,CORRESPOND5CE FROM ,BA$AN #b 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,BA$AN 

,TEXT 3 

,FRI5DS1 

,I READ 7! RE/ (7 ,BA$AN ) GREAT 9T]E/4 ,I WILL RESPOND 9 A NUMB] ( WAYS4 

,! QUE/IONS ,I'LL ASK H]E AB\T ,BA$AN CONC]N Y\R 5GAGEM5T ) ,LEE ,$ELMAN'S ,NO ,FUTURE1 SPECIFICALLY H[ HE & Y\ UND]/& ! QUE] AS FIGURE1 AS EXEMPL>1 & MAYBE AS REALITY--& H[ Y\ DEVELOP ?AT UND]/&+ 9 ! DIRECTION ( ANTI-POLITICS4 ,! BACKGR\ND ( !SE QUE/IONS IS OBVI\SLY ! ISSUE ( NIHILISM--PASSIVE & ACTIVE1 OR MAYBE JU/ NIHILISM4 

70,NO?+ ( :AT WE HAVE A*IEV$ IS AS NEGATIVE AS ! BEHAVIOR & OP9IONS ( ?OSE :O SAY YES TO ! WORLD WE LIVE 91 ?OSE :O ACCEPT IT )\T QUE/ION & %OVE AS MU* ( IT AS !Y CAN D[N !IR GOB )\T A ?\<T AB\T IT--?AT'S TRUE NIHILISM4 ,& WE >E V]Y PALE IMITATORS BY CONTRA/40 ,?IS IS ,FR]E ,DUPONT1 FROM ! DIALOGUE AB\T ,SAM ,MOSS 9 ,LETT]S #a47 

,I WILL SET UP MY QUE/IONS BY REHE>S+ SOME ( Y\R >GUM5T 9 ! FIR/ LONG ESSAY 9 Y\R J\RNAL4 ,$ELMAN /ATES ?AT ! QUE] IS CALL$ UPON TO PLAY A C]TA9 ROLE 9 ! SOCIAL ORD]1 SPECIFICALLY1 0TO FIGURE ! DEA? DRIVE0 7,NO ,FUTURE1 #i74 ,HE REPEAT$LY REF]S TO ?IS FIGURATION AS A CALL4 ,?IS CALL & ITS RESULTANT FIGURATION CAN BE 5JOY$ BY ! QUE]1 OR D5I$2 ! D5IAL IS LIB]AL ,L,G,B,T,Q POLITICS1 ! POLITICS ( 'WE >E JU/ LIKE Y\1' M>RIAGE @& O!R RI<TS1 ALT]NATIVE FAMILIES1 ETC4 ,5JOYM5T IS TO BE ! 'BAD' QUE]1 ! NON-REPRODUCTIVE1 NONPRODUCTIVE QUE]1 ( :I* ,$ELMAN HAS ONE S5SE1 & Y\ HAVE A V]Y DIFF]5T 7?\< NOT 5TIRELY UNRELAT$7 S5SE4 

,Y\ PROPOSE TO READ ,$ELMAN CLOSELY & OV]?R[ HIM4 ,Y\ WRITE ?AT Y\ AIM TO EXTRACT 0! VITAL ELEM5TS ( ! !ORY )\T ! BAGGAGE ( ! ACADEMY0 7#g74 ,:5 Y\ 5GAGE ) ,J4 ,HALB]/AM ALONGSIDE ,$ELMAN1 Y\ PLACE ,$ELMAN AS APOLITICAL & SITUATE Y\RSELVES AS ANTI-POLITICAL 7#a#h-#a#i74 ,$ELMAN'S LIFE PROJECT1 HIS V]SION ( BE+ ! 'BAD' QUE]1 IS = Y\ PA!TIC & AN EXAMPLE ( BUILD+ ONE'S [N PRISON4 ,Y\R ANSW] IS ANTI-POLITICS1 :I* Y\ ALSO CALL ACTIVE NIHILISM4 

,Y\ WRITE3 

WE'LL ATTEMPT TO %[ ?AT ! LACK 9 ,$ELMAN'S ?\<T W\LD BE COMPLET$ BY ! ANTI-POLITICAL T5D5CIES ( AN 9SURRECTION>Y AN>*I/ PRACTICE ( SELF-ORGANIZ$ ATTACK 7#a#i74 

,SO ,$ELMAN DESCRIBES QUE] AS A POSITION ) RESPECT TO ! SYMBOLIC1 9 ! SOCIAL ORD]4 ,C]TA9 BODIES1 C]TA9 PRACTICES >E FIGUR$ 9 A C]TA9 WAY--AS AGA9/ ?AT ORD]1 O!R ?AN IT1 DE/RUCTIVE ( ! FUTURE IT IS BUILD+4 ,?IS IS ! 9T]E/ 9 HIS WRIT+ AS A CONTRIBUTION TO NEGATIVE !ORY4 ,& ?OSE SO FIGUR$ CAN ACCEPT ?AT1 & LIVE IT1 OR NOT4 ,BUT = ,$ELMAN TO LIVE IT BASICALLY SEEMS TO MEAN TO DO :AT ! FIGUR+ SAYS QUE]S DO1 & 5JOY IT EXCESSIVELY2 & TO :AT DEGREE ?IS IS POSSIBLE OR AVAILABLE AS A PRACTICE 7OR REALLY1 AN ATTITUDE T[>DS A PRACTICE7 IS NOT1 SO IT W\LD SEEM1 UP TO ANYONE4 ,= Y\1 ON ! O!R H&1 !RE SEEMS TO BE SOME?+ MORE ACTIVE1 F> MORE VOLUNT>Y1 :I* IS :Y Y\ CAN DI/+UI% BETWE5 ! PRACTICES ?AT >E ALREADY FIGUR$ AS QUE]1 & ! 09SURRECTION>Y AN>*I/ PRACTICE ( SELF-ORGANIZ$ ATTACK10 :I* = Y\ HAS AN EXEMPL>Y ROLE4 

,?IS IS ONE ( ! PLACES :]E Y\ SAY MORE AB\T ?IS DIFF]5CE BETWE5 Y\ & ,$ELMAN3 

444 FUTILE ATTEMPTS TO ID5TIFY ) OR NAME J\ISSANCE CAN LEAD TO A REIFICATION ( ! CATEGORIES :I* WE'D CALL UPON J\ISSANCE TO ABOLI% .<444.> ,ANY ATTEMPT TO SITUATE J\ISSANCE AS A POSITIVE PROJECT CAN ONLY EV] BE A /EP AWAY FROM IT4 ,CIRCUIT P>TIES1 PORNOGRAPHY1 SOCIAL NETWORK+ APPLICATIONS1 POLITICAL DEMON/RATIONS1 ACTIVI/ ORGANIZATIONS1 >T3 ALL ( !SE /RIVE TO RECUP]ATE J\ISSANCE 9TO SOME ALT]NATIVE /RUCTURE1 & YET MU/ ALWAYS FAIL BECAUSE J\ISSANCE IS 9H]5TLY ?AT :I* EVADES CAPTURE & RUPTURES ! COH]5T N>RATIVES :I* JU/IFY SU* /RUCTURES 7#d#g74 

,= Y\ ,$ELMAN 0FAILS TO DO ! WORK ( LOCAT+ J\ISSANCE )9 ! ACTUAL SUBV]SIVE HI/ORIES ( QUE]NESS40 

,Y\ ALSO WRITE3 

,! MAT]IAL =CE ( NEGATION MU/ BE ONE ?AT GOES ON1 NOT ONLY TO DISRUPT ! DAILY CIRCULATION ( SOCIETY1 BUT ALSO TO SABOTAGE ! APP>ATUSES :I* FUNCTION TO REPRODUCE US AS SUBJECTS )9 ?OSE FL[S4 ,WE MU/1 AS ,$ELMAN SAYS1 'BREAK OP5 ) J\ISSANCE & LAUN* .<\RSELVES.> 9TO ! VOID >\ND & AGA9/ :I* ! SUBJECT CONGEALS4' 7#d#i7 

444 :I*1 ,I TAKE IT1 IS ONE ( ! ANTI-ID5TIT>IAN MOM5TS 9 :I* Y\ CO9CIDE ) ,$ELMAN4 ,! PRACTICE ( ATTACK DOES NOT 7AT LEA/ %\LD NOT7 CONGEAL 9TO A NEW K9D ( SUBJECT OR SUBJECTIVITY4 ,?IS 7= Y\7 IS AN IMPORTANT COMPON5T ( ANTI-POLITICAL PRACTICE1 :I* 'MU/' BE AS Y\ DESCRIBE4 

,MEAN:ILE ,$ELMAN WRITES ?AT EMBRAC+ ! IMPOSSIBILITY & 9HUMANITY ( :AT HE DUBS S9?OMOSEXUALITY IS 0! E?ICAL TASK = :I* QUE]S >E S+L$ \T0 7,NO ,FUTURE1 #a#i74 ,OR ELSE:]E1 ! 0E?ICAL BURD5 TO :I* QUE]NESS MU/ ACC$E0 7,NO ,FUTURE1 #d#g74 ,?AT W\LD BE :AT QUE]S 'MU/' DO1 ACCORD+ TO HIM4 

,N[ ,I WILL ASK MY QUE/IONS3 

#a4 ,POLITICS & ANTI-POLITICS ASIDE1 & SUPPOS+ WE WANT TO PLAY ALONG ) ?IS /ORY1 CAN ANYONE ACTUALLY BE :AT ! SYMBOLIC FIGURES 9 A C]TA9 WAY8 ,ISN'T IT1 = ,$ELMAN1 MORE AN ISSUE ( H[ ONE DOES OR DOES NOT LIVE ! DEA? DRIVE8 ,ISN'T !RE A RA!R OBVI\S ,LACANIAN 7OR AT LEA/ /RUCTURALI/-!ORETICAL7 RESPONSE TO Y\R OV]?R[+ ?AT W\LD OV]?R[ Y\ 9 RETURN1 SAY+ ?AT ! ABSOLUTE NEGATION Y\ 9VOKE 9 PR9CIPLE CANNOT BE BR\<T AB\T BY ANY?+ ONE DOES ON PURPOSE1 9CLUD+ AN 09SURRECTION>Y AN>*I/ PRACTICE ( SELF-ORGANIZ$ ATTACK08 ,9 ,$ELMAN'S T]MS1 CAN Y\ REALLY DIVIDE S9?OMOSEXUALITY FROM :AT HE CALLS 0! FUTURISM DESP]ATE TO NEGATE IT0 ?AT 0KEEPS IT ALIVE0 7#f#f78 ,9 MORE G5]AL T]MS1 & TO BE PI?Y1 A CRUEL /RUCTURALI/ C\LD >GUE ?AT ! WORLD WILL 5D BECAUSE ( PASSIVE NIHILI/S :O DON'T C>E AB\T ANY?+ & NOT BECAUSE ( ?OSE :O CLAIM ! POSITION ( ACTIVE NIHILISM 7I4E4 CLOS] TO ! CIRCUIT P>TIES & O!R CRAP ?AT ,$ELMAN 9VOKES ?AN ATTACK 9 ANY =M74  ,! RELEVANCE ( ?IS = ANTI-POLITICS MI<T BE 79 PI?Y T]MS1 AGA97 ?AT ! TRULY ANTI-POLITICAL =CE 9 SOCIETY IS ! 9COMPET5CE1 APA?Y & HYPOCRISY ( POLITICIANS1 :O >E ! REAL NIHILI/S4 7,I MEAN ?IS NON-MORALLY1 I4E4 :AT IS SOCIALLY DE/RUCTIVE H]E IS !IR NON-CO9CID5CE ) ! (FICIAL /ORY AB\T ! SOCIAL ORD] & ITS MORALITY1 NOT !IR 'EVIL' AS SU*47 ,! RE/ ( US1 :ATEV] WE CALL \RSELVES1 9S(> AS WE SPEAK 9 ! NAME ( SOME?+ 7ANY?+7 )\T APA?Y & HYPOCRISY1 9S(> AS WE TRY TO BE COMPET5T AT :AT WE TRY TO DO1 W\LD !N JU/ BE444 POLITICAL4 7,?IS IS ONLY ! FIR/ TURN 9 ?IS SPIRAL47 

#b4 ,SUPPOS+ Y\ >E RI<T1 & ONE CAN BE :AT ! SYMBOLIC FIGURES2 & SUPPOS+ FUR!R ?AT AN 09SURRECTION>Y AN>*I/ PRACTICE ( SELF-ORGANIZ$ ATTACK0 IS A WAY TO DO ?IS1 TO LIVE ! DEA? DRIVE AS QUE]S1 DO Y\ CLAIM ?AT ?IS PRACTICE 7?IS CONG]IES ( PRACTICES1 REALLY7 IS 9 SOME WAY EXEMPL>Y8 ,W\LDN'T ! SOLE SUPPORT = ?IS CLAIM BE TO SAY ?AT ?IS IS ! ONLY PRACTICE ?AT TRULY P]=MS ! NEGATION ?AT ! SYMBOLIC FIGURES AS ! UNDO+ ( ! SOCIAL ORD]8 ,>5'T !RE ALL SORTS ( WAYS 9 :I* ! SOCIAL ORD] CAN BE1 OR GETS1 UNDONE8 ,OR IS AT LEA/ FIGUR$ AS UNDONE1 :I* IS PROBABLY ANO!R MATT] ALTOGE!R8 ,MOREOV]1 ISN'T LOCAT+ J\ISSANCE 9 ! 0ACTUAL SUBV]SIVE HI/ORIES ( QUE]NESS0 ANO!R FUTILE ATTEMPT 7A HI/ORICAL1 ANTI-_/POLITICAL ATTEMPT7 ( DEF9+ IT8 ,A FUR!R ASPECT ( ! SECOND QUE/ION3 :]E Y\ & ,HALB]/AM CALL ,$ELMAN APOLITICAL1 !REBY ILLUM9AT+ Y\R ANTIPOLITICAL APPROA* BY CONTRA/1 :Y DO Y\ NOT ADDRESS ! FACT ?AT ,$ELMAN DOES DEF9E AN E?ICAL TASK = QUE]S--E?ICS1 ,I IMAG9E1 9 ! S5SE ( WAY ( LIFE1 FL\RI%+ 7( PLEASURE1 AT LEA/71 NOT MORALITY8 ,IS AN 09SURRECTION>Y AN>*I/ PRACTICE ( SELF-ORGANIZ$ ATTACK0 RELAT$ TO E?ICS1 OR E?ICAL TASKS1 & H[8 

,I'LL LEAVE IT !RE4 ,?ANKS = A /IMULAT+ READ4 ,!RE WILL BE MORE RESPONSES 9 O!R =A4 

,CRITILA 

,DE> ,CRITILA1 

,?ANK Y\ = Y\R CLOSE & 9CISIVE READ+ ( ! FIR/ ISSUE ( ,BA$AN4 ,! QUE/IONS Y\ POSE1 H]E & ELSE:]E1 >E HELPFUL 9 MOV+ BEYOND ! PROVOCATIONS LAID \T 9 ?AT 9ITIAL PIECE4 ,IF ,I'M READ+ Y\R RECITATION ( \R 5GAGEM5T ) ,$ELMAN CORRECTLY1 IT SEEMS ?AT TWO ISSUES EM]GE AS C5TRAL3 NIHILISM & E?ICS4 

,TO EMB>K ON AN 9QUIRY 9TO ! 9T]PLAY ( !SE ISSUES1 ,I'LL RETURN TO A TEXT WE 5GAG$ ) 9 \R >*AEOLOGY ( G5D] AS DOME/ICATION1 0,AGA9/ ! ,G5D]$ ,NI<TM>E40 ,WE 9VOK$ 0,HI/ORY AS ,DECOMPOSITION0 FROM ! J\RNAL ,ATT5TAT1 PRIM>ILY TO GIVE %APE TO A WAY ( READ+ AGA9/ ! HI/ORIC VIEW ( G5D]4 ,= ! MOM5T1 WE'LL DRAW ON AN E>LI] DISCUSSION )9 ! TEXT :I* PLAYS ) A FEW DIFF]5T UND]/&+S ( ! NIHILISM 9 ! BACKGR\ND ( \R PRES5T DISCUSSION4 ,9 ,ATT5TAT1 WE >E PRES5T$ ) TWO COMPET+ UND]/&+S ( NIHILISM--ONE BE+ DIAGNO/IC ( ! WORLD AT L>GE1 ANO!R BE+ ASPIRATIONAL ON ! P>T ( ?OSE :O1 9 ONE WAY OR ANO!R1 UND]/& !IR [N PROJECTS AS NIHILI/4 ,! AU?OR DESCRIBES A MOTION ( SU* A LABEL FIR/ AS AN ACCUSATORY PEJORATIVE1 NEXT AS A SIMPLI/IC RECLAMATION1 & F9ALLY AS A MORE ADVANC$ !ORETICAL POSITION4 ,FROM ?IS !ORETICAL POSITION1 WE >E ABLE TO EXPLORE \R RELATION%IP TO !SE VIEWS ( NIHILISM4 ,IS \R PROJECT M]ELY AN EXPRESSION ( ! DECOMPOSITION >\ND US1 OR IS \R PROJECT TO HA/5 IT8 ,! AU?OR ( ! TEXT PROPOSES NEI!R1 BUT 9/EAD ?AT 0WE MAY TAKE 'NO FUTURE' & 'EV]Y?+ MU/ BE DE/ROY$' LESS AS SLOGANS ( A SUPPOS$LY SELF-EVID5T SORT & MORE AS D>K MOTTOS ?AT GUIDE \R EXPLORATIONS ( A COMPLICAT$ & DANG]\S T]RA940 ,SU* A D>K MOTTO W\LD BE LESS A !ORETICAL POSITION & MORE AN >T ( LIFE1 A WAY ( 5GAGEM5T ) ! DANG]\S T]RA9 ( DECOMPOSITION4 ,9 IMAG9+ !SE WAYS ( LIFE1 WE COME UPON ! ISSUE ( E?ICS4 

,BE=E GRAPPL+ ) E?ICS1 ,I %\LD M5TION AN EXP]I5CE ) DECOMPOSITION ,I HAD REC5TLY4 ,:ILE TAK+ A SMALL BREAK FROM WRIT+ AB\T FAMILI> TOPICS1 ,I W5T = A SOLIT>Y WALK ?R\< A NE>BY =E/4 ,FOLL[+ A PA? TO ITS CONCLUSION1 ,I CAME UPON A WAT]FRONT & TURN$ TO WALK ! N>R[ ZONE BETWE5 ! =E/ & ! BEA*4 ,AS ,I WALK$1 ,I HAD A DI/9CT S5SE ( =GETT+ ! PROBLEMS ,I'D SET \T TO POND] &1 AS IF 9 SOME SORT ( H$GE CROSS+1 />T$ PAY+ SOLE ATT5TION TO ! LITTLE DETAILS ( MY PA?4 ,I REALIZ$1 AT SOME PO9T1 ?AT ?IS ?9 CORRIDOR WAS LITT]$ ) ALL SORTS ( DETRITUS FROM BO? ! *URN+ WAT]S & ! D5SE =E/S4 ,BIRD BONES1 FRAGM5T$ SEA %ELLS1 DEAD SLUGS1 BROK5 EGGS1 FALL5 LEAVES1 & ! OCCASIONAL CRU%$ CAN1 ALL 9T]WOV5 9TO A TEEM+ LAY] ( DECAY4 ,I REALIZ$ ?AT ! DECOMPOSITION >\ND ME WAS NOT UNLIKE ?AT :I* PLAGUES HI/ORY & ( :I* WE'RE PRES5TLY SPEAK+4 ,LOOK+ AT MY LITTLE ZONE1 IT BECAME RA!R DIFFICULT TO DI/+UI% ! DIAGNO/IC NIHILISM FROM ! ASPIRATIONAL ONE4 ,MAYBE MORE CORRECTLY1 ,I C\LD SEE H[ EI!R C\LD FUNCTION TO EXPLA9 :AT WAS GO+ ON >\ND ME4 ,I C\LD EASILY SEE ?IS DECOMPOSITION AS A NATURAL PROCESS1 ONE NECESS>Y = ! N\RI%M5T ( BO? ! BEA* & ! =E/4 ,I C\LD ALSO1 ( C\RSE1 RECOGNIZE A DIFFUSE >RAY ( WILLFUL ACTS :I* COMPOS$ ! DECOMPOSITION3 ! SLAY+ ( ! FI% & BIRDS1 ! CRU%+ ( ! %ELLS UND]FOOT1 ! AB&ONM5T ( ! TRA%4 ,DEP5D+ ON ! VANTAGE PO9T1 ,I C\LD LOCATE BO? S5SES ( DECOMPOSITION AT PLAY4 ,! QUE/ION !N BECAME ONE ( WILL1 & P]HAPS ( ANIMISM4 ,! BIRDS PICK+ AP>T ! DEAD CRAB MI<T IMAG9E !MSELVES ! ACTIVE NIHILI/S1 :]EAS WE MI<T SEE A SECUL> DECOMPOSITION4 ,H[ MI<T ! MAGGOTS OR BACT]IA VIEW ! SC5E8 ,:AT AB\T ! WAVES8 

,AS ,I RETURN$ FROM MY WALK1 IT OCCURR$ TO ME ?AT P]HAPS A NIHILI/ E?ICS DOES NOT NE$ TO RESOLUTELY DI/+UI% BETWE5 !SE TWO =MS4 ,MAYBE1 AS (F]$ 9 ,ATT5TAT1 ?IS 9T]PLAY IS SOME?+ TO 0?9K ?R\<1 AS WELL AS LIVE \T40 ,I'D SAY ?AT A NIHILI/ E?ICS MI<T 9/EAD BE AN ORI5TATION T[>DS DECOMPOSITION2 BO? AN AW>5ESS ( ITS PLAY+-\T & AN ATT5TION PAID TO :]E WE MI<T P>TICIPATE4 ,!RE >E OBVI\S WAYS ?AT WE MI<T AMPLIFY OR QUICK5 ?IS DECAY1 BUT ?IS ISN'T ! SOLE PROSPECT4 ,EQUALLY AT PLAY 9 SU* AN ORI5TATION W\LD BE A SURVEY ( ! OPPORTUNITIES & POT5TIALS (F]$ BY ! F]M5T >\ND US4 ,ATT5TAT'S CONCEPTION IS BAS$ P>TLY ON A READ+ ( ,FR$Y ,P]LMAN1 :O W\LD SAY ?AT ,LEVIA?AN IS CON/ANTLY 9 DECAY BECAUSE IT IS ITSELF DEA?4 ,IT TAKES ON ! APPE>ANCE ( LIFE SOLELY BECAUSE LIV+ BE+S >E CAU<T 9SIDE IT1 MOV+ ITS LEV]S & :EELS4 ,! BEA/ DECOMPOSES :5 PEOPLE SIMPLY *OOSE NOT TO--:5 !Y SET FIRE TO ITS COMPON5TS OR FLEE IT ALTOGE!R4 ,IF 'NO FUTURE' IS A MOTTO TO BE C>RI$ 9 MY POCKET1 !N IT IS ALSO A REM9D] TO BE SEEK+ !SE WEAKNESSES & WAYS \T4 ,IT IS AN >S VIV5DI AGA9/ ! WORLD4 

,?IS ORI5TATION BECOMES A LITTLE MORE CLE> :5 WE %IFT ! FOCUS TO DAILY LIFE4 ,IT IS POSSIBLE TO RECOGNIZE A PO/MOD]N NIHILISM 9 ! ATTITUDE ( A HIP/] %OPKEEP] C>ELESSLY BR[S+ ,TUMBLR 9/EAD ( WAT*+ ! M]*&ISE4 ,AN E?ICAL RESPONSE W\LD BE TO SEIZE ! OPPORTUNITY TO FILL MY BAG ) AS MU* AS POSSIBLE4 ,FROM ?IS L5S1 IT IS EASI] TO EXAM9E ! DIFF]5CES BETWE5 ,$ELMAN'S E?ICS & \R [N4 ,Y\ POSE ?IS DIFF]5CE AS ,$ELMAN'S 5JOYM5T ( :AT QUE]S >E FIGUR$ TO DO V]SUS \R 0MORE ACTIVE1 F> MORE VOLUNT>Y0 PROPOSALS4 ,I'M NOT 5TIRELY SURE ?AT ! KEY DIFF]5CE IS ON ! LEVEL ( VOLUNT>9ESS2 ,I'D >GUE ?AT IT TAKES QUITE A BIT ( ACTION TO FLY >\ND ! C\NTRY *AS+ CIRCUIT P>TIES1 OR TO SP5D A FEW H\RS 9 ! GYM EV]Y DAY4 ,I IMAG9E ?AT SOME MI<T SP5D AS MU* TIME PREP>+ AN \TFIT = A P>TY AS ANO!R W\LD TO TRA% A BANK4 ,I'M ALSO UNSURE IT CAN BE UND]/OOD ON ! LEVEL ( 5JOYM5T2 ,I C\LDN'T BEG9 TO QUANTIFY ! WAYS ,I'VE 5JOY$ MY PROJECTS4 

,! DIFF]5CE LIES ELSE:]E1 & P]HAPS CAN BE F\ND 9 ! COROLL>Y TO ,ATT5TAT'S CONCEPTION ( DECOMPOSITION3 RECOMPOSITION4 ,IF DECAY+ P>TS CAN ALWAYS BE RE-ORGANIZ$ 9TO A NEW COMPOSITION1 !N \R ORI5TATION MU/ ALSO CONSID] H[ TO EVADE OR UND]M9E ?IS *ANCE4 ,ATT5TAT CAUTIONS ?AT WE MU/ BE SURE NOT TO DO 0! 9NOVATIVE WORK ?AT FUTURE SY/EMS WILL BE BUILT UPON40 ,BY \R ACC\NT1 A :OLE SY/EM HAS ALREADY BE5 BUILT UPON ,$ELMAN'S 5JOYM5T6 ,?IS SY/EM ( 5JOYM5T--! SEXUAL LABOR1 ! CIRCULATION ( PORNOGRAPHIC IMAGES1 ! M$IATIONS ( DESIRE1 ! PH>MACEUTICALS1 ! 9/RUM5TALIZATION ( ! ]OTIC BODY--IS PRECISELY ! MA*9E 9 :I* ,I'VE F\ND MYSELF 5SN>$1 & AGA9/ :I* ,I TAKE AIM4 ,WE CAN'T TAKE ISSUE ) ! OP5+ GE/URES ( HIS E?ICS1 BUT ABSOLUTELY MU/ CRITIQUE ! LACK ( FOLL[-?R\<4 

,BE>+ !SE !MES 9 M9D1 LET'S TURN TO Y\R QUE/IONS4 

,TO Y\R FIR/ QUE/ION ,I'D SIMPLY SAY NO1 NONE ( US CAN ACTUALLY BE :AT ! SYMBOLIC ORD] FIGURES4 ,AS ) ALL ID5TITIES1 ! ONES IT (F]S US >E ALWAYS UNATTA9ABLE *IM]AS FROM :I* WE ALWAYS FEEL A DEGREE ( FAILURE OR DI/ANCE4 ,& YET ! ANSW] IS MU* MORE COMPLICAT$ ?AN ?AT4 ,9 \R PREVI\S ISSUE1 WE DISCUSS$ ! FIGURES ( AN>*I/ & QUE] :I* >E FIGUR$ AS ?REATS BY ! SYMBOLIC ORD]4 ,FOLL[+ ?IS DISCUSSION 7& DISCUSSIONS ELSE:]E 9 ?IS ISSUE7 WE C\LD ADD NIHILI/ & WIT* TO ! LI/4 ,:ILE WE OBVI\SLY CANNOT A*IEVE SOME P]FECT ATTA9M5T ( ! D>K FANTASIES ( ! SYMBOLIC1 !RE IS SOME VISC]AL LEVEL :]E WE REALIZE ?AT !SE IMAGES >E AB\T SOME?+ V]Y REAL )9 US4 ,QUE]1 AN>*I/1 NIHILI/1 WIT*2 SOME MI<T %Y AWAY FROM !SE BUT WE F9D 9 EA* AN ALLUR+ CALL4 

,Y\ ILLU/RATE ! CONTRADICTION ?AT ! FUTURISM :I* ATTEMPTS TO ABOLI% !SE FIGURES IS ALSO :AT KEEPS !M ALIVE4 ,A WAY ( ADDRESS+ ?IS CONTRADICTION MI<T BE TO APPLY ! =MULATION ( ,ATT5TAT 9 RECOGNIZ+ ?AT EA* ( !SE SUBJECTS C>RIES )9 IT A PEJORATIVE1 AN ID5TITY1 & ALSO A RANGE ( POSITIONS FROM :I* TO ACT4 ,IT C\LD HELP TO SORT !SE POT5TIALS BY VIEW+ !M ?R\< ! L5S ( ! OP]ATION ( GOV]NM5T4 ,LEVIA?AN DOESN'T CON/RUCT !SE ID5TITIES \T ( COH]5T COMMUNITIES1 BUT RA!R GR\PS TOGE!R A WIDE >RAY ( PRACTICES & =MS ( LIFE :I* IT P]CEIVES AS ?REAT5+4 7,= EXAMPLE H]BALI/S1 FOLK-HEAL]S1 REBELLI\S WOM51 & PRACTITION]S ( MAGIC >E GR\P$ TOGE!R BY ! ,HOLY ,9QUISITION )9 ! CATEGORY ( WIT*2 ALL MANN] ( DEVIANT & AB]RANT SEX ACTS & G5D] EXPRESSIONS CON/ITUTE QUE]47 ,!SE NEW SUBJECTS >E !N ID5TIFI$1 DIFF]5TIAT$1 DISCIPL9$ & F9ALLY EI!R ASSIMILAT$ OR ANNIHILAT$4 ,! MOVE FROM PEJORATIVE TO BADGE-(-PRIDE CAN HAPP5 ANY NUMB] ( WAYS4 ,WE CAN SEE CONTEMPOR>Y WIT*ES ATTEMPT+ TO RECON/RUCT A SPIRITUAL PRACTICE \T ( ! TRIAL /ATEM5TS ( ACCUS$ WIT*ES & ! H&BOOKS ( 9QUISITORS4 ,WE ALSO KN[ TOO MANY CASES ( ! ,/ATE ACTIVELY 9T]V5+ TO 5TRAP IDEALI/IC Y\NG AN>*I/S 9TO BUY+ BOMBS FROM ITS AG5TS4#a ,!SE 9V]SE ID5TIFICATIONS ) SYMBOLIC FIGURES 5D UP PLAY+ ! ,/ATE'S GAME1 RECOMPOS+ YET ANO!R /RUCTURE ( CAPTURE & CON/RA9T4#b ,IT IS UND]/&ABLE H[ ?IS ID5TIT>IAN MODE IS S$UCTIVE & EASY TO FOLL[1 BUT WE W\LD 9SI/ ON AN EC/ATIC MODE 9/EAD4 ,PROPOS+ AN EC/ATIC MODE ( RESPONSE IS TO IMAG9E A WAY \T ( ! GAME ( ID5TITIES4 ,RA!R ?AN ASPIR+ TO !SE ID5TITIES1 WE MI<T TRY TO DISCOV] ! GE/URES1 ORI5TATIONS1 & WAYS ( LIFE ?OSE ID5TITIES W]E CON/RUCT$ TO OBSCURE4 ,SU* AN E?ICS ( EK /ATSIS W\LD /RIVE TO PU% US \TSIDE ( \R SELVES1 BUT )\T LOCAT+ US 9 NEW ONES4 ,NIHILISM1 WIT*CRAFT OR AN>*Y MI<T ALL BE TOOLS 9 ?IS QUE] E?ICS1 BUT EA* W\LD HAVE TO BE DEF9$ ANEW ?R\< AN ONGO+ PROCESS ( EXP]IM5TATION & PLAY4 

,Y\ (F] ?AT ! WORLD MI<T MORE LIKELY 5D BECAUSE ( ,$ELMAN'S APA!TIC NIHILI/S OR HYPOCRITICAL POLITICIANS RA!R ?AN \R [N ACTIVITIES4 ,BUT ,I ?9K ?AT NEI!R ( US REALLY BELIEVES ! WORLD WILL 5D AT ALL1 = :ATEV] REASON4 ,AT ?IS PO9T1 ! FUNCTIONS ( POLITICS & GOV]NM5T IS SIMPLY TO MANAGE ITS [N DECOMPOSITION1 CULTIVAT+ RECOMPOSITION :]E IT CAN4 ,CAU<T 9 ?IS DYNAMIC1 WE'RE REALLY SE>*+ = WAYS ( LIFE :I* C>VE AN ESCAPE R\TE4 

,& SO WE >RIVE AT Y\R SECOND QUE/ION4 ,AGA9 ,I'LL ANSW] NO1 ?AT 9SURRECTION>Y AN>*Y IS NOT AN EXEMPL>Y PRACTICE NOR ! SOLE WAY TO P]=M ! NEGATION FIGUR$ AS ! UNDO+ ( ! SOCIAL ORD]4 ,IT IS AN EXAMPLE ( A SET ( PRACTICES1 BUT IT IS A SET AMONG MANY4 ,! PROPOSAL ( 9SURRECTION IS USEFUL 9 \R 9QUIRY FIR/LY BECAUSE IT (F]S A DIV]SE SET ( ME?ODS ( ATTACK & EVASION4 ,MORE SO1 IT WAS A CONV5I5T FOCAL PO9T = DRAW+ ! CONNECTIONS WE DESIR$ BETWE5 SUBV]SIVE CURR5TS )9 QUE] !ORY & )9 AN>*I/ ?\<T4 ,WE'VE PO9T$ TO SEV]AL 9T]E/+ EV5TS & T5D5CIES EAT+ AWAY AT ! SOCIAL ORD]1 & C\LD SURELY PO9T TO MORE4 

,Y\'RE CORRECT = CRITICIZ+ \R LOCAT+ J\ISSANCE SOLELY 9 ! 0ACTUAL SUBV]SIVE HI/ORIES ( QUE]NESS40 ,! UND]/&+ ( HI/ORY (F]$ BY ! CONCEPT ( DECOMPOSITION HELPS TO RE-IMAG9E ?IS SE>*4 ,) ! B5EFIT ( ?IS NEW %APE TO TIME1 WE MI<T SAY ?AT ! 5DLESS SPLITT+ ( ! SOCIAL ORD] HAS TORN US AP>T AS WELL1 RECOMPOS+ US AS SUBJECTS ( A DUALI/IC WORLD4 ,J\ISSANCE IS TO BE F\ND 9 ?OSE EV5TS :]E WE OV]COME ?IS DUALISM1 IF ONLY MOM5T>ILY4 ,!SE MOM5TS DO NOT OCCUR 9 ! META-N>RATIVE ( HI/ORY 7EV5 QUE] HI/ORY7 BUT ON A MU* SMALL] SCALE1 9 ! REBELLI\S LIVES :I* REMA9 HIDD5 OR TRAGICALLY LO/ TO US4 ,TO CONCLUDE ) Y\R F9AL QUE/ION1 AN 9SURRECTION>Y AN>*Y MI<T BE RELAT$ TO E?ICS 9 ! PURSUIT ( A CONNECTION TO !SE MOM5TS ( OV]COM+4 ,?IS E?ICS C\LD GIVE NEW MEAN+ TO 0>M$ JOY40 ,HOPEFULLY Y\'LL F9D ! TEXTS 9 ?IS ISSUE 5JOYABLE ON ?IS PO9T4 

,LOOK+ =W>D TO Y\R NEXT CONTRIBUTION TO ?IS /RANGE ?+ WE'RE DO+ TOGE!R1 

,Y\RS1 

,TEGAN 

HI TEGAN1 

I JU/ GOT TO READ+ YR ESSAY 9 BA$AN ON !SES ON ! PHILOSOPHY ( HI/ORY4 I GUESS I %\LD BEG9 BY ASK+ IF ?IS IS Y\R ESSAY4 I W\LDN'T LIKE TO PRESUME ?AT IT IS NECESS>ILY4448 

SO I HAVE SOME QUE/IONS AB\T ?IS READ+ ?AT I'M SUGGE/+ >E DEBAT$ H]E1 MEAN+ BETWE5 US 9 CORRESPONDANCE4 I HAD A FLEET+ ?\<T ?AT I MI<T WRITE A CRITIQUE ( ?IS PIECE1 BUT IT W\LDN'T REALLY HAVE UTILITY = ANYONE :O ACTUALLY READS B5JAM9 OR ! FRANKFURT S*OOL4 ?AT'S TO SAY ?AT IT W\LD BE PLATITUD9\S TO SOMEONE 9 ?IS FIELD TO READ MY EXPOSITION ON :Y B5JAM9 IS A M>XI/ ) FULL FIDELITY TO ! ME?OD ( ! DIALECTIC4 ?IS IS LIKE JU/ A FACT4 ANYONE :O HAS READ ONE BOOK BY OR ON B5JAM9 KN[S ?IS4 ! DIZZY+ PA/I*E ( HI/ORICALLY & !ORETICAL DI/ANT FIGURES & NOTIONS IS UN=TUNATE1 BUT !RE'S ONLY ONE ?+ 9 ?IS CONNECTION ?AT I AM SORT ( DI/URB$ BY4 ?IS IS ! OV]SI<T ( ! PRIM>Y CONTEXT ( ! !SES1 BUT ALSO ( B5JAM9'S NIHILISM 9 G5]AL3 & ?IS CONTEXT IS FASCISM4 I'M PUT (F BY Y\R M5TION+ ( /AL9ISM 70/ATE COMMUNISM07 AS ! HI/ORICAL CONTEXT = B5JAM9'S H]ETICAL M>XISM .<SIC.>1 )\T ANY M5TION ( FASCISM1 ( B5JAM9'S JEWI% BACKGR\ND1 ( HIS EXILE 9TO P>IS :I* WAS AT ! TIME UND] NAZI OCCUPATION1 OR ( HIS SUICIDE AT ! BORD] ( NAZI FRANCE & NAZI SPA91 :]E HE WAS D5I$ 5TRY BY ! GE/APO1 7NOT ! SOVIET POLICE74 

0! 5EMY0 9 ! WRIT+S ( B5JAM9 & BRE*T1 HIS M>XI/ M5TOR1 IS ! FASCI/ 5EMY1 NOT ! /AL9I/S4 IT WAS OBVI\S TO M>XI/S AT ! TIME1 ESPECIALLY G]MAN ONES1 ?AT /AL9ISM WAS A HELLI% DE=MATION ( ! PROJECT ( COMMUNISM4 & ! HITL]-/AL9 PACT ( #aici WAS :AT DROVE MANY COMMUNI/ P>TIES 9 EUROPE AS WELL AS M>XI/ ORGANIZATIONS1 TO RADICALLY RECONSID] !IR ALLEGIANCES4 ! MO/ !ORETICALLY SOPHI/ICAT$ ( !SE1 JOHNSON-=E/ T5D5CY AMONG !M1 RETURN$ TO ! TEXTS ( HEGEL & M>X TO UND]/& :AT C\LD HAVE HAPP5$2 O!RS HOLD ?AT ! DICATOR%IP ( ! PROLET>IAN IS A MISREAD+ ( ! SELF-ABOLITION ( ! PROLET>IAT1 :I* IS ATT5D$ TO 9 M>X'S EXPOSITION ON REAL SUBSUMPTION4 ?IS IS A LONG DEBATE4 BUT IT SUFFICES TO SAY ?AT ! REVISION ( M>X'S =M ( VALUE1 HI/ORICAL DET]M9ISM1 ETCET]A HAS A LONG /&+ & COMPLEX TRAJECTORY ?AT MU* AN>*I/ !ORY APPROA*ES SELECTIVELY4 I ?9K AB\T ?IS :5 I HE> MAO 9 ! M\?S ( MY NIHILI/ FRI5DS1 P]HAPS SOME?+ LEFT OV] FROM ! 9FLU5CE ( GR\PS LIKE ! RAF2 OR :5 ?9K+ AB\T ITALIAN AUTONOMISM AS ! UN/UDI$ UND]SONG ( SO MU* POLITICAL ?9K+ 9 ! BAY SPECIFICALLY1 )\T ANY RECOGNITION ( ! PRIM>Y TEXT ( AUTONOMISM1 :I* WAS ! GRUNDRISSE4 

?IS IS JU/ TO SAY ! DIALECTIC ( AN>*ISM & COMMUNISM HI/ORICALLY IS F> MORE 9T]E/+ ?AN ! MICRO-POLITICAL POLEMICS ?AT \R MILIEU IS SO PREOCCUPI$ )4 BUT I WILL SAY ?AT Y\R DESIRE TO MAKE A JAB AT COMMUNISM 9 ! A=EM5TION$ SECTION ( YR ESSAY AT ! EXP5SE ( RECOGNIZ+ ! HI/ORICAL MASS GRAVE :I* IS FASCISM IS SIMPLY BAD TA/E1 & NOT ONLY ?AT1 BUT 9 A WAY CONTRADICTS ! /AKES ( B5JAM9'S 5TIRE >GUM5T 9 ! !SES--?AT IT'S \R RESPONSIBILITY TO SAVE ! DEAD--& RECA/+ HI/ORY TO S]VE \R [N T5D5CI\S PURPOSES IS AB\T AS F> FROM ?IS AS POSSIBLE4 \R [N WRIT+ ON ! DEAD OBVI\SLY CONC]NS ! DEAD WE WILL BE1 & B5JAM9 IS CASE 9 PO9T4 IT IS UND5IABLE ?AT HE WAS A M>TYR 9 ! W> ?AT FASCISM WAS WAG+ ON =MS ( LIFE1 & 7AT ! TIME ( HIS DEA?7 W9N+4 

SO1 ONTO MY QUE/IONS3 

#a4 CONSID]+ ! SOPHI/ICAT$ CONCEPTION ( TIME 9 B5JAM9'S WORK1 ( :I* 0NON-TELEOLOGICAL TIME0 V]SUS 'PROGRESS' IS A R$UCTIVE ANALYSIS1 H[ DOES Y\R WRIT+ UND]/& 7OR NOT UND]/&7 ! DIALECTICAL IMAGE ( HI/ORY8 

BECAUSE CLE>LY WE >5'T TALK+ AB\T PA/-PRES5T-NO FUTURE4 WE'RE TALK+ AB\T *RONOS & KAIROS1 OR N[-TIME 9 RELATION TO PA/1 & VICTORY 9 TIME AS REVISION ( PA/4 DO Y\ UND]/& NON-TELEOLOGICAL AS '\T ( SEQU5CE' OR AS MULTIPLE /IMMUNG ( TIME8 :AT Y\R CALL+ 0EMPTY HOMOG5E\S TIME0 IS NOT HI/ORY1 9 B5JAM9'S S5SE1 BUT HI/ORICIZATION4 ! MOVEM5T ( HI/ORY = M>X1 AS = B5JAM9 IS NOT IMMAN5T1 BUT DIALECTICAL1 & 9 ?IS WAY IT IS BECOMES A QUE/ION ( POLITICS1 9/EAD ( PHILOSOPHY EXCLUSIVELY4 

0NO FUTURE0 7TO MY UND]/&+7 IS NOT *RONIC REALISM1 ITS A MOOD1 OR IMP5D+ QUALITY ( TIME4 I GUESS I'M WOND]+ :Y YR /UDY ( ! ESSAY PRIVILEGES ! QUE/ION ( ! FUTURE1 :5 ! PA/ & POSSIBLE MESSIANISM ( ! PRES5T >E CLE>LY OBJECTS ( IMPORT H]E4 

#b4 H[ DOES ONE SQAURE A HI/ORICAL MAT]IALI/ CONCEPTION ( PROGRESS 7HI/ORY71 ) A TRANS-HI/ORICAL CONCEPTION ( CIVILIZATION1 A LA CAMATTE8 9 SO F> AS B5JAM9 EXPLICITLY D5IES A PRELAPS>IAN 7:AT Y\ CALL LO/ P>ADISE7 VIEW1 AS WELL AS ! MESSIANISM ?AT HE ALUDES TO 9 ! 5D ( ! !SES1 DUE TO ! A=EM5TION$ FASCI/-9SPIR$ NIHILISM4 

I'M ALSO 9T]E/$ 9 ! WAY Y\ CONT9UE TO REC\RSE TO 0LIFE UND] CAPITAL0 DESPITE Y\R ALLEGIANCE TO CAMATTE1 = :OM CAPITAL IS ONE MASK ON ! FACE ( SOME AB/RACT DOM9ATION ( REAL HUMANNESS4 

#c4 DO ANY ( Y\R ANALYZES 9 ?IS BE> A RELATION TO A QUE] CRITIQUE ( REPRODUCTIVE FUTURITY DEVIS$ 9 ! PREVI\S TWO ESSAYS8 

#d4 MO/ S*OL> ( B5JAM9 TRY TO NEGOTIATE :AT EXACTLY HIS /YLE ( DIALECTICS >E4 BUT IT REMA9S ?AT1 AS 9 HEGELIAN DIALECTICS1 ! NEGATION ( ! NEGATION1 OR AUFHEB51 HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE = B5JAM91 AS CAN EASILY BE D$UC$ BY READ+ CRITIQUE ( VIOL5CE4 ?IS IS DEALT ) ALSO 9 HIS TEXT ! DE/RUCTIVE *>ACT] 7:I* I'M FLABB]GA/$ HASN'T BECOME SOME AN>*I/ FETI% YET71 :]E9 HE LEAVES ! QUE/ION ( ! D\BLE MOVEM5T ( NEGATION SOME:AT AMBIGU\S1 ! QUE/ION BE+1 0:AT ( ! TRACES8 & 0>E !Y ALSO DE/ROY$0 

9 CRITIQUE ( VIOL5CE WE LE>N ! 9OP]ATIVITY ( A /YLE ( VIOL5CE :I* RESIDES 9 ! DIALECTIC ( LAW & TRANSGRESSION1 :AT BRE*T CALL$ 0! REACTION>Y D>KNESS10 SU* ?AT ! NEGATION ( ! LAW IS ! DEF9ITION ( TRANSGRESSION4 IT IS \R PROJECT TO PRODUCE A D\BLE MOVEM5T :I* NEGATES ! NEGATION1 & ONLY ?IS WILL G5]ATION A /YLE ( REVOLUTION>Y VIOL5CE \TSIDE ( LAW ONTOLOGICALLY1 NOT \TSIDE 7\TLAW+1 LAWLESSNESS+7 :ILE REMA9+ 9SIDE ITS DIALECTIC4 AT ! BA/>D CONF]5CE Y\ ANSW]$ MY QUE/ION CONC]N+ ?IS BY SPEAK+ AB\T DE-POSITIVIZ+ AS AGAMB5 DISCUSSES1 & UPON REFLECTION IT BECOME CLE> TO ME ?AT ?IS FAILS TO ADDRESS ! ONTOLOGICAL /ATUS ( LAW1 7WE C\LD EV5 USE AGAMB5 TO PROVE ?IS1 VIZ4 9CLUSIVE EXCLUSION7 ) VIOL5CE AS IT'S PRIM>Y EPIPH5OM5ON4 DE-PO/IVIZ+ LOGIC LEADS BACK TO AN UNDIALECTICAL1 OR IMMAN5T =M ( DE/RUCTION1 7! ROMANTICIZATION & REIFICATION ( :I* I HAVE MORE ?AN CONTEMPT74 :AT 9T]PRETATION DOES NIHILISM HAVE = A L9E LIKE1 0:AT EXI/S HE R$UCES TO RUBBLE--NOT = ! SAKE ( ! RUBBLE1 BUT = ?AT ( ! WAY LEAD+ ?R\< IT40 

?\<TS8 

,J,F 

,DE> ,J4,F41 

,?\<TS3 

,AS TEMPT+ AS IT MAY BE TO DETAIL :Y & H[ Y\ >E WRONG--WRONG AB\T ,B5JAM9'S SUPPOS$ 0FULL FIDELITY0 TO ! DIALECTIC1#c TRAGICALLY MI/AK5 AB\T FASCISM DES]V+ AN EXCEPTIONAL /ATUS ( 5MITY1#d & DEAD WRONG AB\T :AT !SE UNNAM$ & UNCIT$ 0S*OL>S ( ,B5JAM90 SUPPOS$LY BELIEVE--! FACT IS ?AT WE >E NOT 9T]E/$ 9 FI<T+ OV] :E!R ,B5JAM9 TRULY BELONGS 9 \R CAMP OR 9 Y\RS4 ,WE WILL LEAVE IT TO IDEOLOGY'S ADH]5TS TO SEEK ADH]5CE TO !IR IDEOLOGIES4 

,IT IS NOT ?AT WE CONC$E ! PO9T1 BUT RA!R ?AT IF ,B5JAM9 DOESN'T FIT UND] Y\R T5T1 NEI!R WILL HE FIT UND] ANY O!R4 ,AS ,MI*AEL ,L[Y PUT IT 9 HIS 9TRODUCTION TO ,FIRE ,AL>M3 ,READ+ ,WALT] ,B5JAM9'S 0,ON ! ,CONCEPT ( ,HI/ORY03 

,WE USUALLY CLASSIFY ! V>I\S PHILOSOPHIES ( HI/ORY BY !IR PROGRESSIVE OR CONS]VATIVE1 REVOLUTION>Y OR NO/ALGIC *>ACT]4 ,WALT] ,B5JAM9 DOES NOT FIT 9TO !SE CLASSIFICATIONS4 ,HE IS A REVOLUTION>Y CRITIC ( ! PHILOSOPHY ( PROGRESS1 A ,M>XI/ OPPON5T ( 'PROGRESSIVISM1' A NO/ALGIC :O DREAMS ( ! FUTURE1 A ,ROMANTIC ADVOCATE ( MAT]IALISM4 ,HE IS1 9 EV]Y S5SE ( ! WORD1 'UNCLASSIFIABLE4' 

,:ILE WE W\LD NOT *OOSE ! SAME WORDS AS ,L[Y H]E1 !RE CAN BE LITTLE D\BT ?AT ,B5JAM9'S ?\<T IS *>ACT]IZ$ MORE BY ITS PROMISCUITY ?AN BY FEALTY TO ANY?+1 MU* LESS SOME?+ SO RIGID AS ! DIALECTIC4 ,L[Y GOES ON TO SAY3 

,IT IS FUTILE1 !N1 TO ATTEMPT TO RECRUIT HIM 9TO ONE OR O!R ( ! TWO MA9 CAMPS CONT5D+ = HEGEMONY ON ! /AGE 7OR %\LD WE SAY ! M>KET87 ( IDEAS3 MOD]NISM & PO/MOD]NISM4 

,IT IS NOT H>D TO SEE H[ ! SAME C\LD BE SAID ( ,M>XISM & :ATEV] CAMP WE MI<T BE ACCUS$ ( CONT5D+ = 7NIHILISM8 AHI/ORICAL ANTI-CIVILIZATIONISM8 MY/ICISM874 ,WE DO NOT DEM& ,B5JAM9'S BELONG+ TO \R CAMP1 IF 9DE$ WE FEEL P>T ( ANY CAMP 7WE DO NOT71 & IF WE RESI/ Y\R CLAIMS TO HIS BELONG+ TO Y\RS1 IT IS P>TLY 9 ! SPIRIT ( DEBATE1 TO BE SURE1 BUT IT IS ALSO FROM A S5SATION WE CAN ONLY DESCRIBE AS E?ICAL 9 NATURE4 ,NOT BECAUSE WE FEEL AN OBLIGATION TO 0SAVE ! DEAD10 AS Y\ CLAIM A PROP] READ+ ( ,B5JAM9 W\LD P]SUADE US IS \R DUTY4 7,! DEAD8 ,:I* ONES87 ,IT IS RA!R ?AT TO RECOGNIZE SOMEONE IS TO EXP]I5CE AN E?ICAL BOND ) !M1 ESPECIALLY 9 CASES :]E ! CONDITIONS ELICIT ! 9/9CTS ( PRES]VATION4 

,IF WE HAVE ALMO/ NO DESIRE = A BATTLE OV] IDEOLOGICAL CLAIMS TO ,B5JAM9'S LEGACY1 WE HAVE EV5 LESS = A CONTE/ OV] HIS 9T]PRETATION BY ! ACADEMY AT L>GE4 ,Y\R CLAIM ?AT ANYONE WORK+ 9 ?IS FIELD W\LD DISAGREE ) US DOESN'T HAVE ! /+ ?AT Y\ MI<T HAVE 9T5D$4 ,Y\ MAY1 = SOME BIZ>RE REASON1 BE !IR SYCOPHANT1 BUT \R PROJECT 7MU* LIKE Y\R WRIT+7 IS NOT ACADEMIC1 & NEI!R IS IT CON/RA9$ BY ! DOM9ANT OP9IONS ( EXP]TS 9 !IR FIELDS4 ,FUR!R1 IF ! MAJORITY ( ,M>XI/ ACADEMICS DO (F] SU* A SIMPLI/IC READ+ ( SOMEONE SO 5IGMATIC1 WE W\LD READ ?IS AS A CALL TO SC&ALIZE !IR COM=TABLE C]TA9TY4 ,:AT'S MORE1 Y\ SEEM TO HAVE MISS$ ?AT \R PROJECT C\LD BE UND]/OOD1 9 A C]TA9 LI<T1 AS AN ATTEMPT TO UND]M9E ! ACADEMIC OP]ATION ( /]ILIZ+ & DE-CLAW+ REBEL ?\<T4 ,JU/ AS WE >GU$ ?AT ,$ELMAN'S WORK FUNCTIONS TO PACIFY ,HOCQU5<EM ?R\< ! BANALITY ( =M1 ?OSE WORK+ 9 ?IS FIELD 7Y\1 BY EXT5SION7 LABOR TO /ULTIFY ! SUBV]SIVE QUALITIES ( ,B5JAM9'S ?\<T ?R\< ! TIR$ R\T9E ( ,M>XI/ ANALYSIS4 ,WE HAVE TO ASK :AT MOTIVATES Y\ TO AFFIRM ! FIDELITY ( A MAN O!RWISE CELEBRAT$ = HIS PROMISCUITY8 ,=GIVE US IF WE READ Y\R 9QUIRY AS ANO!R EF=T TO CAPTURE :AT REMA9S 9EFFABLE1 AS ! LABOR ( A DOGMATI/1 AN IDEOLOGUE4#e 

,TO 9VOKE ,B5JAM9 HIMSELF ) REG>D TO CRITICAL READ+3 

,IF1 TO USE A SIMILE1 ONE VIEWS ! GR[+ WORK AS A BURN+ FUN]AL PYRE1 !N ! COMM5TATOR /&S BE=E IT LIKE A *EMI/1 ! CRITIC LIKE AN AL*EMI/4 ,:]E = ! =M]1 WOOD & A% REMA9 ! SOLE OBJECTS ( HIS ANALYSIS1 = ! LATT] ONLY ! FLAME ITSELF PRES]VES AN 5IGMA3 ?AT ( :AT IS ALIVE4 ,?US ! CRITIC 9QUIRES 9TO ! TRU?1 :OSE LIV+ FLAME CONT9UES TO BURN OV] ! HEAVY LOGS ( ! PA/ & ! LI<T A%ES ( EXP]I5CE4 

,WE'LL LEAVE Y\R ACCR$IT$ EXP]TS ! TASK ( PICK+ ?R\< ! MAT]IALI/ A%ES2 \R GAZE REMA9S FIX$ ON ! DANC+ FLAMES4 

,:AT WE >E 9T]E/$ 9 QUE/ION+ AT ! MOM5T IS ! L9E ( 9QUIRY :I* LEADS Y\ TO CONCLUDE ?AT \R PIECE BETRAY$ ,B5JAM9 OR HIS 0,!SES40 ,FIR/1 H[EV]1 WE %\LD MAKE CLE> ?AT ANY ATTACK ( \RS ON COMMUNISM1 :E!R 9 ! FIR/ ISSUE ( ! J\RNAL1 9 !SE PAGES1 OR ELSE:]E1 IS H>DLY MOTIVAT$ BY A DESIRE TO SCORE PO9TS AS Y\ SUGGE/4 ,IF ?AT WAS \R 9T]E/1 WE W\LD HAVE SIMPLY M5TION$ ! MASS GRAVES ( COMMUNISM & LEFT IT AT ?AT4 ,9 \R 5GAGEM5T ) ,B5JAM91 WE SAW FIT TO RECOGNIZE & APPRECIATE HIS DEVIATIONS FROM ,M>XISM BECAUSE1 = US1 SU* DEVIATIONS >E :AT 9T]E/ US 9 ! FIGURES ( ! PA/4 ,9S(> AS A FIGURE ( HI/ORY ONLY SEEMS TO US TO BE A BLURR$ FACE AMONG MANY1 WE >E 9CAPABLE ( RECOGNIZ+ HIM1 MU* LESS CONV]S+ ) H]4 ,9S(> AS ANO!R FIGURE APPE>S ONLY AS ! POLITICAL FACE ( SOME MOVEM5T OR O!R1 !Y >E 9CAPABLE ( HOLD+ \R 9T]E/4 ,BUT :5 WE CAN S5SE A FRAGM5T ( ! PA/ DEVIAT+ FROM ITS C\RSE1 RESI/+ PROGRESS ITSELF1 !N 9 A FLA% ?IS FRAGM5T IS ALIVE & PRES5T ) US &1 H[EV] BRIEFLY1 WE GRASP A BIT ( TRU?4 ,EV5 Y\ MU/ ADMIT ?AT FEW IF ANY W\LD BE 9T]E/$ 9 ,B5JAM9'S ?\<T IF HE CLUNG DOGMATICALLY TO ! ME?OD ( ! DIALECTIC4 ,CLE>LY1 ! 5*ANTM5T ( HIS LIFE'S WORK LIES ELSE:]E4 

,?IS ELSE:]E IS UND\BT$LY TO BE F\ND 9 ,B5JAM9'S MY/ICAL ?\<T4 ,IT IS 9T]E/+ ?AT Y\ MAKE SOME HALF-HE>T$ EF=T TO CRITICIZE US = NEGLECT+ HIS ,JEWI% ID5TITY1 :5 Y\R 5TIRE READ+ IS AN ATTEMPT SEV] HIS ?\<T FROM ITS ,JEWI% 9FLU5CE4 ,Y\ DESCRIBE ?IS C5TRAL DIM5SION ( HIS ?\<T AS AN 0UN=TUNATE10 0DIZZY+ PA/I*E ( HI/ORICALLY & !ORETICAL .<SIC.> DI/ANT FIGURES & NOTIONS40 ,Y\R *>ACT]IZATION READS AS P>TICUL>LY NA/Y :5 COMP>$ TO ,G]%OM ,S*OLEM'S ASS]TION ?AT ,B5JAM9 WAS 0A !OLOGIAN M>OON$ 9 ! REALM ( ! PR(ANE10 OR HIS CELEBRATION ( ,B5JAM9'S 09TUITIVE AFFIRMATION ( MY/ICAL !MES :I* WALK A F9E L9E BETWE5 RELIGION & NIHILISM40 ,B5JAM9 HIMSELF (T5 DESCRIB$ BE+ TORN BETWE5 HIS 'CULTIC' & 'COMMUNI/' DESIRES4 ,AS HE SAYS 9 A LETT] TO ,S*OLEM REG>D+ HIS 'CONV]SION' TO ,M>XISM3 

,IF ,I W]E TO JO9 ! ,COMMUNI/ ,P>TY SOM$AY 7SOME?+ ?AT1 9 TURN1 ,I AM MAK+ DEP5D5T ON ONE LA/ TWI/ ( FATE71 MY /ANCE W\LD BE TO BEHAVE ALWAYS RADICALLY & NEV] LOGICALLY :5 IT CAME TO ! MO/ IMPORTANT ?+S4444 .<,T.>H]E >E NO MEAN+FULLY POLITICAL GOALS4 

,:]E Y\ W\LD DISMISS ! FIRE = ! A%ES Y\ PRIZE1 WE RECOGNIZE !SE A%ES AS MEAN+LESS & SEEK ONLY ! W>M? ( :AT Y\'D EXCISE4 

,IT IS 9T]E/+ ?AT Y\ WRITE1 H[EV] OBLIQUELY1 ( BETRAYAL 9 RELATION TO ,B5JAM94 ,H[ CAN WE BETRAY SOMEONE :O HAD NO S5SE ( ! FIRM COMMITM5T Y\ F9D 9 HIM8 ,IS IT NOT /RANGE1 ?AT ONE :O IS DEAD CAN COMM& ONE'S ATT5TION SO8 ,WE ALSO FEEL ?IS :5 WE READ ! 0,!SES10 ?\< NOT1 IT SEEMS1 9 ! WAY Y\ DO4 ,NOT AS A RESPONSIBILITY TO SAVE SOME FACELESS MASS ( CORPSES1 NOR A LOYAL P>TY MEMB]4 ,WE READ ! 0,!SES0 NOT AS A W>N+ AGA9/ RECA/+ HI/ORY1 BUT TO ! CONTR>Y AS AN 9VITATION TO CA/ HI/ORY AWAY & TO RECOGNIZE 9 ! PA/ ! FACES ( FRI5DS4 

,N[ AS TO Y\R QUE/IONS3 

#a4 ,J>GON ASIDE1 IT IS UNCLE> H[ Y\ CONCLUD$ ?AT \R READ+ ( ! 0,!SES0 HOLDS ! FUTURE 9 A POSITION ( PRIVILEGE4 ,WE CAN ONLY GUESS ?IS WAS BY JUXTAPOSITION ) ,NO ,FUTURE1 OR P]HAPS SIMPLY BECAUSE ! FUTURE IS A SORT ( DEFAULT ORI5TATION ONE CAN H>DLY HELP BUT PRIVILEGE4 ,IF ! =M]1 WE MI<T REM9D Y\ ?AT 9 ?AT PIECE WE ONLY PRIVILEG$ ! FUTURE AS A SUBJECT 9 ORD] TO ATTEMPT TO >TICULATE H[ & :Y IT CAPTIVATES US1 & ULTIMATELY TO REFUSE IT4 ,IF ! LATT]1 !N WE CAN ONLY SAY ?AT WE >E ( C\RSE NOT FREE FROM ?IS CONDITION1 ?\< 9 TURN+ TO ,B5JAM91 WE W]E REM9D$ TO TURN AWAY FROM ! FUTURE1 IF ONLY = A TIME & MORE AS GE/URE ?AN AS A BREAK4 ,WE C\LD EV5 SAY ?AT ! READ+ ( HIS 0,!SES0 WE PRES5T$ WAS 9T5D$ TO BE A REM9D]1 OR AN 9VITATION1 9 TURN4 

,AS Y\ SAY1 *RONIC REALISM WAS NOT ! SUBJECT ( \R READ+4 ,9 FACT1 S9CE Y\R LETT] K9DLY 9TRODUC$ ! PHRASE TO \R E>S1 WE CAN ?9K ( NO T]M MORE FITT+ TO DESCRIBE ! CONDITION 9FECT+ ?IS SOCIETY4 ,9 ! FUTURE WE MAY EV5 EMPLOY ! PHRASE \RSELVES1 IF Y\ DON'T M9D4 ,*RONIC REALISM3 ! DEBILITAT+ BELIEF--LONG-T]M OR LIFE-LONG1 & RESI/ANT TO M$ICATION--9 CONS5SUS REALITY4 ,A BIT TOO ,CRIME?9C8 ,WE'LL WORK ON IT4 

,IT IS TRUE ?AT 9 SOME V]Y /RANGE & 9EVITABLE WAY1 !RE WILL BE A FUTURE1 EV5 IF !RE IS NOT ONE = ME1 OR Y\1 OR EV5 HUMANITY4 ,ONE MI<T CA/ ONE'S VOTE = PLURALITY & SAY ?AT !RE WILL BE NO ,FUTURE1 ?AT 9/EAD !RE >E MANY FUTURES4 ,?IS POSITION IS PREF]ABLE1 BUT IS MADE TR\BLESOME BY :AT IT 9H]ITS--NE>LY EV]Y?+--FROM ! CON=MI/ VIEW ( ! FUTURE :I* IT MEANS TO DEVIATE FROM4 

,:AT REMA9S--:AT MAY ALWAYS REMA9--IS H[ WE 9T5D TO ORI5T \RSELVES ) REG>D TO A FUTURE WE HAVE DISAV[$1 AT LEA/ 9 ITS POLITICAL =MS4 ,BECAUSE :AT IS AT /AKE IS MORE ?AN A MOOD2 IT IS A QUE/ION ( E?ICS1 ?\< F> LESS /RAI<T=W>D ?AN E?ICAL QUE/IONS >E SUPPOS$ TO BE4 ,H]E1 :]E Y\R L9E ( 9QUIRY LEAVES (F1 \RS BEG9S4 

#b4 ,C]TA9LY1 ! PROGRESSIVISM & ANTI-CIVILIZATION ?\<T Y\ M5TION >E NOT SQU>E NOR CAN !Y BE PLAC$ SQU>ELY1 BUT CAN ONLY BE ]RATICALLY PLAY$ AGA9/ EA* O!R4 ,! GREAT HEAP ( WRECKAGE ?AT ,B5JAM9 CALLS HI/ORY IS :AT WE'D CALL ,LEVIA?AN--,DEA? ITSELF :I* CAPTURES ! LIV+4 ,PROGRESS CAN ONLY DESCRIBE A VIEW FROM )9 ?IS MON/]1 AS ! REF9EM5T ( ITS MODE ( CAPTURE1 & ALSO AS ! DECIMATION & ACCUMULATION ( C\NTLESS BODIES4 ,B5JAM9 CALLS IT A /ORM :I* BL[S US \T ( P>ADISE4  ,:ILE WE AGREE ) ,B5JAM9 ?AT WE CANNOT RETURN TO P>ADISE1 WE MU/ ALSO 9SI/ ?AT HI/ORY CAN BE READ & LIV$ 9 A WAY ?AT T5DS TO 9SPIRE & /R5G!N US1 RA!R ?AN M]ELY SQUA%+ HUMAN BE+S 9TO ! GROSS N>RATIVE ( PROGRESS4 ,WE MI<T CONSID] Y\R 9QUIRY 9 LI<T ( ,B5JAM9 BY RETURN+ TO ,L[Y AGA9 AS HE \TL9ES ,B5JAM9'S 9T]E/ 9 ! PA/ ?R\< ! L5S ( ,G]MAN ,ROMANTICISM3 

,ONE MI<T DEF9E ! ,ROMANTIC ,WELTANS*AUUNG AS A CULTURAL CRITIQUE ( MOD]N 7CAPITALI/7 CIVILIZATION 9 ! NAME ( PRE-MOD]N 7PRE-CAPITALI/7 VALUES--A CRITIQUE OR PROTE/ ?AT BE>S UPON ASPECTS :I* >E FELT TO BE UNBE>ABLE & DEGRAD+3 ! QUANTIFICATION & ME*ANIZATION ( LIFE1 ! REIFICATION ( SOCIAL RELATIONS1 ! DISSOLUTION ( ! COMMUNITY & ! DIS5*ANTM5T ( ! WORLD4 ,ITS NO/ALGIA = ! PA/ DOES NOT MEAN IT IS NECESS>ILY RETROGRADE3 ! ,ROMANTIC VIEW ( ! WORLD MAY ASSUME BO? REACTION>Y & REVOLUTION>Y =MS4 ,= REVOLUTION>Y ,ROMANTICISM ! AIM IS NOT A RETURN TO ! PA/ BUT A DET\R ?R\< ! PA/ ON ! WAY TO A UTOPIAN FUTURE4 

,H]E WE C\LD DISCUSS NO/ALGIA = PRE-CAPITALI/ VALUES AS 7ADMITT$LY AHI/ORICAL7 RESI/ANCE TO MOD]NITY1 BUT ON ?IS QUE/ION WE WILL AGA9 BE MET ) Y\R 9ABILITY TO MI/AKE \R 9T]E/ = ADH]5CE4 ,WE HAVE NO 'ALLEGIANCE TO ,CAMATTE' TO BE SPOK5 ( 7& WE EXPLICITLY CRITIQUE HIS UND]/&+ ( CAPITAL 9 \R 5GAGEM5T ) HIM71 ?\< WE MI<T NATURALLY FEEL 9CL9$ TO TAKE HIS SIDE = ! MOM5T :5 HE IS ACCUS$ ( UNFAI?FULNESS TO ! PROP] CONCEPTION ( DOM9ATION & HI/ORY4 ,H]E WE MI<T REEMPHASIZE ?AT IT IS A P]SON'S T5D5CY TO DEVIATE ?AT DRAWS US1 AS DEVIANTS1 TO !M4 ,NOT SO WE CAN =M A NEW DEVIANT POSITION TO ADH]E TO OR DEVIATE FROM1 BUT TO HOLD A PALAV]1 DISC\RS+ 9 A MANN] NOT ONLY IDLE BUT AIMLESS4 

,?IS IS1 ( C\RSE1 A MATT] ( TA/E4 

,WE PLAY ) ,CAMATTE1 & MORE IMPORTANTLY ,P]LMAN1 = ! SAME REASON WE PLAY ) ,B5JAM93 = !IR 5DEAVORS 9 H]ESY4 

#c4 ,YES1 ( C\RSE4 ,DID Y\ READ IT8 

#d4 ,H]E IS AN 9T]E/+ QUE/ION1 H[EV] UN9T]E/+ Y\R ME?OD ( APPROA*1 & )\T ACC$+ TO SPEAK = NIHILISM1 WE WILL (F] AN 9T]PRETATION ( ! L9E4 ,:ILE !RE >E SEV]AL WAYS TO APPROA* NIHILISM1 = N[ WE C\LD SAY ?AT NIHILISM MEANS AN ORI5TATION T[>D R$UC+ :AT EXI/S TO RUBBLE RA!R ?AN T[>D A WAY ?R\< IT4 ,= US1 ?IS APPROA* CORRESPONDS TO A /RATEGIC 9T]PRETATION ( ! SITUATION1 A PROVISIONAL UND]/&+ ?AT1 FIR/LY1 :AT WE >E FAC$ ) IS NOT YET RUBBLE BUT /RUCTURES 7& SO :Y CONC]N ONESELF ) NAVIGAT+ A PA? ?AT HAS NOT BE5 OP5$71 & SECONDLY ?AT ALL ATTEMPTS1 H[EV] M>G9AL1 AT RADICALIZ+ & EV5 DE/ROY+ !SE /RUCTURES MAY RESULT 9 !IR IMPROVEM5T4 ,W]E Y\ TO EXCAVATE Y\R *]I%$ ,HI/ORY1 Y\'D LIKELY SEE ?AT EV]Y SU* ATTEMPT HAS LEAD DIRECTLY TO A LABOR CAMP4 

,ELSE:]E WE'VE DISCUSS$ AN E?ICS :I* SEEKS TO F9D ESCAPE R\TES FROM ! /RUCTURES :I* CON/RA9 US4 ,Y\R READ+ ( 'A WAY ?R\<' SEEMS TO BETRAY A DESIRE TO RECOMPOSE SU* RUBBLE 9TO SOME NEW DIALECTICAL >RANGEM5T ( CAPTURE4 ,)\T %Y+ AWAY FROM ! DELI<T WE TAKE 9 ! RUBBLE1 WE MU/ ALSO IMAG9E ?AT A 'WAY ?R\<' W\LD MEAN A WAY \T4 

,WE C\LD C\NT] ) ,B5JAM9'S CALL 0TO RECOGNIZE ! MONUM5TS ( ! B\RGEOISIE AS RU9S EV5 BE=E !Y HAVE CRUMBL$40 ,H]E HE HAS 9F9ITELY MORE 9 COMMON ) A CONCEPTION ( HI/ORY AS DECOMPOSITION & TRAG$Y ?AN ) ANY IDEOLOGY :I* BELIEVES ?AT R$EMPTION MI<T BE BUILT 9TO !SE MONUM5TS4 ,T[>D ANY SU* IDEOLOGY1 WE HAVE MORE ?AN CONTEMPT4 

,9 SUMMATION1 WE CAN ONLY 9SI/1 AGA9/ A READ+ ( ! 0,!SES0 ?AT W\LD MAKE IT \R MORAL OBLIGATION TO SAVE ! DEAD1 ?AT 9/EAD \R TASK1 & \R DESIRE1 IS TO EXP]I5CE ?OSE MOM5TS ?AT BREAK ! CONT9UITY ( HI/ORY &1 9S(> AS IT IS POSSIBLE1 TO 9HABIT !M4 ,9 DO+ SO1 WE >E NOT CALL$ TO ! PA/ BY ANY GR\P ) ITS M>TYRS & ITS MORALITY ( DEA?4 ,WE >E MOTIVAT$ ONLY1 BY A S5SE ( RECOGNITION1 TO 0BLA/ OP5 ! CONT9UUM ( HI/ORY40 ,Y\ ACCUSE US ( AHI/ORICISM4 ,:AT WE 9T5D IS F> WORSE4 

,MO/ S9C]ELY1 

! BA$L+S 

,NOTES 

#a4 ,IT HAS BECOME WIDELY KN[N ?AT AT V>I\S MOM5TS \R 5EMY HAS DEPLOY$ A '/RATEGY ( T5SION' TO PU% PEOPLE 9TO AN >M$ /RUGGLE :I* CAN ONLY 5D A H&FUL ( WAYS4 ,! ,CLEVEL& #d >E ONLY A FEW ( ! MO/ REC5T VICTIMS ( ?IS /RATEGY ( SUBJECTION4 

#b4 ,I'M REM9D$ ( ! NEWLY LAUN*$ ,MASK ,MAGAZ9E :I* IRONICALLY M>KETS ITSELF AS A MAGAZ9E BY & = AN ACCUMULATION ( SYMBOLICALLY-FIGUR$ ID5TITIES3 AN>*I/1 HACK]1 HIP/]1 QUE]4 ,?R\< !SE RECLAIM$ SUBJECTIVITIES1 ! MAGAZ9E GOES ON TO CELEBRATE O!R FIGURES3 'SELL\T1' 'G5TRIFI]1' ETC4 ,ON A RELEVANT NOTE1 ! MAGAZ9E DEF9ES 'QUE]' ?R\< A S]IES ( HA%TAGS 7_?P>TIES1 _?POPP]S1 _?PILLS1 _?PROCESS+1 ETC47 :I* >E UND\BT$LY NIHILI/1 BUT FROM :I* WE CAN ONLY FEEL A TRAGICOMIC DI/ANCE4 

#c4 ,Y\R HAU<TY CLAIM TO ! AGREEM5T ( 0ANYONE :O HAS READ ONE BOOK BY OR ON B5JAM9 .<SIC.>0 CAN BE QUICKLY DEFLAT$ BY CIT+ AT R&OM ANY NUMB] ( Y\R PRIZ$ ACADEMICS4 ,WE'LL GO ) ,M>K ,LILLA'S READ+ ( ,B5JAM9'S CORRESPOND5CE & ( 0,ON ! ,CONCEPT ( ,HI/ORY0 TO DEMON/RATE ?IS3 

,! 0,!SES0 REFLECT ,B5JAM9'S APOCALYPTIC VISION ( ,EUROPEAN POLITICS 9 ! LATE ,?IRTIES & HIS DISAPPO9TM5T ) COMMUNISM'S BETRAYAL 9 ! ,HITL]-,/AL9 PACT4444 ,/AL9'S PACT ) ! DEVIL F9ALLY %ATT]$ ANY ILLUSIONS HE MAY HAVE HAD AB\T COMMUNISM'S R$EMPTIVE MISSION4 ,9 ! ,TW5TIES ,B5JAM9 HAD PLAY$ ) ! IDEAS ( DIV9E VIOL5CE1 RADICAL DECISIONISM1 & POLITICAL NIHILISM2 9 ! E>LY ,?IRTIES HE C\LD /ILL IDEALIZE ! FR5ZY ( :AT HE CALL$ 0! DE/RUCTIVE *>ACT]40 ,BUT N[ ! REAL APOCALYPSE APPROA*$1 BR++ ) IT SATANIC VIOL5CE1 NOT ! ,MESSIAH4  

,AT A DEEP] LEVEL1 ! 0,!SES0 REPRES5T ! LA/ DRAMATIC 5C\NT] BETWE5 ,B5JAM9'S !OLOGICAL METAPHYSICS & HIS HI/ORICAL MAT]IALISM4 ,! ESSAY OP5S ) AN IMAGE ( ! PHILOSOPHY ( HI/ORY AS A *ESS GAME1 :I* A PUPPET CALL$ HI/ORICAL MAT]IALISM CAN W9 ONLY 0IF IT 5LI/S ! S]VICES ( !OLOGY1 :I* TODAY10 HE SAYS1 0IS WIZ5$ & HAS TO KEEP \T ( SI<T40 ,& :AT CAN MAT]IALISM LE>N FROM !OLOGY8 ,ESS5TIALLY ?AT ! IDEA ( HI/ORICAL PROGRESS IS AN ILLUSION1 ?AT HI/ORY IS NO?+ BUT A S]IES ( CATA/ROPHES PIL+ WRECKAGE UPON WRECKAGE1 REA*+ UP TO ! HEAV5S4 ,! MEMB]S ( ! WORK+ CLASS HAD BE5 CORRUPT$ BY ! IDEA ( PROGRESS1 :I* BL9D$ !M TO ! REGRESSIVE SOCIAL CONSEQU5CES ?AT ACCOMPANI$ 9CREAS$ DOM9ATION ( ! NATURAL WORLD4 ,!Y W]E LULL$ 9TO IGNOR+ ! 0/ATE ( EM]G5CY0 CAUS$ BY ! RIS+ =CES ( FASCISM1 & FAIL$ TO RESPOND4 

,MAT]IALISM MU/ N[ )DRAW ) 0MONA/IC DISCIPL9E0 FROM ?IS BELIEF 9 A PROGRESSIVE HI/ORICAL CONT9UUM1 REPLAC+ IT ) A CONCEPTION ( HI/ORY CLOS] TO ?AT ( TRADITIONAL ,JUDAISM1 :I* BELIEV$ ?AT 0EV]Y SECOND ( TIME WAS ! /RAIT GATE ?R\< :I* ! ,MESSIAH MI<T 5T]40 ,AS ,S*OLEM LAT] REM>K$1 NO?+ REMA9S ( HI/ORICAL MAT]IALISM 9 ?IS H]METIC TEXT BUT ! T]M ITSELF4 .<EMPHASIS ADD$.> 

,?IS PUTS Y\R CRITICISM 9TO A FUNNY POSITION4 ,Y\ MU/ CONT5D ) AN 9T]PRETATION ( ! 0,!SES0 BY A ,B5JAM9 S*OL> & ONE ( ,B5JAM9'S CLOSE/ FRI5DS :I* NOT ONLY ?OR\<LY CONTRADICTS Y\R >GUM5T1 BUT ALSO BY ! V]Y ACT ( ITS CONTRADICTION EASILY DISPROVES Y\R CLAIM ( UNIV]SAL AGREEM5T4 ,:5 Y\ SAY ( ,B5JAM9'S SUPPOS$ FIDELITY ?AT 0?IS IS LIKE .<SIC.> JU/ A FACT10 Y\ DO MORE ?AN M]ELY DEMON/RATE Y\R FAILURE ( COMPREH5SION & EXT5SION ( SPEE* DISFLU5CY 9TO Y\R WRIT+3 Y\ ALSO REVEAL ! IDEOLOGICAL BL9D]S :I* PREV5T Y\ FROM SEE+ H[ PLA9LY WRONG Y\ >E4 

#d4 ,Y\R W\ND$ REACTION TO \R CRITIQUE ( ,M>XISM REVEALS A GREAT DEAL AB\T Y\R 9T5TIONS4 ,WE MU/ TAKE A MOM5T TO RESPOND TO Y\R CLAIMS 9 DEF5SE ( ,COMMUNISM ) REG>D TO ,B5JAM9'S WRIT+4 ,IT IS PRETTY CLE> ?AT ! ,MOLOTOV-,RIBB5TROP PACT WAS SIMPLY ! LA/ /RAW ( A LITANY ( ATROCITIES C>RI$ \T 9 ! NAME ( ,M>XISM4 ,?IS PO9T IS MADE RA!R EXPLICITLY 9 SEV]AL READ+S ( ! 0,!SES40 ,Y\R *>ACT]IZATION ( ,/AL9ISM AS A UNIQUELY DEVIANT 0HELLI% DE=MATION0 ( ! ,M>XI/ PROJECT READS AS A DESP]ATE ATTEMPT TO SEV] Y\R DOGMA FROM ?IS LEGACY4 ,ELSE:]E 9 ?IS ISSUE WE CITE ,FR$Y ,P]LMAN'S >GUM5T 9 0,! ,CONT9U+ ,APPEAL ( ,NATIONALISM10 :I* /RAI<T=W>DLY ILLU/RATES ?AT ! NI<TM>ES ( ! ,GULAG /EM DIRECTLY \T ( ,M>X'S BL9DSPOT REG>D+ 9DU/RIALIZATION1 & ?AT ,L59 HIMSELF WAS ! ZEAL\S >*ITECT ( ?IS HORROR4 ,P]LMAN LUCIDLY %[S ?AT FASCISM'S DEA? CAMPS >E A RATIONALIZATION ( ,L59'S MON/ROSITY4 ,Y\R ATTEMPT TO BRU% ! DICTATOR%IP ( ! PROLET>IAT AWAY AS SIMPLY A 0MISREAD+0 ( ,M>X1 )\T ACTUALLY CRITIQU+ ITS BASIS 9 ,M>X1 MIRRORS ! LAU<ABLE ,MAOI/ RHETORICAL /RATEGY ( BR&+ AS 'REVISIONI/' ANY UNCOM=TABLE RESULT ( ! !ORY4 ,IF Y\ REALLY WANT TO BREAK FROM ?IS 9H]ITANCE1 IT'S Y\R BURD5 TO ?OR\<LY CRITIQUE ?IS FETI% = PRODUCTION & TE*NOLOGY4 ,CAMATTE'S WRIT+ C\LD BE SE5 AS AN EXAMPLE ( ?IS BREAK & ,JASP] ,B]NES' PIECE 9 ! ?IRD ISSUE ( ,5DNOTES IS ANO!R1 ) TRAGICALLY LITTLE 9 BETWE54 ,)\T SU* A CRITIQUE1 WE HAVE TO ASK H[ ,M>X CAN BE MISREAD SO 9T5SELY ?AT MILLIONS >E MURD]$ AS A RESULT4 ,Y\R 9VOCATION ( ! MASS GRAVES ( FASCISM IS DUPLICIT\S 9 ! CONTEXT ( Y\R ATTEMPT TO OBSCURE ! 7F> MORE7 MASS7IVE7 GRAVES ( ,M>XISM4 

#e4 ,Y\RS IS ONLY ! MO/ REC5T ATTEMPT ON ! P>T ( ,M>XI/S TO FIRMLY LAY CLAIM TO ,B5JAM94 ,?IS LEGACY GOES ALL ! WAY BACK TO ,ADORNO & ,BRE*T1 7:O 9 A CREEPY EUPHEMISM Y\ DESCRIBE AS ,B5JAM9'S 0M>XI/ .<SIC.> M5TORS074 ,S*OLEM CRITICIZ$ HIS RELATION%IP ) !SE TWO1 & ) ,M>XISM MORE G5]ALLY1 9 A LETT] TO ,B5JAM9 :]E HE WROTE3 

,I AM SO DISMAY$ ?AT ,I MU/ SAY TO MYSELF ?AT ?IS SELF-DECEPTION IS POSSIBLE ONLY BECAUSE Y\ DESIRE IT1 & MORE3 ?AT IT CAN LA/ ONLY AS LONG AS IT IS NOT PUT TO ! MAT]IALI/ TE/4 ,! COMPLETE C]TA9TY ,I HAVE AB\T :AT W\LD HAPP5 TO Y\R WRIT+ IF IT OCCURR$ TO Y\ TO PRES5T IT )9 ! ,COMMUNI/ P>TY IS QUITE DEPRESS+4444 ,IT W\LD BECOME UNAMBIGU\SLY & EXPLOSIVELY CLE> ?AT Y\R DIALECTIC IS NOT ?AT ( ! MAT]IALI/ :OSE ME?OD Y\ TRY TO APPROA*1 AT ! V]Y MOM5T Y\ W]E UNMASK$ BY Y\R FELL[ DIALECTICIANS AS A TYPICAL C\NT]REVOLUTION>Y & B\RGEOIS4444 ,I FE> ?AT ! HI< CO/ ( ?IS ]ROR WILL BE BORNE BY Y\4444 ,Y\ W\LD NOT1 ( C\RSE1 BE ! LA/ BUT P]HAPS ! MO/ 9COMPREH5SIBLE SACRIFICE TO ! CONFUSION ( RELIGION & POLITICS4 

,M>K ,LILLA1 CIT+ ?IS & O!R EXAMPLES1 DESCRIBES ! RELATION%IP BETWE5 ,B5JAM9 & ,BRE*T AS TRAGICALLY DEF]5TIAL 9 A WAY :I* HAD AN UN=TUNATE EFFECT ON ,B5JAM9'S2 WRIT+4 ,B5JAM9'S CORRESPOND5CES ) ,ADORNO & ,BRE*T >E LITT]$ ) C\NTLESS MOM5TS ( !SE TWO REPRIM&+ HIM = HIS 9FIDELITY & MY/ICISM4 ,!Y FIGURE LESS AS M5TORS & MORE AS DISCIPL9>IANS1 /RIK+ HIS KNUCKLES :5EV] HE /RAY$ FROM HIS ASSIGNM5T4  

,LILLA GIVES AN EXAMPLE 9 ! =M ( ,BRE*T'S CRITICISM ( ,B5JAM9 ON ,KAFKA3  

,! ,KAFKA ESSAY DOES MU* TO CONFIRM ,S*OLEM'S CLAIM1 FIR/ MADE 9 ! FRU/RAT$-S\ND+ LETT]S ( ! E>LY ,?IRTIES & LAT] 9 HIS MEMOIRS1 ?AT ,B5JAM9'S MO/ IMPORTANT IDEAS CAME FROM HIS CONC]N ) !OLOGICAL ISSUES1 :ILE HIS IDIOSYNCRATIC MAT]IALISM ONLY CONFUS$ !M4 ,IT ALSO RECEIVES SURPRIS+ CONFIRMATION FROM ,B]TOLT ,BRE*T1 ) :OM ,B5JAM9 WAS /AY+ 9 ! SUMM] ( #a#i#c#d4 ,AS WE LE>N 9 ! PREVI\SLY UNPUBLI%$ 0,CONV]SATIONS ) ,BRE*T10 TRANSLAT$ 9 ,REFLECTIONS1 ,BRE*T1 A CONSI/5T MAT]IALI/1 WAS DISAPPO9T$ 91 & BAFFL$ BY1 ,B5JAM9'S !OLOGICAL BACKSLID+ 9 ! ,KAFKA ESSAY4 ,B5JAM9 FAI?FULLY REPORTS ,BRE*T'S OBJECTION ?AT ,KAFKA IS AN 0OBSCURANTI/10 A 0,JEWBOY10 A 0SK9NY1 UNLIKABLE CREATURE0 :OSE MY/ICAL DEP?S W]E AT ! F>!/ REMOVE FROM ! 0CRUDE ?9K+0 ! TIMES DEM&$4 ,B5JAM9'S CELEBRATION ( ,KAFKA'S FAIL$ MESSIANISM SIMPLY ADVANC$ 0,JEWI% FASCISM10 ,BRE*T *>G$4 

,B5JAM9 WAS CLE>LY NOT MEANT = ,COMMUNI/ 9TELLECTUAL LABOR2 HIS ,M>XISM1 IF IT CAN BE CALL$ ?AT1 REMA9$ TOO 9TIMATELY B\ND UP ) HIS ORIG9AL !OLOGICAL CONC]NS EV] TO BE FULLY DIS5TANGL$4 
,HE CITES ANO!R EXAMPLE REG>D+ ,ADORNO'S 9FLU5CE ON ! ,>CADES ,PROJECT3 

,SOME RESPONSIBILITY = ! WRECK ( ! ,>CADES ,PROJECT MU/ BE ASSIGN$ TO ,ADORNO1 :O 9 A S]IES ( LONG LETT]S =C$ ,B5JAM9 TO RECONCEIVE ! PROJECT AGA9 & AGA94 ,! LETT]S MAKE CLE>1 H[EV]1 ?AT ,ADORNO G5U9ELY BELIEV$ HE WAS SAV+ HIS FRI5D FROM HIMSELF4 ,ADORNO1 :O SAW ! ,>CADES ,PROJECT AS A POT5TIAL MODEL = SECUL> CRITICAL !ORY AB\T B\RGEOIS CULTURE1 WORRI$ TO SEE IT OSCILLAT+ 9 ,B5JAM9'S H&S BETWE5 A VITALI/IC MY/ICISM & A SIMPLE-M9D$ ,M>XISM4 ,ADORNO REJECT$ ! #aice PROSPECTUS ON ! GR\NDS ?AT IT WAS 0UNDIALECTICAL0 & ?AT ,B5JAM9 WAS /ILL 0UND] ! SPELL ( B\RGEOIS PSY*OLOGY40444 ,LAT] ?AT MON? ,B5JAM9 REPLI$ 9 A SAD1 SELF-DEPRECATORY LETT] 7TO ,GRETEL1 NOT ,!ODOR71 AGREE+ ) MO/ ( ! CRITICISMS & PROMIS+ TO DO BETT] NEXT TIME4  

,?IS DISAPPROV+ & CONTROLL+ TONE CONT9U$ ON ,ADORNO'S P>T = SEV]AL YE>S AFT]W>DS3 

,9 #a#i#c#h1 AS ,EUROPE PREP>$ = W>1 ,B5JAM9 SUBMITT$ AN 5ORM\S MANUSCRIPT ON ,BAUDELAIRE AS A M9IATURE MODEL ( ! ,>CADES BOOK1 ONLY TO 5C\NT] ! SAME OBJECTIONS ?AT ,ADORNO HAD RAIS$ 9 #a#i#c#e4 0,LET ME EXPRESS MYSELF 9 AS SIMPLE & ,HEGELIAN MANN] AS POSSIBLE10 ,ADORNO BEG9S1 )\T A TRACE ( IRONY4444 ,ADORNO !N ADD$1 UNHELPFULLY1 ?AT 0! MAT]IALI/IC DET]M9ATION ( CULTURAL *>ACT]I/ICS IS POSSIBLE ONLY :5 M$IAT$ BY ! TOTAL .<SOCIAL.> PROCESS40 ,B5JAM9 WAS DEVA/AT$1 MORE LETT]S W]E EX*ANG$1 & A MU* REVIS$ V]SION ( ! ESSAY WAS F9ALLY PUBLI%$ 9 ! ,ZEITS*RIFT 9 #aici AS 0,ON ,SOME ,MOTIFS 9 ,BAUDELAIRE40   

,?\< ,G]%OM ,S*OLEM LAT] COLLABORAT$ ) ,ADORNO ON REPUBLI%+ ,B5JAM9'S WORKS1 HE ALWAYS REGRETT$ ,B5JAM9'S ASSOCIATION ) ! ,FRANKFURT ,S*OOL1 AS DID ,HANNAH ,>5DT4 ,:ILE BO? W]E ?ANKFUL TO ! ,9/ITUTE = SUPPORT+ ,B5JAM9 F9ANCIALLY1 NEI!R BELIEV$ ?AT ,M>XI/ CRITICAL !ORY WAS A MEAN+FUL 5T]PRISE1 OR ?AT ! T]M ADEQUATELY DESCRIB$ :AT WAS TRULY IMPORTANT AB\T ,B5JAM9'S WRIT+S4 ,& AL?\< ,B5JAM9 APPRECIAT$ ,ADORNO'S M9D1 ONE S5SES 9 HIS LETT]S A FRU/RATION ) ! $ITORIAL CON/RA9TS IMPOS$ BY ,ADORNO & ,HORKHEIM]1 :I* WAS EXAC]BAT$1 NO D\BT1 BY ! FACT ?AT HIS RELATION ) ! ,9/ITUTE WAS BAS$ ON F9ANCIAL OBLIGATION4 

,IF WE F9D ?IS '$ITORIAL CON/RA9T' & H>% DOGMATISM NAUSEAT+1 WE CAN ONLY BE BEWILD]$ BY ! FACT ?AT SOMEONE W\LD WANT TO CONT9UE ?IS TRADITION4 ,Y\R ATTEMPT TO SAVE ,B5JAM9 9 DEA? FEELS ALL TOO SIMIL> TO !SE EF=TS TO SAVE HIM FROM HIMSELF 9 LIFE4 

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

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,FEBRU>Y #a1 #bba 3 ,CORRESPOND5CE FROM ,BA$AN #b -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #g1 #bbb 3 ,CORRESPOND5CE FROM ,BA$AN #b -- ,UPDAT$4 

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