The Capitalist Promise & The Paradoxes of Desire
Slavoj Žižek
Jonathan
Jul 2, 202619 June 2021
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The pandemic has not only amplified the ego’s visibility obligations—sitting at home, lonely and tired, trying to sprinkle energy on Zoom—but it has transformed the global capitalist order. How does this combination of fatigue and uncontrollable change affect our ability to desire?
Transcript
Summary
The transcript explores the psychological and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on fatigue, desire, and the paradoxes within capitalism and human sexuality. It discusses how capitalism incorporates the endless reproduction of desire through sacrifice and surplus enjoyment, while also addressing the decline of traditional authority and the complexities of sexuality and fantasy. The speaker emphasizes the necessity of accepting paradoxes in desire, authority, and social norms in contemporary society.
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