,*APT] #h 
,NEGATION & ,CONSUMPTION ,)9 ,CULTURE 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,GUY ,DEBORD 

,TEXT 3 

,*APT] #h3 ,NEGATION & ,CONSUMPTION ,)9 ,CULTURE 

  
  

0,DO Y\ REALLY BELIEVE ?AT !SE ,G]MANS WILL MAKE A POLITICAL REVOLUTION 9 \R LIFETIME8 ,MY FRI5D1 ?AT IS JU/ WI%FUL ?9K+444 ,LET US JUDGE ,G]MANY ON ! BASIS ( ITS PRES5T HI/ORY -- & SURELY Y\ >E NOT GO+ TO OBJECT ?AT ALL ITS HI/ORY IS FALSIFI$1 OR ?AT ALL ITS PRES5T PUBLIC LIFE DOES NOT REFLECT ! ACTUAL /ATE ( ! PEOPLE8 ,READ :ATEV] NEWSPAP]S Y\ PLEASE1 & Y\ CANNOT FAIL TO BE CONV9C$ ?AT WE NEV] /OP 7& Y\ MU/ CONC$E ?AT ! C5SOR%IP PREV5TS NO ONE FROM /OPP+7 CELEBRAT+ ! FRE$OM & NATIONAL HAPP9ESS ?AT WE 5JOY40  
  
  

,RUGE TO ,M>X1 ,M>* #ahdc  

#ah 

  

,CULTURE IS ! G5]AL SPH]E ( KN[L$GE & ( REPRES5TATIONS ( LIV$ EXP]I5CES )9 HI/ORICAL SOCIETIES DIVID$ 9TO CLASSES4 ,IT IS A G5]ALIZ+ P[] :I* ITSELF EXI/S AS A SEP>ATE 5TITY1 AS DIVISION ( 9TELLECTUAL LABOR & AS 9TELLECTUAL LABOR ( DIVISION4 ,CULTURE DETA*$ ITSELF FROM ! UNITY ( MY?-BAS$ SOCIETY 0:5 HUMAN LIFE LO/ ITS UNIFY+ P[] & :5 OPPOSITES LO/ !IR LIV+ CONNECTIONS & 9T]ACTIONS & BECAME AUTONOM\S0 7,! ,DIFF]5CE ,BETWE5 ! ,SY/EMS ( ,FI*TE & ,S*ELL+74 ,9 ?US GA9+ ITS 9DEP5D5CE1 CULTURE EMB>K$ ON AN IMP]IALI/IC C>E] ( SELF-5RI*M5T ?AT ULTIMATELY L$ TO ! DECL9E ( ?AT 9DEP5D5CE4 ,! HI/ORY ?AT GAVE RISE TO ! RELATIVE AUTONOMY ( CULTURE1 & TO ! IDEOLOGICAL ILLUSIONS REG>D+ ?AT AUTONOMY1 IS ALSO EXPRESS$ AS ! HI/ORY ( CULTURE4 ,& ?IS :OLE TRIUMPHANT HI/ORY ( CULTURE CAN BE UND]/OOD AS A PROGRESSIVE REVELATION ( ! 9ADEQUACY ( CULTURE1 AS A M>* T[>D CULTURE'S SELF-ABOLITION4 ,CULTURE IS ! T]RA9 ( ! QUE/ = LO/ UNITY4 ,9 ! C\RSE ( ?IS QUE/1 CULTURE AS A SEP>ATE SPH]E IS OBLIG$ TO NEGATE ITSELF4 

#aha 

  

,9 ! /RUGGLE BETWE5 TRADITION & 9NOVATION1 :I* IS ! BASIC !ME ( 9T]NAL CULTURAL DEVELOPM5T 9 HI/ORICAL SOCIETIES1 9NOVATION ALWAYS W9S4 ,BUT CULTURAL 9NOVATION IS G5]AT$ BY NO?+ O!R ?AN ! TOTAL HI/ORICAL MOVEM5T -- A MOVEM5T :I*1 9 BECOM+ CONSCI\S ( ITSELF AS A :OLE1 T5DS TO GO BEYOND ITS [N CULTURAL PRESUPPOSITIONS & ?US TO MOVE T[>D ! SUPPRESSION ( ALL SEP>ATIONS4 

#ahb 

  

,! RAPID EXPANSION ( SOCIETY'S KN[L$GE1 9CLUD+ ! UND]/&+ ?AT HI/ORY IS ! UND]LY+ BASIS ( CULTURE1 L$ TO ! IRREV]SIBLE SELF-KN[L$GE REFLECT$ BY ! DE/RUCTION ( ,GOD4 ,BUT ?IS 0FIR/ CONDITION ( ANY CRITIQUE0 IS ALSO ! FIR/ TASK ( A CRITIQUE )\T 5D4 ,:5 !RE >E NO LONG] ANY T5ABLE RULES ( CONDUCT1 EA* RESULT ( CULTURE PU%ES CULTURE T[>D ITS [N DISSOLUTION4 ,LIKE PHILOSOPHY ! MOM5T IT A*IEV$ FULL 9DEP5D5CE1 EV]Y DISCIPL9E ?AT BECOMES AUTONOM\S IS B\ND TO COLLAPSE -- FIR/ AS A CR$IBLE PRET5SION TO GIVE A COH]5T ACC\NT ( ! SOCIAL TOTALITY1 & ULTIMATELY EV5 AS A FRAGM5T$ ME?ODOLOGY ?AT MI<T BE WORKABLE )9 ITS [N DOMA94 ,SEP>ATE CULTURE'S LACK ( RATIONALITY IS :AT DOOMS IT TO DISAPPE>1 BECAUSE ?AT CULTURE ALREADY EMBODIES A /RIV+ = ! VICTORY ( ! RATIONAL4 

#ahc 

  

,CULTURE GREW \T ( A HI/ORY ?AT DISSOLV$ ! PREVI\S WAY ( LIFE1 BUT AS A SEP>ATE SPH]E )9 A P>TIALLY HI/ORICAL SOCIETY ITS UND]/&+ & S5SORY COMMUNICATION 9EVITABLY REMA9 P>TIAL4 ,IT IS ! MEAN+ ( AN 9SUFFICI5TLY MEAN+FUL WORLD4 

#ahd 

  

,! 5D ( ! HI/ORY ( CULTURE MANIFE/S ITSELF 9 TWO OPPOS+ =MS3 ! PROJECT ( CULTURE'S SELF-TRANSC5D5CE )9 TOTAL HI/ORY1 & ITS PRES]VATION AS A DEAD OBJECT = SPECTACUL> CONTEMPLATION4 ,! FIR/ T5D5CY HAS L9K$ ITS FATE TO SOCIAL CRITIQUE1 ! SECOND TO ! DEF5SE ( CLASS P[]4 

#ahe 

  

,EA* ( !SE TWO =MS ( ! 5D ( CULTURE HAS A UNIT>Y EXI/5CE1 BO? )9 ALL ! ASPECTS ( KN[L$GE & )9 ALL ! ASPECTS ( S5SORY REPRES5TATION 7?AT IS1 )9 :AT WAS =M]LY UND]/OOD AS >T 9 ! BROADE/ S5SE ( ! WORD74 ,9 ! CASE ( KN[L$GE1 ! ACCUMULATION ( BRAN*ES ( FRAGM5T>Y KN[L$GE1 :I* BECOME UNUSABLE BECAUSE APPROVAL ( EXI/+ CONDITIONS ULTIMATELY REQUIRES R5\NC+ ONE'S [N KN[L$GE1 IS OPPOS$ BY ! !ORY ( PRAXIS :I* ALONE HAS ACCESS TO ! TRU? ( ALL !SE =MS ( KN[L$GE S9CE IT ALONE KN[S ! SECRET ( !IR USE4 ,9 ! CASE ( S5SORY REPRES5TATIONS1 ! CRITICAL SELF-DE/RUCTION ( SOCIETY'S =M] COMMON LANGUAGE IS OPPOS$ BY ITS >TIFICIAL RECON/RUCTION )9 ! COMMODITY SPECTACLE1 ! ILLUSORY REPRES5TATION ( NONLIFE4 

#ahf 

  

,ONCE SOCIETY HAS LO/ ITS MY?-BAS$ COMMUNITY1 IT LOSES ALL ! REF]5CE PO9TS ( TRULY COMMON LANGUAGE UNTIL SU* TIME AS ! DIVISIONS )9 ! 9ACTIVE COMMUNITY CAN BE OV]COME BY ! 9AUGURATION ( A REAL HI/ORICAL COMMUNITY4 ,:5 >T1 :I* WAS ! COMMON LANGUAGE ( SOCIAL 9ACTION1 DEVELOPS 9TO 9DEP5D5T >T 9 ! MOD]N S5SE1 EM]G+ FROM ITS ORIG9AL RELIGI\S UNIV]SE & BECOM+ 9DIVIDUAL PRODUCTION ( SEP>ATE WORKS1 IT TOO BECOMES SUBJECT TO ! MOVEM5T GOV]N+ ! HI/ORY ( ALL SEP>ATE CULTURE4 ,ITS DECL>ATION ( 9DEP5D5CE IS ! BEG9N+ ( ITS 5D4 

#ahg 

  

,! POSITIVE SIGNIFICANCE ( ! MOD]N DECOMPOSITION & DE/RUCTION ( ALL >T IS ?AT ! LANGUAGE ( COMMUNICATION HAS BE5 LO/4 ,! NEGATIVE IMPLICATION ( ?IS DEVELOPM5T IS ?AT A COMMON LANGUAGE CAN NO LONG] TAKE ! =M ( ! UNILAT]AL CONCLUSIONS ?AT *>ACT]IZ$ ! >T ( HI/ORICAL SOCIETIES -- BELAT$ PORTRAYALS ( SOMEONE ELSE'S DIALOGUELESS LIFE :I* ACCEPT$ ?IS LACK AS 9EVITABLE -- BUT MU/ N[ BE F\ND 9 A PRAXIS ?AT UNIFIES DIRECT ACTIVITY ) ITS [N APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE4 ,! PO9T IS TO ACTUALLY P>TICIPATE 9 ! COMMUNITY ( DIALOGUE & ! GAME ) TIME ?AT UP TILL N[ HAVE M]ELY BE5 REPRES5T$ BY POETIC & >TI/IC WORKS4 

#ahh 

  

,:5 >T BECOMES 9DEP5D5T & PA9TS ITS WORLD 9 DAZZL+ COLORS1 A MOM5T ( LIFE HAS GR[N OLD4 ,SU* A MOM5T CANNOT BE REJUV5AT$ BY DAZZL+ COLORS1 IT CAN ONLY BE EVOK$ 9 MEMORY4 ,! GREATNESS ( >T ONLY EM]GES AT ! DUSK ( LIFE4 

#ahi 

  

,! HI/ORICAL TIME ?AT 9VAD$ >T WAS MANIFE/$ FIR/ ( ALL 9 ! SPH]E ( >T ITSELF1 BEG9N+ ) ! B>OQUE4 ,B>OQUE WAS ! >T ( A WORLD ?AT HAD LO/ ITS C5T] ) ! COLLAPSE ( ! LA/ MY?ICAL ORD]3 ! ,M$IEVAL SYN!SIS ( A UNIFI$ ,*RI/IANITY ) ! <O/ ( AN ,EMPIRE1 :I* HAD H>MONIZ$ HEAV5LY & E>?LY GOV]NM5T4 ,! >T ( *ANGE 9EVITABLY EMBODI$ ! SAME EPHEM]ALITY ?AT IT DISCOV]$ 9 ! WORLD4 ,AS ,EUG5IO D',ORS PUT IT1 IT *OSE 0LIFE 9/EAD ( ET]NITY40 ,! \T/&+ A*IEVEM5TS ( B>OQUE W]E 9 !AT] & FE/IVAL1 OR 9 !ATRICAL FE/IVALS1 :]E ! SOLE PURPOSE ( EA* P>TICUL> >TI/IC EXPRESSION WAS TO CONTRIBUTE TO ! COMPOSITION ( A SC5E1 A SC5E :I* HAD TO S]VE AS ITS [N C5T] ( UNIFICATION2 & ?AT C5T] WAS ! PASSAGE1 ! EXPRESSION ( A ?REAT5$ EQUILIBRIUM )9 ! OV]ALL DYNAMIC DISORD]4 ,! SOME:AT EXCESSIVE EMPHASIS ON ! CONCEPT ( B>OQUE 9 CONTEMPOR>Y ES!TIC DISCUSSIONS REFLECTS ! AW>5ESS ?AT AN >TI/IC CLASSICISM IS NO LONG] POSSIBLE4 ,! ATTEMPTS TO E/ABLI% A NORMATIVE CLASSICISM OR NEOCLASSICISM DUR+ ! LA/ ?REE C5TURIES HAVE BE5 NO?+ BUT %ORT-LIV$ >TIFICIAL CON/RUCTS SPEAK+ ! (FICIAL LANGUAGE ( ! /ATE 7:E!R ( ! ABSOLUTE MON>*Y OR ( ! REVOLUTION>Y B\RGEOISIE DRAP$ 9 ,ROMAN TOGAS74 ,:AT EV5TUALLY FOLL[$ B>OQUE1 ONCE IT HAD RUN ITS C\RSE1 WAS AN EV] MORE 9DIVIDUALI/IC >T ( NEGATION :I*1 FROM ROMANTICISM TO CUBISM1 CONT9UALLY R5EW$ ITS ASSAULTS UNTIL IT HAD FRAGM5T$ & DE/ROY$ ! 5TIRE >TI/IC SPH]E4 ,! DISAPPE>ANCE ( HI/ORICAL >T1 :I* WAS L9K$ TO ! 9T]NAL COMMUNICATION ( AN ELITE & :I* HAD ITS SEMI-9DEP5D5T SOCIAL BASIS 9 ! P>TIALLY PLAYFUL CONDITIONS /ILL EXP]I5C$ BY ! LA/ >I/OCRACIES1 ALSO REFLECTS ! FACT ?AT CAPITALISM IS ! FIR/ =M ( CLASS P[] ?AT ACKN[L$GES ITS [N TOTAL LACK ( ONTOLOGICAL QUALITY -- A P[] :OSE BASIS 9 ! M]E MANAGEM5T ( ! ECONOMY IS SYMPTOMATIC ( ! LOSS ( ALL HUMAN MA/]Y4 ,! COMPREH5SIVE UNITY ( ! B>OQUE 5SEMBLE1 :I* HAS LONG BE5 LACK+ 9 ! WORLD ( >TI/IC CREATION1 HAS 9 A S5SE BE5 REVIV$ 9 TODAY'S :OLESALE CONSUMPTION ( ! TOTALITY ( PA/ >T4 ,AS ALL ! >T ( ! PA/ COMES TO BE RECOGNIZ$ & APPRECIAT$ HI/ORICALLY1 & IS RETROSPECTIVELY RECLASSIFI$ AS PHASES ( A S+LE 0WORLD >T10 IT IS 9CORPORAT$ 9TO A GLOBAL DISORD] ?AT CAN ITSELF BE SE5 AS A SORT ( B>OQUE /RUCTURE AT A HI<] LEVEL1 A /RUCTURE ?AT ABSORBS B>OQUE >T ITSELF ALONG ) ALL ITS POSSIBLE REVIVALS4 ,= ! FIR/ TIME 9 HI/ORY ! >TS ( ALL AGES & CIVILIZATIONS CAN BE KN[N & ACCEPT$ TOGE!R1 & ! FACT ?AT IT HAS BECOME POSSIBLE TO COLLECT & RECOLLECT ALL !SE >T-HI/ORICAL MEMORIES M>KS ! 5D ( ! WORLD ( >T4 ,9 ?IS AGE ( MUSEUMS 9 :I* >TI/IC COMMUNICATION IS NO LONG] POSSIBLE1 ALL ! PREVI\S EXPRESSIONS ( >T CAN BE ACCEPT$ EQUALLY1 BECAUSE :ATEV] P>TICUL> COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS !Y MAY HAVE HAD >E ECLIPS$ BY ALL ! PRES5T-DAY OB/ACLES TO COMMUNICATION 9 G5]AL4 

#ai 

  

,>T 9 ITS P]IOD ( DISSOLUTION -- A MOVEM5T ( NEGATION /RIV+ = ITS [N TRANSC5D5CE )9 A HI/ORICAL SOCIETY :]E HI/ORY IS NOT YET DIRECTLY LIV$ -- IS AT ONCE AN >T ( *ANGE & ! PURE/ EXPRESSION ( ! IMPOSSIBILITY ( *ANGE4 ,! MORE GR&IOSE ITS PRET5SIONS1 ! FUR!R FROM ITS GRASP IS ITS TRUE FULFILLM5T4 ,?IS >T IS NECESS>ILY AVANT-G>DE1 & AT ! SAME TIME IT DOES NOT REALLY EXI/4 ,ITS VANGU>D IS ITS [N DISAPPE>ANCE4 

#aia 

  

,DADAISM & SURREALISM W]E ! TWO CURR5TS ?AT M>K$ ! 5D ( MOD]N >T4 ,?\< !Y W]E ONLY P>TIALLY CONSCI\S ( IT1 !Y W]E CONTEMPOR>IES ( ! LA/ GREAT (F5SIVE ( ! REVOLUTION>Y PROLET>IAN MOVEM5T1 & ! DEFEAT ( ?AT MOVEM5T1 :I* LEFT !M TRAPP$ )9 ! V]Y >TI/IC SPH]E :OSE DECREPITUDE !Y HAD D5\NC$1 WAS ! FUNDAM5TAL REASON = !IR IMMOBILIZATION4 ,DADAISM & SURREALISM W]E HI/ORICALLY L9K$ YET ALSO OPPOS$ TO EA* O!R4 ,?IS OPPOSITION 9VOLV$ ! MO/ IMPORTANT & RADICAL CONTRIBUTIONS ( ! TWO MOVEM5TS1 BUT IT ALSO REVEAL$ ! 9T]NAL 9ADEQUACY ( !IR ONE-SID$ CRITIQUES4 ,DADAISM S\<T TO ABOLI% >T )\T REALIZ+ IT2 SURREALISM S\<T TO REALIZE >T )\T ABOLI%+ IT4 ,! CRITICAL POSITION S9CE DEVELOP$ BY ! SITUATIONI/S HAS %[N ?AT ! ABOLITION & REALIZATION ( >T >E 9SEP>ABLE ASPECTS ( A S+LE TRANSC5D5CE ( >T4 

#aib 

  

,! SPECTACUL> CONSUMPTION ?AT PRES]VES PA/ CULTURE 9 CONGEAL$ =M1 9CLUD+ COOPT$ REHA%ES ( ITS NEGATIVE MANIFE/ATIONS1 GIVES OV]T EXPRESSION 9 ITS CULTURAL SECTOR TO :AT IT IMPLICITLY IS 9 ITS TOTALITY3 ! COMMUNICATION ( ! 9COMMUNICABLE4 ,! MO/ EXTREME DE/RUCTION ( LANGUAGE CAN BE (FICIALLY WELCOM$ AS A POSITIVE DEVELOPM5T BECAUSE IT AM\NTS TO YET ONE MORE WAY ( FLAUNT+ ONE'S ACCEPTANCE ( A /ATUS QUO :]E ALL COMMUNICATION HAS BE5 SMUGLY DECL>$ ABS5T4 ,! CRITICAL TRU? ( ?IS DE/RUCTION -- ! REAL LIFE ( MOD]N POETRY & >T -- IS OBVI\SLY CONCEAL$1 S9CE ! SPECTACLE1 :OSE FUNCTION IS TO USE CULTURE TO BURY ALL HI/ORICAL MEMORY1 APPLIES ITS [N ESS5TIAL /RATEGY 9 ITS PROMOTION ( MOD]NI/IC PSEUDO9NOVATIONS4 ,?US A S*OOL ( NEOLIT]ATURE ?AT BALDLY ADMITS ?AT IT DOES NO?+ BUT CONTEMPLATE ! WRITT5 WORD = ITS [N SAKE CAN PASS ITSELF (F AS SOME?+ NEW4 ,MEAN:ILE1 ALONGSIDE ! SIMPLE CLAIM ?AT ! DEA? ( COMMUNICATION HAS A SUFFICI5T BEAUTY ( ITS [N1 ! MO/ MOD]N T5D5CY ( SPECTACUL> CULTURE -- :I* IS ALSO ! ONE MO/ CLOSELY L9K$ TO ! REPRESSIVE PRACTICE ( ! G5]AL ORGANIZATION ( SOCIETY -- SEEKS BY MEANS ( 0COLLECTIVE PROJECTS0 TO CON/RUCT COMPLEX NEO>TI/IC 5VIRONM5TS \T ( DECOMPOS$ ELEM5TS1 AS CAN BE SE5 9 URBANISM'S ATTEMPTS TO 9CORPORATE SCRAPS ( >T OR HYBRID AES!TICO-TE*NICAL =MS4 ,?IS IS AN EXPRESSION1 9 ! DOMA9 ( SPECTACUL> PSEUDOCULTURE1 ( ADVANC$ CAPITALISM'S G5]AL PROJECT ( REMOLD+ ! FRAGM5T$ WORK] 9TO A 0SOCIALLY 9TEGRAT$ P]SONALITY10 A T5D5CY ?AT HAS BE5 DESCRIB$ BY REC5T ,AM]ICAN SOCIOLOGI/S 7,RIESMAN1 ,:YTE1 ETC474 ,9 ALL !SE >EAS ! GOAL REMA9S ! SAME3 TO RE/RUCTURE SOCIETY )\T COMMUNITY4 

#aic 

  

,AS CULTURE BECOMES COMPLETELY COMMODIFI$ IT T5DS TO BECOME ! /> COMMODITY ( SPECTACUL> SOCIETY4 ,CL>K ,K]R1 ONE ( ! =EMO/ IDEOLOGUES ( ?IS T5D5CY1 HAS CALCULAT$ ?AT ! COMPLEX PROCESS ( PRODUCTION1 DI/RIBUTION & CONSUMPTION ( KN[L$GE ALREADY ACC\NTS = #b#i.0 ( ! GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT ( ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES2 & HE PR$ICTS ?AT 9 ! SECOND HALF ( ?IS C5TURY ! 0KN[L$GE 9DU/RY0 WILL BECOME ! DRIV+ =CE ( ! ,AM]ICAN ECONOMY1 AS WAS ! AUTOMOBILE 9 ! FIR/ HALF ( ?IS C5TURY & ! RAILROAD 9 ! LA/ HALF ( ! PREVI\S C5TURY4 

#aid 

  

,! TASK ( ! V>I\S BRAN*ES ( KN[L$GE ?AT >E 9 ! PROCESS ( DEVELOP+ SPECTACUL> ?\<T IS TO JU/IFY AN UNJU/IFIABLE SOCIETY & TO E/ABLI% A G5]AL SCI5CE ( FALSE CONSCI\SNESS4 ,?IS ?\<T IS TOTALLY CONDITION$ BY ! FACT ?AT IT CANNOT RECOGNIZE1 & DOES NOT WANT TO RECOGNIZE1 ITS [N MAT]IAL DEP5D5CE ON ! SPECTACUL> SY/EM4 

#aie 

  

,! (FICIAL ?\<T ( ! SOCIAL ORGANIZATION ( APPE>ANCES IS ITSELF OBSCUR$ BY ! G5]ALIZ$ SUBCOMMUNICATION ?AT IT HAS TO DEF5D4 ,IT CANNOT UND]/& ?AT CONFLICT IS AT ! ORIG9 ( EV]Y?+ 9 ITS WORLD4 ,! SPECIALI/S ( SPECTACUL> P[] -- A P[] ?AT IS ABSOLUTE )9 ITS REALM ( ONE-WAY COMMUNICATION -- >E ABSOLUTELY CORRUPT$ BY !IR EXP]I5CE ( CONTEMPT & BY ! SUCCESS ( ?AT CONTEMPT1 BECAUSE !Y F9D !IR CONTEMPT CONFIRM$ BY !IR AW>5ESS ( H[ TRULY CONTEMPTIBLE SPECTATORS REALLY >E4 

#aif 

  

,AS ! V]Y TRIUMPHS ( ! SPECTACUL> SY/EM POSE NEW PROBLEMS1 A NEW DIVISION ( TASKS APPE>S )9 ! SPECIALIZ$ ?\<T ( ?AT SY/EM4 ,ON ONE H&1 A SPECTACUL> CRITIQUE ( ! SPECTACLE IS UND]TAK5 BY MOD]N SOCIOLOGY1 :I* /UDIES SEP>ATION EXCLUSIVELY BY MEANS ( ! CONCEPTUAL & MAT]IAL 9/RUM5TS ( SEP>ATION4 ,ON ! O!R1 ! V>I\S DISCIPL9ES :]E /RUCTURALISM HAS BECOME 5TR5*$ >E DEVELOP+ AN APOLOGETICS ( ! SPECTACLE -- A M9DLESS ?\<T ?AT IMPOSES AN (FICIAL AMNESIA REG>D+ ALL HI/ORICAL PRACTICE4 ,BUT ! FAKE DESPAIR ( NONDIALECTICAL CRITIQUE & ! FAKE OPTIMISM ( OV]T PROMOTION ( ! SY/EM >E EQUALLY SUBMISSIVE4 

#aig 

  

,! SOCIOLOGI/S :O HAVE BEGUN TO RAISE QUE/IONS AB\T ! LIV+ CONDITIONS CREAT$ BY MOD]N SOCIAL DEVELOPM5TS 7FIR/ ( ALL 9 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES7 HAVE GA!R$ A GREAT DEAL ( EMPIRICAL DATA1 BUT !Y HAVE FAIL$ TO GRASP ! TRUE NATURE ( !IR OBJECT ( /UDY BECAUSE !Y FAIL TO RECOGNIZE ! CRITIQUE ?AT IS 9H]5T 9 ?AT OBJECT4 ,AS A RESULT1 ?OSE AMONG !M :O S9C]ELY WI% TO RE=M !SE CONDITIONS CAN ONLY APPEAL TO E?ICAL /&>DS1 COMMON S5SE1 MOD]ATION1 & O!R MEASURES ?AT >E EQUALLY 9ADEQUATE = DEAL+ ) ! PROBLEMS 9 QUE/ION4 ,BECAUSE ?IS ME?OD ( CRITICISM IS UNAW>E ( ! NEGATIVITY AT ! HE>T ( ITS WORLD1 IT FOCUSES ON DESCRIB+ & DEPLOR+ AN EXCESSIVE SORT ( NEGATIVITY ?AT SEEMS TO BLI<T ! SURFACE ( ?AT WORLD LIKE SOME IRRATIONAL P>ASITIC 9FE/ATION4 ,?IS \TRAG$ GOOD WILL1 :I* EV5 )9 ITS [N MORALIZ+ FRAMEWORK 5DS UP BLAM+ ONLY ! EXT]NAL CONSEQU5CES ( ! SY/EM1 CAN SEE ITSELF AS CRITICAL ONLY BY IGNOR+ ! ESS5TIALLY APOLOGETIC *>ACT] ( ITS ASSUMPTIONS & ME?ODS4 

#aih 

  

,?OSE :O D5\NCE ! AFFLU5T SOCIETY'S 9CITEM5T TO WA/EFULNESS AS ABSURD OR DANG]\S DO NOT UND]/& ! PURPOSE ( ?IS WA/EFULNESS4 ,9 ! NAME ( ECONOMIC RATIONALITY1 !Y UNGRATEFULLY CONDEMN ! FAI?FUL IRRATIONAL GU>DIANS ?AT KEEP ! P[] ( ?IS ECONOMIC RATIONALITY FROM COLLAPS+4 ,DANIEL ,BOOR/91 = EXAMPLE1 :OSE BOOK ,! ,IMAGE DESCRIBES SPECTACLE-COMMODITY CONSUMPTION 9 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES1 NEV] >RIVES AT ! CONCEPT ( ! SPECTACLE BECAUSE HE ?9KS HE CAN TREAT PRIVATE LIFE & 0HONE/ COMMODITIES0 AS SEP>ATE FROM ! 0EXCESSES0 HE DEPLORES4 ,HE FAILS TO UND]/& ?AT ! COMMODITY ITSELF MADE ! LAWS :OSE 0HONE/0 APPLICATION LEADS BO? TO ! DI/9CT REALITY ( PRIVATE LIFE & TO ITS SUBSEQU5T RECONQUE/ BY ! SOCIAL CONSUMPTION ( IMAGES4 

#aii 

  

,BOOR/9 DESCRIBES ! EXCESSES ( A WORLD ?AT HAS BECOME =EIGN TO US AS IF !Y W]E EXCESSES =EIGN TO \R WORLD4 ,:51 LIKE A MORAL OR PSY*OLOGICAL PROPHET1 HE D5\NCES ! SUP]FICIAL REIGN ( IMAGES AS A PRODUCT ( 0\R EXTRAVAGANT EXPECTATIONS10 HE IS IMPLICITLY CONTRA/+ !SE EXCESSES TO A 0NORMAL0 LIFE ?AT HAS NO REALITY 9 EI!R HIS BOOK OR HIS ]A4 ,BECAUSE ! REAL HUMAN LIFE ?AT ,BOOR/9 EVOKES IS LOCAT$ = HIM 9 ! PA/1 9CLUD+ ! PA/ ?AT WAS DOM9AT$ BY RELIGI\S RESIGNATION1 HE HAS NO WAY ( COMPREH5D+ ! TRUE EXT5T ( ! PRES5T SOCIETY'S DOM9ATION BY IMAGES4 ,WE CAN TRULY UND]/& ?IS SOCIETY ONLY BY NEGAT+ IT4 

#b 

  

,A SOCIOLOGY ?AT BELIEVES ?AT A SEP>ATELY FUNCTION+ 9DU/RIAL RATIONALITY CAN BE ISOLAT$ FROM SOCIAL LIFE AS A :OLE MAY GO ON TO VIEW ! TE*NIQUES ( REPRODUCTION & COMMUNICATION AS 9DEP5D5T ( G5]AL 9DU/RIAL DEVELOPM5T4 ,?US ,BOOR/9 CONCLUDES ?AT ! SITUATION HE DESCRIBES IS CAUS$ BY AN UN=TUNATE BUT ALMO/ =TUIT\S 5C\NT] ( AN EXCESSIVE TE*NOLOGY ( IMAGE-DIFFUSION ) AN EXCESSIVE APPETITE = S5SATIONALISM ON ! P>T ( TODAY'S PUBLIC4 ,?IS AM\NTS TO BLAM+ ! SPECTACLE ON MOD]N MAN'S EXCESSIVE 9CL9ATION TO BE A SPECTATOR4 ,BOOR/9 FAILS TO SEE ?AT ! PROLIF]ATION ( ! PREFABRICAT$ 0PSEUDO-EV5TS0 HE D5\NCES FL[S FROM ! SIMPLE FACT ?AT ! OV]:ELM+ REALITIES ( PRES5T-DAY SOCIAL EXI/5CE PREV5T PEOPLE FROM ACTUALLY LIV+ EV5TS = !MSELVES4 ,BECAUSE HI/ORY ITSELF HAUNTS MOD]N SOCIETY LIKE A SPECT]1 PSEUDOHI/ORIES HAVE TO BE CONCOCT$ AT EV]Y LEVEL 9 ORD] TO PRES]VE ! ?REAT5$ EQUILIBRIUM ( ! PRES5T FROZ5 TIME4 

#ba 

  

,! CURR5T T5D5CY T[>D /RUCTURALI/ SY/EMATIZATION IS BAS$ ON ! EXPLICIT OR IMPLICIT ASSUMPTION ?AT ?IS BRIEF FREEZ+ ( HI/ORICAL TIME WILL LA/ =EV]4 ,! ANTIHI/ORICAL ?\<T ( /RUCTURALISM BELIEVES 9 ! ET]NAL PRES5CE ( A SY/EM ?AT WAS NEV] CREAT$ & ?AT WILL NEV] COME TO AN 5D4 ,ITS ILLUSION ?AT ALL SOCIAL PRACTICE IS UNCONSCI\SLY DET]M9$ BY PREEXI/+ /RUCTURES IS BAS$ ON ILLEGITIMATE ANALOGIES ) /RUCTURAL MODELS DEVELOP$ BY L+UI/ICS & AN?ROPOLOGY 7OR EV5 ON MODELS US$ = ANALYZ+ ! FUNCTION+ ( CAPITALISM7 -- MODELS ?AT W]E ALREADY 9ACCURATE EV5 9 !IR ORIG9AL CONTEXTS4 ,?IS FALLACI\S REASON+ /EMS FROM ! LIMIT$ 9TELLECTUAL CAPACITY ( ! ACADEMIC FUNCTION>IES HIR$ TO EXP\ND ?IS ?\<T1 :O >E SO ?OR\<LY CAU<T UP 9 !IR AWE/RUCK CELEBRATION ( ! EXI/+ SY/EM ?AT !Y CAN DO NO?+ BUT R$UCE ALL REALITY TO ! EXI/5CE ( ?AT SY/EM4 

#bb 

  

,9 ORD] TO UND]/& 0/RUCTURALI/0 CATEGORIES1 ONE MU/ BE> 9 M9D ?AT SU* CATEGORIES1 LIKE ?OSE ( ANY O!R HI/ORICAL SOCIAL SCI5CE1 REFLECT =MS & CONDITIONS ( EXI/5CE4 ,JU/ AS ONE DOES NOT JUDGE AN 9DIVIDUAL BY :AT HE ?9KS AB\T HIMSELF1 ONE CANNOT JUDGE OR ADMIRE ?IS P>TICUL> SOCIETY BY ASSUM+ ?AT ! LANGUAGE IT SPEAKS TO ITSELF IS NECESS>ILY TRUE4 0,WE CANNOT JUDGE SU* A P]IOD ( TRANS=MATION BY ITS [N CONSCI\SNESS2 ON ! CONTR>Y1 ?AT CONSCI\SNESS MU/ BE EXPLA9$ 9 ! LI<T ( ! CONTRADICTIONS ( MAT]IAL LIFE4440 ,/RUCTURES >E ! PROG5Y ( E/ABLI%$ P[]S4 ,/RUCTURALISM IS ?\<T UND]WRITT5 BY ! /ATE1 A =M ( ?\<T ?AT REG>DS ! PRES5T CONDITIONS ( SPECTACUL> 0COMMUNICATION0 AS AN ABSOLUTE4 ,ITS ME?OD ( /UDY+ CODE 9 ISOLATION FROM CONT5T IS M]ELY A REFLECTION ( A TAK5-=-GRANT$ SOCIETY :]E COMMUNICATION TAKES ! =M ( A CASCADE ( HI]>*ICAL SIGNALS4 ,/RUCTURALISM DOES NOT PROVE ! TRAN%I/ORICAL VALIDITY ( ! SOCIETY ( ! SPECTACLE2 ON ! CONTR>Y1 IT IS ! SOCIETY ( ! SPECTACLE1 IMPOS+ ITSELF 9 ITS OV]:ELM+ REALITY1 ?AT VALIDATES ! FRIGID DREAM ( /RUCTURALISM4 

#bc 

  

,! CRITICAL CONCEPT ( 0! SPECTACLE0 CAN ALSO UND\BT$LY BE TURN$ 9TO ONE MORE HOLL[ =MULA ( SOCIOLOGICO-POLITICAL RHETORIC US$ TO EXPLA9 & D5\NCE EV]Y?+ 9 ! AB/RACT1 ?US S]V+ TO RE9=CE ! SPECTACUL> SY/EM4 ,IT IS OBVI\S ?AT IDEAS ALONE CANNOT LEAD BEYOND ! EXI/+ SPECTACLE2 AT MO/1 !Y CAN ONLY LEAD BEYOND EXI/+ IDEAS AB\T ! SPECTACLE4 ,TO ACTUALLY DE/ROY ! SOCIETY ( ! SPECTACLE1 PEOPLE MU/ SET A PRACTICAL =CE 9TO MOTION4 ,A CRITICAL !ORY ( ! SPECTACLE CANNOT BE TRUE UNLESS IT UNITES ) ! PRACTICAL CURR5T ( NEGATION 9 SOCIETY2 & ?AT NEGATION1 ! RESUMPTION ( REVOLUTION>Y CLASS /RUGGLE1 CAN = ITS P>T ONLY BECOME CONSCI\S ( ITSELF BY DEVELOP+ ! CRITIQUE ( ! SPECTACLE1 :I* IS ! !ORY ( ITS REAL CONDITIONS -- ! CONCRETE CONDITIONS ( PRES5T-DAY OPPRESSION -- & :I* ALSO REVEALS ITS HIDD5 POT5TIAL4 ,?IS !ORY DOES NOT EXPECT MIRACLES FROM ! WORK+ CLASS4 ,IT 5VISAGES ! RE=MULATION & FULFILLM5T ( PROLET>IAN DEM&S AS A LONG-T]M TASK4 ,TO MAKE AN >TIFICIAL DI/9CTION BETWE5 !ORETICAL & PRACTICAL /RUGGLE 7= ! =MULATION & COMMUNICATION ( ! TYPE ( !ORY 5VISAG$ H]E IS ALREADY 9CONCEIVABLE )\T A RIGOR\S PRACTICE71 IT IS C]TA9 ?AT ! OBSCURE & DIFFICULT PA? ( CRITICAL !ORY MU/ ALSO BE ! FATE ( ! PRACTICAL MOVEM5T ACT+ ON ! SCALE ( SOCIETY4 

#bd 

  

,CRITICAL !ORY MU/ COMMUNICATE ITSELF 9 ITS [N LANGUAGE -- ! LANGUAGE ( CONTRADICTION1 :I* MU/ BE DIALECTICAL 9 BO? =M & CONT5T4 ,IT MU/ BE AN ALL-9CLUSIVE CRITIQUE1 & IT MU/ BE GR\ND$ 9 HI/ORY4 ,IT IS NOT A 0Z]O DEGREE ( WRIT+10 BUT ITS REV]SAL4 ,IT IS NOT A NEGATION ( /YLE1 BUT ! /YLE ( NEGATION4 

#be 

  

,! V]Y /YLE ( DIALECTICAL !ORY IS A SC&AL & ABOM9ATION TO ! PREVAIL+ /&>DS ( LANGUAGE & TO ! S5SIBILITIES MOLD$ BY ?OSE /&>DS1 BECAUSE :ILE IT MAKES CONCRETE USE ( EXI/+ CONCEPTS IT SIMULTANE\SLY RECOGNIZES !IR FLUIDITY & !IR 9EVITABLE DE/RUCTION4 

#bf 

  

,?IS /YLE1 :I* 9CLUDES A CRITIQUE ( ITSELF1 MU/ EXPRESS ! DOM9ATION ( ! PRES5T CRITIQUE OV] ITS 5TIRE PA/4 ,DIALECTICAL !ORY'S MODE ( EXPOSITION REVEALS ! NEGATIVE SPIRIT )9 IT4 0,TRU? IS NOT LIKE SOME F9I%$ PRODUCT 9 :I* ONE CAN NO LONG] F9D ANY TRACE ( ! TOOL ?AT MADE IT0 7,HEGEL74 ,?IS !ORETICAL CONSCI\SNESS ( A MOVEM5T :OSE TRACES MU/ REMA9 VISIBLE )9 IT IS MANIFE/$ BY ! REV]SAL ( E/ABLI%$ RELATION%IPS BETWE5 CONCEPTS & BY ! DET\RNEM5T ( ALL ! A*IEVEM5TS ( E>LI] CRITICAL EF=TS4 ,HEGEL'S PRACTICE ( REV]S+ ! G5ITIVE WAS AN EXPRESSION ( HI/ORICAL REVOLUTIONS1 ?\< ?AT EXPRESSION WAS CONF9$ TO ! =M ( ?\<T4 ,! Y\NG ,M>X1 9SPIR$ BY ,FEU]BA*'S SY/EMATIC REV]SAL ( SUBJECT & PR$ICATE1 A*IEV$ ! MO/ EFFECTIVE USE ( ?IS 9SURRECTIONAL /YLE1 :I* ANSW]S 0! PHILOSOPHY ( POV]TY0 ) 0! POV]TY ( PHILOSOPHY40 ,DET\RNEM5T R]ADICALIZES PREVI\S CRITICAL CONCLUSIONS ?AT HAVE BE5 PETRIFI$ 9TO RESPECTABLE TRU?S & ?US TRANS=M$ 9TO LIES4 ,KI]KEGA>D ALREADY US$ IT DELIB]ATELY1 ?\< HE ALSO D5\NC$ IT3 0,BUT DESPITE ALL Y\R TWI/S & TURNS1 JU/ AS JAM ALWAYS RETURNS TO ! PANTRY1 Y\ ALWAYS 5D UP 9TRODUC+ SOME LITTLE PHRASE :I* IS NOT Y\R [N1 & :I* AWAK5S DI/URB+ RECOLLECTIONS0 7,PHILOSOPHICAL ,FRAGM5TS74 ,AS HE ACKN[L$G$ ELSE:]E 9 ! SAME BOOK1 ?IS USE ( DET\RNEM5T REQUIRES MA9TA9+ ONE'S DI/ANCE FROM :ATEV] HAS BE5 TURN$ 9TO AN (FICIAL TRU?3 0,ONE FUR!R REM>K REG>D+ Y\R MANY COMPLA9TS ?AT ,I 9TRODUC$ BORR[$ EXPRESSIONS 9TO MY EXPOSITION4 ,I DO NOT D5Y ?AT ,I DID SO4 ,IT WAS 9 FACT DONE DELIB]ATELY4 ,9 ! NEXT SECTION ( ?IS WORK1 IF ,I EV] WRITE SU* A SECTION1 ,I 9T5D TO CALL ?IS TOPIC BY ITS TRUE NAME & TO CLO! ! PROBLEM 9 ITS HI/ORICAL ATTIRE40 

#bg 

  

,IDEAS IMPROVE4 ,! MEAN+ ( WORDS PLAYS A ROLE 9 ?AT IMPROVEM5T4 ,PLAGI>ISM IS NECESS>Y4 ,PROGRESS DEP5DS ON IT4 ,IT /ICKS CLOSE TO AN AU?OR'S PHRAS+1 EXPLOITS HIS EXPRESSIONS1 DELETES A FALSE IDEA1 REPLACES IT ) ! RI<T ONE4 

#bh 

  

,DET\RNEM5T IS ! OPPOSITE ( QUOTATION1 ( APPEAL+ TO A !ORETICAL AU?ORITY ?AT IS 9EVITABLY TA9T$ BY ! V]Y FACT ?AT IT HAS BECOME A QUOTATION -- A FRAGM5T TORN FROM ITS [N CONTEXT & DEVELOPM5T1 & ULTIMATELY FROM ! G5]AL FRAMEWORK ( ITS P]IOD & FROM ! P>TICUL> OPTION 7APPROPRIATE OR ]RONE\S7 ?AT IT REPRES5T$ )9 ?AT FRAMEWORK4 ,DET\RNEM5T IS ! FLEXIBLE LANGUAGE ( ANTI-IDEOLOGY4 ,IT APPE>S 9 COMMUNICATION ?AT KN[S IT CANNOT CLAIM TO EMBODY ANY DEF9ITIVE C]TA9TY4 ,IT IS LANGUAGE ?AT CANNOT & NE$ NOT BE CONFIRM$ BY ANY PREVI\S OR SUPRACRITICAL REF]5CE4 ,ON ! CONTR>Y1 ITS [N 9T]NAL COH]5CE & PRACTICAL EFFECTIV5ESS >E :AT VALIDATE ! PREVI\S K]NELS ( TRU? IT HAS BR\<T BACK 9TO PLAY4 ,DET\RNEM5T HAS GR\ND$ ITS CAUSE ON NO?+ BUT ITS [N TRU? AS PRES5T CRITIQUE4 

#bi 

  

,! ELEM5T ( OV]T DET\RNEM5T 9 =MULAT$ !ORY REFUTES ANY NOTION ?AT SU* !ORY IS DURABLY AUTONOM\S4 ,BY 9TRODUC+ 9TO ! !ORETICAL DOMA9 ! SAME TYPE ( VIOL5T SUBV]SION ?AT DISRUPTS & OV]?R[S EV]Y EXI/+ ORD]1 DET\RNEM5T S]VES AS A REM9D] ?AT !ORY IS NO?+ 9 ITSELF1 ?AT IT CAN REALIZE ITSELF ONLY ?R\< HI/ORICAL ACTION & ?R\< ! HI/ORICAL CORRECTION ?AT IS ITS TRUE ALLEGIANCE4 

#ba 

  

,! REAL VALUES ( CULTURE CAN BE MA9TA9$ ONLY BY NEGAT+ CULTURE4 ,BUT ?IS NEGATION CAN NO LONG] BE A CULTURAL NEGATION4 ,IT MAY 9 A S5SE TAKE PLACE )9 CULTURE1 BUT IT PO9TS BEYOND IT4 

#baa 

  

,9 ! LANGUAGE ( CONTRADICTION1 ! CRITIQUE ( CULTURE IS A UNIFI$ CRITIQUE1 9 ?AT IT DOM9ATES ! :OLE ( CULTURE -- ITS KN[L$GE AS WELL AS ITS POETRY -- & 9 ?AT IT NO LONG] SEP>ATES ITSELF FROM ! CRITIQUE ( ! SOCIAL TOTALITY4 ,?IS UNIFI$ !ORETICAL CRITIQUE IS ON ITS WAY TO MEET UNIFI$ SOCIAL PRACTICE4 

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