch.

Slavoj Zizek (May, 2013) "The Sublime Object of Ideology"

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justin
justin
12 years ago

He is more fun than I thought he wud be..

Brecsia
Brecsia
12 years ago

Iv written a script which draws heavily from psychoanalysis. I am planning to shoot it in Feb. I want to send a copy to Prof. Zizek. Just in case he might like it. Does anyone has his email id?!!

manini
manini
12 years ago

he keeps rubbing his nose ad beard! interesting guy.

someonesomewhere
someonesomewhere
12 years ago

the one and only. nuff said.

Adelina S
Adelina S
12 years ago

“For the multiculturalist, white Anglo-Saxon Protestants are prohibited, Italians and Irish get a little respect, blacks are good, native Americans are even better. The further away we go, the more they deserve respect. This is a kind of inverted, patronising respect that puts everyone at a distance.” – Zizek

Somewhat narrow minded eh?

Katya
Katya
12 years ago

I enjoy listening to his lectures because he makes it so much fun when he is talking plain english..

Chad
Chad
12 years ago

Posterboy of 21st century radical left philosophy. You may disagree with him but cant ignore him.

Nubian
Nubian
12 years ago

Love this guy!

soothsayer
soothsayer
12 years ago

i find Slavoj quite entertaining hehehe

Royce
Royce
12 years ago

Zizek’s got a great sense of humor…..and I generally love his inability to love anything.

C Hurley
C Hurley
12 years ago

Zizek is one of the most important thinkers of the new century. Although not a Marxist myself, I appreciate his questioning of everything in sight.

Nicos
Nicos
12 years ago

Is the spectator malevolent neutrality philosophy Zizek’s by any chance?

Marcus T
Marcus T
12 years ago

Zizek is on different realm of comprehension than most of us. (in a good way)

Mayurakshi
Mayurakshi
12 years ago

Compare how Jacques Derrida, Helen Cixous, and Slavoj Zizek employ poststructuralism for their own theories of social political identity.

Vibhu
Vibhu
12 years ago

any Zizek references would be greatly appreciated :) thanks, i have some but i need some mor (need them for debate)

Anahita Singh
Anahita Singh
12 years ago

And how can Slavoj Zizek help us understand modern politics?

Radhika Bhardwaj
Radhika Bhardwaj
12 years ago

“On today’s market, we find a whole series of products deprived of their malignant property: coffee without caffeine, cream without fat, beer without alcohol… and the list goes on. What about virtual sex as sex without sex, the Colin Powell doctrine of warfare with no casualties (on our side, of course) as warfare without warfare…”
-Zizek, The Puppet and the Dwarf

If anyone could explain some of this to me, that would be very helpful. Thank you.