It was one of those ‘snap to attention' statements. Political theorist Jodi Dean was asked, "What is the point of theory?" Her response? "It is to provide weapons." Dean was speaking metaphorically of course, but the quote resonated. The world we find ourselves in needs a theory that can cut through the leaden fog that says we have, for better or worse, the best world we can hope for.
The statement loomed large over a New York City conference, which took place from Oct. 14 to 16 and was sponsored by Verso Books, titled "Communism: A New Beginning?" If it seems surreal for there to be such a symposium 20 years after the official obituary of communism was written, it has been brought back to earth by the swirl of events surrounding Occupy Wall Street, Tahir Square in Egypt, riots in London, and heroic protests in Syria. Once again, the matter of "can the world be different", is a pressing question.
The event was held in New York's Cooper Union, with the 200 available tickets selling out almost immediately. There were attendees -- and virtual participants via a live feed -- from all over the world. Most of them are avid readers of the works of conference participants, who along with Dean included; Bruno Bosteels, Susan Buck-Morris, Frank Ruda, Étienne Balibar and Slavoj Zizek. French philosopher Alain Badiou, who was ill, was not able to attend but had his statement read to the conference.
The conference was illuminating and provocative, though there were parts that were challenging and even a bit dense. That is the nature of the beast. Unfortunately, too often the major questions on how to realize a radically new society resides with the intelligentsia, especially those in academia. In this, some work harder than others to make difficult stuff popular. That said to even try is commendable -- an expression of a certain commitment toward breaking through. In that respect a story Zizek -- the Slovenia philosopher who is among the most important thinkers around today -- told of how the Marxist historian Eric Hobsbawn once gave a talk to a group of workers. In a self-deprecating style he said, "I'm not hear to lecture, I'm here to learn from you." Zizek noted their response. "Fuck off, you are making fun of us -- you have the duty to tell us what you know!" There is a need for such intellectual work.
via rabble.ca
Hi Jodi, I wonder if you saw this piece by someone named Alan Johnson at Jacobin http://jacobinmag.com/summer-2011/the-power-of-nonsense/. I assume you wouldn't agree with it but i find the argument for bottom up social movements an interesting parallel to the OWS phenomenon.
Posted by: Alain | October 22, 2011 at 08:45 PM