,! ,CATA/ROPHE ( ,PO/MOD]NISM 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,JOHN ,Z]ZAN 

,TEXT 3 

,MADONNA1 0,>E ,WE ,HAV+ ,FUN ,YET801 SUP]M>KET TABLOIDS1 ,MILLI ,VANILLI1 VIRTUAL REALITY1 0%OP 'TILL Y\ DROP10 ,PEE,WEE'S ,BIG ,ADV5TURE1 ,NEW ,AGE_/COMPUT] 'EMP[]M5T'1 MEGA-MALLS1 ,TALK+ ,HEADS1 COMIC-/RIP MOVIES1 'GRE5' CONSUMPTION4 ,A BUILDUP ( ! RESOLUTELY SUP]FICIAL & CYNICAL4 ,TOYOTA COMM]CIAL3 0,NEW VALUES3 SAV+1 C>+ -- ALL ?AT /UFF20 ,DETAILS MAGAZ9E3 0,/YLE ,MATT]S20 0,:Y ,ASK ,:Y8 ,TRY ,BUD ,DRY20 WAT*+ TELEVISION 5DLESSLY :ILE MOCK+ IT4 ,9COH]5CE1 FRAGM5TATION1 RELATIVISM -- UP TO & 9CLUD+ ! DISMANTL+ ( ! V]Y NOTION ( MEAN+ 7BECAUSE ! RECORD ( RATIONALITY HAS BE5 SO POOR872 EMBRACE ( ! M>G9AL1 :ILE IGNOR+ H[ EASILY M>G9S >E MADE FA%IONABLE4 0,! DEA? ( ! SUBJECT0 & 0! CRISIS ( REPRES5TATION40 

,PO/MOD]NISM4 ,ORIG9ALLY A !ME )9 ES!TICS1 IT HAS COLONIZ$ 0EV] WID] >EAS10 ACCORD+ TO ,]NE/O ,LACLAU1 0UNTIL IT HAS BECOME ! NEW HORIZON ( \R CULTURAL1 PHILOSOPHICAL1 & POLITICAL EXP]I5CE40 0,! GR[+ CONVICTION10 AS ,RI*>D ,KE>NEY HAS IT1 0?AT HUMAN CULTURE AS WE HAVE KN[N IT444IS N[ REA*+ ITS 5D40 ,IT IS1 ESPECIALLY 9 ! ,U4,S41 ! 9T]SECTION ( PO//RUCTURALI/ PHILOSOPHY & A VA/LY WID] CONDITION ( SOCIETY3 BO? SPECIALIZ$ E?OS &1 F> MORE IMPORTANTLY1 ! >RIVAL ( :AT MOD]N 9DU/RIAL SOCIETY HAS PORT5D$4 ,PO/MOD]NISM IS CONTEMPORANEITY1 A MORASS ( DEF]R$ SOLUTIONS ON EV]Y LEVEL1 FEATUR+ AMBIGUITY1 ! REFUSAL TO POND] EI!R ORIG9S OR 5DS1 AS WELL AS ! D5IAL ( OPPOSITIONAL APPROA*ES1 0! NEW REALISM40 ,SIGNIFY+ NO?+ & GO+ NO:]E1 PM .<PO/MOD]NISM.> IS AN 9V]T$ MILL5>IANISM1 A GA!R+ FRUITION ( ! TE*NOLOGICAL 'LIFE'-SY/EM ( UNIV]SAL CAPITAL4 ,IT IS NOT ACCID5TAL ?AT ,C>NEGIE-,MELLON ,UNIV]SITY1 :I* 9 ! '#hS WAS ! FIR/ TO REQUIRE ?AT ALL /UD5TS BE EQUIPP$ ) COMPUT]S1 IS E/ABLI%+ 0! NATION'S FIR/ PO//RUCTURALI/ UND]GRADUATE CURRICULUM40 

,CONSUM] N>CISSISM & A COSMIC 0:AT'S ! DIFF]5CE80 M>K ! 5D ( PHILOSOPHY AS SU* & ! ET*+ ( A L&SCAPE1 ACCORD+ TO ,KROK] & ,COOK1 ( 0DIS9TEGRATION & DECAY AGA9/ ! BACKGR\ND RADIATION ( P>ODY1 KITS* & BURN\T40 ,H5RY ,K>IEL CONCLUDES ?AT 0= PO/MOD]NI/S1 IT IS SIMPLY TOO LATE TO OPPOSE ! MOM5TUM ( 9DU/RIAL SOCIETY40 ,SURFACE1 NOVELTY1 CONT+5CY -- !RE >E NO GR\NDS AVAILABLE = CRITICIZ+ \R CRISIS4 ,IF ! REPRES5TATIVE PO/MOD]NI/ RESI/S SUMM>IZABLE CONCLUSIONS1 9 FAVOR ( AN ALLEG$ PLURALISM & OP5NESS ( P]SPECTIVE1 IT IS ALSO REASONABLE 7IF ONE IS ALL[$ TO USE SU* A WORD7 TO PR$ICT ?AT IF & :5 WE LIVE 9 A COMPLETELY PM CULTURE1 WE W\LD NO LONG] KN[ H[ TO SAY SO4 

,! PRIMACY ( LANGUAGE @& ! 5D ( ! SUBJECT 

,9 T]MS ( SY/EMATIC ?\<T1 ! GR[+ PREOCCUPATION ) LANGUAGE IS A KEY FACTOR ACC\NT+ = ! PM CLIMATE ( N>R[$ FOCUS & RETREAT4 ,! SO-CALL$ 0DESC5T 9TO LANGUAGE10 OR ! 0L+UI/IC TURN0 HAS LEVI$ ! PO/MOD]NI/-- PO//RUCTURALI/ ASSUMPTION ?AT LANGUAGE CON/ITUTES ! HUMAN WORLD & ! HUMAN WORLD CON/ITUTES ! :OLE WORLD4 ,= MO/ ( ?IS C5TURY LANGUAGE HAS BE5 MOV+ TO C5T] /AGE 9 PHILOSOPHY1 AMONG FIGURES AS DIV]SE AS ,WITTG5/E91 ,QU9E1 ,HEIDEGG]1 & ,GADAM]1 :ILE GR[+ ATT5TION TO COMMUNICATION !ORY1 L+UI/ICS1 CYB]NETICS1 & COMPUT] LANGUAGES DEMON/RATES A SIMIL> EMPHASIS OV] SEV]AL DECADES 9 SCI5CE & TE*NOLOGY4 ,?IS V]Y PRON\NC$ TURN T[>D LANGUAGE ITSELF WAS EMBRAC$ BY ,F\CAULT AS A 0DECISIVE LEAP T[>DS A :OLLY NEW =M ( ?\<T40 ,LESS POSITIVELY1 IT CAN BE AT LEA/ P>TIALLY EXPLA9$ 9 T]MS ( PESSIMISM FOLL[+ ! EBB+ ( ! OPPOSITIONAL MOM5T ( ! '#fS4 ,! '#gS WITNESS$ AN AL>M+ )DRAWAL 9TO :AT ,$W>D ,SAID CALL$ ! 0LABYR9? ( TEXTUALITY10 AS CONTRA/$ ) ! SOMETIMES MORE 9SURRECTION>Y 9TELLECTUAL ACTIVITY ( ! PREC$+ P]IOD4 

,P]HAPS IT ISN'T P>ADOXICAL ?AT 0! FETI% ( ! TEXTUAL10 AS ,B5 ,AGG] JUDG$1 0BECKONS 9 AN AGE :5 9TELLECTUALS >E DISPOSSESS$ ( !IR WORDS40 ,LANGUAGE IS MORE & MORE DEBAS$2 DRA9$ ( MEAN+1 ESPECIALLY 9 ITS PUBLIC USAGE4 ,NO LONG] CAN EV5 WORDS BE C\NT$ ON1 & ?IS IS P>T ( A L>G] ANTI-!ORY CURR5T1 BEH9D :I* /&S A MU* L>G] DEFEAT ?AN ! '#fS3 ?AT ( ! :OLE TRA9 ( ,5LI<T5M5T RATIONALITY4 ,WE HAVE DEP5D$ ON LANGUAGE AS ! SUPPOS$LY S\ND & TRANSP>5T H&MAID5 ( REASON & :]E HAS IT GOTT5 US8 ,AUS*WITZ1 ,HIRO%IMA1 MASS PSY*IC MIS]Y1 IMP5D+ DE/RUCTION ( ! PLANET1 TO NAME A FEW4 ,5T] PO/MOD]NISM1 ) ITS SEEM+LY BIZ>RE & FRAGM5T$ TURNS & TWI/S4 ,$I? ,WYS*OGRAD'S ,SA9TS & ,PO/MOD]NISM 7#a#i#i7 NOT ONLY TE/IFIES TO ! UBIQUITY ( ! PM 'APPROA*' -- !RE >E APP>5TLY NO FIELDS \TSIDE ITS K5 -- BUT ALSO COMM5TS COG5TLY ON ! NEW DIRECTION3 0PO/MOD]NISM AS A 'PHILOSOPHICAL' & 'LIT]>Y' DISCURSIVE /YLE CANNOT /RAI<T=W>DLY APPEAL TO ! TE*NIQUES ( REASON1 !MSELVES ! 9/RUM5TS ( !ORY1 BUT MU/ =GE NEW & NECESS>ILY >CANE MEANS = UND]M9+ ! PIETIES ( REASON40 

,! IMM$IATE ANTEC$5T ( PO/MOD]NISM_/PO//RUCTURALISM1 REIGN+ 9 ! '#eS & MU* ( ! '#fS1 WAS ORGANIZ$ >\ND ! C5TRALITY IT ACCORD$ ! L+UI/IC MODEL4 ,/RUCTURALISM PROVID$ ! PREMISE ?AT LANGUAGE CON/ITUTES \R ONLY MEANS ( ACCESS TO ! WORLD ( OBJECTS & EXP]I5CE & ITS EXT5SION1 ?AT MEAN+ >ISES :OLLY FROM ! PLAY ( DIFF]5CES )9 CULTURAL SIGN SY/EMS4 ,LEVI-,/RAUSS1 = EXAMPLE1 >GU$ ?AT ! KEY TO AN?ROPOLOGY LIES 9 ! UNCOV]+ ( UNCONSCI\S SOCIAL LAWS 7E4G4 ?OSE ?AT REGULATE M>RIAGE TIES & K9%IP71 :I* >E /RUCTUR$ LIKE LANGUAGE4 ,IT WAS ! ,SWISS L+UI/ ,SAUSSURE :O /RESS$1 9 A MOVE V]Y 9FLU5TIAL TO PO/MOD]NISM1 ?AT MEAN+ RESIDES NOT 9 A RELATION%IP BETWE5 AN UTT]ANCE & ?AT TO :I* IT REF]S1 BUT 9 ! RELATION%IP ( SIGNS TO ONE ANO!R4 ,?IS ,SAUSSURIAN BELIEF 9 ! 5CLOS$1 SELF-REF]5TIAL NATURE ( LANGUAGE IMPLIES ?AT EV]Y?+ IS DET]M9$ )9 LANGUAGE1 LEAD+ TO ! SCRAPP+ ( SU* QUA9T NOTIONS AS ALI5ATION1 IDEOLOGY1 REPRESSION1 ETC4 & CONCLUD+ ?AT LANGUAGE & CONSCI\SNESS >E VIRTUALLY ! SAME4 

,ON ?IS TRAJECTORY1 :I* REJECTS ! VIEW ( LANGUAGE AS AN EXT]NAL MEANS DEPLOY$ BY CONSCI\SNESS1 APPE>S ! ALSO V]Y 9FLU5TIAL NEO-,FREUDIAN1 ,JACQUES ,LACAN4 ,= ,LACAN1 NOT ONLY IS CONSCI\SNESS ?OR\<LY P]MEAT$ BY LANGUAGE & )\T EXI/5CE = ITSELF AP>T FROM LANGUAGE1 EV5 ! 0UNCONSCI\S IS /RUCTUR$ LIKE A LANGUAGE40 

,E>LI] ?9K]S1 MO/ NOTABLY ,NIETZS*E & ,HEIDEGG]1 HAD ALREADY SUGGE/$ ?AT A DIFF]5T LANGUAGE OR A *ANG$ RELATION%IP TO LANGUAGE MI<T SOMEH[ BR+ NEW & IMPORTANT 9SI<TS4 ,) ! L+UI/IC TURN ( MORE REC5T TIMES1 EV5 ! CONCEPT ( AN 9DIVIDUAL :O ?9KS AS ! BASIS ( KN[L$GE BECOMES %AKY4 ,SAUSSURE DISCOV]$ ?AT 0LANGUAGE IS NOT A FUNCTION ( ! SPEAK+ SUBJECT10 ! PRIMACY ( LANGUAGE DISPLAC+ :O IT IS ?AT GIVES VOICE TO IT4 ,ROL& ,B>!S1 :OSE C>E] JO9S ! /RUCTURALI/ & PO//RUCTURALI/ P]IODS1 DECID$ 0,IT IS LANGUAGE ?AT SPEAKS1 NOT ! AU?OR10 P>ALLEL$ BY ,AL?USS]'S OBS]VATION ?AT HI/ORY IS 0A PROCESS )\T A SUBJECT40 

,IF ! SUBJECT IS FELT TO BE ESS5TIALLY A FUNCTION ( LANGUAGE1 ITS /IFL+ M$IATION & ?AT ( ! SYMBOLIC ORD] 9 G5]AL ASC5DS T[>D ! TOP ( ! AG5DA4 ,?US DOES PO/MOD]NISM FLAIL AB\T TRY+ TO COMMUNICATE :AT LIES BEYOND LANGUAGE1 0TO PRES5T ! UNPRES5TABLE40 ,MEAN:ILE1 GIV5 ! RADICAL D\BT 9TRODUC$ AS TO ! AVAILABILITY TO US ( A REF]5T 9 ! WORLD \TSIDE ( LANGUAGE1 ! REAL FADES FROM CONSID]ATION4 ,JACQUES ,D]RIDA1 ! PIVOTAL FIGURE ( ! PO/MOD]NISM E?OS1 PROCE$S AS IF ! CONNECTION BETWE5 WORDS & ! WORLD W]E >BITR>Y4 ,! OBJECT WORLD PLAYS NO ROLE = HIM4 ,! EXHAU/ION ( MOD]NISM @& ! RISE ( PO/MOD]NISM UT BE=E TURN+ TO ,D]RIDA1 A FEW MORE COMM5TS ON PRECURSORS & ! WID] *ANGE 9 CULTURE4 ,PO/MOD]NISM RAISES QUE/IONS AB\T COMMUNICATION & MEAN+1 SO ?AT ! CATEGORY ( ! ES!TIC1 = ONE1 BECOMES PROBLEMATIC4 ,= MOD]NISM1 ) ITS SUNNI] BELIEF 9 REPRES5TATION1 >T & LIT]ATURE HELD AT LEA/ SOME PROMISE = PROVID+ A VISION ( FULFILLM5T OR UND]/&+4 ,UNTIL ! 5D ( MOD]NISM1 0HI< CULTURE0 WAS SE5 AS A REPOSITORY ( MORAL & SPIRITUAL WISDOM4 ,N[ !RE SEEMS TO BE NO SU* BELIEF1 ! UBIQUITY ( ! QUE/ION ( LANGUAGE P]HAPS TELL+ AS TO ! VACANCY LEFT BY ! FAILURE ( O!R C&IDATES ( PROMIS+ />T+ PO9TS ( HUMAN IMAG9ATION4 ,9 ! '#fS MOD]NISM SEEMS TO HAVE REA*$ ! 5D ( ITS DEVELOPM5T1 ! AU/]E CANON ( ITS PA9T+ 7E4G4 ,RO?KO1 ,RE9H>DT7 GIV+ WAY TO POP >T'S UNCRITICAL ESP\SAL ( ! CONSUM] CULTURE'S COMM]CIAL V]NACUL>4 ,PO/MOD]NISM1 & NOT JU/ 9 ! >TS1 IS MOD]NISM )\T ! HOPES & DREAMS ?AT MADE MOD]NITY BE>ABLE4 

,A WIDESPREAD 0FA/ FOOD0 T5D5CY IS SE5 9 ! VISUAL >TS1 9 ! DIRECTION ( EASILY CONSUMABLE 5T]TA9M5T4 ,H[>D ,FOX F9DS ?AT 0!ATRICALITY MAY BE ! S+LE MO/ P]VASIVE PROP]TY ( PO/MOD]N >T40 ,A DECAD5CE OR EXHAU/ION ( DEVELOPM5T IS ALSO DETECT$ 9 ! D>K PA9T+S ( AN ,]IC ,FIS*L1 :]E (T5 A K9D ( HORROR SEEMS TO LURK JU/ BEL[ ! SURFACE4 ,?IS QUALITY L9KS ,FIS*L1 ,AM]ICA'S QU9TESS5TIAL PM PA9T]1 TO ! EQUALLY S9I/] ,TW9 ,PEAKS & PM'S QU9TESS5TIAL TELEVISION FIGURE1 ,DAVID ,LYN*4 ,! IMAGE1 S9CE ,W>HOL1 IS SELF-CONSCI\SLY A ME*ANICALLY REPRODUCIBLE COMMODITY & ?IS IS ! BOTTOM-L9E REASON = BO? ! DEP?LESSNESS & ! COMMON NOTE ( E]9ESS & =EBOD+4 

,PO/MOD]N >T'S (T-NOT$ ECLECTICISM IS AN >BITR>Y RECYCL+ ( FRAGM5TS FROM EV]Y:]E1 ESPECIALLY ! PA/1 (T5 TAK+ ! =M ( P>ODY & KITS*4 ,DEMORALIZ$1 D]EALIZ$1 DEHI/ORICIZ$3 >T ?AT CAN NO LONG] TAKE ITSELF S]I\SLY4 ,! IMAGE NO LONG] REF]S PRIM>ILY TO SOME 'ORIG9AL'1 SITUAT$ ELSE:]E 9 ! 'REAL' WORLD2 IT 9CREAS+LY REF]S ONLY TO O!R IMAGES4 ,9 ?IS WAY IT REFLECTS H[ LO/ WE >E1 H[ REMOV$ FROM NATURE1 9 ! EV] MORE M$IAT$ WORLD ( TE*NOLOGICAL CAPITALISM4 

,! T]M PO/MOD]NISM WAS FIR/ APPLI$1 9 ! '#gS1 TO >*ITECTURE4 ,*RI/OPH] ,J5CKS WROTE ( AN ANTI-PLANN+1 PRO-PLURALISM APPROA*1 ! AB&ON+ ( MOD]NISM'S DREAM ( PURE =M 9 FAVOR ( LI/5+ TO 0! MULTIPLE LANGUAGES ( ! PEOPLE40 ,MORE HONE/ >E ,ROB]T ,V5TURI'S CELEBRATION ( ,LAS ,VEGAS & ,PI]S ,G\<'S ADMISSION ?AT PM >*ITECTURE IS NO MORE C>+ = PEOPLE ?AN WAS MOD]NI/ >*ITECTURE4 ,! >*ES & COLUMNS LAID OV] MOD]NI/ BOXES >E A ?9 FACADE ( PLAYFULNESS & 9DIVIDUALITY1 :I* SC>CELY TRANS=MS ! ANONYM\S CONC5TRATIONS ( WEAL? & P[] UND]NEA?4 

,PO/MOD]NI/ WRIT]S QUE/ION ! V]Y GR\NDS = LIT]ATURE 9/EAD ( CONT9U+ TO CREATE ! ILLUSION ( AN EXT]NAL WORLD4 ,! NOVEL R$IRECTS ITS ATT5TION TO ITSELF2 ,DONALD ,B>!LME1 = EXAMPLE1 WRITES /ORIES ?AT SEEM TO ALWAYS REM9D ! READ] ?AT !Y >E >TIFICES4 ,BY PROTE/+ AGA9/ /ATEM5T1 PO9T ( VIEW & O!R PATT]NS ( REPRES5TATION1 PM LIT]ATURE EXHIBITS ITS DISCOM=T ) ! =MS ?AT TAME & DOME/ICATE CULTURAL PRODUCTS4 ,AS ! WID] WORLD BECOMES MORE >TIFICIAL & MEAN+ LESS SUBJECT TO \R CONTROL1 ! NEW APPROA* W\LD RA!R REVEAL ! ILLUSION EV5 AT ! CO/ ( NO LONG] SAY+ ANY?+4 ,H]E AS ELSE:]E >T IS /RUGGL+ AGA9/ ITSELF1 ITS PRIOR CLAIMS TO HELP US UND]/& ! WORLD EVAPORAT+ :ILE EV5 ! CONCEPT ( IMAG9ATION LOSES ITS POT5CY4 

,= SOME ! LOSS ( N>RATIVE VOICE OR PO9T ( VIEW IS EQUIVAL5T TO ! LOSS ( \R ABILITY TO LOCATE \RSELVES HI/ORICALLY4 ,= PO/MOD]NI/S ?IS LOSS IS A K9D ( LIB]ATION4 ,RAYMOND ,F$]MAN1 = 9/ANCE1 GLORIES 9 ! COM+ FICTION ?AT 0WILL BE SEEM+LY DEVOID ( ANY MEAN+444DELIB]ATELY ILLOGICAL1 IRRATIONAL1 UNREALI/IC1 NON SEQUITUR1 & 9COH]5T40 

,FANTASY1 ON ! RISE = DECADES1 IS A COMMON =M ( ! PO/-MOD]N1 C>RY+ ) IT ! REM9D] ?AT ! FANTA/IC CONFRONTS CIVILIZATION ) ! V]Y =CES IT MU/ REPRESS = ITS SURVIVAL4 ,BUT IT IS A FANTASY ?AT1 P>ALLEL+ BO? DECON/RUCTION & HI< LEVELS ( CYNICISM & RESIGNATION 9 SOCIETY1 DOES NOT BELIEVE 9 ITSELF TO ! EXT5T ( V]Y MU* UND]/&+ OR COMMUNICAT+4 ,PM WRIT]S SEEM TO SMO!R 9 ! FOLDS ( LANGUAGE1 CONVEY+ LITTLE ELSE ?AN !IR IRONIC /ANCE REG>D+ MORE TRADITIONAL LIT]ATURE'S PRET5SIONS TO TRU? & MEAN+4 ,P]HAPS TYPICAL IS ,LAURIE ,MOORE'S #aii NOVEL1 ,LIKE ,LIFE1 :OSE TITLE & CONT5T REVEAL A RETREAT FROM LIV+ & AN 9V]SION ( ! ,AM]ICAN ,DREAM1 9 :I* ?+S CAN ONLY GET WORSE4 

,! CELEBRATION ( IMPOT5CE 

,PO/MOD]NISM SUBV]TS TWO ( ! OV]->*+ T5ETS ( ,5LI<T5M5T HUMANISM3 ! P[] ( LANGUAGE TO %APE ! WORLD & ! P[] ( CONSCI\SNESS TO %APE A SELF4 ,?US WE HAVE ! PO/MOD]NI/ VOID1 ! G5]AL NOTION ?AT ! YE>N+ = EMANCIPATION & FRE$OM PROMIS$ BY HUMANI/ PR9CIPLES ( SUBJECTIVITY CANNOT BE SATISFI$4 ,PM VIEWS ! SELF AS A L+UI/IC CONV5TION2 AS ,WILLIAM ,BURR\<S PUT IT1 0,Y\R ',I' IS A COMPLETELY ILLUSORY CONCEPT40 

,IT IS OBVI\S ?AT ! CELEBRAT$ IDEAL ( 9DIVIDUALITY HAS BE5 UND] PRESSURE = A LONG TIME4 ,CAPITALISM 9 FACT HAS MADE A C>E] ( CELEBRAT+ ! 9DIVIDUAL :ILE DE/ROY+ HIM_/H]4 ,& ! WORKS ( ,M>X & ,FREUD HAVE DONE MU* TO EXPOSE ! L>GELY MISDIRECT$ & NAIVE BELIEF 9 ! SOV]EIGN1 RATIONAL ,KANTIAN SELF 9 *>GE ( REALITY1 ) !IR MORE REC5T /RUCTURALI/ 9T]PRET]S1 ,AL?USS] & ,LACAN1 CONTRIBUT+ TO & UPDAT+ ! EF=T4 ,BUT ?IS TIME ! PRESSURE IS SO EXTREME ?AT ! T]M '9DIVIDUAL' HAS BE5 R5D]$ OBSOLETE1 REPLAC$ BY 'SUBJECT'1 :I* ALWAYS 9CLUDES ! ASPECT ( BE+ SUBJECT$ 7AS 9 ! OLD] 0A SUBJECT ( ! K+10 = EXAMPLE74 ,EV5 SOME LIB]T>IAN RADICALS1 SU* AS ! ,9T]ROGATIONS GR\P 9 ,FRANCE1 JO9 9 ! PO/MOD]NI/ *ORUS TO REJECT ! 9DIVIDUAL AS A CRIT]ION = VALUE DUE TO ! DEBAS+ ( ! CATEGORY BY IDEOLOGY & HI/ORY4 

,SO PM REVEALS ?AT AUTONOMY HAS L>GELY BE5 A MY? & *]I%$ IDEALS ( MA/]Y & WILL >E SIMIL>LY MISGUID$4 ,BUT IF WE >E PROMIS$ H]E) A NEW & S]I\S ATTEMPT AT DEMY/IFY+ AU?ORITY1 CONCEAL$ BEH9D ! GUISES ( A B\RGEOIS HUMANI/ 'FRE$OM'1 WE ACTUALLY GET A DISP]SAL ( ! SUBJECT SO RADICAL AS TO R5D] IT IMPOT5T1 EV5 NONEXI/5T1 AS ANY K9D ( AG5T AT ALL4 ,:O OR :AT IS LEFT TO A*IEVE A LIB]ATION1 OR IS ?AT JU/ ONE MORE PIPE DREAM8 ,! PO/MOD]N /ANCE WANTS IT BO? WAYS3 TO PUT ! ?9K+ P]SON 0UND] ]ASURE10 :ILE ! V]Y EXI/5CE ( ITS [N CRITIQUE DEP5DS ON DISCR$IT$ IDEAS LIKE SUBJECTIVITY4 ,F]D ,DALLMAYR1 ACKN[L$G+ ! WIDESPREAD APPEAL ( CONTEMPOR>Y ANTI-HUMANISM1 W>NS ?AT PRIM>Y CASUALTIES >E REFLECTION & A S5SE ( VALUES4 ,TO ASS]T ?AT WE >E 9/ANCES ( LANGUAGE =EMO/ IS OBVI\SLY TO /RIP AWAY \R CAPACITY TO GRASP ! :OLE1 AT A TIME :5 WE >E URG5TLY REQUIR$ TO DO JU/ ?AT4 ,SMALL WOND] ?AT TO SOME1 PM AM\NTS1 9 PRACTICE1 TO M]ELY A LIB]ALISM )\T ! SUBJECT1 :ILE FEM9I/S :O TRY TO DEF9E OR RECLAIM AN AU!NTIC & AUTONOM\S FEMALE ID5TITY W\LD ALSO LIKELY BE UNP]SUAD$4 

,! PO/MOD]N SUBJECT1 :AT IS PRESUMABLY LEFT ( SUBJECT-HOOD1 SEEMS TO BE MA9LY ! P]SONALITY CON/RUCT$ BY & = TE*NOLOGICAL CAPITAL1 DESCRIB$ BY ! M>XI/ LIT]>Y !ORI/ ,T]RY ,EAGLETON AS A 0DISP]S$1 DEC5T]$ NETWORK ( LIBID9AL ATTA*M5TS1 EMPTI$ ( E?ICAL SUB/ANCE & PSY*ICAL 9T]IORITY1 ! EPHEM]AL FUNCTION ( ?IS OR ?AT ACT ( CONSUMPTION1 M$IA EXP]I5CE1 SEXUAL RELATION%IP1 TR5D OR FA%ION40 ,IF ,EAGLETON'S DEF9ITION ( TODAY'S NON-SUBJECT AS ANN\NC$ BY PM IS UNFAI?FUL TO !IR PO9T ( VIEW1 IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE :]E1 TO F9D GR\NDS = A DI/ANC+ FROM HIS SCA?+ SUMM>Y4 ,) PO/MOD]NISM EV5 ALI5ATION DISSOLVES1 = !RE IS NO LONG] A SUBJECT TO BE ALI5AT$6 ,CONTEMPOR>Y FRAGM5TATION & P[]LESSNESS C\LD H>DLY BE H]ALD$ MORE COMPLETELY1 OR EXI/+ ANG] & DISAFFECTION MORE ?OR\<LY IGNOR$4 

,D]RIDA1 DECON/RUCTION @& DIFF]ANCE 

,5\<1 = N[1 ON BACKGR\ND & G5]AL TRAITS4 ,! MO/ 9FLU5TIAL SPECIFIC PO/MOD]N APPROA* HAS BE5 ,JACQUES ,D]RIDA'S1 KN[N S9CE ! '#fS AS DECON/RUCTION4 ,PO/MOD]NISM 9 PHILOSOPHY MEANS ABOVE ALL ! WRIT+S ( ,D]RIDA1 & ?IS E>LIE/ & MO/ EXTREME \TLOOK HAS F\ND A RESONANCE WELL BEYOND PHILOSOPHY1 9 ! POPUL> CULTURE & ITS MORES4 

,C]TA9LY ! 0L+UI/IC TURN0 BE>S ON ! EM]G5CE ( ,D]RIDA1 CAUS+ ,DAVID ,WOOD TO CALL DECON/RUCTION 0AN ABSOLUTELY UNAVOIDABLE MOVE 9 PHILOSOPHY TODAY10 AS ?\<T NEGOTIATES ITS 9ESCAPABLE PR$ICAM5T AS WRITT5 LANGUAGE4 ,?AT LANGUAGE IS NOT 9NOC5T OR NEUTRAL BUT BE>S A CONSID]ABLE NUMB] ( PRESUPPOSITIONS IT HAS BE5 HIS C>E] TO DEVELOP1 EXPOS+ :AT HE SEES AS ! FUNDAM5TALLY SELF-CONTRADICTORY NATURE ( HUMAN DISC\RSE4 ,! MA!MATICIAN ,KURT ,GODEL'S 0,9COMPLET5ESS ,!OREM0 /ATES ?AT ANY =MAL SY/EM CAN BE EI!R CONSI/5T OR COMPLETE1 BUT NOT BO?4 ,9 RA!R P>ALLEL FA%ION1 ,D]RIDA CLAIMS ?AT LANGUAGE IS CON/ANTLY TURN+ AGA9/ ITSELF SO ?AT1 ANALYZ$ CLOSELY1 WE CAN NEI!R SAY :AT WE MEAN OR MEAN :AT WE SAY4 ,BUT LIKE SEMIOLOGI/S BE=E HIM1 ,D]RIDA ALSO SUGGE/S1 AT ! SAME TIME1 ?AT A DECON/RUCTIVE ME?OD C\LD DEMY/IFY ! IDEOLOGICAL CONT5TS ( ALL TEXTS1 9T]PRET+ ALL HUMAN ACTIVITIES AS ESS5TIALLY TEXTS4 ,! BASIC CONTRADICTION & COV]-UP /RATEGY 9H]5T 9 ! METAPHYSICS ( LANGUAGE 9 ITS WIDE/ S5SE MI<T BE LAID B>E & A MORE 9TIMATE K9D ( KN[+ RESULT4 

,:AT WORKS AGA9/ ?IS LATT] CLAIM1 ) ITS POLITICAL PROMISE CON/ANTLY H9T$ AT BY ,D]RIDA1 IS PRECISELY ! CONT5T ( DECON/RUCTION2 IT SEES LANGUAGE AS A CON/ANTLY MOV+ 9DEP5D5T =CE ?AT DISALL[S A /ABILIZ+ ( MEAN+ OR DEF9ITE COMMUNICATION1 AS REF]R$ TO ABOVE4 ,?IS 9T]NALLY-G5]AT$ FLUX HE CALL$ 'DIFF]ANCE' & ?IS IS :AT CALLS ! V]Y IDEA ( MEAN+ TO COLLAPSE1 ALONG ) ! SELF-REF]5TIAL NATURE ( LANGUAGE1 :I*1 AS NOT$ PREVI\SLY1 SAYS ?AT !RE IS NO SPACE \TSIDE ( LANGUAGE1 NO 0\T !RE0 = MEAN+ TO EXI/ 9 ANYWAY4 ,9T5TION & ! SUBJECT >E OV]:ELM$1 & :AT IS REVEAL$ >E NOT ANY 09N] TRU?S0 BUT AN 5DLESS PROLIF]ATION ( POSSIBLE MEAN+S G5]AT$ BY DIFF]ANCE1 ! PR9CIPLE ?AT *>ACT]IZES LANGUAGE4 ,MEAN+ )9 LANGUAGE IS ALSO MADE ELUSIVE BY ,D]RIDA'S 9SI/5CE ?AT LANGUAGE IS METAPHORICAL & CANNOT !RE=E DIRECTLY CONVEY TRU?1 A NOTION TAK5 FROM ,NIETZS*E1 ONE :I* ]ASES ! DI/9CTION BETWE5 PHILOSOPHY & LIT]ATURE4 ,ALL !SE 9SI<TS SUPPOS$LY CONTRIBUTE TO ! D>+ & SUBV]SIVE NATURE ( DECON/RUCTION1 BUT !Y SURELY PROVOKE SOME BASIC QUE/IONS AS WELL4 ,IF MEAN+ IS 9DET]M9ATE1 H[ >E ,D]RIDA'S >GUM5T & T]MS NOT ALSO 9DET]M9ATE1 UN-P9-D[NABLE8 ,HE HAS REPLI$ TO CRITICS1 = EXAMPLE1 ?AT !Y >E UNCLE> AS TO HIS MEAN+1 :ILE HIS 'MEAN+' IS ?AT !RE CAN BE NO CLE>1 DEF9ABLE MEAN+4 ,& ?\< HIS 5TIRE PROJECT IS 9 AN IMPORTANT S5SE AIM$ AT SUBV]T+ ALL SY/EMS' CLAIMS TO ANY K9D ( TRANSC5D5T TRU?1 HE RAISES DIFF]ANCE TO ! TRANSC5D5T /ATUS ( ANY PHILOSOPHICAL FIR/ PR9CIPLE4 

,= ,D]RIDA1 IT HAS BE5 ! VALORIZ+ ( SPEE* OV] WRIT+ ?AT HAS CAUS$ ALL ( ,WE/]N ?\<T TO OV]LOOK ! D[NFALL ?AT LANGUAGE ITSELF CAUSES PHILOSOPHY4 ,BY PRIVILEG+ ! SPOK5 WORD A FALSE S5SE ( IMM$IACY IS PRODUC$1 ! 9VALID NOTION ?AT 9 SPEAK+ ! ?+ ITSELF IS PRES5T & REPRES5TATION OV]COME4 ,BUT SPEE* IS NO MORE 'AU!NTIC' ?AN ! WRITT5 WORD1 NOT AT ALL IMMUNE FROM ! BUILT-9 FAILURE ( LANGUAGE TO ACCURATELY OR DEF9ITELY DELIV] ! 7REPRES5TATIONAL7 GOODS4 ,IT IS ! MISPLAC$ DESIRE = PRES5CE ?AT *>ACT]IZES ,WE/]N METAPHYSICS1 AN UNREFLECT$ DESIRE = ! SUCCESS ( REPRES5TATION4 ,IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE ?AT BECAUSE ,D]RIDA REJECTS ! POSSIBILITY ( AN UNM$IAT$ EXI/5CE1 HE ASSAILS ! EFFICACY ( REPRES5TATION BUT NOT ! CATEGORY ITSELF4 ,HE MOCKS ! GAME BUT PLAYS IT JU/ ! SAME4 ,DIFF]ANCE 7LAT] SIMPLY 'DIFF]5CE'7 %ADES 9TO 9DIFF]5CE1 DUE TO ! UNAVAILABILITY ( TRU? OR MEAN+1 & JO9S ! CYNICISM AT L>GE4 

,E>LY ON1 ,D]RIDA DISCUSS$ PHILOSOPHY'S FALSE /EPS 9 ! >EA ( PRES5CE BY REF]5CE TO ,HUSS]L'S TORTUR$ PURSUIT ( IT4 ,NEXT HE DEVELOP$ HIS !ORY ( 'GRAMMATOLOGY'1 9 :I* HE RE/OR$ WRIT+ TO ITS PROP] PRIMACY AS AGA9/ ! ,WE/'S PHONOC5TRIC1 OR SPEE*-VALU$1 BIAS4 ,?IS WAS MA9LY ACCOMPLI%$ BY CRITIQUES ( MAJOR FIGURES :O COMMITT$ ! S9 ( PHONOC5TRISM1 9CLUD+ ,R\SSEAU1 ,HEIDEGG]1 ,SAUSSURE1 & ,LEVI-,/RAUSS1 :I* IS NOT TO OV]LOOK HIS GREAT 9DEBT$NESS TO ! LATT] ?REE ( !SE F\R4 

,AS IF REMEMB]+ ! OBVI\S IMPLICATIONS ( HIS DECON/RUCTIVE APPROA*1 ,D]RIDA'S WRIT+S %IFT 9 ! '#gS FROM ! E>LI]1 FAIRLY /RAI<T=W>D PHILOSOPHICAL DISCUSSIONS4 ,GLAS 7#a#i#g#d7 IS A MI%MA% ( ,HEGEL & ,G5T1 9 :I* >GUM5T IS REPLAC$ BY FREE ASSOCIATION & BAD PUNS4 ,?\< BAFFL+ TO EV5 HIS W>ME/ ADMIR]S1 ,GLAS C]TA9LY IS 9 KEEP+ ) ! T5ET ( ! UNAVOIDABLE AMBIGUITY ( LANGUAGE & A WILL TO SUBV]T ! PRET5SIONS ( ORD]LY DISC\RSE4 ,SPURS 7#a#i#g#h7 IS A BOOK-L5G? /UDY ( ,NIETZS*E ?AT ULTIMATELY F9DS ITS FOCUS 9 NO?+ ,NIETZS*E PUBLI%$1 BUT 9 A H&WRITT5 NOTE 9 ! M>G9 ( ONE ( HIS NOTEBOOKS3 0,I HAVE =GOTT5 MY UMBRELLA40 ,5DLESS1 UNDECIDABLE POSSIBILITIES EXI/ AS TO ! MEAN+ OR IMPORTANCE-IF ANY-( ?IS SCRAWL$ COMM5T4 ,?IS1 ( C\RSE1 IS ,D]RIDA'S PO9T1 TO SUGGE/ ?AT ! SAME CAN BE SAID = EV]Y?+ ,NIETZS*E WROTE4 ,! PLACE = ?\<T1 ACCORD+ TO DECON/RUCTION1 IS CLE>LY 7]1 LET US SAY UNCLE>LY7 ) ! RELATIVE1 ! FRAGM5T$1 ! M>G9AL4 

,MEAN+ IS C]TA9LY NOT SOME?+ TO BE P9N$ D[N1 IF IT EXI/S AT ALL4 ,COMM5T+ ON ,PLATO'S ,PHA$RUS1 ! MA/] ( DE-COMPOSITION GOES SO F> AS TO ASS]T ?AT 0LIKE ANY TEXT .<IT.> C\LDN'T NOT BE 9VOLV$1 AT LEA/ 9 A VIRTUAL1 DYNAMIC1 LAT]AL MANN]1 ) ALL ! WORDS ?AT COMPOS$ ! SY/EM ( ! ,GREEK LANGUAGE40 

,RELAT$ IS ,D]RIDA'S OPPOSITION TO B9>Y OPPOSITES1 LIKE LIT]AL_/METAPHORICAL1 S]I\S_/PLAYFUL1 DEEP_/SUP]FICIAL1 NATURE_/CULTURE1 AD 9F9ITUM4 ,HE SEES !SE AS BASIC CONCEPTUAL HI]>*IES1 MA9LY SMUGGL$ 9 BY LANGUAGE ITSELF1 :I* PROVIDE ! ILLUSION ( DEF9ITION OR ORI5TATION4 ,HE FUR!R CLAIMS ?AT ! DECON/RUCTIVE WORK ( OV]TURN+ !SE PAIR+S1 :I* VALORIZE ONE ( ! TWO OV] ! O!R1 LEADS TO A POLITICAL & SOCIAL OV]TURN+ ( ACTUAL1 NON-CONCEPTUAL HI]>*IES4 ,BUT TO AUTOMATICALLY REFUSE ALL B9>Y OPPOSITIONS IS ITSELF A METAPHYSICAL PROPOSITION2 IT 9 FACT BYPASSES POLITICS & HI/ORY \T ( A FAILURE TO SEE 9 OPPOSITES1 H[EV] IMPRECISE !Y MAY BE1 ANY?+ BUT A L+UI/IC REALITY4 ,9 ! DISMANTL+ ( EV]Y B9>ISM1 DECON/RUCTION AIMS AT 0CONCEIV+ DIFF]5CE )\T OPPOSITION40 ,:AT 9 A SMALL] DOSAGE W\LD SEEM A SALUT>Y APPROA*1 A SKEPTICISM AB\T NEAT1 EI!R_/OR *>ACT]IZATIONS1 PROCE$S TO ! V]Y QUE/IONABLE PRESCRIPTION ( REFUS+ ALL UNAMBIGUITY4 ,TO SAY ?AT !RE CAN BE NO YES OR NO POSITION IS TANTAM\NT TO A P>ALYZES ( RELATIVISM1 9 :I* 'IMPOT5CE' BECOMES ! VALORIZ$ P>TN] TO 'OPPOSITION'4 

,P]HAPS ! CASE ( ,PAUL ,DE ,MAN1 :O EXT5D$ & DEEP5$ ,D]RIDA'S SEM9AL DECON/RUCTIVE POSITIONS 7SURPASS+ HIM1 9 ! OP9ION ( MANY71 IS 9/RUCTIVE4 ,%ORTLY AFT] ! DEA? ( ,DE ,MAN 9 #a#i#h#e1 IT WAS DISCOV]$ ?AT AS A Y\NG MAN HE HAD WRITT5 SEV]AL ANTI-SEMITIC1 PRO-,NAZI NEWSPAP] >TICLES 9 OCCUPI$ ,BELGIUM4 ,! /ATUS ( ?IS BRILLIANT ,YALE DECON/RUCTOR1 & 9DE$ TO SOME1 ! MORAL & PHILOSOPHICAL VALUE ( DECON/RUCTION ITSELF1 W]E CALL$ 9TO QUE/ION BY ! S5SATIONAL REVELATION4 ,DE ,MAN1 LIKE ,D]RIDA1 HAD /RESS$ 0! DUPLICITY1 ! CONFUSION1 ! UNTRU? ?AT WE TAKE = GRANT$ 9 ! USE ( LANGUAGE40 ,CONSI/5T ) ?IS1 ALBEIT TO HIS DISCR$IT1 9 MY OP9ION1 WAS ,D]RIDA'S TORTU\S COMM5T>Y ON ,DE ,MAN'S COLLABORATIONI/ P]IOD3 9 SUM1 0H[ CAN WE JUDGE1 :O HAS ! RI<T TO SAY80 ,A %ABBY TE/IMONY = DECON/RUCTION1 CONSID]$ 9 ANY WAY AS A MOM5T ( ! ANTI-AU?ORIT>IAN4 

,D]RIDA ANN\NC$ ?AT DECON/RUCTION 09/IGATES ! SUBV]SION ( EV]Y K+DOM40 ,9 FACT1 IT HAS REMA9$ )9 ! SAFELY ACADEMIC REALM ( 9V5T+ EV] MORE +5I\S TEXTUAL COMPLICATIONS TO KEEP ITSELF 9 BUS9ESS & AVOID REFLECT+ ON ITS [N POLITICAL SITUATION4 ,ONE ( ,D]RIDA'S MO/ C5TRAL T]MS1 DISSEM9ATION1 DESCRIBES LANGUAGE1 UND] ! PR9CIPLE ( DIFF]5CE1 AS NOT SO MU* A RI* H>VE/ ( MEAN+S BUT A K9D ( 5DLESS LOSS & SPILLAGE1 ) MEAN+ APPE>+ EV]Y:]E & EVAPORAT+ VIRTUALLY AT ONCE4 ,?IS FL[ ( LANGUAGE1 CEASELESS & UNSATISFY+1 IS A MO/ ACCURATE P>ALLEL TO ?AT ( ! HE>T ( CONSUM] CAPITAL & ITS 5DLESS CIRCULATION ( NON-SIGNIFICANCE4 ,D]RIDA ?US UNWITT+LY ET]NALIZES & UNIV]SALIZES DOM9AT$ LIFE BY R5D]+ HUMAN COMMUNICATION 9 ITS IMAGE4 ,! 0EV]Y K+DOM0 HE W\LD SEE DECON/RUCTION SUBV]T+ IS 9/EAD EXT5D$ & DEEM$ ABSOLUTE4 

,D]RIDA REPRES5TS BO? ! WELL-TRAVEL$ ,FR5* TRADITION ( EXPLICATION DE TEXTE & A REACTION AGA9/ ! ,GALLIC V5]ATION ( ,C>TESIAN CLASSICI/ LANGUAGE ) ITS IDEALS ( CL>ITY & BALANCE4 ,DECON/RUCTION EM]G$ ALSO1 TO A DEGREE1 AS P>T ( ! ORIG9AL ELEM5T ( ! NE>-REVOLUTION ( #a#i#f#h1 NAMELY ! /UD5T REVOLT AGA9/ RIGIDIFI$ ,FR5* HI<] $UCATION4 ,SOME ( ITS KEY T]MS 7E4G4 DISSEM9ATION7 >E BORR[$ FROM ,BLAN*OT'S READ+ ( ,HEIDEGG]1 :I* IS NOT TO D5Y A SIGNIFICANT ORIG9ALITY 9 ,D]RIDEAN ?\<T4 ,PRES5CE & REPRES5TATION CON/ANTLY CALL EA* O!R 9TO QUE/ION1 REVEAL+ ! UND]LY+ SY/EM AS 9F9ITELY FISSUR$1 & ?IS 9 ITSELF IS AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION4 

,UN=TUNATELY1 TO TRANS=M METAPHYSICS 9TO ! QUE/ION ( WRIT+1 9 :I* MEAN+S VIRTUALLY *OOSE !MSELVES & ?US ONE DISC\RSE 7& !RE=E MODE ( ACTION7 CANNOT BE DEMON/RAT$ TO BE BETT] ?AN ANO!R1 SEEMS LESS ?AN RADICAL4 ,DECON/RUCTION IS N[ EMBRAC$ BY ! HEADS ( ,5GLI% DEP>TM5TS1 PR(ESSIONAL SOCIETIES1 & O!R BODIES-9-GOOD-/&+ BECAUSE IT RAISES ! ISSUE ( REPRES5TATION ITSELF SO WEAKLY4 ,D]RIDA'S DECON/RUCTION ( PHILOSOPHY ADMITS ?AT IT MU/ LEAVE 9TACT ! V]Y CONCEPT :OSE LACK ( BASIS IT EXPOSES4 ,:ILE F9D+ ! NOTION ( A LANGUAGE-9DEP5D5T REALITY UNT5ABLE1 NEI!R DOES DECON/RUCTION PROMISE LIB]ATION FROM ! FAM\S 0PRISON H\SE ( LANGUAGE40 ,! ESS5CE ( LANGUAGE1 ! PRIMACY ( ! SYMBOLIC1 >E NOT REALLY TACKL$1 BUT >E %[N TO BE AS 9ESCAPABLE AS !Y >E 9ADEQUATE TO FULFILLM5T4 ,NO EXIT2 AS ,D]RIDA DECL>$3 0,IT IS NOT A QUE/ION ( RELEAS+ ONESELF 9TO AN UNREPRESSIVE NEW ORD] 7!RE >E NONE740 

,! CRISIS ( REPRES5TATION 

,IF DECON/RUCTION'S CONTRIBUTION IS MA9LY JU/ AN ]OSION ( \R ASSURANCE ( REALITY1 IT =GETS ?AT REALITY -- ADV]TIS+ & MASS CULTURE TO M5TION JU/ TWO SUP]FICIAL EXAMPLES -- HAS ALREADY ACCOMPLI%$ ?IS4 ,?US ?IS QU9TESS5TIALLY PO/MOD]N PO9T ( VIEW BESPEAKS ! MOVEM5T ( ?9K+ FROM DECAD5CE TO ITS ELEGIAC1 OR PO/-?\<T PHASE1 OR AS ,JOHN ,FEKETE SUMM>IZ$ IT1 0A MO/ PR(\ND CRISIS ( ! ,WE/]N M9D1 A MO/ PR(\ND LOSS ( N]VE40 

,TODAY'S OV]LOAD ( REPRES5TATION S]VES TO UND]L9E ! RADICAL IMPOV]I%M5T ( LIFE 9 TE*NOLOGICAL CLASS SOCIETY -- TE*NOLOGY IS DEPRIVATION4 ,! CLASSICAL !ORY ( REPRES5TATION HELD ?AT MEAN+ OR TRU? PREC$$ & PRESCRIB$ ! REPRES5TATIONS ?AT COMMUNICAT$ IT4 ,BUT WE MAY N[ 9HABIT A PO/MOD]N CULTURE :]E ! IMAGE HAS BECOME LESS ! EXPRESSION ( AN 9DIVIDUAL SUBJECT ?AN ! COMMODITY ( AN ANONYM\S CONSUM]I/ TE*NOLOGY4 ,EV] MORE M$IAT$1 LIFE 9 ! ,9=MATION ,AGE IS 9CREAS+LY CONTROLL$ BY ! MANIPULATION ( SIGNS1 SYMBOLS1 M>KET+ & TE/+ DATA1 ETC4 ,\R TIME1 SAYS ,D]RIDA1 IS 0A TIME )\T NATURE40 

,ALL =MULATIONS ( ! PO/MOD]N AGREE 9 DETECT+ A CRISIS ( REPRES5TATION4 ,D]RIDA1 AS NOT$1 BEGAN A *ALL5GE ( ! NATURE ( ! PHILOSOPHICAL PROJECT ITSELF AS GR\ND$ 9 REPRES5TATION1 RAIS+ SOME UNANSW]ABLE QUE/IONS AB\T ! RELATION%IP BETWE5 REPRES5TATION & ?\<T4 ,DECON/RUCTION UND]CUTS ! EPI/EMOLOGICAL CLAIMS ( REPRES5TATION1 %[+ ?AT LANGUAGE1 = EXAMPLE1 IS 9ADEQUATE TO ! TASK ( REPRES5TATION4 ,BUT ?IS UND]CUTT+ AVOIDS TACKL+ ! REPRESSIVE NATURE ( ITS SUBJECT1 9SI/+1 AGA91 ?AT PURE PRES5CE1 A SPACE BEYOND REPRES5TATION1 CAN ONLY BE A UTOPIAN DREAM4 ,!RE CAN BE NO UNM$IAT$ CONTACT OR COMMUNICATION1 ONLY SIGNS & REPRES5TATIONS2 DECON/RUCTION IS A SE>* = PRES5CE & FULFILLM5T 9T]M9ABLY1 NECESS>ILY1 DEF]R$4 

,JACQUES ,LACAN1 %>+ ! SAME RESIGNATION AS ,D]RIDA1 AT LEA/ REVEALS MORE CONC]N+ ! MALIGN ESS5CE ( REPRES5TATION4 ,EXT5D+ ,FREUD1 HE DET]M9$ ?AT ! SUBJECT IS BO? CON/ITUT$ & ALI5AT$ BY ! 5TRY 9TO ! SYMBOLIC ORD]1 NAMELY1 9TO LANGUAGE4 ,:ILE D5Y+ ! POSSIBILITY ( A RETURN TO A PRE-LANGUAGE /ATE 9 :I* ! BROK5 PROMISE ( PRES5CE MI<T BE HONOR$1 HE C\LD AT LEA/ SEE ! C5TRAL1 CRIPPL+ /ROKE ?AT IS ! SUBMISSION ( FREE-RANG+ DESIRES TO ! SYMBOLIC WORLD1 ! SURR5D] ( UNIQU5ESS TO LANGUAGE4 ,LACAN T]M$ J\ISSANCE UNSPEAKABLE BECAUSE IT C\LD PROP]LY OCCUR ONLY \TSIDE ( LANGUAGE3 ?AT HAPP9ESS :I* IS ! DESIRE = A WORLD )\T ! FRACTURE ( MONEY OR WRIT+1 A SOCIETY )\T REPRES5TATION4 

,! 9ABILITY TO G5]ATE SYMBOLIC MEAN+ IS1 SOME:AT IRONICALLY1 A BASIC PROBLEM = PO/MOD]NISM4 ,IT PLAYS \T ITS /ANCE AT ! FRONTI] BETWE5 :AT CAN BE REPRES5T$ & :AT CANNOT1 A HALF-WAY RESOLUTION 7AT BE/7 ?AT REFUSES TO REFUSE REPRES5TATION4 7,9/EAD ( PROVID+ ! >GUM5TS = ! VIEW ( ! SYMBOLIC AS REPRESSIVE & ALI5AT+1 ! READ] IS REF]R$ TO ! FIR/ FIVE ESSAYS ( MY ,ELEM5TS ( ,REFUSAL .<,LEFT ,BANK ,BOOKS1 #a#i#h#h.>1 :I* DEAL ) TIME1 LANGUAGE1 NUMB]1 >T1 & AGRICULTURE AS CULTURAL E/RANGEM5TS [+ TO SYMBOLIZATION47 ,MEAN:ILE AN E/RANG$ & EXHAU/$ PUBLIC LOSES 9T]E/ 9 ! ALLEG$ SOLACE ( CULTURE1 & ) ! DEEP5+ & ?ICK5+ ( M$IATION EM]GES ! DISCOV]Y ?AT P]HAPS ?IS WAS ALWAYS ! MEAN+ ( CULTURE4 ,IT IS C]TA9LY NOT \T ( *>ACT]1 H[EV]1 TO F9D ?AT PO/MOD]NISM DOES NOT RECOGNIZE REFLECTION ON ! ORIG9S ( REPRES5TATION1 9SI/+ AS IT DOES ON ! IMPOSSIBILITY ( UNM$IAT$ EXI/5CE4 

,9 RESPONSE TO ! LONG+ = ! LO/ :OL5ESS ( PRE-CIVILIZATION1 PO/MOD]NISM SAYS ?AT CULTURE HAS BECOME SO FUNDAM5TAL TO HUMAN EXI/5CE ?AT !RE IS NO POSSIBILITY ( DELV+ D[N UND] IT4 ,?IS1 ( C\RSE1 RECALLS ,FREUD1 :O RECOGNIZ$ ! ESS5CE ( CIVILIZATION AS A SUPPRESSION ( FRE$OM & :OL5ESS1 BUT :O DECID$ ?AT WORK & CULTURE W]E MORE IMPORTANT4 ,FREUD AT LEA/ WAS HONE/ 5\< TO ADMIT ! CONTRADICTION OR NON-RECONCILIATION 9VOLV$ 9 OPT+ = ! CRIPPL+ NATURE ( CIVILIZATION1 :]EAS ! PO/MOD]NI/S DO NOT4 

,FLOYD ,M]RELL F\ND ?AT 0A KEY1 P]HAPS ! PR9CIPAL KEY TO ,D]RIDEAN ?\<T0 WAS ,D]RIDA'S DECISION TO PLACE ! QUE/ION ( ORIG9S (F LIMITS4 ,& SO :ILE H9T+ ?R\<\T HIS WORK AT A COMPLICITY BETWE5 ! FUNDAM5TAL ASSUMPTIONS ( ,WE/]N ?\<T & ! VIOL5CES & REPRESSIONS ?AT HAVE *>ACT]IZ$ ,WE/]N CIVILIZATION1 ,D]RIDA HAS C5TRALLY1 & V]Y 9FLU5TIALLY1 REPUDIAT$ ALL NOTIONS ( ORIG9S4 ,CAUSATIVE ?9K+1 AFT] ALL1 IS ONE ( ! OBJECTS ( SCORN = PO/MOD]NI/S4 ',NATURE' IS AN ILLUSION1 SO :AT C\LD 'UNNATURAL' MEAN8 ,9 PLACE ( ! SITUATIONI/S' WOND]FUL 0,UND] ! PAVEM5T IT'S ! BEA*10 WE HAVE ,F\CAULT'S FAM\S REPUDIATION1 9 ,! ,ORD] ( ,?+S1 ( ! :OLE NOTION ( ! 0REPRESSIVE HYPO!SIS40 ,FREUD GAVE US AN UND]/&+ ( CULTURE AS /UNT+ & NEUROSIS-G5]AT+2 PM TELLS US ?AT CULTURE IS ALL WE CAN EV] HAVE1 & ?AT ITS F\NDATIONS1 IF !Y EXI/1 >E NOT AVAILABLE TO \R UND]/&+4 ,PO/MOD]NISM IS APP>5TLY :AT WE >E LEFT ) :5 ! MOD]NIZATION PROCESS IS COMPLETE & NATURE IS GONE = GOOD4 

,NOT ONLY DOES PM E*O ,BECKETT'S COMM5T 9 ,5DGAME1 0!RE'S NO MORE NATURE10 BUT IT ALSO D5IES ?AT !RE EV] WAS ANY RECOGNIZABLE SPACE \TSIDE ( LANGUAGE & CULTURE4 ',NATURE'1 DECL>$ ,D]RIDA 9 DISCUSS+ ,R\SSEAU1 0HAS NEV] EXI/$40 ,AGA91 ALI5ATION IS RUL$ \T2 ?AT CONCEPT NECESS>ILY IMPLIES AN IDEA ( AU!NTICITY :I* PO/MOD]NISM F9DS UN9TELLIGIBLE4 ,9 ?IS VE91 ,D]RIDA CIT$ 0! LOSS ( :AT HAS NEV] TAK5 PLACE1 ( A SELF-PRES5CE :I* HAS NEV] BE5 GIV5 BUT ONLY DREAM$ (4440 ,DESPITE ! LIMITATIONS ( /RUCTURALISM1 ,LEVI-,/RAUSS' S5SE ( AFFILIATION ) ,R\SSEAU1 ON ! O!R H&1 BORE WITNESS TO HIS SE>* = ORIG9S4 ,REFUS+ TO RULE \T LIB]ATION1 EI!R 9 T]MS ( BEG9N+S OR GOALS1 ,LEVI-,/RAUSS NEV] CEAS$ TO LONG = AN '9TACT' SOCIETY1 A NON-FRACTUR$ WORLD :]E IMM$IACY HAD NOT YET BE5 BROK54 ,= ?IS ,D]RIDA1 PEJORATIVELY TO BE SURE1 PRES5TS ,R\SSEAU AS A UTOPIAN & ,LEVI-,/RAUSS AS AN AN>*I/1 CAUTION+ AGA9/ A 0/EP FUR!R T[>D A SORT ( ORIG9AL AN->*Y10 :I* W\LD BE ONLY A DANG]\S DELUSION4 

,! REAL DANG] CONSI/S 9 NOT *ALL5G+1 AT ! MO/ BASIC LEVEL1 ! ALI5ATION & DOM9ATION ?REAT5+ TO COMPLETELY OV]COME NATURE1 :AT IS LEFT ( ! NATURAL 9 ! WORLD & )9 \RSELVES4 ,M>CUSE DISC]N$ ?AT 0! MEMORY ( GRATIFICATION IS AT ! ORIG9 ( ALL ?9K+1 & ! IMPULSE TO RECAPTURE PA/ GRATIFICATION IS ! HIDD5 DRIV+ P[] BEH9D ! PROCESS ( ?\<T40 ,! QUE/ION ( ORIG9S ALSO 9VOLVES ! :OLE QUE/ION ( ! BIR? ( AB/RACTION & 9DE$ ( PHILOSOPHICAL CONCEPTUALITY AS SU*1 & ,M>CUSE CAME CLOSE1 9 HIS SE>* = :AT W\LD CON/ITUTE A /ATE ( BE+ )\T REPRESSION1 TO CONFRONT+ CULTURE ITSELF4 ,HE C]TA9LY NEV] QUITE ESCAP$ ! IMPRESSION 0?AT SOME?+ ESS5TIAL HAD BE5 =GOTT50 BY HUMANITY4 ,SIMIL> IS ! BRIEF PRON\NCEM5T BY ,NOVALIS1 0,PHILOSOPHY IS HOMESICKNESS40 ,BY COMP>ISON1 ,KROK] & ,COOK >E UND5IABLY CORRECT 9 CONCLUD+ ?AT 0! PO/MOD]N CULTURE IS A =GETT+1 A =GETT+ ( ORIG9S & DE/9ATIONS40 

,B>!S1 ,F\CAULT @& ,LYOT>D 

,TURN+ TO O!R PO//RUCTURALI/_/ PO/MOD]N FIGURES1 ,ROL& ,B>!S1 E>LI] 9 HIS C>E] A MAJOR /RUCTURALI/ ?9K]1 DES]VES M5TION4 ,HIS ,WRIT+ ,DEGREE ,Z]O EXPRESS$ ! HOPE ?AT LANGUAGE CAN BE US$ 9 A UTOPIAN WAY & ?AT !RE >E CONTROLL+ CODES 9 CULTURE ?AT CAN BE BROK54 ,BY ! E>LY '#gS1 H[EV]1 HE FELL 9TO L9E ) ,D]RIDA 9 SEE+ LANGUAGE AS A METAPHORICAL QUAGMIRE1 :OSE METAPHORICITY IS NOT RECOGNIZ$4 ,PHILOSOPHY IS BEFUDDL$ BY ITS [N LANGUAGE & LANGUAGE 9 G5]AL CANNOT CLAIM MA/]Y ( :AT IT DISCUSSES4 ,) ,! ,EMPIRE ( ,SIGNS 7#a#i#g71 ,B>!S HAD ALREADY R5\NC$ ANY CRITICAL1 ANALYTICAL 9T5TION4 ,O/5SIBLY AB\T ,JAPAN1 ?IS BOOK IS PRES5T$ 0)\T CLAIM+ TO DEPICT OR ANALYZE ANY REALITY :ATSOEV]40 ,V>I\S FRAGM5TS DEAL ) CULTURAL =MS AS DIV]SE AS HAIKU & SLOT MA*9ES1 AS P>TS ( A SORT ( ANTI-UTOPIAN L&SCAPE :]E9 =MS POSSESS NO MEAN+ & ALL IS SURFACE4 ,EMPIRE MAY QUALIFY AS ! FIR/ FULLY PO/MOD]N (F]+1 & BY ! MID-'#gS ITS AU?OR'S NOTION ( ! PLEASURE ( ! TEXT C>RI$ =W>D ! SAME ,D]RIDEAN DISDA9 = BELIEF 9 ! VALIDITY ( PUBLIC DISC\RSE4 ,WRIT+ HAD BECOME AN 5D 9 ITSELF1 A M]ELY P]SONAL ES!TIC ! OV]RID+ CONSID]ATION4 ,BE=E HIS DEA? 9 #a#i#h1 ,B>!S HAD EXPLICITLY D5\NC$ 0ANY 9TELLECTUAL MODE ( WRIT+10 ESPECIALLY ANY?+ SMACK+ ( ! POLITICAL4 ,BY ! TIME ( HIS F9AL WORK1 ,B>!S BY ,B>!S1 ! H$ONISM ( WORDS1 P>ALLEL+ A REAL-LIFE D&YISM1 CONSID]$ CONCEPTS NOT 9 T]MS ( !IR VALIDITY OR 9VALIDITY BUT ONLY = !IR EFFICACY AS TACTICS ( WRIT+4 

,9 #aihe ,A,I,D,S CLAIM$ ! MO/ WIDELY KN[N 9FLU5CE ON PO/MOD]NISM1 ,MI*EL ,F\CAULT4 ,SOMETIMES CALL$ 0! PHILOSOPH] ( ! DEA? ( MAN0 & CONSID]$ BY MANY ! GREATE/ ( ,NIETZS*E'S MOD]N DISCIPLES1 HIS WID]ANG+ HI/ORICAL /UDIES 7E4G4 ON MADNESS1 P5AL PRACTICES1 SEXUALITY7 MADE HIM V]Y WELL KN[N & 9 !MSELVES SUGGE/ DIFF]5CES BETWE5 ,F\CAULT & ! RELATIVELY MORE AB/RACT & AHI/ORICAL ,D]RIDA4 ,/RUCTURALISM1 AS NOT$1 HAD ALREADY =CEFULLY DEVALU$ ! 9DIVIDUAL ON L>GELY L+UI/IC GR\NDS1 :]EAS ,F\CAULT *>ACT]IZ$ 0MAN 7AS7 ONLY A REC5T 9V5TION1 A FIGURE NOT YET TWO C5TURIES OLD1 A SIMPLE FOLD 9 \R KN[L$GE ?AT WILL SOON DISAPPE>40 ,HIS EMPHASIS LIES 9 EXPOS+ 'MAN' AS ?AT :I* IS REPRES5T$ & BR\<T =? AS AN OBJECT1 SPECIFICALLY AS A VIRTUAL 9V5TION ( ! MOD]N HUMAN SCI5CES4 ,DESPITE AN IDIOSYNCRATIC /YLE1 ,F\CAULT'S WORKS W]E MU* MORE POPUL> ?AN ?OSE ( ,HORKHEIM] & ,ADORNO 7E4G4 ,! ,DIALECTIC ( ,5LI<T5M5T7 & ,]V+ ,G(FMAN1 9 ! SAME VE9 ( REVEAL+ ! HIDD5 AG5DA ( B\RGEOIS RATIONALITY4 ,HE PO9T$ TO ! '9DIVIDUALIZ+' TACTIC AT WORK 9 ! KEY 9/ITUTIONS 9 ! E>LY #a#hS 7! FAMILY1 WORK1 M$IC9E1 PSY*IATRY1 $UCATION71 BR++ \T !IR NORMALIZ+1 DISCIPL9>Y ROLES )9 EM]G+ CAPITALI/ MOD]NITY1 AS ! '9DIVIDUAL' IS CREAT$ BY & = ! DOM9ANT ORD]4 

,F\CAULT1 TYPICALLY PM1 REJECTS ORIG9>Y ?9K+ & ! NOTION ?AT !RE IS A 'REALITY' BEH9D OR UND]NEA? ! PREVAIL+ DISC\RSE ( AN ]A4 ,LIKEWISE1 ! SUBJECT IS A DELUSION ESS5TIALLY CREAT$ BY DISC\RSE1 AN ',I' CREAT$ \T ( ! RUL+ L+UI/IC USAGES4 ,& SO HIS DETAIL$ HI/ORICAL N>RATIVES1 T]M$ '>*AEOLOGIES' ( KN[L$GE1 >E (F]$ 9/EAD ( !ORETICAL OV]VIEWS1 AS IF !Y C>RI$ NO IDEOLOGICAL OR PHILOSOPHICAL ASSUMPTIONS4 ,= ,F\CAULT !RE >E NO F\NDATIONS ( ! SOCIAL TO BE APPREH5D$ \TSIDE ! CONTEXTS ( V>I\S P]IODS1 OR EPI/EMES1 AS HE CALL$ !M2 ! F\NDATIONS *ANGE FROM ONE EPI/EME TO ANO!R4 ,! PREVAIL+ DISC\RSE1 :I* CON/ITUTES ITS SUBJECTS1 IS SEEM+LY SELF-=M+2 ?IS IS A RA!R UNHELPFUL APPROA* TO HI/ORY RESULT+ PRIM>ILY FROM ! FACT ?AT ,F\CAULT MAKES NO REF]5CE TO SOCIAL GR\PS1 BUT FOCUSES 5TIRELY ON SY/EMS ( ?\<T4 ,A FUR!R PROBLEM >ISES FROM HIS VIEW ?AT ! EPI/EME ( AN AGE CANNOT BE KN[N BY ?OSE :O LABOR )9 IT4 ,IF CONSCI\SNESS IS PRECISELY :AT1 BY ,F\CAULT'S [N ACC\NT1 FAILS TO BE AW>E ( ITS RELATIVISM OR TO KN[ :AT IT W\LD HAVE LOOK$ LIKE 9 PREVI\S EPI/EMES1 !N ,F\CAULT'S [N ELEVAT$1 5COMPASS+ AW>5ESS IS IMPOSSIBLE4 ,?IS DIFFICULTY IS ACKN[L$G$ AT ! 5D ( ,! ,>*AEOLOGY ( ,KN[L$GE 7#a#i#g#b71 BUT REMA9S UNANSW]$1 A RA!R GL>+ & OBVI\S PROBLEM4 

,! DILEMMA ( PO/MOD]NISM IS ?IS3 H[ CAN ! /ATUS & VALIDITY ( ITS !ORETICAL APPROA*ES BE ASC]TA9$ IF NEI!R TRU? NOR F\NDATIONS = KN[L$GE >E ADMITT$8 ,IF WE REMOVE ! POSSIBILITY ( RATIONAL F\NDATIONS OR /&>DS1 ON :AT BASIS CAN WE OP]ATE8 ,H[ CAN WE UND]/& :AT ! SOCIETY IS ?AT WE OPPOSE1 LET ALONE COME TO %>E SU* AN UND]/&+8 ,F\CAULT'S 9SI/5CE ON A ,NIETZS*EAN P]SPECTIVISM TRANSLATES 9TO ! IRR$UCIBLE PLURALISM ( 9T]PRETATION4 ,HE RELATIVIZ$ KN[L$GE & TRU? ONLY 9S(> AS !SE NOTIONS ATTA* TO ?\<T-SY/EMS O!R ?AN HIS [N1 H[EV]4 ,:5 PRESS$ ON ?IS PO9T1 ,F\CAULT ADMITT$ TO BE+ 9CAPABLE ( RATIONALLY JU/IFY+ HIS [N OP9IONS4 ,?US ! LIB]AL ,HAB]MAS CLAIMS ?AT PO/MOD]N ?9K]S LIKE ,F\CAULT1 ,DELEUZE1 & ,LYOT>D >E 'NEOCONS]VATIVE' = (F]+ NO CONSI/5T >GUM5TATION TO MOVE 9 ONE SOCIAL DIRECTION RA!R ?AN ANO!R4 ,! PM EMBRACE ( RELATIVISM 7OR 'PLURALISM'7 ALSO MEANS !RE IS NO?+ TO PREV5T ! P]SPECTIVE ( ONE SOCIAL T5D5CY FROM 9CLUD+ A CLAIM = ! RI<T TO DOM9ATE ANO!R1 9 ! ABS5CE ( ! POSSIBILITY ( DET]M9+ /&>DS4 

,! TOPIC ( P[]1 9 FACT1 WAS A C5TRAL ONE TO ,F\CAULT & ! WAYS HE TREAT$ IT >E REVEAL+4 ,HE WROTE ( ! SIGNIFICANT 9/ITUTIONS ( MOD]N SOCIETY AS UNIT$ BY A CONTROL 9T5TIONALITY1 A 0C>C]AL CONT9UUM0 ?AT EXPRESSES ! LOGICAL F9ALE ( CAPITALISM1 FROM :I* !RE IS NO ESCAPE4 ,BUT P[] ITSELF1 HE DET]M9$1 IS A GRID OR FIELD ( RELATIONS 9 :I* SUBJECTS >E CON/ITUT$ AS BO? ! PRODUCTS & ! AG5TS ( P[]4 ,EV]Y?+ ?US P>TAKES ( P[] & SO IT IS NO GOOD TRY+ TO F9D A 'FUNDAM5TAL'1 OPPRESSIVE P[] TO FI<T AGA9/4 ,MOD]N P[] IS 9SIDI\S & 0COMES FROM EV]Y:]E40 ,LIKE ,GOD1 IT IS EV]Y:]E & NO:]E AT ONCE4 

,F\CAULT F9DS NO BEA* UND]NEA? ! PAV+ /ONES1 NO 'NATURAL' ORD] AT ALL4 ,!RE IS ONLY ! C]TA9TY ( SUCCESSIVE REGIMES ( P[]1 EA* ONE ( :I* MU/ SOMEH[ BE RESI/$4 ,BUT ,F\CAULT'S *>ACT]I/ICALLY PM AV]SION TO ! :OLE NOTION ( ! HUMAN SUBJECT MAKES IT QUITE DIFFICULT TO SEE :]E SU* RESI/ANCE MI<T SPR+ FROM1 NOT)/&+ HIS VIEW ?AT !RE IS NO RESI/ANCE TO P[] ?AT IS NOT A V>IANT ( P[] ITSELF4 ,REG>D+ ! LATT] PO9T1 ,F\CAULT REA*$ A FUR!R DEAD-5D 9 CONSID]+ ! RELATION%IP ( P[] TO KN[L$GE4 ,HE CAME TO SEE !M AS 9EXTRICABLY & UBIQUIT\SLY L9K$1 DIRECTLY IMPLY+ ONE ANO!R4 ,! DIFFICULTIES 9 CONT9U+ TO SAY ANY?+ ( SUB/ANCE 9 LI<T ( ?IS 9T]RELATION%IP CAUS$ ,F\CAULT TO EV5TUALLY GIVE UP ON A !ORY ( P[]4 ,! DET]M9ISM 9VOLV$ MEANT1 = ONE ?+1 ?AT HIS POLITICAL 9VOLVEM5T BECAME 9CREAS+LY SLI<T4 ,IT IS NOT H>D TO SEE :Y ,F\CAULTISM WAS GREATLY BOO/$ BY ! M$IA1 :ILE ! SITUATIONI/S1 = EXAMPLE1 W]E BLACK$ \T4 

,CA/ORIADIS ONCE REF]R$ TO ,F\CAULT'S IDEAS ON P[] & OPPOSITION TO IT AS1 0,RESI/ IF IT AMUSES Y\ -- BUT )\T A /RATEGY1 BECAUSE !N Y\ W\LD NO LONG] BE PROLET>IAN1 BUT P[]40 ,F\CAULT'S [N ACTIVISM HAD ATTEMPT$ TO EMBODY ! EMPIRICI/ DREAM ( A !ORY -- & IDEOLOGY -- FREE APPROA*1 ?AT ( ! 0SPECIFIC 9TELLECTUAL0 :O P>TICIPATES 9 P>TICUL>1 LOCAL /RUGGLES4 ,?IS TACTIC SEES !ORY US$ ONLY CONCRETELY1 AS AD HOC 0TOOL KIT0 ME?ODS = SPECIFIC CAMPAIGNS4 ,DESPITE ! GOOD 9T5TIONS1 H[EV]1 LIMIT+ !ORY TO DISCRETE1 P]I%ABLE 9/RUM5TAL 'TOOLS' NOT ONLY REFUSES AN EXPLICIT OV]VIEW ( SOCIETY BUT ACCEPTS ! G5]AL DIVISION ( LABOR :I* IS AT ! HE>T ( ALI5ATION & DOM9ATION4 ,! DESIRE TO RESPECT DIFF]5CES1 LOCAL KN[L$GE & ! LIKE REFUSES A R$UCTIVE1 TOTALIT>IAN-T5D+ OV]VALU+ ( !ORY1 BUT ONLY TO ACCEPT ! ATOMIZATION ( LATE CAPITALISM ) ITS SPL9T]+ ( LIFE 9TO ! N>R[ SPECIALTIES ?AT >E ! PROV9CE ( SO MANY EXP]TS4 ,IF 0WE >E CAU<T BETWE5 ! >ROGANCE ( SURVEY+ ! :OLE & ! TIMIDITY ( 9SPECT+ ! P>TS10 AS ,REBECCA ,COMAY APTLY PUT IT1 H[ DOES ! SECOND ALT]NATIVE 7,F\CAULT'S7 REPRES5T AN ADVANCE OV] LIB]AL RE=MISM 9 G5]AL8 ,?IS SEEMS AN ESPECIALLY P]T95T QUE/ION :5 ONE REMEMB]S H[ MU* ,F\CAULT'S :OLE 5T]PRISE WAS AIM$ AT DISABUS+ US ( ! ILLUSIONS ( HUMANI/ RE=M]S ?R\<\T HI/ORY4 ,! 0SPECIFIC 9TELLECTUAL0 9 FACT TURNS \T TO BE JU/ ONE MORE EXP]T1 ONE MORE LIB]AL ATTACK+ SPECIFICS RA!R ?AN ! ROOTS ( PROBLEMS4 ,& LOOK+ AT ! CONT5T ( HIS ACTIVISM1 :I* WAS MA9LY 9 ! >EA ( P5AL RE=M1 ! ORI5TATION IS ALMO/ TOO TEPID TO EV5 QUALIFY AS LIB]AL4 ,9 ! '#hS 0HE TRI$ TO GA!R1 UND] ! EGIS ( HIS *AIR AT ! ,COLLEGE DE ,FRANCE1 HI/ORIANS1 LAWY]S1 JUDGES1 PSY*IATRI/S & DOCTORS CONC]N$ ) LAW & PUNI%M5T10 ACCORD+ TO ,KEI? ,G&AL4 ,ALL ! COPS4 0,! WORK ,I DID ON ! HI/ORICAL RELATIVITY ( ! PRISON =M10 SAID ,F\CAULT1 0WAS AN 9CITATION TO TRY TO ?9K ( O!R =MS ( PUNI%M5T40 ,OBVI\SLY1 HE ACCEPT$ ! LEGITIMACY ( ?IS SOCIETY & ( PUNI%M5T2 NO LESS UNSURPRIS+ WAS HIS COROLL>Y DISMISSAL ( AN>*I/S AS 9FANTILE 9 !IR HOPES = ! FUTURE & FAI? 9 HUMAN POT5TIAL4 

,! WORKS ( ,JEAN-,FRANCOIS ,LYOT>D >E SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRADICTORY TO EA* O!R -- 9 ITSELF A PM TRAIT -- BUT ALSO EXPRESS A C5TRAL PO/MOD]N !ME3 ?AT SOCIETY CANNOT & %\LD NOT BE UND]/OOD AS A :OLE4 ,LYOT>D IS A PRIME EXAMPLE ( ANTI-TOTALIZ+ ?\<T TO ! PO9T ?AT HE HAS SUMM$ UP PO/MOD]NISM AS 09CR$ULITY T[>D METAN>RATIVES0 OR OV]VIEWS4 ,! IDEA ?AT IT IS UNHEAL?Y AS WELL AS IMPOSSIBLE TO GRASP ! :OLE IS P>T ( AN 5ORM\S REACTION 9 ,FRANCE S9CE ! '#fS AGA9/ M>XI/ & ,COMMUNI/ 9FLU5CES4 ,:ILE ,LYOT>D'S *IEF T>GET IS ! M>XI/ TRADITION1 ONCE SO V]Y /RONG 9 ,FR5* POLITICAL & 9TELLECTUAL LIFE1 HE GOES FUR!R & REJECTS SOCIAL !ORY 9 TOTO4 ,= EXAMPLE1 HE HAS COME TO BELIEVE ?AT ANY CONCEPT ( ALI5ATION -- ! IDEA ?AT AN ORIG9AL UNITY1 :OL5ESS1 OR 9NOC5CE IS FRACTUR$ BY ! FRAGM5TATION & 9DIFF]5CE ( CAPITALISM -- 5DS UP AS A TOTALIT>IAN ATTEMPT TO UNIFY SOCIETY CO]CIVELY4 ,*>ACT]I/ICALLY1 HIS MID-'#gS ,LIBID9AL ,ECONOMY D5\NCES !ORY AS T]ROR4 

,ONE MI<T SAY ?AT ?IS EXTREME REACTION W\LD BE UNLIKELY \TSIDE ( A CULTURE SO DOM9AT$ BY ! M>XI/ LEFT1 BUT ANO!R LOOK TELLS US ?AT IT FITS P]FECTLY ) ! WID]1 DISILLUSION$ PO/MOD]N CONDITION4 ,LYOT>D'S :OLESALE REJECTION ( PO/-,KANTIAN ,5LI<T5M5T VALUES DOES1 AFT] ALL1 EMBODY ! REALIZATION ?AT RATIONAL CRITIQUE1 AT LEA/ 9 ! =M ( ! CONFID5T VALUES & BELIEFS ( ,KANTIAN1 ,HEGELIAN & ,M>XI/ METAN>RATIVE !ORY1 HAS BE5 DEBUNK$ BY DISMAL HI/ORICAL REALITY4 ,ACCORD+ TO ,LYOT>D1 ! PM ]A SIGNIFIES ?AT ALL CONSOL+ MY?S ( 9TELLECTUAL MA/]Y & TRU? >E AT AN 5D1 REPLAC$ BY A PLURALITY ( 'LANGUAGE-GAMES'1 ! ,WITTG5/E9IAN NOTION ( 'TRU?' AS PROVISIONALLY %>$ & CIRCULAT+ )\T ANY K9D ( EPI/EMOLOGICAL W>RANT OR PHILOSOPHICAL F\NDATION4 ,LANGUAGE-GAMES >E A PRAGMATIC1 LOCALIZ$1 T5TATIVE BASIS = KN[L$GE2 UNLIKE ! COMPREH5SIVE VIEWS ( !ORY OR HI/ORICAL 9T]PRETATION1 !Y DEP5D ON ! AGREEM5T ( P>TICIPANTS = !IR USE-VALUE4 ,LYOT>D'S IDEAL IS ?US A MULTITUDE ( 0LITTLE N>RATIVES0 9/EAD ( ! 09H]5T DOGMATISM0 ( METAN>RATIVES OR GR& IDEAS4 ,UN=TUNATELY1 SU* A PRAGMATIC APPROA* MU/ ACCOMMODATE TO ?+S AS !Y >E1 & DEP5DS UPON PREVAIL+ CONS5SUS VIRTUALLY BY DEF9ITION4 ,?US ,LYOT>D'S APPROA* IS ( LIMIT$ VALUE = CREAT+ A BREAK FROM ! EV]YDAY NORMS4 ,?\< HIS HEAL?Y1 ANTI-AU?ORIT>IAN SKEPTICISM SEES TOTALIZATION AS OPPRESSIVE OR CO]CIVE1 :AT HE OV]LOOKS IS ?AT ! ,F\CAULTIAN RELATIVISM ( LANGUAGE-GAMES1 ) !IR FREELY CONTRACT$ AGREEM5T AS TO MEAN+1 T5DS TO HOLD ?AT EV]Y?+ IS ( EQUAL VALIDITY4 ,AS ,G]>D ,RAULET CONCLUD$1 ! RESULTANT REFUSAL ( OV]VIEW ACTUALLY OBEYS ! EXI/+ LOGIC ( HOMOG5EITY RA!R ?AN SOMEH[ PROVID+ A HAV5 = HET]OG5EITY4 

,TO F9D PROGRESS SUSPECT IS1 ( C\RSE1 PR]EQUISITE TO ANY CRITICAL APPROA*1 BUT ! QUE/ = HET]OG5EITY MU/ 9CLUDE AW>5ESS ( ITS DISAPPE>ANCE & A SE>* = ! REASONS :Y IT DISAPPE>$4 ,PO/MOD]N ?\<T G5]ALLY BEHAVES AS IF 9 COMPLETE IGNORANCE ( ! NEWS ?AT DIVISION ( LABOR & COMMODIFICATION >E ELIM9AT+ ! BASIS = CULTURAL OR SOCIAL HET]OG5EITY4 ,PM SEEKS TO PRES]VE :AT IS VIRTUALLY NON-EXI/5T & REJECTS ! WID] ?9K+ NECESS>Y TO DEAL ) IMPOV]I%$ REALITY4 ,9 ?IS >EA IT IS ( 9T]E/ TO LOOK AT ! RELATION%IP BETWE5 PM & TE*NOLOGY1 :I* HAPP5S TO BE ( DECISIVE IMPORTANCE TO ,LYOT>D4 

,ADORNO F\ND ! WAY ( CONTEMPOR>Y TOTALIT>IANISM PREP>$ BY ! ,5LI<T5M5T IDEAL ( TRIUMPH OV] NATURE1 ALSO KN[N AS 9/RUM5TAL REASON4 ,LYOT>D SEES ! FRAGM5TATION ( KN[L$GE AS ESS5TIAL TO COMBAT+ DOM9ATION1 :I* DISALL[S ! OV]VIEW NECESS>Y TO SEE ?AT1 TO ! CONTR>Y1 ! ISOLATION ?AT IS FRAGM5T$ KN[L$GE =GETS ! SOCIAL DET]M9ATION & PURPOSE ( ?AT ISOLATION4 ,! CELEBRAT$ 'HET]OG5EITY' IS NO?+ MU* MORE ?AN ! SPL9T]+ EFFECT ( AN OV]BE>+ TOTALITY HE W\LD RA!R IGNORE4 ,CRITIQUE IS NEV] MORE DISC>D$ ?AN 9 ,LYOT>D'S PO/MOD]N POSITIVISM1 RE/+ AS IT DOES ON ! ACCEPTANCE ( A TE*NICAL RATIONALITY ?AT =GOES CRITIQUE4 ,UNSURPRIS+LY1 9 ! ]A ( ! DECOMPOSITION ( MEAN+ & ! R5UNCIATION ( SEE+ :AT ! 5SEMBLE ( M]E 'FACTS' REALLY ADD UP TO1 ,LYOT>D EMBRACES ! COMPUT]IZATION ( SOCIETY4 ,RA!R LIKE ! ,NIETZS*EAN ,F\CAULT1 ,LYOT>D BELIEVES ?AT P[] IS MORE & MORE ! CRIT]ION ( TRU?4 ,HE F9DS HIS COMPANION 9 ! PO/-MOD]N PRAGMATI/ ,RI*>D ,RORTY :O LIKEWISE WELCOMES MOD]N TE*NOLOGY & IS DEEPLY W$D$ TO ! HEGEMONIC VALUES ( PRES5T-DAY 9DU/RIAL SOCIETY4 

,9 #aihe ,LYOT>D PUT TOGE!R A SPECTACUL> HI<-TE* EXHIBITION AT ! ,POMPID\ ,C5T] 9 ,P>IS1 FEATUR+ ! >TIFICIAL REALITIES & MICROCOMPUT] WORK ( SU* >TI/S AS ,MYRON ,KRUEG]4 ,AT ! OP5+1 ITS PLANN] DECL>$1 0,WE WANT$444TO 9DICATE ?AT ! WORLD IS NOT EVOLV+ T[>D GREAT] CL>ITY & SIMPLICITY1 BUT RA!R T[>D A NEW DEGREE ( COMPLEXITY 9 :I* ! 9DIVIDUAL MAY FEEL V]Y LO/ BUT 9 :I* HE CAN 9 FACT BECOME MORE FREE40 ,APP>5TLY OV]VIEWS >E P]MITT$ IF !Y CO9CIDE ) ! PLANS ( \R MA/]S = US & = NATURE4 ,BUT ! MORE SPECIFIC PO9T LIES ) 'IMMAT]IALITY'1 ! TITLE ( ! EXHIBIT & A ,LYOT>DIAN T]M :I* HE ASSOCIATES ) ! ]OSION ( ID5TITY1 ! BREAK+ D[N ( /ABLE B>RI]S BETWE5 ! SELF & A WORLD PRODUC$ BY \R 9VOLVEM5T 9 LABYR9?9E TE*NOLOGICAL & SOCIAL SY/EMS4 ,NE$LESS TO SAY1 HE APPROVES ( ?IS CONDITION1 CELEBRAT+1 = 9/ANCE1 ! 'PLURALIZ+' POT5TIAL ( NEW COMMUNICATIONS TE*NOLOGY -- ( ! SORT ?AT DE-S5SUALIZES LIFE1 FLATT5S EXP]I5CE & ]ADICATES ! NATURAL WORLD4 ,LYOT>D WRITES3 0,ALL PEOPLES HAVE A RI<T TO SCI5CE10 AS IF HE HAS ! V]Y SLI<TE/ UND]/&+ ( :AT SCI5CE MEANS4 ,HE PRESCRIBES 0PUBLIC FREE ACCESS TO ! MEMORY & DATA BANKS40 ,A HORRIFIC VIEW ( LIB]ATION1 SOME:AT CAPTUR$ BY3 0,DATA BANKS >E ! 5CYCLOP$IA ( TOMORR[2 !Y >E 'NATURE' = PO/MOD]N M5 & WOM540 

,FRANK ,L5TRIC*IA T]M$ ,D]RIDA'S DECON/RUCTIONI/ PROJECT 0AN ELEGANT1 COMM&+ OV]VIEW MAT*$ 9 PHILOSOPHIC HI/ORY ONLY BY ,HEGEL40 ,IT IS AN OBVI\S IRONY ?AT ! PO/MOD]NI/S REQUIRE A G5]AL !ORY TO SUPPORT !IR ASS]TION AS TO :Y !RE CANNOT & %\LD NOT BE G5]AL !ORIES OR METAN>RATIVES4 ,S>TRE1 GE/ALT !ORI/S & COMMON S5SE TELL US ?AT :AT PM DISMISSES AS 0TOTALIZ+ REASON0 IS 9 FACT 9H]5T 9 P]CEPTION ITSELF3 ONE SEES A :OLE1 AS A RULE1 NOT DISCRETE FRAGM5TS4 ,ANO!R IRONY IS PROVID$ BY ,*>LES ,ALTI]I'S OBS]VATION ( ,LYOT>D10 ?AT ?IS ?9K] SO ACUTELY AW>E ( ! DANG]S 9H]5T 9 MA/] N>RATIVES NONE!LESS REMA9S COMPLETELY COMMITT$ TO ! AU?ORITY ( G5]ALIZ$ AB/RACTION40 ,PM ANN\NCES AN ANTI-G5]ALI/ BIAS1 BUT ITS PRACTITION]S1 ,LYOT>D P]HAPS ESPECIALLY1 RETA9 A V]Y HI< LEVEL ( AB/RACTION 9 DISCUSS+ CULTURE1 MOD]NITY & O!R SU* TOPICS :I* >E ( C\RSE ALREADY VA/ G5]ALIZATIONS4 

0,A LIB]AT$ HUMANITY10 WROTE ,ADORNO1 0W\LD BY NO MEANS BE A TOTALITY40 ,NONE!LESS1 WE >E CURR5TLY /UCK ) A SOCIAL WORLD ?AT IS ONE & :I* TOTALIZES ) A V5GEANCE4 ,PO/MOD]NISM1 ) ITS CELEBRAT$ FRAGM5TATION & HET]OG5EITY1 MAY *OOSE TO =GET AB\T ! TOTALITY1 BUT ! TOTALITY WILL NOT =GET AB\T US4 

,DELEUZE1 ,GUATT>I @& ,BAUDRILL>D 

,GILLES ,DELEUZE'S 'S*IZO-POLITICS' FL[1 AT LEA/ 9 P>T1 FROM ! PREVAIL+ PM REFUSAL ( OV]VIEW1 ( A PO9T ( DEP>TURE4 ,ALSO CALL$ 'NOMADOLOGY'1 EMPLOY+ 0RHIZOMATIC WRIT+10 ,DELEUZE'S ME?OD *AMPIONS ! DET]RITORIALIZATION & DECOD+ ( /RUCTURES ( DOM9ATION1 BY :I* CAPITALISM WILL SUP]S$E ITSELF ?R\< ITS [N DYNAMIC4 ,) HIS SOMETIME P>TN]1 ,FELIX ,GUATT>I1 ) :OM HE %>ES A SPECIALIZATION 9 PSY*OANALYSIS1 HE HOPES TO SEE ! SY/EM'S S*IZOPHR5IC T5D5CY 9T5SIFI$ TO ! PO9T ( %ATT]+4 ,DELEUZE SEEMS TO %>E1 OR AT LEA/ COMES V]Y CLOSE TO1 ! ABSURDI/ CONVICTION ( ,YO%IMOTO ,TAKAI ?AT CONSUMPTION CON/ITUTES A NEW =M ( RESI/ANCE4 

,?IS BR& ( D5Y+ ! TOTALITY BY ! RADICAL /RATEGY ( URG+ IT TO DISPOSE ( ITSELF ALSO RECALLS ! IMPOT5T PM /YLE ( OPPOS+ REPRES5TATION3 MEAN+S DO NOT P5ETRATE TO A C5T]1 !Y DO NOT REPRES5T SOME?+ BEYOND !IR REA*4 0,?9K+ )\T REPRES5T+10 IS ,*>LES ,SCOTT'S DESCRIPTION ( ,DELEUZE'S APPROA*4 ,S*IZO-POLITICS CELEBRATES SURFACES & DISCONT9UITIES2 NOMADOLOGY IS ! OPPOSITE ( HI/ORY4 

,DELEUZE ALSO EMBODIES ! PO/MOD]N 0DEA? ( ! SUBJECT0 !ME1 9 HIS & ,GUATT>I'S BE/-KN[N WORK1 ,ANTI-,O$IPUS1 & SUBSEQU5TLY4 ',DESIR+MA*9ES'1 =M$ BY ! C\PL+ ( P>TS1 HUMAN & NONHUMAN1 ) NO DI/9CTION BETWE5 !M1 SEEK TO REPLACE HUMANS AS ! FOCUS ( HIS SOCIAL !ORY4 ,9 OPPOSITION TO ! ILLUSION ( AN 9DIVIDUAL SUBJECT 9 SOCIETY1 ,DELEUZE PORTRAYS A SUBJECT NO LONG] EV5 RECOGNIZABLY AN?ROPOC5TRIC4 ,ONE CANNOT ESCAPE ! FEEL+1 DESPITE HIS SUPPOS$LY RADICAL 9T5TION1 ( AN EMBRACE ( ALI5ATION1 EV5 A WALL[+ 9 E/RANGEM5T & DECAD5CE4 

,9 ! E>LY '#gS ,JEAN ,BAUDRILL>D EXPOS$ ! B\RGEOIS F\NDATIONS ( M>XISM1 MA9LY ITS V5]ATION ( PRODUCTION & WORK1 9 HIS ,MIRROR ( ,PRODUCTION 7#a#i#g#b74 ,?IS CONTRIBUTION HA/5$ ! DECL9E ( M>XISM & ! ,COMMUNI/ ,P>TY 9 ,FRANCE1 ALREADY 9 DIS>RAY AFT] ! REACTION>Y ROLE PLAY$ BY ! ,LEFT AGA9/ ! UPHEAVALS ( ,MAY '#f#h4 ,S9CE ?AT TIME1 H[EV]1 ,BAUDRILL>D HAS COME TO REPRES5T ! D>KE/ T5D5CIES ( PO/MOD]NISM & HAS EM]G$1 ESPECIALLY 9 ,AM]ICA1 AS A POP /> TO ! ULTRA-JAD$1 FAM\S = HIS FULLY DIS5*ANT$ VIEWS ( ! CONTEMPOR>Y WORLD4 ,9 ADDITION TO ! UN=TUNATE RESONANCE BETWE5 ! ALMO/ HALLUC9ATORY MORBIDITY ( ,BAUDRILL>D & A CULTURE 9 DECOMPOSITION1 IT IS ALSO TRUE ?AT HE 7ALONG ) ,LYOT>D7 HAS BE5 MAGNIFI$ BY ! SPACE HE WAS EXPECT$ TO FILL FOLL[+ ! PASS+1 9 ! '#hS1 ( RELATIVELY DEEP] ?9K]S LIKE ,B>!S & ,F\CAULT4 

,D]RIDA'S DECON/RUCTIVE DESCRIPTION ( ! IMPOSSIBILITY ( A REF]5T \TSIDE ( REPRES5TATION BECOMES1 = ,BAUDRILL>D1 A NEGATIVE METAPHYSICS 9 :I* REALITY IS TRANS=M$ BY CAPITALISM 9TO SIMULATIONS ?AT HAVE NO BACK+4 ,! CULTURE ( CAPITAL IS SE5 AS HAV+ GONE BEYOND ITS FISSURES & CONTRADICTIONS TO A PLACE ( SELF-SUFFICI5CY ?AT READS LIKE A RA!R SCI5CE-FICTION R5D]+ ( ,ADORNO'S TOTALLY ADM9I/]$ SOCIETY4 ,& !RE CAN BE NO RESI/ANCE1 NO 0GO+ BACK10 9 P>T BECAUSE ! ALT]NATIVE W\LD BE ?AT NO/ALGIA = ! NATURAL1 = ORIG9S1 SO ADAMANTLY RUL$ \T BY PO/MOD]NISM4 

0,! REAL IS ?AT ( :I* IT IS POSSIBLE TO GIVE AN EQUIVAL5T REPRODUCTION40 ,NATURE HAS BE5 SO F> LEFT BEH9D ?AT CULTURE DET]M9ES MAT]IALITY2 MORE SPECIFICALLY1 M$IA SIMULATION %APES REALITY4 0,! SIMULACRUM IS NEV] ?AT :I* CONCEALS ! TRU? -- IT IS ! TRU? :I* CONCEALS ?AT !RE IS NONE4 ,! SIMULACRUM IS TRUE40 ,DEBORD'S 0SOCIETY ( ! SPECTACLE0 -- BUT AT A /AGE ( IMPLOSION ( SELF1 AG5CY1 & HI/ORY 9TO ! VOID ( SIMULATIONS SU* ?AT ! SPECTACLE IS 9 S]VICE TO ITSELF ALONE4 

,IT IS OBVI\S ?AT 9 \R 0,9=MATION ,AGE10 ! ELECTRONIC M$IA TE*NOLOGIES HAVE BECOME 9CREAS+LY DOM9ANT1 BUT ! OV]REA* ( ,BAUDRILL>D'S D>K VISION IS EQUALLY OBVI\S4 ,TO /RESS ! P[] ( IMAGES %\LD NOT OBSCURE UND]LY+ MAT]IAL DET]M9ANTS & OBJECTIVES1 NAMELY PR(IT & EXPANSION4 ,! ASS]TION ?AT ! P[] ( ! M$IA N[ MEANS ?AT ! REAL NO LONG] EXI/S IS RELAT$ TO HIS CLAIM ?AT P[] 0CAN NO LONG] BE F\ND ANY:]E02 & BO? CLAIMS >E FALSE4 ,9TOXICAT+ RHETORIC CANNOT ]ASE ! FACT ?AT ! ESS5TIAL 9=MATION ( ! ,9=MATION ,AGE DEALS ) ! H>D REALITIES ( EFFICI5CY1 ACC\NT+1 PRODUCTIVITY & ! LIKE4 ,PRODUCTION HAS NOT BE5 SUPPLANT$ BY SIMULATION1 UNLESS ONE CAN SAY ?AT ! PLANET IS BE+ RAVAG$ BY M]E IMAGES1 :I* IS NOT TO SAY ?AT A PROGRESSIVE ACCEPTANCE ( ! >TIFICIAL DOES NOT GREATLY ASSI/ ! ]OSION ( :AT IS LEFT ( ! NATURAL4 

,BAUDRILL>D CONT5DS ?AT ! DIFF]5CE BETWE5 REALITY & REPRES5TATION HAS COLLAPS$1 LEAV+ US 9 A 'HYP]REALITY' ?AT IS ALWAYS & ONLY A SIMULACRUM4 ,CURI\SLY1 HE SEEMS NOT ONLY TO ACKN[L$GE ! 9EVITABILITY ( ?IS DEVELOPM5T1 BUT TO CELEBRATE IT4 ,! CULTURAL1 9 ITS WIDE/ S5SE1 HAS REA*$ A QUALITATIVELY NEW /AGE 9 :I* ! V]Y REALM ( MEAN+ & SIGNIFICATION HAS DISAPPE>$4 ,WE LIVE 9 0! AGE ( EV5TS )\T CONSEQU5CES0 9 :I* ! 'REAL' ONLY SURVIVES AS =MAL CATEGORY1 & ?IS1 HE IMAG9ES1 IS WELCOM$4 0,:Y %\LD WE ?9K ?AT PEOPLE WANT TO DISAV[ !IR DAILY LIVES 9 ORD] TO SE>* = AN ALT]NATIVE8 ,ON ! CONTR>Y1 !Y WANT TO MAKE A DE/9Y ( IT444TO RATIFY MONOTONY BY A GR&] MONOTONY40 ,IF !RE %\LD BE ANY 'RESI/ANCE'1 HIS PRESCRIPTION = ?AT IS SIMIL> TO ?AT ( ,DELEUZE1 :O W\LD PROMPT SOCIETY TO BECOME MORE S*IZOPHR5IC4 ,?AT IS1 IT CONSI/S :OLLY 9 :AT IS GRANT$ BY ! SY/EM3 0,Y\ WANT US TO CONSUME -- ,O4,K41 LET'S CONSUME ALWAYS MORE1 & ANY?+ :ATSOEV]2 = ANY USELESS & ABSURD PURPOSE40 ,?IS IS ! RADICAL /RATEGY HE NAMES 'HYP]CON=MITY'4 

,AT MANY PO9TS1 ONE CAN ONLY GUESS AS TO :I* PH5OM5A1 IF ANY1 ,BAUDRILL>D'S HYP]BOLE REF]S4 ,! MOVEM5T ( CONSUM] SOCIETY T[>D BO? UNI=MITY & DISP]SAL IS P]HAPS GLIMPS$ 9 ONE PASSAGE444BUT :Y BO!R :5 ! ASS]TIONS SEEM ALL TOO (T5 COSMICALLY 9FLAT$ & LUDICR\S4 ,?IS MO/ EXTREME ( ! PO/MOD]N !ORI/S1 N[ HIMSELF A TOP-SELL+ CULTURAL OBJECT1 HAS REF]R$ TO ! 0OM9\S EMPT9ESS ( ALL DISC\RSE10 APP>5TLY UNAW>E ( ! PHRASE AS AN APT REF]5CE TO HIS [N VACUITIES4 

,JAPAN MAY NOT QUALIFY AS 'HYP]REALITY'1 BUT IT IS WOR? M5TION+ ?AT ITS CULTURE SEEMS TO BE EV5 MORE E/RANG$ & PO/MOD]N ?AN ?AT ( ! ,U4,S4 ,9 ! JUDGM5T ( ,MASAO ,MIYO%I1 0! DISP]SAL & DEMISE ( MOD]N SUBJECTIVITY1 AS TALK$ AB\T BY ,B>!S1 ,F\CAULT1 & MANY O!RS1 HAVE LONG BE5 EVID5T 9 ,JAPAN1 :]E 9TELLECTUALS HAVE *RONICALLY COMPLA9$ AB\T ! ABS5CE ( SELFHOOD40 ,A FLOOD ( L>GELY SPECIALIZ$ 9=MATION1 PROVID$ BY EXP]TS ( ALL K9DS1 HI<LI<TS ! ,JAPANESE HI<-TE* CONSUM] E?OS1 9 :I* ! 9DET]M9ACY ( MEAN+ & A HI< VALUATION ( P]PETUAL NOVELTY WORK H& 9 H&4 ,YO%IMOTO ,TAKAI IS P]HAPS ! MO/ PROLIFIC NATIONAL CULTURAL CRITIC2 SOMEH[ IT DOES NOT SEEM BIZ>RE TO MANY ?AT HE IS ALSO A MALE FA%ION MODEL1 :O EXTOLS ! VIRTUES & VALUES ( %OPP+4 

,YASUO ,TANAKA'S HUGELY POPUL> ,SOMEH[1 ,CRY/AL 7#a#i#h7 WAS >GUABLY ! ,JAPANESE CULTURAL PH5OM5ON ( ! '#hS1 9 ?AT ?IS VACU\S1 UNABA%$LY CONSUM]I/ NOVEL1 AWA% ) BR& NAMES 7A BIT LIKE ,BRET ,EA/ON ,ELLIS'S #aiia ,AM]ICAN ,PSY*O71 DOM9AT$ ! DECADE4 ,BUT IT IS CYNICISM1 EV5 MORE ?AN SUP]FICIALITY1 ?AT SEEMS TO M>K ?AT FULL DAWN+ ( PO/MOD]NISM :I* ,JAPAN SEEMS TO BE3 H[ ELSE DOES ONE EXPLA9 ?AT ! MO/ 9CISIVE ANALYZES ( PM !RE -- ,N[ IS ! ,META-,MASS ,AGE1 = EXAMPLE -- >E PUBLI%$ BY ! ,P>CO ,CORPORATION1 ! C\NTRY'S TR5DIE/ M>KET+ & RETAIL+ \TLET4 ,%IGESATU ,ITOI IS A TOP M$IA />1 ) HIS [N TELEVISION PROGRAM1 NUM]\S PUBLICATIONS1 & CON/ANT APPE>ANCES 9 MAGAZ9ES4 ,! BASIS ( ?IS IDOL'S FAME8 ,SIMPLY ?AT HE WROTE A S]IES ( /ATE-(-!->T 7FLA%Y1 FRAGM5T$1 ETC47 ADS = ,SEIBU1 ,JAPAN'S L>GE/ & MO/ 9NOVATIVE DEP>TM5T /ORE *A94 ,:]E CAPITALISM EXI/S 9 ITS MO/ ADVANC$1 PO/MOD]N =M1 KN[L$GE IS CONSUM$ 9 EXACTLY ! WAY ?AT ONE BUYS CLO!S4 ',MEAN+' IS PASS11 IRRELEVANT2 /YLE & APPE>ANCE >E ALL4 

,WE >E FA/ >RIV+ AT A SAD & EMPTY PLACE1 :I* ! SPIRIT ( PO/MOD]NISM EMBODIES ALL TOO WELL4 0,NEV] 9 ANY PREVI\S CIVILIZATION HAVE ! GREAT METAPHYSICAL PREOCCUPATIONS1 ! FUNDAM5TAL QUE/IONS ( BE+ & ! MEAN+ ( LIFE1 SEEM$ SO UTT]LY REMOTE & PO9TLESS10 9 ,FR$]IC ,JAMESON'S JUDGM5T4 ,PET] ,SLOT]DIJK F9DS ?AT 0! DISCONT5T 9 CULTURE HAS ASSUM$ A NEW QUALITY3 IT APPE>S AS UNIV]SAL1 DIFFUSE CYNICISM40 ,! ]OSION ( MEAN+1 PU%$ =W>D BY 9T5SIFI$ REIFICATION & FRAGM5TATION1 CAUSES ! CYNIC TO APPE> EV]Y:]E4 ,PSY*OLOGICALLY 0A BORD]L9E MELAN*OLIC10 HE IS N[ 0A MASS FIGURE40 

,! PO/MOD]N CAPITULATION TO P]SPECTIVISM & DECAD5CE DOES NOT T5D TO VIEW ! PRES5T AS ALI5AT$ -- SURELY AN OLD-FA%ION$ CONCEPT -- BUT RA!R AS NORMAL & EV5 PLEASANT4 ,ROB]T ,RAUS*5B]G3 0,I REALLY FEEL SORRY = PEOPLE :O ?9K ?+S LIKE SOAP DI%ES OR MIRRORS OR ,COKE BOTTLES >E UGLY1 BECAUSE !Y'RE SURR\ND$ BY ?+S LIKE ?AT ALL DAY LONG1 & IT MU/ MAKE !M MIS]ABLE40 ,IT ISN'T JU/ ?AT 0EV]Y?+ IS CULTURE10 ! CULTURE ( ! COMMODITY1 ?AT IS (F5SIVE2 IT IS ALSO ! PM AFFIRMATION ( :AT IS BY ITS REFUSAL TO MAKE QUALITATIVE DI/9CTIONS & JUDGM5TS4 ,IF ! PO/MOD]N AT LEA/ DOES US ! FAVOR1 UNWITT+LY1 ( REGI/]+ ! DECOMPOSITION & EV5 DEPRAVITY ( A CULTURAL WORLD ?AT ACCOMPANIES & ABETS ! CURR5T FRI<T5+ IMPOV]I%M5T ( LIFE1 ?AT MAY BE ITS ONLY 'CONTRIBUTION'4 

,WE >E ALL AW>E ( ! POSSIBILITY ?AT WE MAY HAVE TO 5DURE1 UNTIL ITS SELF-DE/RUCTION & \RS1 A WORLD FATALLY \T ( FOCUS4 0,OBVI\SLY1 CULTURE DOES NOT DISSOLVE M]ELY BECAUSE P]SONS >E ALI5AT$10 WROTE ,JOHN ,MURPHY1 ADD+1 0,A /RANGE TYPE ( SOCIETY HAS TO BE 9V5T$1 NONE!LESS1 9 ORD] = ALI5ATION TO BE CONSID]$ NORMATIVE40 

,MEAN:ILE1 :]E >E VITALITY1 REFUSAL1 ! POSSIBILITY ( CREAT+ A NON-MUTILAT$ WORLD8 ,B>!S PROCLAIM$ A ,NIETZS*EAN 0H$ONISM ( DISC\RSE20 ,LYOT>D C\NSEL$1 0,LET US BE PAGANS40 ,SU* WILD B>B>IANS6 ,( C\RSE1 !IR REAL /UFF IS BLANK & DISPIRIT$1 A ?OR\<LY RELATIVIZ$ ACADEMIC /]ILITY4 ,PO/MOD]NISM LEAVES US HOPELESS 9 AN UN5D+ MALL2 )\T A LIV+ CRITIQUE2 NO:]E4 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,APRIL #b#c1 #bb 3 ,! ,CATA/ROPHE ( ,PO/MOD]NISM -- ,ADD$4 
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