Postmodern Political TheoryPostmodern Political Theory

Jean Baudrillard “Disneyworld Jean Baudrillard “Disneyworld Company”Company”Leslie Paul Thiele. “Modernity and Leslie Paul Thiele. “Modernity and Postmodernity”Postmodernity”

Modernity (Thiele)Modernity (Thiele) Challenge to Tradition and Authority, by Challenge to Tradition and Authority, by

The RenaissanceThe Renaissance The Protestant ReformationThe Protestant Reformation The Scientific Revolution (against Dogma) The Scientific Revolution (against Dogma)

(16th & 17th centuries)(16th & 17th centuries) The Industrial Revolution/sThe Industrial Revolution/s The Bourgeois Revolution/sThe Bourgeois Revolution/s

Assumption: “The order of the universe is… Assumption: “The order of the universe is… accessible to reason and observation” (Thiele)accessible to reason and observation” (Thiele)

MethodMethod Faith in:Faith in:

Science (to master the Universe)Science (to master the Universe) HumanityHumanity ProgressProgress VoluntarismVoluntarism

Jean FranJean Franççois Lyotardois Lyotard

The Postmodern Condition The Postmodern Condition (1979)(1979)

Lyotard definedLyotard defined Postmodernity Postmodernity as as ““incredulity toward metanarratives,”incredulity toward metanarratives,” or or

those those all-encompassing storiesall-encompassing stories that that account for the ultimate meaning of account for the ultimate meaning of the world...the world...

““What, then, is What, then, is the postmodernthe postmodern? (…) It is ? (…) It is undoubtedly undoubtedly a part of the moderna part of the modern. All that . All that has been received, if only yesterday… must has been received, if only yesterday… must be suspected” (79)be suspected” (79)

Rejection of Science, Rejection of Science, Humanism, and Humanism, and

Progress...Progress... Because of the secret Will to Power and Because of the secret Will to Power and

MASTERY over the Universe (and Human MASTERY over the Universe (and Human Beings) that Modernity embodiesBeings) that Modernity embodies

Discussion of the COSTS that Science, Discussion of the COSTS that Science, Humanism, and Progress carry with Humanism, and Progress carry with them... (pollution, biological them... (pollution, biological manipulation, destruction of species manipulation, destruction of species and danger of self-annihilation of the and danger of self-annihilation of the species…)species…)

Individuality, reason, and autonomy are Individuality, reason, and autonomy are put in questionput in question

(Some) Roots of (Some) Roots of PostmodernismPostmodernism Nietzsche - HeideggerNietzsche - Heidegger

Einstein’s theory of RelativityEinstein’s theory of Relativity The Holocaust/Hiroshima/StalinismThe Holocaust/Hiroshima/Stalinism (French) Structuralism(French) Structuralism

Anthropology (Levi-Strauss)Anthropology (Levi-Strauss) SociologySociology LinguisticsLinguistics

The Linguistic “turn”The Linguistic “turn” Linguistic, Cultural, Economic, Historical, Linguistic, Cultural, Economic, Historical,

Political, Class, Spatial… Political, Class, Spatial… structures structures determine our perception, identities, and determine our perception, identities, and choiceschoices

(French) Postructuralism(French) Postructuralism

Late ’60s Reject “Grand Theories” &

Science Postructuralists engage with

“specific analyses of how particular forms of power achieve particular effects within particular historical periods” (Thiele 81)

Jacques Derrida -Jacques Derrida -DeconstructionDeconstruction

Assumption: Assumption: Language CREATES Language CREATES realityreality

Utilization of the rhetorical features Utilization of the rhetorical features of a text to undermine its manifest of a text to undermine its manifest content or argumentcontent or argument

Exposition of the self-contradictory Exposition of the self-contradictory forces present in any attempt to forces present in any attempt to conceptualize categories or conceptualize categories or structuresstructures

PowerPower Is EVERYWHERE (Michel Foucault)Is EVERYWHERE (Michel Foucault) Is Is creative/productivecreative/productive Multiplicity of territories of power.Multiplicity of territories of power. We are all simultaneously subject to power We are all simultaneously subject to power

while exercising power on others.while exercising power on others. Power= Spider’s Web without a spider (Thiele)Power= Spider’s Web without a spider (Thiele) Nietzschean themes: Power frames us a SOUL Nietzschean themes: Power frames us a SOUL

and chains us through the soul (Domination and chains us through the soul (Domination works by telling us WHAT and WHO we are…)works by telling us WHAT and WHO we are…)

Domination becomes much more effective Domination becomes much more effective when it is when it is internalized internalized (for you think you are (for you think you are freely choosing, while in fact freely choosing, while in fact you are you are “choosing” whatever hegemonic structures “choosing” whatever hegemonic structures determine you to dodetermine you to do…)…)

Postmodern political theory Postmodern political theory addresses other dimensions of addresses other dimensions of

politicspolitics Thiele: “Politics is not only about how Thiele: “Politics is not only about how

individual needs become satisfied… individual needs become satisfied… Politics also plays a role in Politics also plays a role in determining how these needs are determining how these needs are created in the first place, how they created in the first place, how they become articulated, and what sort of become articulated, and what sort of relationships form around them.” (74)relationships form around them.” (74)

NeedsNeeds//InterestsInterests//rightsrights/liberties//liberties/identitiesidentities not only influence politics not only influence politics but but result from the politicalresult from the political

Modern & Postmodern (politicalModern & Postmodern (political??) ) theorytheory

Individuals are seen Individuals are seen as independent, as independent, stable, free, and stable, free, and rational agents rational agents (agency)(agency)

Individuals have and Individuals have and manage power manage power voluntarilyvoluntarily

Individuals pursue the Individuals pursue the satisfaction of their satisfaction of their needs and interestsneeds and interests

Individuals transform Individuals transform the worldthe world

Power is an Power is an effect effect of of structuresstructures

Individuals are Individuals are effects effects of power of power that emerge from a that emerge from a changing, unstable, changing, unstable, and complex and complex environmentenvironment

(agency?)(agency?)Concern with Concern with

identitiesidentities as as defined by power defined by power relations relations (trans/post/hybrid)(trans/post/hybrid)

Modern & Postmodern (political?) Modern & Postmodern (political?) theorytheory

The meaning of the entire The meaning of the entire Universe centered on Universe centered on manman

Laws & regularitiesLaws & regularitiesProgressProgressConscious & rational Conscious & rational

political processespolitical processesFocus on relationshipsFocus on relationshipsUniversal Truth (& Universal Truth (&

universal method/s)universal method/s)Theory mirrors Theory mirrors realityrealityHobbes, LockeHobbes, Locke

Humankind is an accidentHumankind goes

nowhere/lack of meaningContingency/ChanceUnconscious processesFocus on the SelfPerspectivist (Nietzschean)

denial of (epistemological or ethical) common foundations

Theory ≈ Literature (all theories are just narratives)

IronyLyotard, Baudrillard, Derrida

(Foucault?)

GreekGreek ChristianChristian Modern Modern PostmoderPostmodernn

-Cyclical time-Cyclical time

-Centered on the -Centered on the Polis/AgoraPolis/Agora

-Emphasis on -Emphasis on virtue and beautyvirtue and beauty

-Life is meaningful -Life is meaningful if it is recognized if it is recognized by by others/transcendeothers/transcendencence

--Truth≈Puzzle Truth≈Puzzle needs to be needs to be reconstructed reconstructed (fragments) (i.e. (fragments) (i.e. Socratic method, Socratic method, tragedy)tragedy)

-Linear -Linear History (with History (with an end)an end)

-Centered on -Centered on GodGod

-Afterlife-Afterlife

-Sin-Sin

-Salvation -Salvation through Faiththrough Faith

--Truth Truth is is absolute absolute and and revealedrevealed (Bible)(Bible)

-Linear (or -Linear (or dialectical) dialectical) History History (Progress)(Progress)

-Centered on -Centered on Man/individualMan/individual

-Material -Material realization of realization of humankind humankind (Man becomes (Man becomes the Sun for the Sun for Man)Man)

-Reason-Reason

--Truth Truth is is discovered discovered (science/metho(science/method)d)

-History is just a -History is just a narrative/illusionnarrative/illusion/effect of /effect of power/languagepower/language

(Post-History)(Post-History)

-Progress?-Progress?

-Reason?-Reason?

-Science?-Science?

--Truth Truth is is constructed/effconstructed/effect of powerect of power

-Irony-Irony

-Agonism-Agonism

Jean BaudrillardJean Baudrillard ( (essaysessays))

1929-1929- 1966 Ph.D. “The system of objects”1966 Ph.D. “The system of objects” 1972 University of Paris, Nanterre.1972 University of Paris, Nanterre. Influence of Guy Debord’sInfluence of Guy Debord’sThe Society of The Society of

the Spectaclethe Spectacle (Capitalism turns into a spectacle)(Capitalism turns into a spectacle)

Simulacra and simulationSimulacra and simulation VirusesViruses Reality? Virtual reality, hyperrealityReality? Virtual reality, hyperreality Physics (black holes)Physics (black holes)

Jean Baudrillard: Disneyworld Jean Baudrillard: Disneyworld Company (1996)Company (1996)

Downtown New York Downtown New York

“…“…Transforming the pornographers and the Transforming the pornographers and the prostitutes, like the factory workers in prostitutes, like the factory workers in Smurfland, into extras [figurants]in their Smurfland, into extras [figurants]in their own world,metamorphosed into identical own world,metamorphosed into identical figures, museumified, disneyfied. By the figures, museumified, disneyfied. By the way, do you know how General way, do you know how General Schwarzkopf, the great Gulf War strategist, Schwarzkopf, the great Gulf War strategist, celebrated his victory? He had a huge celebrated his victory? He had a huge party at Disney World. These festivities in party at Disney World. These festivities in the palace of the imaginary were a worthy the palace of the imaginary were a worthy conclusion to such a virtual war.” conclusion to such a virtual war.”

“…“…the Disney enterprise goes beyond the the Disney enterprise goes beyond the imaginary.”imaginary.”

Capturing Capturing reality reality SpectacleSpectacle

““Disney, the precursor, the grand initiator of the Disney, the precursor, the grand initiator of the imaginary as virtual reality, is now in the imaginary as virtual reality, is now in the process of capturing all the real world to process of capturing all the real world to integrate it into its synthetic universeintegrate it into its synthetic universe, in the , in the form of a vast "reality show" where reality itself form of a vast "reality show" where reality itself becomes a spectacle [vient se donner en becomes a spectacle [vient se donner en spectacle], where spectacle], where the real becomes a theme the real becomes a theme parkpark. The transfusion of the real is like a blood . The transfusion of the real is like a blood transfusion, except that here it is a transfusion transfusion, except that here it is a transfusion of real blood into the exsanguine universe of of real blood into the exsanguine universe of virtuality. After the prostitution of the virtuality. After the prostitution of the imaginary, here is now the hallucination of the imaginary, here is now the hallucination of the real in its ideal and simplified version.” real in its ideal and simplified version.”

Replicas & SimulacraReplicas & Simulacra

““At Disney World in Orlando, they are At Disney World in Orlando, they are even building an identical replica of the even building an identical replica of the Los Angeles Disneyland, as a sort of Los Angeles Disneyland, as a sort of historical attraction to the second historical attraction to the second degree, a simulacrum to the second degree, a simulacrum to the second power. It is the same thing that CNN did power. It is the same thing that CNN did with the Gulf War: a prototypical event with the Gulf War: a prototypical event which did not take place, because it which did not take place, because it took place in real time, in CNN's took place in real time, in CNN's instantaneous mode…” instantaneous mode…”

No real world anymore…No real world anymore…

““Everything is possible, and everything is recyclableEverything is possible, and everything is recyclablein the polymorphous universe of virtuality. Everything in the polymorphous universe of virtuality. Everything can be bought over. There is no reason why Disney can be bought over. There is no reason why Disney would not take over the human genome, which, by would not take over the human genome, which, by the way, is already being resequenced, to turn it into the way, is already being resequenced, to turn it into a genetic show. In the end [au fond], they would a genetic show. In the end [au fond], they would cryogenize the entire planet, just like Walt Disney cryogenize the entire planet, just like Walt Disney himself who decided to be cryogenized in a nitrogen himself who decided to be cryogenized in a nitrogen solution, waiting for some kind of resurrection in the solution, waiting for some kind of resurrection in the real world. But there is no real world anymore, not real world. But there is no real world anymore, not even for Walt Disney.” even for Walt Disney.”

“The New World Order is in a Disney mode.”

An Epcot version of History?An Epcot version of History?

““Disney wins at yet another level. It is not only Disney wins at yet another level. It is not only interested in erasing the real by turning it into interested in erasing the real by turning it into a three-dimensional virtual image with no a three-dimensional virtual image with no depth, but it also seeks to erase time by depth, but it also seeks to erase time by synchronizing all the periods, all the cultures, synchronizing all the periods, all the cultures, in a single traveling motion, by juxtaposing in a single traveling motion, by juxtaposing them in a single scenario. Thus, it marks the them in a single scenario. Thus, it marks the beginning of real, punctual and unidimensional beginning of real, punctual and unidimensional time, which is also without depth. time, which is also without depth. No present, No present, no past, no futureno past, no future, but , but an immediate an immediate synchronism of all the places and all the synchronism of all the places and all the periods in a single atemporal virtualityperiods in a single atemporal virtuality.” .”

Vanishing or disappearance of Vanishing or disappearance of historyhistory

Meaning results from relations within a whole. Outside that Meaning results from relations within a whole. Outside that whole, there is no meaningwhole, there is no meaning

We have been so “liberated” (=atoms) that we no longer We have been so “liberated” (=atoms) that we no longer have either place, meaning, or History (thrown in the have either place, meaning, or History (thrown in the emptiness of the Virtual)emptiness of the Virtual)

The “referential orbit of things” is broken.The “referential orbit of things” is broken. Both individuals and events move in the voidBoth individuals and events move in the void(People get killed in mass scale, we die, but nobody cares… (People get killed in mass scale, we die, but nobody cares…

There is no tragedies anymore. We all become “mere life”) There is no tragedies anymore. We all become “mere life”) ““A certain type of slowness or deliberation (i.e. a certain A certain type of slowness or deliberation (i.e. a certain

speed, but not too much), a certain distance, yet not too speed, but not too much), a certain distance, yet not too much, a certain liberation (the energy of rupture and much, a certain liberation (the energy of rupture and change), but not too much - all these are necessary for this change), but not too much - all these are necessary for this condensation, for the signifying crystallization of events to condensation, for the signifying crystallization of events to take place, one that we call history - this type of coherent take place, one that we call history - this type of coherent unfolding of causes and effects we call the real.” unfolding of causes and effects we call the real.”

History requires History requires durationduration, but our obsession with “real time” , but our obsession with “real time” eliminates it…eliminates it…

The SpectacleThe Spectacle

“…“…reality itself, the world itself, with reality itself, the world itself, with its frenzy of cloning has already been its frenzy of cloning has already been transformed into an interactive transformed into an interactive performance, some kind of Lunapark performance, some kind of Lunapark for ideologies, technologies, works, for ideologies, technologies, works, knowledge, death, and even knowledge, death, and even destruction.” destruction.”

Post-historical UtopiasPost-historical Utopias

““Disney realizes de facto such an Disney realizes de facto such an atemporal utopia by producing all the atemporal utopia by producing all the events, past or future, on simultaneous events, past or future, on simultaneous screens, and by inexorably mixing all the screens, and by inexorably mixing all the sequences as they would or will appear to sequences as they would or will appear to a different civilization than ours. But it is a different civilization than ours. But it is already ours. It is more and more difficult already ours. It is more and more difficult for us to imagine the real, History, the for us to imagine the real, History, the depth of time, or three-dimensional space, depth of time, or three-dimensional space, just as before it was difficult, from our real just as before it was difficult, from our real world perspective, to imagine a virtual world perspective, to imagine a virtual universe or the fourth dimension.”universe or the fourth dimension.”

From the mid 70s on…From the mid 70s on…

Neo-Conservative policies (structural Neo-Conservative policies (structural adjustment, militarization)adjustment, militarization)

&&

Postmodern thinkingPostmodern thinking