Interview with Dr Slavoj Žižek in Slovene [ENG SUBS]
Interview · fediak 22 ·
2024-05-23 · 1:03:43 · 1,008 words
with Narrator, Commentator, Yanis Varoufakis (per-file, collision hash, not banked)
communism-socialismliberalism-political-correctnessideologyecology-climatereligion-theologyhistorygeopolitics-wardemocracysubjectivityrevolution-violence
A multilingual (Slovenian/German/French/English) talk with archival clips and panel banter, ranging across political, theological, and ecological themes. Žižek rejects Habermas's 'catch-up revolution' framing of Eastern European uprisings (Ukraine, Belarus), attacks the superegoization of ecology into personal guilt (citing Balibar), and defends a Walter-Benjamin-inspired pessimism as the only stance that avoids despair. He invokes two theological works (The Monstrosity of Christ, God in Pain) with a Napoleon-crowning/Pope setpiece, insists leftists need not be politically correct, and reframes communism as a 'better standard of sense' rather than a higher standard of living.
every located moment in this recording, click one to read it
The ideas in it 4
in the order they first come up; click a row for what he does with the idea here
Reframes communism away from a higher material standard of living toward a 'better standard of sense.'
Habermas's term for Eastern uprisings (Ukraine, Belarus) as merely trying to make Eastern states reach the West; Žižek rejects this framing.
as “superegoization of ecology”
Balibar's term (superegoizacija): ecology recast as personal guilt/superego rather than a systemic problem.
as “pessimism as the only way not to give up”
Žižek's inversion: the pessimist avoids the disappointment that fells the optimist, and so can keep hoping.
Stories he reaches for 2
The Pope approaches with the crown, Napoleon takes it from his hands and crowns himself, and the Pope responds with 'something very wise', invoked in the context of the theology books.
“papež se bliža s krono, Napoleon mu vzame krono iz rok in si jo sam posadi gor, in papež mu reče nekaj zelo modrega.”
Citing Walter Benjamin, Žižek explains he is a pessimist because that is the only way not to give up: optimists get disappointed when things go wrong, pessimists keep hoping something good will happen.
“Jaz sem pesimist, ker je to zame edini način, da ne obupaš.”
Works invoked 3
Theological work named alongside 'God in Pain' as one of two theology books Žižek engages; associated with John Milbank.
Heaven in Disorder book
Žižek's own book, named by the narrator introducing him ('Professor Heaven in Disorder').
God in Pain book
Theological work co-authored with Boris Gunjević, 'a very good Croatian Protestant now at Cambridge.'
People invoked 9
Boris Gunjević positive
Described as 'a very good Croatian Protestant, now at Cambridge'; co-author of 'God in Pain.'
Étienne Balibar positive
Called 'one of my acquaintances, the French philosopher'; credited with the term 'superegoization' (superegoizacija), the superegoization of ecology into personal guilt.
John Milbank positive
Named as a theologian; figure of 'The Monstrosity of Christ,' one of two theological works Žižek cites.
Co-panelist; appears in the panel banter around the 'two fanatics and a liberal' joke; speaks afterward about not bluffing and taking the Drachma to the end.
Figure in the coronation set-piece: takes the crown from the Pope's hands and crowns himself; the Pope then says 'something very wise.'
Cited for her quip that to experience Deutsche Bahn today you must go to Switzerland, since it no longer exists in Germany, used to ask 'where is history going today.'
Walter Benjamin positive
Invoked ('As Walter Benjamin said...') to frame Žižek's own pessimism as the only stance that prevents giving up.
Jürgen Habermas negative
Described as 'the one closest to the status of state philosopher today'; Žižek disagrees with his framing of Ukraine/Belarus unrests as 'nachholende Revolution' (catch-up revolution) merely trying to make Eastern states catch the West.
Mentioned as having won an election two weeks after a protest moment; a contrast to movements that failed to translate politically.
What it argues
rejecting Habermas's catch-up revolution framing of Eastern Europeecology as superegoized personal guilt (Balibar)pessimism as the condition for not giving up (Benjamin)theology: The Monstrosity of Christ and God in Paincommunism as a 'better standard of sense'protest movements (gilets jaunes, Podemos) that failed to translate politicallyanti-political-correctness on the left
Dialectical moves 3
“I am a pessimist, because it is the only way not to give up.”
The negative affect (pessimism) is the condition for sustaining hope, while optimism leads to disappointment and withdrawal.
“We want a better standard of sense, not a higher standard of living.”
The communist demand is inverted from material abundance into a symbolic/semantic standard.
“I may be freezing to death, but you will never get rid of me — all the ice in the world cannot kill a true idea.”
The attempt to destroy the idea (freezing) is precisely what testifies to its indestructibility.
Claims 6
asserts
Leftists should not feel obliged to be politically correct.political correctness and the left
rejects
Eastern European uprisings such as Ukraine and Belarus are not merely 'catch-up revolutions' aiming to reach the West.Habermas's catch-up revolution thesis
asserts
Ecology has been superegoized — recast as personal guilt rather than a systemic problem.ecology and personal guilt
reframes
Pessimism, not optimism, is the stance that prevents giving up: optimists get disappointed, pessimists keep hoping.optimism vs pessimism
asserts
Protest movements like the gilets jaunes and Podemos failed to translate into political change.protest movements and political translation
reframes
Communism means a 'better standard of sense,' not a higher standard of living.the meaning of communism
Quotes 4
“please, if you are a leftist, don't feel obliged to be politically correct.”Slavoj Žižek · anti-PC leftism
“i may be freezing to death. but you will never get rid of me. all the ice in the world. cannot kill a true idea.”Slavoj Žižek · indestructibility of the true idea
“we don't want a higher standard of living. we want better standard. we want a better standard of. sense.”Slavoj Žižek · communism as standard of sense
“Jaz sem pesimist, ker je to zame edini način, da ne obupaš.”Slavoj Žižek · pessimism as the only way not to give up
Transcript 139 turns
Narrator
thank you very much. she.
thank you very much. she.
Slavoj Žižek
thank.
thank.
Narrator
.
.
Slavoj Žižek
for the.
for the.
Narrator
.
.
Slavoj Žižek (archival clip)
we don't want a higher standard of living. we want better standard. we want a better standard of. sense. the only sense in which we are communists is that the we for the.
we don't want a higher standard of living. we want better standard. we want a better standard of. sense. the only sense in which we are communists is that the we for the.
Narrator
d. thank you very much
d. thank you very much
Commentator
eu isso não do fil.
eu isso não do fil.
Commentator
i like very much his way of speaking.
i like very much his way of speaking.
Commentator
i like his vision about europe, i like his vision about society today in our region.
i like his vision about europe, i like his vision about society today in our region.
Commentator
i happening.
i happening.
Narrator
thank you very much.
thank you very much.
Slavoj Žižek
k elementar. das moment.
k elementar. das moment.
Narrator
thank you.
thank you.
Slavoj Žižek
ich.
ich.
Narrator
the replivenia.
the replivenia.
Slavoj Žižek
the.
the.
Narrator
vol.
vol.
Slavoj Žižek
you. istiva theoret glavabot.
you. istiva theoret glavabot.
Narrator
je don.
je don.
Slavoj Žižek
we have a lot of ground. we are two fanatics and he's a liberal trying to... we should maybe all totalitarians come together to get rid of this liberal here.
we have a lot of ground. we are two fanatics and he's a liberal trying to... we should maybe all totalitarians come together to get rid of this liberal here.
Yanis Varoufakis (per-file; collision hash, not banked)
No, it's not poker. Because to bluff in cards, it means to pretend that you have a power that you don't have. I was not pretending. I was going to take it all the way to the end with the Drachma.
No, it's not poker. Because to bluff in cards, it means to pretend that you have a power that you don't have. I was not pretending. I was going to take it all the way to the end with the Drachma.
Narrator
thank you.
thank you.
Slavoj Žižek
please, if you are a leftist, don't feel obliged to be politically correct.
please, if you are a leftist, don't feel obliged to be politically correct.
Narrator
think. see, don't be afraid. thank you.
think. see, don't be afraid. thank you.
Slavoj Žižek
i may be freezing to death. but you will never get rid of me. all the ice in the world. cannot kill a true idea.
i may be freezing to death. but you will never get rid of me. all the ice in the world. cannot kill a true idea.
Narrator
professor heaven in disorder. thank you very much.
professor heaven in disorder. thank you very much.
Slavoj Žižek
thank you very. se por, quer tradicional com dr que posamos. ne va ! n. raspada. conserv. drba. jetzt müssen marx. so radali per. n vemos, par... se interpretato gasimo. you. thank you
thank you very. se por, quer tradicional com dr que posamos. ne va ! n. raspada. conserv. drba. jetzt müssen marx. so radali per. n vemos, par... se interpretato gasimo. you. thank you
Narrator
fr v.
fr v.
Slavoj Žižek
Angela Merkel, sem bil tam na obisku v Švici, je rekla: "Če hočeš danes izkusit Deutsche Bahn, moraš iti v Švico, v Nemčiji ni več." Hočem reči: kam gre zgodovina danes?
Angela Merkel, sem bil tam na obisku v Švici, je rekla: "Če hočeš danes izkusit Deutsche Bahn, moraš iti v Švico, v Nemčiji ni več." Hočem reči: kam gre zgodovina danes?
Narrator
t a, m. . is die. i
t a, m. . is die. i
Slavoj Žižek
so directly negar. thankt. uh. que hug. . jet rasliznost schmiere affirmana. n polila. thank. b en n pila. come red. .
so directly negar. thankt. uh. que hug. . jet rasliznost schmiere affirmana. n polila. thank. b en n pila. come red. .
Narrator
.
.
Slavoj Žižek
. don.
. don.
Narrator
three.
three.
Slavoj Žižek
parailo, treba.
parailo, treba.
Narrator
by.
by.
Slavoj Žižek
me maior tipo ya vive polit. d star dissident,ago pot. pr premier ranski,ajaalin. n.
me maior tipo ya vive polit. d star dissident,ago pot. pr premier ranski,ajaalin. n.
Narrator
.
.
Slavoj Žižek
ich. w phrase mod. dr, implicite ne dit. o. erquimo ! men je.
ich. w phrase mod. dr, implicite ne dit. o. erquimo ! men je.
Narrator
ach que expl...
ach que expl...
Slavoj Žižek
der. ich. thank. . mr. moldier schmeali. die. the. thank you very much. das. paradox. y obsc students politik, ist. le moral.
der. ich. thank. . mr. moldier schmeali. die. the. thank you very much. das. paradox. y obsc students politik, ist. le moral.
Narrator
no,. we. referencia.
no,. we. referencia.
Slavoj Žižek
now.
now.
Narrator
that.
that.
Slavoj Žižek
of god.
of god.
Narrator
thank you very much. nisa, ber tem text bild p ant 0.
thank you very much. nisa, ber tem text bild p ant 0.
Slavoj Žižek
thank. lib liberal. the socialist. die. c qui fasc mobil. ischen.
thank. lib liberal. the socialist. die. c qui fasc mobil. ischen.
Narrator
y dr.
y dr.
Slavoj Žižek
Daleč prvi je bil Tony Blair. Dva tedna kasneje je zmagal na volitvah. A ni bilo isto tisti rumeni jopiči (gilets jaunes) v Franciji, Podemos v Španiji, in v obeh primerih ni prišlo do prevoda v politični prostor.
Daleč prvi je bil Tony Blair. Dva tedna kasneje je zmagal na volitvah. A ni bilo isto tisti rumeni jopiči (gilets jaunes) v Franciji, Podemos v Španiji, in v obeh primerih ni prišlo do prevoda v politični prostor.
Narrator
trigger warning.
trigger warning.
Slavoj Žižek
let thank you very. . das ob das politisch no repr. tr raslock. thank outside.
let thank you very. . das ob das politisch no repr. tr raslock. thank outside.
Narrator
or keep not.
or keep not.
Slavoj Žižek
demacia.
demacia.
Narrator
the
the
Slavoj Žižek
Tukaj se ne strinjam s tistimi, kot na primer danes nekdo ki je najbližje statusu državnega filozofa, Jürgen Habermas, ki govori o vseh teh nemirih — Ukrajina, Belorusija — o nachholende Revolution, catch-up revoluciji, ki samo skuša, da bi te vzhodne države ujele Zahod.
Tukaj se ne strinjam s tistimi, kot na primer danes nekdo ki je najbližje statusu državnega filozofa, Jürgen Habermas, ki govori o vseh teh nemirih — Ukrajina, Belorusija — o nachholende Revolution, catch-up revoluciji, ki samo skuša, da bi te vzhodne države ujele Zahod.
Narrator
thank.
thank.
Slavoj Žižek
mm
mm
Narrator
thank you.
thank you.
Slavoj Žižek
. .
. .
Narrator
era slago.
era slago.
Slavoj Žižek
raslago, ne definitio. the pandemia in ec global. . the. the copyright.
raslago, ne definitio. the pandemia in ec global. . the. the copyright.
Narrator
tu dirais une,.
tu dirais une,.
Slavoj Žižek
.
.
Narrator
so.
so.
Slavoj Žižek
thank you very. per defin comunismo.
thank you very. per defin comunismo.
Narrator
nam. ich..
nam. ich..
Slavoj Žižek
y es que hora.
y es que hora.
Narrator
but. that.
but. that.
Slavoj Žižek
jai omron., boná para vos definir o comununa. la mislit sie. system. ureddito ! . . uh... n.
jai omron., boná para vos definir o comununa. la mislit sie. system. ureddito ! . . uh... n.
Narrator
a podem comuna.
a podem comuna.
Slavoj Žižek
y global no sean yet. th glas,. thankand. thank.
y global no sean yet. th glas,. thankand. thank.
Narrator
.
.
Slavoj Žižek
d oppression. . ich. thank you. thank you. ism. . tem morales nolast.
d oppression. . ich. thank you. thank you. ism. . tem morales nolast.
Narrator
chile panais.
chile panais.
Slavoj Žižek
t.
t.
Narrator
yes.
yes.
Slavoj Žižek
. uh. dochchem recht da... bernnie.
. uh. dochchem recht da... bernnie.
Narrator
how. thank you much. thank you very much.
how. thank you much. thank you very much.
Slavoj Žižek
y.
y.
Narrator
yeah.
yeah.
Slavoj Žižek
d.
d.
Narrator
result.
result.
Slavoj Žižek
uki mot so. . se . . thank you very. thank.
uki mot so. . se . . thank you very. thank.
Narrator
thank you very much.
thank you very much.
Slavoj Žižek
nat nec. qu beaucoup de ch, se stran. jejamais car. so protocentismo. thank you very much. the.
nat nec. qu beaucoup de ch, se stran. jejamais car. so protocentismo. thank you very much. the.
Narrator
...
...
Slavoj Žižek
i's gonna change you, lenny.
i's gonna change you, lenny.
Narrator
okay?
okay?
Slavoj Žižek
yes,. y es mata que paradoxa. .
yes,. y es mata que paradoxa. .
Narrator
ah, miss.
ah, miss.
Slavoj Žižek
ne, je. thankpar. die ist in k. a der lat. ich. theaguay. thank you. thank you. die.
ne, je. thankpar. die ist in k. a der lat. ich. theaguay. thank you. thank you. die.
Narrator
v.
v.
Slavoj Žižek
. thank. tou. . . thank you. colonialism. ich.. . the. rabimosos,os namlo,.
. thank. tou. . . thank you. colonialism. ich.. . the. rabimosos,os namlo,.
Narrator
you.
you.
Slavoj Žižek
En mojih znancev, francoski filozof Étienne Balibar, je to imenoval superegoizacija, nadjazenje ekologije, da postane tvoja osebna krivda.
En mojih znancev, francoski filozof Étienne Balibar, je to imenoval superegoizacija, nadjazenje ekologije, da postane tvoja osebna krivda.
Narrator
k.
k.
Slavoj Žižek
. nov partnerismo. thank you. i. new.
. nov partnerismo. thank you. i. new.
Narrator
p pranya. iriere.
p pranya. iriere.
Slavoj Žižek
arriere
arriere
Narrator
jul. a positive temeto,.
jul. a positive temeto,.
Slavoj Žižek
. . n, op pizza, in opere. testicule, the vis. thank you very. . rom improvis ide no.
. . n, op pizza, in opere. testicule, the vis. thank you very. . rom improvis ide no.
Narrator
po é pessimam, nasai.
po é pessimam, nasai.
Slavoj Žižek
. anti in. idiot gold. you very. p. . do tout ! anthropologie. because'est que so vide. kenguruya. in uh so... kayo! in domachin guuru. thank you very much. thank you very much. thank d. ne! thank you very much. thank you very much. die die.
. anti in. idiot gold. you very. p. . do tout ! anthropologie. because'est que so vide. kenguruya. in uh so... kayo! in domachin guuru. thank you very much. thank you very much. thank d. ne! thank you very much. thank you very much. die die.
Narrator
d.
d.
Slavoj Žižek
thank. author an.
thank. author an.
Narrator
us autos von?
us autos von?
Slavoj Žižek
shamover shout out.
shamover shout out.
Narrator
ja.
ja.
Slavoj Žižek
Obe sta iz teologije: John Milbank, Monstruoznost Kristusa (The Monstrosity of Christ), in Bog v mukah (God in Pain) z Borisom Gunjevićem, zelo dobrim hrvaškim protestantom, ki je zdaj v Cambridgeu. ... Zgodba je o tem: papež se bliža s krono, Napoleon mu vzame krono iz rok in si jo sam posadi gor, in papež mu reče nekaj zelo modrega.
Obe sta iz teologije: John Milbank, Monstruoznost Kristusa (The Monstrosity of Christ), in Bog v mukah (God in Pain) z Borisom Gunjevićem, zelo dobrim hrvaškim protestantom, ki je zdaj v Cambridgeu. ... Zgodba je o tem: papež se bliža s krono, Napoleon mu vzame krono iz rok in si jo sam posadi gor, in papež mu reče nekaj zelo modrega.
Narrator
gl. t. vice dire philosoph.
gl. t. vice dire philosoph.
Slavoj Žižek
. ichimos de resno de bel knigo. he pant. thank you. thank you very. normal. .
. ichimos de resno de bel knigo. he pant. thank you. thank you very. normal. .
Narrator
ich.
ich.
Slavoj Žižek
g. .
g. .
Narrator
what.
what.
Slavoj Žižek
mamos.
mamos.
Narrator
m nelad.
m nelad.
Slavoj Žižek
c.
c.
Narrator
look
look
Slavoj Žižek
thank. thank you very much. the. thank you.
thank. thank you very much. the. thank you.
Narrator
.
.
Slavoj Žižek
yeah.
yeah.
Narrator
thank you much. thank you.
thank you much. thank you.
Slavoj Žižek
as. thank you very much. da.
as. thank you very much. da.
Narrator
was por wine weiß.
was por wine weiß.
Slavoj Žižek
pessim. senimo natowskiob vel personificikiaya. thank you ism. thank you. capital thankz.
pessim. senimo natowskiob vel personificikiaya. thank you ism. thank you. capital thankz.
Narrator
maybe. iber.
maybe. iber.
Slavoj Žižek
oh.
oh.
Narrator
pro.
pro.
Slavoj Žižek
d.
d.
Narrator
das kn du.
das kn du.
Slavoj Žižek
. spe.
. spe.
Narrator
i.
i.
Slavoj Žižek
tem plagieren. letlich.
tem plagieren. letlich.
Narrator
thank.
thank.
Slavoj Žižek
Kot je rekel Walter Benjamin... Jaz sem pesimist, ker je to zame edini način, da ne obupaš. Če si optimist, si samo razočaran, ker gre vse narobe. Če si pesimist, pa upaš, da ni vse slabo in tu in tam se nekaj zgodi.
Kot je rekel Walter Benjamin... Jaz sem pesimist, ker je to zame edini način, da ne obupaš. Če si optimist, si samo razočaran, ker gre vse narobe. Če si pesimist, pa upaš, da ni vse slabo in tu in tam se nekaj zgodi.
Narrator
nein le la.
nein le la.
Slavoj Žižek
qual below neutral.
qual below neutral.
Narrator
sna,ala, man.
sna,ala, man.