,GRE5 ,NIHILISM OR ,COSMIC ,PESSIMISM 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,ALEJ&RO ,DE ,ACO/A 

,TEXT 3 

,M5 HAVE BE5 SO MAD AS TO BELIEVE ?AT ,GOD IS PLEAS$ BY H>MONY 

,SP9OZA 

,SOME ( US HAVE READ ,DES]T1 & OPT$ TO REPR9T IT1 TO PROMOTE ITS DISCUSSION1 MAYBE TO PROMULGATE 7AT LEA/ REPEAT7 SOME ( :AT IS SAID 9 IT4  ,DESPITE \R EF=TS1 ,I /ILL FEEL IT HAS NOT HAD ! UPTAKE IT DES]VES4 ,I AM BEG9N+ TO ?9K ?AT ! ISSUE IS LESS AB\T \R LIMIT$ ABILITY TO DI/RIBUTE TEXTS & DISCUSS IDEAS1 & MORE AB\T ! LIMITS ( ! MILIEU ITSELF4  ,AS TO ! RECEPTION ,DES]T DID GET1 ! MO/ ONE CAN SAY IS ?AT A FEW LIT]ATE AN>*I/S QUICKLY PROCESS$ IT1 EI!R ABSORB+ IT 9TO !IR POSITION OR REJECT+ IT4 ,?IS SCANN+-FOLL[$-BY-YES-OR-NO OP]ATION PRETTY MU* SUMS UP :AT MANY AN>*I/S CONSID] READ+ TO BE4  ,ONE SORT ( REJECTION WAS DOCUM5T$ 9 ! EGOI/ NEWSPAP]S ,! ,SOV]EIGN ,SELF & ,MY ,[N 7& RESPOND$ TO 9 ,! ,ANVIL73 IT CONC]N$ ! IDEA ?AT ! ANONYM\S AU?OR ( ,DES]T WAS 5GAG+ 9 A PESSIMI/IC RHETORIC = DRAMATIC EFFECT :ILE CONCEAL+ !IR ULTIMATE CL++ TO HOPE1 P]HAPS LIKE ?OSE :O 5DLESSLY CRITICIZE LOVE1 ONLY TO BE REVEAL$ AS ! MO/ P]FECTIONI/ ( ROMANTICS 9 ! LA/ 9/ANCE4 ,?AT EX*ANGE ON ,DES]T TELLS MU* MORE AB\T ! READ]S--:AT !Y EXPECT$1 :AT !Y >E LOOK+ =--?AN ! BOOKLET ITSELF4 ,AS DOES ! O!R1 SLOPPI]1 SORT ( REJECTION ( ! WRIT+1 :I* HAS = OBVI\S REASONS NOT APPE>$ 9 PR9T4 ,MORE ?AN ONE P]SON HAS BE5 OV]HE>D TO SAY SOME?+ TO ! TUNE (3 0,OH1 ,DES]T8 ,I HAT$ IT6 ,IT WAS SO DEPRESS+60 ,& ?AT IS IT4 ,NO DISCUSSION1 NO 5GAGEM5T1 JU/ /AT+ 9 A FAIRLY DIRECT MANN] ?AT1 IF ! WRIT+ DID NOT FUR!R ! AG5DA ( HOPE OR RE9=CE ! BELIEF ?AT MASS MOVEM5TS CAN IMPROVE ! GLOBAL CLIMATE SITUATION1 !N IT IS NOT RELEVANT TO A DISCUSSION ( GRE5 ISSUES 7:I* >E !RE=E R$EF9$ AS SETT+ \T FROM ?AT AG5DA & BELIEF74 ,9 ! BACKGR\ND ( BO? EX*ANGES IS A K9D ( OBTUS5ESS *>ACT]I/IC ( ! AN>*I/ MILIEU3 \R PROP5SITY TO BE AS READY TO PICK UP ! NEW ?+ AS TO DISMISS IT EI!R IMM$IATELY AFT] CONSUMPTION OR SOON AFT] ANO!R CONSUMES IT4 ,?IS CU/OM>Y SPE$1 :I* WE %>E ) MANY ) :OM WE %>E LITTLE ELSE1 IS :AT NECESSITATES ! YES-OR-NO OP]ATION4 ,:ATEV] ! RESPONSE IS1 IT HAS TO HAPP5 QUICKLY4 7,WE >E ! BE/ ( ,Y\NG-,GIRLS :5 IT COMES TO ! COMMODITIES WE \RSELVES PRODUCE47 ,TO DO SOME?+ ELSE ?AN ME*ANICALLY PHAGOCYTE ,DES]T 7OR ANY?+ ELSE WOR? READ+7 & ABSORB IT OR EXCRETE IT BACK \T ONTO ! BOOK%ELF_/LIT]ATURE TABLE_/%ITPILE1 SOME ( US WILL NE$ TO TAKE UP A F> LESS PRACTICAL1 F> LESS PRAGMATIC ATTITUDE T[>DS ! BE/ ( :AT CIRCULATES 9 \R LITTLE SPACE ( READ+4 ,9 %ORT1 IT IS TO 9T]V5E 9 ! SMOO? FUNCTION+ ( ! AN>*I/-ID5TITY MA*9E1 \R [N HOMEGR[N APP>ATUS1 :I* REPRODUCES ! MILIEU1 +E/+ UNM>K$ IDEAS1 EXPELL+ AN>*I/ IDEAS4 ,( C\RSE ALL ?OSE ONL9E RANTS1 \R MANY LITTLE Z9ES1 \R FEW BOOKS--! ONES WE WRITE & MAKE1 & ! ONES ?AT WE ADOPT N[ & !N-->E ONLY P>T ( ?IS SET-UP1 :I* ALSO 9CLUDES LIV+ >RANGEM5TS1 POLITICAL PRACTICES1 ANTI-POLITICAL PROJECTS1 & SO ON4 ,ALL TOGE!R1 FROM A FEW CR[D$ METROPOLES TO ! >*IPELAGO ( \TW>D- OR 9W>D-LOOK+ T[NS1 ?AT >RAY C\LD BE CALL$ ! MA*9E ?AT MAKES AN>*I/ ID5TITY1 ONE ( ?OSE AWFUL HYBRIDS ( ANA*RONISM & ULTRAMOD]NITY ?AT CLUTT] \R TIMES4 ,BUT1 TRIVIAL ?\< ! ROLE ( ,DES]T MAY BE 9 ! REPRODUCTION ( ! MILIEU1 ITS SMALL ROLE 9 ?AT REPRODUCTION IS ESPECIALLY REM>KABLE GIV5 ?AT IT DIRECTLY ADDRESSES ! LIMITS ( ?AT REPRODUCTION1 &1 9DIRECTLY1 ( ! MILIEU ITSELF4 ,ITS RECEPTION IS A K9D ( DIAGNO/IC TE/1 A DEMON/RATION ( \R SPECIAL OBTUS5ESS4 ,IF ,I AM RI<T AB\T EV5 SOME ( ! PREC$+1 !N ! 9CREAS+LY SPECULATIVE NATURE ( :AT FOLL[S \<T TO PROVE 9T]E/+ TO A FEW1 & REPULSIVE TO ! RE/4 

"9 "9 "9 

,I 9T5D ! OR 9 ! TITLE TO BE DE/ABILIZ+4 ,IT DOES NOT 9DICATE A *OICE TO BE MADE BETWE5 TWO ALREADY SOME:AT FICTITI\S POSITIONS4 7,QUOTATION M>KS = EA* W\LD NOT HAVE BE5 /RONG 5\<4 ,TO SAY ?IS OR ?AT POSITION IS FICTITI\S MAY SEEM TO BE BELI$ BY ! ADVANCE1 H]E OR !RE1 ( ?OSE :O PRES5T !MSELVES AS ! REPRES5TATIVES ( POSITIONS4 ,?IS IS :]E WE NE$ TO MAKE \R CASE MO/ =CEFULLY1 >GU+ BACK ?AT TO TAKE ON A POSITION AS AN ID5TITY SIMPLY ELUDES ! :AT ( POSITION ALTOGE!R1 MAK+ IT RE/ ON A DIFF]5T1 MORE FAMILI> K9D ( FICTION47 ,BY PLAC+ ! OR BETWE5 !M ,I MEAN TO M>K A SLIPPAGE1 :I* ,I CONSID] TO BE A MOVEM5T ( 9VOLUNT>Y ?\<T4 ,NOT BE+ PROP]LY YOK$ TO ACTION1 TO :AT IS CONSID]$ VOLUNT>Y1 IT IS ! K9D ( ?\<T MO/ HAVE LITTLE TIME =4 ,IT HAS TO DO ) PASS+ IMP]CEPTIBLY FROM ONE /ATE TO ANO!R1 & :AT MAY BE LE>N$ 9 ?AT %IFT4 ,IT IS A T]RIBLE K9D ( ?\<T AT FIR/1 &1 = SOME1 WILL P]HAPS ALWAYS BE SO1 ALL ! MORE SO 9ASMU* AS WE >E NOT ITS BRAVE PROTAGONI/S444 ,COMP>E !SE PASSAGES3 

,! TIDE ( ,WE/]N AU?ORITY WILL REC$E FROM MU*1 ?\< BY NO MEANS ALL1 ( ! PLANET4 ,A WRI?+ MESS ( SOCIAL FLOTSAM & JETSAM WILL BE LEFT 9 ITS WAKE4 ,SOME WILL BE PAT*ES ( LIV$ AN>*Y1 SOME ( HORRIBLE CONFLICTS1 SOME EMPIRES1 SOME FRE$OMS1 &1 ( C\RSE1 UNIMAG9ABLE WEIRDNESS4  

,&3 

,! WORLD IS 9CREAS+LY UN?9KABLE--A WORLD ( PLANET>Y DISA/]S1 EM]G+ P&EMICS1 TECTONIC %IFTS1 /RANGE WEA!R1 OIL-DR5*$ SEASCAPES1 & ! FURTIVE1 ALWAYS-LOOM+ ?REAT ( EXT9CTION4 ,9 SPITE ( \R DAILY CONC]NS1 WANTS1 & DESIRES1 IT IS 9CREAS+LY DIFFICULT TO COMPREH5D ! WORLD 9 :I* WE LIVE & ( :I* WE >E A P>T4 ,TO CONFRONT ?IS IDEA IS TO CONFRONT AN ABSOLUTE LIMIT TO \R ABILITY TO ADEQUATELY UND]/& ! WORLD AT ALL4 

,! FIR/ PASSAGE IS FROM ,DES]T1 AN ANONYM\S PAMPHLET ON ! MEAN+ ( ! IRREV]SIBILITY ( CLIMATE *ANGE = AN>*I/ PRACTICE4 ,! SECOND IS FROM ,EUG5E ,?ACK]'S ,9 ! ,DU/ ( ?IS ,PLANET1 A COLLECTION ( ESSAYS ?AT LEADS FROM PHILOSOPHY TO HORROR1 OR RA!R LEADS PHILOSOPHY TO HORROR4 ,I BR+ !M TOGE!R H]E BECAUSE !Y SEEM TO ME TO CO9CIDE 9 A RELATIVELY UN?\<T !ORETICAL ZONE4 ,AS ,DES]T 9VOKES ! PRES5T & COM+ AN>*Y & *AOS1 IT ADMITS ! WEIRDNESS ( ! FUTURE 7= \R 9H]IT$ ?\<T PATT]NS & POLITICAL MAPS1 AT LEA/72 :5 ,DU/ ( ?IS ,PLANET GE/URES TO ! WEIRDNESS & UN?9KABILITY ( ! WORLD1 IT 9VOKES ! CURR5T & COM+ BIOLOGICAL1 GEOLOGICAL1 & CLIMATOLOGICAL *AOS ( ! PLANET4 ,!Y %\LD BE READ TOGE!R2 ! ?\<T ?AT IS POSSIBLE 9 ?AT /]EOSCOPIC READ+ IS :AT MY OR 9T5DS4 7,I MEAN TO GE/URE T[>DS ! PASSAGE FROM ONE P]SPECTIVE TO ! O!R1 & P]HAPS BACK47 ,IF ,DES]T SETS \T FROM ! KN[ABILITY ( ! WORLD--AS ! OBJECT ( SCI5CE1 PR9CIPALLY--IT HAS ! R>E M]IT ( SPELL+ \T ITS 9CREAS+ UNKN[ABILITY AS AN OBJECT = \R POLITICAL PROJECTS1 \R PR$ICTIONS & PLANS4 ,DU/ ( ?IS ,PLANET ALL[S US TO PU% ?IS ?\<T FA!R 9 AN EM95TLY TR\BL+ DIRECTION1 REVEAL+ A WILD]NESS MORE WILD ?AN ! WILD NATURE 9VOK$ BY ! CRITICS ( CAPITALISM & CIVILIZATION3 ! UN?9KABLE ,PLANET BEH9D ! 9HABITABLE ,E>?4 ,AS WE SLIP 9 ?IS DIRECTION 7:I* IS ALSO PA/ ! PO9T ( DI/+UI%+ ! VOLUNT>Y FROM ! 9VOLUNT>Y71 ALL \R POSITIONS1 ?OSE LITTLE COMPRESS$ BUNDLES ( OP9ION & ANALYSIS1 PRACTICE & EXP]I5CE1 CRUMBLE--AS POSITIONS4 ,NO D\BT MANY WILL F9D ?IS DISCONC]T+4 ,BUT SOME?+ ( :AT WE TRI$ TO DO BY ?9K+ UP1 DEBAT+1 ADOPT+ & AB&ON+1 POSITIONS1 IS LEFT--SOME?+ LIVES ON1 SURVIVES--MAYBE JU/ ! PRIMAL ?RU/ ?AT BEG9S ) A QUE/ION OR PR(\ND NE$ & COLLAPSES 9 A PR(ESSION ( FAI? OR ID5TITY4 ,?AT W\LD BE ! PA? BACK TO ! P]SPECTIVE ( ,DES]T 7N[ IRREP>ABLY TRANS=M$74 ,:AT IS LEFT1 ! AFT]LIFE ( \R FIR/ \TW>D MOVEM5TS1 MI<T BE SOME?+ = EA* TO WITNESS ALONE1 9 A SOLITUDE F> FROM ! GREG>I\S COM=T ( RECOGNIZABLE POSITIONS1 ( POLITICS4 ,TO SAY NO?+ ( COMMUNITY4 

"9 "9 "9 

,ALL \R MANEUV]+1 ALL \R PETTY EXCUSES = NOT /UDY+ IT ASIDE1 !RE IS /ILL MU* TO BE SAID AB\T ?IS WOND]FUL1 *ALL5G+ BOOKLET1 ,DES]T4 ,TO WIT1 ?AT IT IS ! FIR/ WRITT5 ELABORATION ( S5TIM5TS SOME ( US ADMIT TO & O!RS FEEL )\T CONFESS+ TO !M4 ,&1 MOREOV]1 ?AT IT H9TS REPEAT$LY AT AN EV5 BROAD] & MORE TR\BL+ SET ( P]SPECTIVES AB\T ! LIMITS TO :AT WE CAN DO1 & MAYBE ( :AT WE >E ALTOGE!R4 ,IF ! MILIEU'S DEM& W]E ACCEPT$ & !SE FEEL+S & IDEAS W]E N>R[$ D[N TO A POSITION1 IT C\LD 9DE$ BE CALL$ GRE5 NIHILISM4 ,9 ?IS NAM+ ( A POSITION ! SECOND WORD 9DICATES ONE FAMILI> POLITICAL1 OR RA!R ANTI-POLITICAL1 S5SE ( NIHILISM--! POSITION ?AT VIEWS ACTION1 OR 9ACTION1 FROM ! P]SPECTIVE ?AT NO?+ CAN BE DONE TO SAVE ! WORLD4 ,?AT NO S+LE EV5T1 OR S]IES ( EV5TS CLUMSILY APPREH5D$ AS A S+LE ,EV5T1 CAN BE POSIT$ AS ! OBJECT ( POLITICAL OR MORAL OPTIMISM1 EXCEPT BY ! FAI?FUL & ! DELUD$4 ,MOREOV]1 ?AT ! 9JUNCTION TO ?9K ( ! FUTURE1 TO HOPE 9 A C]TA9 NAIVE WAY1 IS ITSELF P]NICI\S1 & (T5 A TOOL ( \R 5EMIES4 ,AS TO GRE5--WELL1 ?OSE :O HAVE READ ,DES]T WILL BE FAMILI> ) ! /ORY IT TELLS4 ,IRREV]SIBLE GLOBAL CLIMATE *ANGE1 ME%+ 9 AN 9CREAS+LY CONFUS+ WAY ) A GLOBAL GEOPOLITICAL SY/EM ?AT 9T5SIFIES CONTROL 9 RES\RCE-RI* >EAS :ILE LOOS5+ OR P]HAPS LOS+ ITS GRIPS 9 ! H9T]L&S1 ! GR[+ DES]T444 ,IT IS ! /ORY1 !N1 ( LIT]AL DES]TS1 & ALSO ( ZONES DES]T$ BY AU?ORITY OR ?AT ?OSE :O DES]T ! T]RA9 ( AU?ORITY 9HABIT4 ,BUT LET'S BE CLE> AB\T ?IS3 ,DES]T DOES NOT NAME ITS [N POSITION4 ,IT IS LESS A BOOK ?AT PROPOSES A C]TA9 /RATEGY OR SET ( PRACTICES & MORE A BOOK AB\T MAT]IAL CONDITIONS ?AT >E LIKELY TO AFFECT ANY /RATEGY1 ANY PRACTICES :ATSOEV]4 ,:AT IS BE/ AB\T ,DES]T IS NOT JU/ ! UNFL9*+ SOBRIETY ) :I* ITS AU?OR PILES UP EVID5CE & 9SI<TS = SU* A NE> FUTURE1 )\T DRIFT+ TOO F> 9TO SPECULATION2 IT IS ! WAY !Y DO NOT AB&ON ! IDEA ( SURVIV+ 9 SU* A DECOMPOS+ WORLD4 ,IT IS NEI!R OPTIMISM NOR PESSIMISM 9 ! USUAL S5SE2 IT IS ANO!R WAY TO GRASP AN>*Y4 ,?AT IS :Y ,I WRITE ?AT MU* REMA9S TO BE SAID AB\T IT4 ,ONE WAY TO BEG9 ?9K+ ?R\< ,DES]T IS TO CONC5TRATE LESS ON :AT POSITION IT SUPPOS$LY TAKES 7IS !RE A GRE5 NIHILISM8 = OR AGA9/ HOPE87 & TO CONSID] H[ TO PU% ITS P]SPECTIVE F>!R4 ,?IS MEANS BO? ASK+ MORE QUE/IONS AB\T H[ IT ALL[S US TO R$EF9E SURVIVAL & TAK+ UP ! POSSIBILITIES = ?\<T ?AT IT MO/LY H9TS AT4 ,= EXAMPLE1 TO SAY ! FUTURE IS UNKN[ABLE IS A PLEASANT BANALITY1 :I* CAN JU/ AS WELL BE 9VOK$ BY OPTIMI/S AS PESSIMI/S2 BUT TO CONC5TRATE ON :AT IS UNKN[ABLE 9 A WAY ?AT PROJECTS IT 9TO PA/ & PRES5T AS WELL IS TO ?9K BEYOND ! DULL CONV]SATION AB\T HOPE1 OR UTOPIA & DY/OPIA1 = ?AT MATT]4 ,H]E IS ONE EXAMPLE ( H[ SU* ?9K+ MI<T UNFOLD3 ,DES]T SEEMS TO (F] A NOVEL P]SPECTIVE ON *AOS4 ,!RE HAVE PROBABLY BE5 TWO AN>*I/ TAKES ON *AOS SO F>3 ! TRADITIONAL ONE1 SUMM$ UP 9 ! MOTTO1 AN>*Y IS NOT *AOS1 BUT ORD]2 & ,HAKIM ,BEY'S DISCUSSIONS ( *AOS1 :I* MAY BE SUMM$ UP 9 HIS POETIC PHRASE ,*AOS NEV] DI$4 ,! =M] IS CLE> 5\<3 LIKE MANY LEFTI/ ANALYZES1 IT ID5TIFIES SOCIAL *AOS ) A BADLY MANAG$ SOCIETY & OPPOSES TO IT A H>MONI\S AN>*IC ORD] 7:I*1 IT WAS LAT] SPECIFI$1 C\LD EXI/ 9 H>MONY ) A NATURE ITSELF CONCEIV$ AS H>MONI\S74 ,?IS CONCEPTION ( *AOS1 :I* IS /ILL QUITE PREVAL5T TODAY1 DOES NOT EV5 M]IT ITS NAME4 ,IT IS A WAY ( MORALLY CONDEMN+ CAPITALISM1 ! ,/ATE1 SOCIETY1 OR :AT Y\ WILL2 IT IS BASICALLY NAME-CALL+4 ,ANY WOR?:ILE CONCEPTION ( *AOS %\LD BEG9 FROM A NON-MORAL POSITION1 ADMITT+ ?AT ! =MLESSNESS ( *AOS IS NOT = US TO JUDGE4 ,?AT MU* ,HAKIM ,BEY DID AMIT4 ,:AT1 9 RETROSPECT ESPECIALLY1 IS CURI\S AB\T HIS LITTLE MISSIVE 0,*AOS0 >E ! V>I\S REF]5CES TO 0AG5TS ( *AOS10 0AVAT>S ( *AOS01 EV5 A 0PROPHE?OOD ( *AOS40 ,IT IS A LOVELY LETT] FROM ITS TIME & P]HAPS SOME O!R TIMES AS WELL2  ,I HAVE NO 9T5TION TO CRITICIZE IT4 ,IT IS A M>K$ IMPROVEM5T ON ANY V]SION ( AN>*Y IS ORD]1 & YET444 & YET4 ,IT COMES TOO CLOSE1 OR READ+ IT SOME CAME TOO CLOSE1 TO SIMPLY OPT+ = *AOS1 AS ?\< ORD] & *AOS W]E SIDES & IT W]E A MATT] ( *OOS+ SIDES4 ,! 9V]SION ( A MORAL /ATEM5T IS /ILL A MORAL /ATEM5T1 AFT] ALL4 ,:AT IS LEFT TO SAY AB\T *AOS1 !N8 ,! EXPLICIT REF]5CES TO *AOS 9 ,DES]T >E ALL REF]5CES TO SOCIAL DISORD]4 ,BUT A ?\<TFUL READ] MI<T1 UPON READ+ ?R\< = ! ?IRD OR F\R? TIME1 />T TO S5SE ?AT ANO!R1 MORE ANCI5T S5SE ( *AOS IS BE+ 9VOK$3 LESS ( AN EXTREME ( DISORD] & MORE ( A PRIMORDIAL NO?+NESS1 A 0YAWN+ GAP01 AS ! PREF]R$ GLOSS ( SOME PHILOLOGI/S HAS IT4 ,! REPEAT$ REF]5CE TO A PROBABLE GLOBAL >*IPELAGO ( 0L>GE ISL&S ( *AOS0 IS DIRECTLY CONNECT$ TO ! DE/ABILIZATION ( ! GLOBAL CLIMATE4 ,& ?IS IS ! T]RIBLE ?\<T ?AT ,DES]T CON/RUCTS = US & WILL NOT SAVE US FROM3 ?AT FROM N[ ON WE SURVIVE 9 A WORLD :]E ! GLOBAL CLIMATE IS IRREV]SIBLY DE/ABILIZ$1 & ?AT SU* A SURVIVAL IS SOME?+ O!R ?AN LIFE OR POLITICS AS WE HAVE SO F> DREAM$ !M4 ,! MEAG] DISCUSSION WE'VE SE5 SO F> ON ,DES]T REVOLVES >\ND QUE/IONS SU* AS3 IS ?IS TRUE8 &1 S9CE MO/ :O BO!R ?9K+ IT ?R\< WILL TAKE IT TO BE TRUE1 DOES ! 0NO HOPE0_/0NO FUTURE0 P]SPECTIVE 7! SUPPOS$ NIHILISM7 :I* ,DES]T TO SOME EXT5T ADOPTS1 & O!RS TO SOME EXT5T IMPUTE TO IT1 HELP OR H9D] AN OV]ALL AN>*I/ POSITION8 ,A LESS OBVI\S DISCUSSION REVOLVES >\ND TWO V]Y DIFF]5T SORTS ( QUE/IONS3 :AT MY?S DOES EXPOS+ ?IS REALITY %ATT]8 &1 IF WE >E BRAVE 5\< TO ?9K \RSELVES 9TO ?IS DEMY?OLOGIZ$ SPACE ?AT HAS ECLIPS$ ! MY?ICAL FUTURE1 IS AN AN>*I/ POSITION /ILL A COH]5T OR RELEVANT RESPONSE TO SURVIVAL !RE8 ,! MY? ?AT IS %ATT]$ H]E IS FIR/ & =EMO/ ?AT WOND]FUL OLD /ORY AB\T ! ,E>?3 

,E>?1 \R BRI<T HOME444 

,%ELLEY 

,!RE >E TWO MA9 V]SIONS ( ?IS /ORY4 ,9 ! RELIGI\S V]SION1 A GOD 9T5DS = US TO LIVE H]E & CREATES ! ,E>? = US1 OR1 TO A LESS] EXT5T1 CREATES US = ! ,E>?4 ,9 EI!R CASE \R APP>5T FIT 9TO ! ,E>?1 \R PRESUM$ K9%IP ) IT1 USUALLY EXPRESS$ 9 ! ?\<T ( ,NATURE OR ! NATURAL1 HAS A TRANSC5D5T GU>ANTEE4 ,9 ! SECOND V]SION1 :I* IS USUALLY ( A RATIONAL OR SCI5TIFIC SORT1 WE HAVE EVOLV$ TO LIVE ON ! ,E>? & CAN EXPECT IT TO BE RESPONSIVE TO \R NE$S4 ,H]E ! GU>ANTEE IS IMMAN5T & RATIONAL4 ,IT IS TRUE ?AT ?IS SECOND /ORY1 9 ! V]SION ( EVOLUTION>Y !ORY1 ALSO TAU<T US ?AT WE C\LD HAVE EASILY NOT COME TO BE H]E1 & ?AT WE MAY NOT ALWAYS BE H]E4 ,?AT IS :Y ,FREUD CLASS$ ,D>W9'S !ORY AS ! SECOND ( ?REE W\NDS TO HUMAN N>CISSISM 7! FIR/ BE+ ! ,COP]NICAN !ORY1 :I* DISPLAC$ ! ,E>? FROM ! C5T] ( ! COSMOS1 & ! ?IRD BE+ ,FREUD'S [N !ORY1 :I* DISPLAC$ CONSCI\S ?\<T FROM PROM95CE 9 M5TAL LIFE74 ,BUT A C]TA9 COMMON S5SE1 OR :AT C\LD BE CALL$ ! MO/ OBTUSE RATIONALISM1 SEEMS TO HAVE RE9TRODUC$ ! RELIGI\S CONT5T ( ! FIR/ V]SION 9TO ! SECOND1 & CONCLUD$ ?AT IT IS GOOD OR RI<T OR PROP] = US TO BE H]E4 ,NATURAL1 9 %ORT4 ,9 ANY CASE1 ! LESSON H]E IS ?AT ! PSY*IC W\ND CAN BE OP5 & HUMANITY1 :OEV] ?AT IS1 MAY LIMP ON1 W\ND$1 ?9K+ :ATEV] IT PREF]S TO ?9K AB\T ITSELF4 ,:AT ,DES]T DRAWS ATT5TION TO IS A CONG]IES ( EV5TS ?AT C\LD 9CREAS+LY TR\BLE \R COLLECTIVE ABILITY TO GO ON ) ?IS /ORY ( A NATURAL PLACE = 7SOME7 HUMANS4 ,IRREV]SIBLE CLIMATE *ANGE IS BO? SOME?+ ?AT CAN BE UND]/OOD 79 SCI5TIFIC & D]IVATIVE1 COMMON-S5SE WAYS7 & SOME?+ ?AT1 PROP]LY CONSID]$1 SUGGE/S A VA/ PANORAMA ( UNKN[NS4 ,IT IS TRUE ?AT ,DES]T MAKES MU* ( ITS CASE BY CIT+ SCI5TI/S & SCI5TIFIC /ATI/ICS4 ,BUT ! REAL QUE/ION H]E IS AB\T ! /ATUS ( !SE 9VOCATIONS ( SCI5CE4 ,?IS IS :]E A SUBTL] READ+ %[S ITS SUP]IORITY4 ,IF ! 5TIRE >GUM5TATIVE ?RU/ ( ,DES]T RELI$ ON SCI5CE1 ! PAMPHLET W\LD BE FAIRLY DISPOSABLE4 ,DES]T 9VOKES SCI5CE TO PUT BE=E ! HOPEFUL & ! APA!TIC IMAGES ( A T]RIBLE & SUBLIME SORT4 ,WE C\LD SAY ?AT ITS EXPLICIT >GUM5T IS BAS$ ON SCI5CE1 PLUS A C]TA9 K9D ( ANTI-POLITICAL REASON+4 ,BUT ITS OV]ALL EFFECT IS TO DISLODGE US FROM \R BACKGR\ND ASSUMPTION ( A KN[ABLE & PR$ICTABLE WORLD 9TO A LESS PR$ICTABLE1 LESS KN[ABLE AW>5ESS4 ,AFT] ALL1 IT W\LD BE JU/ AS EASY TO DEVELOP A SIMIL> N>RATIVE 9 ! DISC\RSE ( A PESSIMI/IC POLITICAL SCI5CE1 EMPHASIZ+ MASSIVE POPULATION GR[? & SOCIAL *AOS3 AN IRRUPTIVE & UNGOV]NABLE HUMAN BIOLOGY BEYOND SOCIALITY4 ,LET'S TRY IT4 ,FROM A R$ AN>*I/ P]SPECTIVE1 ?IS C\LD MEAN MORE OPPORTUNITIES = MUTUAL AID1 = SETT+ ! EXAMPLE ( AN>*Y AS ORD]2 *AOS W\LD BE A K9D ( =C$ CLEAN SLATE1 A TIME TO %[ ?AT WE >E BETT] & MORE EFFICI5T ?AN ! =CES ( ! /ATE4 ,FROM AN 9SURRECTION>Y P]SPECTIVE1 ! *AOS W\LD BE AN 9HUMAN ELEM5T MAK+ POSSIBLE ! G5]ALIZATION ( CONFLICT4 ,G5]AL SOCIAL *AOS W\LD BE ! MACROCOSM CORRESPOND+ TO ! MICROCOSM ( ! RIOT4 ,= !M *AOS W\LD ALSO BE AN OPPORTUNITY1 9 ?IS CASE TO HA/5 & AMPLIFY ANOMIC IRRUPTIONS4 ,9 SUM1 ONE C\LD MAKE ! SAME >GUM5T AB\T ! BIOLOGICAL MASS ( HUMANITY AS AB\T ! ,E>?--?AT ITS COM+ *AOS IS AN OPPORTUNITY = AN>*I/S BECAUSE IT IS A MAT]IALLY =C$ AN>*Y4 ,?IS DOES NOT MEAN ?AT WE >E 9H]5TLY AGGRESSIVE OR :ATEV] Y\ WANT TO ASSOCIATE ) SOCIAL *AOS1 BUT RA!R UNGOV]NABLE 9 ! LONG RUN 7OR AT LEA/ GOV]N$ BY =CES & AIMS O!R ?AN ! ONES ACC\NT$ = 9 POLITICAL REASON+74 ,IT DOES MEAN1 H[EV]1 ?AT ! IDEA WE >E UNGOV]NABLE 9 ! LONG RUN1 ! AFFIRMATION ( :I* IS MORE OR LESS SYNONYM\S ) ! CONFID5CE ) :I* ! AN>*I/S TAKE !IR POSITION1 IS N[ CLOSELY L9K$ ) ANO!R IDEA1 ?AT 9 ! LA/ 9/ANCE ! ,E>? IS NOT \R NATURAL HOME4 ,IT MAY HAVE BE5 \R HOME = SOME TIME1 = A TIME ?AT WE CALL PREHI/ORY4 ,9DE$1 ,FR$Y ,P]LMAN M>KS ! TRANSITION FROM PREHI/ORY TO ,HIS-,/ORY1 OR ,CIVILIZATION1 AS ! PROLONGATION ( AN EV5T ( ECOLOGICAL IMBALANCE1 A PROLONGATION :OSE OV]ALL EFFECT IS DE/RUCTIVE1 EV5 AS ! %ORT-T]M OR N>R[LY FOCUS$ RESULTS ALONG ! WAY >E TO MAKE ! ,E>? MORE & MORE ( A WELCOM+ & NATURAL PLACE = HUMANS TO BE4 ,& N[ \R P>T+ ( WAYS ) ,HAKIM ,BEY MAY BE CL>IFI$1 =1 EV5 IF HE DID NOT SIMPLY TAKE ! SIDE ( *AOS1 HE DID WRITE3  

REMEMB]1 ONLY 9 ,CLASSICAL ,PHYSICS DOES ,*AOS HAVE ANY?+ TO DO ) 5TROPY1 HEAT-DEA?1 OR DECAY4 ,9 \R PHYSICS 7,*AOS ,!ORY71 ,*AOS ID5TIFIES ) TAO1 BEYOND BO? Y9-AS-5TROPY @& YANG-AS-5]GY1 MORE A PR9CIPLE ( CONT9UAL CREATION ?AN ( ANY NIHIL1 VOID 9 ! S5SE ( POT5TIA1 NOT EXHAU/ION4 7,*AOS AS ! 0SUM ( ALL ORD]S407  

,HE WAS MAK+ AN >GUM5T AB\T :AT IS /UPID AB\T DEA?-GLORIFY+ >T :I*1 P>5!TICALLY1 /ILL SEEMS RELEVANT4 ,BUT ,I SIMPLY DON'T SEE :Y *AOS 7OR TAO1 = ?AT MATT]7 IS SOMEH[ BETT] UND]/OOD AS CREATION ?AN AS DE/RUCTION1 OR :Y IT IS PREF]ABLE TO 9VOKE POT5TIA & NOT EXHAU/ION4 ,9 ! NAME ( :AT8 0,ONTOLOGICAL0 AN>*ISM8 ,LIFE8 ,& ! SUM ( ALL ORD]S444 IS ?IS A FIGURE ( SOME?+ AT ALL KN[ABLE8 ,& IF NOT1 :Y ! PREC$+ TAK+ ( SIDES8 ,! *AOS ?AT ,DES]T SUMMONS IS NOT ONTOLOGICAL4 ,NO NEW !ORY ( BE+ IS CLAIM$ H]E4 ,! EFFECT IS FIR/ ( ALL PSY*OLOGICAL3 /AT+ :AT MORE OR LESS EV]YONE KN[S1 BUT WILL NOT ADMIT4 ,IF ,DES]T DES]VES ! LABEL NIHILI/1 IT IS REALLY 9 ?IS S5SE1 ?AT IT KN[+LY PO9TS TO ! UNKN[ABLE1 TO ! BACKGR\ND ( ALL ?REE N>CISSI/IC W\NDS4 7,?IS IS MY WAY ( ADMITT+ ?AT TALK+ OR WRIT+ AB\T NIHILISM DOES NOT CL>IFY MU* ( ANY?+4 ,IF IT WAS WOR? DO+1 IT IS NOT BECAUSE ,I WANT$ TO %>E A WAY ( BELIEV+-9-NO?+4 ,I SEE N[ ?AT ,I WAS GO+ SOME:]E ELSE4 ,! ANALYSIS ( NIHILISM IS ! OBJECT ( PSY*OLOGY444 IT BE+ UND]/OOD ?AT ?IS PSY*OLOGY IS ALSO ?AT ( ! COSMOS1 WROTE ,DELEUZE47 

"9 "9 "9 

,9 ! ,DU/ ( ,?IS ,PLANET 9TRODUCES A TRIP>TITE DI/9CTION BETWE5 ,WORLD1 ,E>?1 & ,PLANET4 ,?ACK] /ATES ?AT ! HUMAN WORLD1 \R SOCIOCULTURAL HORIZON ( UND]/&+1 IS :AT IS USUALLY MEANT BY WORLD4 ,?IS IS ! WORLD AS IT IS 9VOK$ 9 POLITICS1 9 /ATEM5TS ?AT BEG93 :AT ! WORLD NE$S4441 & ( C\RSE ANY & ALL APPEALS TO SAVE OR *ANGE ! WORLD4 ,IT IS ! S+LE WORLD ( GLOBALISM 7& ( GLOBAL REVOLUTION7 BUT ALSO ! MANY LITTLE WORLDS ( MULTICULTURALISM1 NATIONALISM1 & REGIONALISM4 ,BUT ONE C\LD >GUE ?AT \R EXP]I5CE 7& ! GAPS 9 \R EXP]I5CE7 ALSO UNFOLD 9 ANO!R WORLD1 ! 5VELOP+ SITE ( NATURAL PROCESSES1 FROM CLIMATE TO *EMICAL & PHYSICAL PROCESSES1 ( C\RSE 9CLUD+ \R [N BIOLOGY4 ,?IS IS ! ,E>? ?AT WE >E (T5 9VIT$ TO SAVE 9 ECOLOGICAL POLITICS OR ACTIVISM4 ,A ?IRD V]SION ( :AT IS MEANT BY WORLD IS :AT ,?ACK] CALLS ! ,PLANET4 ,IF ! WORLD AS HUMAN ,WORLD IS ! WORLD-=-US1 & ! ,E>? AS NATURAL WORLD IS A WORLD-=-ITSELF1 ! ,PLANET IS ! WORLD-)\T-US4 ,VISIONS ( ! ,WORLD & ! ,E>? CORRESPOND R\<LY TO SUBJECTIVE & OBJECTIVE P]SPECTIVES2 BUT :AT !SE >E VISIONS (1 ! ,PLANET1 IS NOT R$UCIBLE TO EI!R1 H[EV] OPTIMI/IC \R PHILOSOPHY1 !ORY1 OR SCI5CE MAY BE4 ,9 T]MS P]HAPS MORE FAMILI> TO SOME GRE5 AN>*I/S1 ! ,WORLD CORRESPONDS TO ! MAT]IAL & M5TAL PROCESSES ( CIVILIZATION1 & ! ,E>? TO ,NATURE AS CON/RUCT$ BY CIVILIZATION4 ,CIVILIZATION1 SO IT W\LD SEEM1 PRODUCES NATURE AS ITS KN[ABLE BYPRODUCT AS IT 5CLOSES ! WILD1 LEAV+ FIELDS1 P>KS1 & G>D5S1 ALONG ) DOME/ICAT$ & CORRALL$ WILD ANIMALS1 9CLUD+1 ( C\RSE1 \R SPECIES4 ,DOES ! WILDNESS OR WILD]NESS ( ! GRE5 AN>*I/S !N CORRESPOND TO ! ,PLANET1 AS WORLD-)\T-US8 ,ONLY IF WE CAN GRASP ?AT ! WILD1 LIKE1 OR AS1 *AOS1 IS ULTIMATELY UNKN[ABLE--NOT BECAUSE ( SOME DEFECT 9 \R FACULTIES BUT BECAUSE IT 9CLUDES !IR LIMITS & UNDO+4 ,:5 GRE5 AN>*I/S & O!RS 9VOKE ! WILD1 WE MU/ ALWAYS BE SURE TO ASK IF !Y MEAN AN ESPECIALLY UNRULY BIT ( NATURE1 NATURE ?AT IS NOT YET FULLY PROCESS$ BY ! CIVILIZ$1 OR SOME?+ ?AT CIVILIZATION WILL NEV] DOME/ICATE OR CONQU]4 ,PLANET IS AN ODD CATEGORY1 9 ?AT IT SEEMS TO CORRESPOND BO? TO ! PUTATIVE & IMPOSSIBLE OBJECT ( SCI5CE 7A SCI5CE )\T AN OBS]V]7 & AN 9EXPLICABLE & /RANGE IMAGE EM]G5T FROM \T ( ! RECESSES ( ! UNCONSCI\S 7:I* ITSELF RAISES A TR\BL+ QUE/ION AS TO :AT AN UNCONSCI\S IS AT ALL IF IT CAN BE SAID TO ISSUE IMAGES ?AT EXCLUDE US74 ,I ?9K AB\T ?IS ?IRD CATEGORY 9 T]MS ( ,DES]T AS ,I READ ?IS PASSAGE FROM ,?ACK]3 

,:5 ! WORLD AS SU* CATACLYSMICALLY MANIFE/S ITSELF 9 ! =M ( A DISA/]1 H[ DO WE 9T]PRET OR GIVE MEAN+ TO ! WORLD8 ,!RE >E PREC$5TS 9 ,WE/]N CULTURE = ?IS K9D ( ?9K+4 ,9 CLASSICAL ,GREECE ! 9T]PRETATION IS PRIM>ILY MY?OLOGICAL--,GREEK TRAG$Y1 = 9/ANCE1 NOT ONLY DEALS ) ! QUE/IONS ( FATE & DE/9Y1 BUT 9 SO DO+ IT ALSO EVOKES A WORLD AT ONCE FAMILI> & UNFAMILI>1 A WORLD )9 \R CONTROL OR A WORLD AS A PLAY?+ ( ! GODS4 ,BY CONTRA/1 ! RESPONSE ( ,M$IEVAL & E>LY MOD]N ,*RI/IANITY IS PRIM>ILY !OLOGICAL--! LONG TRADITION ( APOCALYPTIC LIT]ATURE1 AS WELL AS ! ,S*OLA/IC COMM5T>IES ON ! NATURE ( EVIL1 CA/ ! NON-HUMAN WORLD )9 A MORAL FRAMEWORK ( SALVATION4 ,9 MOD]NITY1 9 ! 9T]SECTION ( SCI5TIFIC HEGEMONY1 9DU/RIAL CAPITALISM1 & :AT ,NIETZS*E FAM\SLY PROPHESI$ AS ! DEA? ( ,GOD1 ! NON-HUMAN WORLD GA9S A DIFF]5T VALUE4 ,9 MOD]NITY1 ! RESPONSE IS PRIM>ILY EXI/5TIAL--A QUE/ION+ ( ! ROLE ( HUMAN 9DIVIDUALS & HUMAN GR\PS 9 LI<T ( MOD]N SCI5CE1 HI< TE*NOLOGY1 9DU/RIAL & PO/-9DU/RIAL CAPITALISM1 & WORLD W>S4  

,9 ! LI<T ( ! ONGO+ & GR[+ DISA/] CALL$ IRREV]SIBLE CLIMATE *ANGE1 ,DES]T CLE>LY EXPOSES ! !OLOGICAL-EXI/5TIAL ROOTS 7! MOD]N ROOTS1 ?AT IS TO SAY7 ( AN>*I/ POLITICS1 NOT P>TICUL>LY DIFF]5T1 AS F> AS ?IS ISSUE GOES1 FROM ! PANORAMA ( ,LEFT OR RADICAL POSITIONS4 ,:AT MATT]S TO ME IS ! OPPORTUNITY TO /RIKE \T BEYOND !SE POSITIONS1 ELABORAT+ AN ANTI-POLITICS ?\<T ?R\< 9 REF]5CE TO A PO9T ( VIEW ,?ACK] CALLS COSMOLOGICAL4 ,C\LD SU* A COSMOLOGICAL VIEW1 HE WRITES1 BE UND]/OOD NOT SIMPLY AS ! VIEW FROM 9T]/ELL> SPACE1 BUT AS ! VIEW ( ! WORLD-)\T-US1 ! ,PLANET>Y VIEW8 ,DES]T MI<T BE ONE ( ! FIR/ SIGNS ( ! P>ADOXICAL DRAW ( ?IS VIEW1 :I*1 IT %\LD BE CLE> BY N[1 IS SOME?+ O!R ?AN A POSITION TO BE ADOPT$4 ,BUT = ?OSE :O LIKE ! CONV5I5CE NAMES L5D TO ?+S1 CONSID] ! V]SION ,?ACK] ELABORATES 79 A DISCUSSION ( ! MEAN+ ( BLACK 9 BLACK METAL1 ( ALL ?+S74 ,HE CALLS IT COSMIC PESSIMISM3 

,! VIEW ( ,COSMIC ,PESSIMISM IS A /RANGE MY/ICISM ( ! WORLD-)\T-US1 A H]METICISM ( ! ABYSS1 A N\M5AL OCCULTISM4 ,IT IS ! DIFFICULT ?\<T ( ! WORLD AS ABSOLUTELY UNHUMAN1 & 9DIFF]5T TO ! HOPES1 DESIRES1 & /RUGGLES ( HUMAN 9DIVIDUALS & GR\PS4 ,ITS LIMIT-?\<T IS ! IDEA ( ABSOLUTE NO?+NESS1 UNCONSCI\SLY REPRES5T$ 9 ! MANY POPUL> M$IA IMAGES ( NUCLE> W>1 NATURAL DISA/]S1 GLOBAL P&EMICS1 & ! CATACLYSMIC EFFECTS ( CLIMATE *ANGE4 ,C]TA9LY !SE >E ! IMAGES1 OR ! SPECT]S1 ( ,COSMIC ,PESSIMISM1 & DIFF]5T FROM ! SCI5TIFIC1 ECONOMIC1 & POLITICAL REALITIES & UND]LIE !M2 BUT !Y >E IMAGES DEEPLY EMB$D$ 9 \R PSY*E NONE!LESS4 ,BEYOND !SE SPECT]S !RE IS ! IMPOSSIBLE ?\<T ( EXT9CTION1 ) NOT EV5 A S+LE HUMAN BE+ TO ?9K ! ABS5CE ( ALL HUMAN BE+S1 ) NO ?\<T TO ?9K ! NEGATION ( ALL ?\<T4  

,N[ ! 9T5TION ( MY OR WILL BE CLE> = SOME 7FROM ! PSY*E TO ! COSMOS44474 ,9 ,DU/ ,?ACK] DOES NOT DRAW MANY CONNECTIONS BETWE5 HIS IDEAS & POLITICS1 SO IT IS WOR?:ILE TO EXAM9E ONE ( ! PLACES :]E HE ILLU/RATES ! P>ADOX HIS VIEW ( ! ,PLANET OP5S UP 9 ?AT SPACE4 ,HE CITES ,C>L ,S*MITT'S SUGGE/ION1 9 ,POLITICAL ,!OLOGY3 

! V]Y POSSIBILITY ( IMAG9+ OR RE-IMAG9+ ! POLITICAL IS DEP5D5T ON A VIEW ( ! WORLD AS REVEAL$1 AS KN[ABLE1 & AS ACCESSIBLE TO US AS HUMAN BE+S LIV+ 9 A HUMAN WORLD4 444 ,BUT ! WAY 9 :I* ?AT ANALOGY .<FROM !OLOGY TO POLITICS.> IS MANIFE/ MAY *ANGE OV] TIME 444  

,?ACK] NOTES3 

! #a#g? & #a#h? C5TURIES W]E DOM9AT$ BY ! !OLOGICAL ANALOGY ( ! TRANSC5D5CE ( ,GOD 9 RELATION TO ! WORLD1 :I* CORRELATES TO ! POLITICAL IDEA ( ! TRANSC5D5CE ( ! SOV]EIGN RUL] 9 RELATION TO ! /ATE4 ,BY CONTRA/1 9 ! #a#i? C5TURY A %IFT OCCURS T[>DS ! !OLOGICAL NOTION ( IMMAN5CE444 :I* LIKEWISE CORRELATES TO 0! DEMOCRATIC !SIS ( ! ID5TITY ( ! RUL] & ! RUL$40 ,9 !SE & O!R 9/ANCES1 WE SEE !OLOGICAL CONCEPTS BE+ MOBILIZ$ 9 POLITICAL CONCEPTS1 =M+ A K9D ( DIRECT1 TABUL> COMP>ISON BETWE5 COSMOLOGY & POLITICS 7,GOD & SOV]EIGN RUL]2 ! COSMOS & ! /ATE2 TRANSC5D5CE & ABSOLUTISM2 IMMAN5CE & DEMOCRACY74  

,! CLOS$ LOOP ( POLITICS3 

,! REPUBLIC IS ! ONLY CURE = ! ILLS ( ! MON>*Y1 & ! MON>*Y IS ! ONLY CURE = ! ILLS ( ! REPUBLIC4 

,J\B]T 

,?ACK]'S QUE/ION FOLL[S3 :AT HAPP5S TO ?IS ANALOGY1 :I* /RUCTURES BO? POLITICAL !ORY & ORD9>Y ?9K+ AB\T POLITICS TO SOME EXT5T1 IF ONE POSITS A WORLD ?AT IS NOT1 & WILL NEV] BE1 5TIRELY REVEAL$ & KN[ABLE8 ,! CLOS$ LOOP IS OP5$1 & ! ANALOGY BREAKS D[N4 ,:AT HAPP5S :5 WE AS HUMAN BE+S CONFRONT A WORLD ?AT IS RADICALLY UNHUMAN1 IMP]SONAL1 & EV5 9DIFF]5T TO ! HUMAN8 ,:AT HAPP5S TO ! CONCEPT ( POLITICS444 ,IT SEEMS TO ME ?AT A QUE/ION ( ?IS SORT IS LURK+ 9 ! BACKGR\ND ( ,DES]T AS WELL4 

"9 "9 "9 

,! DES]T MAY BE1 OR SOMETIMES SEEM TO BE1 :AT IS LEFT AFT] A CATA/ROPHIC EV5T1 BUT IT HAS ALSO ALWAYS BE5 ) US1 AS IMAGE & REALITY4 

,9 :AT PASSES = A MOON 

,ON ! GALACTIC P]IPH]Y1 

,H]E IS AN AU/]E BEAUTY1 

,B>R51 UNCOMPROMIS+1 

,LIKE ?AT :I* MU/ HAVE BE5  

,EXP]I5C$ BY M5 

,ON ! ICE-CAPS & DES]TS  

,AS !Y ONCE EXI/$ ON E>? 

,BE=E !IR URBANIZATION 

,H>% & UNAMBIGU\S444 

,JOHN ,COTTON 

,WORLD-DES]T3 ! DES]T GR[S444 

,E>?-DES]TS3 !Y >E GR[+1 TOO4 

,COSMIC DES]TS3 ON ! GALACTIC P]IPH]Y444 ,9 A RESPONSE TO ,FRANCOIS ,L>UELLE'S ,DU NOIR UNIV]S1 ,?ACK] ELABORATES ON ! V>I\S S5SES ( ! DES]T MOTIF1 SUGGE/+ BO? ?AT IT IS ! 9EVITABLE IMAGE & EXP]I5CE ( ! ,PLANET1 AS A SLICE ( ! ,COSMOS1 OR :AT ,L>UELLE CALLS ! BLACK ,UNIV]SE1 & ?AT IT IS A MIRAGE1 ?AT !RE IS NO REAL DES]T TO ESCAPE TO4 ,H]MITS KEEP ESCAP+ TO ! DES]T1 BUT !IR SOLITUDE IS TEMPOR>Y2 O!RS GA!R NE>BY4 ,! ESCAPE FROM =C$ COMMUNITY DEVELOPS SPONTANE\S =MS ( COMMUNITY4 ,BUT = BE+ SPONTANE\S1 SU* COMMUNITY DOES NOT CEASE TO DEVELOP1 SOON] OR LAT]1 ! TRAITS ( ! FIR/1 ESCAP$1 COMMUNITY4 ,! ISSUE = ME IS D\BLE3 FIR/1 ?AT TO ! TWO S5SES 9VOK$ 9 ,DES]T 7! LIT]AL ECOLOGICAL S5SE1 & ! S5SE ( DES]TION7 WE MAY N[ ADD ! ?IRD CORRESPOND+ TO ! ,PLANET>Y OR ,COSMIC VIEW1 ! DES]T AS ! IMPOSSIBLE1 AS NO?+NESS4 ,SECOND1 ! E?ICAL1 PSY*OLOGICAL1 OR AT LEA/ PRACTICAL 9SI<T ?AT SOME KEEP DES]T+ SOCIETY1 CIVILIZATION1 OR :AT HAVE Y\ 9 ! DIRECTION ( ! DES]T &1 AS /AT$1 SOON] OR LAT] POPULAT+ IT1 9HABIT+ IT1 SOMEH[ LIV+ OR AT LEA/ SURVIV+ 9 IT4 ,EV5 IF !SE DES]T]S HEAD$ T[>DS ! DES]T 9 ! FIR/ S5SE1 !Y W]E MOTIVAT$ OR ANIMAT$ BY ! IMPOSSIBLE T>GET ( ! DES]T 9 ! ?IRD S5SE4 ,N[1 ?IS APP>5TLY CLOS$-LOOP OP]ATION C\LD BE ! 9EVITABLE REPETITION ( SOME ANCI5T AN?ROPOG5IC TRAUMA4 ,OR IT C\LD BE 7WE JU/ CAN'T KN[ H]E & N[7 ! SANE1 WILD REACTION TO ,CIVILIZATION3 DESP]ATE ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO ! ,E>? 7\R BRI<T HOME7 VIA ! D>K 9DIFF]5CE ( ! ,PLANET OR ,COSMOS4 ,( ?IS RETURN PESSIMISM SAYS3 Y\ WILL NE$ TO DO IT AGA9 & AGA94 ,IS ! PESSIMISM AB\T A CONDITION WE CAN ESCAPE1 OR ONE WE CAN'T8 ,IS IT ! ANTI-CIVILIZATION PESSIMISM ( ! MO/ RADICAL ECOLOGY1 OR IS IT DESPAIR1 NO LESS TRIVIAL = BE+ A PSY*OLOGICAL 9SI<T1 BE=E ! MORBID OBTUS5ESS ( HUMANS8 ,WE JU/ CAN'T KN[ H]E & N[4 ,MASCI&>O1 ,?ACK]'S FELL[ COMM5TATOR ON ,L>UELLE1 APTLY T]MS ?IS 0! POSITIVITY & PRIORITY ( OPACITY0--! OPACITY ( ! ,PLANET & ! ,COSMOS1 ,L>UELLE'S BLACK UNIV]SE4 

,O ! D>K1 ! DEEP H>D D>K 

,( !SE GALACTIC NI<TS6 

,EV5 ! PLANETS HAVE SET 

,LEAV+ IT SLAB & IMP5ETRABLE1 

,AS D>K & DIRECTIONLESS 

,AS ?OSE LONG NI<TS ( ! S\L 

,! ANCI5T MY/ICS SPOKE (4 

,BEYOND !RE IS NO?+1 

,NO?+ WE HAVE KN[N OR EXP]I5C$4 

,JOHN ,COTTON 

"9 "9 "9 

,9 ,DES]T WE READ3 

,NATURE'S 9CR$IBLE P[] TO RE-GR[ & FL\RI% FOLL[+ DISA/]S IS EVID5T BO? FROM PREVI\S MASS EXT9CTIONS & FROM ITS ABILITY TO HEAL MANY L&S SC>R$ BY CIVILIZATION4 ,ITS TRUE P[] IS R>ELY CONSID]$ )9 ! SEAL$1 AN?ROPOC5TRIC ?9K+ ( ?OSE :O W\LD PR(IT FROM ! PRES5T OR ATTEMPT TO PLAN ! FUTURE4 ,YET ! FUNCTION+ ( ! ,E>? ,SY/EM IS DE/RUCTIVE AS WELL AS B\NTIFUL & IT IS NOT A CONSCI\S GOD ) AN 9T]E/ 9 PRES]V+ US OR ITS PRES5T >RANGEM5T--SOME?+ WE MAY F9D \T IF ! ,E>? IS N[ MOV+ TO A NEW MU* HOTT] /ATE4 

,= HIS P>T1 ,?ACK] CONCLUDES HIS BOOK BY DISCUSS+ A MY/ICISM ( ! UNHUMAN1 :AT HE CALLS A CLIMATOLOGICAL MY/ICISM4 ,IT IS A WAY ( ?9K+1 & P>ADOXICAL KN[+1 MODEL$ ON RELIGI\S MY/ICISM RA!R ?AN SCI5TIFIC KN[L$GE4 ,BUT IT IS NOT R$UCIBLE TO ! =M]4 ,HE WRITES1 

!RE IS NO BE+-ON-!-SIDE-( ! WORLD1 MU* LESS NATURE OR ! WEA!R4 .<444.> ! WORLD IS 9DIFF]5T TO US AS HUMAN BE+S4 ,9DE$1 ! CORE PROBLEMATIC ( ! CLIMATE *ANGE ISSUE IS ! EXT5T TO :I* HUMAN BE+S >E AT ISSUE AT ALL4 ,ON ! ONE H& WE AS HUMAN BE+S >E ! PROBLEM2 ON ! O!R H& AT ! PLANET>Y LEVEL ( ! ,E>?'S DEEP TIME1 NO?+ C\LD BE MORE 9SIGNIFICANT ?AN ! HUMAN4 ,?IS IS :]E MY/ICISM AGA9 BECOMES RELEVANT4  

,?IS ATTITUDE ( NONKN[L$GE1 AS ,BATAILLE W\LD HAVE PUT IT1 9=MS LIFE EV5 AS IT DEC5T]S IT4 ,?AT ! ,E>? IS \R PLACE1 BUT ! PLANET DOES NOT C>E AB\T US & ! COSMOS IS NOT \R HOME1 IS A ?\<T ( ! WAYS 9 :I* WE MI<T SURVIVE H]E4 ,SOME WILL REMEMB] ,VANEIGEM'S REPEAT$ CONTRA/ BETWE5 VIE & SURVIE1 LIFE & SURVIVAL4 ,= HIM IT WAS A MATT] ( 9V]T+ ! ACCEPT$1 & TO A L>GE EXT5T 5=C$1 VIEW 9 :I* ONE MU/ SURVIVE FIR/ & LIVE SECOND4 ,SOME ( ?IS VIEW SEEMS TO HAVE BE5 TAK5 9TO ! P]SPECTIVE ?AT ID5TIFIES LIFE & NATURE1 :]E ! LATT] IS UND]/OOD AS :AT WE >E OR %\LD BE--?AT IS1 ?AT !RE IS SOME?+ NORMATIVE AB\T LIFE OR NATURE ?AT WE CAN REF] TO4 ,! P]SPECTIVE ,I AM DEVELOP+ H]E SUGGE/S ?AT WE HAVE NO WAY ( KN[+ :AT WE >E OR %\LD BE1 & ?AT ! WILD IS BETT] CONCEIV$ AS ?AT NO-WAY1 AS ! CONDITIONS ?AT PU% BACK AGA9/ \R BE/ EF=T TO DEF9E \RSELVES1 ID5TIFY \R SELVES1 OR KN[ \R WORLD4 ,SIMIL>LY1 :AT IS WILD 9 US CAN ONLY BE CONCEIV$ 7?\< IT IS NOT REALLY CONCEIVABLE 9 ! LONG RUN7 AS :AT RESI/S1 :AT PU%ES BACK1 AGA9/ ANY E/ABLI%$ ORD]4 ,BUT ?IS MI<T BE CLOS] TO SURVIVAL ?AN TO LIFE4 ,SURVIVAL HAS A POSITIVE VALUE 9 ?AT IT IS ITSELF AN ACTIVITY1 A SET ( NONTRIVIAL PRACTICES ?AT REF] BACK TO LIFE 9S(> AS WE KN[ IT4 ,WE SURVIVE AS WE CAN1 NOT CONFID5T ?AT WE >E LIV+4 ,IT IS ?IS ASPECT ( ,DES]T ?AT SOME 9SURRECTION>IES SEEM TO HAVE DISAGRE$ )1 9 ?AT IT (T5 TALKS ( PLANS = SURVIVAL :]E !Y W\LD HAVE PREF]R$ TO SEE PLANS = ACTION1 OR AT LEA/ CALLS TO ACTION4 ,WE CAN READ !RE ( 

,AN ,AN>*ISM ) PL5TY ( ADJECTIVES1 BUT ONE ?AT ALSO SETS & A*IEVES OBJECTIVES1 CAN HAVE A WOND]FUL PRES5T & /ILL HAVE A FUTURE2 EV5 :5 FUNDAM5TALLY \T ( ! /EP ) ! WORLD >\ND IT4 ,!RE IS SO MU* WE CAN DO1 A*IEVE1 DEF5D & BE2 EV5 H]E1 :]E UN=TUNATELY CIVILIZATION PROBABLY /ILL HAS A FUTURE4  

,IT IS PASSAGES LIKE ?IS ONE1 T[>DS ! 5D ( ! PAMPHLET1 ?AT PROBABLY LEFT SOME ) ! IMPRESSION ?AT ITS AU?OR IS /ILL ATTA*$ TO HOPE1 & LEFT O!RS ) ! S5SE ( A =M ( SURVIVAL ?AT /ILL SOMEH[ RESEMBL$ ACTIVISM MORE ?AN ATTACK4 ,AS = ! =M] IMPRESSION1 ?AT W\LD BE TO CONFUSE ! CLIMATE PESSIMISM ( ,DES]T ) A K9D ( OV]>*+ & M&ATORY MOOD1 AS ?\< ?OSE :O HAD ?IS VIEW W]E ( NECESSITY P]SONALLY DEPRESS$ OR DESPOND5T4 ,!RE IS NO EVID5CE = SU* A CONCLUSION4 ,AS = ! LATT]1 IT IS A LITTLE MORE COMPLICAT$4 ,YES1 ! AU?OR ( ,DES]T (T5 S\NDS LIKE SOMEONE ADDRESS+ ACTIVI/S2 &1 YES1 ,DES]T EXPLICITLY REJECTS ! CAUSE ( ,REVOLUTION 9 SEV]AL PLACES4 ,ONE C\LD SAY ?IS ADDS UP TO A K9D ( POLITICAL RETREAT4 ,ONE C\LD ALSO SAY1 H[EV]1 ?AT SOME >E TOO US$ TO READ+ POLITICAL TEXTS ?AT ALWAYS 5D ON A L\D & V9DICTIVE NOTE6 ,NO1 ?IS IS :]E ! QUE/ION ( RE?9K+ SURVIVAL FROM AN ANTI-POLITICAL P]SPECTIVE 9FLECT$ BY SOME?+ LIKE ,?ACK]'S COSMIC PESSIMISM OR RE9V5T$ MY/ICISM IS CRITICAL4 ,WE MAKE SURVIVAL PRIM>Y1 NOT SO MU* 9V]T+ ,VANEIGEM'S 9V]SION ( ! NORM 9 SOCIETIES LIKE \RS1 BUT RA!R BY NOTIC+ :AT 9 \R CONCEPTION ( LIFE HAS ALWAYS BE5 A K9D ( RELIGION OR MORALITY ( LIFE1 EASY ADJU/M5T TO A FAMILI> NATURE4 ,:ATEV] ITS FAULTS1 ,DES]T WAS WRITT5 TO SAY ?AT SU* A CONCEPTION IS NO LONG] USEFUL1 & ?AT ONE USEFUL MEAN+ ( AN>*I/ IS SOMEONE :O ADMITS AS MU*4 ,CAN ?AT MEAN+ FIT ) ! SUBCULTURES ?AT MO/ ( TODAY'S AN>*I/S COMPOSE8 ,PROBABLY NOT4 ,! SUBCULTURES EXI/ AS POCKETS ( RESI/ANCE1 ( C\RSE2 BUT SURVIVAL 9 !M IS 9DELIBLY TI$ TO REPRODUC+ ! AN>*I/ AS P]SONA1 AS ID5TITY1 AS AN ANSW] TO ! QUE/ION ( :AT LIFE IS OR IS =4 ,TO MAKE S5SE OR HAVE MEAN+ ?IS ANSW] PRESUPPOSES ! WORK+S ( \R HOMEGR[N ID5TITY-MA*9E1 \R COLLECTIVE1 REPEAT$ M9IMAL TASK ( DISC]N+ AB\T ACTIONS :E!R !Y >E AN>*I/ OR NOT1 &1 BY EXT5SION1 :E!R ! P]SON C>RY+ !M \T IS AN>*I/4 ,IT IS \R WAY ( BR++ ! COMMUNITY 9TO ! DES]T4 ,ANN\NCEM5T ( ONE'S 9T5TIONS TO OV]COME ! LIMITS ( SUBCULTURE & REA* \T TO O!RS1 OR 9SPIRE !M ) \R ACTIONS1 IS NOT DIFF]5T ?AN1 BUT RA!R A CRUCIAL P>T (1 ?IS OP]ATION4 ,SURVIVAL1 9 ! S5SE ,DES]T SUGGE/S IT TO ME1 IS SOME?+ COMPLETELY DIFF]5T1 = 9 IT ANY SOCIAL GR\P OR K9 NETWORK1 AS IT ATTEMPTS TO LIVE ON1 CANNOT DRAW SIGNIFICANT L9ES ( DIFF]5CE 7( ID5TIFICATION1 !RE=E7 BETWE5 ITSELF & O!RS4 ,IT MELTS 9TO A HUMANITY COLLECTIVELY RESI/+ DEA?4 ,NE$LESS TO SAY ?IS IS SOME?+ 5TIRELY DIFF]5T ?AN ! REVOLUTION>Y PROCESS AS IT HAS BE5 IMAG9$ & ATTEMPT$4 ,!RE IS NO FUTURE TO PLAN =1 ONLY A PRES5T TO SURVIVE 91 & ?AT IS ! IMPLOSION ( POLITICS AS WE HAVE KN[N IT4 

,TO SURVIVE1 NOT TO LIVE1 OR1 NOT LIV+1 TO MA9TA9 ONESELF1 )\T LIFE1 9 A /ATE ( PURE SUPPLEM5T1 MOVEM5T ( SUB/ITUTION = LIFE1 BUT RA!R TO >RE/ DY+444 

,BLAN*OT 

444 DES]T+ LIFE4 

  

"9 "9 "9 

,A DES]T & NOT A G>D53 ONE REM>KABLE ASPECT ( ! CONTEMPOR>Y AN>*I/ SPACE IS AN OP5 CONTRADICTION BETWE5 TWO P]SPECTIVES ON :AT /RUGGLE IS1 OR IS =1 ?AT MI<T BE SUMM$ UP 9 ! PHRASES WE HAVE 5EMIES & WE DID ?IS TO \RSELVES4 ,!RE >E C\NTLESS V]SIONS ( ?IS CONTRADICTION1 :I* AT A DEEP] LEVEL IS REALLY NOT AB\T POLITICAL /RUGGLE AT ALL1 BUT AB\T ! ESS5CE ( RESI/ANCE4 ,ONE V]SION IS ! CONDEMNATION ( ! NOTION ( 5EMY AS A MORAL NOTION1 & ANO!R IS ITS SIL5T RETURN 9 ! EMPHASIS ON FRI5D%IP & AFF9ITY2 !RE IS ALSO :AT A BOOK CALL$ ,5EMIES ( ,SOCIETY MAY BE TAK5 TO SUGGE/ FROM ITS TITLE ON4 ,! CONTRADICTION SURFACES MO/ CLE>LY 9 DISCUSSIONS 9FLU5C$ BY PRIMITIVI/ POSITIONS OR ONES HO/ILE TO CIVILIZATION1 LIKELY BECAUSE ( ! TREM5D\S TEMPORAL COMPRESSION !Y REQUIRE TO MAKE !IR CASE4 ,9 SU* TALK1 WE ZOOM \T FROM LIFETIMES & G5]ATIONS TO A SCALE ( T5S ( ?\S&S ( YE>S4 ,! 5EMY APPE>S )9 ! C\RSE ( HI/ORY1 BUT ! FACT ( ! APPE>ANCE ( ! 5EMY1 ! SPLIT 9 HUMANITY1 SUMMONS ! SECOND WE1 BECAUSE ( ! NE$ TO PRESUPPOSE A :OLE SPECIES 9 SOME NATURAL /ATE 7BALANCE1 ETC47 ?AT1 9 ! EV5T OR EV5TS ?AT OP5 UP ! PANORAMA ( CIVILIZATION & HI/ORY1 CLEAVES ITSELF 9TO GR\PS OR AT LEA/ ROLES4 ,! POSITIONS WE KN[ BETT] T5D TO REVOLVE >\ND TRIVIALIZ$ V]SIONS ( !SE P]SPECTIVES1 NEV] REALLY EXP]I5C+ ! T5SION BETWE5 !M4 ,IT IS ONLY 9 ! PLAY ( ! AN>*I/ SPACE AS A :OLE 7& PRECISELY BECAUSE IT IS NOT A S+LE PLACE1 9 :I* ALL 9VOLV$ W\LD HAVE TO PUT UP ) EA* O!R = A FEW H\RS1 LET ALONE LIVE TOGE!R7 ?AT ! CONTRADICTION UNFOLDS4 ,SOME =M ( WE HAVE 5EMIES IS ! GREAT RALLY+ = A WIDE >RAY ( ACTIVE AG5TS1 FROM ! REMA9S ( ! ,LEFT TO ADVOCATES ( SOCIAL W>4 ,& SOME =M ( WE DID ?IS TO \RSELVES IS 9 ! BACKGR\ND ( ALL SORTS ( MORALIZ+ APPROA*ES TO OPPRESSION & 9T]P]SONAL DAMAGE1 BUT ALSO ! MORE MISAN?ROPIC /RA9S ( PRIMITIVISM4 ,I W\LD ALSO >GUE ?AT A MODIFI$ =M ( IT 9=MS ! DEEP BACKGR\ND ( EGOISM & SOME =MS ( 9DIVIDUALISM 7SPLITT+ ! =C$ WE FROM ! ATOMIC \RSELVES74 ,MY QUE/ION IS1 :AT HAPP5S IF WE ZOOM \T F>!R8 ,H]E ! VIRTUE ( 9VOK+ SCI5CE AS ,DES]T DOES MAY BE VISIBLE4 ,= :AT IS BEYOND HI/ORY 7! TIME ( ! ,WORLD7 & PREHI/ORY IS GEOLOGIC TIME1 ! TIME ( ! ,PLANET1 :I* LEADS US TO COSMIC TIME4 ,!RE IS A DIFF]5CE BETWE5 9VOK+ SCI5CE & PRACTIC+ OR PRAIS+ IT4 ,! LATT] SIMPLY PRODUCE MORE SCI5CE4 ,! =M] MAY BE A WAY TO 5C\NT] :AT \R /ILL HUMANI/ POLITICS IGNORE4 ,FROM ! P]SPECTIVE ( COSMIC TIME1 ! CONTRADICTION DOES NOT DISSOLVE 7AT LEA/ NOT = ME72 BUT ITS MORAL OR POLITICAL *>ACT] SEEMS TO UNRAVEL4 ,SOME?+ LESS C5T]$ ON US EM]GES4 ,P]HAPS BO? /ORIES--! /ORY AB\T 5EMIES & ! /ORY AB\T \RSELVES--IGNORE SOME?+ MU* MORE DI/URB+ ?AN M]E ACCID5TAL GUILT OR IMMORALITY1 SOME?+ ?AT DI/URBS US PRECISELY BECAUSE IT IS ! DI/URB+ ( HUMANITY4  70,IT IS NOT MAN :O COLONIZES ! PLANET1 BUT ! PLANET & ! COSMOS :O TRANSGRESS ! LONELY ?RE%OLD ( MAN0--DOES ?IS ODD S5T5CE ( ,L>UELLE'S EXPRESS ! ?\<T H]E1 ,I WOND]87 ,IT MAKES S5SE = ,?ACK] TO 9VOKE MY/ICISM :5 HE CONSID]S ! COSMOS OR ! ,PLANET1 BECAUSE ITS O!RNESS HAS MO/ (T5 BE5 REF]R$ TO AS DIV9E1 & RELAT$ TO AS A GOD4 ,N[1 ?AT NE$ HAVE NO?+ TO DO ) RELIGION1 ESPECIALLY IF WE ID5TIFY RELIGION ) REVELATION2 BUT MY/ICISM IS A GOOD 5\< APPROXIMATION TO ! ATTITUDE ONE TAKES T[>DS A N[ DEC5T]$ LIFE4 ,I CALL ?AT ATTITUDE A ?\<TFUL K9D ( SURVIVAL4 ,?IS IS CLOSELY CONNECT$ TO A CONV]SATION ONE (T5 OV]HE>S 9 ! COMPANY ( AN>*I/S4 ,SOMEONE IS DISCUSS+ SOME?+ !Y PREF] OR >E 9CL9$ TO DO1 & DO+ SO 9 9CREAS+LY POSITIVE T]MS4 ,ANO!R P]SON PO9TS \T 7FUNCTION+ ( ! AN>*I/ ID5TITY MA*9E7 ?AT !RE IS NO?+ SPECIFICALLY ANTI-CAPITALI/ OR RADICAL AB\T ! /AT$ ACTIVITY OR PREF]R$ OBJECT1 R$UC+ IT V]BALLY TO ANO!R =M ( CONSUMPTION4 ,ANXI\S H\RS >E PASS$ ?IS WAY4 ,AB\T SU* 9CL9ATIONS ,I PREF] TO SAY ?AT WE DO NOT KN[ IF !Y COME FROM ABOVE OR BEL[2 WE KN[ \R [N RESI/ANCE1 & NOT MU* MORE4 ,?AT RESI/ANCE MANIFE/S 9 UNKN[ABLE WAYS1 OBEY+ NO CONSCI\S PLAN4 ,IT C\LD WELL BE A P>TICUL>LY FANCY K9D ( NEUROSIS2 BUT SURVIVAL MEANS JU/ ?IS1 ?AT WE DO NOT KN[ ! WAY \T ( ! SITUATION & WE MU/ LIVE H]E ) ! IDEA ( AN>*Y4 ,ANO!R WAY TO PUT ?IS IS ?AT IF \R REJECTION ( SOCIETY & /ATE IS AS COMPLETE AS WE LIKE TO SAY IT IS1 \R PROJECT IS NOT TO CREATE ALT]NATIVE MICRO-SOCIETIES 7SC5ES1 MILIEUS7 ?AT PEOPLE CAN BELONG TO1 BUT SOME?+ ALONG ! L9ES ( BECOM+ MON/]S4 ,IT IS PROBABLE ?AT AN>*Y HAS ALWAYS HAD SOME?+ TO DO ) BECOM+ MON/R\S4 ,! MON/]1 WRITES ,?ACK] 9 ANO!R ( HIS BOOKS1 IS UNLAWFUL LIFE1 OR :AT CANNOT BE CONTROLL$4 ,IT SEEMS TO ME ! ONLY WAY TO DO ?IS1 AS OPPOS$ TO SAY+ ONE IS DO+ IT & BE+ SATISFI$ ) ?AT1 W\LD BE TO UNFL9*+LY CONTEMPLATE ! ?+ WE >E )\T TRY+ TO BE1 ! ?+ WE CAN NEV] TRY TO BE OR CLAIM WE >E3 ! NAMELESS ?+1 OR UN?9KABLE LIFE4 ,:I* IS ALSO ! SOLIT>Y ?+1 OR ! LONELY ONE4 ,! EGOI/ OR 9DIVIDUALI/ POSITIONS >E LIKE DULL E*OES ( ! 9EXPRESSIBLE S5TIM5T ?AT ,I MI<T BE ?AT NAMELESS ?+1 TRANSLAT$ 9TO A COMMON P>LANCE = ! B5EFIT ( A 7RESI/ANT1 YES7 RELATION TO ! SOCIAL MASS4 ,?AT ! COSMOS IS NOT \R NATURAL HOME IS A ?\<T \TSIDE ! WAYS 9 :I* WE MI<T SURVIVE H]E4 ,TO SAY WE SURVIVE 9/EAD ( LIV+ IS 9 P>T TO SAY ?AT WE HAVE NO IDEA :AT LIV+ IS OR \<T TO BE 7?AT !RE IS PROBABLY NO \<T-TO AB\T LIV+74 ,BUT ALSO ?AT WE RESI/ ANY IDEAL ( LIFE1 9CLUD+ \R [N4 ,BECOM+ MON/R\S IS !RE=E ! GOAL ( DISMANTL+ ! MILIEU AS AN>*I/ ID5TITY MA*9E4 ,BE+ WITNESS TO ! NAMELESS ?+1 TO ! UN?9KABLE LIFE OR ,PLANET OR ,COSMOS1 IS NOT A GOAL4 ,IT IS NOT A CRIT]ION ( ANY?+1 EI!R4 ,IT IS MORE LIKE A /ATE1 A MY/ICAL1 POETIC /ATE 7?\< 9 ?IS /ATE ,I AM ! POEM74 ,IT IS ! CLIMATOLOGICAL MY/ICISM ,?ACK] DESCRIBES & ,DES]T H9TS AT = AN AN>*I/ AUDI5CE1 BO? D]IV+ 9 !IR [N WAY FROM ! WEIRD 9SI<T ?AT ! ,PLANET IS 9DIFF]5T TO US4 ,SO READ ,DES]T AGA9 AS AN ALLEGORY ( ! SELF-DE/RUCTION ( ! MILIEU1 ( ANY COMMUNITY ?AT1 AS IT RUNS FROM ITS NORMS1 PLACES NEW1 UN/AT$ NORMS AHEAD ( ITSELF4 ,SU* IS ! SLIPPAGE FROM GRE5 NIHILISM TO COSMIC PESSIMISM1 :I* GIVES US OCCASION TO CONT9UE SPEAK+ ( *AOS4 ,WELL1 ONE MI<T SAY ?AT ,I HAVE M]ELY IMPORT$ SOME ALI5 !ORY 9TO AN O!RWISE FAMILI> 7IF NOT EASY7 DISCUSSION4 ,( C\RSE ,I HAVE4 ,MY AIM1 H[EV]1 WAS NOT TO APPLY IT1 BUT TO %[ 9 :AT S5SE ONE PLAY ?AT IS (T5 ACT$ \T 9 \R SPACES MAY BE ANTI-POLITICALLY !ORIZ$1 :I* IS TO SAY COSMICALLY PSY*OANALYZ$4 ,\R PLACE IS NOT TO APPLY ! !ORY ( COSMIC PESSIMISM 7OR ANY O!R !ORY2 ?AT IS NOT :AT !ORY IS1 OR IS =72 \R PLACE IS TO ?9K1 TO CONT9UE SPEAK+ ( *AOS1 NOT BE+ /UPID 5\< TO ?9K WE CAN TAKE ITS SIDE4 ,!RE >E NO SIDES4 ,WE MI<T COME TO REALIZE ?AT WE1 TOO1 9 \R ATTEMPTS TO GA!R1 ORGANIZE1 ACT1 *ANGE LIFE1 & SO ON1 W]E PLAY+ 9 ! WORLD1 IGNORANT ( ! ,PLANET1 ITS UNIMAG9ABLE WEIRDNESS4  

  

,IF ! E>? MU/ P]I%1 !N A/RONOMY IS \R ONLY CONSOLATION 

,J\B]T 

  

,PO/ SCRIPTUM4 ,I M5TION$ COMMUNITY 9 PASS+4 ,MO/ AN>*I/S ,I CONV]SE ) REGUL>LY TREAT ! WORD DELICATELY OR DISMISSIVELY1 EI!R IGNOR+ IT ALTOGE!R1 PUTT+ IT 9 QUOTATION M>KS1 OR VIRTUALLY CROSS+ IT \T4 ,I SUPPOSE ?AT CROSS$-\T S5SE ( COMMUNITY IS ANO!R NAME = ! MILIEU4 ,AS CRAPPY AS IT IS MO/ ( ! TIME1 ,I WILL ADMIT ?AT ! MILIEU IS A SPACE-TIME 7REALLY A S]IES ( PLACES-MOM5TS1 SOME ( !M TAK+ PLACE EV] SO BRIEFLY7 :]E ONE CAN REGI/]1 TO SOME EXT5T1 :AT IDEAS HAVE TRACTION 9 \R LIVES4 ,DES]T'S EXPLICIT /ATEM5TS >E C]TA9LY MORE P$E/RIAN ?AN ,?ACK]'S !ORY2 BUT ! D[NSIDE TO ,?ACK]'S EXCIT+ FLI<TS ( 9TELLECTUAL FANCY1 AT LEA/ FROM :]E ,I AM WRIT+1 IS ?AT IT IS H>D TO KN[ :O HE IS SPEAK+ TO1 OR AB\T1 MU* ( ! TIME4 ,ONE IMAG9ES ?AT PEOPLE DO GA!R TO HE> :AT HE HAS TO SAY1 OR READ HIS BOOKS 9 CONC]T4 ,I DO WOND] TO :AT EXT5T !Y CONSID] !MSELVES TO BE A COMMUNITY1 A POT5TIAL COMMUNITY1 A CROSS$-\T COMMUNITY4 

,PO/ SCRIPTUM BIS4 ,I M5TION$ SOLITUDE4 ,IT W\LD ALSO BE WOR?:ILE TO ?9K AB\T FRI5D%IP ALONG !SE L9ES4 

  

,REF]5CES 

  

,DES]T4 ,L,B,C ,BOOKS4 #b#a#a4 

,L>UELLE1 ,FRANCOIS4 0,!OREMS ON ! ,GOOD ,NEWS40 

--4 0,ON ! ,BLACK ,UNIV]SE40 ,9 ,D>K ,NI<TS ( ! ,UNIV]SE1 .<,N,A,M,E.>1 #b#a#c4 

,MASCI&>O1 ,NICOLA4 0,COMM5TS ON ,EUG5E ,?ACK]'S ',COSMIC ,PESSIMISM'40 CONT95T4 #b4#b1 #b#a#b4 

--4 0,SECRET0 ,9 ,D>K ,NI<TS ( ! ,UNIV]SE1 .<,N,A,M,E.>1 #b#a#c4 

,SNYD]1 ,G>Y4 0,! ,ETIQUETTE ( ,FRE$OM40 ,9 ,! ,PRACTICE ( ! ,WILD1 ,NOR? ,PO9T ,PRESS1 #a#i#i4 

,?ACK]1 ,EUG5E4 ,AFT] ,LIFE4 ,UNIV]SITY ( ,*ICAGO ,PRESS1 #b#a4 

--4 ,9 ! ,DU/ ( ?IS ,PLANET4 ,Z]O ,BOOKS4 #b#a4 

--4 0,COSMIC ,PESSIMISM40 CONT95T4 #b4#b 7#b#a#b74 

--4 0,REMOTE3 ,! ,=GETT+ ( ! ,WORLD40 ,9 ,D>K ,NI<TS ( ! ,UNIV]SE1 .<,N,A,M,E.>1 #b#a#c4 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #b#e1 #bba 3 ,GRE5 ,NIHILISM OR ,COSMIC ,PESSIMISM -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #f1 #bbb 3 ,GRE5 ,NIHILISM OR ,COSMIC ,PESSIMISM -- ,UPDAT$4 

 FILE G5]AT$ FROM 3  
HTTP3_/_/REVOLTLIB4COM_/