Sound of Music censored in communist Yugoslavia
example · film: The Sound of Music ·
retold in 5 talks
When the film was shown in late-1960s Yugoslavia, communist censors cut only the three-minute 'Climb Every Mountain' scene, which Žižek reads as a display of profound ideological sense: the censor correctly identified the truly dangerous power of Catholic ideology operating through desire.
≤2000talks it is told in, per year2026
As told 6
“the anonymous communist censor displayed his profound sense here for the truly dangerous power of Catholic ideology”
“this song describes the zero-level formula of how Catholicism really functions. It's not renounce, it's pretend to renounce and you can have all you want.”
“the censor was a very intelligent man. she knew. as probably an atheist communist. where? the power of attraction of catholic religion.”
What it carries
one story, many jobs: the ideas this anecdote is deployed to argue, one tally mark per use (an idea page shows the same relation from the other end, as its shelf of stories)
Its cast and sources
populated by
Hilary Neroni2Samuel Maoz2Ari Folman2Armand-Jean du Plessis, duc de Richelieu2Leonardo Padura Fuentes2Anwar Congo2Golda Meir2Père Joseph (François Leclerc du Tremblay)2
alongside works
Every retelling 6
When the film was shown in late-1960s Yugoslavia, communist censors cut only the three-minute 'Climb Every Mountain' scene, which Žižek reads as a display of profound ideological sense: the censor correctly identified the truly dangerous power of Catholic ideology operating through desire., illustrating ideology,censorship,Catholic superego
Yugoslav communist censors left The Sound of Music intact but cut only 'Climb Ev'ry Mountain', the Mother Superior's song urging Maria to return to the Baron. Žižek argues they were right: the song exposes the zero-level formula of Catholicism as 'pretend to renounce and you can have all you want.', illustrating obscene supplement,Catholicism's hidden permissivity,ideology
In old communist Yugoslavia, the Mother Superior's song 'Climb Every Mountain', which advises Maria to follow her desire and return to the baron, was censored because the censor recognized it as an embarrassing affirmation of desire. This reveals how Catholic ideology offers an obscene hidden permission beneath its surface of renunciation., illustrating ideology as enjoyment,obscene supplement,Catholic ideology
Sister Maria returns to the convent seeking punishment for her desire for Baron von Trapp; the Mother Superior instead sings 'Climb Every Mountain,' which Žižek reads as an obscene injunction to go back and consummate the desire, the Church ideology codes: obey the surface rules, do it discreetly, and your sex life will be better., illustrating solicited transgression,obscene underside,two-level rules
Sister Maria goes to the Mother Superior to be punished for her sexual desire for Baron von Trapp; the Mother Superior instead sings 'Climb Ev'ry Mountain', effectively telling her to go seduce him, demonstrating that church ideology solicits transgression while maintaining surface prohibition., illustrating obscene underside,two-level rules,ideology
Maria returns to the convent unable to cope with her desire for Baron von Trapp. The Mother Superior's response, singing 'Climb Every Mountain', is, for Žižek, the obscene injunction to go back and consummate the relationship. The person expected to preach abstinence becomes the agent of desire., illustrating fake/institutional Christianity,the superego as enjoyment command,Christianity and pagan freedom