First as Tragedy, then as Farce: Economic Crisis and Ideology Critique Today
Zizek is coming to The Centre for Ideology Critique and Zizek Studies at Cardiff University next week to give a public lecture on the explicitly ideological dimension of the economic crisis. For those unfamiliar: in his latest book, First as Tragedy, then as Farce, Zizek argued that The financial meltdown signals that the fantasy of globalization and liberal-capitalist utopia is over. The blatant irrationality of a system that staggers punch-drunk from contradiction to crisis is once again plain for all to see: from the exorbitant amounts of purely speculative money thrown to the interests of capital to the job losses and increasingly expanding gap between rich and poor, Capitalism appears fundamentally corrupt to all. Yet, nonetheless it remains standing and functioning (albeit for the interests of the few). Whilst we know Capitalism is inherently flawed, it still dictates political interests and individuals across the globe. In this sense, it remains the Real (in both the Lacanian and everyday sense) of our lives. How do we understand this gap? It’s in the Ideology, Stupid!
The Lecture is open to all, although you need to register! 19:00, Wednesday 3rd March 2010, Julian Hodge Lecture Theatre, Colum Drive, Cardiff, CF10 3EU
For further details and registration (which is essential, i’ve been reliably informed) see here
