Violence: Big Ideas/Small Books

Violence: Big Ideas/Small Books
by Slavoj Zizek

Violence: Big Ideas/Small Books
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Book Summary Information

Author: Slavoj Zizek
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2008-07-22
ISBN: 0312427182
Number of pages: 272
Publisher: Picador

Book Reviews of Violence: Big Ideas/Small Books

Book Review: Like a Hysteric--ooh!--Touched for the Very First Time!
Summary: 5 Stars

Jacques Lacan points out an interesting split between the "subject of the enunciated" and the "subject of enunciation," that is to say, between the "I" of the stated and the "I" who is speaking. Because of this distance between statement and speaker, one can plainly make a objectively true statement but do so from the position of a liar thus tainting the true statement. Such is the case with all the criticisms of Zizek's new book, "Violence." True, he does conflate all sorts of violence; true, he repeats material; and true, you can find him delivering these essays in lecture form on the web. But such observations are false since those who speak them nonetheless occupy positions of envy and resentment. In other words, don't be fooled by the pretense of objectivity; the criticisms are subjective.

This new Zizek is a breath of fresh air. It contains six tightly wound up essays that reflect on the nature of violence. Zizek's underlying thesis is that violence takes on three forms: subjective, linguistic, and structural. Only the first is readily visible. But the latter two are more devastating and damaging in their effects. One of the highlights of the book is his short (only a couple of paragraphs) commentary on Heidegger's notion that Being is founded in violence. I remember reading that and thinking to myself "Why violence?". Well, Zizek tells you why. Even the most devoted Zizek follower will find this book compelling. In it, he does a great job of following his theses to their conclusions, stating clearly where he stands, and building an argument throughout the six chapters. It seems to me that anyone moving from Parallax View to Lost Causes will want to take a stop with Violence. Truly for the most weathered Lacanian/Zizekian reader, "Violence" will feel like a first encounter of the Slovenian kind.

Summary of Violence: Big Ideas/Small Books

Philosopher, cultural critic, and agent provocateur Slavoj Zizek constructs a fascinating new framework to look at the forces of violence in our world.

Using history, philosophy, books, movies, Lacanian psychiatry, and jokes, Slavoj Zizek examines the ways we perceive and misperceive violence.?Drawing from his?unique cultural vision, Zizek brings new light to the Paris riots of 2005; he questions the permissiveness of violence in philanthropy; in daring terms, he reflects on the powerful image and determination of contemporary terrorists.

Violence, Zizek states, takes three forms--subjective (crime, terror), objective (racism, hate-speech, discrimination), and systemic (the catastrophic effects of economic and political systems)--and often one form of violence blunts our ability to see the others, raising complicated questions.

Does the advent of capitalism and, indeed, civilization cause more violence than it prevents? Is there violence in the simple idea of "the neighbour"??And could the appropriate form of action against violence today simply be to contemplate, to think?

Beginning with these and other equally contemplative questions, Zizek discusses the inherent violence of globalization, capitalism, fundamentalism, and language, in a work that will confirm his standing as one of our most erudite and incendiary modern thinkers.

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