Screened Out

S c r e e n e d Out • Jean Baudrillard Translated by Chris Turner V VERSO London • N e w York This edition first p...

Author: Jean Baudrillard

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S c r e e n e d Out •

Jean Baudrillard Translated by Chris Turner

V

VERSO London • N e w York

This edition first published by Verso 2002 © Verso 2002 Translation © Chris Turner 2002 First published as Ecran total © Editions Galilee 2000 All rights reserved The moral rights of the author and the translator have been asserted 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 Verso UK: 6 Meard Street, London W1F 0EG USA: 180 Varick Street, New York, NY 10014-4606 www.versobooks.com Verso is the imprint of New Left Books ISBN 1-85984-660-2 ISBN 1-85984-385-9 (pbk) British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress Typeset by M Rules Printed at the Bath Press

H i s t o r y r e p r o d u c i n g itself b e c o m e s farce Farce r e p r o d u c i n g itself b e c o m e s h i s t o r y

Contents

Translator's Foreword

ix

AIDS: Virulence or Prophylaxis?

1

We are all Transsexuals Now

9

Necrospective around Martin Heidegger

15

In Praise of a Virtual Crash

21

The Viral Economy

26

The Depressurization of the West

33

The Defrosting of Eastern Europe and the End of History

39

No Pity for Sarajevo

45

Otherness Surgery

51

The Powerlessness of the Virtual

57

Western Subserbience

62

When the West Takes the Dead Man's Place

66

The Great Laundering

70

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Weep, Citizens!

75

Helots and Elites

79

Information at the Meteorological Stage

85

Disembodied Violence: Hate

91

Psychedelic Violence: Drugs

96

T h e Dark C o n t i n e n t of C h i l d h o o d

102

T h e Double Extermination

107

'Lost from V i e w ' and Truly Disappeared

112

Sexuality as a Sexually Transmitted Disease

118

Sovereignty of the Strike

123

Tierra del Fuego - N e w York

128

World D e b t and Parallel Universe

133

T h e Shadow of the C o m m e n d a t o r e

138

T h e Mirror of C o r r u p t i o n

144

Disneyworld C o m p a n y

150

T h e Global and the Universal

155

D e e p Blue or the Computer's Melancholia

160

T h e R a c i n g Driver and his D o u b l e

166

R u m i n a t i o n s for Spongiform Encephala

171

Screened O u t

176

T h e Art Conspiracy

181

TV Fantasies

186

Of Course Chirac is Useless

191

T h e C l o n e or the Degree Xerox of the Species

196

Exorcism in Politics or the Conspiracy of Imbeciles

203

viii

Translator's

Foreword

i

W i t h a few e x c e p t i o n s , these pieces originally a p p e a r e d as articles in t h e Paris n e w s p a p e r Liberation b e t w e e n J u n e 1 9 8 7 a n d M a y 1 9 9 7 . T h e a u t h o r m a d e several m i n o r c h a n g e s i n t u r n i n g t h e m i n t o b o o k f o r m a n d a v e r y few, e v e n m o r e m i n o r rectific a t i o n s h a v e b e e n m a d e i n p r e p a r i n g this t r a n s l a t i o n . T h e publication in b o o k form contained no footnotes, some of the material initially p u b l i s h e d a s s u c h i n t h e n e w s p a p e r articles h a v i n g b e e n r e s t o r e d t o t h e b o d y o f t h e t e x t . T h e f o o t n o t e s t o this t r a n s l a t i o n are t h e r e f o r e w i t h o u t e x c e p t i o n m y o w n a n d are i n c l u d e d solely t o e l u c i d a t e p o i n t s t h a t w o u l d h a v e b e e n clear t o a F r e n c h a u d i e n c e a t t h e t i m e , b u t m a y b e o b s c u r e t o a n o n - F r e n c h a u d i e n c e today. C.T.

ix

AIDS: Virulence or Prophylaxis?

A I D S , c o m p u t e r viruses, t e r r o r i s m . . . V i r u l e n c e m a k e s its a p p e a r a n c e w h e n a b o d y , s y s t e m or n e t w o r k expels all its n e g a t i v e e l e m e n t s a n d resolves i n t o a c o m b i n a t o r i a l of s i m p l e o n e s . In this sense, virality is closely r e l a t e d to fractality a n d digitality. I t i s b e c a u s e c o m p u t e r s a n d e l e c t r o n i c m a c h i n e s h a v e b e c o m e a b s t r a c t i o n s , v i r t u a l m a c h i n e s , n o n - b o d i e s , t h a t viruses r u n r i o t i n t h e m ( t h e y are m u c h m o r e vulnerable than traditional mechanical machines). It is because the b o d y itself has b e c o m e a n o n - b o d y , an e l e c t r o n i c , v i r t u a l m a c h i n e , t h a t viruses seize h o l d o f it. T h e current pathology of the b o d y is n o w b e y o n d the reach of conventional m e d i c i n e , s i n c e it affects t h e b o d y n o t us form, b u t as formula. T h e b o d y of c a n c e r i s t h e b o d y fallen v i c t i m t o t h e d i s r u p t i o n o f its g e n e t i c f o r m u l a . T h e A I D S b o d y i s t h e b o d y d a m a g e d a n d i m p a i r e d i n its i m m u n e systems, i n its systems o f c o n t r o l s and anti-bodies. T h e s e n e w p a t h o l o g i e s are t h e illnesses o f a codified, m o d e l l e d b o d y ; t h e y are sicknesses o f t h e c o d e a n d t h e m o d e l . T h e h u m a n being, conceived as an electronic, cybernetic machine, makes a

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perfect h o m e for viruses a n d viral illnesses, j u s t a s c o m p u t e r s p r o v i d e a n ideal t e r rain for e l e c t r o n i c viruses. H e r e again, t h e r e i s n o effective p r e v e n t i o n o r t h e r a p y ; t h e metastases i n v a d e t h e w h o l e n e t w o r k ' v i r t u a l l y ' ; d e - s y m b o l i z e d m a c h i n e l a n g u a g e s offer n o m o r e r e sistance t o v i r u s e s t h a n d o d e - s y m b o l i z e d b o d i e s . T h e t r a d i t i o n a l m e c h a n i c a l a c c i d e n t o r b r e a k d o w n h a d a g o o d o l d reparative m e d i c i n e t o deal w i t h it, b u t t h e s u d d e n failures, a n o m a l i e s a n d 'betrayals' o f a n t i - b o d i e s (quite apart f r o m any d e l i b erate ' h a c k i n g ' i n t o t h e i r functions) are b e y o n d r e m e d y . Virality i s t h e p a t h o l o g y o f c l o s e d circuits, o f i n t e g r a t e d circuits, o f p r o m i s c u i t y a n d c h a i n r e a c t i o n s . It is a p a t h o l o g y of incest, u n d e r s t o o d in a b r o a d , m e t a p h o r ical sense. H e w h o lives b y t h e s a m e will die b y t h e s a m e . T h e i m p o s s i b i l i t y o f e x c h a n g e , o f reciprocity, o f alterity secretes t h a t o t h e r invisible, diabolic, elusive alterity, t h a t a b s o l u t e O t h e r , t h e v i r u s , itself m a d e u p o f s i m p l e e l e m e n t s a n d o f r e c u r r e n c e t o infinity. W e are i n a n i n c e s t u o u s society. A n d t h e fact t h a t A I D S f i r s t hit t h e h o m o s e x u a l c o m m u n i t y a n d d r u g abusers has t o d o w i t h this i n c e s t u o u s n e s s o f g r o u p s w h i c h f u n c t i o n as c l o s e d circuits. I n t h e past, h a e m o p h i l i a s t r u c k a t families w i t h l o n g h i s t o r i e s o f c o n s a n g u i n e m a r r i a g e s , h i g h l y e n d o g a m o u s lineages. T h e s t r a n g e disease w h i c h for a l o n g t i m e a t t a c k e d cypress trees was a k i n d of v i r u s w h i c h was in t h e e n d a t t r i b u t e d to a r e d u c t i o n i n t h e t e m p e r a t u r e differential b e t w e e n s u m m e r a n d w i n t e r , t o t h e seasons c o m i n g t o i n t e r m i n g l e . T h e r e again, t h e s p e c t r e o f t h e Self-same s t r u c k . I n e v e r y c o m p u l s i o n for r e s e m b l a n c e , e v e r y e x c i s i o n o f differences, i n e v e r y case o f things being contiguous w i t h their o w n images or b e c o m i n g confused w i t h their o w n c o d e , t h e r e is a t h r e a t of i n c e s t u o u s v i r u l e n c e , of a diabolical alterity, k n o c k i n g t h e m a r v e l l o u s m a c h i n e r y o u t o f kilter. I n o t h e r cases, this takes t h e f o r m o f t h e

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r e s u r g e n c e o f t h e p r i n c i p l e o f E v i l (there i s n o m o r a l d i m e n s i o n o r guilt h e r e : t h e principle of Evil is merely s y n o n y m o u s w i t h the principle of reversion and t h e p r i n c i p l e o f adversity). I n systems m o v i n g t o w a r d s t o t a l p o s i t i v i z a t i o n — a n d h e n c e d e - s y m b o l i z a t i o n - evil s i m p l y e q u a t e s , in all its f o r m s , w i t h t h e f u n d a m e n t a l r u l e of reversibility. T h e u n i n t e r r u p t e d p r o d u c t i o n o f p o s i t i v i t y has a t e r r i f y i n g c o n s e q u e n c e : i f n e g a t i v i t y e n g e n d e r s crisis a n d c r i t i q u e , a b s o l u t e positivity, for its p a r t , e n g e n d e r s c a t a s t r o p h e , precisely t h r o u g h its i n c a p a c i t y t o distil t h e crisis. E v e r y s t r u c t u r e , s y s t e m o r social b o d y w h i c h ferrets o u t its n e g a t i v e , critical e l e m e n t s t o e x p e l t h e m o r e x o r c i s e t h e m r u n s t h e risk o f a c a t a s t r o p h e b y total i m p l o s i o n a n d r e v e r sion, j u s t a s e v e r y b i o l o g i c a l b o d y w h i c h h u n t s d o w n a n d e l i m i n a t e s all its g e r m s , bacillae a n d parasites - in s h o r t , all its b i o l o g i c a l e n e m i e s - r u n s t h e risk of c a n c e r or, i n o t h e r w o r d s , o f a positivity d e v o u r i n g its o w n cells. I t r u n s t h e risk o f b e i n g d e v o u r e d b y its o w n a n t i - b o d i e s , w h i c h n o w h a v e n o t h i n g t o d o . I t i s logical t h a t A I D S (and c a n c e r ) s h o u l d h a v e b e c o m e t h e p r o t o t y p e s for o u r m o d e r n p a t h o l o g y a n d for all lethal virality. W h e n t h e b o d y i s e x p o s e d t o artificial p r o s t h e s e s a n d , at t h e s a m e t i m e , to g e n e t i c fantasies, its d e f e n c e systems are d i s o r g a n i z e d , its b i o l o g i c a l l o g i c d e s t r o y e d . T h i s fractal b o d y , f a t e d t o see its o w n e x t e r n a l f u n c t i o n s multiply, i s a t t h e s a m e t i m e d o o m e d t o u n s t o p p a b l e i n t e r n a l division a m o n g its o w n cells. I t metastasizes: t h e i n t e r n a l , b i o l o g i c a l metastases are i n a w a y s y m m e t r i c a l w i t h t h o s e e x t e r n a l metastases, t h e p r o s t h e s e s , t h e n e t w o r k s , the connections. I n a n o v e r - p r o t e c t e d space, t h e b o d y loses all its defences. W e k n o w t h a t i n o p e r a t i n g t h e a t r e s , t h e r e i s s u c h a level o f p r o p h y l a x i s t h a t n o m i c r o b e o r b a c t e r i a c a n survive. N o w , it is precisely t h e r e , in t h a t absolutely spotless space t h a t we are s e e i n g m y s t e r i o u s , a n o m a l o u s , viral diseases e m e r g i n g . F o r viruses s u r v i v e a n d proliferate a s s o o n a s r o o m i s m a d e for t h e m . S o l o n g a s t h e r e w e r e m i c r o b e s , t h e r e w e r e n o

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viruses. In a w o r l d c l e a n s e d of its o l d i n f e c t i o n s , in an ' i d e a l ' clinical w o r l d , an i n t a n g i b l e , i m p l a c a b l e p a t h o l o g y unfurls, a p a t h o l o g y b o r n of d i s i n f e c t i o n itself. A p a t h o l o g y o f t h e t h i r d k i n d . J u s t a s w e are u p against a n e w v i o l e n c e i n o u r societies — a v i o l e n c e b o r n of t h e p a r a d o x of a permissive a n d pacified society, so we are u p against n e w diseases, t h e diseases o f b o d i e s o v e r - p r o t e c t e d b y t h e i r artificial shields - b o t h m e d i c a l a n d c o m p u t e r shields. B o d i e s w h i c h are, as a result, s u s c e p tible to e v e r y virus, to t h e m o s t ' p e r v e r s e ' , u n e x p e c t e d c h a i n reactions. A p a t h o l o g y n o l o n g e r b a s e d i n accidents o r a n o m i e , b u t i n ' a n o m a l i e s ' . A n d i t i s t h e s a m e i n t h e social b o d y , w h e r e t h e s a m e causes p r o d u c e t h e s a m e p e r v e r s e effects, t h e s a m e unpredictable dysfunctions and a w h o l e range of anomalies and terrorisms, c o m parable to t h e g e n e t i c d i s t u r b a n c e of cells — a p h e n o m e n o n similarly b r o u g h t a b o u t b y o v e r - p r o t e c t i o n a n d o v e r - c o d i n g . T h e social system, like t h e b i o l o g i c a l b o d y , i s l o s i n g its n a t u r a l s y m b o l i c d e f e n c e s i n d i r e c t p r o p o r t i o n t o t h e i n c r e a s e d t e c h n o logical s o p h i s t i c a t i o n of its p r o s t h e s e s . A n d m e d i c i n e is n o t g o i n g to find it easy to deal w i t h this e n t i r e l y n e w p a t h o l o g y , s i n c e i t i s itself p a r t o f t h e s y s t e m o f o v e r p r o t e c t i o n , t h e s y s t e m o f p r o t e c t i o n i s t a n d p r o p h y l a c t i c zeal t o w a r d s t h e b o d y . Just as t h e r e is a p p a r e n t l y no political s o l u t i o n to t h e p r o b l e m of t e r r o r i s m , so t h e r e d o e s n o t c u r r e n t l y s e e m t o b e any b i o l o g i c a l s o l u t i o n t o t h e p r o b l e m o f A I D S o r cancer. A n d for t h e s a m e reason: t h e s e are a n o m a l o u s s y m p t o m s , a c e r t a i n t y p e o f v i o l e n c e a n d c e r t a i n t y p e s o f illness arising f r o m t h e d e p t h s o f t h e s y s t e m itself a n d c o u n t e r i n g , w i t h reactive v i o l e n c e o r v i r u l e n c e , t h e political o v e r - c o n t r o l o f t h e social b o d y , t h e b i o l o g i c a l o v e r - c o n t r o l o f t h e physical b o d y . Yet this n e w f o r m o f v i r u l e n c e i s a m b i g u o u s , a n d A I D S i s a n e x a m p l e o f it. A I D S p r o v i d e s an a r g u m e n t for a n e w sexual p r o h i b i t i o n , b u t it is no l o n g e r a moral p r o h i b i t i o n : it is a f u n c t i o n a l p r o h i b i t i o n on t h e c i r c u l a t i o n of sex. T h i s b r e a k s all t h e c o m m a n d m e n t s o f m o d e r n i t y . Sex, like m o n e y , like i n f o r m a t i o n , m u s t c i r c u late freely. E v e r y t h i n g m u s t b e fluid, a n d a c c e l e r a t i o n i s i n e v i t a b l e . T o r e v o k e

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sexuality on t h e g r o u n d s of a viral d a n g e r is as a b s u r d as s t o p p i n g i n t e r n a t i o n a l t r a d e o n t h e g r o u n d s t h a t i t i s fuelling t h e c a n c e r o u s rise o f t h e dollar. N o o n e seriously envisages s u c h a t h i n g . N o w , at a stroke w i t h A I D S : a s t o p p i n g of sex. A c o n t r a d i c t i o n i n t h e system? P e r h a p s this s u s p e n s i o n has s o m e e n i g m a t i c p u r p o s e , l i n k e d c o n t r a d i c t o r i l y t o t h e equally e n i g m a t i c p u r p o s e o f sexual l i b e r a t i o n ? T h e s p o n t a n e o u s self-regulation o f systems i s s o m e t h i n g w e l l - k n o w n . W e k n o w h o w they p r o d u c e accidents of their o w n , p u t a brake on their o w n operation, in o r d e r t o s u r v i v e o n a basis c o n t r a r y t o t h e i r o w n p r i n c i p l e s . All societies s u r v i v e against t h e i r o w n v a l u e - s y s t e m s : t h e y h a v e to have s u c h a system, b u t t h e y also h a v e t o d e n y i t a n d o p e r a t e i n o p p o s i t i o n t o it. N o w , w e live b y a t least t w o p r i n c i p l e s : t h e p r i n c i p l e o f sexual l i b e r a t i o n a n d t h a t o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n a n d i n f o r m a t i o n . B u t i t i s e n t i r e l y a s t h o u g h t h e species w e r e , t h r o u g h t h e A I D S t h r e a t , p r o d u c i n g a n a n t i d o t e to its p r i n c i p l e of sexual l i b e r a t i o n , a n d , t h r o u g h cancer, w h i c h is a d i s r u p t i o n o f t h e g e n e t i c c o d e a n d t h e r e f o r e a p a t h o l o g y o f i n f o r m a t i o n , a resistance t o t h e a l l - p o w e r f u l p r i n c i p l e o f c y b e r n e t i c c o n t r o l . W h a t i f all this signified a r e j e c t i o n o f t h e o b l i g a t o r y flows o f s p e r m , sex, signs a n d w o r d s , a r e j e c t i o n o f forced c o m m u n i c a t i o n , p r o g r a m m e d i n f o r m a t i o n a n d sexual p r o m i s c u i t y ? W h a t i f all this w e r e a vital resistance to t h e e x p a n s i o n of flows, circuits a n d n e t w o r k s a d m i t t e d l y , a t t h e cost o f a n e w lethal p a t h o l o g y , b u t a p a t h o l o g y w h i c h w o u l d i n t h e e n d p r o t e c t u s f r o m s o m e t h i n g e v e n m o r e serious? W i t h A I D S a n d cancer, w e m i g h t b e said t o b e p a y i n g t h e p r i c e for o u r o w n system: w e are e x o r c i s i n g its banal v i r u l e n c e in a fatal f o r m . N o o n e c a n foretell h o w effective this e x o r c i s m will b e , b u t w e h a v e t o ask t h e q u e s t i o n : w h a t i s i t - w h a t e v e n w o r s e e v e n t u a l i t y (the t o t a l h e g e m o n y o f t h e g e n e t i c code?) - t h a t c a n c e r is resisting? W h a t is it - w h a t e v e n w o r s e e v e n t u a l i t y (a sexual e p i d e m i c , total sexual p r o m i s c u i t y ? ) - t h a t A I D S is resisting? T h e d r u g s p r o b l e m is t h e s a m e : all d r a m a t i z i n g a p a r t , we h a v e to ask w h a t it is p r o t e c t i n g us

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from, w h a t k i n d o f escape r o u t e i t r e p r e s e n t s f r o m a n e v e n w o r s e evil (rational s t u p e f a c t i o n , n o r m a t i v e sociability, universal r e g i m e n t a t i o n ) . W e m a y say t h e s a m e of t e r r o r i s m : isn't its secondary, r e a c t i o n a l , a b r e a c t i o n a l v i o l e n c e p r o t e c t i n g us from a n e p i d e m i c o f c o n s e n s u s , f r o m a g r o w i n g political l e u k a e m i a a n d d e l i q u e s c e n c e , a n d t h e invisible t r a n s p a r e n c y o f t h e State? E v e r y t h i n g i s a m b i g u o u s a n d reversible. After all, it is by n e u r o s i s t h a t m a n p r o t e c t s h i m s e l f m o s t effectively f r o m m a d n e s s . In this sense, A I D S is n o t a p u n i s h m e n t from on h i g h ; it m i g h t r a t h e r be a d e f e n sive e m o t i o n a l r e a c t i o n of t h e species against t h e d a n g e r of a total p r o m i s c u i t y , a total loss o f i d e n t i t y i n t h e p r o l i f e r a t i o n a n d a c c e l e r a t i o n o f t h e n e t w o r k s . I f A I D S , t e r r o r i s m , e c o n o m i c collapse a n d e l e c t r o n i c viruses are c o n c e r n s n o t j u s t for t h e p o l i c e , m e d i c i n e , s c i e n c e a n d t h e e x p e r t s , b u t for t h e e n t i r e collective i m a g i n a t i o n , this i s b e c a u s e t h e r e i s m o r e t o t h e m t h a n m e r e e p i s o d i c events i n a n irrational w o r l d . T h e y e m b o d y t h e e n t i r e logic o f o u r system, a n d are merely, s o t o speak, t h e p o i n t s at w h i c h t h a t l o g i c crystallizes spectacularly. T h e i r p o w e r is a p o w e r o f i r r a d i a t i o n a n d t h e i r effect, t h r o u g h t h e m e d i a , w i t h i n t h e i m a g i n a t i o n , i s itself a viral o n e . T h e y are i m m a n e n t p h e n o m e n a w h i c h are all related t o e a c h o t h e r ; t h e y o b e y t h e s a m e p r o t o c o l o f v i r u l e n c e a n d h a v e c o n t a m i n a t i o n effects w a y b e y o n d t h e i r actual i m p a c t . F o r e x a m p l e , a single terrorist act forces us to r e v i e w t h e w h o l e p o l i t ical d i m e n s i o n i n t h e light o f t h e t e r r o r i s t h y p o t h e s i s . T h e v e r y e m e r g e n c e o f A I D S , e v e n at a statistically l o w level, forces us to r e v i e w t h e w h o l e s p e c t r u m of d i s eases a n d b o d i e s i n t h e light o f t h e viral, i m m u n o d e f i c i e n c y h y p o t h e s i s . T h e tiniest little c o m p u t e r v i r u s w h i c h d e g r a d e s t h e P e n t a g o n ' s m e m o r y b a n k s o r floods e n t i r e n e t w o r k s w i t h C h r i s t m a s g r e e t i n g s i s e n o u g h t o w r e c k t h e credibility o f c o m p u t e r systems, a n d forces us to r e v i e w all data w i t h an eye to possible infiltration, c a l c u l a t e d d i s i n f o r m a t i o n , risk a n d u n c e r t a i n t y . W h i c h i s n o t , objectively, w i t h o u t its f u n n y side.

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T h i s i s t h e p r i v i l e g e o f e x t r e m e p h e n o m e n a , a n d o f c a t a s t r o p h e i n g e n e r a l , since all t h e s e viral processes are clearly o f t h e o r d e r o f c a t a s t r o p h e ( n o t i n t h e m o r a l sense, b u t a s a n a n o m a l o u s w a y o f t h i n g s t u r n i n g o u t ) . T h e secret o r d e r o f c a t a s t r o p h e lies in t h e inseparability of all t h e s e c o n t e m p o r a r y processes - a n d , also, in t h e affinity o f these e c c e n t r i c p h e n o m e n a w i t h t h e banality o f t h e w h o l e system. All e x t r e m e p h e n o m e n a are c o h e r e n t w i t h o n e a n o t h e r ; t h e y are s o b e c a u s e t h e y are c o h e r e n t w i t h the w h o l e system. T h i s m e a n s i t i s n o use l o o k i n g t o t h e r a t i o n a l i t y o f t h e s y s t e m t o c o m b a t its e x c r e s c e n c e s . I t i s a total d e l u s i o n t o t h i n k e x t r e m e p h e n o m e n a c a n b e a b o l i s h e d . T h e y will, rather, b e c o m e increasingly e x t r e m e a s o u r systems b e c o m e increasingly s o p h i s t i c a t e d . A n d this i s f o r t u n a t e , s i n c e t h e y are t h e c u t t i n g - e d g e therapy, t h e h o m e o p a t h i c t h e r a p y for t h o s e systems. P i t t i n g G o o d against E v i l n o l o n g e r exists as a strategy. In t r a n s p a r e n t - h o m e o s t a t i c or h o m e o f l u i d - s y s t e m s , t h e o n l y r e m a i n i n g strategy i s that o f E v i l against Evil: t h e strategy o f t h e g r e a t e r evil. T h e o n l y possible strategy is a fatal strategy. A n d this is n o t e v e n a m a t t e r of c h o i c e : we c a n see it h a p p e n i n g b e f o r e o u r eyes. T h e r e is, t h e n , a homeopathic v i r u l e n c e to A I D S , t o s t o c k m a r k e t crashes, t o c o m p u t e r viruses etc. S t o c k m a r k e t crashes, t e r r o r i s m , c o m p u t e r viruses, d e b t etc. are t h e p a r t o f t h e c a t a s t r o p h e w h i c h s h o w s a b o v e t h e w a t e r l i n e . T h e o t h e r n i n e - t e n t h s are s u b m e r g e d i n virtuality. T h e t o t a l c a t a s t r o p h e w o u l d b e a s i t u a t i o n i n w h i c h all i n f o r m a t i o n w a s o m n i p r e s e n t , a state of total t r a n s p a r e n c y - a state w h i c h is h a p p i l y o b s c u r e d in its effects b y t h e c o m p u t e r virus. T h a n k s t o t h a t virus, w e shall n o t race straight t o t h e end of information and communication. T h a t w o u l d be death. As an excrescence of this lethal transparency, t h e virus also serves as an a l a r m signal. It is r a t h e r like t h e acceleration of a fluid: it p r o d u c e s t u r b u l e n c e a n d a n o m a l i e s w h i c h halt its course, or disperse it. C h a o s serves as a limit to w h a t w o u l d , o t h e r w i s e , r u n off i n t o t h e absolute void. So e x t r e m e p h e n o m e n a serve, in t h e i r secret disorder, as p r o p h y l a x i s - b y - c h a o s

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against a n e x t r e m e escalation o f o r d e r a n d transparency. T h a t catastrophe, t h e t r u e catastrophe, does, t h a n k s t o t h e m , r e m a i n virtual. I f i t did materialize, t h a t w o u l d b e t h e e n d . A n d i n d e e d , i n spite o f t h e m , w e are already today s e e i n g t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e e n d of a certain t h i n k i n g process. Similarly, in t h e case of sexual liberation, we are already seeing t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h e e n d of a certain process ofjouissance. If total sexual p r o m i s c u i t y c a m e a b o u t , it is sex itself w h i c h w o u l d be a b o l i s h e d in its asexual e x p l o s i o n . It is t h e same w i t h stock m a r k e t crashes a n d w i t h trade. S p e c u l a t i o n as e x t r e m e p h e n o m e n o n , a s t u r b u l e n c e , p u t s a stop o n t h e total e m a n c i p a t i o n o f real trading. B y simulating t h e instantaneous ultra-circulation o f value, b y s h o r t i n g o u t t h e e c o n o m i c m o d e l , it also shorts o u t t h e catastrophe that t h e free c o m m u n i c a t i o n of all e x c h a n g e w o u l d r e p r e s e n t - this total l i b e r a t i o n o f t r a d e b e i n g t h e t r u e catastrophic m o m e n t o f value. I n t h e face o f this t h r e a t o f total w e i g h t l e s s n e s s , o f a n u n b e a r a b l e lightness o f b e i n g , a universal promiscuity, a linearity of processes w h i c h w o u l d p i t c h us i n t o t h e v o i d , t h e s e s u d d e n w h i r l w i n d s w e call c a t a s t r o p h e s are w h a t k e e p u s f r o m c a t a s trophe. T h e s e anomalies, these e x t r e m e p h e n o m e n a recreate zones of gravitation a n d d e n s i t y w h i c h p r e v e n t t h i n g s f r o m d i s p e r s i n g totally W e m a y see this a s o u r societies s e c r e t i n g t h e i r o w n p a r t i c u l a r f o r m o f ' a c c u r s e d s h a r e ' , like t h o s e t r i b e s w h i c h r i d themselves of t h e i r excess p o p u l a t i o n by suicidal p l u n g e s i n t o t h e o c e a n a h o m e o p a t h i c suicide of s o m e of their m e m b e r s w h i c h preserved the h o m e o s t a tic b a l a n c e o f t h e w h o l e . C a t a s t r o p h e reveals itself, t h e n , to be a w e l l - t e m p e r e d strategy of t h e species. O r , rather, o u r viruses, o u r e x t r e m e p h e n o m e n a — v e r y real, b u t localized — w o u l d s e e m to enable us to maintain intact the energy of virtual catastrophe, w h i c h is the e n g i n e d r i v i n g all o u r processes - in t h e e c o n o m y , in politics, in t h e arts a n d in h i s tory. A n d isn't e n e r g y itself, in its c o n c e p t , a f o r m of catastrophe? 1 June

8

1987

We are all T r a n s s e x u a l s Now

It is i n t e r e s t i n g to track t h e c h a n g e s in t h e sexed b o d y , e x p o s e d as it is t o d a y to a k i n d of artificial fate. A n d t h a t artificial fate is transsexuality. An artificial fate n o t in t h e sense of a d e v i a t i o n from t h e n a t u r a l o r d e r , b u t insofar as it is t h e p r o d u c t of a c h a n g e i n t h e s y m b o l i c o r d e r o f sexual difference. A n d transsexual n o t (just) i n t h e sense o f a n a t o m i c a l sexual t r a n s f o r m a t i o n , b u t i n t h e w i d e r sense o f transvestism — o f p l a y i n g o n i n t e r c h a n g e a b l e signs o f sex, a n d , b y c o n t r a s t w i t h t h e p r e v i o u s play on sexual difference, of playing on sexual indifference. Indifference in t w o senses: t h e transsexual is b o t h a play on n o n - d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n (of t h e t w o poles of sexuality) a n d a f o r m of indifference to puissance, to sex as puissance. T h e sexual has puissance as its focus (jouissance is t h e l e i t m o t i f of sexual l i b e r a t i o n ) , w h e r e a s t h e transsexual t e n d s t o w a r d s artifice - b o t h t h e a n a t o m i c a l artifice o f c h a n g i n g sex a n d t h e play o n v e s t i m e n t a r y , m o r p h o l o g i c a l a n d gestural signs c h a r acteristic of cross-dressers. In b o t h cases - surgical or s e m i u r g i c a l o p e r a t i o n , sign or o r g a n - w h a t is i n v o l v e d is p r o s t h e t i c s a n d today, w h e n it is t h e b o d y ' s d e s t i n y to b e c o m e a prosthesis, i t i s logical t h a t t h e m o d e l o f sexuality s h o u l d b e c o m e t r a n s sexuality a n d t h a t transsexuality s h o u l d e v e r y w h e r e b e c o m e t h e site o f s e d u c t i o n .

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We are all transsexuals. Just as we are all p o t e n t i a l b i o l o g i c a l m u t a n t s , so we are all also p o t e n t i a l transsexuals. A n d this is n o t e v e n a m a t t e r of biology. We are all symbolically

transsexuals.

Take La Cicciolina.

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I s t h e r e a n y m o r e w o n d e r f u l e m b o d i m e n t o f sex, o f t h e

p o r n o g r a p h i c i n n o c e n c e o f sex? S h e has b e e n c o n t r a s t e d w i t h M a d o n n a , t h e v i r g i n p r o d u c t of a e r o b i c s a n d a glacial a e s t h e t i c , d e v o i d of all c h a r m a n d sensuality, a m u s c l e d a n d r o i d , r i p e for precisely t h a t r e a s o n for c o n v e r s i o n i n t o a c o m p u t e r g e n e r a t e d i d o l o n a c c o u n t o f t h e s t r a n g e d e t e r r e n c e she g e n e r a t e s . B u t , i f w e t h i n k a b o u t it, is n o t La C i c c i o l i n a also a transsexual? H e r l o n g , p l a t i n u m - b l o n d e hair, h e r a m p l e , p n e u m a t i c breasts, h e r ideal b l o w - u p - d o l l f o r m s , h e r l y o p h i l i z e d - c a r t o o n o r s c i e n c e - f i c t i o n e r o t i c i s m a n d , a b o v e all, t h e e x a g g e r a t i o n o f t h e sexual d i s c o u r s e ( n e v e r p e r v e r s e , n e v e r l i b e r t i n e ) , total t r a n s g r e s s i o n o n a plate; t h e ideal t e l e p h o n e c h a t - l i n e w o m a n , plus a c a r n i v o r o u s erotic i d e o l o g y w h i c h n o w o m a n t o d a y w o u l d sign up to — e x c e p t , precisely, a transsexual, a transvestite: t h e y a l o n e , as we k n o w , live b y t h e e x a g g e r a t e d , c a r n i v o r o u s signs o f sexuality. H e r e , t h a t f l e s h l y e c t o p l a s m L a C i c c i o l i n a m e e t s t h e artificial n i t r o g l y c e r i n e o f M a d o n n a o r t h e a n d r o g y n o u s , F r a n k e n s t i n i a n c h a r m o f M i c h a e l J a c k s o n . T h e y are all m u t a n t s , transvestites, g e n e t ically b a r o q u e b e i n g s , w h o s e e r o t i c ' l o o k ' c o n c e a l s t h e i r g e n d e r i n d e t e r m i n a c y . T h e y are all ' g e n d e r - b e n d e r s ' , as t h e y say in t h e U S A . In reality, t h e m y t h of sexual l i b e r a t i o n is still alive in m a n y f o r m s , b u t , in t h e i m a g i n a r y register, t h e transsexual m y t h — w i t h its a n d r o g y n o u s , h e r m a p h r o d i t i c variants — is d o m i n a n t . After t h e orgy, desire a n d sexual difference, we have h e r e t h e flourishing of e r o t i c simulacra of all k i n d s a n d transsexual k i t s c h in all its glory. P o s t m o d e r n p o r n o g r a p h y , s o t o speak, i n w h i c h sexuality gets lost i n t h e t h e a t r i c a l

1. T h e H u n g a r i a n - b o r n p o r n star Ilona Staller, w h o w e n t on to b e c o m e an Italian m e m b e r of parliament on an anti-nuclear, pro-sexual freedom platform.

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excess o f its a m b i g u i t y a n d indifference. T h i n g s have c e r t a i n l y c h a n g e d since sex a n d politics w e r e p a r t o f t h e s a m e subversive project: i f L a C i c c i o l i n a can b e e l e c t e d t o t h e Italian P a r l i a m e n t n o w , t h a t i s precisely b e c a u s e t h e t r a n s s e x u a l a n d t h e t r a n s p o l i t i c a l m e e t i n t h e s a m e i r o n i c i n d i f f e r e n c e . T h i s p a r t i c u l a r feat, w h i c h w o u l d h a v e b e e n u n t h i n k a b l e j u s t a few years ago, b u t w h i c h t o d a y m e e t s w i t h w a r m g e n e r a l approval, attests t o t h e fact t h a t i t i s n o t j u s t sexual c u l t u r e , b u t t h e w h o l e o f t h e political c u l t u r e t h a t has g o n e o v e r t o transvestism. T h e strategy o f e x o r c i z i n g t h e s e x u a l b o d y b y w i l d l y e x a g g e r a t i n g t h e signs o f sex, of e x o r c i z i n g desire by its secret d e p o l a r i z a t i o n a n d t h e e x a g g e r a t i o n of its mise en scene, is m u c h m o r e effective t h a n t h a t of g o o d old repression, w h i c h , by contrast, u s e d p r o h i b i t i o n to create difference. Yet it is n o t clear w h o benefits f r o m this strategy, as e v e r y o n e suffers it w i t h o u t d i s t i n c t i o n . T h i s travestied r e g i m e - in t h e b r o a d e s t sense — has b e c o m e t h e v e r y basis o f o u r i n s t i t u t i o n s . Y o u find i t e v e r y w h e r e — i n politics, a r c h i t e c t u r e , t h e o r y , i d e o l o g y a n d e v e n i n s c i e n c e . Y o u e v e n f i n d i t i n o u r d e s p e r a t e q u e s t for i d e n t i t y a n d difference. W e n o l o n g e r h a v e t h e t i m e t o seek o u t a n i d e n t i t y i n t h e h i s t o r i c a l r e c o r d , i n m e m o r y , i n a past, n o r i n d e e d i n a p r o j e c t o r a future. W e have t o h a v e a n i n s t a n t m e m o r y w h i c h w e c a n p l u g i n t o i m m e d i a t e l y - a k i n d o f p r o m o t i o n a l i d e n t i t y w h i c h c a n b e verified a t e v e r y m o m e n t . W h a t w e l o o k for today, w h e r e t h e b o d y i s c o n c e r n e d , i s n o t s o m u c h h e a l t h , w h i c h i s a state o f o r g a n i c e q u i l i b r i u m , b u t fitness, w h i c h i s a n ephemeral, hygienic, promotional radiance of the b o d y - m u c h m o r e a perf o r m a n c e t h a n a n ideal state — w h i c h t u r n s sickness i n t o failure. I n t e r m s o f fashion a n d a p p e a r a n c e , w e n o l o n g e r p u r s u e b e a u t y o r seductiveness, b u t t h e ' l o o k ' . E v e r y o n e i s after t h e i r ' l o o k ' . S i n c e y o u c a n n o l o n g e r set a n y store b y y o u r o w n e x i s t e n c e (we no l o n g e r l o o k at e a c h o t h e r - a n d s e d u c t i o n is at an e n d ! ) , all t h a t r e m a i n s is to p e r f o r m an appearing act, w i t h o u t b o t h e r i n g to be, or e v e n to be seen. It is n o t : 'I exist, I ' m h e r e ' , b u t ' I ' m visible, I ' m i m a g e — l o o k , l o o k ! ' T h i s is n o t

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e v e n narcissism. It's a depthless e x t r a v e r s i o n , a k i n d of p r o m o t i o n a l i n g e n u o u s n e s s in w h i c h everyone becomes the impresario of his/her o w n appearance. T h e ' l o o k ' i s a k i n d o f m i n i m a l , l o w - d e f i n i t i o n i m a g e , like t h e v i d e o i m a g e or, a s M c L u h a n w o u l d say, a tactile i m a g e , w h i c h p r o v o k e s n e i t h e r a t t e n t i o n n o r a d m i r a t i o n , as fashion still d o e s , b u t is a p u r e special effect w i t h o u t a n y p a r t i c u l a r m e a n i n g . T h e l o o k i s n o t e x a c t l y fashion a n y m o r e ; i t i s a f o r m o f fashion w h i c h has passed b e y o n d . It no l o n g e r s u b s c r i b e s to a l o g i c of d i s t i n c t i o n a n d it is no l o n g e r a play of difference; it plays at difference w i t h o u t b e l i e v i n g in it. It is indifference. B e i n g o n e s e l f b e c o m e s a n e p h e m e r a l p e r f o r m a n c e , w i t h n o lasting effects, a disenchanted m a n n e r i s m in a w o r l d w i t h o u t m a n n e r s . R e t r o s p e c t i v e l y , this t r i u m p h of t h e transsexual a n d t h e travestied casts a s t r a n g e light o n t h e sexual l i b e r a t i o n o f earlier g e n e r a t i o n s . T h a t l i b e r a t i o n , far f r o m b e i n g , as in its o w n self-image, t h e i r r u p t i o n of a m a x i m u m e r o t i c value of t h e b o d y — w i t h a n e l e v a t i o n o f t h e f e m i n i n e a n d jouissance ( t h e m a s c u l i n e h a v i n g r a t h e r r e s e r v e d for itself u p t o t h a t p o i n t t h e f i e l d o f p o w e r ) - will p e r h a p s m e r e l y h a v e b e e n a n i n t e r m e d i a t e phase o n t h e p a t h t o g e n d e r c o n f u s i o n . T h e sexual r e v o l u t i o n will p e r h a p s m e r e l y h a v e b e e n a decisive stage i n t h e j o u r n e y t o w a r d s t r a n s s e x u a l ity. T h i s is, ultimately, t h e p r o b l e m a t i c fate of e v e r y r e v o l u t i o n . By releasing all t h e p o t e n t i a l i t i e s o f desire, t h e s e x u a l r e v o l u t i o n leads t o t h e basic q u e s t i o n : a m I m a n or w o m a n ? (psychoanalysis has at least played a p a r t in g e n e r a t i n g this sexual u n c e r tainty p r i n c i p l e ) . As for t h e political a n d social r e v o l u t i o n - t h e p r o t o t y p e for all t h e o t h e r s - b y g i v i n g h u m a n b e i n g s t h e use o f t h e i r f r e e d o m a n d t h e i r o w n free will, i t w i l l h a v e l e d t h e m , i n a n i m p l a c a b l y logical process, t o w o n d e r w h e r e t h e i r free will lies, w h a t t h e y u l t i m a t e l y w a n t a n d w h a t t h e y are e n t i t l e d t o e x p e c t o f t h e m selves - a p r o b l e m p r e v i o u s l y q u i t e u n k n o w n . T h i s is t h e p a r a d o x i c a l o u t c o m e of every r e v o l u t i o n . W i t h r e v o l u t i o n b e g i n s i n d e t e r m i n a c y , a n x i e t y a n d c o n f u s i o n , b u t m a n y o t h e r pleasures t o o : c h o i c e , p l u r a l i s m , d e m o c r a c y .

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B u t t h e r e s i m p l y i s n o d e m o c r a t i c p r i n c i p l e o f sexuality. S e x i s n o t p a r t o f h u m a n r i g h t s a n d t h e r e i s n o p r i n c i p l e o f t h e e m a n c i p a t i o n o f sexuality. O n c e t h e o r g y was over, sexual l i b e r a t i o n c o u l d b e s e e n t o h a v e h a d t h e effect o f l e a v i n g e v e r y o n e s e a r c h i n g for t h e i r g e n d e r , t h e i r sexual a n d g e n d e r identity, w i t h f e w e r a n d f e w e r possible answers, g i v e n t h e c i r c u l a t i o n o f signs a n d t h e m u l t i p l i c i t y o f pleasures. T h i s i s h o w w e subtly b e c a m e transsexuals, j u s t a s w e secretly b e c a m e transpolitical — t h a t is to say, politically indifferent a n d u n d i f f e r e n t i a t e d b e i n g s , politically a n d r o g y n o u s a n d h e r m a p h r o d i t i c . H a v i n g s u b s c r i b e d t o , d i g e s t e d a n d rejected the m o s t contradictory ideologies, we n o w merely wear the masks and have b e c o m e i n o u r m i n d s , p e r h a p s u n w i t t i n g l y , political cross-dressers. W h a t o t h e r t h i n g s d o w e see s i m u l t a n e o u s l y g a i n i n g t h e u p p e r h a n d ? T e r r o r i s m a s (transpolitical) political f o r m , A I D S a n d c a n c e r a s p a t h o l o g i c a l f o r m , t h e t r a n s sexual a n d t h e travestied a s sexual a n d a e s t h e t i c f o r m i n g e n e r a l . O n l y t h e s e f o r m s p r o v i d e any g e n u i n e m e n t a l fascination today. N e i t h e r t h e sexual r e v o l u t i o n n o r t h e political d e b a t e , n e i t h e r cardiovascular disease n o r a c c i d e n t s a t w o r k , n o r e v e n c o n v e n t i o n a l warfare, interest a n y o n e collectively any m o r e (this is a g o o d t h i n g w h e r e w a r i s c o n c e r n e d ; w e shall h a v e b e e n s p a r e d m a n y w a r s b e c a u s e t h e y w o u l d have b e e n o f n o i n t e r e s t t o a n y o n e ) . T h e t r u e p h a n t a s m s lie e l s e w h e r e . T h e y lie i n t h e s e t h r e e f o r m s , all o f t h e m p r o d u c t s o f t h e d i s t u r b a n c e o f a p r i n c i p l e o f f u n c t i o n i n g a n d t h e r e s u l t a n t c o n f u s i o n o f effects, a n d e a c h o f t h e m ( t e r r o r i s m , transvestism, A I D S ) c o r r e s p o n d i n g t o a n e x a c e r b a t i o n o f t h e political, sexual o r g e n e t i c g a m e , as w e l l as to a defectiveness a n d collapse of t h e respective c o d e s of t h e political a n d sexual s p h e r e s . T h e y are all viral, fascinating, indifferent f o r m s , f o r m s m u l t i p l i e d b y t h e v i r u l e n c e o f i m a g e s , since all t h e m o d e r n m e d i a - t h e i n f o r m a t i o n a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n s systems - h a v e t h e m s e l v e s a viral p o w e r a n d t h e i r v i r u l e n c e is c o n t a g i o u s . We are i n a c u l t u r e w h e r e b o d i e s a n d m i n d s are i r r a d i a t e d b y signals a n d i m a g e s a n d ,

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t h o u g h t h a t c u l t u r e p r o d u c e s t h e finest effects, it c o m e s as no s u r p r i s e t h a t it also p r o d u c e s t h e m o s t lethal viruses. T h e n u c l e a r i z a t i o n o f b o d i e s b e g a n a t H i r o s h i m a , b u t i t c o n t i n u e s e n d e m i c a l l y , incessantly, i n i r r a d i a t i o n b y t h e m e d i a , b y i m a g e s , signs, p r o g r a m m e s a n d n e t w o r k s . 14 October

14

1987

Necrospective around Martin Heidegger

T h e futile q u a r r e l o v e r H e i d e g g e r has n o specific m e a n i n g w i t h i n p h i l o s o p h y . I t i s m e r e l y s y m p t o m a t i c o f a w e a k n e s s i n c u r r e n t t h i n k i n g . U n a b l e t o find a n y n e w energy, p h i l o s o p h i c a l t h o u g h t keeps g o i n g b a c k obsessively over its o r i g i n s , over t h e p u r i t y of its references; it is n o w painfully reliving, in this fin de siecle p e r i o d , its o w n p r i m a l s c e n e o f t h e early p a r t o f t h e c e n t u r y . M o r e generally, t h e H e i d e g g e r case i s s y m p t o m a t i c o f t h e collective v o g u e for revivals w h i c h has t a k e n h o l d o f this s o c i e t y as it b e g i n s its e n d - o f - c e n t u r y s t o c k - t a k i n g : a revival of N a z i s m , fascism a n d t h e h o l o c a u s t . T h e s a m e t e m p t a t i o n t o r e - e x a m i n e t h e c e n t u r y ' s historical p r i m a l s c e n e is at w o r k here, a t e m p t a t i o n to 'launder' t h e corpses and clean up the historical r e c o r d , b u t at t h e s a m e t i m e t h e r e is also in all this a p e r v e r s e fascination w i t h a r e t u r n t o t h e w e l l s p r i n g s o f v i o l e n c e , a collective a t t e m p t t o h a l l u c i n a t e t h e h i s t o r ical t r u t h

o f evil.

O u r present imagination must be weak indeed and our

indifference t o o u r o w n s i t u a t i o n a n d o u r o w n p h i l o s o p h i z i n g v e r y g r e a t for u s t o n e e d s u c h regressive m a g i c . I n t h e case o f H e i d e g g e r w e are s u d d e n l y d i s c o v e r i n g his act o f i n t e l l e c t u a l t r e a c h e r y (if s u c h it was) today, e v e n t h o u g h we h a v e lived q u i t e h a p p i l y w i t h it for

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forty years. W e saw t h e s a m e t h i n g h a p p e n w i t h M a r x a n d F r e u d . W h e n M a r x i s t t h o u g h t lost its t r i u m p h a l aura, p e o p l e started ferreting a b o u t in M a r x ' s life a n d d i s c o v e r e d t h a t h e w a s a b o u r g e o i s w h o slept w i t h his m a i d . W h e n p s y c h o a n a l y t i c t h o u g h t b e g a n t o lose its u n c o n t e s t e d i n f l u e n c e , p e o p l e b e g a n l o o k i n g i n t o Freud's o w n life a n d p s y c h o l o g y a n d , inevitably, f o u n d h e was sexist a n d p a t r i a r c h a l . N o w we have H e i d e g g e r accused of b e i n g a Nazi. T h e fact t h a t h e has b e e n s o a c c u s e d a n d t h a t efforts are b e i n g m a d e t o p r o v e his i n n o c e n c e i s really o f n o c o n s e q u e n c e : b o t h parties t o t h e q u a r r e l h a v e fallen i n t o t h e s a m e p e t t y - m i n d e d i n t e l l e c t u a l trap, t h e trap o f a n e n e r v a t e d f o r m o f t h i n k i n g w h i c h n o l o n g e r e v e n takes p r i d e i n its o w n basic t e n e t s , n o r has t h e e n e r g y t o g o b e y o n d t h e m , a n d w h i c h i s s q u a n d e r i n g w h a t e n e r g y i t still possesses i n h i s t o r i c a l trials, a c c u s a t i o n s , justifications a n d verifications. T h i s i s t h e self-defence o f t h e p h i l o s o p h i c a l w o r l d casting a suspicious eye on t h e d u b i o u s m o r a l s of its m a s t e r s (if n o t , i n d e e d , t r a m p l i n g t h e m d o w n a s ' m a s t e r - t h i n k e r s ' ) . I t i s t h e self-defence o f a n entire society w h i c h is unable to generate a n e w history and is h e n c e c o n d e m n e d t o k e e p o n r e - h a s h i n g past h i s t o r y t o p r o v e its o w n e x i s t e n c e , o r e v e n t o p r o v e its o w n crimes. B u t w h a t are w e t r y i n g t o prove? I t i s b e c a u s e w e have d i s a p p e a r e d today p o l i t ically a n d historically (this i s o u r real p r o b l e m ) t h a t w e w a n t t o p r o v e w e actually d i e d b e t w e e n 1 9 4 0 a n d 1 9 4 5 at A u s c h w i t z or H i r o s h i m a — t h a t at least is a k i n d of h i s t o r y t h a t really has s o m e w e i g h t t o it. I n this w e are b e h a v i n g j u s t like t h e A r m e n i a n s w h o n e v e r stop t r y i n g t o p r o v e t h e y w e r e m a s s a c r e d i n 1 9 1 7 ; a n i n accessible, useless proof, b u t o n e w h i c h is vital to t h e m in a way. It is b e c a u s e p h i l o s o p h y t o d a y has d i s a p p e a r e d (that is its p r o b l e m : h o w c a n it live on in a state o f d i s a p p e a r a n c e ? ) t h a t i t has t o p r o v e t h a t i t was definitively c o m p r o m i s e d b y w h a t H e i d e g g e r d i d o r r e n d e r e d aphasic b y A u s c h w i t z . W h a t i s h a p p e n i n g , t h e n , is a d e s p e r a t e a t t e m p t to s n a t c h a p o s t h u m o u s t r u t h from history, a p o s t h u m o u s

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e x c u l p a t i o n — a n d this at a m o m e n t w h e n t h e r e is precisely n o t e n o u g h t r u t h a r o u n d t o a l l o w u s t o arrive a t a n y s o r t o f verification, n o r e n o u g h p h i l o s o p h y t o g r o u n d any relation whatever b e t w e e n t h e o r y and practice, n o r e n o u g h history to p r o d u c e a n y k i n d o f historical p r o o f o f w h a t h a p p e n e d . W e t e n d all t o o easily t o forget t h a t o u r reality c o m e s t o u s t h r o u g h t h e m e d i a , t h e tragic events o f t h e past i n c l u d e d . T h i s m e a n s t h a t i t i s t o o late t o verify a n d u n d e r s t a n d t h e m historically, for precisely w h a t c h a r a c t e r i z e s o u r c e n t u r y ' s e n d i s t h e fact t h a t t h e tools o f historical intelligibility have disappeared. H i s t o r y h a d t o b e u n d e r s t o o d w h i l e t h e r e still was history. H e i d e g g e r s h o u l d h a v e b e e n d e n o u n c e d (or d e f e n d e d ) w h i l e t h e r e still w a s t i m e . A trial c a n o n l y b e c o n d u c t e d w h e n t h e r e i s s o m e w a y for j u s t i c e t o b e d o n e afterwards. I t i s t o o late n o w ; w e h a v e b e e n m o v e d o n t o o t h e r t h i n g s , a s w e saw w h e n Holocaust was s h o w n o n t e l e v i s i o n , a n d e v e n w h e n Shoah was screened. T h o s e p h e n o m e n a w e r e n o t u n d e r s t o o d a t t h e t i m e w h e n w e still h a d t h e m e a n s t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e m . T h e y will n o t b e u n d e r s t o o d n o w . T h i s is so b e c a u s e s u c h f u n d a m e n t a l n o t i o n s as responsibility, o b j e c t i v e cause a n d t h e m e a n i n g (or n o n - m e a n i n g ) o f h i s t o r y h a v e already d i s a p p e a r e d o r are d i s a p p e a r i n g . T h e effects o f m o r a l c o n s c i e n c e , o r collective c o n s c i e n c e , are e n t i r e l y m e d i a effects, a n d y o u can see from t h e e x t r a o r d i n a r y t h e r a p e u t i c effort b e i n g m a d e to resuscitate t h a t c o n s c i e n c e h o w little life is left in it. W e shall n e v e r k n o w w h e t h e r N a z i s m , t h e c o n c e n t r a t i o n c a m p s o r H i r o s h i m a w e r e i n t e l l i g i b l e o r n o t . W e are n o l o n g e r i n t h e s a m e m e n t a l u n i v e r s e . T h e reversibility o f v i c t i m a n d v i c t i m i z e r , t h e diffraction a n d d i s s o l u t i o n o f r e s p o n s i b i l ity - t h e s e are t h e v i r t u e s o f o u r m a r v e l l o u s interface today. W e n o l o n g e r h a v e t h e s t r e n g t h t o forget; o u r a m n e s i a i s t h e a m n e s i a o f i m a g e s . A m n e s t i e s s e e m i m p o s sible: since e v e r y o n e i s guilty, w h o c o u l d declare o n e ? A s for a u t o p s i e s , n o o n e believes i n t h e a n a t o m i c a l v e r a c i t y o f facts a n y m o r e . W e w o r k o n m o d e l s . E v e n i f t h e facts w e r e t h e r e s t a r i n g u s i n t h e face, w e w o u l d n o t b e c o n v i n c e d .

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T h u s t h e m o r e w e have p o r e d over N a z i s m a n d t h e gas c h a m b e r s i n a n effort t o analyse t h o s e t h i n g s , t h e less intelligible t h e y have b e c o m e , a n d w e h a v e i n t h e e n d a r r i v e d q u i t e logically a t t h e i m p r o b a b l e q u e s t i o n : ' W h e n i t c o m e s d o w n t o it, d i d all these things really exist?' T h e q u e s t i o n m a y b e s t u p i d o r m o r a l l y indefensible, b u t w h a t is i n t e r e s t i n g is w h a t m a k e s it logically possible to ask it. A n d w h a t m a k e s it possible i s t h e w a y t h e m e d i a h a v e s u b s t i t u t e d t h e m s e l v e s for events, ideas a n d h i s tory. T h i s m e a n s t h a t t h e l o n g e r y o u e x a m i n e t h e s e p h e n o m e n a , t h e m o r e y o u m a s t e r all t h e details t o identify t h e i r causes, t h e m o r e t h e i r e x i s t e n c e fades a n d t h e m o r e t h e y c o m e t o h a v e n o t e x i s t e d a t all: a c o n f u s i o n o v e r t h e i d e n t i t y o f t h i n g s i n d u c e d b y t h e v e r y act o f investigating a n d m e m o r i z i n g t h e m . A n indifference o f m e m o r y , a n indifference t o h i s t o r y t h a t i s e x a c t l y e q u a l t o t h e v e r y efforts m a d e t o objectify it. O n e day w e shall ask o u r s e l v e s i f H e i d e g g e r h i m s e l f really existed. Faurisson's p a r a d o x m a y s e e m a b o m i n a b l e - a n d , insofar as he claims t h a t t h e gas 2

c h a m b e r s d i d n o t exist historically, it is a b o m i n a b l e - b u t in a sense it exactly expresses t h e s i t u a t i o n o f a n e n t i r e c u l t u r e : t h e d e a d - e n d t h a t o u r fin-de-siecle s o c i e t y has g o t itself i n t o , fascinated a s i t i s t o t h e p o i n t o f d i s t r a c t i o n b y t h e h o r r o r o f its o w n o r i g i n s . S i n c e i t i s i m p o s s i b l e t o forget t h o s e o r i g i n s , t h e o n l y w a y o u t i s denial. If p r o o f is futile h e r e , as t h e r e is no h i s t o r i c a l d i s c o u r s e in w h i c h to c o n d u c t a trial, p u n i s h m e n t i s also impossible. N o t h i n g can a t o n e for A u s c h w i t z a n d t h e h o l o caust. T h e r e i s n o possible w a y o f fitting t h e p u n i s h m e n t t o t h e c r i m e , a n d t h e unreality o f a possible p u n i s h m e n t m a k e s t h e facts themselves s e e m u n r e a l . W h a t w e are l i v i n g t h r o u g h has n o t h i n g t o d o w i t h all this. W h a t i s h a p p e n i n g r i g h t n o w , collectively, confusedly, in all t h e s e trials a n d p o l e m i c s is t h e t r a n s i t i o n f r o m t h e

2. R o b e r t Faurisson, formerly a professor at the University of Lyon is t h e most p r o m i n e n t of France's 'revisionist' historians.

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p h a s e o f h i s t o r y t o a p h a s e o f m y t h . W e are s e e i n g t h e m y t h i c r e c o n s t r u c t i o n , t h e m e d i a r e c o n s t r u c t i o n , of all t h e s e e v e n t s . A n d in a sense this m y t h i c c o n v e r s i o n is t h e o n l y o p e r a t i o n w h i c h c a n , i f n o t p e r h a p s m o r a l l y e x c u l p a t e us, a t least absolve us in fantasy of responsibility for this o r i g i n a l c r i m e . B u t before this process can take place, b e f o r e a c r i m e can b e c o m e a m y t h , t h e c r i m e has first to be divested of its h i s t o r i c a l reality. O t h e r w i s e , since w e h a v e b e e n , a n d still are, u n a b l e t o c o m e t o t e r m s h i s t o r i c a l l y w i t h all t h e s e t h i n g s - fascism, c o n c e n t r a t i o n c a m p s , t h e h o l o caust - w e w o u l d b e c o n d e m n e d t o r e p e a t t h e m e t e r n a l l y a s a p r i m a l s c e n e . I t i s n o t n o s t a l g i a for fascism w h i c h i s d a n g e r o u s . W h a t i s d a n g e r o u s a n d l a m e n t a b l e i s this p a t h o l o g i c a l revival o f t h e past, i n w h i c h e v e r y o n e — b o t h t h o s e w h o d e n y a n d t h o s e w h o assert t h e reality o f t h e gas c h a m b e r s , b o t h H e i d e g g e r ' s c r i t ics a n d his s u p p o r t e r s - is c u r r e n t l y p a r t i c i p a t i n g ( i n d e e d v i r t u a l l y c o n n i v i n g ) , this c o l l e c t i v e h a l l u c i n a t i o n w h i c h transfers t h e p o w e r o f i m a g i n a t i o n t h a t i s l a c k i n g f r o m o u r o w n p e r i o d , a n d all t h e b u r d e n o f v i o l e n c e a n d reality w h i c h has t o d a y b e c o m e m e r e l y illusory, b a c k t o t h a t earlier p e r i o d i n a s o r t o f c o m p u l s i o n t o relive its history, a c o m p u l s i o n a c c o m p a n i e d by a p r o f o u n d sense of g u i l t at n o t h a v i n g b e e n t h e r e . All this is a d e s p e r a t e e m o t i o n a l r e s p o n s e to t h e r e a l i z a t i o n t h a t t h e e v e n t s i n q u e s t i o n a r e c u r r e n t l y e l u d i n g u s a t t h e level o f reality. T h e H e i d e g g e r affair, t h e B a r b i e trial e t c . are t h e p a t h e t i c little c o n v u l s i o n s p r o d u c e d b y t h e loss o f reality t h a t afflicts u s today, a n d Faurisson's p r o p o s i t i o n s are s i m p l y t h e c y n i c a l t r a n s p o s i t i o n o f t h a t loss o f reality i n t o t h e past. F a u r i s s o n ' s ' n o n e o f this e v e r e x i s t e d ' q u i t e s i m p l y m e a n s t h a t w e d o n o t e v e n exist e n o u g h t o d a y t o sustain a m e m o r y , a n d t h a t all t h a t r e m a i n s to give us a sense of b e i n g alive are t h e techniques of hallucination. P o s t s c r i p t : i n v i e w o f all this, c o u l d w e n o t j u s t skip t h e rest o f t h e c e n t u r y ? I i n t e n d t o l a u n c h a collective p e t i t i o n ( w h i c h will m a k e a c h a n g e f r o m t h e usual h u m a n i t a r i a n o r presidential petitions) calling for t h e 1990s t o b e c a n c e l l e d , s o t h a t

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w e c a n m o v e directly f r o m 1 9 8 9 t o t h e y e a r 2 0 0 0 . A s t h e fin-de-siecle has already a r r i v e d , w i t h all its n e c r o c u l t u r a l p a t h o s , its endless l a m e n t a t i o n s , c o m m e m o r a t i o n s a n d m u m m i f i c a t i o n s , d o w e really h a v e t o s p e n d a n o t h e r t e n b o r i n g years o n this s a m e o l d treadmill? 27 January

20

1988

In P r a i s e of a V i r t u a l C r a s h

T h e interesting element in the tragicomedy on the stock exchanges in recent m o n t h s i s t h e u n c e r t a i n t y a s t o w h e t h e r a c a t a s t r o p h e has o c c u r r e d . H a s t h e r e b e e n a 'real' c a t a s t r o p h e ? W i l l t h e r e be o n e ? T h e a n s w e r is: t h e c a t a s t r o p h e is a v i r t u a l o n e , a n d t h e r e w i l l b e n o real c a t a s t r o p h e b e c a u s e w e live u n d e r t h e sign o f v i r t u a l c a t a s t r o p h e . T h i s is c o n n e c t e d w i t h a state of affairs w h i c h was s h o w n up s t r i k i n g l y h e r e : t h e d i s c r e p a n c y b e t w e e n t h e fictional e c o n o m y a n d t h e real e c o n o m y . It is this d i s c r e p a n c y w h i c h p r o t e c t s u s f r o m a real c a t a s t r o p h e o f t h e p r o d u c t i v e e c o n o m i e s . Is this a g o o d or a b a d t h i n g ? It is e x a c t l y t h e s a m e as t h e d i s c r e p a n c y b e t w e e n orbital w a r a n d l a n d w a r s . L a n d w a r s g o o n e v e r y w h e r e , b u t n u c l e a r w a r has n o t broken out. If the t w o were n o t disconnected, the nuclear confrontation w o u l d h a v e e r u p t e d l o n g since. W e are d o m i n a t e d b y b o m b s a n d v i r t u a l c a t a s t r o p h e s w h i c h d o n o t e x p l o d e : t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l s t o c k m a r k e t crash (this has n o t really e v e n t u a t e d a n d i t will n o t ) , n u c l e a r w a r , t h e t h i r d - w o r l d d e b t , a n d e v e n t h e d e m o g r a p h i c t i m e - b o m b . O n e c o u l d , o f c o u r s e , a r g u e t h a t all t h e s e things will inevitably b l o w u p i n o u r faces o n e day, j u s t a s t h e r e has l o n g b e e n a p r e d i c t i o n t h a t , w i t h i n t h e n e x t fifty years, an e a r t h q u a k e will surely see C a l i f o r n i a slide i n t o t h e Pacific.

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B u t t h e facts are clear: w e are i n t h e s i t u a t i o n w h e r e t h e c a t a s t r o p h e d o e s n o t e v e n t u a t e , in a s i t u a t i o n of v i r t u a l c a t a s t r o p h e — eternally v i r t u a l c a t a s t r o p h e . T h i s is h o w t h i n g s are for us; it is t h e o n l y reality objectively facing us: a w i l d , orbital r o u n d - d a n c e o f capital w h i c h , w h e n i t b r e a k s d o w n , p r o d u c e s n o s u b s t a n tial d i s e q u i l i b r i u m i n real e c o n o m i e s (unlike t h e 1 9 2 9 C r a s h , w h e n t h e fictional a n d t h e real e c o n o m i e s w e r e by no m e a n s as d i s c o n n e c t e d , a n d , as a result, t h e c a t a s t r o p h e w i t h i n t h e o n e h a d a n i m p a c t o n t h e o t h e r ) , e i t h e r b e c a u s e real e c o n o m i e s are themselves s o speculative t h a t t h e y a b s o r b m o r e easily t o d a y w h a t t h e y c o u l d n o t a b s o r b i n 1 9 2 9 , o r b e c a u s e t h e s p h e r e o f virtual capital has b e c o m e s o a u t o n o m o u s , so o r b i t a l i z e d , t h a t it can in s o m e cases proliferate — or e v e n d e v o u r itself — w i t h o u t l e a v i n g a n y trace. I t d o e s , h o w e v e r , leave a t least o n e c a t a s t r o p h i c t r a c e : t h e crash t h a t has o c c u r r e d has b e e n n o t s o m u c h i n t h e e c o n o m y a s i n e c o n o m i c t h e o r y , w h i c h is n o w at a t o t a l loss b e f o r e this e x p l o s i o n of its o b j e c t . F o r e v e r y t h i n g has b e c o m e a p r o b l e m o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n . I n t h e orbital s p h e r e o f capital, t h e r e i s w o n d e r f u l l y g o o d c o m m u n i c a t i o n (the p e r v e r s e c o m p u t e r s a n d t h e ' g o l d e n b o y s ' , w h o are t h e m s e l v e s h u m a n c o m p u t i n g m a c h i n e s ) . T h i s i s t h e r e a s o n w h y i t i s i n a p e r m a n e n t l y c a t a s t r o p h i c state: t h e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s are t o o g o o d . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , b e t w e e n t h e t w o s p h e r e s ( o f t h e v i r t u a l a n d t h e real), t h e r e i s n o l o n g e r a n y c o m m u n i c a t i o n . F o r t u n a t e l y o r o t h e r w i s e . F o r i t i s this b r e a k b e t w e e n t h e t w o , this loss o f a referent o n t h e p a r t o f t h e v i r t u a l e c o n o m y , w h i c h enables i t t o p r o d u c e p r o d i g i o u s effects, b u t i t i s also this w h i c h p r o t e c t s t h e real e c o n o m y from the catastrophes w h i c h m a y o c c u r in the o t h e r sphere. W o u l d it be better if t h e real e c o n o m y b e c a m e t h e referent a n d c r i t e r i o n for t h e fictional e c o n o m y (every e c o n o m i s t ' s d r e a m ) ? T h e r e i s little i n d i c a t i o n t h a t i t w o u l d , a n d i n a n y case it is u n t h i n k a b l e . T r a d i t i o n a l t h e o r i s t s of w a r m u s t be equally at a loss before t h e e x p l o s i o n of t h e i r o b j e c t o f study. For, paradoxically, i t isn't t h e b o m b w h i c h has e x p l o d e d , b u t t h e 22

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w a r - o b j e c t , w h i c h has e x p l o d e d i n t o t w o separate parts - a total, virtual w a r in orbit a n d m u l t i p l e real w a r s o n t h e g r o u n d . T h e t w o h a v e n e i t h e r t h e s a m e d i m e n s i o n s n o r t h e s a m e rules, j u s t a s t h e v i r t u a l e c o n o m y a n d t h e real e c o n o m y d o n o t have t h e s a m e d i m e n s i o n s o r t h e s a m e r u l e s . W e shall h a v e t o g e t u s e d t o this virtually definitive division, a c c u s t o m ourselves to a w o r l d d o m i n a t e d by this discrepancy. T h e r e was, a d m i t t e d l y , a crisis i n 1 9 2 9 , a n d a n e x p l o s i o n a t H i r o s h i m a , a n d h e n c e t h e r e was a m o m e n t w h e n t h e s e t w o w o r l d s explosively c o n t a m i n a t e d e a c h o t h e r , a m o m e n t w h e n t h e e c o n o m i c s l u m p a n d n u c l e a r warfare w e r e real, b u t w e s h o u l d n o t b e m i s l e d b y this a s t o w h a t was t o follow. C a p i t a l has n o t l u r c h e d f r o m o n e crisis t o a n o t h e r , e a c h w o r s e t h a n t h e last (as M a r x a r g u e d i t w o u l d ) , n o r have w e l u r c h e d f r o m o n e w a r t o a n o t h e r . T h e e v e n t t o o k p l a c e o n c e a n d t h a t i s all. W h a t c a m e after was s o m e t h i n g q u i t e different: it was t h e h y p e r - r e a l i z a t i o n of b i g finance capital, t h e h y p e r - r e a l i z a t i o n o f overkill capacity, b o t h o r b i t a l i z e d a b o v e o u r h e a d s on a c o u r s e q u i t e b e y o n d o u r grasp, a n d a c o u r s e w h i c h is, fortunately, also b e y o n d t h e grasp o f reality itself. H y p e r - r e a l i z e d w a r a n d h y p e r - r e a l i z e d m o n e y circulate i n a n inaccessible space, b u t i n d o i n g s o t h e y leave t h e w o r l d j u s t a s i t is. I n t h e e n d , t h e e c o n o m i e s c o n t i n u e t o p r o d u c e , w h e r e a s t h e tiniest logical c o n s e q u e n c e o f t h e f l u c t u a t i o n s i n t h e fictional e c o n o m y w o u l d l o n g a g o h a v e sufficed t o w i p e t h e m o u t (let u s n o t forget t h a t i n t h e daily figures for i n t e r n a t i o n a l t r a d e , o n l y 1 0 0 b i l l i o n dollars goes o n c o m m e r c i a l t r a n s a c t i o n s , w h i l e capital m o v e m e n t s s t a n d a t 9 0 0 billion). T h e w o r l d c o n t i n u e s t o exist, e v e n t h o u g h o n e t h o u s a n d t h o f t h e available n u c l e a r p o w e r w o u l d have b e e n e n o u g h t o a n n i h i l a t e it; t h e T h i r d W o r l d - a n d t h e o t h e r — survive e v e n t h o u g h t h e slightest i n c l i n a t i o n t o m e e t its d e b t w o u l d already h a v e w i p e d i t f r o m t h e m a p . Instead, t h a t d e b t has b e g u n t o p u t itself i n t o o r b i t ; i t i s b e g i n n i n g t o circulate f r o m o n e b a n k t o a n o t h e r , o n e c o u n t r y t o a n o t h e r , each b u y i n g it b a c k from t h e o t h e r s . In this w a y it will e v e n t u a l l y be f o r g o t t e n , as it is sent i n t o o r b i t w i t h n u c l e a r w a s t e a n d a g r e a t m a n y o t h e r t h i n g s .

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W h e n t h e d e b t b e c o m e s t o o b u r d e n s o m e w e e x p e l i t i n t o a v i r t u a l space, w h e r e it a p p e a r s as a c a t a s t r o p h e frozen in o r b i t . T h e d e b t b e c o m e s a satellite of t h e e a r t h , j u s t as w a r has b e c o m e a satellite of t h e e a r t h , j u s t as t h e billions of dollars of speculative capital h a v e b e c o m e a satellite-heap, r e v o l v i n g endlessly a r o u n d t h e p l a n e t . A n d i t is, n o d o u b t , b e t t e r t h a t i t s h o u l d b e t h a t way. W h i l e t h e y are r e v o l v i n g - a n d e v e n if t h e y e x p l o d e in space (as t h e billions 'lost' in t h e 1 9 8 7 crash did) - t h e w o r l d i s n o t c h a n g e d b y t h e m , a n d this i s t h e best w e can h o p e for. T h e ' r a t i o n a l ' h o p e o f r e c o n c i l i n g t h e fictional a n d real e c o n o m i e s i s e n t i r e l y Utopian: t h e s e billions o f dollars exist o n l y virtually; t h e y c a n n o t b e t r a n s p o s e d i n t o t h e real e c o n o m y . A n d a g o o d t h i n g t o o , for i f t h e y c o u l d b y s o m e m i r a c l e b e r e - i n j e c t e d i n t o t h e p r o d u c t i o n e c o n o m i e s , t h a t w o u l d spell real catastrophe. Similarly, w e definitely s h o u l d n o t t r y t o r e - c o n n e c t t h e t w o separate spheres o f warfare: let u s leave v i r t u a l w a r in o r b i t , since t h a t is w h e r e it p r o t e c t s us. In its v e r y a b s t r a c t i o n , its m o n s t r o u s e c c e n t r i c i t y , t h e n u c l e a r i s o u r b e s t p r o t e c t i o n . A n d let u s g e t u s e d t o living i n t h e s h a d e o f t h e s e m o n s t r o u s e x c r e s c e n c e s : t h e orbital b o m b , financial s p e c u l a t i o n , t h e w o r l d d e b t , o v e r - p o p u l a t i o n (for w h i c h n o orbital s o l u t i o n has yet b e e n f o u n d — p e r h a p s h e r e again it will lie in t h e e c c e n t r i c m o b i l i z a t i o n a n d c i r c u l a t i o n of t h e excess). As t h e y are, t h e y e x o r c i z e themselves in t h e i r excess, in t h e i r v e r y hyperreality, a n d , after a fashion, leave t h e w o r l d intact, leave it free of its double. T h e e n d o f political e c o n o m y i s a t h i n g w e d r e a m e d o f w i t h M a r x . I t was a d r e a m i n w h i c h classes d i e d o u t a n d t h e social s p h e r e b e c a m e t r a n s p a r e n t , i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h a n i n e l u c t a b l e l o g i c o f t h e crisis o f capital. T h e n w e d r e a m e d t h e d r e a m against M a r x himself, d i s a v o w i n g t h e p o s t u l a t e s o f e c o n o m i c s . A radical alternative this, d e n y i n g any p r i m a c y t o t h e e c o n o m i c o r political spheres i n first o r last i n s t a n c e : political e c o n o m y q u i t e s i m p l y a b o l i s h e d a s e p i p h e n o m e n o n , v a n q u i s h e d b y its o w n s i m u l a c r u m a n d b y a h i g h e r l o g i c . W e n o l o n g e r e v e n n e e d t o

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d r e a m o f t h a t e n d today. Political e c o n o m y i s d i s a p p e a r i n g b y its o w n h a n d b e f o r e o u r v e r y eyes; it is t u r n i n g i n t o a t r a n s e c o n o m i c s of s p e c u l a t i o n a n d flouting its o w n l o g i c ( t h e l a w o f value, o f t h e m a r k e t , p r o d u c t i o n , s u r p l u s - v a l u e , t h e v e r y l o g i c o f capital), as it d e v e l o p s i n t o a g a m e w i t h floating, arbitrary rules, a jeu de catastrophe. Political e c o n o m y will have c o m e to an e n d , b u t n o t at all as we e x p e c t e d it to - it will have e n d e d b y b e c o m i n g e x a c e r b a t e d t o t h e p o i n t o f parody. S p e c u l a t i o n i s n o l o n g e r s u r p l u s - v a l u e ; i t i s t h e ecstasy o f v a l u e , w i t h o u t r e f e r e n c e t o p r o d u c t i o n o r its real c o n d i t i o n s . I t i s t h e p u r e a n d e m p t y f o r m , t h e e x p u r g a t e d f o r m o f value, w h i c h plays n o w o n its o w n orbital c i r c u l a t i o n a n d r e v o l u t i o n a l o n e . I t i s b y d e s t a bilizing itself monstrously, ironically, as it w e r e , t h a t political e c o n o m y s h o r t - c i r c u i t s e v e r y alternative. F o r w h a t c a n y o u set against s u c h a n u p p i n g o f t h e stakes, w h i c h i n its o w n w a y takes over t h e e n e r g y o f p o t l a t c h , o f p o k e r , o f t h e c h a l l e n g e t o its o w n l o g i c , a n d r e p r e s e n t s , a s i t w e r e , t h e t r a n s i t i o n t o t h e aesthetic a n d frenzied phase of the e c o n o m y — a way of p u t t i n g an e n d to the e c o n o m y that is the most singular in style, u l t i m a t e l y m o r e o r i g i n a l t h a n o u r political Utopias? F a c e d w i t h this d a n g e r o u s leap, c a n t h e o r y m a k e a d o u b l e leap t o m a i n t a i n its a d v a n t a g e ? 2 March

25

1988

The Viral Economy

A I D S , t h e stock m a r k e t crash (followed b y t h e d a w n raiders a n d a s t r i n g o f t a k e o v e r bids), c o m p u t e r viruses - w e are h a v i n g m o r e t h a n o u r fair share o f ' s u p e r c o n d u c t i v e ' e v e n t s . M o r e t h a n o u r fair s h a r e o f t h e s e s u d d e n i n t e r c o n t i n e n t a l ravages w h i c h n o l o n g e r affect states, i n d i v i d u a l s o r i n s t i t u t i o n s , b u t e n t i r e s t r u c t u r e s , s t r u c t u r e s r u n n i n g r i g h t across society: sex, m o n e y , i n f o r m a t i o n a n d c o m m u n i c a tions. T h e t h r e e t h i n g s are n o t i n t e r c h a n g e a b l e , b u t t h e r e i s a family r e s e m b l a n c e b e t w e e n t h e m . A I D S i s a k i n d o f collapse o f t h e sexual m a r k e t , a n d w e o u g h t n o t to f o r g e t t h a t c o m p u t e r s , t h e m s e l v e s affected w i t h a k i n d of A I D S today, played a ' v i r u l e n t ' role i n t h e Wall Street C r a s h . B u t t h e g a l l o p i n g c o n t a m i n a t i o n o f c o m p u t e r s c o u l d also be seen as a k i n to a d e v a s t a t i n g fall in t h e s t o c k of c o m p u t i n g . C o n t a g i o n is n o t m e r e l y active within e a c h system; it o p e r a t e s between systems. All t h e s e d e v e l o p m e n t s h a v e a g e n e r i c p a t t e r n t o t h e m : t h e p a t t e r n o f catast r o p h e . A d m i t t e d l y , signs o f this v i r u l e n c e a n d d i s r u p t i o n have l o n g b e e n p r e s e n t i n e a c h o f t h e s e systems: A I D S i s n o w e n d e m i c ; financial collapse, p r e f i g u r e d i n t h e f a m o u s Wall Street C r a s h of 1 9 2 9 , is always a risk if p a n i c sets in on t h e m a r k e t s ;

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a n d h a c k i n g ( a n d serial e l e c t r o n i c accidents) g o b a c k a t least t w e n t y years. B u t t h e fact o f all t h e s e e n d e m i c f o r m s a p p e a r i n g t o g e t h e r - a n d b e i n g a l m o s t s i m u l t a n e o u s l y r a t c h e t e d up to a v i r u l e n t state, a state of g a l l o p i n g a n o m a l y - creates an entirely o r i g i n a l , e x c i t i n g situation. T h e effects are n o t necessarily o f t h e same o r d e r in t h e collective c o n s c i o u s n e s s : A I D S m a y be e x p e r i e n c e d as a real c a t a s t r o p h e ; t h e s t o c k m a r k e t crash, by c o n t r a s t , s e e m s a jeu de catastrophe, a n d as for t h e c o m p u t e r v i r u s , t h a t is, a d m i t t e d l y , d r a m a t i c i n its v i r t u a l c o n s e q u e n c e s , b u t a t t h e s a m e t i m e it is hilariously ironic. It is, in a sense, a catastrophic parody. T h e c o n t a g i o n of c o m p u t e r viruses is also t h e c o n t a g i o n of l a u g h t e r (laughter is a f o r m of c o n t a g i o n b o r n of t h e catastrophic collapse of t h e real — e v e n an infinitesimally tiny collapse; l a u g h ter i s a h o m e o p a t h i c c a t a s t r o p h e ) . A n d t h e s u d d e n e p i d e m i c w h i c h i s s t r i k i n g d o w n c o m p u t e r s , d e s t r o y i n g t h e i r d e f e n c e a n d i m m u n e systems, can b e a s o u r c e o f justified r e j o i c i n g — at least in t h e i m a g i n a t i o n ( t h o u g h n o t for t h e professionals concerned). To t h e s e v a r i o u s aspects of a single e c c e n t r i c cluster of p h e n o m e n a , I shall a d d t w o v e r y different t h i n g s , t h o u g h t h e y inevitably p u t u s i n m i n d o f t h e s a m e m e c h a n i s m s . T h e first i s art, w h i c h i s e v e r y w h e r e b e s e t b y q u e s t i o n s o f f a l s e h o o d , a u t h e n t i c i t y , c o p y i n g , c l o n i n g a n d s i m u l a t i o n (there is a positive c o n t a g i o n h e r e , destabilizing aesthetic values, w h i c h are also l o s i n g t h e i r i m m u n e defences) a n d s i m u l t a n e o u s l y b y a m a d , s p e c u l a t i v e u p w a r d spiral o f p r i c e s ( t h o u g h t h e art ' m a r k e t ' is no l o n g e r a m a r k e t , b u t a centrifugal proliferation of value, in e v e r y w a y equivalent to the secondary infections of a b o d y irradiated by lucre). T h e s e c o n d p h e n o m e n o n i s a political o n e : t e r r o r i s m . N o t h i n g m o r e r e s e m b l e s t h e c h a i n r e a c t i o n o f t e r r o r i s m i n o u r i r r a d i a t e d societies ( i r r a d i a t e d b y w h a t ? B y superfusion o f h a p p i n e s s , security, i n f o r m a t i o n a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n ; b y t h e d i s i n t e g r a t i o n o f c o r e s y m b o l s , f u n d a m e n t a l rules, social contracts? — w h o k n o w s ? ) t h a n t h e c h a i n r e a c t i o n o f A I D S , t h e d a w n raiders, o r t h e h a c k e r s . A n d t h e c o n t a g i o n o f

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t e r r o r i s m is as l o c a l l y - c o n f i n e d , e p h e m e r a l , e n i g m a t i c a n d irrepressible as t h e c o n t a g i o n o f all t h e s e p h e n o m e n a . H o s t a g e - t a k i n g i s c o n t a g i o u s t o o : w h e n a software e n g i n e e r p u t s a 'soft b o m b ' i n t o t h e p r o g r a m m e , u s i n g t h e possible d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h a t p r o g r a m m e a s a m e a n s o f e x e r t i n g pressure, w h a t i s h e d o i n g b u t t a k i n g t h e p r o g r a m m e a n d all its future users hostage? A n d w h a t do d a w n raiders do b u t take and hold — companies hostage, speculating on their death or resurrection on the s t o c k m a r k e t ? W e m a y say, t h e n , t h a t all t h e effects d e s c r i b e d o p e r a t e o n t h e s a m e m o d e l as t e r r o r i s m (hostages h a v e a m a r k e t p r i c e like shares or p a i n t i n g s ) , w i t h t h e same D u t c h auction g o i n g on, the same unpredictability, the same destabilization a n d c h a i n - r e a c t i o n effects. B u t w e c o u l d j u s t a s w e l l see t e r r o r i s m o n t h e m o d e l o f A I D S , c o m p u t e r viruses o r hostile t a k e o v e r b i d s : n o n e o f t h e s e p h e n o m e n a takes p r e c e d e n c e o v e r t h e o t h e r s ; t h e r e is no process of cause a n d effect h e r e ; it is a single c o n s t e l l a t i o n o f collusive, c o n t e m p o r a r y p h e n o m e n a . T h e s t o c k m a r k e t crash finds a c o n t i n u a t i o n in t h e t a k e o v e r frenzy. It is no l o n g e r stocks a n d shares b e i n g b o u g h t , b u t c o m p a n i e s b e i n g b o u g h t u p . A virtual effervescence i s c r e a t e d , w i t h a p o t e n t i a l i m p a c t o n e c o n o m i c r e s t r u c t u r i n g w h i c h , in spite of w h a t is said, is p u r e l y speculative. T h e h o p e is that this e n f o r c e d c i r c u l a t i o n will p r o d u c e a broker's c o m m i s s i o n — exactly as on t h e S t o c k E x c h a n g e . N o t e v e n an o b j e c t i v e profit exactly: t h e profit f r o m s p e c u l a t i o n is n o t exactly s u r p l u s value, a n d w h a t is at stake h e r e is certainly n o t w h a t is at stake in classical capitalism. S p e c u l a t i o n , like p o k e r or roulette, has its o w n r u n a w a y logic, a c h a i n - r e a c t i o n logic, a process o f intensification [Steigerung], i n w h i c h t h e thrill o f t h e g a m e a n d o f b i d d i n g up t h e stakes plays a c o n s i d e r a b l e role. T h i s is w h y t h e r e is no p o i n t c r i t i c i z i n g i t o n t h e basis o f e c o n o m i c logic (this i s w h a t m a k e s t h e s e p h e n o m e n a s o e x c i t i n g : the e c o n o m i c being overtaken by a r a n d o m , vertiginous form). T h e g a m e i s s u c h a s t o b e c o m e suicidal: b i g c o m p a n i e s e n d u p b u y i n g b a c k t h e i r o w n shares, w h i c h i s n o n s e n s i c a l f r o m t h e e c o n o m i c p o i n t o f v i e w : t h e y e n d u p 28

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m o u n t i n g t a k e o v e r bids for t h e m s e l v e s ! B u t this i s all p a r t o f t h e s a m e m a d n e s s . I n t h e case of t a k e o v e r s , c o m p a n i e s are n o t t r a d e d - do n o t circulate - as real capital, as u n i t s of p r o d u c t i o n ; t h e y are t r a d e d as a q u a n t i t y of shares, as a m e r e p r o b a b i l i t y o f p r o d u c t i o n , w h i c h i s e n o u g h t o create a v i r t u a l m o v e m e n t w i t h i n t h e e c o n o m y . T h a t this will be a p r e l u d e to o t h e r crashes is h i g h l y p r o b a b l e , for t h e s a m e reasons as apply in t h e case of stocks a n d shares: things are circulating t o o quickly. We m i g h t i m a g i n e l a b o u r itself - l a b o u r p o w e r — m o v i n g i n t o this speculative o r b i t t o o . T h e w o r k e r w o u l d no l o n g e r sell his l a b o u r p o w e r for a w a g e , as in t h e classic c a p i t a l ist process, b u t sell his j o b itself, his e m p l o y m e n t . A n d h e w o u l d b u y o t h e r s a n d sell t h e m o n again, a s t h e i r s t o c k w e n t u p o r d o w n o n t h e L a b o u r E x c h a n g e (the t e r m w o u l d t h e n a s s u m e its full m e a n i n g ) . I t w o u l d n o t b e s o m u c h a q u e s t i o n o f d o i n g the j o b s as keeping t h e m circulating, creating a virtual m o v e m e n t of e m p l o y m e n t w h i c h s u b s t i t u t e d for t h e real m o v e m e n t o f l a b o u r . S c i e n c e fiction? H a r d l y . I n f o r m a t i o n a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n are b a s e d o n t h e p r i n c i p l e o f a v a l u e w h i c h has c e a s e d t o b e referential a n d i s n o w b a s e d o n p u r e circulation. P u r e added-value — a d d e d by dint of t h e message, the m e a n i n g passing from image to image and screen to screen. This is no longer even the surplus-value and exchange-value of the c o m m o d i t y (which does, however, a n t i c i p a t e this p r o c e s s ) . T h a t is b a s e d in p r i n c i p l e on a u s e - v a l u e a n d h e n c e still belongs to the sphere of the economy. H e r e there is no longer any exchange p r o p erly s p e a k i n g : w e are i n t h e r e a l m o f p u r e c i r c u l a t i o n a n d c h a i n r e a c t i o n s t h r o u g h the networks: a w h o l e n e w definition of value as s o m e t h i n g purely centrifugal, l i n k e d t o p u r e s p e e d a n d i n t e n s i f i e d e x c h a n g e . T h i s i s largely w h a t w e see i n t h e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s a n d i n f o r m a t i o n field - a field of v i r t u a l i t y ; o p e r a t i o n a l , b u t never operative. B u t this ' t r a n s e c o n o m i c ' m o d e l of value already exists in a sense in p r i m i t i v e c u l tures. F o r e x a m p l e , kula is a cycle of g i f t - e x c h a n g e in w h i c h t h e gifts a c q u i r e

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i n c r e a s i n g v a l u e t h e m o r e t h e y have b e e n g i v e n a n d r e c e i v e d .

3

T h e y can even

r e t u r n t o t h e starting p o i n t w i t h o u t h a v i n g c h a n g e d , b u t w i t h t h e i r value e n h a n c e d a h u n d r e d f o l d (isn't i t t h e s a m e o n today's art m a r k e t ? ) . T h e m e r e fact o f passing f r o m o n e p e r s o n t o a n o t h e r creates a k i n d o f s y m b o l i c c i r c u l a t i o n e n e r g y , w h i c h t r a n s m u t e s i n t o value. B u t t h a t value c a n n o t b e realized. I t c a n n o t b e ' p r o d u c e d ' , n o r can it be transferred i n t o t h e circuit of useful values (gimwali); it c a n o n l y c i r culate indefinitely, i n c r e a s i n g as e x c h a n g e s o c c u r (or, possibly, c o l l a p s i n g if t h e y s t o p ) . N o w kula is, in a sense, t h e sacred level, t h e prestige level of (symbolic) e x c h a n g e . T h e o t h e r level, t h e level o f b a r t e r , o f e q u i v a l e n c e , has n o s y m b o l i c v a l u e ; it is f u n c t i o n a l . Potlatch t o o is a speculative s t r u c t u r e of o u t b i d d i n g , of p r o duction of value by purely and simply b i d d i n g up the price. C a n we say, t h e n , t h a t t h e r e is an e c h o of kula a n d potlatch in t h e s e w a y w a r d effects, w h i c h basically c o n t r a d i c t t h e e c o n o m i c p r i n c i p l e o f v a l u e a n d e q u i v a l e n c e , t h e p r i n c i p l e o f l a b o u r a n d p r o d u c t i o n ? I n all l o g i c (even i n t h e l o g i c o f radical c r i t i q u e ) , w e c o u l d n o t c o n d e m n t h e s e excesses. A n d e v e r y o n e enjoys t h e m a s s p e c t a c l e : t h e s t o c k m a r k e t , t h e art m a r k e t , t h e Wall S t r e e t r a i d e r s . W e all d e l i g h t i n t h e s e t h i n g s a s p a r t o f capital's s p e c t a c u l a r b r i g h t e n i n g o f o u r lives, its m a n i a for t h e a e s t h e t i c . A t t h e s a m e t i m e w e d e l i g h t - w i t h m o r e difficulty a n d m o r e pain, and m o r e ambiguously - in the spectacular pathology of that system, i n t h e v i r u s e s w h i c h , like A I D S , t h e s t o c k m a r k e t crash a n d c o m p u t e r v i r u s e s , l a t c h o n t o this d e l i c a t e m a c h i n e r y a n d k n o c k i t o u t o f kilter. B u t t h e y are i n fact f o l l o w i n g o u t t h e s a m e l o g i c : v i r u s e s a n d v i r u l e n c e are p a r t o f t h e l o g i c a l , h y p e r logical c o h e r e n c e o f all o u r systems; t h e y take t h e s a m e paths a n d e v e n create s o m e n e w o n e s ( c o m p u t e r viruses e x p l o r e m a r g i n a l areas o f t h e n e t w o r k s w h i c h e v e n

3.

On the kula system, see Marcel Mauss, Tlte Gift. Hie Form and Reason for Exchange in Archaic

Societies ( N e w Y o r k / L o n d o n : W. W. N o r t o n , 2000), pp. 2 1 - 3 1 .

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t h e n e t w o r k s h a d n o t p l a n n e d t o u s e ) . C o m p u t e r v i r u s e s are a n e x p r e s s i o n o f t h e lethal t r a n s p a r e n c y o f i n f o r m a t i o n t h r o u g h o u t t h e w o r l d . A I D S i s a n e m a n a t i o n o f t h e lethal t r a n s p a r e n c y of sexual l i b e r a t i o n on a scale affecting e n t i r e social g r o u p s . F i n a n c i a l crashes are a n e x p r e s s i o n o f t h e lethal t r a n s p a r e n c y o f e c o n o m i e s o n e t o a n o t h e r , o f t h e f u l g u r a t i n g c i r c u l a t i o n o f values, w h i c h i s t h e v e r y basis o f t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f p r o d u c t i o n a n d e x c h a n g e . O n c e t h e y h a v e b e e n ' l i b e r a t e d ' , all t h e s e p r o c e s s e s e n t e r a s u p e r c o o l e d state, t h e F r e n c h t e r m c h i m i n g felicitously h e r e w i t h n o t i o n s o f fusion a n d m e l t d o w n . T h i s s u p e r c o o l i n g o f event processes w h i c h b e c o m e d e c o u p l e d f r o m t h e i r real s u b s t a n c e i s o n e o f t h e g r e a t a t t r a c t i o n s of our age.

4

A n d i t i s q u i t e s o m e p a r a d o x t o see t h e e c o n o m y c o m i n g t r i u m p h a n t l y b a c k o n t o t h e a g e n d a , i n c l u d i n g t h e m e d i a a g e n d a (let u s n o t forget t h a t t h e w o r l d o f t h e m e d i a is a viral w o r l d t o o , a n d t h a t t h e c i r c u l a t i o n of i m a g e s a n d messages functions a s a p e r p e t u a l r u m o u r mill). B u t c a n w e still s p e a k o f t h e ' e c o n o m y ' ? O r , i n d e e d , o f political e c o n o m y (the l o g i c o f capital)? C e r t a i n l y n o t . A t t h e v e r y least, t h e s t r i k i n g p r o m i n e n c e o f t h e e c o n o m y a t t h e m o m e n t has n o t a t all t h e s a m e m e a n i n g i t h a d i n t h e classical o r M a r x i s t analysis. F o r i t i s n o l o n g e r i n a n y sense d r i v e n by the infrastructure of material p r o d u c t i o n , n o r i n d e e d by t h e superstructure. T h e e n g i n e o f t h e e c o n o m y i s t h e d e s t r u c t u r i n g o f value, t h e destabilizing o f m a r kets a n d real e c o n o m i e s , t h e t r i u m p h o f a n e c o n o m y relieved o f i d e o l o g i e s , social sciences, h i s t o r y a n d political e c o n o m y a n d y i e l d e d u p t o p u r e s p e c u l a t i o n ; i t i s t h e t r i u m p h o f a v i r t u a l e c o n o m y relieved o f real e c o n o m i e s ( n o t really, o f c o u r s e , b u t virtually: yet i t i s n o t reality w h i c h h o l d s sway t o d a y b u t virtuality); t h e t r i u m p h o f a viral e c o n o m y w h i c h c o n n e c t s u p i n this w a y w i t h all t h e o t h e r viral processes. I t

4. Baudrillard is here exploiting the t e r m suffusion ('supercooling' or 'undercooling') for its poetic resources. This is also 'surfusion' as an excess of, a b e y o n d of, 'fusion'.

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is as an arena of special effects, of u n p r e d i c t a b l e (almost m e t e o r o l o g i c a l ) h a p p e n ings - as t h e d e s t r u c t i o n a n d e x a c e r b a t i o n of its o w n l o g i c - t h a t it is b e c o m i n g o n c e again a k i n d o f e x e m p l a r y t h e a t r e o f c u r r e n t events. 9 November

32

1988

The Depressurization of the West

W i t h t h e R u s h d i e affair, K h o m e i n i c a n b e said t o h a v e o p e n e d u p a n e w era i n t h e history of hostage-taking. T h e a w k w a r d part in hostage-taking, as is well k n o w n , i s s t o r i n g a n d k e e p i n g t h e h o s t a g e . K h o m e i n i has p u l l e d off t h e b r i l l i a n t t r i c k o f h a v i n g t h e W e s t e r n p o w e r s t h e m s e l v e s d e t a i n a n d stand g u a r d o v e r t h e h o s t a g e . A n d , t h r o u g h R u s h d i e , h e has p u l l e d off t h e brilliant t r i c k o f h a v i n g t h e W e s t a s a w h o l e t a k e itself h o s t a g e . T h i s s p e c t a c u l a r e n h a n c e m e n t o f h o s t a g e - t a k i n g strategy has t u r n e d it i n t o s o m e t h i n g global - a s y m b o l i c strategy capable of o v e r t u r n i n g all relations o f force m e r e l y b y o p e n i n g o n e ' s m o u t h . I n s t e a d o f t a l k i n g a lot o f n o n s e n s e a b o u t t h e Ayatollah's m e d i e v a l b a r b a r i t y a n d h o p i n g t h e w h o l e t h i n g will d i s a p p e a r m i r a c u l o u s l y w i t h his d e a t h , i t w o u l d b e b e t t e r t o p o n d e r w h y a n act o f this k i n d has s u c h s y m b o l i c p o t e n c y , w h y i t i s s o s y m b o l i c a l l y - diabolically - effective. After a n e x h a u s t i n g w a r a n d i n a n e n t i r e l y n e g a t i v e political, m i l i t a r y a n d e c o n o m i c s i t u a t i o n , w i t h t h e w h o l e w o r l d u n i t e d against h i m , t h e A y a t o l l a h has a single, tiny, i m m a t e r i a l w e a p o n at his disposal. B u t it is close to b e i n g t h e a b s o l u t e w e a p o n : t h e p r i n c i p l e o f Evil. A p o s i t i o n o f a b s o l u t e disavowal o f t h e W e s t e r n 33

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values o f p r o g r e s s , rationality, p o l i t i c a l m o r a l i t y , d e m o c r a c y , e t c . D e n y i n g t h e universal c o n s e n s u s o n all t h e s e fine t h i n g s confers o n h i m t h e w h o l e e n e r g y o f E v i l — all t h e satanic e n e r g y o f t h e o u t c a s t , t h e eclat o f t h e a c c u r s e d share. H e a l o n e speaks today, b e c a u s e h e a l o n e , against all c o m e r s , has t a k e n u p t h e M a n i c h e a n p r i n c i p l e o f Evil; h e a l o n e has t a k e n i t u p o n h i m s e l f t o speak evil a n d e x o r c i s e it, h e a l o n e agrees t o e m b o d y i t i n t e r r o r . W h a t lies b e h i n d his d e c i s i o n i s b e y o n d o u r u n d e r s t a n d i n g , a n d t h e r e i s little t o b e g a i n e d f r o m r a m b l i n g o n a b o u t t h e i n t e r n a l divisions w i t h i n Islam. W h a t w e can state w i t h c e r t a i n t y , h o w e v e r , i s t h e s u p e r i o r i t y this affords h i m o v e r t h e W e s t , w h e r e t h e possibility o f s p e a k i n g evil n o l o n g e r exists a n y w h e r e , w h e r e t h e slightest c r i t i c i s m , t h e slightest radical n e g a t i v i t y i s stifled b y t h e v i r t u a l c o n s e n sus o n all v a l u e s b a s e d o n n e g o t i a t i o n a n d r e c o n c i l i a t i o n . Political p o w e r i n t h e W e s t n o w o n l y h a l f - h e a r t e d l y exercises its f o r m e r f u n c t i o n s , o n e o f w h i c h w a s t o d e s i g n a t e t h e O t h e r , t h e E n e m y , t h e stakes, t h e t h r e a t , t h e evil. P o w e r exists o n l y a s l o n g a s i t has this s y m b o l i c p o t e n c y . I t n o l o n g e r has t h a t p o t e n c y t o d a y a n d , conversely, t h e r e i s n o o p p o s i t i o n w h i c h i s able o r w i l l i n g t o d e s i g n a t e t h e c u r r e n t p o w e r s - t h a t - b e a s t h e evil. W e are n o w v e r y l o w o n satanic, i r o n i c , p o l e m i c a l , a n t a g o n i s t i c e n e r g y ; w e h a v e b e c o m e fanatically soft s o c i e t i e s , o r softly fanatical ones. B y h o u n d i n g o u t t h e ' a c c u r s e d s h a r e ' f r o m w i t h i n ourselves, a n d a l l o w i n g o n l y p o s i t i v e values t o s h i n e f o r t h , w e h a v e b e c o m e d r a m a t i c a l l y v u l n e r a b l e t o t h e slightest viral attack, i n c l u d i n g t h a t o f t h e Ayatollah, w h o s e i m m u n e d e f e n c e s are c e r t a i n l y n o t d o w n . T h e o n l y t h i n g w e c a n r a n g e against h i m - a n d i t i s n o t m u c h — i s h u m a n r i g h t s , w h i c h i s itself p a r t o f o u r political i m m u n o d e f i c i e n c y . A n d , m o r e o v e r , i n t h e n a m e o f h u m a n r i g h t s , w e e n d u p d e s c r i b i n g t h e Ayatollah h i m s e l f as ' a b s o l u t e E v i l ' ( M i t t e r a n d ) , t h a t is to say, e n d up i d e n t i f y i n g w i t h his i r rational curse in a way that stands in total contradiction to o u r e n l i g h t e n e d

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d i s c o u r s e (do w e call a m a d m a n ' m a d ' t o d a y ? W e d o n ' t e v e n call a h a n d i c a p p e d p e r s o n ' h a n d i c a p p e d ' , s o afraid are w e o f E v i l , s o m u c h d o w e w a l l o w i n e u p h e m i s m s i n o r d e r t o avoid d e s i g n a t i n g t h e O t h e r , m i s f o r t u n e , t h e i r r e d u c i b l e ) . W e s h o u l d n o t b e s u r p r i s e d t h a t s o m e o n e capable o f s p e a k i n g t h e l a n g u a g e o f Evil - s p e a k i n g it literally a n d t r i u m p h a n t l y - s h o u l d trigger s u c h an access of w e a k ness i n W e s t e r n c u l t u r e s , i n spite o f p e t i t i o n s b y intellectuals t h e w o r l d over. T h e fact is t h a t legality, h u m a n i t a r i a n g o o d c o n s c i e n c e a n d r e a s o n itself yield in t h e face of i m p r e c a t i o n . R e a s o n is c o m p l e t e l y fascinated by it a n d falls in w i t h it, as do all t h e w o r l d ' s m e d i a . All i t c a n d o i s m o b i l i z e its reserves o f s t i g m a t i z a t i o n a n d satanization, b u t , in so d o i n g , it lapses i n t o t h e s a m e l a n g u a g e a n d falls i n t o t h e trap o f t h e p r i n c i p l e o f E v i l , w h i c h i s essentially c o n t a g i o u s . W h o i s t h e w i n n e r ? T h e Ayatollah o f c o u r s e . A d m i t t e d l y , w e still h a v e t h e p o w e r t o d e s t r o y h i m , b u t s y m b o l i c a l l y h e has w o n a n d s y m b o l i c p o w e r i s always s u p e r i o r t o t h e p o w e r o f w e a p o n s a n d m o n e y ; o u r m o d e r n i d e a l i s m s h o u l d have t a u g h t u s that. I t is, i n a way, t h e r e v e n g e o f t h e o t h e r w o r l d . T h e T h i r d W o r l d h a d n e v e r really m a n a g e d t o m o u n t a c h a l l e n g e t o t h e W e s t . A n d t h e U S S R , w h i c h for a few d e c a d e s p e r s o n i f i e d t h e p r i n c i p l e o f E v i l for t h e W e s t , has clearly m o v e d over q u i e t l y t o t h e side o f G o o d , t h e side o f a w e l l - t e m p e r e d m a n a g e m e n t o f t h e w o r l d ' s affairs. B y a m a r vellous irony, t h a t c o u n t r y e v e n offered itself a s m e d i a t o r b e t w e e n t h e W e s t a n d t h e Satan o f T e h e r a n . A n d i t has t h e e x p e r i e n c e t o d o that, h a v i n g s p e n t f i v e years d e f e n d i n g W e s t e r n values i n A f g h a n i s t a n , w i t h o u t a n y o n e p r o p e r l y realizing it. S o m e c o m m e n t a t o r s h a v e a t least a c k n o w l e d g e d , w i t h s o m e b i t t e r n e s s , t h a t K h o m e i n i ' s s e n t e n c e has, by force of a n a t h e m a , restored a fantastic value to b o o k s — a value t h e y h a d lost. T h i s is to r e c o g n i z e t h e s h a m e f u l state politics has fallen i n t o in our countries. T h e effect o f f a s c i n a t i o n , a t t r a c t i o n a n d r e p u l s i o n o n a w o r l d scale, u n l e a s h e d b y t h e Ayatollah's d e a t h s e n t e n c e o n R u s h d i e , i s e x a c t l y like t h e p h e n o m e n o n o f

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s u d d e n d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n o f a n aircraft c a b i n w h e n t h e r e i s a h o l e o r c r a c k i n t h e fuselage (even if this is a c c i d e n t a l , it always r e s e m b l e s a t e r r o r i s t act). E v e r y t h i n g is s u c k e d v i o l e n t l y o u t w a r d s i n t o t h e v o i d , as a result of t h e p r e s s u r e differential b e t w e e n t h e t w o spaces. Y o u h a v e o n l y t o m a k e a b r e a c h , a h o l e i n t h e u l t r a - t h i n film s e p a r a t i n g t h e t w o w o r l d s . T e r r o r i s m , h o s t a g e - t a k i n g , i s p r e - e m i n e n t l y t h e act w h i c h m a k e s this k i n d o f b r e a c h i n a n artificial — a n d artificially p r o t e c t e d — u n i v e r s e ( o u r u n i v e r s e ) . T h e w h o l e o f Islam, current Islam, w h i c h i s n o t i n a n y sense t h e Islam o f t h e M i d d l e A g e s , a n d w h i c h has t o b e assessed i n s t r a t e g i c , n o t m o r a l or religious terms, is creating a v a c u u m a r o u n d the Western system (including the countries of Eastern Europe) and, from time to time, m a k i n g breaches in that s y s t e m , b y a single act o r s t a t e m e n t , t h r o u g h w h i c h all o u r values h u r t l e o u t i n t o t h e v o i d . Islam d o e s n o t e x e r t r e v o l u t i o n a r y p r e s s u r e o n t h e W e s t e r n w o r l d ; t h e r e i s n o d a n g e r t h a t Islam will c o n v e r t o r c o n q u e r it: i t i s h a p p y t o destabilize i t b y this viral a g g r e s s i o n i n t h e n a m e o f t h e p r i n c i p l e o f E v i l (to w h i c h w e h a v e n o a n s w e r ) a n d o n t h e basis o f t h e v i r t u a l c a t a s t r o p h e t h a t i s t h e p r e s s u r e differential b e t w e e n t h e t w o m i l i e u s - t h e p e r p e t u a l risk for t h e p r o t e c t e d u n i v e r s e ( o u r u n i verse) o f a s u d d e n d e - p r e s s u r i z i n g o f t h e air (the values) w e b r e a t h e . A d m i t t e d l y , q u i t e a b i t o f o x y g e n has a l r e a d y e s c a p e d f r o m o u r W e s t e r n w o r l d t h r o u g h all k i n d s o f fissures a n d cracks. W e w o u l d b e w e l l a d v i s e d t o h o l d o n t o o u r o x y g e n masks. O u r e n t i r e s y s t e m r u s h e s t o serve t h e Ayatollah. H e has m e r e l y t o raise his little finger a n d t h e p r i n c i p l e o f Evil d r a w s u s t o h i m i n frenzied fascination. C o n t r a r y to all t h a t is said of it, his strategy is a s t o n i s h i n g l y m o d e r n . M u c h m o r e m o d e r n t h a n o u r s , since i t consists i n subtly i n j e c t i n g archaic e l e m e n t s i n t o a m o d e r n c o n t e x t : a fatwa, a d e c r e e of e x e c u t i o n , a c u r s e or any o l d t h i n g . If o u r W e s t e r n w o r l d w e r e r o b u s t , this w o u l d simply b e m e a n i n g l e s s . B u t t h e w h o l e o f o u r s y s t e m falls i n t o t h e trap a n d b e c o m e s a s o u n d i n g - b o x for t h e s e e l e m e n t s , a s u p e r c o n d u c t o r for

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t h e v i r u s . H o w c a n w e e x p l a i n this? O n c e again, w h a t w e h a v e h e r e i s t h e r e v e n g e o f t h e O t h e r W o r l d : w e , i n o u r t i m e , i n f e c t e d t h e rest o f t h e w o r l d w i t h e n o u g h g e r m s , diseases, e p i d e m i c s a n d i d e o l o g i e s against w h i c h t h e y h a d n o resistance. Today, in an i r o n i c twist, it s e e m s we are ourselves defenceless in t h e face of a t i n y little a r c h a i c m i c r o b e . T h e h o s t a g e h i m s e l f i s b e c o m i n g m i c r o b i a l . Alain B o s q u e t s h o w s i n his latest b o o k (Le Metier d'otage) h o w , o n c e d e f l e c t e d i n t o t h e v o i d , t h e h o s t a g e — t h a t p a r ticle o f t h e W e s t e r n w o r l d — c a n n o t g o h o m e , n o l o n g e r w a n t s t o g o h o m e . F o r o n e t h i n g h e i s d e m e a n e d i n his o w n eyes, b u t also his o w n p e o p l e , his c o u n t r y a n d fellow citizens are collectively d e m e a n e d b y t h e i r e n f o r c e d passivity, t h e i r r o u t i n e c o w a r d i c e , t h e v e r y act o f n e g o t i a t i o n , w h i c h i s d e g r a d i n g i n itself a n d f u n d a m e n tally useless. For, q u i t e apart f r o m t h e n e g o t i a t i o n , every h o s t a g e - t a k i n g proves t h e i n e s c a p a b l e c o w a r d i c e o f e n t i r e c o m m u n i t i e s vis-a-vis t h e least significant o f t h e i r m e m b e r s . A n d i n d e e d , t h e indifference o f t h e c o m m u n i t y t o its m e m b e r s has its c o u n t e r p a r t i n t h e indifference o f e a c h i n d i v i d u a l t o t h e c o m m u n i t y : this i s h o w w e f u n c t i o n (badly) i n t h e W e s t a n d i t i s this political i m p o v e r i s h m e n t w h i c h t h e strategy of h o s t a g e - t a k i n g ruthlessly e x p o s e s . By destabilizing a single i n d i v i d u a l , an e n t i r e s y s t e m i s destabilized. T h i s i s w h y t h e h o s t a g e c a n n o t e v e n forgive his o w n p e o p l e for h a v i n g m a d e h i m i n t o a h e r o — an elevation w h i c h in fact it i m m e d i a t e l y retracts. We can neither get into the m i n d of the Ayatollah, n o r into the hearts of M u s l i m s , a n d t h e r e can b e n o q u e s t i o n o f e s p o u s i n g t h e i r passions o r beliefs. Ail w e can d o i s get away f r o m t h a t feeble, d o g m a t i c t h i n k i n g w h i c h i m p u t e s all this t o religious fanaticism, a n d g a r n e r at least a g l i m m e r of strategic u n d e r s t a n d i n g of w h a t is at stake in this s y m b o l i c c h a l l e n g e ; in this respect, t h e h o t c h p o t c h of p i o u s a n d p a t h e t i c r e a c t i o n s o n e reads is n e x t to useless a n d r e p r e s e n t s little b u t an a t t e m p t at exorcism.

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I fear we are i l l - e q u i p p e d to m e e t t h e c h a l l e n g e of this s y m b o l i c v i o l e n c e of Islam a t t h e v e r y m o m e n t w h e n w e are t r y i n g t o w i p e t h e T e r r o r f r o m o u r m e m o r y o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n for t h e sake o f a c o m m e m o r a t i o n w h i c h , like t h e c u r r e n t c o n s e n s u s , has all t h e features o f a n inflatable s t r u c t u r e . H o w are w e t o react t o this n e w v i o lence if we choose to blot o u t the violence of o u r o w n history? 14 March

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1989

The Defrosting of Eastern Europe and t h e End of H i s t o r y

T h e e v e n t o f t h e e n d o f t h e c e n t u r y i s u n d e r way. T h e idea t h a t history, stifled for a t i m e b y t h e g r i p o f t o t a l i t a r i a n i d e o l o g y , i s r e s u m i n g its c o u r s e w i t h r e n e w e d v i g o u r n o w t h a t t h e b l o c k a d e o f t h e c o u n t r i e s o f E a s t e r n E u r o p e has b e e n lifted, has p u t air b a c k i n e v e r y o n e ' s l u n g s . T h e field o f h i s t o r y i s a t last o p e n e d u p again t o t h e u n p r e d i c t a b l e m o v e m e n t o f p e o p l e s a n d t h e i r thirst for f r e e d o m . I n c o n t r a s t t o t h e depressive m y t h o l o g y w h i c h g e n e r a l l y a c c o m p a n i e s t h e e n d s o f c e n t u r i e s , i t s e e m s this o n e i s t o u s h e r i n a n e w a n d illustrious r e s u r g e n c e o f t h e final process, to b r i n g fresh h o p e a n d a revival of all historical challenges. A w a y w i t h all t h o s e evil a u g u r i e s o f t h e e n d o f history. H o w c a n its reality a n d vitality b e d o u b t e d w h e n s u c h events are t a k i n g place b e f o r e o u r eyes? S e e n a t closer q u a r t e r s , t h e e v e n t i s a bit m o r e m y s t e r i o u s , a n d m i g h t w i t h m u c h greater accuracy be described as an unidentified 'historical' object. This t h a w i n g o f t h e E a s t e r n b l o c , this t h a w i n g o f l i b e r t y i s c e r t a i n l y a n e x t r a o r d i n a r y t u r n o f events. B u t w h a t b e c o m e s o f l i b e r t y w h e n i t i s defrosted? T h e o p e r a t i o n i s a p e r i l o u s o n e a n d its o u t c o m e u n c e r t a i n (even l e a v i n g aside t h e fact t h a t w h a t has b e e n defrosted c a n n o t b e d e e p - f r o z e n again). T h e U S S R a n d t h e E a s t e r n b l o c have

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n o t j u s t s e r v e d as a d e e p - f r e e z e for f r e e d o m ; t h e y h a v e also p r o v i d e d a t e s t i n g g r o u n d , a n e x p e r i m e n t a l e n v i r o n m e n t i n w h i c h i t was s e q u e s t e r e d a n d s u b j e c t e d t o v e r y h i g h pressures. T h e West, for its p a r t , is little m o r e t h a n a r e p o s i t o r y or, m o r e accurately, a d u m p i n g g r o u n d for f r e e d o m a n d h u m a n r i g h t s . I f u l t r a - f r e e z i n g was t h e distinctive — a n d n e g a t i v e - m a r k o f t h e E a s t e r n w o r l d , t h e ultra-fluidity o f o u r W e s t e r n w o r l d i s e v e n m o r e s h o c k i n g since, a s a c o n s e q u e n c e o f t h e l i b e r a t i o n a n d liberalization o f m o r e s a n d o p i n i o n s , t h e p r o b l e m o f l i b e r t y q u i t e s i m p l y c a n n o t b e p o s e d h e r e a n y l o n g e r . It is resolved virtually. In t h e West, f r e e d o m — t h e I d e a of F r e e d o m - has d i e d a n a t u r a l d e a t h : this we h a v e s e e n in all t h e r e c e n t c o m m e m o r a t i o n s . I n t h e East i t was m u r d e r e d , b u t t h e r e i s n o s u c h t h i n g a s t h e perfect c r i m e . I t w i l l b e v e r y i n t e r e s t i n g , f r o m a n e x p e r i m e n t a l p o i n t o f view, t o see w h a t f r e e d o m is like w h e n it resurfaces, w h e n it is resuscitated after all signs of it have b e e n b l o t t e d o u t . We shall see w h a t a process of r e a n i m a t i o n or post mortem r e h a b i l i t a t i o n l o o k s like. P e r h a p s defrosted l i b e r t y is n o t so attractive as all t h a t . A n d w h a t i f i t t u r n e d o u t t o b e i n t e n t o n j u s t o n e t h i n g : b a r t e r i n g itself off i n a b i n g e o f cars a n d electrical g o o d s , n o t t o m e n t i o n m i n d - b e n d i n g drugs a n d p o r n o g r a p h y ; t h a t is, i m m e d i a t e l y t r a d i n g itself off against W e s t e r n l i q u i d assets, s w i t c h i n g over f r o m a n e n d o f h i s t o r y b y d e e p - f r e e z i n g t o a n e n d o f h i s t o r y b y ultra-fluidity a n d circulation? T h e e n t h r a l l i n g t h i n g a b o u t t h e s e events i n E a s t e r n E u r o p e i s n o t t o see t h e m m e e k l y c o m i n g t o t h e aid o f a n ailing d e m o c r a c y b y b r i n g i n g i t fresh e n e r g y (and n e w m a r k e t s ) , b u t t o see t h e t e l e s c o p i n g o f t w o specific p a t t e r n s o f t h e e n d o f h i s tory: the o n e w h e r e it ends deep-frozen in the concentration camps and the other w h e r e , b y contrast, i t e n d s i n t h e total, centrifugal e x p a n s i o n o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n . I n e a c h case, a final s o l u t i o n . A n d it m a y be t h a t t h e u n f r e e z i n g of h u m a n r i g h t s is t h e socialist e q u i v a l e n t o f t h e ' d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n o f t h e W e s t ' : a m e r e d i s c h a r g e i n t o t h e W e s t e r n v o i d o f t h e e n e r g i e s t r a p p e d for half a c e n t u r y i n t h e East.

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T h e fervour s u r r o u n d i n g events can b e deceptive: i f that o f t h e E a s t e r n b l o c c o u n tries is m e r e l y an ardent desire to be free of ideology, m e r e l y a fervent desire to imitate t h e f r e e - m a r k e t c o u n t r i e s , w h e r e all liberty has already b e e n e x c h a n g e d for t e c h n o logical ease of living, t h e n we shall see o n c e a n d for all w h a t f r e e d o m is w o r t h a n d k n o w that i t can perhaps never b e regained. H i s t o r y serves u p n o s e c o n d helpings. O n t h e o t h e r h a n d - a n d this is t h e u n p r e d i c t a b l e p a r t for us, for t h e West (after all, w h e n t h e Evil E m p i r e collapses G o o d c a n n o t r e m a i n exactly as it was before!) - this defrosting of t h e East m a y be as h a r m f u l in t h e l o n g t e r m as t h e surfeit of c a r b o n gases in t h e u p p e r layers of t h e a t m o s p h e r e , c r e a t i n g a political g r e e n h o u s e effect a n d s u c h a w a r m i n g o f h u m a n relations o n t h e planet, w i t h t h e m e l t i n g o f t h e C o m m u n i s t i c e f l o e s , t h a t t h e shores o f t h e W e s t will b e f l o o d e d . Curiously, w h e r e a s w e d r e a d t h e climatic m e l t i n g of ice-floes a n d see it as r e p r e s e n t i n g a p o t e n t i a l catastrophe, we l o n g w i t h all o u r m i g h t as d e m o c r a t s for s u c h a t h a w on t h e political front. If, i n t h e o l d days, t h e U S S R h a d d u m p e d its s t o c k o f g o l d o n t h e w o r l d m a r k e t , t h a t m a r k e t w o u l d have b e e n c o m p l e t e l y destabilized. I f t h e E a s t e r n b l o c c o u n t r i e s w e r e t o p u t b a c k i n t o c i r c u l a t i o n t h e vast s t o c k o f f r e e d o m t h e y h a v e b e e n k e e p i n g o n ice, t h e y w o u l d similarly destabilize t h e v e r y fragile m e t a b o l i s m o f W e s t e r n values, w h i c h r e q u i r e s t h a t f r e e d o m no l o n g e r manifest itself as a c t i o n b u t as a v i r tual a n d consensual f o r m of interaction, n o t as drama, b u t as t h e universal p s y c h o d r a m a of liberalism. A s u d d e n i n j e c t i o n of f r e e d o m as a lived r e l a t i o n s h i p — as v i o l e n t a n d active t r a n s c e n d a n c e , as Idea — w o u l d be catastrophic in every w a y for o u r a i r - c o n d i t i o n e d r e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f values. Yet this i s w h a t w e are a s k i n g o f t h o s e i n t h e East: t h e idea o f f r e e d o m i n e x c h a n g e for t h e m a t e r i a l signs o f f r e e d o m . A perfectly diabolical pact, i n w h i c h o n e side i s i n d a n g e r o f l o s i n g its s o u l , t h e o t h e r its c o m f o r t . B u t i t i s p e r h a p s b e t t e r this way. O n b o t h sides. T h e m a s k e d societies ( t h e C o m m u n i s t societies) are n o w u n m a s k e d . W h a t face d o t h e y p r e s e n t ? I t i s a l o n g 41

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t i m e since w e s h e d o u r masks, a l o n g t i m e s i n c e w e h a d e i t h e r m a s k s o r faces. W e h a v e n o m e m o r y e i t h e r . W e have r e a c h e d t h e p o i n t o f s e e k i n g i n w a t e r a m e m o r y w i t h o u t traces, of h o p i n g (I crave Benveniste's i n d u l g e n c e here)"' t h a t s o m e t h i n g still r e m a i n s w h e n e v e n t h e m o l e c u l a r traces h a v e d i s a p p e a r e d . I t i s t h e s a m e w i t h o u r f r e e d o m : w e w o u l d b e h a r d - p r e s s e d t o p r o d u c e a n y sign o f i t a n d w e h a v e r e a c h e d t h e p o i n t of p o s t u l a t i n g its infinitesimal, i m p a l p a b l e , u n d e t e c t a b l e e x i s t e n c e in a m i l i e u o f s u c h h i g h ( p r o g r a m m a t i c , o p e r a t i o n a l ) d i l u t i o n t h a t o n l y its s p e c t r e still hovers in a m e m o r y w h i c h is n o w merely the m e m o r y of water. T h e w e l l s p r i n g o f f r e e d o m has r u n s o d r y i n t h e W e s t (as w i t n e s s t h e c o m m e m o r a t i o n o f t h e F r e n c h R e v o l u t i o n ) t h a t w e m u s t p l a c e all o u r h o p e s i n t h e East E u r o p e a n d e p o s i t s t h a t have a t last b e e n u n c o v e r e d a n d o p e n e d u p . B u t o n c e this s t o c k of l i b e r t y has b e e n released (the Idea of L i b e r t y h a v i n g b e c o m e as scarce as a n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e ) , w h a t c a n e n s u e b u t , a s o n any m a r k e t , a n i n t e n s e , superficial burst of t r a d i n g , f o l l o w e d by a rapid collapse of differential e n e r g i e s a n d asset values. W h a t i s t h e m e a n i n g o f glasnosi? T h e retrospective t r a n s p a r e n c y o f all t h e signs o f m o d e r n i t y , s p e e d e d u p a n d s e c o n d - h a n d (it i s a l m o s t a p o s t m o d e r n r e - m a k e o f o u r o r i g i n a l v e r s i o n o f m o d e r n i t y ) — o f all t h e positive a n d n e g a t i v e signs c o m b i n e d : t h a t is, n o t j u s t h u m a n r i g h t s , b u t c r i m e s , c a t a s t r o p h e s a n d a c c i d e n t s w h i c h are, i t s e e m s , all j o y o u s l y i n c r e a s i n g i n t h e f o r m e r U S S R since t h e l i b e r a l i z a t i o n o f t h e r e g i m e . A n d e v e n t h e r e d i s c o v e r y o f p o r n o g r a p h y a n d e x t r a - t e r r e s t r i a l s , all p r e v i o u s l y c e n s o r e d , b u t c e l e b r a t i n g t h e i r r e a p p e a r a n c e a l o n g w i t h e v e r y t h i n g else. T h i s i s t h e e x p e r i m e n t a l d i m e n s i o n o f this g e n e r a l defrosting: w e can n o w see t h a t c r i m e s a n d c a t a s t r o p h e s , b o t h n u c l e a r a n d n a t u r a l , a l o n g w i t h e v e r y t h i n g else t h a t

5. T h e ' m e m o r y of w a t e r affair' was t h e n a m e generally applied in t h e media to Jacques Benveniste's claim in 1984 that he had discovered reactions p r o d u c e d by solutions so highly diluted that they 'contained only water molecules'.

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has b e e n repressed, are p a r t o f o u r h u m a n r i g h t s (the r e l i g i o u s s p h e r e t o o , o f c o u r s e , a n d fashion; i n d e e d , n o t h i n g is d e b a r r e d ) - a n d this is a fine o b j e c t lesson i n d e m o c r a c y . F o r w e see r e - e m e r g i n g h e r e , i n a k i n d o f ideal h a l l u c i n a t i o n a n d r e t u r n o f t h e repressed, all t h a t w e are, all t h e allegedly universal e m b l e m s o f t h e h u m a n , i n c l u d i n g t h e w o r s t , dullest, c o r n i e s t t h i n g s i n W e s t e r n ' c u l t u r e ' — t h i n g s w h i c h w i l l h e n c e f o r t h k n o w n o b o u n d a r i e s . I t is, t h e n , a m o m e n t o f t r u t h for t h a t c u l t u r e , a s was t h e earlier c o n f r o n t a t i o n w i t h t h e p r i m i t i v e c u l t u r e s o f t h e w h o l e w o r l d , a c o n f r o n t a t i o n f r o m w h i c h o u r c u l t u r e c a n n o t really b e said t o h a v e e m e r g e d w i t h flying colours. T h e irony of the situation is such that it will perhaps b e w e w h o are o n e day forced t o r e s c u e t h e h i s t o r i c a l m e m o r y o f Stalinism, w h i l e t h e c o u n t r i e s o f E a s t e r n E u r o p e w i l l n o l o n g e r recall it. I t w i l l b e u p t o u s t o k e e p o n ice t h e m e m o r y o f this t y r a n t w h o , for his p a r t , k e p t t h e m o v e m e n t o f h i s t o r y frozen, since t h a t glacial age also f o r m s p a r t o f o u r universal h e r i t a g e . T h e s e events are r e m a r k a b l e f r o m a n o t h e r p o i n t o f v i e w t o o . T h e y force u s t o e n q u i r e i n t o t h e t u r n h i s t o r y i s n o w t a k i n g ; n o t s i m p l y p r o c e e d i n g t o w a r d s its e n d ( a n o t i o n t h a t was p a r t o f t h e l i n e a r p h a n t a s m o f h i s t o r y ) , b u t m o v i n g i n t o reverse a n d i n t o systematic o b l i t e r a t i o n . W e are i n t h e process o f w i p i n g o u t t h e e n t i r e t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y , effacing all t h e signs o f t h e C o l d W a r o n e b y o n e , p e r h a p s e v e n all trace o f t h e S e c o n d W o r l d W a r a n d o f all t h e political o r i d e o l o g i c a l r e v o l u t i o n s o f t h e t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y . T h e r e u n i f i c a t i o n o f G e r m a n y i s i n e v i t a b l e , a s are m a n y o t h e r t h i n g s , n o t i n t h e sense o f a l e a p f o r w a r d i n h i s t o r y , b u t i n t h e s e n s e o f a r e - w r i t i n g i n reverse o f t h e w h o l e o f t h e t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y , a r e - w r i t i n g w h i c h i s g o i n g t o t a k e u p a large p a r t o f t h e last t e n years o f t h e c e n t u r y . A t t h e r a t e w e are g o i n g w e shall s o o n b e b a c k a t t h e H o l y R o m a n E m p i r e . A n d p e r h a p s this i s t h e i l l u m i n a t i o n this fin de siecle offers a n d t h e t r u e m e a n i n g of that controversial f o r m u l a , ' t h e e n d o f h i s t o r y ' . T h e fact i s that, i n a sort o f enthusiastic w o r k o f m o u r n i n g , w e are in t h e process of retracting all t h e significant events of this century, of whitewashing

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t h e c e n t u r y , a s i f e v e r y t h i n g t h a t h a d t a k e n p l a c e ( r e v o l u t i o n s , t h e division o f t h e w o r l d , e x t e r m i n a t i o n s , t h e v i o l e n t t r a n s n a t i o n a l i t y o f states, g o i n g t o t h e n u c l e a r b r i n k — in s h o r t , h i s t o r y in its m o d e r n phase) w e r e m e r e l y a hopeless i m b r o g l i o , a n d e v e r y o n e h a d set a b o u t u n m a s k i n g t h a t h i s t o r y w i t h t h e s a m e e n t h u s i a s m t h a t h a d g o n e i n t o m a k i n g it. R e s t o r a t i o n , r e g r e s s i o n , r e h a b i l i t a t i o n , revival o f t h e o l d frontiers, o f t h e o l d differences, o f p a r t i c u l a r i t i e s , o f r e l i g i o n s , resipiscence, e v e n a t t h e level of m o r a l s . It s e e m s t h a t all t h e signs of l i b e r a t i o n s a c h i e v e d o v e r a c e n t u r y are f a d i n g a n d will, i n t h e e n d , p e r h a p s b e snuffed o u t o n e b y o n e : w e are i n t o a g i g a n t i c p r o c e s s of revisionism — n o t an i d e o l o g i c a l r e v i s i o n i s m b u t a r e v i s i o n i s m o f h i s t o r y itself, a n d w e s e e m i n a h u r r y t o get i t o v e r b e f o r e t h e e n d o f t h e c e n t u r y , secretly h o p i n g p e r h a p s t o b e able t o start again from scratch i n t h e n e w m i l l e n n i u m . I f o n l y w e c o u l d r e s t o r e e v e r y t h i n g t o its initial state. B u t w h i c h initial state? Before t h e t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y ? B e f o r e t h e R e v o l u t i o n ? H o w far can this r e t r a c t i o n , this r e s t o r a t i o n go? T h e fact is t h a t it can m o v e very, v e r y q u i c k l y (as t h e events i n E a s t e r n E u r o p e s h o w ) , precisely b e c a u s e i t i s n o t a w o r k o f c o n s t r u c t i o n b u t a massive d e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f history, a n d o n e a s s u m i n g a l m o s t viral, e p i d e m i c f o r m . P e r h a p s e v e n , i n t h e e n d , t h e year 2 0 0 0 will n o t take p l a c e , q u i t e s i m p l y b e c a u s e t h e c u r v e o f h i s t o r y will h a v e b e n t s o far b a c k w a r d s t h a t i t will n e v e r cross that t i m e h o r i z o n . 15 December

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No Pity for S a r a j e v o

In t h e TV p r o g r a m m e Le Couloir pour la parole (broadcast on t h e ' A r t e ' c h a n n e l , 19 D e c e m b e r ) , w i t h its S t r a s b o u r g - S a r a j e v o v i d e o l i n k - u p , t h e striking feature was t h e absolute superiority, t h e e x c e p t i o n a l status c o n f e r r e d by m i s f o r t u n e , distress a n d total disillusionment - that very d i s i l l u s i o n m e n t w h i c h allowed t h e p e o p l e of Sarajevo to treat t h e ' E u r o p e a n s ' w i t h c o n t e m p t , or at least w i t h an air of sarcastic f r e e d o m , w h i c h contrasted with the hypocritical remorse and contrition of those at the o t h e r end of t h e v i d e o - l i n k . It was n o t they w h o n e e d e d c o m p a s s i o n ; t h e y h a d c o m p a s s i o n for our w r e t c h e d destinies. ' I spit o n E u r o p e ' , said o n e o f t h e m . N o t h i n g offers g r e a t e r freed o m , in fact, or greater sovereignty, t h a n justified c o n t e m p t — a n d n o t e v e n for t h e e n e m y , b u t for t h o s e s u n n i n g t h e i r g o o d c o n s c i e n c e s i n t h e w a r m g l o w o f solidarity. A n d t h e y have seen plenty o f these f i n e friends. R e c e n t l y , even Susan Sontag, w h o c a m e to stage Waiting for Godot in Sarajevo. W h y n o t Bouvard and Pecuchet in Somalia or Afghanistan? Yet t h e w o r s t part of this isn't t h e h i g h - f l o w n cultural s e n t i m e n t , b u t 6

6. Bouvard et Pecuchet was Flaubert's last, unfinished novel. It was published in serial form in the Nouvelle Revue, b e g i n n i n g on 15 D e c e m b e r 1880, s o m e seven m o n t h s after his death.

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the condescending attitude and the misconception regarding w h e r e strength and w e a k n e s s lie. They are t h e s t r o n g o n e s . It is we w h o are w e a k , g o i n g over t h e r e s e a r c h i n g for s o m e t h i n g t o c o m p e n s a t e for o u r w e a k n e s s a n d loss o f reality. O u r reality: t h a t i s t h e p r o b l e m . W e h a v e o n l y o n e reality, a n d i t has t o b e r e s c u e d . A n d r e s c u e d e v e n w i t h t h e w o r s t o f slogans: ' W e have t o d o s o m e t h i n g . W e can't j u s t d o n o t h i n g ' . B u t d o i n g s o m e t h i n g j u s t b e c a u s e y o u c a n n o t n o t d o i t has never a m o u n t e d to a principle of action or freedom. Merely a form of absolution f r o m y o u r o w n i m p o t e n c e a n d c o m p a s s i o n for y o u r o w n fate. T h e p e o p l e o f Sarajevo d o n o t have t o face this q u e s t i o n . W h e r e t h e y are, t h e r e i s a n a b s o l u t e n e e d t o d o w h a t t h e y d o , t o d o w h a t has t o b e d o n e . W i t h n o i l l u sions a s t o e n d s a n d n o c o m p a s s i o n for t h e m s e l v e s . T h a t i s w h a t b e i n g real m e a n s ; t h a t i s w h a t i t m e a n s t o b e i n t h e real. A n d this i s n o t i n a n y sense t h e ' o b j e c t i v e ' reality of t h e i r m i s f o r t u n e , t h a t reality w h i c h ought not to exist a n d for w h i c h we feel pity, b u t t h e reality w h i c h exists as it is — t h e reality of an a c t i o n a n d a destiny. T h i s i s w h y t h e y are alive a n d w e are t h e o n e s w h o are d e a d . T h i s i s w h y , f r o m o u r o w n p o i n t o f view, w e have, first, t o r e s c u e t h e reality o f t h e w a r a n d i m p o s e t h a t — c o m p a s s i o n a t e — reality o n t h o s e w h o are suffering f r o m it, b u t w h o , a t t h e v e r y h e a r t o f w a r a n d distress, d o n o t really believe i n it. I n h e r o p i n i o n p i e c e s , Susan S o n t a g confesses t h a t t h e B o s n i a n s d o n o t really b e l i e v e i n t h e distress all a r o u n d t h e m . I n t h e e n d , t h e y find t h e w h o l e s i t u a t i o n u n r e a l , senseless, u n i n t e l l i g i b l e . It is a hell, b u t an a l m o s t h y p e r r e a l hell, m a d e t h e m o r e h y p e r r e a l b y m e d i a a n d h u m a n i t a r i a n h a r a s s m e n t , since t h a t m a k e s t h e a t t i t u d e o f t h e w h o l e w o r l d t o w a r d s t h e m e v e n m o r e i n c o m p r e h e n s i b l e . So, t h e y live in a k i n d of spectral w a r - a n d a g o o d t h i n g t o o or t h e y c o u l d n e v e r b e a r it. It is n o t I w h o say this; t h e y say it t h e m s e l v e s . B u t Susan S o n t a g , w h o i s f r o m N e w Y o r k , m u s t k n o w b e t t e r t h a n t h e y d o w h a t reality i s b e c a u s e she has c h o s e n t h e m t o e m b o d y it. O r p e r h a p s s i m p l y b e c a u s e i t

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is w h a t she — a n d t h e w h o l e of t h e W e s t — lacks m o s t . So it is n e c e s s a r y to go a n d r e b u i l d a reality for ourselves w h e r e t h e b l e e d i n g is. All t h e s e ' c o r r i d o r s ' w e o p e n u p t o s e n d o u r supplies a n d o u r ' c u l t u r e ' are, i n reality, c o r r i d o r s o f distress t h r o u g h w h i c h we i m p o r t their strength and the energy generated by their misfortune. O n c e again, a n u n e q u a l e x c h a n g e . A n d Susan S o n t a g c o m e s t o c o n v i n c e t h e m they w h o find a kind of additional strength in the t h o r o u g h stripping-away of the illusion o f t h e real ( i n c l u d i n g t h e p r i n c i p l e o f political r a t i o n a l i t y b y w h i c h w e are g o v e r n e d , a n d w h i c h i s p a r t o f t h e E u r o p e a n reality p r i n c i p l e ) - o f t h e 'reality' o f t h e i r suffering, by c u l t u r a l i z i n g it, of c o u r s e , by t h e a t r i c a l i z i n g it so t h a t it c a n serve as a p o i n t of r e f e r e n c e in t h e t h e a t r e of W e s t e r n values, o n e of w h i c h is solidarity. Yet Susan S o n t a g herself is n o t t h e issue. S h e is m e r e l y fashionably e m b l e m a t i c o f w h a t has n o w b e c o m e a w i d e s p r e a d s i t u a t i o n , i n w h i c h h a r m l e s s , p o w e r l e s s intellectuals trade t h e i r w o e s w i t h t h e w r e t c h e d , e a c h s u p p o r t i n g t h e o t h e r i n a k i n d of p e r v e r s e c o n t r a c t — exactly as t h e political class a n d civil s o c i e t y t r a d e t h e i r respective w o e s today, t h e o n e s e r v i n g u p its c o r r u p t i o n a n d scandals, t h e o t h e r its artificial c o n v u l s i o n s a n d i n e r t i a . N o t s o l o n g ago, w e saw B o u r d i e u a n d t h e A b b e P i e r r e offering t h e m s e l v e s u p i n televisual sacrifice, t r a d i n g off b e t w e e n t h e m t h e p a t h o s - l a d e n l a n g u a g e a n d t h e s o c i o l o g i c a l m e t a - l a n g u a g e o f m i s e r y . A n d so, also, 7

o u r e n t i r e s o c i e t y i s e m b a r k e d o n t h e p a t h o f c o m m i s e r a t i o n i n t h e literal sense, u n d e r c o v e r of e c u m e n i c a l p a t h o s . It is a l m o s t as t h o u g h , in a m o m e n t of i n t e n s e r e p e n t a n c e a m o n g intellectuals a n d p o l i t i c i a n s , a m o m e n t r e l a t e d t o t h e p a n i c c u r r e n t l y s u r r o u n d i n g h i s t o r y a n d t h e t w i l i g h t o f values, w e h a d t o r e p l e n i s h t h e s t o c k s o f values, t h e referential r e s e r v e s , b y a p p e a l i n g t o t h a t l o w e s t c o m m o n

7. T h e A b b e Pierre has been a p r o m i n e n t French figure since the 1950s, b e i n g particularly well k n o w n for his w o r k w i t h the homeless. Pierre B o u r d i e u was Professor of Sociology at t h e College de France and Director of Studies at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales.

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d e n o m i n a t o r t h a t i s h u m a n misery, r e s t o c k i n g t h e h u n t i n g g r o u n d s w i t h artificial g a m e , as it w e r e . 'It is c u r r e n t l y i m p o s s i b l e , in n e w s a n d d o c u m e n t a r i e s , to s h o w a n y o t h e r spectacle t h a n suffering' ( D a n i e l S c h n e i d e r m a n n ) . A v i c t i m society. I s u p p o s e all it is d o i n g is e x p r e s s i n g its o w n d i s a p p o i n t m e n t a n d r e m o r s e for an u n t h i n k a b l e v i o l e n c e against itself. T h e N e w I n t e l l e c t u a l O r d e r e v e r y w h e r e treads t h e p a t h s m a r k e d o u t b y t h e N e w W o r l d O r d e r . T h e m i s f o r t u n e , suffering a n d m i s e r y o f o t h e r s h a v e e v e r y w h e r e b e c o m e the raw material and the primal scene. V i c t i m h o o d , a c c o m p a n i e d b y h u m a n r i g h t s , a s t h e only, funereal, ideology. T h o s e w h o d o n o t e x p l o i t i t directly a n d i n t h e i r o w n n a m e d o s o b y proxy. A n d t h e r e i s n o lack o f m i d d l e m e n w h o take t h e i r financial o r s y m b o l i c c u t i n t h e process. Deficit a n d m i s f o r t u n e , like t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l d e b t , are t r a d e d a n d sold on in t h e futures m a r k e t — in this case t h e p o l i t i c o - i n t e l l e c t u a l m a r k e t , w h i c h i s q u i t e t h e e q u a l o f t h e late, u n l a m e n t e d military-industrial complex. N o w , all c o m m i s e r a t i o n is p a r t of t h e logic of m i s f o r t u n e . To refer to m i s f o r t u n e , if o n l y to c o m b a t it, is to give it a base for o b j e c t i v e r e p r o d u c t i o n in p e r p e t u i t y . W h e n f i g h t i n g against a n y t h i n g w h a t e v e r , w e h a v e t o start o u t f r o m t h e evil t o b e c o m b a t e d , never from the misfortune p r o d u c e d . A n d t h e t h e a t r e o f t h e t r a n s p a r e n c y o f Evil i s t r u l y t h e r e — i n Sarajevo. T h e s u p pressed c a n k e r w h i c h c o r r u p t s all t h e rest, t h e v i r u s o f w h i c h E u r o p e ' s paralysis i s t h e s y m p t o m . E u r o p e ' s irons are b e i n g p u l l e d o u t o f t h e f i r e a t t h e G A T T talks, b u t t h i n g s are g o i n g up in s m o k e at Sarajevo. In a sense, this is a g o o d t h i n g . T h e s p e cious, sham Europe, the E u r o p e b o t c h e d together in the most hypocritical c o n v u l s i o n s , i s c o m i n g u n s t u c k a t Sarajevo. A n d i n this sense w e m i g h t a l m o s t see t h e S e r b s a s p r o v i d i n g t h e u n o f f i c i a l a c i d test, a s d e m y s t i f y i n g t h a t p h a n t o m E u r o p e — t h e E u r o p e o f t e c h n o c r a t i c politicians w h o are a s t r i u m p h a l i s t i n t h e i r s p e e c h e s a s t h e y are d e l i q u e s c e n t i n t h e i r a c t i o n s . F o r w e c a n see t h a t t h e m o r e talk

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t h e r e is of E u r o p e , t h e m o r e it decays (just as t h e m o r e talk t h e r e is of h u m a n rights, t h e less t h e y are r e s p e c t e d ) . B u t this i s n o t t h e real p o i n t h e r e . T h e real s t o r y i s t h a t t h e Serbs, a s t h e agents o f e t h n i c cleansing, are a t t h e forefront o f t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f E u r o p e . F o r i t i s b e i n g c o n s t r u c t e d , t h e 'real' E u r o p e : a w h i t e E u r o p e , a w h i t e washed Europe, integrated and purified morally as m u c h as economically or ethnically. It is b e i n g v i c t o r i o u s l y c o n s t r u c t e d at Sarajevo a n d , in this sense, w h a t is h a p p e n i n g t h e r e i s n o t a n a c c i d e n t a t all, b u t a logical, a s c e n d a n t p h a s e i n t h e N e w E u r o p e a n O r d e r , t h a t subsidiary o f t h e N e w W o r l d O r d e r , e v e r y w h e r e c h a r a c t e r ized by ' w h i t e ' fundamentalism, protectionism, discrimination and control. I t i s said t h a t i f w e j u s t leave t h i n g s t o h a p p e n a t Sarajevo w e shall b e t h e n e x t t o ' g e t it'. B u t w e have already g o t it. All t h e E u r o p e a n c o u n t r i e s are u n d e r g o i n g e t h n i c c l e a n s i n g . T h i s i s t h e real E u r o p e t a k i n g s h a p e i n t h e s h a d o w o f t h e P a r l i a m e n t s , a n d its s p e a r h e a d is Serbia. It is no use t a l k i n g a b o u t s o m e sort of p a s sivity or powerlessness to react, since w h a t we h a v e h e r e is a p r o g r a m m e c u r r e n t l y b e i n g c a r r i e d o u t , a p r o g r a m m e i n w h i c h B o s n i a i s m e r e l y t h e n e w frontier. W h y d o y o u t h i n k L e P e n has largely d i s a p p e a r e d f r o m t h e political stage? B e c a u s e t h e s u b s t a n c e o f his ideas has e v e r y w h e r e filtered i n t o t h e political class i n t h e f o r m o f n a t i o n a l o p t - o u t s , c r o s s - p a r t y unity, E u r o - n a t i o n a l i s t instincts a n d p r o t e c t i o n i s m . T h e r e i s n o n e e d n o w for L e P e n , since h e has w o n , n o t politically, b u t virally - i n m e n t a l i t i e s . W h y s h o u l d this stop at Sarajevo, s i n c e w h a t is at stake is e x a c t l y t h e same? Solidarity will n o t m a k e a j o t of difference to all this. It will e n d m i r a c u l o u s l y t h e day t h e e x t e r m i n a t i o n i s c o m p l e t e , t h e day t h e d e m a r c a t i o n l i n e o f ' w h i t e ' E u r o p e has b e e n d r a w n . I t i s a s t h o u g h E u r o p e , irrespective o f n a t i o n a l d i s t i n c t i o n s a n d political differences, h a d ' t a k e n o u t a c o n t r a c t ' w i t h t h e Serbs, w h o h a v e d o n e t h e d i r t y d e e d for it, a s t h e W e s t o n c e t o o k o u t a c o n t r a c t o n I r a n w i t h S a d d a m H u s s e i n . O n l y , w h e n t h e h i r e d g u n g o e s t o o far, h e t o o m a y have t o b e b u m p e d off. T h e o p e r a t i o n s against Iraq a n d S o m a l i a w e r e relative failures f r o m t h e p o i n t o f

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v i e w o f t h e N e w W o r l d O r d e r ; s o far a s t h e N e w E u r o p e a n O r d e r i s c o n c e r n e d , t h e B o s n i a n o p e r a t i o n s e e m s set t o s u c c e e d . T h e B o s n i a n s k n o w this. T h e y k n o w t h e y are c o n d e m n e d b y t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l d e m o c r a t i c o r d e r , n o t b y s o m e h a n g o v e r f r o m t h e past o r s o m e m o n s t r o u s e x c r e s c e n c e called fascism. T h e y k n o w t h e y are d o o m e d t o b e e x t e r m i n a t e d o r b a n i s h e d o r e x c l u d e d , like all h e t e r o g e n e o u s , refractory e l e m e n t s t h e w o r l d o v e r - i r r e v o c ably s o b e c a u s e , w h e t h e r t h e k i n d souls a n d b a d c o n s c i e n c e s o f t h e West like i t o r n o t , t h a t i s t h e i n e x o r a b l e p a t h o f progress. T h e p r i c e t o pay for m o d e r n E u r o p e will b e t h e e r a d i c a t i o n o f M u s l i m s a n d Arabs, w h o are i n d e e d already b e i n g e r a d i c a t e d e v e r y w h e r e , e x c e p t w h e r e t h e y r e m a i n a s i m m i g r a n t slaves. A n d t h e m a j o r o b j e c t i o n t o t h e b a d - c o n s c i e n c e offensive, a s m o b i l i z e d i n m e d i a h a p p e n i n g s like the o n e at Strasbourg, is that, by p e r p e t u a t i n g the image of the alleged powerlessness o f E u r o p e a n policies a n d t h e i m a g e o f a W e s t e r n c o n s c i e n c e r a c k e d b y its o w n i m p o t e n c e , it p r o v i d e s a c o v e r for t h e real o p e r a t i o n by l e n d i n g it t h e spiritual benefit of the d o u b t . T h e p e o p l e o f Sarajevo s h o w n o n A r t e certainly l o o k e d a s i f t h e y h a d n o illusions a n d n o h o p e , b u t t h e y d i d n o t l o o k like p o t e n t i a l m a r t y r s . Far f r o m it. T h e y h a d t h e i r o b j e c t i v e m i s f o r t u n e , b u t t h e real w r e t c h e d n e s s , t h a t o f t h e false apostles a n d v o l u n t a r y m a r t y r s , was o n t h e o t h e r side. N o w , a s has v e r y r i g h t l y b e e n said, ' i n t h e hereafter n o h e e d will b e p a i d t o v o l u n t a r y m a r t y r d o m ' . 7 January

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Otherness

Surgery

W i t h m o d e r n i t y , w e e n t e r t h e age o f t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f t h e O t h e r . T h e a i m i s n o l o n g e r t o kill t h e O t h e r , d e v o u r it, s e d u c e it, vie w i t h it, love i t o r h a t e it, b u t , i n t h e first i n s t a n c e , t o p r o d u c e it. T h e O t h e r i s n o l o n g e r a n o b j e c t o f passion, b u t a n o b j e c t o f p r o d u c t i o n . P e r h a p s , i n its radical o t h e r n e s s o r its i r r e d u c i b l e singularity, t h e O t h e r has b e c o m e d a n g e r o u s o r u n b e a r a b l e , a n d its s e d u c t i v e p o w e r has t o b e e x o r c i z e d ? O r p e r h a p s , q u i t e simply, o t h e r n e s s a n d t h e d u a l r e l a t i o n progressively disappear w i t h t h e rise o f i n d i v i d u a l values a n d t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f s y m b o l i c ones? T h e fact r e m a i n s t h a t o t h e r n e s s d o e s c o m e to be in s h o r t s u p p l y a n d , if we are not to live otherness as destiny, the other has to be produced imperatively as difference. T h i s goes for t h e w o r l d as m u c h as for t h e b o d y , sex a n d social relations. It is to escape t h e w o r l d as destiny, t h e b o d y as destiny, sex ( a n d t h e o p p o s i t e sex) as destiny, t h a t t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f t h e o t h e r a s difference w i l l b e i n v e n t e d . F o r e x a m p l e , sexual differe n c e : e a c h sex w i t h its a n a t o m i c a l a n d p s y c h o l o g i c a l characteristics, w i t h its o w n desire a n d all t h e irresolvable c o n s e q u e n c e s t h a t ensue, i n c l u d i n g t h e i d e o l o g y of sex a n d t h e Utopia o f a difference b a s e d b o t h i n r i g h t a n d i n n a t u r e . N o n e o f this has any m e a n i n g in s e d u c t i o n , w h e r e it is a q u e s t i o n n o t of desire b u t of a g a m e w i t h

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desire, a n d w h e r e i t i s a q u e s t i o n n o t o f t h e e q u a l i t y o f t h e sexes o r t h e a l i e n a t i o n o f t h e o n e b y t h e o t h e r , since g a m e - p l a y i n g involves a perfect r e c i p r o c i t y o f p a r t n e r s ( n o t difference a n d a l i e n a t i o n , b u t o t h e r n e s s a n d c o m p l i c i t y ) . S e d u c t i o n i s a s far f r o m hysteria a s c a n b e . N e i t h e r o f t h e sexes projects its sexuality o n t o t h e o t h e r ; t h e distances are g i v e n ; o t h e r n e s s is i n t a c t - it is t h e v e r y c o n d i t i o n of t h a t h i g h e r illusion t h a t is play w i t h desire. H o w e v e r , w i t h t h e c o m i n g o f t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y a n d R o m a n t i c i s m , a masculine hysteria c o m e s i n t o play a n d w i t h it a c h a n g e in t h e s e x u a l p a r a d i g m , w h i c h w e m u s t o n c e again situate w i t h i n t h e m o r e g e n e r a l , universal f r a m e w o r k o f t h e change in the paradigm of otherness. I n this hysterical phase, i t was, s o t o speak, t h e f e m i n i n i t y o f m a n w h i c h p r o j e c t e d itself o n t o w o m a n a n d s h a p e d h e r a s a n ideal figure i n his i m a g e . I n R o m a n t i c love, t h e a i m was n o t n o w t o c o n q u e r t h e w o m a n , t o s e d u c e h e r , b u t t o create h e r f r o m t h e inside, to i n v e n t h e r , in s o m e cases as a c h i e v e d Utopian v i s i o n , as i d e a l i z e d w o m a n , in o t h e r s as jemme jatale, as star - a n o t h e r hysterical, s u p e r n a t ural m e t a p h o r . T h e R o m a n t i c E r o s can b e c r e d i t e d w i t h h a v i n g i n v e n t e d this ideal o f h a r m o n y , o f l o v i n g fusion, this ideal o f a n a l m o s t i n c e s t u o u s f o r m o f t w i n b e i n g s — t h e w o m a n a s projective r e s u r r e c t i o n o f t h e same, w h o assumes h e r s u p e r natural f o r m o n l y as ideal of t h e same, an artefact d o o m e d h e n c e f o r t h to Vamour ox, in o t h e r w o r d s , to a p a t h o s of t h e ideal r e s e m b l a n c e of b e i n g s a n d sexes - a p a t h e t i c c o n f u s i o n w h i c h s u b s t i t u t e s for t h e d u a l o t h e r n e s s o f s e d u c t i o n . T h e w h o l e m e c h a n i c s o f t h e erotic c h a n g e s m e a n i n g , for t h e erotic a t t r a c t i o n w h i c h p r e v i o u s l y arose o u t o f o t h e r n e s s , o u t o f t h e strangeness o f t h e O t h e r , n o w finds its s t i m u l u s in s a m e n e s s - in similarity a n d r e s e m b l a n c e . A u t o - e r o t i c i s m , incest? N o . R a t h e r a hypostasis o f t h e S a m e . O f t h e s a m e e y e i n g u p t h e o t h e r , i n v e s t i n g itself i n t h e o t h e r , a l i e n a t i n g itself i n t h e o t h e r - b u t t h e o t h e r i s o n l y e v e r t h e e p h e m e r a l f o r m o f a difference w h i c h b r i n g s m e closer t o m e . T h i s i n d e e d i s w h y , w i t h R o m a n t i c

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love a n d all its c u r r e n t spin-offs, sexuality b e c o m e s c o n n e c t e d w i t h d e a t h : it is b e c a u s e i t b e c o m e s c o n n e c t e d w i t h incest a n d its d e s t i n y - e v e n i n b a n a l i z e d f o r m (for w e are n o l o n g e r s p e a k i n g o f m y t h i c , tragic incest h e r e ; w i t h m o d e r n e r o t i c i s m w e are d e a l i n g w i t h a s e c o n d a r y i n c e s t u o u s f o r m - o f t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f t h e s a m e i n t h e i m a g e o f t h e o t h e r - w h i c h a m o u n t s t o a c o n f u s i o n a n d c o r r u p t i o n o f all images). We have h e r e t h e n , in the end, t h e i n v e n t i o n of a femininity w h i c h renders w o m a n s u p e r f l u o u s . T h e i n v e n t i o n o f a difference w h i c h i s m e r e l y a r o u n d a b o u t c o p u l a t i o n w i t h its d o u b l e . A n d w h i c h , a t b o t t o m , r e n d e r s a n y e n c o u n t e r w i t h o t h e r n e s s i m p o s s i b l e (it w o u l d b e i n t e r e s t i n g t o k n o w w h e t h e r t h e r e w a s n o t a n y h y s t e r i c a l q u i d p r o q u o f r o m t h e f e m i n i n e i n t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a virile, phallic mythology; feminism being o n e such example of the hystericization of t h e m a s culine in w o m a n , of t h e hysterical projection of h e r masculinity in t h e exact i m a g e o f t h e h y s t e r i c a l p r o j e c t i o n b y m a n o f his f e m i n i n i t y i n t o a m y t h i c a l i m a g e of woman). H o w e v e r , t h e r e still r e m a i n s a d i s s y m m e t r y in this e n f o r c e d a s s i g n m e n t to difference. T h i s is w h y I h a v e c o n t e n d e d , paradoxically, t h a t m a n is m o r e different f r o m w o m a n t h a n w o m a n i s f r o m m a n . I m e a n t h a t , w i t h i n t h e f r a m e w o r k o f s e x u a l difference, m a n i s m e r e l y different, w h e r e a s i n w o m a n t h e r e r e m a i n s s o m e t h i n g o f t h e radical o t h e r n e s s w h i c h p r e c e d e s t h e d e b a s e d status o f difference. I n s h o r t , i n this process o f e x t r a p o l a t i o n o f t h e S a m e i n t o t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f t h e O t h e r , o f hysterical i n v e n t i o n o f t h e sexual o t h e r a s t w i n sister o r b r o t h e r (if t h e t w i n t h e m e i s s o p r o m i n e n t today, t h a t i s b e c a u s e i t reflects this m o d e o f libidinal c l o n i n g ) , t h e sexes b e c o m e progressively assimilated t o e a c h o t h e r . T h i s d e v e l o p s from difference t o lesser difference t h r o u g h t o t h e p o i n t o f role-reversal a n d t h e v i r tual n o n - d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n o f t h e sexes. A n d i t e n d s u p m a k i n g sexuality a useless

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f u n c t i o n . I n c l o n i n g , for e x a m p l e , pointlessly s e x e d b e i n g s are g o i n g t o b e r e p r o d u c e d , s i n c e sexuality i s n o l o n g e r n e e d e d for t h e i r r e p r o d u c t i o n . I f t h e real w o m a n s e e m s t o d i s a p p e a r i n this hysterical i n v e n t i o n o f t h e f e m i n i n e ( t h o u g h she has o t h e r m e a n s o f resisting this), i n this i n v e n t i o n o f sexual difference, in w h i c h the masculine occupies the privileged pole from the outset, and in w h i c h all t h e feminist struggles will m e r e l y reassert t h a t i n s o l u b l e p r i v i l e g e or difference, w e m u s t r e c o g n i z e t o o t h a t m a s c u l i n e desire also b e c o m e s e n t i r e l y p r o b l e m a t i c a l since it is able o n l y to p r o j e c t itself i n t o a n o t h e r in its i m a g e a n d , in this way, r e n d e r itself p u r e l y speculative. S o all t h e n o n s e n s e a b o u t t h e phallus a n d m a l e sexual p r i v ilege, etc. n e e d s revising. T h e r e i s a k i n d o f t r a n s c e n d e n t j u s t i c e w h i c h m e a n s t h a t , i n this process o f sexual differentiation w h i c h c u l m i n a t e s i n e x o r a b l y i n n o n d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n , t h e t w o sexes e a c h lose a s m u c h o f t h e i r s i n g u l a r i t y a n d t h e i r o t h e r n e s s . T h i s i s t h e era o f t h e T r a n s s e x u a l , i n w h i c h all t h e conflicts c o n n e c t e d w i t h this sexual difference c a r r y o n l o n g after a n y real sexuality, a n y real alterity o f t h e sexes, has d i s a p p e a r e d . E a c h i n d i v i d u a l repeats o n his o r h e r o w n b o d y this (successful?) t a k e o v e r o f t h e f e m i n i n e b y m a s c u l i n e p r o j e c t i o n hysteria. T h e b o d y i s identified a n d a p p r o p r i a t e d as a s e l f - p r o j e c t i o n , a n d no l o n g e r as o t h e r n e s s a n d destiny. In t h e facial features, in sex, i n sickness a n d d e a t h , i d e n t i t y i s c o n s t a n t l y b e i n g altered. Y o u c a n d o n o t h i n g a b o u t t h a t . It is destiny. B u t this is precisely w h a t has to be w a r d e d off at all costs in the identification of the body, the individual appropriation of the body, of y o u r desire, y o u r a p p e a r a n c e , y o u r i m a g e : plastic s u r g e r y o n all fronts. F o r i f t h e b o d y i s no l o n g e r a site of o t h e r n e s s , of a d u a l r e l a t i o n , if it is a site of i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , t h e n y o u h a v e u r g e n t l y t o r e c o n c i l e y o u r s e l f w i t h it, t o repair it, perfect it, t u r n i t i n t o a n ideal o b j e c t . E v e r y o n e treats h i s / h e r b o d y a s m a n treats w o m a n i n t h e projective i d e n t i f i c a t i o n we h a v e d e s c r i b e d : he invests it as a fetish in a d e s p e r a t e a t t e m p t at self-identification. T h e b o d y b e c o m e s a n o b j e c t o f autistic w o r s h i p , o f a n a l m o s t

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i n c e s t u o u s m a n i p u l a t i o n . A n d i t i s t h e b o d y ' s r e s e m b l a n c e t o its m o d e l w h i c h b e c o m e s a s o u r c e of e r o t i c i s m a n d u n c o n s u m m a t e d self-seduction, insofar as it v i r tually e x c l u d e s t h e O t h e r a n d i s t h e best m e a n s o f e x c l u d i n g a n y s e d u c t i o n from elsewhere. M a n y o t h e r things relate also to this p r o d u c t i o n of t h e O t h e r - a hysterical, s p e c ulative p r o d u c t i o n . R a c i s m i s o n e e x a m p l e , i n its d e v e l o p m e n t t h r o u g h o u t t h e m o d e r n era a n d its c u r r e n t r e c r u d e s c e n c e . Logically, i t o u g h t t o have d e c l i n e d w i t h progress a n d t h e spread o f E n l i g h t e n m e n t . B u t t h e m o r e w e l e a r n h o w u n f o u n d e d t h e g e n e t i c t h e o r y o f race is, t h e m o r e r a c i s m intensifies. T h i s i s b e c a u s e w e are dealing w i t h a n artificial c o n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e O t h e r , o n t h e basis o f a n e r o s i o n o f t h e singularity o f c u l t u r e s (of t h e i r o t h e r n e s s o n e t o a n o t h e r ) a n d e n t r y i n t o t h e fetishistic s y s t e m of difference. So l o n g as t h e r e is o t h e r n e s s , alienness a n d a (possibly v i o l e n t ) dual r e l a t i o n , t h e r e is no r a c i s m p r o p e r l y so called. T h a t is to say, r o u g h l y , u p t o t h e e i g h t e e n t h c e n t u r y , a s a n t h r o p o l o g i c a l a c c o u n t s attest. O n c e this ' n a t u r a l ' relation i s lost, w e e n t e r u p o n a n e x p o n e n t i a l r e l a t i o n w i t h a n artificial O t h e r . A n d t h e r e i s n o t h i n g i n o u r c u l t u r e w i t h w h i c h w e can s t a m p o u t r a c i s m , s i n c e t h e entire m o v e m e n t of t h a t c u l t u r e is t o w a r d s a fanatical differential c o n s t r u c t i o n of t h e Other, and a perpetual extrapolation of the Same through the O t h e r . Autistic cult u r e p o s i n g as a l t r u i s m . We talk of alienation. B u t t h e w o r s t alienation is n o t b e i n g dispossessed by t h e other, b u t b e i n g dispossessed of t h e o t h e r : it is h a v i n g to p r o d u c e t h e o t h e r in t h e absence o f t h e o t h e r , a n d s o c o n t i n u a l l y t o b e t h r o w n b a c k o n oneself a n d one's o w n i m a g e . If, today, w e are c o n d e m n e d t o o u r i m a g e (to cultivate o u r b o d i e s , o u r 'looks', o u r identities, o u r desires), this is n o t because of alienation, b u t because of the e n d of alienation a n d t h e virtual disappearance of t h e o t h e r , w h i c h is a m u c h w o r s e fate. In fact, t h e definition of alienation is to take oneself as one's focus, as one's object o f care, desire, suffering a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n . T h i s definitive s h o r t - c i r c u i t i n g o f t h e

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o t h e r ushers i n t h e era o f transparency. Plastic s u r g e r y b e c o m e s universal. A n d t h e s u r g e r y p e r f o r m e d o n t h e face a n d t h e b o d y i s m e r e l y t h e s y m p t o m o f a m o r e r a d ical surgery: that p e r f o r m e d on o t h e r n e s s a n d destiny. W h a t i s t h e s o l u t i o n ? T h e r e i s n o s o l u t i o n t o this e r o t i c t r e n d w i t h i n a n e n t i r e c u l t u r e ; to this fascination, this w h i r l of d e n i a l of o t h e r n e s s , of all t h a t is alien a n d n e g a t i v e ; t o this foreclosing o f evil a n d this r e c o n c i l i a t i o n a r o u n d t h e S a m e a n d its m u l t i p l e figures: incest, autism, t w i n s h i p , c l o n i n g . All we can do is r e m i n d ourselves t h a t s e d u c t i o n lies i n n o n - r e c o n c i l i a t i o n w i t h t h e o t h e r , i n p r e s e r v i n g t h e alien status o f t h e O t h e r . O n e m u s t n o t b e r e c o n c i l e d w i t h o n e s e l f o r w i t h one's b o d y . O n e must not be reconciled with the other, one must not be reconciled with n a t u r e , o n e m u s t n o t b e r e c o n c i l e d w i t h t h e f e m i n i n e (that g o e s for w o m e n t o o ) . T h e r e i n lies t h e secret of a s t r a n g e a t t r a c t i o n . 5 July

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The Powerlessness of the Virtual

A r e c e n t e p i s o d e : s t u d e n t s d e m o n s t r a t e a n d h o l d u p t h e T G V i n A n g o u l e m e stat i o n . T h e y p o u r d o w n b o t h sides o f t h e train, past t h e passengers sitting m o t i o n l e s s b e h i n d t h e i r t i n t e d w i n d o w s . A s h o u t h e r e a n d a slogan t h e r e . A n o c c a s i o n a l o u t b u r s t of rage — b u t against w h o m ? It is as t h o u g h t h e y w e r e b a r k i n g at an artificial satellite. F o r t h e T G V is v i r t u a l reality crossing F r a n c e in vitro - an e m b o d i m e n t of speed, m o n e y a n d all t h o s e things w h i c h circulate — c o n f r o n t e d h e r e w i t h their v e r y real w o r l d o f p o t e n t i a l u n e m p l o y m e n t . A surrealistic c o n f r o n t a t i o n b e t w e e n time's a r r o w a n d a y o u t h already s p e n t . All t h e y will w r e s t f r o m t h e t r a n s p a r e n c y o f t h e r i c h i s this t e n m i n u t e s o f i m m o b i l i t y , this t e n - m i n u t e freezing o f t h e T V s p e c t a cle o f w h i c h t h e y are t h e v i c t i m s . A s c a l e d - d o w n v e r s i o n o f t h e clash b e t w e e n t h e real a n d t h e v i r t u a l a n d its fantastic c o n s e q u e n c e s a t t h e p l a n e t a r y level: t h e dissociation b e t w e e n a v e r y h i g h f r e q u e n c y v i r t u a l space a n d a z e r o - f r e q u e n c y real space. T h e t w o n o l o n g e r have a n y t h i n g i n c o m m o n , n o r i s t h e r e any c o m m u n i c a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e m : t h e u n c o n d i t i o n a l e x t e n s i o n o f t h e virtual ( w h i c h i n c l u d e s n o t j u s t t h e n e w i m a g e s o r r e m o t e s i m u l a t i o n , b u t t h e w h o l e c y b e r s p a c e o f g e o - f i n a n c e , t h e space o f m u l t i m e d i a a n d

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the information superhighways) brings w i t h it an u n p r e c e d e n t e d desertification o f real s p a c e a n d o f all t h a t s u r r o u n d s u s . T h e i n f o r m a t i o n s u p e r h i g h w a y s w i l l h a v e t h e s a m e effect a s o u r p r e s e n t s u p e r h i g h w a y s o r m o t o r w a y s . T h e y w i l l c a n c e l o u t t h e l a n d s c a p e , lay w a s t e t o t h e t e r r i t o r y a n d a b o l i s h real d i s t a n c e s . W h a t i s m e r e l y p h y s i c a l a n d g e o g r a p h i c a l i n t h e case o f o u r m o t o r w a y s w i l l a s s u m e its full d i m e n s i o n s i n t h e e l e c t r o n i c field w i t h t h e a b o l i t i o n o f m e n t a l d i s tances a n d t h e a b s o l u t e s h r i n k a g e o f t i m e . All s h o r t circuits ( a n d t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f this p l a n e t a r y h y p e r s p a c e i s t a n t a m o u n t t o o n e i m m e n s e s h o r t circuit) p r o d u c e e l e c t r i c s h o c k s . W h a t w e see e m e r g i n g h e r e i s n o l o n g e r m e r e l y t e r r i t o r i a l d e s e r t , b u t social d e s e r t , e m p l o y m e n t d e s e r t , t h e b o d y itself b e i n g laid w a s t e b y t h e v e r y concentration of information. A kind of Big C r u n c h , c o n t e m p o r a n e o u s with the B i g B a n g o f t h e financial m a r k e t s a n d t h e i n f o r m a t i o n n e t w o r k s . W e are m e r e l y a t t h e d a w n i n g o f t h e p r o c e s s , b u t t h e w a s t e a n d t h e w a s t e l a n d s are a l r e a d y g r o w i n g m u c h faster t h a n t h e c o m p u t e r i z a t i o n p r o c e s s itself. T h e t w o w o r l d s , t h o u g h literally c u t off f r o m e a c h o t h e r , are e q u a l l y e x p o n e n t i a l . B u t t h e d i s c r e p a n c y b e t w e e n t h e m d o e s n o t c r e a t e a n y n e w p o l i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n o r g e n u i n e crisis, for m e m o r y fades a t t h e s a m e t i m e a s d o e s t h e real. T h e d i s c r e p a n c y i s o n l y v i r t u a l l y catastrophic. A n o t h e r catastrophic prospect, of w h i c h n o n e of the c h a m p i o n s of t h e virtual of w h a t e v e r s t a m p h a v e any i n k l i n g ( w h e t h e r w e are t a l k i n g o f t h e o c c u l t m a s t e r s o f w o r l d finance o r t h e p r o p o n e n t s o f a universal d e m o c r a c y o f i n f o r m a t i o n ) , i s t h e p h e n o m e n o n of critical mass. We k n o w h o w this o p e r a t e s at t h e c o s m o l o g i c a l level: i f t h e mass o f t h e u n i v e r s e i s b e l o w a c e r t a i n t h r e s h o l d , t h e u n i v e r s e g o e s o n e x p a n d i n g a n d t h e B i g B a n g goes on to infinity. If it is above this t h r e s h o l d , t h e u n i verse i m p l o d e s a n d contracts i n a B i g C r u n c h . N o w , w i t h o u t w i s h i n g t o exaggerate, t h e s p h e r e o f i n f o r m a t i o n ( u n d e r s t a n d i n g b y this, o n c e again, t h e orbital c i r c u l a t i o n i n real t i m e b o t h o f m o n e y a n d i m a g e s o r messages) i s i n d a n g e r , g i v e n t h e p r o s p e c t

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o f infinite d e v e l o p m e n t - t h e universal c o n n e c t i o n o f all t h e n e t w o r k s w e are promised — of experiencing a brutal reversion of the same kind. W i t h the inform a t i o n s u p e r h i g h w a y s , i t w o u l d s e e m w e are d o i n g all w e c a n t o get b e y o n d this critical t h r e s h o l d . W h e r e its d e w y - e y e d a d v o c a t e s see o n l y a m a r v e l l o u s c e n t r i f u gal e x p a n s i o n , are w e n o t m o v i n g t o w a r d s s u c h a d e g r e e o f s a t u r a t i o n a n d d e n s i t y that a deflation a n d a u t o m a t i c collapse will ensue? A n d this e v e n t u a l i t y is no l o n g e r t h e p r o d u c t o f a d i s c r e p a n c y b e t w e e n a n ultra-sophisticated, u l t r a - c o n n e c t e d s p h e r e a n d t h e w a s t e l a n d o f t h e rest o f t h e w o r l d (the i n f o r m a t i o n F o u r t h W o r l d ) , b u t a catastrophe internal to the virtual h i g h - t e c h world - an implosion by exceeding of t h e critical mass. W e m a y i n d e e d ask o u r s e l v e s w h e t h e r w e h a v e n o t a l r e a d y p a s s e d this t h r e s h o l d a n d w h e t h e r t h e i n f o r m a t i o n c a t a s t r o p h e has n o t already o c c u r r e d , i n s o f a r a s t h e m u l t i m e d i a p r o f u s i o n o f d a t a c a n c e l s itself o u t a n d t h e b a l a n c e s h e e t i n t e r m s of s u b s t a n c e of i n f o r m a t i o n is a l r e a d y a n e g a t i v e o n e . T h e r e is a p r e c e d e n t h e r e i n t h e f o r m o f t h e ' s o c i a l ' : w e are a l r e a d y w e l l b e y o n d t h e t h r e s h o l d o f t h e c r i t i c a l social mass w i t h t h e p r o f u s i o n o f p o p u l a t i o n s , c o n t r o l n e t w o r k s , s o c i a l ization, c o m m u n i c a t i o n , interactivity a n d w i t h t h e extrapolation of t h e 'social' as a c a t c h - a l l c a t e g o r y — a m o v e w h i c h i s e v e n n o w c a u s i n g t h e real s p h e r e o f t h e social a n d its c o n c e p t t o i m p l o d e . W h e n e v e r y t h i n g i s social, s u d d e n l y n o t h i n g is. B u t p e r h a p s b e n e a t h this c r a z e d t e c h n o l o g i c a l o p t i m i s m , this m e s s i a n i c i n c a n t a t i o n o f t h e virtual, o u r d r e a m i s o f j u s t this critical t h r e s h o l d , a n d this phase-reversal o f t h e s p h e r e o f i n f o r m a t i o n . N o t h a v i n g e x p e r i e n c e d this m o m e n t o u s e v e n t , this g e n e r a l i m p l o s i o n a t t h e w o r l d level, w e m i g h t b e said t o b e e n j o y i n g i t e x p e r i mentally, at t h e level of a m i c r o - m o d e l . G i v e n t h e a c c e l e r a t i o n of t h e p r o c e s s , it m a y n o t b e far f r o m actually o c c u r r i n g . W e s h o u l d , t h e n , h e a r t i l y e n c o u r a g e this massive m e l t d o w n o f i n f o r m a t i o n a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n .

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At a n y rate, t h e r e is still an a l t e r n a t i v e h y p o t h e s i s . T h i s is t h a t t h e p i c t u r e we are g i v e n o f t h e p o w e r o f v i r t u a l t e c h n o l o g i e s - from t h e irresistible p r o m o t i o n o f v i r tual reality t o t h e u n c o n t r o l l a b l e p o w e r o f t h o s e n e w m a s t e r s o f t h e u n i v e r s e , t h e lords of M i c r o s o f t a n d t e l e - c a p i t a l i s m (Le Monde diplomatique, M a y 1995) - largely r e p r e s e n t s m e d i a h y p e reflecting t h e s e l f - h y p i n g o f t h o s e m i l i e u s t h e m s e l v e s (the w h o l e process is a s e l f - d r i v i n g l o o p ) . O n e o f t w o t h i n g s m u s t b e t h e case. E i t h e r t h e w h o l e w o r l d i s i n thrall t o t h e s e t e c h n o l o g i c a l b a r o n s , w h o m i g h t b e said t o b e c o n c e n t r a t i n g e v e r y k i n d o f real power in t h e i r o w n h a n d s ; in this case, all we c a n do is d i s a p p e a r , s i n c e in this s c e n a r i o w e are already virtually w i p e d off t h e m a p - a n d t h e t e r r i t o r y . O r this i s n o t t h e w a y t h i n g s are a t all a n d this w h o l e s t o r y i s v i r t u a l t o o . T h e p o w e r o f t h e v i r t u a l is m e r e l y v i r t u a l . T h i s is w h y it c a n intensify in s u c h a m i n d - b o g g l i n g w a y a n d , m o v i n g e v e r f u r t h e r f r o m t h e s o - c a l l e d ' r e a l ' w o r l d , itself lose h o l d o f a n y reality p r i n c i p l e . F o r t h e s e t e c h n i c a l forces t o e x t e n d t h e i r g r i p o v e r t h e w o r l d , t h e y w o u l d h a v e t o h a v e a p u r p o s e — p o w e r m u s t b e p o w e r t o s o m e end - b u t t h e y d o n o t . All t h e y c a n d o i s t r a n s c r i b e t h e m s e l v e s i n d e f i n i t e l y i n t o t h e i r o w n n e t w o r k s , t h e i r o w n c o d e s . E v e n s p e c u l a t i v e capital rarely c o m e s o u t o f its o r b i t : i t i s a m a s s e d a n d lost i n its o w n s p e c u l a t i v e v a c u u m . A s for t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f this m e d i a p o w e r i n t o p o l i t i c a l p o w e r , w e h a v e s e e n , i n t h e case o f B e r l u s c o n i , t h a t it failed at t h e first h u r d l e , c o n t r a r y to t h e thesis of t h e m e d i a coup d'etat (according to which, once you had gained control of the e c o n o m y and c o m m u n i c a t i o n s , i t was m e r e l y a f o r m a l i t y t o seize p o l i t i c a l p o w e r ) . W e w e r e f r i g h t e n e d 8

b y a n o v e r - e s t i m a t i o n o f m e d i a p o w e r , w h i l s t t h e m e d i a i n fact sap t h e reality o f all p o w e r , for b e t t e r o r for w o r s e . I t i s a n i n e v i t a b l e c o n s e q u e n c e o f v i r t u a l i t y :

8. Berlusconi's g o v e r n m e n t lasted for seven m o n t h s , falling w h e n U m b e r t o Bossi's Lega N o r d pulled o u t of the coalition.

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t h e r e can b e n o strategy o f t h e virtual, s i n c e t h e o n l y strategies n o w are t h e m s e l v e s virtual ones. S o t h e r e are n o ' m a s t e r s o f t h e u n i v e r s e ' . T h e r e are o n l y m a s t e r s o f transparency, a n d j u s t b e c a u s e t h e i r m o n e y , p r o d u c t s a n d ideas cross t h e b o r d e r s o f a g l o b a l i z e d m a r k e t u n h i n d e r e d , t h a t i s n o reason t o b e n d t h e k n e e t o this s u p r e m a c y o f t h e v i r tual i n w h a t w o u l d m e r e l y b e a n e w f o r m o f v o l u n t a r y s e r v i t u d e . 6June

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Western

Subserbience

It has t a k e n a s u p e r h u m a n effort a n d t h r e e years of s p o r a d i c massacres, a n d , m o s t i m p o r t a n t l y , i t has n e e d e d t h e forces o f t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i t y t o b e h u m i l i a t e d , b u t it s e e m s t h a t — g r u d g i n g l y a n d w i t h e v e r y possible r e s e r v a t i o n W e s t e r n o p i n i o n has finally r e c o g n i z e d t h e Serbs as t h e aggressors. T h i s r e c o g n i t i o n s e e m s t o r e p r e s e n t t h e u l t i m a t e i n f i r m n e s s a n d lucidity. T h e fact i s t h a t w e have, a t last, g o t t o t h e s t a r t i n g line i n this war. E v e n t h o s e w h o reject t h e official d o c t r i n e o f t h e ' b e l l i g e r e n t s ' a n d are l o n g - s t a n d i n g critics o f S e r b aggression are c e l e b r a t i n g this t u r n a b o u t a s a victory, naively h o p i n g t h a t t h e W e s t e r n p o w e r s n o w h a v e n o a l t e r n a t i v e b u t t o p u t a n e n d t o t h e a g g r e s s i o n . Clearly, n o t h i n g o f t h e k i n d will o c c u r . T h i s entirely p l a t o n i c r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h e v i c t i m i z e r s a s v i c t i m i z e r s i n n o w a y entails r e c o g n i z i n g t h e v i c t i m s a s v i c t i m s . T o b e f o o l e d i n t o t h i n k i n g t h a t i t d o e s , o n e has t o share t h e evangelical idealism o f t h o s e w h o believe t h a t t h e ' d e p t h s o f r i d i c u l e a n d d i s h o n o u r ' have b e e n p l u m b e d a n d t h a t t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l p o w e r s a n d a 'suicidal' E u r o p e c a n be called on to r e c o v e r t h e m s e l v e s , w i t h o u t realizing for a m o m e n t t h e futility o f s u c h efforts. T h i s , i n d e e d , i s e v e r y b i t a m a t c h for t h e p o l i t i c i a n s ' endless hypocrisy. R e c r i m i n a t i o n g o e s h a n d i n glove w i t h t h e c r i m e ,

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a n d t h e t w o proliferate i n a n i n t e r m i n a b l e o r c h e s t r a t i o n o f t h e e v e n t . S i n c e t h e W e s t e r n c o n s c i e n c e takes i t u p o n itself t o m o u r n t h e situation, since i t m o n o p o l i z e s b o t h the hypocrisy and g o o d intentions, it is understandable that the murderer s h o u l d r e t a i n his m o n o p o l y b o t h o f a r r o g a n c e a n d c r i m e . I n fact, n e i t h e r t h e g r o t e s q u e g e s t i c u l a t i o n s o f t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l forces n o r t h e d i s g u s t e d l a m e n t a t i o n s o f t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f g o o d causes can h a v e a n y real effect, b e c a u s e we h a v e n o t t a k e n t h e decisive step — t h e final step — in t h e analysis o f t h e situation. N o o n e dares, o r w a n t s , t o take t h a t step, w h i c h i s t o r e c o g n i z e , n o t simply t h a t t h e Serbs are t h e aggressors ( w h i c h is to state t h e o b v i o u s ) , b u t that t h e y are o u r o b j e c t i v e allies in a cleansing o p e r a t i o n for a future E u r o p e w h e r e t h e r e are n o a w k w a r d m i n o r i t i e s a n d for a N e w W o r l d O r d e r w h e r e t h e r e i s n o radical o p p o s i t i o n t o its o w n values — t h e values o f t h e d e m o c r a t i c d i c t a t o r s h i p o f h u m a n rights a n d t h e t r a n s p a r e n c y o f m a r k e t s . In all this, it is t h e q u e s t i o n of t h e evil w h i c h is at issue. H a v i n g d e n o u n c e d t h e Serbs a s ' d a n g e r o u s p s y c h o p a t h s ' , w e c o n g r a t u l a t e ourselves o n h a v i n g p i n p o i n t e d t h e evil w i t h o u t d o u b t i n g for a s e c o n d t h e p u r i t y o f o u r d e m o c r a t i c i n t e n t i o n s . W e b e l i e v e w e h a v e d o n e all t h a t i s n e e d f u l b y p o i n t i n g t o t h e Serbs a s b a d - b u t n o t a s t h e e n e m y . A n d w i t h g o o d r e a s o n , since, o n t h e w o r l d front, w e W e s t e r n e r s a n d E u r o p e a n s are f i g h t i n g exactly t h e s a m e e n e m y a s t h e y are: Islam, t h e M u s l i m s . W e are f i g h t i n g t h e m e v e r y w h e r e : i n C h e c h n y a w i t h t h e R u s s i a n s ( w h e r e t h e W e s t displays t h e s a m e s h a m e f u l t o l e r a n c e ) ; i n A l g e r i a , w h e r e w e d e n o u n c e t h e m i l i t a r y g o v e r n m e n t w h i l e p r o v i d i n g a l l - o u t logistical s u p p o r t ( t h e r e , a s i f b y c h a n c e , t h e f i n e souls w h o s t i g m a t i z e t h e official d o c t r i n e o f t h e ' b e l l i g e r e n t s ' i n B o s n i a u s e precisely t h e s a m e l a n g u a g e : state t e r r o r i s m against f u n d a m e n t a l i s t t e r r o r i s m — t h e o n e side a s b a d a s t h e o t h e r . A n d w e , t h e i m p o t e n t o n l o o k e r s a m i d this b a r b a r i s m — as t h o u g h state t e r r o r i s m w e r e n o t p r e c i s e l y o u r t e r r o r i s m — already use i t i n o u r o w n c o u n t r i e s i n h o m e o p a t h i c doses). I n s h o r t , w e m a y w e l l -

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b o m b a r d a f e w S e r b p o s i t i o n s w i t h s m o k e b o m b s , b u t w e will n o t really i n t e r v e n e against t h e m s i n c e t h e y are d o i n g basically t h e s a m e w o r k a s w e are. W e w o u l d m o r e readily b r e a k t h e backs o f t h e v i c t i m s i f w e h a d to, t o settle t h e conflict. T h e v i c t i m s , w h e n t h e y p u t u p s o m e t o k e n d e f e n c e , are m u c h m o r e a w k w a r d t h a n t h e i r p e r s e c u t o r s a n d y o u will see t h a t i t w i l l b e t h e B o s n i a n M u s l i m s t h e R a p i d I n t e r v e n t i o n F o r c e are s o o n forced to l i q u i d a t e a n d n e u t r a l i z e . If a sizeable M u s l i m offensive w e r e m o u n t e d , t h e n y o u w o u l d see t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l force b e c o m i n g really effective. T h i s i s t h e real r e a s o n w h y this w a r i s i n t e r m i n a b l e . I f w e t h i n k a b o u t it, w i t h o u t this d e e p - l e v e l c o l l u s i o n , d e s p i t e all a p p e a r a n c e s (but t h e a p p e a r a n c e s , in t h e i r a m b i g u i t y , tell t h e i r o w n s t o r y ) , w i t h o u t this o b j e c t i v e alliance ( w i t h o u t i t b e i n g i n t e n t i o n a l o r d e l i b e r a t e ) , t h e r e i s n o r e a s o n w h y t h e w a r s h o u l d n o t already b e over. I t i s e x a c t l y t h e s a m e s c e n a r i o a s w i t h S a d d a m H u s s e i n . W e f o u g h t h i m w i t h t h e full p a n o p l y o f m e d i a a n d t e c h n o l o g i c a l d e p l o y m e n t . B u t h e was n o n e t h e l e s s — a n d r e m a i n s still - o u r objective ally. H e has b e e n reviled, d e n o u n c e d a n d s t i g m a t i z e d i n t h e n a m e o f h u m a n r i g h t s , b u t h e i s n o n e t h e l e s s o u r o b j e c t i v e ally against Iran, against t h e K u r d s , against t h e S h i ' i t e s . A n d t h a t i s o n e o f t h e reasons w h y t h a t w a r (the G u l f War) did n o t really take place: S a d d a m n e v e r was o u r real e n e m y . A n d i t i s t h e s a m e w i t h t h e Serbs, for w h o m i n a w a y w e p r o v i d e cover, d e n o u n c i n g t h e m a s b e y o n d t h e pale, w h i l e c o n t i n u i n g t o let t h e m d o t h e i r w o r k . T h e w h o l e p r o b l e m i s t o c o n v i n c e t h e B o s n i a n s t h e y are r e s p o n s i b l e for t h e i r o w n p r e d i c a m e n t . I f w e c a n n o t d o this b y d i p l o m a c y , a s w e have b e e n t r y i n g t o d o for t w o years, w e shall have t o d o s o b y force. W e s h o u l d , all t h e s a m e , a t t e m p t t o see w h a t i s g o i n g o n b e h i n d t h e e n o r m o u s s m o k e s c r e e n , b e h i n d t h e s t e r e o t y p e d h u m a n i t a r i a n , m i l i t a r y a n d d i p l o m a t i c l a n g u a g e . I n any conflict, y o u h a v e t o d i s t i n g u i s h b e t w e e n w h a t is b e i n g f o u g h t against - t h e specifically political level of t h e w a r - a n d w h a t is b e i n g sacrificed — w h a t , in particular, is b e i n g l i q u i d a t e d a n d

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s w e p t away: this r e m a i n s t h e t h i n g m o s t d e e p l y a t issue, t h e final o b j e c t i v e . I n t h e A l g e r i a n war, for e x a m p l e , w e f o u g h t against t h e A l g e r i a n army, b u t w h a t was really sacrificed i n t h e conflict was t h e A l g e r i a n r e v o l u t i o n - a n d this w e d i d w o r k i n g a l o n g s i d e t h e A l g e r i a n a r m y (and w e c o n t i n u e t o d o so). I n B o s n i a w e are f i g h t i n g t h e Serbs ( w i t h o u t o v e r d o i n g it) i n t h e n a m e o f a m u l t i c u l t u r a l E u r o p e , b u t w h a t i s actually b e i n g sacrificed i s precisely t h e o t h e r c u l t u r e , t h e c u l t u r e w h i c h stands o p p o s e d a t t h e level o f values t o a n u n d i f f e r e n t i a t e d w o r l d o r d e r w i t h n o values. A n d this w e are d o i n g a t t h e S e r b s ' side. I m p e r i a l i s m has c h a n g e d . W h a t t h e W e s t n o w w i s h e s t o foist o n t h e w h o l e w o r l d , in t h e guise of universality, is n o t its — c o m p l e t e l y u n h i n g e d - values, b u t its a b s e n c e o f values. W h e r e v e r s o m e singularity, m i n o r i t y o r specific i d i o m survives a n d persists; w h e r e v e r t h e r e i s s o m e i r r e d u c i b l e b e l i e f o r passion; a b o v e all, w h e r e there is s o m e antagonistic view of the world, we have to impose an in-different o r d e r u p o n i t - a n o r d e r a s indifferent a s w e are t o o u r o w n values. W e g e n e r o u s l y d i s t r i b u t e t h e r i g h t t o difference, b u t secretly, a n d o n this occasion unyieldingly, w e are w o r k i n g t o p r o d u c e a bloodless, u n d i f f e r e n t i a t e d w o r l d . T h i s p a r t i c u l a r t e r r o r i s m is n o t f u n d a m e n t a l i s t . I n d e e d , it is t h e t e r r o r i s m of a c u l t u r e w i t h o u t f u n d a m e n t s . I t i s t h e i n t e g r i s m o f e m p t i n e s s . W h a t i s a t stake h e r e i s b e y o n d political f o r m s a n d events. W e are n o l o n g e r s p e a k i n g o f a political front or r e l a t i o n of forces, b u t of a transpolitical fault line, a n d that fault line t o d a y passes m a i n l y t h r o u g h Islam. B u t it also r u n s t h r o u g h t h e h e a r t of every so-called civilized, d e m o c r a t i c c o u n t r y — a n d i t c e r t a i n l y r u n s t h r o u g h e v e r y o n e o f us. 3 July

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1995

When the West Takes the Dead Man's Place 9

W e s t e r n m i l i t a r y i m p o t e n c e i n t h e face o f S e r b i a n aggression e q u a t e s directly w i t h t h e i m p o s s i b i l i t y of r i s k i n g t h e life of a single W e s t e r n soldier. In this sense, t h e s e soldiers are hostages l o n g b e f o r e t h e Serbs actually c a p t u r e t h e m : t h e i r lives h a v e t o be p r e s e r v e d a b o v e all else. Z e r o d e a t h : this is t h e l e i t m o t i f of clean warfare. It is t h e p e r f e c t i o n of war, b u t also w a r r e d u c e d to a m o c k e r y — w a r as faultless s p o r t i n g p e r f o r m a n c e , a s 'clear r o u n d ' . W e h a v e already s e e n this w i t h t h e G u l f War, w h e r e t h e o n l y W e s t e r n d e a t h s o c c u r r e d b y a c c i d e n t . A t least t h a t w a r e n d e d i n a t e c h n o l o g ical d e m o n s t r a t i o n w h i c h p r o v i d e d t h e illusion o f p o w e r (of v i r t u a l o m n i p o t e n c e ) . W h e r e a s B o s n i a offers a n e x a m p l e o f t o t a l p o w e r l e s s n e s s . A n d t h o u g h this p o w e r lessness, w h i c h gives t h e Serbs a free r e i n , in fact fits in w i t h t h e u n d i s c l o s e d objective of the war, it a m o u n t s , nonetheless, to a symbolic castration of the

9.

Quand VOccident prend la place du mort. T h e t e r m 'la place du m o r t ' owes its currency to the

fact that it is used, in everyday parlance, to refer to the front passenger seat in a car. It is also occasionally e m p l o y e d as an image to represent t h e position of t h e analyst in t h e psychoanalytic relationship. H e r e , however, Baudrillard is using the t e r m rather m o r e literally.

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W e s t e r n w a r m a c h i n e . T h e p o o r old West! I f o n l y i t c o u l d joyfully a n d v i c t o r i o u s l y fulfil its m i s s i o n of establishing w o r l d O r d e r (by l i q u i d a t i n g all t h e p o c k e t s of resist a n c e ) , b u t i t still has t o l o o k o n i m p o t e n t l y , from t h e d e p t h s o f its r i v e n c o n s c i e n c e , w h i l e t h a t d i r t y little j o b i s c a r r i e d o u t a t t h e g l o b a l level b y m e r c e n a r i e s . T o l o o k o n i m p o t e n t l y w h i l e i t i s itself h u m i l i a t e d a n d sidelined. T h e r e is, h o w e v e r , n o t h i n g s u r p r i s i n g a b o u t this m i l i t a r y paralysis. I t i s l i n k e d t o t h e m e n t a l paralysis o f t h e civilized w o r l d . W e m i g h t t h i n k t h a t t h e fact t h e W e s t can n o l o n g e r risk t h e life o f a single o n e o f its soldiers r e p r e s e n t s s o m e h i g h e r stage o f civilization, i n w h i c h e v e n t h e m i l i t a r y has b e c o m e c o m m i t t e d t o h u m a n i t a r i a n i s m a n d r e s p e c t for t h e sacred r i g h t s o f h u m a n life. I n fact, q u i t e t h e o p p o s i t e i s t h e case. T h e d e s t i n y o f this v i r t u a l s o l d i e r - this s o l d i e r w h o n o l o n g e r i s a s o l d i e r - reflects t h e d e s t i n y o f civilized m a n . T h e t h i n g s h e f o u g h t for a n d his collective values have largely d i s a p p e a r e d ; his e x i s t e n c e c a n n o t be sacrificed for a n y t h i n g w h a t e v e r . O n l y a t h i n g w h i c h has s o m e v a l u e i n itself c a n b e p u t 'at stake'. T h e i n d i v i d u a l w e h a v e p r o d u c e d , t h e a b s o l u t e l y self-regarding i n d i v i d u a l w e glorify, t h e i n d i v i d u a l w e p r o t e c t i n his i m p o t e n c e w i t h t h e w h o l e legal p a n o p l y o f h u m a n r i g h t s i s t h e 'last m a n ' N i e t z s c h e speaks of. H e i s t h e e n d - u s e r o f his o w n self a n d his o w n life, t h e t e r m i n a l i n d i v i d u a l , w i t h n o real h o p e e i t h e r o f d e s cendants or transcendence. He is the end-of-the-line man, d o o m e d to hereditary sterility a n d t h e c o u n t d o w n . T h i s i n d i v i d u a l i s t h e e n d o f t h e cycle a n d o f t h e species. All t h a t r e m a i n s for h i m i s t o a t t e m p t d e s p e r a t e l y t o o u t l i v e h i m s e l f b y b e i n g spectralized, fractalized, pluralized, b y b e c o m i n g his o w n c r e a t i o n a n d his o w n c l o n e . T h i s last m a n c a n n o t , t h e n , b e sacrificed, precisely b e c a u s e h e i s t h e last. O n c e life i s r e d u c e d t o its u s e - v a l u e , t o its survival i n real t i m e , t h e n n o o n e has t h e r i g h t to risk his life for a n y t h i n g . T h i s is t h e destiny — or, rather, t h e a b s e n c e of d e s tiny - of t h e last m a n . T h i s is t h e w a y his i m p o t e n c e has d e v e l o p e d , reflecting t h e

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d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e civilized n a t i o n s , i n c a p a b l e e v e n o f t a k i n g t h e risk o f facing u p to t h e i r e n e m i e s - or saving face. A t a d e e p level t h e t w o t h i n g s are c o n n e c t e d : t h e e l i m i n a t i o n o f a n y foreign c u l t u r e , a n y singular m i n o r i t y i n t h e n a m e o f e t h n i c cleansing, a n d t h e e l i m i n a t i o n o f d e a t h itself as singularity, as i r r e d u c i b l e fact - t h e m o s t singular of singularities — in t h e n a m e o f p r o t e c t i o n a n d survival a t all costs. O u r lives are also b e i n g cleansed o r p u r i f i e d in a sense. T h e y are increasingly b e i n g played o u t inside a v i r t u a l c a r a p a c e p r o t e c t i n g t h e m from d e a t h , i n m u c h t h e s a m e w a y a s t h e virtual soldier o f t h e U N g o e s a r o u n d i n his t e c h n i c a l c a r a p a c e . E v e n w h e n h e i s t a k e n h o s t a g e , t h a t d o e s n ' t m a k e h i m any m o r e real. H e m e r e l y b e c o m e s a t r a d i n g i t e m i n t h e p o t l a t c h o f illus o r y d i v e r g e n c e s a n d collusions b e t w e e n t h e W e s t a n d t h e Serbs, i n t h e i m p r o b a b l e c h a i n of collusion a n d c o w a r d i c e that is this military m a s q u e r a d e , in w h i c h t h e place o f t h e u n k n o w n soldier i s t a k e n b y t h e v i r t u a l soldier - t h e o n e w h o d o e s n o t die, b u t w h o , paralysed a n d i m m o b i l i z e d , takes t h e d e a d m a n ' s place. S o w e are s e e i n g a r e d e p l o y m e n t o f d e a t h i n all t h e s e f o r m s w h e r e w e n o l o n g e r e x p e c t e d t o find it. Take U N P R O F O R and the R a p i d R e a c t i o n Force: they t o o immediately t o o k t h e d e a d m a n ' s p l a c e ( w h i c h t h e y d e f e n d t o o t h a n d nail!) i n t h e B o s n i a n conflict. W e ourselves, all o f u s b e h i n d o u r T V screens, are s u r r e p t i t i o u s l y t a k i n g t h e p l a c e o f t h e d e a d . T h e Serbs, t h e m u r d e r e r s , are alive i n t h e i r o w n way. T h e p e o p l e o f Sarajevo, t h e v i c t i m s , are in a p l a c e of real d e a t h . B u t we are in a s t r a n g e s i t u a t i o n : n e i t h e r d e a d , n o r alive, b u t s t a n d i n g i n for t h e d e a d . A n d i n this sense t h e B o s n i a n conflict is a global test; e v e r y w h e r e in t h e p r e s e n t w o r l d , t h e W e s t has t a k e n t h e place of the dead. A n d yet this is n o t for w a n t of t r y i n g to avert this s i t u a t i o n by all available m e a n s . W e a l m o s t p u l l e d off t h e old t r i c k o f t h e Swiss w h o , for years, s u p p l i e d t h e w h o l e o f E u r o p e w i t h m e r c e n a r i e s a n d t h e r e b y m a n a g e d t o k e e p free o f w a r s . T h i s i s w h a t all t h e r i c h c o u n t r i e s d o t o d a y - p r o v i d i n g w e a p o n s for t h e w h o l e w o r l d

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a n d s u c c e e d i n g i n t h a t w a y i n exiling, i f n o t v i o l e n c e , t h e n a t least war, f r o m t h e i r territories. B u t there is n o t h i n g to be d o n e ; just w h e r e we h o p e to drive out d e a t h , i t surfaces again t h r o u g h all t h e p r o t e c t i v e screens, e x t e n d i n g t o t h e furthest reaches of o u r culture. O u r h u m a n i t a r i a n a n d e c o l o g i c a l i d e o l o g i e s all s p e a k t o u s o f n o t h i n g b u t t h e h u m a n species a n d its survival. We can see h e r e t h e great difference t h e r e is b e t w e e n h u m a n i t a r i a n i s m a n d h u m a n i s m . H u m a n i s m was a system o f s t r o n g values l i n k e d t o t h e c o n c e p t o f t h e h u m a n race, w i t h its p h i l o s o p h y a n d morality. I t was c h a r a c t e r istic of a h i s t o r y t h a t was b e i n g m a d e . W h e r e a s h u m a n i t a r i a n i s m is a system of w e a k values, l i n k e d t o t h e safeguarding o f t h e t h r e a t e n e d h u m a n species a n d c h a r a c t e r istic o f a h i s t o r y t h a t i s b e i n g u n m a d e , t h a t i s c o m i n g a p a r t ; a n d t h e r e i s n o perspective here other than the negative o n e of an optimal m a n a g e m e n t of waste — waste w h i c h we k n o w to be, by definition, n o n - d e g r a d a b l e . Seen in t e r m s of survival or, i n o t h e r w o r d s , o f life s u p e r s t i t i o u s l y p r o l o n g e d a n d p r o t e c t e d f r o m d e a t h , life itself b e c o m e s a w a s t e - p r o d u c t w e c a n n o l o n g e r r i d o u r s e l v e s of, d o o m e d , as it is, to i n d e f i n i t e r e p r o d u c t i o n . N o w , it is j u s t s u c h indefinite r e p r o d u c t i o n we see in Bosnia, j u s t s u c h a m a c a b r e p a r o d y a n d t h e sinister c o n f u s i o n of a h i s t o r y c o m i n g apart — a farce in w h i c h t h e m i l i t a r y a n d t h e h u m a n i t a r i a n are m e r g e d . H i s t o r y r e p r o d u c i n g itself b e c o m e s Farce. Farce r e p r o d u c i n g itself b e c o m e s H i s t o r y 17 July

69

1995

The Great Laundering

W h i t e w a s h i n g is t h e m a i n activity of this century's e n d . W i t h t h e first t h r e e - q u a r t e r s o f t h e c e n t u r y largely g i v e n o v e r t o a n a c c u m u l a t i o n o f evils, v i o l e n c e , c o r r u p t i o n a n d guilt, w e h a v e a colossal r u b b i s h h e a p b e f o r e us. W e are e n g a g e d i n a n indefi n i t e w o r k o f m o u r n i n g for all t h e i d e o l o g i e s , v i o l e n c e a n d i n c i d e n t s w h i c h h a v e m a r k e d t h e c e n t u r y . R e p e n t a n c e o f t h e past, h i s t o r y b e i n g sold off a t k n o c k - d o w n p r i c e s o r g i v e n a face-lift. T h e w h i t e w a s h i n g o f a d i r t y history, o f d i r t y m o n e y , o f corrupt consciences, of the polluted planet. T h e cleansing of m e m o r y ; the cleansing of the e n v i r o n m e n t ; the ethnic and racial c l e a n s i n g o f p o p u l a t i o n s . I n particular, t h e political class has e n t e r e d t h e v i c t i m a l era o f r e p e n t a n c e . E v e r y p o l i t i c i a n , e v e r y o n e i n a p o s i t i o n o f p o w e r , i s p o t e n t i a l l y liable t o p r o s e c u t i o n a n d has t o b e l a u n d e r e d like d i r t y m o n e y . T h e y have to s u b m i t , if n o t to a b r a i n w a s h i n g , t h e n at least to a r e p u t a t i o n - w a s h i n g , before b e i n g p u t back into circulation, the way b l o o d is washed before it is reinj e c t e d i n t o t h e b o d y ' s c i r c u l a t i o n (this w a s n o t , i n fact, d o n e i n t h e case o f A I D S a n d it has g i v e n t h e political class its b i g g e s t scandal for years — t h e c o n t a m i n a t e d

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b l o o d virus circulating even faster t h r o u g h t h e political system t h a n t h r o u g h t h e systems of the patients)."

1

O n e has, w h e r e possible, t o s h o w off o n e ' s vices t o restore o n e ' s v i r t u e . T h i s has e v e n b e c o m e a k i n d of fashionable political tactic: p r o t e s t i n g one's errors, one's c o r r u p t i o n , o n e ' s i m m o r a l i t y ; a t t e m p t i n g at all costs to be f o u n d guilty. It is a k i n d of simulated expiation, a way of whitewashing oneself w h i c h the public conscience eagerly swallows a t little cost t o itself. N o t e v e r y o n e c a n w h i t e w a s h t h e m s e l v e s b y c o m m i t t i n g suicide, a s P i e r r e B e r e g o v o y d i d .

11

B y that very act, h e w h i t e w a s h e d t h e

w h o l e of t h e political class (by m a k i n g politics a n o b l e calling, since y o u c a n die by it), b u t this was also s o m e t h i n g of a p o i s o n e d chalice, as he s i m u l t a n e o u s l y s h o w e d u p t h e w r e t c h e d n e s s a n d c o w a r d i c e o f all t h o s e w h o , t h o u g h suffering t h e s a m e powerlessness a n d d i s h o n o u r - i.e. h a v i n g t h e s a m e reasons t o d o away w i t h t h e m selves — t o o k c o n s i d e r a b l e pains n o t to do so. T h i s s a m e p e r s p e c t i v e o f t h e w h i t e w a s h i n g a n d face-lifting o f t h e political class casts light also o n t h e j u d i c i a r y ' s a n t i - c o r r u p t i o n offensive. T h a t s o - c a l l e d ' C l e a n H a n d s ' offensive m a k e s t h e h e a d l i n e s daily, r a n k i n g a l o n g s i d e t h e lives o f t h e stars. T h e s i t u a t i o n is as follows: t h e political class was fretting away in its i m m u n i t y a n d i m p u n i t y . It was d y i n g — w e i g h t l e s s a n d far r e m o v e d from t h e social b o d y — on t h e far side o f r e p r e s e n t a t i o n , i n t h e t e l e - a b s e n c e o f t h e masses, i n a n i m m u n i t y w h i c h h a d b e c o m e lethal, w h i l e t h e t e l e - c i t i z e n , w h o h a d h i m s e l f b e c o m e a u t o - i m m u n e ,

10. In spite of a circular of 1983 pointing o u t the risk, France c o n t i n u e d to use b l o o d from potentially c o n t a m i n a t e d sources in the 1980s, w i t h the result that seven people contracted A I D S . T h r e e ministers stood trial on manslaughter charges, b u t only o n e , E d m o n d H e r v e , was convicted, t h o u g h no sentence was passed on h i m . 1 1. Pierre Beregovoy, the third p r i m e minister of Mitterand's presidency, c o m m i t t e d suicide on 1 May 1993, apparently because of damage d o n e to his reputation by a scandal over an interest-free loan.

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l o o k e d o n . T h e m e d i a class h a d t h e s a m e p r o b l e m . I t t o o was d y i n g o n t h e far side o f t h e s c r e e n , i n its t e l e - i m m u n i t y . H e n c e t h e n e e d for a h u g e 'reality s h o w ' , a n i n t e r a c t i v e p e r f u s i o n , w h i c h c o u l d give t h e masses a role as fully-fledged extras. In t h e political f i e l d , t h e a b s o l u t e i m p e r a t i v e was also t o r e m o v e this i m p u n i t y b y a n y means whatever - including being accused of w r o n g d o i n g , being exposed by scandal — so as to give t h e p o l i t i c i a n s t h e c h a n c e to o v e r c o m e t h e i r i s o l a t i o n a n d reattach the umbilical cord. F o r t h e political class, this was a m a t t e r of life a n d d e a t h . N o w , t h a t class is n o t capable of g i v i n g up its o w n privileges: it is capable only, as we have seen, of g r a n t i n g itself a general amnesty. In a sense, t h e n , t h e politicians delegate this w o r k to t h e j u d g e s . T h e y use t h e j u d i c i a r y t o absolve t h e m o f t h e i r s u p p o s e d i m m u n i t y a n d isolation a n d o v e r c o m e t h e p u b l i c disaffection afflicting t h e m . A n d t h e y d o this b y a p p e a r i n g v u l n e r a b l e a n d fragile, a n d h e n c e o p e n a n d accessible. It is a great illusion to believe that, in o u r system, t h e politicians a n d t h e j u d i c i a r y can really c o m e i n t o conflict. W h a t is g o i n g on is m e r e l y a division of l a b o u r w i t h i n a caste c a r r y i n g o u t a s i m u l a t e d p u r g e on i t s e l f - destabilizing itself in h o m e o p a t h i c doses t h e b e t t e r to re-stabilize itself. T h e r e is, h o w e v e r , n o t h i n g to i n d i c a t e that this stability has any l o n g - t e r m p r o s p e c t s . T h e r e is n o t h i n g to say t h e i n v o i c e for this l a u n d e r i n g (after t h e l a u n d e r i n g o f t h e ' i n v o i c e s ' )

12

- t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e bill for t h e

collective b r a i n w a s h i n g w h i c h a c c o m p a n i e s i t — will n o t o n e day l a n d o n t h e g o v e r n m e n t ' s d o o r s t e p . T h e m e d i a a n d t h e political class will pay dearly. T h e y are already p a y i n g for t h e l o a n t h e y h a v e t a k e n o u t against o u r i m a g i n a r y a d v a n c e , b y forfeiting all c r e d e n c e a n d credibility.

12. A series of scandals involving false invoices rocked France t h r o u g h o u t the eighties and nineties, from the U r b a affair, in which monies were laundered through a consultancy company into Socialist Party coffers, to the affaires associated w i t h the names of Alain C a r i g n o n and Michel Noir.

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T h e r e has r e c e n t l y b e e n a w i d e l y o r c h e s t r a t e d c a m p a i g n against t h e p r e s i d e n t i a l amnesty on g r o u n d s of public morality.

13

I t is, i n fact, t h e first t i m e m o t o r i s t s have

h a d s u c h a s e c o n d a r y g a i n f r o m e l e c t i o n s t o l o o k f o r w a r d to. B u t p e r h a p s this ' i m m o r a l ' b e h a v i o u r was c o m p e n s a t i o n for t h e a b s e n c e o f any political stakes in t h e s e elections? At least in this w a y t h e citizens r e - i n j e c t e d s o m e real issues i n t o t h e m . A t any rate, t h e y expressed t h e t r u t h o f t h e elections t h e m selves, w h i c h are no l o n g e r so m u c h a political act of r e p r e s e n t a t i o n as a collective act — u n d e r w r i t t e n by a b l a n k c h e q u e f r o m t h e p e o p l e - of t h e o b l i t e r a t i o n a n d a b s o l u t i o n of all c o r r u p t i o n , all p r e v i o u s political w r e t c h e d n e s s . Scandals, failures, e m b e z z l e m e n t a n d simple mistakes are all w h i t e w a s h e d a n d a m n e s t i e d for a m o m e n t . T h e R i g h t has w o n , t h e Left is r e b o r n f r o m its ashes — e v e r y t h i n g starts off again from scratch. T h i s i s t h e m a r v e l l o u s illusionism o f t h e electoral system! S o w e ' r e n o t t a l k i n g a b o u t a n a m n e s t y for p e t t y l a w b r e a k i n g h e r e , b u t a g e n e r a l a m n e s t y o f t h e political s y s t e m as a w h o l e (the a n y t h i n g b u t p e t t y larceny of t h e financial system h a v i n g largely served to finance t h e s e s a m e elections). E l e c t i o n s are like t h e black b o x o f t h e political system. I n p u t : dirty m o n e y , m u r k y c o n s c i e n c e s , c o m p r o m i s e s , o p p o r t u n i s m ; o u t p u t : a squeaky clean political situation. A n d the m o t o r i s t s ' i m m o r a l i t y is as n o t h i n g c o m p a r e d w i t h t h e cynical w a y t h e politicians, t h e insiders, t h e financial experts a n d t h e m a n i p u l a t o r s o f all k i n d s have cynically j u m p e d t h e g u n o n t h e g r e a t electoral p a r d o n . T h e c r i m i n a l s , fraudsters a n d o t h e r political a n d financial speculators have also unreservedly, u n s c r u p u l o u s l y p r e - e m p t e d this s y m b o l i c amnesty, this l i q u i d a t i o n of all civic c r i m i n a l i t y w h i c h t h e trompe-l'oeil d e m o c r a t i c o p e r a t i o n o f t h e e l e c t i o n s represents. D e m o c r a c y , h a v i n g t r e a t e d its h a e m o r r h a g e s , its m e n s t r u a l flow, w i t h r e p e a t e d scandals, r e g e n e r a t e s in electoral coitus.

13. T h e tradition of i n c o m i n g presidents granting amnesties on driving offences has been widely criticized for leading to increased n u m b e r s of road deaths.

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Yet civic v i r t u e still has t h e last w o r d : w h e r e t h e r e are m o r e t h a n t h r e e p o i n t s o n t h e l i c e n c e , t h e r e will b e n o a m n e s t y for m o t o r i s t s . A h a p p y idea, since t h e p o i n t s b a s e d l i c e n c e is an e x c e l l e n t f o r m u l a . It is m e r e l y s c a n d a l o u s t h a t it applies o n l y to m o t o r i n g . W e s h o u l d e x p a n d t h e s y s t e m a n d c r e a t e a p o i n t s - b a s e d existential l i c e n c e . F o r e v e r y offence, m i s d e e d o r act o f i m m o r a l b e h a v i o u r y o u w o u l d h a v e existence points docked from your licence. W h e n the points ran out, it w o u l d be w i t h d r a w n altogether. I n this way, t h e roadways o f existence w o u l d b e less c r o w d e d , w i t h t h e r e m o v a l o f all t h o s e w h o c a n n o t b e h a v e properly. Y o u m i g h t b e sent for r e m e d i a l t r e a t m e n t u n d e r t h e d i r e c t i o n o f c o n s c i e n c e experts, b u t o t h e r w i s e t h e b a n o n living w o u l d b e i m m e d i a t e l y enforceable. T h e p o i n t s l i c e n c e w o u l d j u s t have t o b e i n s e r t e d a s a p r o g r a m m e d i m p l a n t a n d t h e offender w o u l d b e ' t e r m i n a t e d ' b y automatic heart-failure. This w o u l d be the full-blown application of h u m a n rights. A n d t h e n w e w o u l d have a clearer v i e w o f t h e j u s t , u n y i e l d i n g a p p l i c a t i o n o f democracy. 7 August

74

1995

Weep, Citizens!

D e m o c r a c y i s n o e x c e p t i o n t o t h e r u l e t h a t systems n e v e r f u n c t i o n b e t t e r t h a n w h e n r u n n i n g c o u n t e r t o t h e i r o w n rules a n d o p e r a t i n g i n spite o f t h e i r o w n p r i n ciples. T h i s i s t h e i r f u n d a m e n t a l v i c e a n d s y s t e m s , like i n d i v i d u a l s , d r a w t h e i r s t r e n g t h f r o m t h e i r vices. T o c q u e v i l l e s h o u l d always b e t e m p e r e d w i t h M a n d e v i l l e ; Democracy in America w i t h t h e Fable of the Bees. It is this j o y f u l perversity, this p e r petual subversion of principles w h i c h is the most exhilarating thing about the political s p h e r e . All t h e g r e a t p o l i t i c a l o p e r a t i o n s h a v e d r a w n t h e i r i n s p i r a t i o n from this. I t i s t h e e n d o f cynical r e a s o n w e s h o u l d b e m o a n , a n d t h e a d v e n t o f s e n t i m e n t a l r e a s o n . T h e d e c l i n e o f t h e p o l i t i c a l s p h e r e can b e m e a s u r e d b y t h e d e s p e r a t e a t t e m p t t o identify w i t h its o w n p r i n c i p l e s , a n d t h e r e p e n t a n c e w h i c h always e n s u e s f r o m this i n t h e exercise o f p o w e r . T h e p a r a d o x o f t h e a c t o r also applies t o t h e p o l i t i c a l s p h e r e : i f t h a t s p h e r e identifies w i t h its o w n p r i n c i p l e s , a s t h e a c t o r identifies w i t h his o w n c h a r a c t e r , t h e v e r y illusion o f t h e political — o r o f t h e t h e a t r e - is lost. N o w , t h e political s p h e r e a s w e k n o w i t has sacrificed its o w n stage. B y i n c o r p o r a t i n g the entire p o p u l a t i o n as extras in a great sentimental, d e m a g o g i c

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g r o u n d s w e l l o f p a r t i c i p a t i o n , i t has a b o l i s h e d t h a t distance w h i c h i s t h e basic r u l e o f t h e political g a m e . T h e l a w o f t h e g r e a t e r n u m b e r has b e e n s u b s t i t u t e d for t h e rules o f t h e g a m e . T h e e n d o f t h e t h e a t r e , t h e e n d o f t h e political s c e n e . W e e a c h o f u s o p e r a t e o n a n e n t i r e l y i m m o r a l basis, a c t i n g , i n spite o f o u r o w n p r i n c i p l e s , b y a set o f rules w e c o n f o r m t o s p o n t a n e o u s l y . O n l y i n c i d e n t a l l y d o t h o s e rules c o i n c i d e w i t h t h e m o r a l law; t h e y take t h e f o r m , r a t h e r , o f subtle r i t u als w h i c h are e n t i r e l y o u r o w n affair. All i n s t i t u t i o n s a n d political systems d o t h e s a m e . I t i s w i t h a full sense o f t h e w r o n g w e d o t h a t w e sacrifice m o r a l v a l u e h e r e . Sadly, this strategy n o l o n g e r applies today, w h e n y o u have t o b e politically c o r r e c t . B u t t h e c o n t r a d i c t i o n w i t h t h e actual o p e r a t i o n o f t h e system w h i c h ensues i s s o f l a grant as to be t h o r o u g h l y amusing. W h a t is a s t o u n d i n g is t h e total lack of u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h a t actual o p e r a t i o n o n t h e p a r t o f e n l i g h t e n e d souls; t h e w a y t h e d e m o c r a t i c c o n s c i o u s n e s s d e n i e s itself a n d its o w n p r i n c i p l e s - for e x a m p l e , b l i n d l y a n d u n c o n d i t i o n a l l y p r o s c r i b i n g L e P e n i n j u s t t h e w a y h e treats i m m i g r a n t s ; d e n o u n c i n g violence and intolerance w h a t e v e r their source, b u t at the same time p r i d i n g itself o n its ' g o o d ' i n t o l e r a n c e a n d o p e n l y m a n i p u l a t i n g t h e electoral system, a s i n A l g e r i a o r D e n m a r k t o e n s u r e t h e r i g h t cause w i n s . T o w h i c h w e m i g h t a d d t h e daily litany o f political a n d m e d i a d i s c o u r s e , w h o l l y p r e o c c u p i e d w i t h t h e j u s tification o f this d e n i a l o f its o w n p r i n c i p l e s a n d t h e s h a m e f u l p r a c t i c e s o f a n unavowed integrism. Such is the victory by contamination, by contagion, of the F r o n t N a t i o n a l . Honi soil qui mal y pense . . . I s i t n o t t h e role o f politicians t o focus t h e c h r o n i c sickness o f t h e social s p h e r e o n t h e m s e l v e s — t h e a c c u r s e d share o f t h e social s p h e r e , w h i c h i s t h e essence o f p o w e r — a n d find a political use for it? T h e p r i n c e ' s p r i v i l e g e d role derives f r o m t h e fact t h a t h e c o n d e n s e s i n h i m s e l f all t h e a r b i t r a r y p o w e r s c a t t e r e d a n d s p r e a d t h r o u g h o u t society, s o t h a t s o c i e t y c a n b e r i d o f it. I f arbitrary p o w e r i s n o t c o n c e n t r a t e d at t h e t o p , t h e n it is e v e r y w h e r e in s o c i e t y - this is h o w it is in t h e

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d e m o c r a t i c state, w h e r e s u c h p o w e r i s diffuse a n d e n d e m i c , w i t h t h e s a m e p e r v e r s e effects as g e n e r a t e d by c r u m b l i n g e m p i r e s . Similarly, i s i t n o t t h e role o f t h e ' i n t e l l e c t u a l ' t o c o n c e n t r a t e i n h i m s e l f t h e a c c u r s e d share o f t h o u g h t a n d p u r g e t h e w h o l e o f s o c i e t y o f i t - s o c i e t y t h e r e b y b e c o m i n g freer to b a l a n c e up g o o d a n d evil for itself? Is it n o t his role to focus t h e sickness of t h o u g h t on h i m s e l f a n d find a baleful use for it? N e i t h e r intellectuals n o r politicians i n any w a y play this role any m o r e ; i n n o w a y do t h e y take up t h a t cynical r e a s o n Sloterdijk speaks of.

14

T h e y see it as t h e i r role

m e r e l y t o express o p i n i o n s , t o g u i d e , t o e n l i g h t e n a n d t o rationalize. T h e y are all for o p e n n e s s a n d t r a n s p a r e n c y (the t r a n s p a r e n c y o f t h e g o o d , o b v i o u s l y ) ; t h e y d e c k t h e m s e l v e s o u t w i t h m o r a l c o n s c i e n c e s , w i t h suffering, w i t n e s s , p r o s e l y t i s m a n d c r u e l l y u n r e m i t t i n g zeal i n t h e t r e a t m e n t o f sick values (they are, o f c o u r s e , t h e m selves p a r t o f t h e sickness). T h e y n o l o n g e r c l a i m t o b e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e ; t h e i r s i s a self-effacing role, a l l o w i n g e v e r y o n e to express t h e m s e l v e s . A senile m a l a d y this, t h e p i o u s desire t o s h e d p o w e r - i n c l u d i n g t h e p o w e r o f s p e e c h - a n d h a n d i t o n t o e v e r y o n e else ( w h i c h , i n t h e p r e s e n t s i t u a t i o n , a c t u a l l y adds t o t h e b u r d e n o f l i b e r t y ) . Of c o u r s e this h y p o c r i t i c a l auto-da-fe is no s o l u t i o n , a n d e v e r y o n e — p o l i t i cians a n d intellectuals alike — still dies in t h e e n d , b u t n o w t h e y die playing s o m e o n e else's role. A s for s o c i e t y a n d t h o u g h t , t h e y are e x p o s e d i n this w a y t o i n t e r n a l c o n fusion a n d v i r u l e n c e — literally: t o t h e t r a n s p a r e n c e o f evil, w h i c h , n o l o n g e r f i n d i n g a n y w h e r e to manifest itself, filters e v e r y w h e r e i n t o r e p e n t a n c e , indifference and hatred. T h e exercise o f p o w e r always i n v o l v e d t h e risk o f d e a t h . T h a t i s t h e p r i c e t o b e p a i d for h a v i n g p u b l i c life b e c o m e a m a t t e r of total indifference. B u t , ultimately, w h y c o m p l a i n a b o u t t h e c u r r e n t d e l i q u e s c e n c e a n d senility o f t h e political class? A s 14. Peter Sloterdijk, Critique of Cynical Reason (London: Verso, 1988).

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t h o u g h w e still b e l i e v e d i n t e l l i g e n c e w e r e i n p o w e r , w h e n w e have b l i n d i n g l y clear e v i d e n c e o f t h e o p p o s i t e ! W e s h o u l d , rather, p r i d e ourselves o n this e n d t o t h e political s p h e r e a n d t h e c o l l u s i o n of t h e political class itself in t h a t e n d ! It is t h a t class, w i t h o u t d i s t i n c t i o n o f p a r t y o r faction, w h i c h i s n o w c a r r y i n g o u t t h e fatwa w e h a v e issued against it, t h e d e c r e e t h a t i t shall dissolve itself a n d disappear. W e n o l o n g e r n e e d t o attack it. I t i s u n d e r g o i n g s p o n t a n e o u s s e l f - d e s t r u c t i o n . All w e have to do is steadfastly refuse to assist it in its h o u r of n e e d . I t is, h o w e v e r , a shameful e n d . S o w e are t o r n b e t w e e n t h e r e c o g n i t i o n o f this s h a m e f u l state of affairs - a s h a m e in w h i c h we inevitably feel i m p l i c a t e d — a n d secret j u b i l a t i o n a t this d e a t h f o r e t o l d . W e m i g h t e v e n suggest t h a t t h e task o f politicians t o d a y i s t o swallow t h e c o r p s e o f t h e political s p h e r e , a n d w e m i g h t t h e n t h a n k t h e m for p r o t e c t i n g us, like l i v i n g s a r c o p h a g i , from its decay, w h i c h w o u l d o t h e r w i s e i n v a d e t h e w h o l e o f society. All calamities p r o t e c t u s f r o m s o m e t h i n g w o r s e . S o t h e s t u p i d i t y a n d blindness o f politicians m u s t have a h i g h e r f u n c t i o n — t h e f u n c t i o n of p r o t e c t i n g us, by t h e t h i c k layer o f d i r t a n d d i s c o u r s e t h e y secrete, f r o m t h e secret v i o l e n c e o f t h e j u d g e m e n t w h i c h , w e r e i t n o t for t h e m , w e w o u l d b e forced t o exercise a n d t u r n against o u r selves. A b o v e all, w e s h o u l d n o t t r y t o c o r r e c t t h e i r illusory c o n c e p t i o n s . T h a t w o u l d leave u s e x p o s e d w i t h o u t p r o t e c t i o n t o a n u n e q u a l e n c o u n t e r w i t h s t u p i d i t y a n d with the burden of our freedom. 21

78

August

1995

Helots and Elites

W e live i n a t h o r o u g h l y split political reality. O n t h e o n e h a n d , w e have t h e p o l i t ical class, a parallel m i c r o - s o c i e t y w h i c h has secretly b e e n m a d e r e d u n d a n t , g o i n g a b o u t its business w i t h i m p u n i t y , a n d a p p a r e n t l y d o o m e d t o p e r f o r m t h e single task of r e p r o d u c i n g itself in an e n d o g a m o u s c o n f u s i o n of all p e r s u a s i o n s - t h e i n c e s t u o u s alliance o f R i g h t a n d Left p r o d u c i n g a n e n t i r e p a t h o l o g y a n d d e g e n e r a c y characteristic o f i n b r e e d i n g . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , w e h a v e a 'real' s o c i e t y w h i c h i s increasingly d i s c o n n e c t e d f r o m t h e political s p h e r e . B o t h o f these, m o v i n g a p a r t from e a c h o t h e r a t c o n s i d e r a b l e s p e e d , s e e m d e s t i n e d m o r e o r less t o w i t h e r away o r t o b r e a k u p e a c h i n t h e i r o w n little c o r n e r - d r i p - f e d a s t h e y are solely t h r o u g h t h e u m b i l i c a l o f t h e m e d i a a n d t h e o p i n i o n polls. V i r t u a l i t y - i n t h e sense t h a t t h e political will n o w o p e r a t e s o n l y o n t h e m e n t a l screens o f T V sets a n d t h r o u g h o p i n i o n polls - has t u r n e d t h e political f u n c t i o n a n d t h e political scene i n t o m o r e o r less useless vestigial r e m a i n s . N o dialectic, n o t e v e n a dialectic o f conflict, keeps t h e t w o opposing poles interacting. We find the same situation in the e c o n o m y . On the o n e hand, the battered r e m n a n t s o f p r o d u c t i o n a n d t h e real e c o n o m y ; o n t h e o t h e r , t h e c i r c u l a t i o n o f 79

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g i g a n t i c a m o u n t s o f v i r t u a l capital. B u t t h e t w o are s o d i s c o n n e c t e d t h a t t h e m i s f o r t u n e s w h i c h b e s e t t h a t c a p i t a l - s t o c k m a r k e t crashes a n d o t h e r f i n a n c i a l d e b a c l e s — d o n o t b r i n g a b o u t t h e c o l l a p s e o f real e c o n o m i e s a n y m o r e . I t i s t h e same in t h e political sphere: scandals, c o r r u p t i o n and t h e general decline in s t a n d a r d s h a v e n o decisive effects i n a split society, w h e r e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y ( t h e p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t t h e t w o p a r t i e s m a y respond to each other) is no l o n g e r p a r t of t h e game. T h i s p a r a d o x i c a l s i t u a t i o n is in a sense beneficial: it p r o t e c t s civil s o c i e t y ( w h a t r e m a i n s o f it) f r o m t h e vicissitudes o f t h e political sphere, j u s t a s i t p r o t e c t s t h e e c o n o m y ( w h a t r e m a i n s o f it) f r o m t h e r a n d o m fluctuations o f t h e S t o c k E x c h a n g e a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l finance. T h e i m m u n i t y o f t h e o n e creates a r e c i p r o c a l i m m u n i t y in t h e o t h e r — a m i r r o r indifference. B e t t e r : real society is l o s i n g i n t e r e s t in t h e political class, w h i l e n o n e t h e l e s s availing itself o f t h e spectacle. A t last, t h e n , t h e m e d i a h a v e s o m e use, a n d t h e ' s o c i e t y o f t h e s p e c t a c l e ' assumes its full m e a n i n g i n this fierce i r o n y : t h e masses availing t h e m s e l v e s o f t h e spectacle o f t h e d y s f u n c t i o n i n g s o f r e p r e s e n t a t i o n t h r o u g h t h e r a n d o m twists i n t h e s t o r y o f t h e political class's c o r r u p t i o n . All t h a t r e m a i n s n o w t o t h e politicians i s t h e o b l i g a t i o n t o s a c r i fice t h e m s e l v e s t o p r o v i d e t h e r e q u i s i t e spectacle for t h e e n t e r t a i n m e n t o f t h e p e o p l e . F o r if, i n t h e past, t h e p r i n c i p l e o f p o w e r i n v o l v e d l a y i n g y o u r life o n t h e line, t h e zero d e g r e e o f p o w e r m e r e l y involves a n artificial auto-da-fe. O n c e again w e h a v e cause t o t h a n k t h e politicians, w h o free u s f r o m t h e t i r e s o m e o b l i g a t i o n o f h a v i n g t o m a n a g e t h a t e m p t y p l a c e p o w e r has b e c o m e - m u c h a s i t falls t o o t h e r s t o m a n a g e m o n e y , business, leisure, m o r a l s a n d c u l t u r e . All s u p e r f l u o u s tasks h a p p i l y left t o

the

charlatans,

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to

m e n t i o n the

waxen-lipped philosophers. T h e socialist e p i s o d e will have b e e n t h e finest illustration o f this l e u k a e m i a o f t h e political s p h e r e . W i t h political will h a v i n g g o n e i n t o a b e y a n c e a n d w i t h t h e p o l e 80

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p o s i t i o n o f p o w e r virtually v a c a n t (since 1 9 6 8 perhaps?), t h e Left d a s h e d i n t o take i t a n d i m m e d i a t e l y c r u m b l e d i n t o t h e v o i d . (In t h e s a m e way, w i t h t h e m a s c u l i n e p o l e p o s i t i o n virtually u n o c c u p i e d - m a l e p r i v i l e g e h a v i n g d i s a p p e a r e d - f e m i n i s m r u s h e d i n t o a s s u m e i t a n d , naturally, fell i n t o t h e trap t h a t i s t h e p o w e r v a c u u m itself.) W e s h o u l d , i n fact, c o n g r a t u l a t e M i t t e r a n d o n d o i n g a l a r g e p a r t o f t h e w o r k : on ensuring, by a kind of p o s t h u m o u s sweep, the deep corruption of the w h o l e political system, on mystifying a n d s w e e p i n g away the w h o l e of t h e divine Left!

15

If t h e Left c o l l a p s e d in this way, far b e y o n d t h e a c t u a l p o i n t of its t r u e d e c l i n e w i t h i t g o i n g all d r e a m s o f p u t t i n g t h e i m a g i n a t i o n i n p o w e r - this was n o t b e c a u s e i t l a c k e d a n y gift for e x e r c i s i n g p o w e r o r h a d c o m m i t t e d a n y fatal e r r o r s ( u n f o r t u n a t e l y , i t m e r e l y a c c u m u l a t e d b a n a l o n e s ) , b u t b e c a u s e , i n spite o f t h e a d v a n c e d b r i t t l e n e s s o f its h i s t o r i c a l b o n e s , i t p r o v e d i n c a p a b l e o f s p e a k i n g for t h e i n d i f f e r e n c e a n d i n e r t i a of t h e social b o d y . In a sense, it is a l m o s t to its c r e d i t t h a t i t was n o t able t o s h a k e off its ideals t o t a l l y - e v e n t h o u g h i t h a d g i v e n u p p u r suing t h e m . T h e R i g h t , for its part, identifies s p o n t a n e o u s l y w i t h this i n e r t g h o s t o f t h e social b o d y a n d its d e e p r e s e n t m e n t o f t h e political sphere. I t is, i n this sense, n o t s o m u c h political as transpolitical — t h a t is to say, a l i g n e d w i t h t h e l o w e s t c o m m o n d e n o m i n a t o r of a politically disaffected society. It is t h e R i g h t w h i c h reaps t h e fruits of this disaffection. B u t , s i n c e i t also has n o political p e r s p e c t i v e , t h e failings o f R i g h t a n d Left c o m b i n e h a r m o n i o u s l y . W h o s p o k e o f p u t t i n g t h e i m a g i n a t i o n i n p o w e r ? T h e r e n e v e r i s any i m a g i n a t i o n in power. 15. See Jean Baudrillard, La Gauche divine (Paris:'Grasset, 1985).

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As for t h e t y p e of events this split s o c i e t y p r o d u c e s , E u r o p e is a fine e x a m p l e . It is the archetype of the c o n t e m p o r a r y event, the v a c u u m - p a c k e d event, the v a c u u m - p a c k e d p h a n t a s m a g o r i a . E u r o p e (at least t h e c u r r e n t E u r o p e a n project) will n o t have h a p p e n e d in the heads, dreams or natural inspiration of anyone w h a t s o ever. If it has h a p p e n e d , it has b e e n in t h e s o m n a m b u l i s t i c space of t h e political will, o f t h e dossiers a n d s p e e c h e s , t h e p r o g r a m m e s a n d calculations - a n d i n t h a t artificial synthesis of o p i n i o n that is universal suffrage, a process strictly g u i d e d a n d controlled by the c u n n i n g idealism of politicians a n d experts. E u r o p e , as it is e m e r g i n g , is, in a way, a s i m u l a t i o n m o d e l p r o j e c t e d i n t o a s c e n e of social d e s e r t i fication - an o b l i g a t o r y v i r t u a l reality, to be slipped i n t o like a data suit (the G u l f W a r was already h a n d e d to us as a v a c u u m - p a c k e d w a r - also for us to slip i n t o like v i r t u a l reality). W e shall n o m o r e b e s p a r e d E u r o p e t h a n w e shall t h e I n t e r n e t , t h e single c u r r e n c y o r t h e c h a i n s selling d e e p - f r o z e n f o o d s . T h e s e t h i n g s h a p p e n c o m e w h a t may. T h e y f o l l o w o u t t h e i r c o u r s e i n s p i t e o f a n y o p i n i o n s t o t h e c o n t r a r y . D e c i s i o n s w i l l g o o n b e i n g m a d e , c i r c u l a t i n g a m o n g t h e elites, e x p e r t s a n d s t r a t egists, h e e d l e s s o f a n y c o l l e c t i v e o p i n i o n . W e are t o t a l l y p o w e r l e s s i n spite o f — o r a s a c o n s e q u e n c e o f - t h e i n f o r m a t i o n i n w h i c h w e are s t e e p e d . W e saw this i n R w a n d a . All t h e m e d i a said c l e a r l y w h e r e t h e k i l l e r s w e r e — t h e i n s t i g a t o r s ( w h i c h i n c l u d e d us) — a n d yet t h e w h o l e b u s i n e s s w e n t o n h a p p e n i n g . W e h a v e t o t a l i n f o r m a t i o n , b u t i t has n o effect. T h e c o n s e n s u s , t h e c o l l e c t i v e c o w a r d i c e find a n alibi i n this g e n e r a l i z e d n e w s a n d i n f o r m a t i o n . I n f o r m a t i o n plays t h e role o f a scalpel, forever s e p a r a t i n g t h e j u n t a s i n p o w e r i n all t h e c o u n t r i e s o f t h e w o r l d from any collective will, and cicatrizing, as if w i t h h o t irons, t h e contradictions which may ensue. I n this f r a c t u r e b e t w e e n h e l o t s a n d elites, i t i s silly a n d senseless t o w r a p o n e self i n t h e flag o f t h e d i v i n e Left a n d its d e m o c r a t i c a r r o g a n c e a n d d e p l o r e t h e

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s t u p i d i t y o f t h e masses, d u p e d b y t h e m e d i a a n d t h e e l e c t o r a l s y s t e m — a p o s i t i o n w e h a v e r e c e n t l y s e e n a d o p t e d t o w a r d s B e r l u s c o n i i n Italy o r L e P e n ' s a d v a n c e s i n t h e F r e n c h local e l e c t i o n s . T h a t i s m e r e l y a s h o r t - s i g h t e d , c o n v e n t i o n a l a n a l y sis o f p o l i t i c a l r e a s o n . I n t h e e n d , t h e ' b l i n d ' masses s e e m t o see t h i n g s m o r e s u b t l y t h a n t h e ' e n l i g h t e n e d ' i n t e l l e c t u a l s : t h e y see t h a t t h e seats o f p o w e r are e m p t y , c o r r u p t p l a c e s o f despair, a n d h e n c e l o g i c a l l y o n e s h o u l d p u t c h a r a c t e r s o f p r e c i s e l y this t y p e i n t h e m : e m p t y i n d i v i d u a l s , b u f f o o n s , h a m a c t o r s a n d c h a r l a t a n s — t h e ideal p e o p l e for t h e s i t u a t i o n . T a k e B e r l u s c o n i for e x a m p l e . T h e p o l i t i c a l w o r l d , as it is, r e p r e s e n t s t h e o n l y p o s s i b l e ' r e a l ' — e v e n if it is n o t r a t i o n a l . I f y o u w a n t t o c h a n g e s o m e t h i n g , t h e n y o u h a v e t o set a b o u t r e a l i t y itself, w h i c h i s q u i t e a n o t h e r m a t t e r . B e r l u s c o n i a n d L e P e n are w h a t t h e y are, a n d all r e c r i m i n a t i o n s a g a i n s t t h e ' i r r a t i o n a l ' m a s s e s are m e r e l y t h e p r o d u c t o f a n a i v e illuminism (both c u n n i n g and politically correct). H o w e v e r , it is equally u n d e n i a b l e t h a t w e find this state o f affairs u n b e a r a b l e — w h e t h e r i t b e B e r l u s c o n i , L e P e n o r t h e c u r r e n t d e l i q u e s c e n t state o f p o l i t i c s . W e h a v e , t h e n , t o c o m e t o terms w i t h a c o n t r a d i c t o r y situation in that we b o t h have the system we deserve a n d — e q u a l l y n o n - n e g l i g i b l y — w e c a n n o t b e a r it. T h i s i s a f o r m o f i n s o l u b l e d i l e m m a . Y o u c a n h a v e a visceral a n t i - m a s s , a n t i - y o b , a n t i - r e d n e c k r e a c t i o n . B u t an equally visceral anti-elite, anti-caste, a n t i - c u l t u r e , anti-nomenklatura reaction. S h o u l d y o u b e o n t h e side o f t h e m i n d l e s s masses o r o f a r r o g a n t p r i v i l e g e ( a r r o g a n t p a r t i c u l a r l y i n c l a i m i n g a n affinity w i t h t h e masses)? T h e r e i s n o s o l u t i o n . W e are c a u g h t b e t w e e n t w o i n t e g r i s m s : t h e o n e p o p u l i s t (or I s l a m i c a n d f u n d a m e n t a l i s t ) , t h e o t h e r liberal a n d elitist, t h e i n t e g r i s m o f e n f o r c e d d e m o c r a c y a n d t h e u n i v e r s a l . F o r this l a t t e r a n E n l i g h t e n m e n t f a n a t i c i s m w h i c h n o l o n g e r k n o w s w h a t values to subscribe to, t h e o t h e r f o r m — t h e populist, Islamic type — p r o v i d e s a p r o v i d e n t i a l t a r g e t . B u t it is itself a f a n a t i c i s m , w h i c h I s l a m i c f u n d a mentalism, w i t h equal intolerance, does n o t recognize as having a moral and

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p o l i t i c a l r i g h t t o exist. A n d t h e t w o o p e r a t e against t h e s a m e b a c k d r o p o f a n i n d i f f e r e n t N e w W o r l d O r d e r . I s t h e r e still a p l a c e b e t w e e n t h e t w o for a p r o fane p r a c t i c e o f f r e e d o m ? 4

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Information at the Meteorological

Stage

Information long ago broke through the truth barrier and moved into the hyperspace w h e r e t h i n g s are n e i t h e r t r u e n o r false, since e v e r y t h i n g i n t h e r e a l m o f i n f o r m a t i o n d e p e n d s o n i n s t a n t a n e o u s credibility. O r , t o p u t i t m o r e accurately, i n f o r m a t i o n is t r u e r t h a n t r u e since it is true in real time — this is w h y it is f u n d a m e n t a l l y u n c e r t a i n . O r again, t o d r a w o n M a n d e l b r o t ' s r e c e n t t h e o r y w e c a n say t h a t t h i n g s i n t h e i n f o r m a t i o n space o r t h e h i s t o r i c a l space, like t h o s e i n fractal space, are n o l o n g e r o n e - , t w o - o r t h r e e - d i m e n s i o n a l : t h e y float i n s o m e i n t e r m e d i a t e d i m e n s i o n . W e n o l o n g e r have a n y standards o f t r u t h o r objectivity, b u t a scale of probability. Y o u p u t o u t a n i t e m o f i n f o r m a t i o n . S o l o n g a s i t has n o t b e e n d e n i e d , i t i s plausible. A n d , b a r r i n g s o m e h a p p y a c c i d e n t , i t will n e v e r b e d e n i e d i n real t i m e a n d s o will always r e m a i n c r e d i b l e . E v e n i f d e n i e d , i t will n o l o n g e r e v e r b e a b s o l u t e l y false, since i t has o n c e b e e n c r e d i b l e . U n l i k e t r u t h , credibility has n o limits; it c a n n o t be refuted, b e c a u s e it is v i r t u a l . We are in a k i n d of fractal truth: j u s t a s a fractal o b j e c t n o l o n g e r has o n e , t w o o r t h r e e d i m e n s i o n s (in w h o l e n u m b e r s ) , b u t 1.2 or 2 . 3 d i m e n s i o n s , so an e v e n t is no l o n g e r necessarily t r u e or false, b u t

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h o v e r s b e t w e e n 1.2 o r 2 . 3 octaves o f t r u t h . T h e space b e t w e e n t h e t r u e a n d t h e false is no l o n g e r a relational space, b u t a space of r a n d o m d i s t r i b u t i o n . W e c o u l d , o f c o u r s e , say t h e s a m e o f t h e space b e t w e e n g o o d a n d evil, b e a u t y a n d ugliness, cause a n d effect. E v e n sexuality t o d a y m o v e s i n a c u r i o u s i n t e r m e d i ate d i m e n s i o n - n e i t h e r m a s c u l i n e n o r f e m i n i n e — b u t at 1.5 or 1.7 s o m e w h e r e b e t w e e n t h e t w o ( h e n c e t h e i m p o s s i b i l i t y o f o p e r a t i n g w i t h t h e c o n c e p t o f sexual difference, from lack o f d e f i n i t i o n ) . T h e u n c e r t a i n t y p r i n c i p l e d o e s n o t b e l o n g t o physics a l o n e ; it is at t h e h e a r t of all o u r a c t i o n s , at t h e h e a r t o f ' r e a l i t y ' . T h i s e r r a t i c s i t u a t i o n , this lack o f m o o r i n g s a n d g e n e r a l i z e d u n c e r t a i n t y , i s shifti n g all facts, events a n d t h e i r i n t e r p r e t a t i o n i n t o a p h a s e o r stage w e m i g h t t e r m meteorological. Yet this is no l o n g e r t h e stage of t h e n a t u r a l u n p r e d i c t a b i l i t y of t h e e l e m e n t s , o f w i n d a n d w e a t h e r , b u t o f a s e c o n d a r y u n d e c i d a b i l i t y , a r i s i n g from t h e v e r y p e r f e c t i o n o f calculations a n d i n f o r m a t i o n . T a k e t h e T V w e a t h e r forecast. T h e p r e s e n t e r s h a v e t u r n e d this i n t o a g a m e s h o w . F r o m t h e satellite data, w h i c h s e r v e as a scientific alibi, t h e y s e e k t h e ideal f o r m u l a : t h e w o r d s w h i c h w i l l satisfy t h e p u b l i c w i t h o u t b e i n g t o o w i d e o f t h e a c t u a l e v e n t s . T h e y are c a u g h t b e t w e e n t h e instability o f a t m o s p h e r i c flows a n d t h e i n s t a b i l i t y o f c o l l e c t i v e e x p e c t a t i o n s , w h i c h m a k e s t h e forecast v i r t u a l l y a p o l i t i c a l m a t t e r . T h e y t r y m o r e o r less c o n s c i o u s l y , o n a daily basis, t o c o b b l e t h e t w o t h i n g s t o g e t h e r i n t o e p h e m e r a l s i m u l a t i o n m o d e l s . So, n e w s o f t h e w e a t h e r can r u n p r e c i s e l y c o u n t e r t o w h a t y o u see o u t o f y o u r w i n d o w , b u t i t i s t r u e i n simulation, s i n c e it is d e d u c e d f r o m t h e v a r i o u s data of a m o d e l s c e n a r i o . W h i c h involves m a n y o t h e r factors b e s i d e s m e t e o r o l o g i c a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n s . T h e p r e s e n t e r will t a k e a c c o u n t o f t h e e r r o r s i n t h e p r e v i o u s day's forecast, o f t h e c o n s i d e r a t i o n that the w e a t h e r c a n n o t b e bad three w e e k e n d s r u n n i n g (the p o p u l a t i o n w o u l d n o t stand for it) a n d naturally also t h e o b j e c t i v e fact of t h e a p p r o a c h of a depression o r a n t i - c y c l o n e - b u t this fact, w h i c h s o o f t e n t u r n s o u t t o b e w r o n g , c a n n o t b e

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d e t e r m i n a n t i n t h e forecast. I t follows t h a t t h e d e g r e e o f p e r t i n e n c e o f t h e w e a t h e r forecast is, t a k e n overall, less t h a n t h a t o f n o r m a l i n t u i t i o n . A s a result, t o t h e p o e t i c u n c e r t a i n t y o f t h e skies w e m u s t daily a d d t h e a r b i t r a r y u n c e r t a i n t y o f meteorological discourse. Yet w e are t o l d t h a t i t i s g o i n g t o b e possible, u s i n g u l t r a - s o p h i s t i c a t e d c o m p u t e r t e c h n i q u e s , t o m a k e a n a c c u r a t e forecast o f t h e w e a t h e r over t h e n e x t t w o days. B u t t h e c o m p u t e r s will take four days t o d o it. S o i n four days' t i m e w e shall k n o w p r e cisely w h a t t h e w e a t h e r was o n t h e p r e c e d i n g t w o days. T h e t r u t h o f t h e forecast has no c o n c e r n w i t h truly b e i n g a forecast. A n d t h e facts simply have to fall i n t o line. If necessary, t r u t h will c o r r e c t t h e m retrospectively. It will h a v e b e e n fine e v e n if it r a i n e d . F o r facts are facts a n d t r u t h is t r u t h . It always arrives t o o late, b u t w h e n it d o e s a r r i v e i t i s t r u t h w h i c h c o m m a n d s belief. It is no a c c i d e n t that in all t h e m e d i a t h e w e a t h e r bulletin always directly p r e c e d e s o r follows t h e s t o c k m a r k e t r e p o r t . T h e i n c o h e r e n c e o f s t o c k e x c h a n g e m o v e m e n t s i s a fitting c o u n t e r p a r t t o t h e f l u c t u a t i o n s o f w e a t h e r c o m p u t a t i o n s . T o w h i c h w e can a d d t h e m a n y o p i n i o n polls, w h i c h o b e y t h e s a m e l o g i c a t t h e level o f p u b l i c opinion. If we m a y h y p o t h e s i z e a reality of e c o n o m i c activity, a reality of w e a t h e r a n d a reality o f p u b l i c o p i n i o n , w h a t e v e r i t m a y b e , t h e n t h e v e r s i o n g i v e n t o u s t h r o u g h t h e S t o c k E x c h a n g e , t h e w e a t h e r forecasts a n d t h e o p i n i o n polls i s a p u r e l y s p e c u lative o n e , w h i c h o n l y distantly reflects t h e realities c o n c e r n e d . T h e r e i s d o u b t l e s s s o m e k i n d o f strategy b e h i n d this t r a n s c r i p t i o n i n s i m u l a t e d f o r m , b u t , a s w i t h fashi o n , n o o n e c a n tell w h o gains b y it. N o o n e can claim t o e x p l o i t t h e o p i n i o n polls - n o t e v e n t h o s e w h o b e l i e v e t h e y m a n i p u l a t e t h e m . A s for t h e p u r p o s e s o f t h e S t o c k E x c h a n g e , t h e y are u n i n t e l l i g i b l e . Y o u get t h e w o r r y i n g feeling t h a t this u n d e c i d a b i l i t y , this floating o f rates, p r i c e s a n d e x c h a n g e rates m u s t h a v e a m e a n i n g a n d a p u r p o s e , b u t for w h o m a n d for w h a t ? I n o u r p e r v e r s e s y s t e m o f

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g o v e r n m e n t , it is, at any rate, a p o w e r f u l w e l l s p r i n g of collective u n c e r t a i n t y a n d d i s i l l u s i o n m e n t . It is a transpolitical f o r m of destabilization of t h e social b o d y . F o r if m e t e o r o l o g y is b e c o m i n g , in a way, political, politics is b e c o m i n g m e t e o r o l o g i c a l . As m u c h play is m a d e of figures, co-efficients, rates a n d i n d i c e s as of t h e r a n d o m m o v e m e n t s o f t h e heavens; a n d p e r i o d s o f depression a n d h i g h pressure a l t e r n a t e i n t h e field o f events a n d o p i n i o n w i t h t h e s a m e r e g u l a r i t y a s i n t h e stratosphere. I t e v e n s e e m s t h a t , b y a s u p r e m e irony, reality i s n o w b e g i n n i n g t o c o n f o r m t o t h e s e (misplaced) s p e c u l a t i o n s . O p i n i o n i s b e g i n n i n g t o m e r g e w i t h t h e polls; o r a t a n y rate t h e r e i s virtually n o o t h e r m i r r o r o f p u b l i c o p i n i o n b u t t h e polls (there i s a g o o d r e a s o n for this: namely, that, as B o u r d i e u says, p u b l i c o p i n i o n d o e s n o t exist). T h e real e c o n o m y i s n o w c o m i n g t o m e r g e w i t h t h e m i r r o r o f t h e S t o c k E x c h a n g e , w h e r e it assumes its u l t i m a t e face as i n s t a n t a n e o u s flow, as a limitless o p e r a t i o n w i t h n o precise g o a l , a collective spectacle. Little b y little, t h e k i n d o f f l u c t u a t i o n s w h i c h o c c u r o n t h e S t o c k E x c h a n g e — o f b u y i n g a n d selling, transfere n c e a n d d u m p i n g , l o s s - m a k i n g s p e c u l a t i o n a n d f o r w a r d - t r a d i n g - has i n v a d e d t h e p r o d u c t i o n a n d m a n a g e m e n t sectors o f t h e real e c o n o m y . I t s e e m s t h a t e v e r y t h i n g - e v e n t h e w e a t h e r — has w e a r i l y c o m e r o u n d t o c o m p l y i n g w i t h t h e m o d e l s , a n d has m e e k l y b e c o m e a s i n c o h e r e n t a s t h e w e a t h e r forecast. It is as t h o u g h t h e forecasts h a d finally u n s e t t l e d t h e w e a t h e r , in m u c h t h e s a m e w a y a s financial s p e c u l a t i o n e n d s u p m o d i f y i n g e c o n o m i c p r o c e s s e s a n d polls e n d u p o b s e s s i n g a n d o b s c u r i n g p u b l i c o p i n i o n . T h e r e c a n b e n o d o u b t t h a t reality i s d r i v e n i n t o t u r m o i l o n c o n t a c t w i t h m o d e l s , o r e n d s u p i r o n i c a l l y c o n f o r m i n g t o t h e m , like t h e d r e a m s a n d u n c o n s c i o u s o f p r i m i t i v e p e o p l e s o n c o n t a c t w i t h p s y c h o - a n t h r o p o l o g i s t s . O n e t h i n g i s c e r t a i n : m e t e o r o l o g y has b e c o m e a reference scenario. So l o n g as the w i n d was b l o w i n g in the direction of the rational a n d t h e p r e d i c t a b l e across all disciplines, f r o m t h e h u m a n t o t h e e x a c t s c i e n c e s ,

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meteorology remained the emblem of the unpredictable, the uncontrollable e l e m e n t of o u r daily lives, a n d , as a result, t h e subject of p e r p e t u a l c o m m e n t (secret marvelling at the weather). B u t n o w that t h e s a m e disciplines - from physics t o e c o n o m i c s , from c o s m o g o n y t o sociology, f r o m b i o l o g y t o h i s t o r y - are g o i n g over, i f n o t t o t h e i r r a t i o n a l , t h e n a t least t o t h e u n c e r t a i n t y p r i n c i p l e , t o c a l c u l a t i o n s o f p r o b a b i l i t y , t o flexible h y p o t h e s e s , floating verification a n d t h e reversibility o f p r o p o s i t i o n s , t h e m e t e o r o logical r e a l m i s b e c o m i n g t h e m i r r o r o f t h e i r u n c e r t a i n t y , t h e p a r a d i g m for t h e i r a b s e n c e o f m o o r i n g s . W h a t was o n c e p l e a s a n t c l i m a t i c fantasy has d e v e l o p e d i n t o a p r o p h e t i c a p p r o x i m a t i o n o f t h e n e w k i n d o f events b y w h i c h w e are b e s e t . T h e p r o m o t i o n o f t h e r a n d o m , t h e a c c i d e n t a l a n d t h e insignificant i n analysis — s u c h a s t h e p r o m o t i o n of t h e fait divers in s o c i o l o g y or t h e slip in p s y c h o l o g y - is n o t n e w . T h e a n o m a l y is b e c o m i n g a s o u r c e of u n d e r s t a n d i n g , as is e v e r y t h i n g w h i c h is an e x c e p t i o n t o t h e r u l e . W h y s h o u l d this n o t also a p p l y t o w e a t h e r events? I s i t n o t marvellous that o u r m o s t sophisticated calculations t u r n out to be as uncertain as t h e u n p r e d i c t a b i l i t y of t h e w e a t h e r ? Is it n o t t h e m o s t attractive feature of politicians that t h e i r strategies t u r n o u t i n t h e e n d t o b e t h e e q u i v a l e n t o f s t r a t o s p h e r i c events? T h i s restores to all fields - politics a m o n g t h e m - a suspense w h i c h d i s a p p e a r e d l o n g ago. T h e o n l y events t o d a y r u n counter t o statistics (similarly, o n l y w h a t r u n s counter to politics a n d counter to h i s t o r y c o n s t i t u t e s an e v e n t t o d a y ) . F o r p e o p l e w h o no longer have any o p i n i o n , and w h o do n o t in any event have any c h a n c e of m a k i n g i t c o u n t - h e m m e d i n a s t h e y are b y d i s c o u r s e s e v e n b e f o r e t h e y are h e m m e d i n b y figures - t h e stakes are shifting f r o m t h e i d e o l o g i c a l t e r r a i n t o t h e statistical. A n d t h e o n l y pleasure, t h e o n l y h o p e - s o m e t i m e s fulfilled — is to p r o v e t h e pollsters w r o n g , t o have o n e ' s c h o i c e s a n d acts p r o d u c e s o m e o t h e r o u t c o m e t h a n t h e o n e a n t i c i p a t e d . A collective evil g e n i u s is at w o r k h e r e . In a g a m e as t i r e s o m e as politics, t h e o n l y i n t e r e s t i n g e v e n t is t h e statistical reversal of t h e s i t u a t i o n

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(as, for e x a m p l e , i n 1 9 9 2 w i t h t h e F r e n c h r e f e r e n d u m o n E u r o p e ) . T h e fickleness o f t h e statistical masses, n o t u n l i k e t h e c a p r i c i o u s m o v e m e n t o f c l o u d s , r e d u c e d t h e o p i n i o n polls to a k i n d of l o t t e r y a n d , t h r o u g h that lottery, b r o u g h t d e m o c r a c y itself d o w n to a k i n d of r a n d o m g a m e , elevating t h e u n c e r t a i n t y p r i n c i p l e - as in B a b y l o n o r w i t h t h e h o r s e races i n B y z a n t i u m - t o t h e status o f a r u l e . 18

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Disembodied Violence: Hate

1

H a t e : instead o f d e p l o r i n g t h e r e s u r g e n c e o f a n atavistic v i o l e n c e , w e s h o u l d see that i t i s o u r m o d e r n i t y itself, o u r h y p e r m o d e r n i t y w h i c h p r o d u c e s this t y p e o f v i o l e n c e , a n d t h e s e special effects. I n d e e d , t e r r o r i s m is p a r t of this t o o . T r a d i t i o n a l v i o l e n c e is m u c h m o r e enthusiastic a n d sacrificial. O u r s is a s i m u l a t e d v i o l e n c e in t h e sense t h a t i t wells u p , n o t s o m u c h f r o m passion a n d instinct, b u t f r o m t h e s c r e e n . I t is, i n a sense, p o t e n t i a l l y p r e s e n t i n t h e s c r e e n a n d t h e m e d i a , w h i c h p r e t e n d t o r e c o r d i t a n d b r o a d c a s t it, b u t w h i c h i n reality p r e c e d e i t a n d p r o m p t it. A s e v e r y w h e r e else, t h e m e d i a h e r e p r e c e d e this v i o l e n c e , a s t h e y d o t e r r o r i s t acts. T h i s i s w h a t m a k e s it a specifically m o d e r n f o r m ; a n d this t o o is w h y it is i m p o s s i b l e to assign real (political, s o c i o l o g i c a l o r p s y c h o l o g i c a l ) causes t o it. O n e senses t h a t all e x p l a n a t i o n s o f t h a t t y p e are deficient. Similarly, i t m a k e s little sense t o b e r a t e t h e m e d i a for p r o p a g a t i n g v i o l e n c e b y s h o w i n g i t o r telling v i o l e n t stories. F o r t h e screen, a v i r t u a l surface, p r o t e c t s us r a t h e r w e l l , w h a t e v e r is said a b o u t it, f r o m t h e real c o n t e n t s o f t h e i m a g e . B e c a u s e o f t h e w a y t h e s c r e e n breaks t h e cycle, v i o l e n c e

16. M a t h i e u Kassovitz's film La Maine (Hate) was released in France in M a r c h 1995.

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i n films a n d T V d o e s n o t lead o n t o b e h a v i o u r a l v i o l e n c e . I t i s t h e v i o l e n c e o f t h e m e d i u m itself w h i c h leaves u s defenceless - t h e v i o l e n c e o f t h e v i r t u a l a n d its n o n s p e c t a c u l a r p r o l i f e r a t i o n . W h a t i s t o b e feared i s n o t t h e p s y c h o l o g i c a l spread o f v i o l e n c e , b u t its t e c h n o l o g i c a l e x t e n s i o n — t h e e x t e n s i o n of a t r a n s p a r e n t v i o l e n c e , t h e k i n d w h i c h leads t o t h e d i s e m b o d i m e n t o f all reality a n d referentiality: t h e degree Xerox of violence. I t i s b e c a u s e o u r society n o l o n g e r allows space for real v i o l e n c e , h i s t o r i c a l o r class v i o l e n c e , t h a t it g e n e r a t e s a v i r t u a l , reactive v i o l e n c e . A p h a n t o m v i o l e n c e as i t w e r e , t h e w a y w e speak o f a p h a n t o m p r e g n a n c y , a v i o l e n c e w h i c h , like t h a t p h a n t o m c o n d i t i o n , gives b i r t h t o n o t h i n g w h a t e v e r , n e i t h e r f o u n d s n o r g e n e r a t e s a n y t h i n g w h a t e v e r . ' H a t e ' i s like this. O n e m i g h t regard i t a s a n a r c h a i c i m p u l s e , b u t , paradoxically, b e c a u s e it is d i s c o n n e c t e d f r o m its o b j e c t a n d its e n d s , it is c o n t e m p o r a n e o u s w i t h t h e h y p e r r e a l i t y o f t h e g r e a t m e t r o p o l i s e s . W e m a y distinguish a basic f o r m o f v i o l e n c e , t h e v i o l e n c e o f aggression, o p p r e s s i o n , r a p e , d o m i n a t i o n , h u m i l i a t i o n a n d s p o l i a t i o n - t h e u n i l a t e r a l v i o l e n c e o f t h e s t r o n g e s t . A n d this m i g h t find a reply in a c o n t r a d i c t o r y v i o l e n c e — historical v i o l e n c e , critical v i o l e n c e , t h e v i o l e n c e o f t h e negative. R u p t u r a l , transgressive v i o l e n c e (to w h i c h w e m a y a d d t h e v i o l e n c e o f analysis, t h e v i o l e n c e o f i n t e r p r e t a t i o n ) . T h e s e are f o r m s o f d e t e r m i n a t e v i o l e n c e , w i t h a n o r i g i n a n d a n e n d , a n d t h e i r causes a n d effects c a n b e identified. T h e y c o r r e s p o n d t o a t r a n s c e n d e n c e , w h e t h e r i t b e t h e t r a n s c e n d e n c e o f power, history or meaning. A g a i n s t this t h e r e stands o p p o s e d a p r o p e r l y c o n t e m p o r a r y f o r m o f v i o l e n c e . M o r e subtle t h a n t h e v i o l e n c e o f aggression: a v i o l e n c e o f d e t e r r e n c e , pacification, n e u t r a l i z a t i o n , c o n t r o l - a v i o l e n c e of q u i e t e x t e r m i n a t i o n , a g e n e t i c , c o m m u n i c a t i o n a l v i o l e n c e - t h e v i o l e n c e o f t h e c o n s e n s u s a n d conviviality w h i c h t e n d s t o abolish — t h r o u g h d r u g s , disease p r e v e n t i o n , psychical a n d m e d i a r e g u l a t i o n — t h e v e r y r o o t s o f evil a n d h e n c e o f all radicality. T h e v i o l e n c e o f a s y s t e m w h i c h r o o t s

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o u t any f o r m of negativity and singularity (including the ultimate f o r m of singularity - d e a t h itself). T h e v i o l e n c e of a s o c i e t y in w h i c h n e g a t i v i t y is virtually p r o h i b i t e d , conflict is p r o h i b i t e d , d e a t h is p r o h i b i t e d . A v i o l e n c e w h i c h , in a way, p u t s a n e n d t o v i o l e n c e itself. A v i o l e n c e w h i c h can b e m e t b y n o e q u a l a n d opposite violence. O n l y hate. B o r n o f indifference - p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e indifference r a d i a t e d b y t h e m e d i a - h a t e is a c o o l , d i s c o n t i n u o u s f o r m , w h i c h can s w i t c h instantly to any o b j e c t . It is n o t h e a t e d a n d it lacks c o n v i c t i o n ; it is c o n s u m e d in t h e process of its a c t i n g - o u t - a n d often in its i m a g e a n d t h e i m m e d i a t e r e p e r c u s s i o n s - as can be seen f r o m t h e c u r r e n t o u t b u r s t s o f d e l i n q u e n c y o n t h e b i g city estates. I f traditional v i o l e n c e reflected t h e level o f o p p r e s s i o n a n d conflict, h a t e reflects t h e level o f c o n s e n s u s a n d c o n viviality. O u r e c l e c t i c c u l t u r e i s t h e c u l t u r e o f t h e m i n g l i n g o f o p p o s i t e s , t h e c o - e x i s t e n c e of all differences w i t h i n a g r e a t c u l t u r a l m e l t i n g p o t . B u t let us n o t have a n y illusions a b o u t this: it is precisely this m u l t i c u l t u r a l i s m , this t o l e r a n c e , this synergy, w h i c h stir u p t h e t e m p t a t i o n o f a g e n e r a l a b r e a c t i o n , a g u t r e j e c t i o n . S y n e r g y p r o d u c e s allergy. O v e r - p r o t e c t i o n leads to a loss of defences a n d i m m u n i t y : t h e r e d u n d a n t a n t i - b o d i e s t u r n a r o u n d against t h e o r g a n i s m itself. H a t e i s o f this o r d e r : like m a n y m o d e r n diseases, i t has s o m e t h i n g o f self-aggression a n d a u t o i m m u n e p a t h o l o g y a b o u t it. W e are n o t yet r e a d y t o c o p e w i t h t h e c o n d i t i o n o f artificial i m m u n i t y w h i c h o u r b i g cities p r o v i d e for us. W e are like a species w h o s e natural predators have b e e n r e m o v e d — d o o m e d either very quickly to disappear or to d e s t r o y itself. In a sense, we use h a t e to p r o t e c t ourselves from this lack of t h e o t h e r , t h e e n e m y o r o p p o s i t i o n - w i t h h a t e m o b i l i z i n g a k i n d o f artificial, o b j e c t less o p p o s i t i o n a l i t y . In this way, h a t e is a k i n d of 'fatal s t r a t e g y ' a g a i n s t t h e pacification of e x i s t e n c e . In its v e r y a m b i g u i t y , it is a d e s p e r a t e p r o t e s t against t h e indifference o f o u r w o r l d a n d doubtless, for t h a t reason, a m u c h m o r e i n t e n s e m o d e o f r e l a t i o n t h a n c o n s e n s u s o r conviviality.

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T h e c o n t e m p o r a r y t r a n s i t i o n f r o m v i o l e n c e t o h a t e i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f t h e shift from a n o b j e c t p a s s i o n t o a n objectless passion. A p u r e a n d u n d i f f e r e n t i a t e d v i o l e n c e , a v i o l e n c e of a t h i r d t y p e , as it w e r e , c o n t e m p o r a n e o u s w i t h t h e e x p o n e n t i a l v i o l e n c e o f t h e t e r r o r i s t a n d w i t h all t h e viral, e p i d e m i c f o r m s o f c o n t a g i o n a n d c h a i n r e a c t i o n . H a t e i s m o r e u n r e a l , m o r e elusive i n its m a n i f e s t a t i o n s t h a n straight v i o l e n c e . Y o u c a n see this clearly i n r a c i s m a n d d e l i n q u e n c y . T h i s i s w h y i t i s s o difficult t o c o u n t e r it, e i t h e r b y p r e v e n t i o n o r p o l i c e c r a c k d o w n s . Y o u c a n n o t d e - m o t i v a t e it, since i t has n o e x p l i c i t m o t i v a t i o n . Y o u can't d e m o b i l i z e it, since i t has n o clear m o b i l i z i n g factor. A n d i t i s n o n e t o o easy t o p u n i s h it, s i n c e m o s t o f t h e t i m e it takes itself as t h e target: it is, p r e - e m i n e n t l y , a passion at o d d s w i t h itself. W e s e e m d o o m e d t o r e p r o d u c e t h e S a m e i n a n endless i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , i n a u n i versal c u l t u r e o f identity, a n d this gives rise t o a n e n o r m o u s r e s e n t m e n t : self-hatred. N o t h a t r e d o f t h e o t h e r , a s a superficial i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f r a c i s m w o u l d h a v e it, b u t t h e loss o f t h e o t h e r a n d r e s e n t m e n t o f t h a t loss. T h e usual c o n t e n t i o n i s t h a t h a t e is a h a t r e d of t h e o t h e r - h e n c e t h e illusion o n e is o p p o s i n g it by p r e a c h i n g t o l e r a n c e a n d r e s p e c t for difference - b u t in fact h a t e (racism, etc.) is n o t so m u c h a r e j e c t i o n of t h e o t h e r as a fanatical desire for otherness. It seeks d e s p a i r i n g l y to c o m p e n s a t e for t h e loss o f t h e o t h e r b y t h e e x o r c i z i n g o f a n artificial o t h e r , w h i c h may, as a result, be a n y o n e w h a t e v e r . In a l o b o t o m i z e d w o r l d , w h e r e conflicts are i m m e diately c o n t a i n e d , it seeks to resuscitate o t h e r n e s s — if o n l y to destroy it. It seeks to escape t h a t fateful identification, t h a t autistic c o n f i n e m e n t t o w h i c h t h e v e r y m o v e m e n t o f o u r c u l t u r e c o n d e m n s us. T h i s i s a c u l t u r e o f Ressentiment, t h e n , b u t o n e i n w h i c h , b e h i n d t h e r e s e n t m e n t o f t h e o t h e r , o n e c a n n o t b u t sense a r e s e n t m e n t of self, of t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p of t h e self a n d t h e selfsame, w h i c h m a y e x t e n d as far as self-destruction. So we m u s t see ' h a t e ' , in all its a m b i g u i t y , as a c r e p u s c u l a r passion — s i m u l t a n e o u s l y s y m p t o m a n d o p e r a t o r o f this s u d d e n loss o f t h e social, o f o t h e r n e s s , o f

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conflict a n d , lastly, of t h e s y s t e m itself, t h r e a t e n e d w i t h g r a v i t a t i o n a l collapse. A s y m p t o m o f t h e e n d o r t h e failure o f m o d e r n i t y — i f n o t t h e e n d o f history, for p a r a doxically t h e r e has n e v e r b e e n a n y e n d o f history, since t h e r e has n e v e r b e e n a r e s o l u t i o n of all t h e p r o b l e m s it has p o s e d . T h e r e is, rather, a passing b e y o n d t h e e n d , w i t h o u t a n y t h i n g h a v i n g b e e n resolved. A n d i n t h e c u r r e n t ' h a t e ' , t h e r e i s p r e cisely a r e s e n t m e n t o f e v e r y t h i n g t h a t has n o t t a k e n place. A n d , w i t h this, t h e u r g e n t desire t o h u r r y things o n s o a s t o b e d o n e w i t h t h e s y s t e m , t o b r i n g s o m e t h i n g else i n t o b e i n g , t o c o n j u r e u p t h e o t h e r , t h e e v e n t from elsewhere. I n this c o o l fanaticism, o n e c a n g l i m p s e a m i l l e n a r i a n f o r m o f p r o v o c a t i o n . W e ' v e all ' g o t h a t e ' . I t i s m o r e t h a n w e c o u l d m a n a g e n o t to. W e are all a m b i g u ously n o s t a l g i c for t h e e n d o f t h e w o r l d , t h a t i s t o say, w a n t i n g t o give i t a n e n d , s o m e e n d - g o a l , a t a n y p r i c e — i f o n l y t h r o u g h r e s e n t m e n t a n d total r e j e c t i o n o f t h e w o r l d as it is. 2

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October 1995

Psychedelic Violence: Drugs

D r u g s i n g e n e r a l n o l o n g e r play a p a r t i n t h e s y m b o l i c rituals o f t h e i n d u s t r i a l i z e d societies. T h e s e societies are g i v e n over to d e f e r r e d goals w h i c h assume a calculated sacrifice o f t i m e a n d energy, w h e r e a s d r u g - u s e always p r e s u p p o s e s t h e i m m e d i a c y of a m e n t a l process a n d a k i n d of a c h i e v e d Utopia. T h r o u g h o u t t h e ages, all t h i n k ing which

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c o n d e m n e d as h e r e t i c a l . I n t h e v i e w w e take o f m o d e r n d r u g s , s o m e t h i n g o f this ancestral c o n d e m n a t i o n remains, together w i t h something of the occult p o w e r drugs derive from their a n c i e n t v i r t u e s . W e m a y say, t h e n , t h a t t h e y fascinate a s m u c h a s t h e y r e p e l , a n d t h a t , f r o m t h e s t a n d p o i n t o f W e s t e r n r e a s o n , t h e y are definitively a m b i v a l e n t . T h e y h a v e a n a r c o t i c effect o n t h e b o d y a n d t h e b r a i n — a n d also o n t h e w a y w e j u d g e them. I n o u r p r e s e n t - d a y analysis, i t has l o n g b e e n c u s t o m a r y t o see d r u g s a s r e l a t i n g t o ' a n o m i e ' i n D u r k h e i m ' s sense. I n t h i s , t h e y are a k i n t o a c e r t a i n t y p e o f s u i c i d e w h i c h c h a r a c t e r i z e s t h e social b o d i e s o f t h e i n d u s t r i a l i z e d c o u n t r i e s . T h e s e are residual, m a r g i n a l , transgressive f o r m s , f o r m s w h i c h lie o u t s i d e t h e law,

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b e y o n d t h e g e n e r a l social o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d s y s t e m o f o r g a n i c values o f t h e g r o u p . It is a matter of margins, but of margins w h i c h do not challenge the principle of the law and of value and can potentially be integrated into the cycle of the law and values. T h e c u r r e n t status o f d r u g s is, i n fact, q u i t e different. I n c o m m o n w i t h c e r t a i n o t h e r specifically c o n t e m p o r a r y p h e n o m e n a , i t i s n o t a n o m i c , b u t anomalous. T h e a n o m a l o u s is n o t w h a t is m a r g i n a l , u n b a l a n c e d or organically in deficit; it is t h e p r o d u c t of an excess of o r g a n i z a t i o n , r e g u l a t i o n a n d rationalization w i t h i n a system. I t i s t h a t w h i c h for n o a p p a r e n t r e a s o n c o m e s , s e e m i n g l y f r o m o u t s i d e , t o d i s r u p t t h e o p e r a t i o n o f t h e system. I t i s t h a t w h i c h c o m e s from t h e v e r y l o g i c , t h e excess of l o g i c a n d rationality, of a system w h i c h , o n c e it has r e a c h e d a c e r t a i n s a t u r a t i o n t h r e s h o l d , secretes its a n t i b o d i e s , its i n t e r n a l p a t h o l o g i e s , its strange dysfunctions, its u n f o r e s e e a b l e , i n c u r a b l e a c c i d e n t s , its anomalies. T h i s is no l o n g e r t h e effect of a society's inability to i n t e g r a t e its m a r g i n s , b u t r a t h e r of an o v e r - c a p a c i t y for i n t e g r a t i o n a n d n o r m a l i z a t i o n . It is at this p o i n t t h a t societies w h i c h are a p p a r e n t l y o m n i p o t e n t are destabilized f r o m w i t h i n - a n d this involves s e r i o u s c o n s e q u e n c e s , for t h e m o r e t h e s y s t e m a t t e m p t s t o resolve its a n o m a l i e s , t h e m o r e i t will e n t e r t h e l o g i c o f o v e r - o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d t h e m o r e i t will fuel t h e i r e c c e n t r i c g r o w t h . W e h a v e t o leave rationalist c o n c e p t i o n s b e h i n d h e r e . I n t h e past, t h e a n o m i c m a r g i n s p r o v i d e d a n o c c a s i o n for i n c r e a s e d r a t i o n a l i z a t i o n o f t h e s y s t e m . T o d a y i t i s t h e o v e r - r a t i o n a l i z a t i o n o f t h e system w h i c h causes a n o m a l o u s a c c i d e n t s a n d aggravates t h e m . W e h a v e t o t a k e this ' p e r v e r s e ' l o g i c i n t o a c c o u n t a n d distinguish b e t w e e n a d r u g - u s e l i n k e d t o i n a d e q u a t e social a n d e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t ( w h i c h i s still often f o u n d i n t h e d e v e l o p i n g c o u n t r i e s o r a m o n g t h e u n d e r p r i v i l e g e d ) a n d a f o r m o f use l i n k e d , rather, t o t h e s a t u r a t i o n o f t h e w o r l d o f c o n s u m p t i o n - a s b o t h

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a p o g e e a n d p a r o d y of t h a t s a m e c o n s u m p t i o n , as a c o n t e s t a t o r y a n o m a l y of a w o r l d o n e has to escape from b e c a u s e it is too abundant, n o t b e c a u s e it c o u l d be said to lack something. W e are t h u s d e a l i n g h e r e w i t h w h a t m i g h t b e d e s c r i b e d a s a d r u g - u s e o f a ' s e c o n d t y p e ' . A n d w e s h o u l d see this i n t e r m s o f all t h o s e p r o c e s s e s o f a ' s e c o n d t y p e ' c o n t e m p o r a n e o u s w i t h i t — p r o c e s s e s w h i c h o b e y this s a m e a n o m a l o u s l o g i c . I n p a r t i c u l a r , f o r m s o f v i o l e n c e o f t h e ' s e c o n d t y p e ' - f o r m s w h i c h are n o t of the o r d e r of p r i m a r y offending b e h a v i o u r or aggression, b u t b o r n of a reaction to t h e industrialized societies' excessive tolerance, t h e o v e r - p r o t e c t i o n of t h e social b o d y . T e r r o r i s m is of this o r d e r . It is a r e s p o n s e to t h e o m n i p o t e n c e of m o d e r n states, w h i c h s e c r e t e i t n o t a s h i s t o r i c v i o l e n c e , b u t a s a n o m a l o u s v i o lence, w h i c h they cannot stamp out, other than by turning themselves into even m o r e c o n t r o l l e d , m o r e d e t e r s i v e , m o r e p o w e r f u l states, a n d s o c o n t i n u i n g t h e u p w a r d spiral. S u c h p a t h o l o g i e s o f t h e ' s e c o n d t y p e ' a s A I D S a n d c a n c e r are also o f this o r d e r . T h e s e are n o l o n g e r t r a d i t i o n a l illnesses c a u s e d b y t h e o r g a n i c d e f i c i e n c y o f b o d i e s e x p o s e d t o e x t e r n a l a t t a c k ; t h e y result r a t h e r f r o m a d e s t a b i l i z a t i o n o f o v e r - p r o t e c t e d b o d i e s (all t h e h y g i e n i c , c h e m i c a l , m e d i c a l , social a n d p s y c h o l o g ical p r o s t h e t i c s ) w h i c h , as a result, lose t h e i r i m m u n i t y a n d fall p r e y to a n y o l d virus. A n d just as there is apparently no 'political' solution to the p r o b l e m of terr o r i s m , t h e r e d o e s n o t for t h e m o m e n t s e e m t o b e a n y b i o m e d i c a l s o l u t i o n t o t h e p r o b l e m o f A I D S a n d c a n c e r - a n d for t h e s a m e r e a s o n . T h e fact i s t h a t t h e s e are a n o m a l o u s processes, w h i c h p r e c i s e l y r u n c o u n t e r — w i t h a savage, r e a c t i o n a l v i o l e n c e - t o t h e p o l i t i c a l o r b i o l o g i c a l o v e r - p r o t e c t i o n o f t h e social b o d y o r t h e physical o n e . T h e use a n d abuse o f d r u g s i s p a r t o f this s a m e s y m p t o m a t o l o g y . W e m a y c o n d e m n t h e e x i s t e n c e o f this c u r s e a n d t h e b e h a v i o u r w h i c h g o e s w i t h it, b u t w h a t

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w e c a n b e sure o f i s t h a t t h e society w h i c h seeks t o r o o t i t o u t a n d e x p u n g e i t o n c e a n d for all f r o m t h e social b o d y i s r u n n i n g a v e r y great risk. N o w , t h e desire t o d o this exists; i t i s e v e n p a r t o f t h e rationalist p a r a n o i a o f o u r social systems. W e h a v e t o w e i g h u p t h e s e r i o u s deficit w e i n c u r b e c a u s e o f d r u g s , b u t w e m u s t also w e i g h u p t h e s e r i o u s deficit o r d e f i c i e n c y t h a t w o u l d result f r o m t h e i r e l i m i n a t i o n . T h i s i s h o w w e g e n e r a t e c a n c e r s o r viruses w h i c h are m u c h m o r e c u n n i n g , a n d w h i c h do n o t even have the mitigating c h a r m of accursedness. T h e p o i n t w h e r e collective loss o f i m m u n e defences o r i n d i v i d u a l loss o f s y m b o l i c d e f e n c e s o c c u r s i s t h e p o i n t w h e r e s o m e societies b e c o m e v u l n e r a b l e t o t e r r o r i s m , d r u g s o r v i o l e n c e (but also t o d e p r e s s i o n a n d fascism). A n d w e c a n easily see t h a t t h e o n l y s o l u t i o n lies i n r e s t o r i n g t h e s e i m m u n i t i e s o r s y m b o l i c defences. B u t we k n o w that o u r system tends, in the very n a m e of science and progress, to destroy all n a t u r a l i m m u n i t i e s a n d substitute artificial i m m u n e systems prosthetics - for t h e m . W h a t h o p e is t h e r e that s u c h a system will do a n y t h i n g o t h e r t h a n c o n t i n u e i n this same d i r e c t i o n ? W i t h this, w e can s u d d e n l y see d r u g - u s e f r o m a q u i t e different angle, w h i c h is d i r e c t l y c o n t r a r y to w h a t has so far b e e n a r g u e d : w h i l e b e i n g p a r t o f t h e s y n d r o m e o f i m m u n o d e f i c i e n c y , d r u g s are t h e m s e l v e s a defence. T h e r e are doubtless b e t t e r defences, b u t it is n o t i n c o n c e i v a b l e t h a t this use a n d abuse r e p r e s e n t a vital, s y m b o l i c r e a c t i o n — t h o u g h an a p p a r e n t l y d e s p e r a t e a n d suicidal o n e — t o s o m e t h i n g e v e n w o r s e . W i t h o u t s u b s c r i b i n g t o t h e ' f e e l - g o o d ' i d e o l o g y o f t h e sixties a n d seventies o n t h e ' m i n d - e x p a n d i n g p o w e r s o f d r u g s ' , w e m a y still t a k e t h e — r a t h e r m o r e p r o saic — v i e w t h a t t h e r e i s h e r e s o m e t h i n g o f a n e s c a p e f r o m t h e o b j e c t i v e d r u d g e r y o f life i n s o m e s o c i e t i e s , a c o m m u n a l reflex o f m i s b e h a v i o u r i n t h e face o f u n i versal n o r m a l i z a t i o n , r a t i o n a l i z a t i o n a n d p r o g r a m m i n g , w h i c h are u n d o u b t e d l y a n e v e n g r a v e r d a n g e r t o s o c i e t y a n d t h e species i n t h e l o n g t e r m . W e k n o w t h a t h u m a n b e i n g s g a i n effective p r o t e c t i o n f r o m m a d n e s s b y r e s o r t i n g t o n e u r o s i s .

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Similarly, i t i s n o t b y g o o d , b u t b y relative evil t h a t o n e c a n p r o t e c t o n e s e l f f r o m a b s o l u t e evil. T h e C h u r c h has u n d e r s t o o d h o w t o m a n a g e its heresies i n this s a m e w a y — as n e c e s s a r y (from its p o i n t of v i e w ) a b e r r a t i o n s , as p e r n i c i o u s g e r m s of s o m e t h i n g ( b u t g e r m s all t h e s a m e ) . A C h u r c h w h i c h n o l o n g e r gives rise t o h e r e s i e s , o r w h i c h has e l i m i n a t e d t h e m all, e v e n t u a l l y w i t h e r s away, j u s t a s a b o d y w h i c h s t o p s p r o d u c i n g g e r m s , i n c l u d i n g t h o s e w o r k i n g t o d e s t r o y it, i s a d e a d body. H a v i n g said this, d r u g - u s e i s n o l o n g e r i n its intensive p h a s e , t h e p h a s e i n w h i c h it was s u p p o r t e d by a e u p h o r i c or h e r o i c , subversive or suicidal d i s c o u r s e . It is in its extensive phase. A n d if it is s p r e a d i n g further, it is, as a result, losing s o m e of its v i o lence. D r u g - u s e is no l o n g e r a subversive a n o m i e , b u t an a n o m a l y b e c o m i n g institutionalized. S o s h o u l d w e crack d o w n o n i t m o r e t h a n ever? A n e w h a r d a n t i - d r u g line m a y s e e m p r o b l e m a t i c ( w h e n t h e r e i s n o p r o - d r u g discourse). I n t h e fragile state o f e q u i l i b r i u m o r d i s e q u i l i b r i u m i n w h i c h t h e i m m u n e system o f t h e social o r i n d i v i d u a l b o d y finds itself, t h a t h a r d line w o u l d i n t r o d u c e a r i g i d m o r a l i z i n g e l e m e n t , a legal r i g i d i t y w h i c h i s n o l o n g e r a p p r o p r i a t e i n t h e delicate m a n a g e m e n t o f a n o m a l i e s (and this is all t h e m o r e a m b i g u o u s in t h a t it often p r o v i d e s a c o v e r for political strategies for w h i c h d r u g s , like any o t h e r f o r m o f o f f e n d i n g b e h a v i o u r , p r o v i d e a n easy alibi). T h e p r o b l e m o f d r u g - u s e m u s t b e t r e a t e d delicately, a n d (since i t i s a n a m b i g u o u s p r o b l e m ) w i t h s t r a t e g i e s w h i c h a r e t h e m s e l v e s a m b i g u o u s . A b o v e all, u n i l a t e r a l strategies o f d e n u n c i a t i o n , w h i c h s i m p l y b o l s t e r t h e h y p o c r i s y o f a c e r t a i n t y p e o f society, are t o b e a v o i d e d , a s are s t r a t e g i e s o f d i f f e r e n t i a t i n g b e t w e e n u s e a n d a b u s e , s i n c e n o o n e c o u l d specify t h e shifting l i m i t s b e t w e e n t h e t w o . D r u g s — all d r u g s - are f o r m s of e x o r c i s t i c b e h a v i o u r : t h e y e x o r c i z e reality, t h e social o r d e r , t h e i n d i f f e r e n c e o f t h i n g s . B u t t h r o u g h d r u g s , i t i s s o c i e t y itself

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w h i c h exorcizes certain forgotten p o w e r s , drives and internal contradictions. It i s s o c i e t y w h i c h p r o d u c e s this p e r v e r s e effect a n d s o c i e t y w h i c h c o n d e m n s it. I f i t i s n o t g o i n g t o s t o p p r o d u c i n g t h e effect, t h e n i t s h o u l d a t least s t o p c u r s i n g it. UNESCO

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The Dark Continent of Childhood

T h e r e i s n o w w i t h i n t h e social a n d political o r d e r a specific p r o b l e m o f c h i l d h o o d . A p r o b l e m i n s e p a r a b l e f r o m t h o s e of sexuality, d r u g s , v i o l e n c e , h a t r e d a n d all t h e i n s o l u b l e p r o b l e m s p o s e d b y social e x c l u s i o n . Like s o m a n y o t h e r areas, c h i l d h o o d a n d a d o l e s c e n c e are t o d a y b e c o m i n g spaces d o o m e d b y a b a n d o n m e n t t o m a r g i n ality a n d d e l i n q u e n c y . T h e n e w s offers a daily c h r o n i c l e o f this v i o l e n c e : a d o l e s c e n t s m u r d e r i n g t h e i r p a r e n t s , v i o l e n c e o f c h i l d r e n against o t h e r c h i l d r e n , v i o l e n c e a m o n g i n n e r city y o u t h , this latter still t a k i n g a relatively socialized f o r m in gangs. B u t t h e r e are also cases o f p u r e l y i n d i v i d u a l ' a c t i n g o u t ' ( w i t h t h e y o u n g s t e r f r o m C u e r s , a c h i l d has for t h e first t i m e e n t e r e d t h e annals o f mass killers). All t h e s e e p i s o d e s are i n e x plicable i n s i m p l e p s y c h o l o g i c a l , social o r m o r a l t e r m s . T h e r e i s s o m e t h i n g else g o i n g o n h e r e , w h i c h arises o u t o f t h e v e r y b r e a k d o w n o f t h e b i o l o g i c a l a n d s y m bolic orders. T o b e g i n w i t h , t h e status o f b i r t h has b e e n t u r n e d u p s i d e d o w n (after t h e status o f d e a t h , w h i c h i s u n r e c o g n i z a b l e t o d a y i n p r o p e r l y h u m a n t e r m s ) . Artificial i n s e m i n a t i o n i n all its f o r m s , g e n e t i c c o n t r o l a n d m a n i p u l a t i o n : e v e r y w h e r e b i r t h seems

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i n d a n g e r o f b e i n g deflected f r o m its n a t u r a l d e s t i n y i n t o a n artificial o n e . T h e l i q u i d a t i o n in t h e l o n g t e r m of a familial, sexual genesis, of a psychical a n d b i o l o g i c a l begetting. It is the e n d of the child as bearer n o t only of the duality of a m a n and a w o m a n , b u t t h e d u a l i t y of a past a n d a future, w h i c h a l o n e creates a m e m o r y . As a result, t h e child b e c o m e s a t e c h n i c a l p e r f o r m a n c e , a m i n i - e x t e n s i o n of t h e p a r ents, rather than a g e n u i n e 'other'. A sort of b y - p r o d u c t of an incestuous d o u b l i n g - u l t i m a t e l y n o t u n l i k e t h e scissiparity or schizogenesis of p r o t o z o a — c o n c e i v e d a s a n ideal o u t g r o w t h i n y o u r i m a g e : t h e c l o n e - c h i l d , w h o s e p r o d u c t i o n from t h e D N A o f a single o n e o f y o u r cells i s c u r r e n t l y b e i n g p l a n n e d . A s a t e c h nical o p e r a t i o n this is as yet s o m e w a y off, b u t it is already p r e s e n t in t h e scientific a n d collective i m a g i n a r y - a n d e v e n i n t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n p a r e n t s a n d t h e i r children. In fact, t h e child is no l o n g e r a child. C h i l d r e n are s u b s t i t u t e b e i n g s , w h o are l o s i n g t h e i r n a t u r a l o t h e r n e s s a n d e n t e r i n g u p o n a satellite e x i s t e n c e o n t h e artificial o r b i t o f s a m e n e s s . T h e y will find i t i n c r e a s i n g l y difficult t o d e t a c h t h e m s e l v e s ; t o find, n o t t h e i r i d e n t i t y a n d t h e i r a u t o n o m y — a s t h e y are c o n s t a n t l y b e i n g t o l d t h e y m u s t — b u t t h e i r distance a n d t h e i r s t r a n g e n e s s . T h e m o r e g e n e t i c h e r e d i t y i s f o r e g r o u n d e d , t h e m o r e t h e s y m b o l i c h e r i t a g e disappears. E v e n t h e O e d i p a l d r a m a i s n o t played o u t a n y l o n g e r . T h e r e i s n o l o n g e r a n y r e s o l u t i o n o f c h i l d h o o d , since the psychical and symbolic

conditions

of childhood no

longer even

exist.

C h i l d h o o d is l o s i n g e v e n t h e c h a n c e of s u r p a s s i n g a n d d e n y i n g itself as s u c h . It is d i s a p p e a r i n g as a p h a s e in t h e m e t a m o r p h o s i s of t h e h u m a n b e i n g . At t h e s a m e t i m e as it is losing this distinctive spirit of its o w n a n d its singularity, it is b e c o m i n g a sort of dark continent. F o r o t h e r n e s s i n e v i t a b l y r e - e m e r g e s , b u t differently, i n t h e f o r m o f a vast, s h a d y c o m p l i c i t y on t h e p a r t of a g e n e r a t i o n w h i c h is at last free f r o m a d u l t a t t e n t i o n , b u t i s n o l o n g e r m i n d e d t o g r o w u p . A n endless, p u r p o s e l e s s a d o l e s c e n c e , w h i c h i s 103

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a c q u i r i n g a u t o n o m y w i t h n o r e f e r e n c e t o t h e O t h e r , a c q u i r i n g i t for itself — a n d t u r n i n g , i n s o m e cases violently, against t h e O t h e r , against t h e adult w i t h w h o m i t n o w has n o sense e i t h e r o f d e s c e n d a n c e o r solidarity. T h i s i s n o l o n g e r a s y m b o l i c b r e a k , b u t a p u r e a n d s i m p l e r e j e c t i o n , w h i c h m a y f i n d e x p r e s s i o n i n a lethal ' a c t i n g o u t ' . A n d i t i s n o t e v e n ' a c t i n g o u t ' , since t h a t still p r e s u p p o s e s t h e i r r u p t i o n o f t h e p h a n t a s m i n t o a real w o r l d , w h e r e a s h e r e w e are d e a l i n g w i t h a n infantile, q u a s i - h a l l u c i n a t o r y state w h i c h r e a c h e s b a c k b e f o r e t h e reality p r i n c i p l e . M o r e o v e r , this p r e - r e a l i t y - p r i n c i p l e , infantile state c o i n c i d e s s t r a n g e l y w i t h t h e w o r l d o f v i r t u a l reality, o u r a d u l t m e d i a w o r l d , t h e p o s t - r e a l i t y - p r i n c i p l e w o r l d , i n w h i c h t h e real a n d t h e v i r t u a l m e r g e . T h i s e x p l a i n s t h e s p o n t a n e o u s affinity o f t h e e n t i r e y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n w i t h t h e n e w v i r t u a l t e c h n o l o g i e s . T h e c h i l d has a special r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h t h e i n s t a n t a n e o u s . M u s i c , electronics, d r u g s - all t h e s e things are i m m e d i a t e l y familiar to h i m . P s y c h e d e l i c isolation d o e s n o t f r i g h t e n h i m . W h e r e real t i m e i s c o n c e r n e d , h e i s w a y a h e a d o f t h e a d u l t , w h o c a n n o t b u t s e e m a retard t o h i m , j u s t a s i n t h e f i e l d o f m o r a l values, h e c a n n o t b u t s e e m a fossil. S o t h e c h i l d e n t e r s a state o f a n o m i e , o f o r g a n i c d e s o c i a l i z a t i o n . B u t e v e n w h e n ' n a t u r a l l y ' p r o d u c e d , h e has b e c o m e a n a n o m a l y . H e i s o u t o f t i m e . T h e c u r r e n t t e m p o , based o n i m m e d i a c y , a c c e l e r a t i o n , 'real t i m e ' , r u n s precisely c o u n t e r t o g e n e r a t i o n , g e s t a t i o n , t h e t i m e o f b e a r i n g a n d raising, t h e l o n g h a u l i n g e n e r a l , w h i c h i s t h e d u r a t i o n o f h u m a n c h i l d h o o d . T h e child is, t h e n , logically c o n d e m n e d t o d i s appear. O t h e r m e t h o d s o u g h t t o m a k e i t possible for u s t o d o w i t h o u t this n a t u r a l m a t u r a t i o n of the h u m a n being, a process w h i c h is so l o n g and the source of so m a n y n e u r o s e s , o f conflicts w h i c h few m o d e r n c o u p l e s c a n w i t h s t a n d , a n d w h i c h was d e s i g n e d for a situation o f g e n e r a t i o n a l c o n t i n u i t y , w h e r e t h e r e w e r e l o n g - t e r m t r a n s g e n e r a t i o n a l rituals i n place. Today, t h e g e n e r a l q u i c k e n i n g o f t h e p a c e o f life c o n d e m n s childhood to accelerated obsolescence.

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Let u s take s o m e c o m f o r t , h o w e v e r , f r o m t h e fact t h a t t h e r e will always b e c h i l dren, t h o u g h as objects of curiosity or sexual perversion, or compassion, or p e d a g o g i c a l m a n i p u l a t i o n a n d e x p e r i m e n t a t i o n , or q u i t e s i m p l y as vestiges of a g e n e a l o g y of living beings - j u s t as t h e r e will always be t h o r o u g h b r e d horses or pets, o r w o r k s o f art, a s p r o t e c t e d species o r reserves, e v e n w h e n t h e n a t u r a l species l o n g since d i e d o u t . T h e y will b e p r e s e r v e d i n t h e s a m e w a y a s animals, w h i c h will s o o n have n o o t h e r p u r p o s e t h a n t o b e p r e s e r v e d a n d k e p t i n m u s e u m s a s traces o f t h e genesis o f m a n ( m a n h i m s e l f b e i n g d e s t i n e d for t h e status o f future r e m n a n t i n a w o r l d o f c l o n e s ) . S o t h e child, t h e c h i l d c o n c e p t , will b e fetishized. I t already is: idealized a n d fetishized as a vestige of a species w h o s e r e p r o d u c t i o n — b e c o m e p r o gressively a t e c h n i c a l o p e r a t i o n — no l o n g e r in a n y sense involves a s e x e d destiny, n o r t h e m a r v e l l o u s l y a c c i d e n t a l p r o d u c t o f t h a t destiny, t h e child. You only have to look at the Universal Declaration of the Rights of the Child, a d o p t e d b y t h e U N , t o k n o w t h a t c h i l d h o o d i s already a n e n d a n g e r e d species: ' I can say n o . . . I h a v e t h e r i g h t t o k n o w w h o I a m . . . I h a v e t h e r i g h t t o suitable a n d b a l a n c e d f o o d . . . E v e r y o n e m u s t p r o t e c t me against m e n t a l a n d physical v i o l e n c e . . . I have t h e r i g h t t o sing, d a n c e , play a n d d e v e l o p m y gifts for m y g r e a t e r h a p p i n e s s , e t c ' ( N e v e r has t h e r e b e e n a m o r e U b u - e s q u e d e c l a r a t i o n ; m o r e o v e r , i t m a k e s a m o c k e r y o f c h i l d r e n , t u r n i n g t h e m i n t o p e r f o r m i n g m o n k e y s b y foisting u p o n t h e m t h e legalistic m a n i a o f adults.) So c h i l d r e n will be e x o r c i z e d as n a t u r a l b e i n g s , as a n a c h r o n i s t i c survivals f r o m a n o t h e r age i n a t i m e o f i m m e d i a t e o p t i m a l p e r f o r m a n c e . S i m u l t a n e o u s l y , t h e y will b e c o m e a w i l d , d e l i n q u e n t , c r i m i n a l species. T h e y w i l l lose t h e b e l i e f t h a t t h e y are c h i l d r e n , c e a s i n g t o c o m p a r e t h e m s e l v e s p e j o r a t i v e l y w i t h t h e a d u l t m o d e l . D o u b t l e s s t h e y h a v e always b e e n p o t e n t i a l l y d a n g e r o u s b e i n g s — a reality c o n c e a l e d b y p e d a g o g y a n d t h e m o d e r n , b o u r g e o i s idealization o f c h i l d h o o d — a n d t h e y h a v e always t a k e n r e v e n g e for t h e i r i n f e r i o r i t y i n t h e i r o w n way, t h r o u g h r u s e

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a n d b l a c k m a i l , b u t t h a t s u b o r d i n a t i o n a n d r e v e n g e w e r e m e r e l y relative b e c a u s e t h e y w e r e always d o o m e d t o d i s a p p e a r — w i t h t i m e . B u t n o w i t i s t i m e w h i c h c h i l d h o o d is n o t g o i n g to have, and t h e evolutionary chain is b r o k e n : t h e child is g o i n g t o t u r n against t h e a d u l t a s a n a l l - o u t e n e m y H e w i l l b e c o m e t h e O t h e r , all t h e s a m e , b u t n o w t h e o t h e r a s Alien - a m o n s t e r p r o d u c e d b y t h e b r e a k d o w n i n the symbolic chain of the generations. R e a l i t y was t h e reality o f t h e a d u l t ( n o t e v e n this i s t r u e t o d a y w h e n h e i s n o l o n g e r t h e m a s t e r o f it). C h i l d h o o d , f r o m t h e d e p t h s o f its unreality, t h e d e p t h s o f its idiotie, w a s o n e of t h e last b a s t i o n s of t h e p o e t i c illusion of t h e w o r l d . Like all o t h e r f o r m s of illusion, it is d o o m e d to d i s a p p e a r s o o n e r or later - or to lead a p u r e l y auxiliary e x i s t a n c e . T h i s is t h e c h i l d no l o n g e r in any sense as destiny, as t h e a c c i d e n t b e a r i n g d e a t h a s w e l l a s j u b i l a t i o n for t h e p a r e n t s , b u t t h e c h i l d a s c o m modity, unfortunately unintegratable i n t o the cycle of accelerated e x c h a n g e and h e n c e b e c o m e a n o n - s t a n d a r d p r o d u c t , a n i t e m from a n o t h e r age, floating m o s t o f t h e t i m e b e t w e e n p a r e n t s w h o n o l o n g e r k n o w w h a t t o d o w i t h it. B u t w h i c h , like t h e dead, like w o m e n , like t h e masses, like t h e object, like all t h e c a t e g o r i e s e x p e l l e d f r o m t h e d o m i n a n t r e a s o n , still has all i t n e e d s t o t a k e its r e v e n g e a n d p o s e a n i n s o l u b l e p r o b l e m for t h e m a s t e r s o f reality. 16 October

106

1995

0

The Double Extermination

Today w e d o n o t t h i n k t h e virtual, t h e virtual t h i n k s us. A n d t o u s this elusive t r a n s parency, w h i c h separates us definitively f r o m t h e real, is as u n i n t e l l i g i b l e as is t h e w i n d o w p a n e t o t h e f l y w h i c h b a n g s against i t w i t h o u t u n d e r s t a n d i n g w h a t s e p arates i t f r o m t h e o u t s i d e w o r l d . T h e f l y c a n n o t e v e n i m a g i n e w h a t i s s e t t i n g this l i m i t o n its space. Similarly, w e c a n n o t e v e n i m a g i n e h o w m u c h t h e v i r t u a l - a s t h o u g h r u n n i n g a h e a d o f u s — has already t r a n s f o r m e d all t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s w e h a v e o f t h e w o r l d . W e c a n n o t i m a g i n e this, for i t i s t h e p a r t i c u l a r i t y o f t h e v i r t u a l t h a t i t p u t s a n e n d n o t j u s t t o reality, b u t t o t h e i m a g i n i n g o f t h e real, t h e political a n d t h e social; n o t j u s t t o t h e reality o f t i m e , b u t t o t h e i m a g i n i n g o f t h e past a n d t h e future (this is w h a t is k n o w n , in a k i n d of b l a c k h u m o u r , as 'real t i m e ' ) . So we are far f r o m h a v i n g u n d e r s t o o d t h a t i n f o r m a t i o n ' s e n t r y o n t h e s c e n e spelt a n e n d t o t h e u n f o l d i n g o f history, t h a t t h e c o m i n g o f artificial i n t e l l i g e n c e spelt a n e n d t o t h o u g h t , e t c . T h e illusion w e still h a r b o u r a b o u t all t h e s e t r a d i t i o n a l c a t e g o r i e s — i n c l u d i n g o u r illusion o f ' o p e n i n g o u r s e l v e s u p t o t h e v i r t u a l ' , a s i f i t w e r e a real e x t e n s i o n of all p o t e n t i a l i t i e s - is t h e illusion of t h e fly u n f l a g g i n g l y b a n g i n g up against t h e w i n d o w p a n e . F o r w e still b e l i e v e i n t h e reality o f t h e v i r t u a l , w h e r e a s

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t h e v i r t u a l has already virtually s c r a m b l e d all t h e p a t h w a y s of t h o u g h t . To s h e d a little light on this c o n f u s i o n , I shall t a k e t h e m o s t delicate e x a m p l e - m o s t delicate precisely b e c a u s e i t arises o u t o f t h e m o s t h o r r i f y i n g , u n i n t e l l i g i b l e e v e n t i n o u r m o d e r n h i s t o r y : t h e h o l o c a u s t a n d t h o s e w h o d e n y it. T h e h o l o c a u s t d e n i a l p r o p osition is, in itself, absurd. T h i s is so o b v i o u s that t h e crucial q u e s t i o n b e c o m e s : w h y i s t h e r e a n y n e e d t o p l e a d t h e t r u t h against t h e h o l o c a u s t - d e n i e r s ? W h y c a n t h e q u e s t i o n o f t h e e x i s t e n c e o f t h e gas c h a m b e r s e v e n b e raised? I n o t h e r ages i t n e v e r c o u l d h a v e b e e n . T h o s e w h o c o n t e s t h o l o c a u s t d e n i a l n e v e r ask t h e m s e l v e s w h y s u c h d e n i a l i s possible; t h e y c o n t e n t t h e m s e l v e s w i t h v e h e m e n t i n d i g n a t i o n . N o w , t h e v e r y fact of h a v i n g to d e f e n d t h e historical reality of t h e gas c h a m b e r s as a m o r a l cause, o f h a v i n g t o d e f e n d 'reality' i n g e n e r a l b y a k i n d o f political c o m m i t m e n t , attests sufficiently t o t h e c h a n g e i n register w h i c h has o c c u r r e d w h e r e h i s t o r i c a l t r u t h i s c o n c e r n e d , a n d t o t h e w a y s i n w h i c h o b j e c t i v i t y has b e e n d i s r u p t e d . W h e r e t h e h o l o c a u s t - d e n i e r s are plainly a b s u r d a n d w r o n g i s w h e n t h e y t h e m selves e s p o u s e realism a n d c o n t e s t the objective, historical reality of t h e h o l o c a u s t . In historical t i m e , t h e event t o o k place a n d t h e e v i d e n c e i s there. B u t w e are n o l o n g e r i n h i s t o r i c a l t i m e ; w e are n o w i n real time, a n d i n real t i m e t h e r e i s n o l o n g e r a n y e v i d e n c e o f a n y t h i n g w h a t e v e r . T h e h o l o c a u s t will n e v e r b e verified i n real t i m e . H o l o c a u s t d e n i a l is, t h e r e f o r e , a b s u r d i n its o w n l o g i c , b u t b y its v e r y a b s u r d i t y i t s h e d s l i g h t o n t h e i r r u p t i o n o f a n o t h e r d i m e n s i o n , p a r a d o x i c a l l y t e r m e d 'real t i m e ' - a d i m e n s i o n in w h i c h , paradoxically, o b j e c t i v e reality disappears. A n d n o t j u s t t h e r e a l i t y o f t h e p r e s e n t e v e n t , b u t also t h a t o f past a n d f u t u r e e v e n t s . E v e r y t h i n g n o w r u n s o u t its c o u r s e i n a state o f simultaneity, s o t h a t acts n o l o n g e r find t h e i r m e a n i n g , effects n o l o n g e r find t h e i r cause, a n d h i s t o r y c a n n o l o n g e r b e a n o b j e c t o f reflection. R e a l time is a kind of black hole into w h i c h n o t h i n g penetrates w i t h o u t l o s i n g its s u b s t a n c e . I n fact, t h e e x t e r m i n a t i o n c a m p s t h e m s e l v e s b e c o m e v i r t u a l 108

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i n real t i m e , a n d s h o w u p o n l y o n t h e v i r t u a l s c r e e n . All t e s t i m o n y , i n c l u d i n g Holocaust a n d Shoah, sinks, in s p i t e of itself — in s p i t e of us — i n t o t h e s a m e v i r tual abyss - t h e abyss of events or facts w h i c h exist for as l o n g as t h e y exist a n d t h a t i s all. T h i s i s n o t t o a r g u e t h a t t h e t e s t i m o n i e s t h e m s e l v e s , i n t h e i r a b s o l u t e s i n cerity, a n d t h e films (as i m a g e s fully e x h a u s t i n g h o r r o r i n t h e p r e s e n t t i m e o f t h e i m a g e ) do n o t t h e m s e l v e s c o n t r i b u t e to this i m p o s s i b i l i t y of m e m o r y : the real holocaust is doomed to that other extermination which is that of the virtual. T h i s is t h e t r u e final s o l u t i o n . S o t h e h o l o c a u s t - d e n i a l a r g u m e n t c a n n o l o n g e r b e t r u l y r e f u t e d s i n c e e v e r y t h i n g a n d all o f u s — i n c l u d i n g t h o s e w h o reject t h e a r g u m e n t — h a v e g o n e over, w h e t h e r w e like i t o r n o t , i n t o a n age w h e n t h e r e i s n o l o n g e r a n y o b j e c t i v e r e c o u r s e . W e are, t h e r e f o r e , c o n d e m n e d t o o p p o s e i t i n a k i n d o f m i r r o r d e n i a l , a n d this i s i n d e e d t h e u n d o i n g o r d e f e a t o f t h o u g h t , o f h i s t o r i c a l t h o u g h t a n d c r i t i c a l t h o u g h t - b u t in fact it is n o t its defeat: it is t h e v i c t o r y of real t i m e o v e r t h e p r e s e n t , o v e r t h e past, o v e r a n y f o r m o f l o g i c a l a r t i c u l a t i o n o f reality w h a t s o e v e r . T h i s d e s t a b i l i z a t i o n o f t r u t h m a y b e verified (so t o speak) i n m a n y o t h e r cases. T h e O . J . S i m p s o n affair, for e x a m p l e . A p a r t f r o m a n y political o r j u r i d i c a l c o n s i d erations, w e saw t h e trial build u p i n t o a n a u t o n o m o u s event, f o l l o w i n g o u t its o w n m e d i a script in a s t u p e f y i n g way, m i r r o r i n g itself in its o w n c l o s e d l o o p . As it d i d so, i t eclipsed t h e real e v e n t o f t h e m u r d e r a n d s e c r e t e d its o w n t r u t h w h o l l y u n r e lated t o t h e o b j e c t i v e t r u t h o f t h e facts, for w h i c h t h e e v i d e n c e was t h e r e . B u t t h e t r u e guilt o f S i m p s o n m a y v e r y w e l l c o i n c i d e - i n this u n h i n g i n g o f t r u t h f r o m its m o d e l - w i t h his v i r t u a l i n n o c e n c e . T o t h e p o i n t t h a t S i m p s o n h i m s e l f m u s t n o l o n g e r k n o w exactly — o n c e again in t h e real t i m e of t h e trial - w h e t h e r he is guilty o r n o t . O r w h e t h e r , like O e d i p u s , h e can 'sincerely' set i n train investigations t o d i s c o v e r t h e c r i m i n a l - w h o m a y p e r h a p s b e himself. E v e n t h e future is n o t assured in real t i m e (this was t h e m e a n i n g of t h e paradoxical

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p r o p o s i t i o n : ' T h e Year 2 0 0 0 will n o t t a k e p l a c e ' ) .

17

And it would seem appropri-

ate h e r e t o discuss P a u l Virilio's v i s i o n o f t h e 'final A c c i d e n t ' , t h e ' A c c i d e n t t o e n d all A c c i d e n t s ' , t h e ' A p o c a l y p s e o f t h e V i r t u a l ' w h i c h h e foresees a t t h e e n d o f this e v o l u t i o n — or, b e t t e r , i n v o l u t i o n — o f o u r w o r l d i n t o real t i m e . Yet n o t h i n g c o u l d b e less sure t h a n t h a t a p o c a l y p s e (alas, e v e n this c e r t a i n t y e l u d e s us!). T o d r e a m o f t h e 'final A c c i d e n t ' i s t o s u c c u m b t o t h e illusion o f t h e e n d . I t i s t o f o r g e t t h a t v i r tuality itself is v i r t u a l a n d t h a t , by d e f i n i t i o n , its definitive a d v e n t , its a p o c a l y p s e , c a n n o t t a k e o n t h e force o f reality. T h e r e w i l l b e n o a p o c a l y p s e o f t h e v i r t u a l a n d o f real t i m e precisely b e c a u s e real t i m e abolishes linear t i m e a n d d u r a t i o n , a n d t h e r e b y t h e d i m e n s i o n i n w h i c h t h e y m i g h t d e v e l o p t o t h e i r e x t r e m e limits. T h e r e is no linear-exponential function of the Accident — any m o r e than such a function exists for a n y t h i n g else - a n d its possible e v e n t u a t i o n r e m a i n s a r a n d o m m a t t e r . T h e radical b r e a k w i t h t h e real w h i c h t h e v i r t u a l creates, t h e b l a c k - o u t o r collapse o f t i m e w h i c h real t i m e b r i n g s a b o u t , h a p p i l y p r e s e r v e u s f r o m t h e u l t i m a t e e x t e r m i n a t i o n . T h e v i r t u a l system, like a n y o t h e r , i s d o o m e d , a s i t e x p a n d s , t o d e s t r o y its o w n c o n d i t i o n s o f possibility. W e s h o u l d n o t d r e a m , t h e n , o f a n apocalypse i n t h e future, a n y m o r e i n d e e d t h a n w e s h o u l d d r e a m o f any Utopia w h a t s o e v e r : t h e y will n e v e r t a k e p l a c e i n real t i m e : t h e y w i l l r u n o u t o f t i m e itself. If t h e r e is a v i r t u a l r e v o l u t i o n , t h e n we s h o u l d a c c o r d it its full m e a n i n g a n d t h i n k t h r o u g h all its c o n s e q u e n c e s , e v e n if we r e m a i n free radically to reject it. If t h e r e is n o virtual apocalypse, b u t t h e apocalypse i s itself v i r t u a l (and, virtually, w e are i n t h e a p o c a l y p s e : y o u o n l y have t o see t h e d e v a s t a t i o n o f t h e real w o r l d all a r o u n d ) , t h e n i t i s t h e s a m e w i t h all t h e o t h e r c a t e g o r i e s . T h e social, t h e political, t h e h i s t o r i c a l — e v e n t h e m o r a l a n d p s y c h o l o g i c a l - there are no longer any but virtual events within all

17. See Jean Baudrillard, The Illusion of the End ( C a m b r i d g e : Polity, 1994), p. 9.

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these categories. T h i s m e a n s it is useless s e a r c h i n g for a politics of t h e virtual, an ethics of t h e v i r t u a l , etc., s i n c e it is politics itself w h i c h is b e c o m i n g v i r t u a l , ethics itself w h i c h has b e c o m e v i r t u a l , i n t h e sense t h a t b o t h politics a n d ethics are l o s i n g t h e p r i n c i p l e s g o v e r n i n g t h e i r a c t i o n , l o s i n g t h e i r force o f reality. A n d this e v e n applies w h e r e t e c h n o l o g y i s c o n c e r n e d : w e speak o f ' t e c h n o l o g i e s o f t h e v i r t u a l ' , b u t t h e t r u t h i s t h a t t h e r e are n o w o n l y — o r t h e r e w i l l s o o n o n l y b e - v i r t u a l t e c h n o l o g i e s . N o w , t h e r e c a n n o l o n g e r b e a n y n o t i o n o f artifice i n a w o r l d i n w h i c h t h o u g h t itself, i n t e l l i g e n c e , is b e c o m i n g artificial. It is in this sense that we c a n say t h a t it is t h e V i r t u a l w h i c h t h i n k s us, n o t t h e o t h e r w a y a r o u n d . This e n q u i r y into the virtual is m a d e even m o r e delicate and c o m p l e x today by t h e e x t r a o r d i n a r y h y p e s u r r o u n d i n g it. T h e excess o f i n f o r m a t i o n , t h e massive a d v e r t i s i n g effort, t h e t e c h n o l o g i c a l pressure, t h e m e d i a , t h e i n f a t u a t i o n o r p a n i c — e v e r y t h i n g is c o n t r i b u t i n g to a k i n d of collective h a l l u c i n a t i o n of t h e v i r t u a l a n d its effects. W i n d o w s 9 5 , t h e I n t e r n e t , t h e i n f o r m a t i o n s u p e r h i g h w a y s — these t h i n g s are already c o n s u m e d in a d v a n c e in d i s c o u r s e a n d fantasy. P e r h a p s it is a w a y of s h o r t c i r c u i t i n g t h e i r effects t o u n l e a s h t h e m i n this w a y i n t h e i m a g i n a t i o n . B u t w e are n o t e v e n sure o f t h a t . A r e n ' t h y p e a n d b r a i n w a s h i n g t h e m s e l v e s p a r t o f t h e virtual? W e d o n ' t k n o w . T h i s i s still t h e s t o r y o f t h e fly b a n g i n g its h e a d against t h e i n c o m p r e h e n s i b l e fact o f t h e w i n d o w p a n e . ' C e r t i t u d e d o e s n o t exist', says a p i e c e o f N e w Y o r k graffiti. B e n e a t h w h i c h has b e e n w r i t t e n , ' A r e y o u sure?' 6 November

111

1995

'Lost from View' and Truly

Disappeared

T h e story of t h e illusionist w h o has a fine act m a k i n g things vanish - rabbits, snakes, scarves a n d t h e like — a n d yet d r e a m s o f j u s t o n e t h i n g : m a k i n g t h e w o m a n w h o shares t h e stage w i t h h i m disappear. H e has t r i e d all h e k n o w s , b u t t o n o avail. O n e day, h o w e v e r , in t h e m i d d l e of a b a n a l c o n j u r i n g t r i c k , t h e r e is a b u r s t of r a p t u r o u s applause. H e t u r n s a r o u n d , a m a z e d , t o see that t h e w o m a n has disappeared. H e d o e s n o t k n o w h o w h e d i d it, o r h o w t o get h e r b a c k . H e will s p e n d his w h o l e life l o o k i n g for t h e key t o t h a t d i s a p p e a r a n c e , t h e secret o f t h a t spell. In his o w n way, J a c q u e s P r a d e l is also a TV illusionist, a v i r t u o s o of d i s a p p e a r i n g t r i c k s . U n d e r c o v e r o f s e a r c h i n g for m i s s i n g p e r s o n s , w h a t d o e s h e d o i n his T V s h o w Perdu de vue b u t m a k e us vanish? * He s h o w s us we are all p o t e n t i a l ' m i s s i n g 1

p e r s o n s ' , j u s t as, to t h e p o l i c e , we are all p o t e n t i a l suspects. He reveals to us h i d d e n as he is b e h i n d t h e s c r e e n a n d t h e i m a g e s - t h a t t h e real ' m i s s i n g p e r s o n s ' are t h e m i l l i o n s o f T V v i e w e r s l o o k i n g o n d u m b f o u n d e d a t his sleight o f h a n d a n d

18. Perdu de vue ran from N o v e m b e r 1991 to 1999 on the French T F 1 channel. O v e r that period it claimed to have reunited thousands of people with their friends and loved ones.

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identifying for all t h e y are w o r t h w i t h t h e o b j e c t o f t h e search, h o p i n g against h o p e t h a t they will b e discovered a n d w r e n c h e d from t h e i r n o n - e x i s t e n c e . S o t h e y are t h e p e o p l e w h o are t r u l y ' n o t a r o u n d any m o r e ' . A n d t h e p r o g r a m m e ' s m o r e o r less failed d e m o n s t r a t i o n (but t h a t is of no i m p o r t a n c e ; it is always s i m u l a t e d ) p l u n g e s t h e m b a c k for a n o t h e r w e e k i n t o t h e n o t h i n g n e s s o f t h e i r a n o n y m i t y . ' W e are all m i s s i n g p e r s o n s ' t h e p r o g r a m m e m i g h t b e called. A n d i n this sense — t h o u g h in this sense a l o n e - t h e p r o g r a m m e is b l i n d i n g l y o b v i o u s . Like all t h e m o s t ' m a s s - m a r k e t ' television, w h o s e message ( w h i c h i s m u c h m o r e edifying t h a n t h a t o f ' h i g h - b r o w ' television) is v e r y clear, t h o u g h initially i n d e c i p h e r a b l e : ' W e are all p o t e n t i a l defectives, p o t e n t i a l v i c t i m s o r terrorists, p o t e n t i a l sufferers f r o m A I D S o r muscular dystrophy'.

19

A n d this i s t r u e . B u t , first a n d f o r e m o s t , w e are m i s s i n g p e r -

sons. A n d i f w e h a d t o p u t Pradel's p r o g r a m m e u n d e r t h e m i c r o s c o p e , t o d r a w s o m e lesson f r o m it, i t w o u l d tell us: ' W e all k n o w s o m e t h i n g essential has d i s a p p e a r e d , b u t w e d o n ' t k n o w w h a t ' . A n d P r a d e l p r e t e n d s t o b e l o o k i n g for a M r X o r a M r s Y, b u t in reality no o n e gives a d a m n a n d no o n e is fooled. In reality, it is t h e real w h i c h has d i s a p p e a r e d a n d b e h i n d Mr X or M r s Y it is t h e d i s a p p e a r a n c e of t h e real w h i c h fascinates p e o p l e . T h i s is, i n fact, t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t e v e n t i n m o d e r n h i s t o r y a n d e v e r y o n e i s a n a c t o r i n t h a t e v e n t b y t h e v e r y fact o f b e i n g t h e r e i n front o f t h e i r T V screens: t h e y lost sight o f t h e real a t exactly t h e s a m e t i m e a s t h e y lost sight o f t h e m s e l v e s . F o r t u n a t e l y , t h e r e are lots o f o t h e r m o d e s o f d i s a p p e a r a n c e a n d o n e o f t h e m o s t i n t e r e s t i n g a e s t h e t i c f o r m s is C h r i s t o ' s : w r a p p i n g t h i n g s u p . W h a t his w o r k offers is n o t i n a n y sense t h e classical aesthetic o f t h e veil a l l o w i n g f o r m s t o s h o w t h r o u g h . T h e p o i n t , for h i m , is to m a k e s o m e t h i n g disappear: an island, a cliff, a b r i d g e , a

19. French television holds a ' t e l e t h o n ' event for muscular dystrophy sufferers and a similar annual event for people w i t h AIDS.

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m o n u m e n t , a n d h e n c e t o p u t i t c o m p l e t e l y o u t o f c i r c u l a t i o n . Allusively, o f c o u r s e , a n d for a l i m i t e d t i m e , b u t t h e p h a n t a s m i s clearly t o o b l i t e r a t e t h e o b j e c t o n c e a n d for all. T h e d r e a m i s t h a t o n c e t h e veil i s r e m o v e d , t h e hill (or t h e R e i c h s t a g ) will really h a v e disappeared, t h e w a y D a v i d C o p p e r f i e l d d o e s t h e s e things ( t h o u g h w h a t w a s ' a e s t h e t i c ' illusion i n C h r i s t o b e c o m e s p u r e illusionism w i t h C o p p e r f i e l d ) . A n d , i n t h e case o f t h e R e i c h s t a g , t h e o p e r a t i o n w a s i n t h e h i g h e s t d e g r e e r e v e a l i n g : b y r e m o v i n g f r o m v i e w this e m b l e m o f t h e m o s t d r a m a t i c p e r i o d o f t w e n t i e t h - c e n t u r y history, C h r i s t o i n a d v e r t e n t l y revealed h o w t h a t h i s t o r y h a d disappeared. T h a t conjuring trick w o u l d have b e e n impossible before t h e disapp e a r a n c e o f t h e B e r l i n Wall (conversely, i t i s h a r d t o i m a g i n e C h r i s t o w r a p p i n g u p t h e B e r l i n Wall w h e n it actually existed). Five m i l l i o n visitors c a m e to c e l e b r a t e this aesthetic l a u n d e r i n g of history. An a m b i g u o u s collective j u b i l a t i o n : if N a z i s m t h r i v e d o n t h e a e s t h e t i c i z a t i o n o f politics, o u r n e w d e m o c r a c y t h r i v e s o n t h e a e s t h e t i c i z a t i o n o f t h e e n d o f history. H e r e again, b e h i n d these t e c h n i q u e s o f c o n j u r i n g - a w a y a n d obliteration, veiling a n d disappearance, t h e d o u b l e p h a n t a s m consists e i t h e r i n disappearing f r o m o u r o w n v i e w o r asking w h a t b e c o m e s o f t h e object w h e n i t disappears from view. O n c e again, a s ever, t h e p r o b l e m o f t h e real. W h a t are w e i n t h e absence o f t h e object? W h a t b e c o m e s o f t h e object w h e n w e are n o l o n g e r there? D o e s i t b e c o m e real again? W e h a v e a n o t h e r e x a m p l e o f this s u s p e n s i o n , this w i t h d r a w a l f r o m c i r c u l a t i o n for r e a s o n s o f p r e s e r v i n g t h e real a n d t h e o r i g i n a l — i n t h e C o m b e s d ' A r c c a v e .

20

T h i s is a p a l e o n t o l o g i c a l w o n d e r t h a t was closed to t h e p u b l i c b e f o r e it was ever

20. T h e C o m b e s d'Arc cave, w h i c h has b e e n widely c o m p a r e d with Lascaux and Altamira, was discovered on 24 D e c e m b e r 1994 by J e a n - M a r i e C h a u v e t at Vallon-Pont d'Arc in t h e Ardeche. S o m e t i m e later, Mr Jean Clottes, the 'conservateur general du p a t r i m o i n e ' , a n n o u n c e d that the caves w o u l d be 'preserved for ever from the curiosity of the public'.

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o p e n e d - in its w a y p u t u n d e r w r a p s - w i t h its o r i g i n a l p a i n t i n g s , s e q u e s t e r e d for t h e i r o w n p r e s e r v a t i o n , passing straight i n t o a virtual existence from w h i c h t h e y will n o t r e - e m e r g e . I n this s a m e spirit, a ' t o t a l n a t u r e reserve e n t i r e l y off-limits t o h u m a n s ' has b e e n c r e a t e d i n t h e E c r i n s N a t i o n a l P a r k .

21

In the absence of m a n , it

is h o p e d t h a t an o r i g i n a l flora a n d fauna w i l l be r e d i s c o v e r e d t h e r e , a 'state of n a t u r e ' w i t h i n t h e space o f a c e n t u r y ! Increasingly, w h o l e c h u n k s o f t h e b i o s p h e r e will b e b u r i e d i n o r d e r t o restore t h e m t o a state o f artificial a u t h e n t i c i t y . T h e y are b e i n g protected, deep-frozen, p u t u n d e r wraps, in t h e insane h o p e that o u r o w n traces can b e erased a n d things can b e r e s t o r e d t o t h e i r initial, o r i g i n a l state. F o r w e k n o w t h a t w i t h u s a n d all o u r u n d e r t a k i n g s , t h e w o r l d will n e v e r b e real o r o r i g i n a l again, a n d t h a t e v e r y t h i n g i s d o o m e d , h e n c e f o r t h , t o t h e c u r s e o f t h e s c r e e n , t h e c u r s e o f t h e s i m u l a c r u m . W e are i n a w o r l d w h e r e t h e essential f u n c t i o n o f t h e sign i s t o m a k e reality d i s a p p e a r a n d a t t h e s a m e t i m e t o m a s k t h a t d i s a p p e a r a n c e . B e h i n d e a c h i m a g e s o m e t h i n g has d i s a p p e a r e d (it i s n o t s o m u c h w h a t i t r e p r e s e n t s as this c o n j u r i n g t r i c k i n h e r e n t in t h e i m a g e w h i c h gives it its force as sign). It is t h e s a m e w i t h t h e illusionism o f i n f o r m a t i o n a n d m e m o r y . B e h i n d every n e w s i t e m a n event has disappeared; o n t h e p r e t e x t o f p r o v i d i n g n e w s a n d i n f o r m a t i o n , events are t a k e n f r o m u s o n e b y o n e . I n this way, t h e y e n t e r t h e r e a l m o f t h e v i r t u a l , like t h e s e a l e d - o f f w a l l p a i n t i n g s , like t h e b u i l d i n g s w r a p p e d u p b y C h r i s t o - like t h e C h e r n o b y l r e a c t o r s sealed away i n t h e i r c o n c r e t e s a r c o p h a g i . I n this way, t h e t h r e a t of a n u c l e a r c a t a s t r o p h e has also passed i n t o v i r t u a l reality. T h a t was t h e greatest o p e r a t i o n o f ' p u t t i n g a n object u n d e r w r a p s ' i n history, costing s o m e w h e r e b e t w e e n o n e a n d f o u r b i l l i o n dollars, a n d t a k i n g t e n years t o c o m p l e t e . T h e b i g g e s t o b j e c t ever t a k e n o u t o f c i r c u l a t i o n for all t i m e .

2 1 . T h e Ecrins national park, w h i c h lies in the area b e t w e e n Grenoble, B r i a n c o n and Gap, c o n tains a central z o n e of 9 1 , 7 4 0 hectares in w h i c h there are no p e r m a n e n t inhabitants.

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A n d s h o u l d w e a d d h e r e t h e p e o p l e o f S t r a s b o u r g religiously b u r y i n g a j u m b l e d cocktail of signs of t h e h u m a n species (cassettes, an o p e r a , a bra, etc.) in a c o n t a i n e r t h a t i s n o t i n t e n d e d t o b e o p e n e d u n t i l t h e year 3 0 5 0 ? A p r o v i n c i a l v a r i a n t o f t h e capsule s e n t i n t o interstellar space s o m e years a g o w i t h t h e n o b l e s t attestations t o o u r h u m a n i t y o n b o a r d ( s o m e m u s i c b y B a c h , a p h o t o o f Liz Taylor, etc.). T h e o d d e s t t h i n g i s t h a t , a t t h e s a m e t i m e a s w e are b u r y i n g t h e s e signs o f t h e p r e s e n t i n t h e future ( w h o are t h e y i n t e n d e d for, i f n o t for s o m e o t h e r species t h a n o u r o w n , for a w o r l d w e shall have n o f u r t h e r p a r t i n a n d w h i c h a m o u n t s t h e r e f o r e t o a n a b s o l u t e o r i g i n ? ) , w h e r e t h e traces o f o u r o w n species a n d all t h e o t h e r s are c o n c e r n e d , w e are d i g g i n g u p e v e r y t h i n g t h a t can b e d u g u p . W e d e s p e r a t e l y w a n t n o t h i n g t o have d i s a p p e a r e d . A n d i n s o m e cases w e are e x h u m i n g t h i n g s t h a t h a v e b e e n b u r i e d since t h e w o r l d b e g a n (the Lascaux caves) i n o r d e r t o p u t t h e m i m m e diately o u t o f h a r m ' s w a y a n d k e e p t h e m f r o m v i e w u n t i l t h e e n d o f t h e w o r l d . W h a t i s t h e m e a n i n g o f t h e s e t h i n g s w h i c h will have h a r d l y h a d t i m e t o pass t h r o u g h t h e stage o f reality b e f o r e b e i n g c o n s i g n e d t o t h e status o f v i d e o ? W h y w r e n c h t h e s e traces, objects a n d vestiges f r o m t h e secret lairs w h e r e t h e y w e r e alive, w h e n t h e y will i m m e d i a t e l y d e c o m p o s e i n t h e o p e n air? C o n v e r s e l y , w h a t i s t h e p o i n t o f c r y o g e n i z i n g (like D i s n e y i n his l i q u i d n i t r o g e n capsule), freezing a n d m u s e i f y i n g art w o r k s a n d c u l t u r e s i n o r d e r t o afford t h e m a n i m p r o b a b l e , artificial i m m o r t a l i t y , unless w e have o b s c u r e l y s e n s e d t h a t e v e r y t h i n g i s d i s a p p e a r i n g ? E v e n t h e h u m a n g e n o m e i s d e c l a r e d p a r t o f t h e 'universal h e r i t a g e ' . Isn't this a w a y o f s e q u e s t e r i n g it, a s t h o u g h i t ' b e l o n g e d t o u s ' , a s t h o u g h i t w e r e o u r b i o l o g i c a l c a p ital? Isn't it also a w a y of p u t t i n g it u n d e r w r a p s , of e m b a l m i n g it, as t h o u g h we w e r e a w a r e that, h a v i n g d i s c o v e r e d it, w e are capable n o w o f d e s t r o y i n g it? Like t h e illusionist i n t h e story, w e are s u d d e n l y aware o f t h e rapid, u n i n t e n d e d d i s a p p e a r a n c e o f s o m e t h i n g v e r y p r e c i o u s ( a d i s a p p e a r a n c e for w h i c h w e m u s t i n s o m e w a y b e responsible). B u t o f w h a t ? A n d h o w are w e t o b r i n g i t b a c k ?

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' O n e s h o u l d n o t believe t h a t t r u t h r e m a i n s t r u t h w h e n y o u r e m o v e its veil,' said N i e t z s c h e . B u t w e s h o u l d n o t b e l i e v e e i t h e r , a s w e s e e m t o (we, w h o are c o n t e m p o r a r i e s o f t h e s t r i p p i n g - b a r e o f t h e t r u t h ) , t h a t t r u t h b e c o m e s t r u t h again w h e n w e dress i t o n c e m o r e a n d w r a p i t u p . W e s h o u l d n o t b e l i e v e t h a t t h e real, w h i c h for us is dissipating i n t o visibility a n d transparency, has a c h a n c e of b e c o m i n g real again o n l y i f w e m a k e i t disappear a n d r e n d e r i t invisible. It is t r u e t h a t , to m a k e s o m e t h i n g exist today, t h e best tactic is to play at m a k i n g it disappear, to m a s k it so t h a t it r e c o v e r s t h e p o w e r of illusion. H o w e v e r , t h e revived o b j e c t i s n e v e r t h e s a m e again. T h e real a n d n a t u r e , e v e n revived, o n l y g e t a secondary existence. 20

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S e x u a l i t y as a S e x u a l l y Transmitted Disease

S o m e w h e r e i n N e w E n g l a n d , n o t far f r o m D a r t m o u t h C o l l e g e , y o u still find S h a k e r villages. I n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e religious law o f t h a t sect, t h e sexes live m e t i c u l o u s l y separate lives a n d d o n o t r e p r o d u c e (the w o r l d b e i n g g i v e n o v e r t o evil, t h e r e i s n o p o i n t p e r p e t u a t i n g it; t h e o n l y p r o p e r c o u r s e i s t o await t h e Last J u d g e m e n t ) . N o w , o n t h e n e a r b y c a m p u s , w h i c h , like t h e o t h e r A m e r i c a n c a m p u s e s was o n e o f t h e c e n t r e s o f sexual l i b e r a t i o n , m o r e o r less t h e s a m e s i t u a t i o n p e r t a i n s : t h e sexes n o l o n g e r t o u c h e a c h o t h e r , n o l o n g e r r u b s h o u l d e r s w i t h e a c h o t h e r , n o l o n g e r a t t e m p t t o s e d u c e e a c h o t h e r . W i t h o u t a n y explicit p r o h i b i t i o n o r d i s c r i m i n a t i o n , t h e y find t h e m s e l v e s - i n t h e n a m e o f sexual h a r a s s m e n t a n d for obsessive fear of it - in t h e s a m e c o n d i t i o n of a p a r t h e i d as prevails a m o n g t h e Shakers. T h e A I D S obsession doubtless plays a role in this v o l u n t a r y e x i l i n g of sex — t h o u g h t h e r e are n e v e r any causal relations in t h e s e k i n d s of t h i n g s : A I D S is p e r h a p s j u s t o n e o f t h e o b s c u r e p a t h w a y s for a disaffection w i t h sex w h i c h b e g a n l o n g b e f o r e t h e a p p e a r a n c e a n d s p r e a d o f t h a t disease. I t s e e m s h e r e t h a t sexuality itself is at issue - e a c h sex b e i n g , as it w e r e , afflicted w i t h a sexually t r a n s m i t t e d disease t h a t is sex itself.

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T h e r e is a fear of c a t c h i n g A I D S , b u t a fear also of s i m p l y c a t c h i n g sex. T h e r e is a fear of c a t c h i n g a n y t h i n g w h a t e v e r w h i c h m i g h t s e e m like a passion, a s e d u c t i o n , a responsibility. A n d , in this sense, it is o n c e again t h e m a l e w h o has m o s t d e e p l y fallen v i c t i m t o t h e n e g a t i v e obsession w i t h sex. T o t h e p o i n t o f w i t h d r a w i n g f r o m t h e s e x u a l g a m e , e x h a u s t e d b y h a v i n g t o b e a r s u c h a risk, a n d n o d o u b t also w e a r i e d b y h a v i n g historically a s s u m e d t h e role o f sexual p o w e r for s o l o n g . O f w h i c h f e m i n i s m a n d female l i b e r a t i o n h a v e divested h i m , at least dejure (and, to a large e x t e n t , d e facto). B u t t h i n g s are m o r e c o m p l i c a t e d t h a n this, b e c a u s e t h e m a l e w h o has b e e n e m a s c u l a t e d i n this w a y a n d s t r i p p e d o f his p o w e r , has t a k e n a d v a n tage of this s i t u a t i o n to fade f r o m t h e s c e n e , to disappear — doffing t h e phallic m a s k o f a p o w e r w h i c h has, i n a n y e v e n t , b e c o m e i n c r e a s i n g l y d a n g e r o u s . T h i s i s t h e p a r a d o x i c a l v i c t o r y o f t h e m o v e m e n t for f e m i n i n e e m a n c i p a t i o n . T h a t m o v e m e n t has s u c c e e d e d t o o w e l l a n d n o w leaves t h e f e m a l e faced w i t h t h e ( m o r e o r less tactical a n d defensive) d e f a u l t i n g o f t h e m a l e . A s t r a n g e s i t u a t i o n ensues, i n w h i c h w o m e n n o l o n g e r p r o t e s t against m a l e p o w e r , b u t are resentful o f t h e ' p o w e r l e s s n e s s ' o f t h e m a l e . T h e d e f a u l t i n g o f t h e m a l e n o w fuels a d e e p d i s satisfaction g e n e r a t e d b y d i s a p p o i n t m e n t w i t h a sexual l i b e r a t i o n w h i c h i s g o i n g w r o n g for e v e r y o n e . A n d this dissatisfaction f i n d s e x p r e s s i o n , c o n t r a d i c t o r i l y , i n t h e p h a n t a s m o f s e x u a l h a r a s s m e n t . T h i s is, t h e n , a v e r y different s c e n a r i o from t r a d i t i o n a l f e m i n i s m . W o m e n are n o l o n g e r a l i e n a t e d b y m e n , b u t dispossessed o f t h e m a s c u l i n e , dispossessed o f t h e vital illusion o f t h e o t h e r a n d h e n c e also o f t h e i r o w n illusion, t h e i r desire a n d p r i v i l e g e a s w o m e n . I t i s this s a m e effect w h i c h causes c h i l d r e n secretly t o h a t e t h e i r p a r e n t s , w h o n o l o n g e r w i s h t o a s s u m e t h e role o f p a r e n t a n d seize t h e o p p o r t u n i t y o f c h i l d r e n ' s e m a n c i p a t i o n t o l i b e r a t e t h e m s e l v e s a s p a r e n t s a n d r e l i n q u i s h t h e i r r o l e . W h a t w e have, t h e n , i s n o l o n g e r v i o l e n c e o n t h e p a r t o f c h i l d r e n i n r e b e l l i o n against t h e p a r e n t a l o r d e r , b u t h a t r e d o n t h e p a r t o f c h i l d r e n dispossessed o f t h e i r status a n d illusion a s c h i l d r e n . T h e

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p e r s o n w h o liberates h i m s e l f i s n e v e r w h o y o u t h o u g h t h e w a s . T h i s d e f a u l t i n g o f t h e m a l e has k n o c k - o n effects w h i c h e x t e n d i n t o t h e b i o l o g i c a l o r d e r . R e c e n t studies h a v e f o u n d a fall i n t h e r a t e o f s p e r m i n t h e s e m i n a l fluid, b u t , m o s t i m p o r t a n t l y , a d e c l i n e o f t h e i r will t o p o w e r : t h e y n o l o n g e r c o m p e t e t o g o a n d fertilize t h e o v u m . T h e r e i s n o c o m p e t i t i o n a n y m o r e . A r e they, t o o , afraid o f responsibility? S h o u l d w e see this a s a p h e n o m e n o n a n a l o g o u s t o w h a t i s g o i n g o n in t h e visible s e x u a l w o r l d , w h e r e a r e t i c e n c e to fulfil roles a n d a dissuasive t e r r o r e x e r t e d b y t h e female sex c u r r e n t l y prevail? I s this a n u n i n t e n d e d side-effect o f t h e b a t t l e against h a r a s s m e n t - t h e assault o f s p e r m b e i n g t h e m o s t e l e m e n t a r y f o r m o f sexual harassment? D e s p i t e a p p e a r a n c e s , this sexual disaffection a n d d e t e r r e n c e h a v e n o t h i n g t o d o w i t h a n y n e w p r o h i b i t i o n o f a r e l i g i o u s o r m o r a l n a t u r e . All t h o s e p r o h i b i t i o n s a n d i n h i b i t i o n s d i s a p p e a r e d l o n g ago. A n d t h e w o m e n w h o d e c o r a t e t h e c a m p u s e s w i t h p u r p l e r i b b o n s t o m a r k rapes (in this way, e v e r y w o m a n r a p e d , o r t h r e a t e n e d w i t h r a p e o r d r e a m i n g o f r a p e signals t h e m e m o r y o f t h e c r i m e publicly, i n t h e same w a y as, i n t h e U S A , y e l l o w r i b b o n s signalled t h e m e m o r y o f soldiers w h o h a d g o n e off t o t h e G u l f War) - t h e s e w o m e n , r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f a n e w aggressive o r d e r a n d , s i m u l t a n e o u s l y , o f a n e w v i c t i m o r d e r — are c e r t a i n l y n o t v i c t i m s o f i n d e c e n t e x p o s u r e . T h e r e w o u l d s e e m , r a t h e r , to be a nostalgia for p r o h i b i t i o n s in all this - or for a n y t h i n g t h a t m i g h t r e s e m b l e t h e m — a reflex r e a c t i o n to a v i r t u a l l i b e r a t i o n of sexual m o r e s a n d a b a n a l i z a t i o n o f sexuality n o w p e r c e i v e d a s m o r e d a n g e r o u s t h a n t r a d i t i o n a l c e n s o r s h i p ( w h i c h at least a l l o w e d transgression). A d e m a n d for a p r o h i b i t i o n (for a r u l e , a limit, an o b l i g a t i o n ) w h i c h y o u can i n t e r p r e t as y o u will (and d o u b t l e s s see as negative) f r o m t h e p s y c h o l o g i c a l a n d political p o i n t of v i e w - from t h e p o i n t o f v i e w o f l i b e r a t i o n a n d progress — b u t w h i c h m a y l o o k like a n i n stinctual d e f e n c e of t h e species in r e s p e c t of its sexual f u n c t i o n , w h i c h is t h r e a t e n e d by its e m a n c i p a t i o n a n d its v e r y fulfilment.

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S e x u a l h a r a s s m e n t (the obsession w i t h it a n d w i t h A I D S ) as a r u s e of t h e species t o revive t h e a n x i e t y a r o u n d sexuality — a n d m o r e particularly a r u s e o n w o m e n ' s p a r t to revive desire ( m e n ' s desire, b u t t h e i r o w n t o o ) ? A v e r y b a n a l strategy (but a fatal o n e i n t h e case o f A I D S ) t o t u r n sex i n t o s o m e t h i n g o t h e r t h a n t h e s e q u e n c e w i t h o u t c o n s e q u e n c e w h i c h i t i s b e c o m i n g today, w i t h all f o r m s o f sexual l i b e r ation - including c o n t r a c e p t i o n — m o v i n g ultimately in the direction of an 'erotic e n t r o p y ' (Sloterdijk). F o r w h a t , in a t r a d i t i o n a l o r d e r , was a c c o u n t e d a l i b e r a t i o n a n d a t r a n s g r e s s i o n ( c o n t r a c e p t i o n ) c h a n g e s its m e a n i n g in a w o r l d m o v i n g increasingly t o w a r d s asexual r e p r o d u c t i o n . S e x u a l i t y w i t h o u t r e p r o d u c t i o n leads o n t o r e p r o d u c t i o n w i t h o u t sexuality, a n d w h a t was f r e e d o m o f c h o i c e b e c o m e s q u i t e s i m p l y t h e g r o w i n g h o l d o f t h e s y s t e m over all f o r m s o f g e n e r a t i o n . So, w i t h t h e h a t r e d t h a t c o m e s o f disillusion f o l l o w i n g i n t h e w a k e o f l i b e r a t o r y v i o l e n c e , a n d t h e d e m a n d for p r o h i b i t i o n s f o l l o w i n g i n t h e w a k e o f t h e p r o b l e m atic r e m o v a l of all p r o h i b i t i o n s , a k i n d of s e n t i m e n t a l , familial, political a n d m o r a l r e v i s i o n i s m has e n s u e d a n d i s c u r r e n t l y w i n n i n g o u t o n all fronts. T h i s tidal w a v e o f revisionism, r u n n i n g c o u n t e r t o all t h e l i b e r a t i o n s o f t h e t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y , finds expression also in r e p e n t a n c e a n d t h e d e c l i n e of sex. W h e r e a s in t h e past it was freed o m , desire, p l e a s u r e a n d love w h i c h s e e m e d t o b e sexually t r a n s m i t t e d , t o d a y i t s e e m s t o b e h a t r e d , d i s i l l u s i o n m e n t , distrust a n d r e s e n t m e n t b e t w e e n t h e sexes. B e h i n d this p o l e m i c o v e r h a r a s s m e n t lies a l a t e r f o r m o f M a r c u s e s 'repressive d e s u b l i m a t i o n ' — t h e lifting o f p r o h i b i t i o n s a n d repressions u s h e r i n g i n a n e w s y s t e m o f s u p p r e s s i o n s a n d c o n t r o l . I n o u r view, this m i g h t b e t t e r b e d e s c r i b e d a s a 'depressive r e s u b l i m a t i o n ' , l e a d i n g directly t o m o r a l , i f n o t i n d e e d r e l i g i o u s , f u n d a m e n t a l i s m , or, at a n y rate, b e n e a t h t h e fantasies of r a p e a n d h a r a s s m e n t , to a sexual p r o t e c t i o n i s m . I n that p r o t e c t i o n i s m , sex, for t h e m a l e , b e c o m e s t h e o b s e s sion w i t h a lost f u n c t i o n , w h i c h n o w finds an o u t l e t o n l y in fantasies of rape; for t h e

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female, i t b e c o m e s a n i n s t r u m e n t o f b l a c k m a i l . W e are l i v i n g t h r o u g h all this, s u b j e c t i v e l y a n d collectively: a painful p h a s e t r a n s i t i o n after w h a t was p e r h a p s m e r e l y a n illusion o f progress a n d l i b e r a t i o n . B u t w e h a v e n o i d e a w h a t e v e r a s t o t h e u l t i m a t e designs o f t h e species h e r e ( n o r e v e n i f i t has any). A n i m a l species react t o s i t u a t i o n s o f crisis, s h o r t a g e o r o v e r p o p u l a t i o n w i t h sexual c o n t i n e n c e a n d a u t o m a t i c sterility. We are p e r h a p s r e a c t i n g similarly - q u i t e o u t s i d e a n y subjective c o n v i c t i o n or i d e o l o g y - to a s i t u a t i o n of plenty, l i b e r a t i o n , w e l l - b e i n g a n d release w h i c h , b e i n g q u i t e alien t o t h e species o v e r its history, w e f i n d a g o n i z i n g a n d i n h u m a n . T h e h a t r e d w h i c h t h e issue o f sexual h a r a s s m e n t releases m a y p e r h a p s s i m p l y b e t h e r e p e n t a n c e o f a liberty, i n d i v i d u a l i t y a n d f r e e d o m t o express o u r desire w h i c h w e r e h a r d w o n , a n d w h i c h w e are n o w p a y i n g for w i t h a n e w - f o u n d v o l u n t a r y s e r v i t u d e . M i g h t n o t s e r v i t u d e itself b e c o m e a s e x u a l l y t r a n s m i t t e d disease? 4 December

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Sovereignty of the Strike

I t i s difficult t o s p e a k o f this strike i n t e r m s w h i c h are n o t t r i t e l y political o r e c o n o m i c — this b e h a v i o u r w h i c h is b o t h b a n a l a n d d e m e n t e d , this silent solidarity, this quasi-joyful, excessive c o m m i t m e n t o f t h e strikers a n d o t h e r s t o a d e s t i n y t h a t has already b e e n sacrificed, c o m e w h a t m a y .

22

W e c a n u n d o u b t e d l y see i n i t a f o r m o f

radical q u e s t i o n i n g o f t h e fact o f b e i n g g o v e r n e d (the fact o f b e i n g e x p l o i t e d already b e i n g p a r t o f a n o l d h i s t o r y ) . B u t , a s w i t h all g o o d q u e s t i o n s , t h e r e i s n o a n s w e r t o this o n e , for g o v e r n m e n t s will n e v e r h a v e a n a n s w e r t o t h e q u e s t i o n s : W h y d o y o u g o v e r n us? W h y d o y o u s p e a k i n o u r n a m e ? W h y d o y o u w a n t t o d o g o o d t o us? I t has n o t b e e n easy, o v e r t h e g e n e r a t i o n s , t o p u s h p e o p l e i n t o w o r k , s c h o o l , h e a l t h a n d s e c u r i t y — i n t o t h e e c o n o m y o f t h e i r o w n lives. I t has always b e e n t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h a t t h e masses d i d n o t k n o w w h a t t h e y w a n t e d a n d t h a t y o u h a d t o will a n d act for t h e m . T h a t has e v e n b e e n t h e sign o f a c o u r a g e o u s d e m o c r a c y :

22. T h e reference is to the French strike wave of D e c e m b e r 1995, aimed at preventing t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of public spending cuts associated w i t h the adoption of the Maastricht Treaty.

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d o i n g t h e p o p u l a r g o o d against t h e p e o p l e ' s will. So, t h e y have b e e n e v a n g e l i z e d i n t h e n a m e o f E n l i g h t e n m e n t a n d , like i t o r n o t , t h e y have allowed i t t o h a p p e n , have let i t b e d o n e t o t h e m . T h e y are r e b e l l i n g t o d a y against this f o r c e d e v a n g e l i z a t i o n . O r r a t h e r t h e y are a n t i c i p a t i n g t h e i r o w n d i s a p p e a r a n c e (for all t h e s e social c a t e g o r i e s — r a i l w a y m e n , civil servants, c r a f t s m e n — are d e s t i n e d to d i s a p p e a r in a n y e v e n t , like w o r k e r s a n d peasants), b u t d o i n g so in a joyful way, or at a n y rate in a w a y t h a t i s i n v i g o r a t i n g a n d e x u b e r a n t . A c t i v e s e l f - d e s t r u c t i o n can b e preferable t o s l o w e x t e r m i n a t i o n . A n d this s u i c i d e i s t h e m o r e forceful for s h o w i n g u p for all t o see t h e i n a n i t y o f g o v e r n m e n t s w h i c h are i n c a p a b l e o f any r e s p o n s e w h a t e v e r , a n d m e r e l y rely o n i n e r t i a a n d d e c a y t o d o t h e w o r k for t h e m . T h e k e y e l e m e n t i n this u n c o n s c i o u s strategy of t h e masses is to disqualify g o v e r n m e n t s by e x p o s i n g t h e m e i t h e r for t h e i r v i o l e n c e a n d o p p r e s s i o n a s i n 1 9 6 8 , o r for t h e i r t r a n s p a r e n c y a n d i n d i g e n c e as today. In 1 9 6 8 it was t h e auto-da-fe of a b o u r g e o i s , elitist, a c a d e m i c c u l t u r e joyfully d o i n g away w i t h its privileges, destroying its c o n s e c r a t e d places, sensing w h a t w a s i n e v i t a b l y t o c o m e : t h e d e m a g o g y o f a mass c u l t u r e t o b e u n l e a s h e d o n u s o v e r t h e n e x t t w e n t y years. S o m e t h i n g r a t h e r similar i s h a p p e n i n g n o w w i t h all k i n d s o f d i s a p p e a r i n g o c c u p a t i o n a l c a t e g o r i e s : t h e y are p l a y i n g o u t t h e i r a n a c h r o nistic r e s u r r e c t i o n ( a n d this i n c l u d e s t h e t r a d e u n i o n s ) in a last s t a n d w h i c h d o e s at least t r a n s f o r m this e x i t f r o m H i s t o r y i n t o a n e v e n t . So, t h e r e are m o v e m e n t s w h i c h lag b e h i n d t h e i r o w n history, b u t are a h e a d o f t h e h i s t o r y b e i n g foisted o n them. W h y d o y o u e x p e c t p e o p l e t o sacrifice t h e c u r r e n t social s e c u r i t y r e g i m e , w h i c h t h e y have t h e m s e l v e s , as it h a p p e n s , p u s h e d to t h e b r i n k of catastrophe? If t h e y are n o t to be r e c o g n i z e d as citizens, it is t h e i r o n l y m e a n s of b l a c k m a i l i n g t h e State, t h e i r o n l y w a y o f e x t o r t i n g m o n e y f r o m it. T h e result i s t o s h o w u p t h e State (and t h e w h o l e of t h e political class) as b e i n g , by its de facto i m p o t e n c e , even further d o w n t h e r o a d t o d i s a p p e a r a n c e t h a n t h o s e w h o call o n its aid. 'Ask n o t w h a t t h e State can d o

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f o r y o u ; ask w h a t y o u can d o for t h e State' (to b o r r o w a f a m o u s phrase). F o r i t c a n d o n o t h i n g - n o t h i n g e c o n o m i c a l l y a n d c e r t a i n l y n o t h i n g politically, b e i n g a t t h e w h i m o f m a r k e t s a n d capital f l o w s w h i c h are w a y b e y o n d its c o n t r o l . D o n o t e v e n ask t h e State w h a t it can do for t h e State: it has m a d e itself r e d u n d a n t . B u t t h e s t r i k e m o v e m e n t i s n o t c o n t e n t m e r e l y t o r e l e g a t e t h e state t o t h e p a s s e n g e r seat. It is practically t e s t i n g o u t a different w a y of living, a social c o n d i t i o n w h i c h c o u l d f u n c t i o n a t a m i n i m u m level o f o p e r a t i o n , capable o f d e p l o y i n g a f a n tastic e n e r g y i n t h e a b s e n c e o f t h e State o r a s y s t e m o f c o n t r o l . T h e s e p e o p l e s e t t i n g o u t for t h e i r w o r k p l a c e s a t f o u r i n t h e m o r n i n g , t h e s e p e o p l e fired w i t h a n a m b u l a t o r y - i f n o t i n d e e d j u b i l a t o r y - r a g e . O f c o u r s e , t h e y are afraid o f l o s i n g t h e i r j o b s , b u t a t t h e s a m e t i m e t h e y are s e t t i n g o u t t h e i r stalls. T h e y are p r o v i n g t h a t t h e y c a n get b y o n t h e i r o w n , t h a t t h e y c a n c o p e w i t h o u t i n s t i t u t i o n a l m e c h anisms a n d p o w e r s . F o r a m o m e n t , a t least, t h e y w i l l h a v e p r o v e d this. T h i s i s w h a t t h e strike i n a c t i o n represents: t h e w e l l i n g - u p o f a n i n c r e d i b l e capacity t o c o n s t r u c t y o u r life i n total f r e e d o m , t o d o w i t h o u t all t h o s e w h o w a n t a t all costs t o d o g o o d to you. S u c h a d e m o n s t r a t i o n has a lethal effect on a n y k i n d of p o w e r . Its a r r o g a n c e i s m e t w i t h a c o l l e c t i v e u p s u r g e o f p r i d e , e v e n i f t h i s takes t h e f o r m o f a p i g headed defence

of those on the scrap

heap

or

a sectional defence of the

' e c o n o m i c a l l y u n d e r - d e v e l o p e d ' . I t i s t h e v e r y e x c e s s o f t h e s t r i k e a n d its s p i l l i n g o v e r i n t i m e , its e x c e e d i n g o f its o w n o b j e c t i v e s , w h i c h expresses - b e y o n d a n y e c o n o m i c stakes i n v o l v e d - w h a t is s y m b o l i c a l l y at issue at a d e e p level in this strike. T h e surest sign o f this s o v e r e i g n t y o f t h e s t r i k e - a n d a l e t h a l sign for g o v e r n m e n t s - is that, w h e n governments no l o n g e r r e s p e c t people, people b e g i n to respect each other. W a l k i n g , w a l k i n g - this has b e e n t h e g r e a t r e v e l a t i o n o f this strike m o v e m e n t . M u c h m o r e t h a n traditional d e m o n s t r a t i o n s . F o r i n s o c i a l fracture, c i r c u l a t i o n i s t h e c r u x . T h e o n l y circulation i n this society i s t h e c i r c u l a t i o n o f elites a n d n e t w o r k s ,

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t h e c i r c u l a t i o n o f m o n e y a n d i n f o r m a t i o n i n real t i m e . A n abstract c i r c u l a t i o n , i n accessible t o m o s t p e o p l e . I t i s against this t h a t p e o p l e are w a l k i n g . T h e y are walking in the deferred

23

t i m e o f space against t h e real t i m e o f t h e n e t w o r k s - i n t h e

physical t i m e o f t h e j o u r n e y against t h e b r e a k n e c k circulation o f flows. I t i s a n o r i g inal a n d d i r e c t f o r m o f p r o t e s t against t h e v e r y n o r m o f this society. T h e c o n t r a s t with the Telethon, w h i c h h a p p e n e d coincidentally to be held during the period of t h e strike, was s t u n n i n g . T h e r e t o o y o u saw p e o p l e w a l k i n g , r u n n i n g a n d c y c l i n g o u t o f a sense o f m e d i a solidarity t o k e e p t h e T e l e t h o n g o i n g — w i t h its r e c o r d s i n m i l l i o n s o f k i l o m e t r e s , its displays i n m i l l i o n s o f francs. A n d t h e c o n t r a s t w i t h t h e strike s h o w e d u p j u s t w h e r e t h e S o c i e t y o f t h e S p e c t a c l e h a d t a k e n refuge: i n t h e servile o r g a n i z a t i o n o f charity. Y o u h a v e t o h a v e (by s o m e m i r a c l e ) c a u g h t a n e m p t y T G V train - t h e last o n e f r o m L y o n t o Paris - w i t h o u t tickets, w i t h o u t i n s p e c t o r s , p e r h a p s e v e n w i t h o u t a driver (the p h a n t o m train o f t h e strike) t o appreciate t h e incredible ease o f o u r t e c h nical a u t o m a t i s m s a n d , a t t h e s a m e t i m e , t h e m a g i c a l possibility o f a r e m o v a l o f all c o n t r o l s — t h e w h o l e of s o c i e t y reflecting t h e c u r r e n t s i t u a t i o n by f u n c t i o n i n g at a m i n i m u m level o f o p e r a t i o n . A n i m m e n s e relief (in Italy, t h e b a c k - u p services already f u n c t i o n b e t t e r t h a n t h e n o r m a l o n e s ) . W h a t this l o n g m a r c h o f a s o c i e t y also expresses is t h e d r e a m of a l i g h t e n e d society, a s o c i e t y in w h i c h d e m o c r a c y is n o l o n g e r t h e c o n d e s c e n d i n g d e m o c r a c y o f elites o r t h e d e m o c r a c y o f h e l o t s c l a m o u r i n g for a d v a n c e m e n t , b u t o n e i n w h i c h p e o p l e w o u l d a d v a n c e u n d e r t h e i r o w n c o n s t r a i n t s a n d b y t h e i r o w n laws.

2 3 . 'Differe . In French, the t e r m en differe refers to a 'pre-recorded' television broadcast. French television c o m m o n l y shows events — particularly sporting events — in an 'as-live' format. T h a t is to say, they are recorded, b u t broadcast in their entirety rather than in the f o r m of highlights. H e n c e t h e contrast here w i t h 'real t i m e ' .

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T h e 1 9 9 2 r e f e r e n d u m o n E u r o p e was t h e first i n d i c a t i o n o f a ' d e m o c r a t i c ' c o a l i t i o n of all p o w e r s — political, m e d i a , c u l t u r a l a n d intellectual - against a recalcitrant p u b l i c o p i n i o n resistant to t h e universal gospel of rationality. It is n o w clear that t w o a n t a g o n i s t i c forces are i n o p p o s i t i o n , a n d t h e r e i s n o t h i n g t o suggest t h a t t h e y c a n be r e c o n c i l e d . T h i s is n o t j u s t a social, b u t a m e n t a l fracture. B e t w e e n a manifest p o w e r w h i c h believes i t i s m o v i n g i n t h e d i r e c t i o n o f h i s t o r y (even if, i n t h e e n d , that history of the cybernetic and technocratic domestication of the world makes n o m o r e sense t o i t t h a n t o o t h e r s ) a n d a n i r r e d u c i b l e o p p o s i n g p o w e r w h i c h i s g r o w i n g day b y day: n o t t h e p o w e r o f i n t e l l i g e n c e , b u t t h e p o w e r o f c u n n i n g — o f t h e r u s e o f t h e v i c t i m s o f history, o f t h e c u n n i n g , i r o n i c m o v e m e n t o f t h e masses; a p o w e r w h i c h r u n s parallel to h i s t o r y a n d is o p p o s e d at any p r i c e to a single o r d e r , a n e n f o r c e d o r t h o d o x y o f t h o u g h t , a single c u r r e n c y a n d t h e s t e r e o t y p e d l a n g u a g e o f t h e universal. T w o a n t a g o n i s t i c forces n o l o n g e r o f t h e o r d e r o f t h e class s t r u g gle: t h e o n e , t h e r a t i o n a l p o w e r , w i t h a (decreasing) m a s t e r y o f signs a n d l a n g u a g e , a n d a n (increasing) m a s t e r y o f t h e t e c h n i q u e s o f p e r s u a s i o n a n d discussion. T h e o t h e r f r a g m e n t a r y , e r r a t i c a n d n o n - r e p r e s e n t a t i v e ; t h e force o n w h i c h t h e linear sense o f progress a n d h i s t o r y has b e e n i m p o s e d . N o o n e w a n t s t o a c k n o w l e d g e that force. F o r n o o n e u n d e r s t a n d s t h e s u b t e r r a n e a n preparatives t o a n g e r . T h e r e are events, said N i e t z s c h e , w h i c h take a c e n t u r y t o r e a c h us, t r u t h s w e d o n o t d a r e face u p t o w h i c h r e m a i n s t u c k i n a k i n d o f p u r g a t o r y . O n e s u c h t r u t h , n o d o u b t , i s t h a t events n o l o n g e r take p l a c e n o w w i t h t h e tide o f h i s t o r y a n d p o l i t ical strategies, b u t against h i s t o r y a n d against politics. I f w e are b e i n g offered t h e N e w E u r o p e a n Order, dovetailing into the N e w W o r l d Order, as the key o c c u r r e n c e o f this c e n t u r y ' s e n d , t h e n o u r F r e n c h strike, w i t h its m i l l i o n s o f w a l k e r s a n d millions s t a n d i n g silently by in solidarity is i n d e e d t h e a n t i - e v e n t , t h e c o u n t e r - e v e n t par excellence. 18 December

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1995

T i e r r a del Fuego - New York

L a n d of disasters, as has b e e n said. D e v a s t a t e d forests s e e m i n g l y felled by s o m e r e c e n t cataclysm. H u l k s o f w r e c k e d ships. Graveyards o f i m m i g r a n t s ( w h y s o m a n y Yugoslavs?) a n d sailors. B u t t h e r e is a n o t h e r disaster h e r e today, t h e disaster of a completely anachronistic m o d e r n i t y - a chaotic, incoherent cowboy-film m o d e r n i t y : c o n c r e t e , dust, d u t y - f r e e , transistors, p e t r o l , c o m p u t e r s a n d t h e h u b b u b o f useless traffic - as t h o u g h t h e silence of t h e e n d s of t h e e a r t h h a d to be o b l i t e r a t e d . All t h a t is i n h u m a n h e r e is s u b l i m e in its n a t u r a l d e s o l a t i o n . All t h a t is h u m a n is s o r d i d : civilization's wastes. T h e r e is s o m e j u s t i c e in t h e fact t h a t m o d e r n m a n actually treats h i m s e l f as a w a s t e p r o d u c t , h a v i n g p r e v i o u s l y t r e a t e d t h e I n d i a n s t h a t way. A h i g h e r j u s t i c e , w h i c h b a l a n c e s o u t t h e destinies o f p e r s e c u t o r a n d v i c t i m . T h o s e closest t o t h e s e F u e g i a n I n d i a n s (and w e k n o w n e i t h e r t h e i r n a m e s n o r w h a t c r i m e t h e y c o m m i t t e d t o b e w i p e d o u t a s t h e y w e r e ) are t h e outcasts, t h e c r i m i n a l s , t h e i n m a t e s o f t h e old Ushuaia jailhouse, whose photos adorn the m u s e u m .

2 4

T h i s o n e i n particular,

24. T h e M u s e o M a r i t i m o de Ushuaia is located in the old prison building.

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o f w h o m a s u p e r b p h o t o r e m a i n s , t h o u g h w e d o n o t k n o w his n a m e , his c r i m e , his u l t i m a t e d e s t i n y o r t h e date o f his d e a t h - t h e p h o t o o f t h e p e r f e c t u n k n o w n p r i s o n e r . O r t h e p h o t o o f R a d o w i t z s k i , t h e anarchist w h o b l e w u p t h e B u e n o s Aires p o l i c e c h i e f (the r e n o w n e d F a l c o n ) , b r o k e o u t o f jail, was r e c a p t u r e d , a t t e m p t e d suicide, was p a r d o n e d after t w e n t y years a n d e n d e d his days i n exile. R a n g e d against t h e s e criminals a n d I n d i a n s , t h e Salesian missionaries - charitable parasites o f this ill-starred land, w h i c h t h e y evangelize like t h e l i c h e n t h a t w r a p s itself a r o u n d t h e forests of n o t h o f a g u s a n d s u b m e r g e s t h o s e trees as t h e y are g o b b l e d u p b y it. O n e v e r y side i s n o t h i n g n e s s , w a s t e l a n d , sterile h o r i z o n s , infinite vistas. T h e r e is, in fact, n e i t h e r n a t u r e n o r c u l t u r e h e r e , b u t a savage d e n i a l of b o t h - a d e n i a l of l a n d s c a p e i n t h e n o t h i n g n e s s o f t h e w i n d , t h e s o o t y sky, t h e B a h i a I n u t i l ; a d e n i a l o f c u l t u r e i n t h e n o t h i n g n e s s o f t h e t o w n s (but h o w else c o u l d i t h a v e b e e n o n c e t h o s e w h o e n d e d u p i n t h e i r o w n l a n g u a g e calling t h e m s e l v e s ' t h e f o r e i g n e r s ' h a d b e e n e x t e r m i n a t e d ? ) . T h e g e o g r a p h i c a l r e m o t e n e s s highlights t h e c o n t r a s t b e t w e e n t h e t w o w i t h o u t g i v i n g any m e a n i n g - e v e n a surrealistic o n e - t o t h e i r b e i n g h u d d l e d t o g e t h e r like this. W h a t y o u discover h e r e i s n o t a new, o r i g i n a l w o r l d , b u t t h e relentless m i x o f a w i l d , e l e m e n t a l f o r m a n d a n e q u a l l y relentlessly d e s t r u c t i v e g r i p e x e r t e d b y t h e h u m a n race. T h e p h a n t a s m o f t h e e n d s o f t h e e a r t h . Y o u t h i n k y o u h a v e left t h e w o r l d b e h i n d a n d c u t t h e u m b i l i c a l c o r d . N o t a b i t o f it. T h e o t h e r w o r l d i s already t h e r e w e l l b e f o r e y o u are, w i t h its 'real t i m e ' — in this u n r e a l , timeless l a n d . Y o u can receive a fax o f a n article t h a t a p p e a r e d i n Paris o n l y this m o r n i n g . T h e r e is, t h e n , n o e n d o f t h e w o r l d . O r e v e r y w h e r e i s a t t h e e n d s o f t h e e a r t h . W h e r e v e r w e are, w e are, a t t h e s a m e t i m e , a t t h e e x t r e m e o u t e r r e a c h e s . O n e b e c o m e s , oneself, a n e x t r e m e p h e n o m e n o n - b e y o n d one's o w n e n d . N o w , t h e p h a n t a s m o f t h e e n d s o f t h e e a r t h i s a p h a n t a s m o f t h e t e r r i t o r y h a v i n g s o m e e x t r e m e furthest p o i n t — t h e

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s y m b o l of a possible e n d a n d of t h e o u t e r r e a c h e s of t h o u g h t . It is a fantasy of verifying that, despite w h a t t h e y say, t h e e a r t h is n o t a sphere a n d d o e s n o t have t h a t hope-sapping curvature. T h e Alakaluf did not k n o w they were at the ends of the earth. T h e y were w h e r e t h e y w e r e a n d n o w h e r e else — s o m e t h i n g w e shall n e v e r b e . F o r t h e sailors, adventurers and missionaries, it wasn't t h e e n d either: they discovered a w o r l d e n t i r e l y u n l i k e t h e i r o w n , b u t o n e against w h i c h t h e y c o u l d pit t h e m s e l v e s , a n e w frontier. W e a r r i v e h e r e t o d a y w i t h o n l y a n i m a g i n a r y n o t i o n o f t h e e n d s o f t h e e a r t h (to w h i c h space travel l o n g since p u t a n e n d ) . A n d w h i l e t h e F u e g i a n s w e r e n e v e r p a r t e d f r o m t h e i r fires (they c a r r i e d t h e m e v e r y w h e r e , e v e n o n t h e i r b o a t s i n t h e f o r m o f b u r n i n g e m b e r s ) , w e take p a i n s t o c a r r y o u r artificial c o l d n e s s w i t h u s e v e r y w h e r e - e v e n i n t o glacial l a t i t u d e s . After T i e r r a del F u e g o , N e w Y o r k . After t h e e n d s o f t h e e a r t h , t h e c e n t r e o f t h e earth. A double extremity: the point w h e r e the curvature of the earth comes to an e n d ; t h e p l a c e w h e r e h u m a n t e c h n o l o g y a n d verticality have g o n e a s far a s t h e y c a n g o . B u t e a c h gives t h e i m p r e s s i o n o f b e i n g o n a n o t h e r p l a n e t . T h e a r c h a e o l o g i c a l stillness o f t i m e o n T i e r r a del F u e g o , its d e p t h . A n d h e r e i n N e w Y o r k its superficial a c c e l e r a t i o n . T h e t w o are e q u a l l y timeless. A n d if, d o w n i n t h e S o u t h e r n h e m i s p h e r e , t h e s u n lies t o t h e n o r t h a t n o o n ( w h i c h always s e e m s s o m a r v e l l o u s t o a W e s t e r n e r ) , i t s e e m s j u s t a s s t r a n g e t h a t t h e s a m e s u n rises a n d sets o n N e w Y o r k , w h o s e astral t h e m e s e e m s s o indifferent t o any o t h e r o r b i t b u t its o w n . W h e n y o u are a t t h e tip o f M a n h a t t a n , b y B a t t e r y P a r k a n d t h e S t a t e n Island ferry, y o u m i g h t t h i n k y o u w e r e a t t h e furthest p o i n t o f T i e r r a del F u e g o , o n t h e b a n k s o f t h e Beagle C h a n n e l . O n a N e w York m o r n i n g , y o u have t h e s a m e i m p r e s sion of p r i m o r d i a l energy, of a p r i m a l scene, as at a d a w n i n g of t h e w o r l d . E v e r y w h e r e else, t h e e n e r g y e x p e n d e d gives a n i m p r e s s i o n o f w e a r a n d fatigue, o f b e i n g c o n s u m e d b y t h e activity. H e r e , b y c o n t r a s t , i t r e g e n e r a t e s i n hyperactivity.

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O n l y n a t u r a l e n e r g i e s give this i m p r e s s i o n o f inexhaustibility. H e r e i t i s t h e artificial energy, t h e h i g h voltage, w h i c h gives N e w Y o r k this quality o f a p e r p e t u a l anticyclone. Primal scene, primitive society - perhaps. B u t w h e n y o u go directly from P a t a g o n i a t o B r o a d w a y a n d T i m e s S q u a r e , y o u c a n n o t b u t b e terrified b y t h e p r o liferation o f t h e h u m a n race. Y o u feel like Ishi, t h e last I n d i a n , w r e n c h e d b y t h e a n t h r o p o l o g i s t f r o m t h e s o l i t u d e o f his r a c e a n d h u r l e d i n t o t h e c r o w d s o f San F r a n c i s c o . I n his b e w i l d e r m e n t a t t h e n u m b e r o f s i m u l t a n e o u s l y p r e s e n t h u m a n b e i n g s (he h a d n e v e r b e f o r e s e e n m o r e t h a n t h i r t y o r forty t o g e t h e r ) , t h e o n l y e x p l a n a t i o n h e c o u l d find was t h a t all t h e d e a d w e r e p r e s e n t a l o n g s i d e t h e living, since i t was u n t h i n k a b l e t h a t t h e g o d s c o u l d w a t c h over s o m a n y existences a t o n c e . T e n d e a d p e o p l e for e v e r y living o n e s e e m s a g o o d p r o p o r t i o n . A s i n t h e p r i m a l forest o f T i e r r a del F u e g o for e x a m p l e , w h e r e t h e r e i s o n e l i v i n g t r e e t o e v e r y t e n d e a d o n e s . H e n c e t h e c o n c l u s i o n that, i n t h e t h r o n g i n g m e t r o p o l i s e s , n i n e o u t o f t e n h u m a n b e i n g s are living d e a d , are z o m b i e s . T h e i r physical a p p e a r a n c e i s d e c e p tive, for t h e s o - c a l l e d h u m a n b e i n g s w h o n o l o n g e r h a v e a n y physical c o n t a c t o t h e r than t h r o u g h crowds and n o h u m a n relations o t h e r than t h r o u g h c o m m u n i cations are t r u l y v i r t u a l corpses o r ghosts. O n l y a f e w h u n d r e d o r a f e w t h o u s a n d p e r h a p s m a i n t a i n a secret b o n d , t h e o n l y l i v i n g s y m b o l i c c h a i n i n this i m m e n s e , incapacitated h u m a n g e n o m e . T h e m i l l i o n s o f p e o p l e i n t h e streets s e e m t o h a v e n o t h i n g t o d o b u t b e a t t h e c e n t r e of t h e w o r l d a n d h e a d off in all d i r e c t i o n s , in a dispersal as s p e c t a c u l a r as it i s useless. N o t h i n g else t o d o b u t m a k e N e w Y o r k exist i n its useless, e c c e n t r i c f o r m . A city of t h e u t m o s t u r g e n c y , a o n c e - a n d - f o r - a l l city w i t h no t o m o r r o w v e r y far r e m o v e d f r o m a n y d e m o c r a t i c f o r m o f r e p r e s e n t a t i o n . I n N e w Y o r k t h e p e o p l e r e p r e s e n t o n l y t h e m s e l v e s , n o t t h e rest o f society. T h e city r e p r e s e n t s o n l y itself, n o t t h e rest of A m e r i c a . T h i s is w h a t gives it its global i m p o r t a n c e . It is a

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d e t e c t o r , a sensor o f prestige; its c h a r m i s t o h a v e t r a n s f o r m e d n o t o n l y t h e rest o f t h e U n i t e d States, b u t t h e rest o f t h e w o r l d i n t o a n i m m e n s e p r o v i n c e ( w h i c h i n n o w a y d e t r a c t s from t h e c h a r m o f t h e p r o v i n c e s ) . T h e r e i s n o social b o n d h e r e , n o conviviality, n o collective s e n t i m e n t a l i t y , n o responsibility t o w a r d s past o r future. Y o u d o n ' t r e p r o d u c e i n N e w Y o r k . I t isn't a city m a d e for r e p r o d u c i n g . Yet e v e r y t h i n g h a p p e n s h e r e . H e n c e t h e f o r e b o d i n g o f c a t a s t r o p h e w h i c h hovers over t h e w h o l e city - t h o u g h it is an u p b e a t sense of f o r e b o d i n g . D o w n i n T i e r r a del F u e g o , a t t h e edges o f t h e e a r t h , i n t h e l o n e l y A n t a r c t i c wastes, t h e r e i s a p o i g n a n t sense o f n a t u r a l c a t a s t r o p h e , w h i c h r e a c h e s b a c k t o t i m e i m m e m o r i a l , a n d o f g e n o c i d e w h i c h dates f r o m r e c e n t history. A w o r l d devastated b y w i n d , ice, h u m a n p r e d a t o r s , t h e e x h a u s t i o n o f earlier ages - a disaster c o n t i n u ing even now. A curse w h i c h the Fuegians maintained w i t h their o w n gods, w h e n t h e y h a d a n y (it is difficult for t h e g o d s to find a f o o t h o l d in a pitiless w o r l d , to e m b o d y e l e m e n t a l p o w e r s w h i c h are t h e m s e l v e s pitiless t o o n e a n o t h e r ) . T h e sense o f c a t a s t r o p h e y o u g e t i n N e w Y o r k i s q u i t e different. I t i s t h e sense o f a vital catastrophe, o f w h a t can e n d o n l y i n excess a n d prodigality. T h e m a x i m u m i m m i n e n c e o f p r e s e n t t i m e a n d h e n c e t h e e x h a u s t i o n o f a n y future, o f a n y future energy, w h i c h is g a t h e r e d i n t o a single instant, an a b s o l u t e p r e s e n t . H a v i n g said this, w e n o d o u b t h a v e a naive v i e w o f e n e r g y . A n e n t r o p i c view. W h e r e a s energy — the millennial energy of the w i n d in Patagonia or the energy of h u m a n i t y ' s w o r k i n g s - is d o u b t l e s s i n e x h a u s t i b l e . 1 January

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1996

World Debt and P a r a l l e l U n i v e r s e

T h e e l e c t r o n i c display o f t h e A m e r i c a n n a t i o n a l d e b t i n T i m e s S q u a r e registers a n a s t r o n o m i c a l figure o f s o m e t h o u s a n d s o f billions o f dollars, i n c r e a s i n g a t t h e s t a g g e r i n g rate of 2 0 , 0 0 0 dollars a s e c o n d . T h e e l e c t r o n i c display at B e a u b o u r g registers the millions of seconds separating us from the year 2000. T h e one, representing t i m e , falls steadily. T h e o t h e r , r e p r e s e n t i n g m o n e y , rises vertiginously. O n e is a c o u n t d o w n t o z e r o s e c o n d . T h e o t h e r , b y c o n t r a s t , t e n d s t o w a r d s infinity. B o t h i m p l y c a t a s t r o p h e , a t least i n t h e i m a g i n a r y register. I n t h e B e a u b o u r g case, t h e c a t a s t r o p h e o f t h e e x h a u s t i o n o f t i m e ; i n t h e A m e r i c a n case, t h e c a t a s t r o p h e o f t h e d e b t b e g i n n i n g t o g r o w e x p o n e n t i a l l y , b r i n g i n g a w o r l d financial crash i n its w a k e . I n fact, this d e b t w i l l n e v e r b e p a i d off. N o d e b t w i l l ever b e p a i d off. T h e f i n a l a c c o u n t i n g will n e v e r take place. I f o u r days are n u m b e r e d , a c c o u n t e d for, t h e a b s e n t capital, for its p a r t , is b e y o n d a n y a c c o u n t i n g . If t h e U n i t e d States is already i n v i r t u a l b r e a c h o f its o b l i g a t i o n s , this w i l l h a v e n o effects. T h e r e w i l l b e n o J u d g e m e n t D a y for this v i r t u a l b a n k r u p t c y . O n e has m e r e l y t o e n t e r t h e e x p o n e n tial or virtual m o d e to be released from all responsibility, since t h e r e is no l o n g e r any reference, a n y referential w o r l d to serve as m e a s u r e .

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T h i s d i s a p p e a r a n c e o f t h e referential u n i v e r s e i s a n entirely n e w s i t u a t i o n . W h e n y o u c o n t e m p l a t e t h e e l e c t r o n i c display o n B r o a d w a y , y o u h a v e t h e i m p r e s s i o n o f s o m e t h i n g t a k i n g off i n t o t h e s t r a t o s p h e r e ; t h e d e b t figure m i g h t b e t h e distance, expressed in light years, of a galaxy m o v i n g away f r o m us in t h e c o s m o s , t h e escape v e l o c i t y of a terrestrial satellite. A n d , i n d e e d , it is a satellite: t h e d e b t m o v e s on an o r b i t t h a t i s e n t i r e l y its o w n , t h e o r b i t o f capital released f r o m a n y e c o n o m i c c o n t i n g e n c y , m o v i n g in a parallel u n i v e r s e , h a v i n g e s c a p e d , by its v e r y a c c e l e r a t i o n , f r o m a n y relapse i n t o t h e b a n a l u n i v e r s e o f p r o d u c t i o n , v a l u e a n d use. N o t e v e n a n orbital universe, b u t a n exorbital, e x - c e n t r e d , e c c e n t r i c o n e . A n d t h e p r o b a b i l i t y o f its e v e r r e - e n t e r i n g o u r w o r l d is faint i n d e e d . T h i s i s w h y , f r o m this p o i n t o n , n o d e b t will b e p a i d off. I t c a n a t best b e b o u g h t back at a k n o c k - d o w n price a n d p u t back on to a debt market — the public sector b o r r o w i n g requirement, the national debt, the w o r l d debt — having o n c e again b e c o m e a n e x c h a n g e v a l u e . I t i s u n l i k e l y t h e d e b t will e v e r b e called in, a n d this is w h a t gives it its i n c a l c u l a b l e value. For, s u s p e n d e d as it is in this way, it is o u r o n l y i n s u r a n c e against t i m e . U n l i k e t h e c o u n t d o w n , w h i c h signifies t h e e x h a u s t i o n o f t i m e , t h e indefinitely d e f e r r e d d e b t i s o u r g u a r a n t e e t h a t t i m e itself i s i n e x h a u s t i b l e . N o w , w e v e r y m u c h n e e d a s s u r i n g a b o u t t i m e i n this w a y a t t h e v e r y p o i n t w h e n t h e future itself i s t e n d i n g t o b e w h o l l y c o n s u m e d i n real t i m e . C l e a r i n g t h e d e b t , b a l a n c i n g u p t h e b o o k s , w r i t i n g off T h i r d W o r l d d e b t — t h e s e are t h i n g s n o t e v e n t o b e c o n t e m p l a t e d . I t i s o n l y t h e d i s e q u i l i b r i u m o f t h e d e b t , its prolifera t i o n , its p r o m i s e o f infinity, w h i c h k e e p s u s g o i n g . T h e g l o b a l , p l a n e t a r y d e b t clearly has n o m e a n i n g i n t r a d i t i o n a l t e r m s o f o b l i g a t i o n a n d credit. O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , it is o u r t r u e collective claim on e a c h o t h e r — a s y m b o l i c claim, by w h i c h p e r sons, c o m p a n i e s a n d n a t i o n s find t h e m s e l v e s b o u n d t o o n e a n o t h e r t h r o u g h lack. E a c h i s b o u n d t o t h e o t h e r (even t h e b a n k s ) b y t h e i r v i r t u a l b a n k r u p t c y , a s a c c o m plices are b o u n d b y t h e i r c r i m e . All assured o f e x i s t i n g for e a c h o t h e r i n t h e s h a d e

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o f a d e b t w h i c h c a n n o t b e settled o r w r i t t e n off, since t h e r e p a y m e n t o f t h e a c c u m u l a t e d w o r l d d e b t w o u l d take far m o r e t h a n t h e funds available. T h e o n l y sense of it, t h e n , is to b i n d all civilized h u m a n b e i n g s i n t o t h e s a m e d e s t i n y as c r e d i t o r s . Just as n u c l e a r w e a p o n s , s t o c k p i l e d across t h e w o r l d to a p o i n t of c o n s i d e r a b l e p l a n e t a r y overkill, h a v e n o o t h e r m e a n i n g t h a n t o b i n d all h u m a n b e i n g s i n t o a single destiny o f t h r e a t a n d d e t e r r e n c e . O n e understands, then, w h y the Americans m a k e such a show of their debt. T h e initiative is s u p p o s e d to s h a m e t h e State for its b a d m a n a g e m e n t a n d alert t h e citizens t o a n i m m i n e n t collapse o f t h e finances a n d p u b l i c services. B u t t h e e x o r b i t a n t scale of t h e figures robs t h e m of all m e a n i n g . It is, in fact, j u s t a massive advertising e x e r cise a n d , i n d e e d , t h e l u m i n o u s billboard l o o k s for all t h e w o r l d like a t r i u m p h a n t stock m a r k e t i n d e x t h a t has b r o k e n all records. T h e p o p u l a t i o n c o n t e m p l a t e i t w i t h t h e fascination t h e y m i g h t accord to a w o r l d r e c o r d ( t h o u g h few g a t h e r in front of t h e B e a u b o u r g digital c l o c k t o see t h e r u n - i n t o t h e e n d o f t h e c e n t u r y ) . A t t h e same t i m e , t h e p e o p l e are collectively i n t h e s a m e situation a s t h e T u p o l e v test pilot w h o r i g h t u p t o t h e last s e c o n d c o u l d see his aircraft n o s e dive a n d crash i n t o t h e g r o u n d o n his i n t e r n a l v i d e o circuit. D i d h e , b y s o m e l a s t - m i n u t e reflex, glance a t t h e i m a g e as he died? He c o u l d have i m a g i n e d himself living o u t his last m o m e n t s in virtual reality. D i d t h e i m a g e survive t h e m a n if o n l y for a fraction of a s e c o n d ? Or was it t h e o t h e r w a y a b o u t ? D o e s virtual reality survive t h e real world's catastrophic e n d ? O u r real artificial satellites are t h e w o r l d d e b t , t h e speculative capital a n d t h e n u c l e a r w a r h e a d s w h i c h girdle t h e e a r t h o n t h e i r orbital r o u n d . H a v i n g b e c o m e p u r e artefacts - sidereally m o b i l e a n d instantly c o n v e r t i b l e - t h e y have at last f o u n d their true place, m o r e extraordinary than t h e Stock E x c h a n g e , the banks and the silos: t h e o r b i t o n w h i c h t h e y rise a n d set like artificial suns. T h e latest of these exponentially g r o w i n g parallel universes is t h e w o r l d of t h e I n t e r n e t a n d t h e global i n f o r m a t i o n systems. H e r e t o o , t h e irresistible g r o w t h , t h e o u t -

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g r o w t h o f i n f o r m a t i o n , c o u l d b e p o s t e d u p i n real t i m e i n t e r m s o f millions o f i n dividuals a n d millions of o p e r a t i o n s - that i n f o r m a t i o n n o w so extensive that it no l o n g e r has any c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e acquisition o f k n o w l e d g e . A s o f now, w e can say that this i m m e n s e p o t e n t i a l will n e v e r be r e d e e m e d , in t h e sense of a use or p u r p o s e ever b e i n g f o u n d for it. T h i n g s here, t h e n , are exactly as they are w i t h debt: information is as inexpiable as debt, in t h e sense that we shall n e v e r be able to settle o u r a c c o u n t w i t h it. M o r e o v e r , t h e storage o f data, t h e a c c u m u l a t i o n a n d w o r l d w i d e circulation o f i n f o r m a t i o n , in every respect resemble t h e b u i l d - u p of an irremissible d e b t . A n d , h e r e again, as s o o n as this proliferating i n f o r m a t i o n far exceeds t h e needs a n d capacit i e s o f t h e individual a n d t h e species i n general, i t has n o o t h e r m e a n i n g t h a n t o b i n d all h u m a n i t y in a single destiny of cerebral a u t o m a t i s m a n d m e n t a l u n d e r d e v e l o p m e n t . F o r it is clear that, t h o u g h a certain dose of i n f o r m a t i o n reduces o u r i g n o r a n c e , a m a s sive dose of artificial intelligence can o n l y c o n v i n c e us of the failings of o u r natural intelligence a n d p l u n g e u s d e e p e r i n t o t h e m . T h e w o r s t t h i n g i n a h u m a n b e i n g i s t o k n o w t o o m u c h a n d n o t t o b e equal t o one's k n o w l e d g e . I t i s t h e same w i t h r e s p o n sibility a n d e m o t i o n a l capacity: t h e m e d i a , by perpetually assailing us w i t h violence, m i s f o r t u n e a n d catastrophe, far from firing s o m e k i n d of collective solidarity, m e r e l y d e m o n s t r a t e o u r real i m p o t e n c e a n d p l u n g e u s i n t o p a n i c and r e m o r s e . All t h e s e parallel universes, c a u g h t i n a n a u t o n o m o u s , e x p o n e n t i a l logic, are t i m e b o m b s . T h i s i s clear w i t h n u c l e a r p o w e r , b u t i t i s t h e case t o o w i t h d e b t a n d speculative capital. T h e tiniest i r r u p t i o n o f t h e s e w o r l d s i n t o o u r o w n , t h e m e r e s t i n t e r s e c t i o n o f t h e i r o r b i t w i t h o u r s w o u l d i m m e d i a t e l y smash t h e fragile e q u i l i b r i u m o f o u r t r a d e a n d o u r e c o n o m i e s . I t w o u l d (or will) b e t h e s a m e w i t h t h e total l i b e r a t i o n o f i n f o r m a t i o n , m a k i n g u s free radicals d e s p e r a t e l y s e e k i n g t h e i r m o l ecules in a rarefied c y b e r s p a c e . R e a s o n w o u l d d o u b t l e s s d i c t a t e t h a t w e r e i n t e g r a t e these w o r l d s i n t o o u r s , i n t o a n h o m o g e n e o u s u n i v e r s e : t h a t a peaceful use b e f o u n d for n u c l e a r p o w e r , t h a t all 136

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debts be paid off, that speculative capital be reinvested in social wealth, and that the whole of information become p a r t of knowledge. B u t this is no doubt a dangerous Utopia. It would be better for these universes to remain parallel a n d for their s u s pended threat, their eccentricity, to protect us. Parallel and eccentric as t h e y are, t h e y are nonetheless ours. We created t h e m like this, beyond our reach, as an ersatz transcendence; we put them into orbit as a kind of catastrophic imaginary. B u t perhaps this is all to the good. For, if t h e cohesion of our societies was in the past maintained by the 'imaginary' of progress, it is maintained today by t h e ' i m aginary' of catastrophe. 15 January

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The Shadow of the Commendatore

I t has b e e n a n e x t r a o r d i n a r y a d v e n t u r e , this c a n c e r o f M i t t e r a n d ' s . After b e i n g c o n c e a l e d , h i d d e n a n d r e p r e s s e d for fifteen y e a r s , i t w a s ' i l l e g a l l y ' r e v e a l e d b y Dr. ban.

G u b l e r in Le 2 3

Grand Secret - a t w h i c h p o i n t t h e c o u r t s i n t e r v e n e d w i t h a

It was t h e n revived on the I n t e r n e t in virtual space, and, in the end,

placed virtually u n d e r lock and key in the p e r s o n of the offending cybercafe

2 5 . T h e b o o k Le Grand Secret by Claude Gubler (Mitterand's personal physician) and M i c h e l G o n o d was published by P l o n on 17 January 1996, n i n e days after the president's death. It claimed that Mitterand's prostate cancer was first diagnosed in 1981 and that medical information after that date was falsified at t h e president's request. Gubler also argued that, by t h e e n d of his second t e r m , the president was so ill he could barely fulfil his duties. T h e b o o k was b a n n e d on 18 January w h e n the M i t t e r a n d family b r o u g h t an action against t h e publishers and Dr. Gubler (for breach of confidentiality). By that date, 33,000 copies are said to have b e e n sold. T h e b a n was c o n f i r m e d in the Paris Appeal C o u r t on 13 M a r c h 1996. T h e text of the b o o k has since b e e n available periodically on the Internet.

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owner.

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F r o m o n e cancer to another. F r o m cancer of the prostate to the cancer of

i n f o r m a t i o n . S i n c e t h e b i o l o g i c a l s e c o n d a r i e s c a n n o t b e spirited away b y m e d i c i n e , t h e y are s p i r i t e d a w a y b y silence. S i n c e t h e s e c o n d a r y c a n c e r s o f i n f o r m a t i o n c a n n o t b e s p i r i t e d away, t h e y are p r o h i b i t e d b y law. T h i s e l e g a n t l y resolves t h e p r o b l e m s o f data p r o t e c t i o n a n d b i o e t h i c s , o f o p e n n e s s a n d u n c h e c k e d proliferation: use t h e l a w t o stop t h e viruses. Sadly, t h e s e c o n d a r i e s have already g o t o u t i n t o t h e o u t s i d e w o r l d — t h r o u g h t h e ' m i r r o r sites'. H a v i n g p a s s e d t h r o u g h all t h e p h a s e s o f s e c r e c y a n d o p e n n e s s i n this way, M i t t e r a n d ' s c a n c e r c a n b e s e e n a s e m b l e m a t i c o f his r e i g n , b a s e d o n t h e systematic usage o f s e c r e c y a n d , p a r t i c u l a r l y t o w a r d s t h e e n d , o n t h e c a l c u l a t e d t r i c k l i n g - o u t o f t h e p a r t s o f his life h e f o u n d t o o s h a m e f u l t o m e n t i o n . H i s c a n c e r c a n b e s e e n o n t h e s e t w o levels, a s h a v i n g c r o w n e d a life w h i c h m i g h t b e said t o h a v e b e g u n w i t h t h e assassination a t t e m p t o n t h e a v e n u e d e l ' O b s e r v a t o i r e .

27

S i m u l a t e d attack,

d i s s i m u l a t e d c a n c e r - in b o t h cases, he escapes by a m i n o r m i r a c l e (he leapfrogs t h e railings; h e leapfrogs a d e a t h f o r e t o l d ) , t h e n a r r a n g e s for t h e facts t o c o m e o u t , w i t h o u t a n y o n e b e i n g able t o m a k e t h e m c o u n t . All t h e lies o f his life w e r e g i v e n

26. T h e text was apparently first placed on t h e I n t e r n e t by Pascal Barbraud, manager of the 'Le W e b ' cybercafe in Besancon (Doubs). On 26 January 1996, Barbraud was arrested by the Besancon police, n o t for any infringement of the ban on publication, b u t because of a t h r e e - m o n t h sentence passed on h i m on 20 September 1994 at N a n t e r r e for desertion of his family and n o n - p a y m e n t of alimony. In t h e m e a n t i m e , the text of Gubler's b o o k had appeared on a variety of m i r r o r sites from w h i c h it could be d o w n l o a d e d . On 5 February 1996, the e q u i p m e n t at his cybercafe was seized as a result of action taken by o n e of Barbraud's creditors. 27. In O c t o b e r 1959 Mitterand's car apparently came u n d e r m a c h i n e - g u n fire on t h e avenue de l'Observatoire. He escaped by j u m p i n g over railings (or in s o m e accounts, over a hedge) into the grounds of t h e Observatory. M i t t e r a n d was subsequently accused by various far R i g h t personalities of having staged the attack himself for his o w n political ends.

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t o t h e F r e n c h p e o p l e , w h i c h was m a d e t o s w a l l o w t h e m . N o t o n l y did h e cultivate i n s i d e r - t r a d i n g , w h e r e his illness a n d m a n y o t h e r t h i n g s w e r e c o n c e r n e d — e v e r y o n e in p o w e r does that - b u t he cultivated the opposite: blackmail by threat of r e v e l a t i o n , a c o d e d revelation so to speak, m o r e or less o r c h e s t r a t e d in secret by h i m s e l f (his e x t r e m e - R i g h t i s t past, B o u s q u e t , t h e Elysee scandals, his s e c o n d sex life, his c l a n d e s t i n e d a u g h t e r , his r e t r o s p e c t i v e c a n c e r ) , w h i c h he u s e d as a g r i m form of advertising. H e d e l i g h t e d i n h a v i n g t h e p u b l i c s w a l l o w t h e fraud a n d c u n n i n g o f w h a t has b e e n t h e greatest case o f e m b e z z l e m e n t i n r e c e n t h i s t o r y : t h e e m b e z z l e m e n t o f t h e socialist h e r i t a g e for e n d s w h i c h w e r e i m p e n e t r a b l e , t h o u g h t h e y w e r e certainly n o t social ( n o r p e r h a p s h i s t o r i c : t h e a p p e t i t e for g l o r y o r historical c o n c u p i s c e n c e w e r e n o t u p p e r m o s t w i t h h i m , a s t h e y w e r e w i t h D e G a u l l e , b u t r a t h e r sarcasm, t h e C o m m e n d a t o r e ' s rigid manipulation, the obscure, dominating irony of the person in t h e 'place du morf, w h i c h t h e stiff m a s k of a face a n d u n c e r t a i n , pale smile already e x p r e s s e d t o p e r f e c t i o n ) . B u t , a b o v e all, t h e i n t e r c e p t i n g o f o p i n i o n ,

2 8

the

political d e - v i t a l i z a t i o n o f a s o c i e t y i n t o w h i c h h e c a n b e said t o h a v e instilled, for years, t h e i m a g i n i n g o f his o w n d e a t h . A n d t o h a v e t h r o w n d o w n a k i n d o f c h a l l e n g e t o servility i n d o i n g this — a c h a l l e n g e t o t h e servility o f t h e masses ( t h o u g h , o n c e again, this i s p a r t o f o r d i n a r y g o v e r n a n c e ) a n d t h e servility o f t h o s e a r o u n d h i m , for w h o m , o n e fondly i m a g i n e s , h e felt a ' l o r d l y ' c o n t e m p t . A t least y o u w a n t this t o b e t h e case, since h e h a d s o m a n y c o n t e m p t i b l e p e o p l e a r o u n d h i m ! T o t h e p o i n t w h e r e , i n r e p a y i n g his c o n t e m p t , o n e i s m e r e l y d o i n g h i m h o m a g e a n d r e m a i n i n g faithful t o his m e m o r y . F o r t h e p o w e r o f c o n t e m p t a l o n e d r o v e h i m . A n d that, paradoxically, deserves respect.

28. 'La captation de {'opinion . Captation has overtones both of telephone tapping and the improper solicitation of a legacy.

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I n t h e e n d , h i s t o r y will have p r o v e d h i m r i g h t , since t h e p e o p l e - t h e d e a r o l d p e o p l e - flattered, d e c e i v e d a n d m a d e t o l o o k retrospectively r i d i c u l o u s b y all t h a t has b e e n h i d d e n f r o m t h e m ( w o r s e : b y all t h a t was revealed t o t h e m t o o late, always t o o late, a n d t h e n i m p u d e n t l y h u s h e d u p a n d w h i t e w a s h e d afterwards) will h a v e c o m p l i a n t l y w e p t collectively over his d e a t h ( w e shall n o t e v e n s p e a k o f t h e sadness of t h e c o u r t i e r s a n d t h e pentiti). T h i s m i g h t e v e n b e said t o b e t h e m o s t d e m o r a l i z i n g t h i n g i n t h e w h o l e story. F o r i n t h e e n d M i t t e r a n d h i m s e l f has n o case t o answer. All h e c a n b e a c c u s e d o f i s t h e servility o f o t h e r p e o p l e , t h e e x t r a o r d i n a r y i n d u l g e n c e , c o m p l i c i t y a n d wilful lack o f l u c i d i t y h e p r o m o t e d a n d t h e fruits o f w h i c h h e e n j o y e d t h r o u g h o u t his r e i g n : this collective failure o f t h e political reflex, this g r o w i n g i m p o t e n c e i n t h e face o f t h e e n o r m o u s i n s i d e r - d e a l g o v e r n m e n t h a d b e c o m e . W e may, for t h e t i m e b e i n g , m o u r n M i t t e r a n d (since, i n a n y e v e n t , h e has o r g a n i z e d t h e m o u r n i n g h i m s e l f - p e r h a p s he e v e n o r d e r e d his cliche mortuaire a n d its d i s t r i b u t i o n , this is all p a r t o f t h e s a m e l o g i c ) , b u t w h a t w e are g o i n g t o have t o m o u r n forever, g i v e n this g l o o m y c o n s e n s u s a r o u n d his d e a t h , i n c l u d i n g a r o u n d t h e v i r t u a l c o r p s e h e h a d b e e n for fifteen years, i s a n y p r o s p e c t o f d e m o c r a c y , any c h a n c e o f a n y s o r t o f u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d o p e n n e s s i n p u b l i c affairs. T h e p o i n t i s p r o v e n : n o t h i n g c a n ever c h a n g e . H e b r o u g h t t h a t h o m e t o us; t h a t was his v i c t o r y , a n d I a m sure h e will h a v e d e l i g h t e d i n t h a t b i t t e r t r u t h e v e n f r o m b e y o n d t h e grave. It m u s t be said t h a t he sacrificed h i m s e l f — e v e n in d e a t h - to t h e hypostasis of his o w n person. T h e a m b i t i o n and arrogance o f ' g r e a t m e n ' and the automatic servility o f t h e masses are, i n o u r m e d i a system, m e r e e x t e n s i o n s o f e a c h o t h e r . U n l e s s v o l u n t a r y s e r v i t u d e , far f r o m b e i n g a c a p i t u l a t i o n , is actually a d o u b l e - e d g e d s w o r d a n d t h e p e o p l e , w h i c h gets c a n n i b a l i z e d , also c a n n i b a l i z e s t h e politicians. I t i s c a n nibalizing M i t t e r a n d - t h r o u g h all t h e p o s t h u m o u s revelations a n d t h e great p o p u l a r s h o w t h e y m a k e - w i t h a n e c r o p h a g o u s zeal e q u a l t o t h e t h e r a p e u t i c zeal h e can b e

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s e e n t o h a v e d e p l o y e d t o defer his o w n d e a t h . A n d t h a t d e a t h , d e f e r r e d over a t least t e n years, r e m a i n s a mystery. W h e r e d i d h e get t h e e n e r g y from? I t c o u l d o n l y have b e e n f r o m t h e p o w e r o f secrecy, a n d , m o r e i m p o r t a n t l y , f r o m t h e force w h i c h c o m e s f r o m t h e exercise o f p o w e r , b y a p r o c e s s o f a b s o r b i n g t h e e n e r g y o f all t h o s e a r o u n d h i m — f e e d i n g o n that a n d r e g e n e r a t i n g f r o m it, a n d l e a v i n g his e n t o u r a g e l i m p a n d s u b s e r v i e n t . T h e system is a s i m p l e o n e : take all t h e positive e n e r g i e s f r o m t h e o t h e r s ; d u m p all t h e n e g a t i v e e n e r g y o n t h e m . A d d u c t i o n o f positive f l o w s , a b d u c t i o n o f negative f l o w s . M i t t e r a n d practised this strategy n o t j u s t o n t h e political class, b u t o n t h e w h o l e o f F r e n c h society. O n t h e political s o c i e t y : l i q u i d a t i n g t h e C o m m u n i s t Party, a n a e s t h e t i z i n g t h e R i g h t , v a m p i r i z i n g a n d parasiting a Socialist P a r t y w h i c h he k e p t alive on a d r i p , t h o u g h it was already in an a d v a n c e d v e g e t a t i v e state (the political class's loss of its ability to r e a s o n - its g o i n g to pieces - w a s m o s t clearly revealed in t h e s u i c i d e of P i e r r e B e r e g o v o y ) a n d p r o m o t i n g a p h o n e y E u r o p e w h i c h h e will h a n d o n like a h o t p o t a t o t o all w h o f o l l o w h i m ( s e c o n d n e g a t i v e e v e n t o f t h e r e i g n : t h e r e f e r e n d u m o n E u r o p e ) . O n F r e n c h society: i t was b y c o n c e a l i n g his c a n c e r t h a t h e m a n a g e d t o g o v e r n , b u t i t was b y p r o j e c t i n g t h a t c a n c e r o n t o F r e n c h s o c i e t y t h a t h e m a n a g e d t o s u r v i v e for s o l o n g . O n l y b y passing his s e c o n d a r y i n f e c t i o n s o n t o u s d u r i n g his r e i g n a n d s u c k i n g t h e lifeblood o n e b y o n e f r o m t h o s e forces w h i c h c o u l d o p p o s e t h a t r e i g n w a s h e able t o h o l d o n for s u c h a t i m e . W e w e r e g o v e r n e d b y a m a n solely p r e o c c u p i e d w i t h his o w n d e a t h a n d d r i p p i n g i t i n h o m e o p a t h i c doses i n t o all t h e systems a n d tissues of political life - h e a d i n g off a n y o t h e r w a y of i m a g i n i n g g o v e r n a n c e . F o r if, c o n t r a r y to w h a t is said of it, i m a g i n a t i o n has n e v e r d r e a m e d of t a k i n g p o w e r , p o w e r has always d r e a m e d o f d e v o u r i n g t h e i m a g i n a t i o n - a n d has g e n e r a l l y e n d e d u p d e v o u r i n g its o w n i m a g e . T h i s i s w h y w e s h o u l d t h a n k M i t t e r a n d for this p e r s o n a l o b s e s s i o n , since, b y force of negativity, he can be said to h a v e g i v e n us a r e m a r k a b l e political lesson. He 142

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has t a u g h t u s t h a t o n e c o u l d g o v e r n - t h a t o n e c o u l d g o v e r n o n l y — b y v i r t u e o f a n i n t e r n a l w e a k n e s s , an a n t i c i p a t e d d e a t h - b u t in secrecy a n d to t h e people's disgrace. F o r t h e p e o p l e has i n d e e d b e e n disgraced, disgraced t h e w a y t h e last o f t h e c o u r t i e r s w e r e . A n d this i s v e r y m u c h t h e w o r s t o f i t all. T h e p e o p l e o f F r a n c e - t o w h o m h e passed o n c o r r u p t i o n o n t h e sly, like a d i r t y p i c t u r e slipped t o t h e m u n d e r t h e c o u n t e r - w e r e clearly m a d e a w a r e t h a t t h e y d i d n o t c o u n t for m u c h . T h i s i s t h e art o f g o v e r n m e n t t o d a y : g o v e r n m e n t b y n e g a t i v e m e a n s , b y d e t e r r e n c e , by c o n v i n c i n g p e o p l e of t h e i r p o w e r l e s s n e s s . So it is still for t h e m - for t h e betrayed, t h e insulted, t h o s e o n t h e scrap h e a p , t h o s e w h o have b e e n g i v e n t h e r u n a r o u n d - t o t a k e t h e s h a m e o f i t all, a n d , i n d e e d , t o a c c e p t a n d absolve this state o f affairs as s o m e t h i n g c r i m i n a l b u t i n e v i t a b l e . T h i s i s t h e a b o m i n a b l e political lesson h e c a n b e said t o h a v e t a u g h t u s . B u t , i f his w a s m e r e l y t h e d e a d m a n ' s h a n d , w h o w a s s t e e r i n g t h e ship o f state? W h o b u t d e a t h itself? 5 February

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1996

The Mirror of Corruption

A bill t o r e f o r m t h e l a w o n t h e m i s u s e o f p u b l i c f u n d s , a m o u n t i n g v i r t u a l l y t o a veiled amnesty, almost m a d e it to Parliament recently. A n d , m a k e no mistake a b o u t it, i t will c o m e b e f o r e i t o n e d a y i n s o m e f o r m o r a n o t h e r . T h e Pelat affair has a l r e a d y b e e n s h e l v e d .

29

W h a t i s e u p h e m i s t i c a l l y called t h e m i s u s e o f p u b l i c

f u n d s o f t e n relates t o t h e a p p o r t i o n m e n t o f f u n d s a n d p r o p e r t y t h a t are a l m o s t a s illicit a s d r u g s m o n e y . Y o u c a n n o t , i n fact, see w h e r e t h e c h a i n o f c o r r u p t i o n b e g i n s a n d e n d s . T a p i e e m b e z z l i n g m o n e y t o f i x f o o t b a l l m a t c h e s c a n b e called c o r r u p t , b u t isn't t h e C r e d i t L y o n n a i s , w h i c h s o g e n e r o u s l y k e p t Tapie's coffers t o p p e d up, just as corrupt? (and i n d e e d Tapie wasn't slow to criticize it in an effort t o e x c u s e his o w n a c t i o n s ) . A n d d o e s n ' t all t h e m o n e y s q u a n d e r e d i n r i s k y 29. Mr Patrice Pelat was said to have benefited from building w o r k w h i c h was invoiced as part of projects relating to a hospital in Le M a n s and a school at Courbevoie, b u t actually carried o u t on his property in Sologne. This was, allegedly, part of an arrangement to pay Mr Pelat back for obtaining a contract in N o r t h Korea. Mr Pelat was a friend of the French president Francois Mitterand and was in fact the m a n alleged by Le Canard enchaine to have supplied Pierre Beregovoy w i t h the interest-free loan of 1 million francs in 1986. See n o t e 1 1 , p. 71

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v e n t u r e s b y t h e s a m e C r e d i t L y o n n a i s , like m a n y o t h e r b a n k s a n d financial i n s t i t u t i o n s , a m o u n t t o e m b e z z l e m e n t a n d m i s u s e o f p u b l i c funds? N o o n e speaks o u t against this s c a n d a l , o n t h e g r o u n d s t h a t i t i s n o t a m a t t e r for t h e law. B u t w e k n o w t h a t t h e r e i s m u c h m o r e ' l e g a l ' fraud t h a n illegal. T h i s t h r o w s t h e a n t i c o r r u p t i o n o p e r a t i o n i n t o p e r s p e c t i v e , a n d i n a sense r e n d e r s i t r i d i c u l o u s - t h a t o p e r a t i o n w h i c h , in its way, p r o v i d e s a c o v e r for ( a n d a d i v e r s i o n from) t h e real corruption. G e t t i n g t o t h e r o o t s o f c o r r u p t i o n w o u l d b e a n endless business. N o o n e c o u l d p l u m b its d e p t h s . W i t h o u t a n y d o u b t , i t i s c o n s u b s t a n t i a l w i t h social f u n c t i o n i n g . B u t a t least t h e ' w a r o n c o r r u p t i o n ' e v o k e s its s p e c t r e a n d p r e s e n t s u s w i t h i t a s spectacle. N o w , t h e spectacle of c o r r u p t i o n is a vital f u n c t i o n in a d e m o c r a c y : it provides e n t e r t a i n m e n t a n d has a n educative, cathartic function. I t d o e s n o t p r o d u c e any d e e p - s e a t e d b i t t e r n e s s ; o t h e r w i s e revolt w o u l d b e p e r m a n e n t l y festering. I n t h e e n d , c o r r u p t i o n d o e s n o t a r o u s e a n y collective i n d i g n a t i o n ( t h o u g h , this, n a t u r a l l y is filtered by t h e m e d i a ) . A n d , t h o u g h it is positively an o u t r a g e , t h e a m n e s t y bill w h i c h i s i n t h e offing ( e c h o i n g t h e a m n e s t y F r e n c h m e m b e r s o f p a r l i a m e n t h a v e g e n e r o u s l y g r a n t e d t h e m s e l v e s ) - a n a m n e s t y w h i c h a m o u n t s virtually t o a n i n v i t a t i o n t o c o r r u p t i o n - has n o t b r o u g h t t h e o u t c r y o n e w o u l d have e x p e c t e d from a b o d y of democratic public opinion. T h i s i s b e c a u s e , a t b o t t o m , n o o n e believes i n d e m o c r a c y E v e r y o n e d i m l y r e a l izes t h a t a n y s y s t e m f u n c t i o n s i n d e n i a l o f its o w n p r i n c i p l e s , transgressing its o w n r u l e s . A n d this r e s i g n a t i o n o v e r p r i n c i p l e s feeds a n a b a s h e d c o n s e n s u s o n t h e h i d d e n , i m m o r a l rules b y w h i c h o u r s o c i e t y o p e r a t e s . C o r r u p t i o n i n d e m o c r a c y i s simply t h e n e w f o r m a s s u m e d by privilege — t h e r u l e in earlier societies — w h i c h has m e r e l y b e c o m e illegal, t h u s a d d i n g f u r t h e r t o its c h a r m . C o r r u p t i o n itself is, in this way, a vital f u n c t i o n : a secret m e c h a n i s m of a w h o l e society, a s o u r c e of political energy, a p u b l i c service. 145

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E v e r y t h i n g i n t h e A R C s t o r y i s s c a n d a l o u s a n d repulsive, b u t i s i t n o t also s c a n d a l o u s t h a t m i l l i o n s o f p e o p l e are p r e p a r e d t o give w h e n asked t o d o s o i n a n y w a y by charities or the m e d i a ?

3 0

H o w c a n w e d e m a n d t h a t officers o f c h a r i t i e s m a k e

r a t i o n a l a n d h o n e s t use o f funds g a t h e r e d s o easily, a n d g i v e n s o t r u s t i n g l y t o s u c h a shady charity? It w o u l d be a m a z i n g if t h e y did so. M o r e o v e r , t h e s k u l d u g g e r y d o e s n o t p r e v e n t t h e mystified v i c t i m s f r o m c o n t i n u i n g t o give w i t h t h e s a m e naivety. Isn't t h e r e a n e l e m e n t o f responsibility i n this servility, w h e t h e r s p o n t a n e o u s o r o r c h e s t r a t e d ? W h a t p e o p l e u l t i m a t e l y w a n t i s t o b e g i v e n a c h a n c e t o give, a s t h e y h a v e e l s e w h e r e b e e n g i v e n t h e c h a n c e t o v o t e or, o n any o f t h e confessional T V p r o g r a m m e s , t h e c h a n c e t o speak. S o t h o s e w h o satisfy this desire, t a k i n g t h e i r c u t f r o m it as t h e y d o , are p e r f o r m i n g a g e n u i n e p u b l i c service. At any rate, t h e m o n e y m i s a p p r o p r i a t e d i n t h e process, b e i n g d e f l e c t e d first f r o m its useful (private) p u r poses, t h e n f r o m its useful (public) p u r p o s e s b y t h e c a n c e r c r o o k s , still m e e t s t h e s a m e fate: it is s q u a n d e r e d . In this r e s p e c t it is similar to t h e m o n e y sacrificed in g a m b l i n g a n d i n p l a y i n g t h e lottery. T h e State has n o t b e e n a l o n e i n e x p l o i t i n g this f o r m u l a i n all t h e v a r i o u s f o r m s o f g a m b l i n g . A r e t h e i m p r o b a b l e s u m s w a s t e d o n g a m b l i n g for pointless (and h e n c e i m m o r a l ) p u r p o s e s s o different f r o m t h e s u m s m i s a p p r o p r i a t e d b y b a n k s o r c o m p a n i e s t o pay t o politicians o r e m b e z z l e d b y t h e b u r e a u c r a t s o f c a n c e r research for p u r p o s e s o f lavish e n t e r t a i n m e n t a n d advertising? T h e citizen i s n o t p u n i s h e d for this ' m i s u s e o f p r i v a t e f u n d s ' , for this i m m o r a l use o f his o w n m o n e y . I t m i g h t b e said t h a t t h e State e n c o u r a g e s l o t t e r i e s for t h e profit i t m a k e s f r o m t h e m . B u t y o u

30. Jacques Crozemarie, former president of A R C (Association de R e c h e r c h e contre le Cancer), was found guilty of embezzling the charity's funds and sentenced to four years in prison by the Paris C o u r t of Appeal. He was also fined 2.5 million francs and required to pay 200 million francs in d a m ages t o A R C .

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c o u l d also say t h a t t h e colossal reverses suffered b y b a n k i n g c o n c e r n s t h r o u g h f r a u d u l e n t p r o p e r l y dealings have c r e a t e d t h o u s a n d s o f j o b s a l o n g t h e w a y : a n d i s this n o t t h e n u m b e r o n e p r i o r i t y ? I n fact, i n t e r e s t a n d utility are n e v e r t h e k e y t o t h e story. I t has n e v e r b e e n t h e primordial function of a society to p u t m o n e y a n d resources to m o r a l ends, even if it is t h e a l l e g e d ideal of all o u r d e m o c r a c i e s . M o n e y r e m a i n s at all t i m e s a n d in all places t h e a c c u r s e d share, t h e i m m o r a l share, t h e evil p o r t i o n . A n d t h e p r i m o r d i a l f u n c t i o n r e m a i n s t h a t o f m a n a g i n g t h a t a c c u r s e d share, o f v o i d i n g a n d l a u n d e r i n g m o n e y t h r o u g h gambling, waste, misappropriation and c o r r u p t i o n ; destroying m o n e y b y its i m m o r a l use; d e s t r o y i n g evil w i t h evil. T h i s i s t h e strategy o f evil, t h e politics o f evil w h i c h preserves t h e s y m b o l i c e q u i l i b r i u m o f a society. E v i l b e t o h i m w h o evil t h i n k s . N o m o r e t h a n i t i s c o n c e i v a b l e t o r e b a l a n c e d e b t ( o n t h e lines o f t h e s a m e ideal v i s i o n o f c r e d i t a n d t h e p r o p e r u s e o f m o n e y ) i s i t c o n c e i v a b l e t h a t t h e r e w i l l b e a n ' e c o n o m i c a l l y c o r r e c t ' social d i s t r i b u t i o n o f m i s s p e n t m o n e y . T h a t m o n e y , like d e b t , c a n n o t b e r e d e e m e d o r t r a n s f e r r e d t o a 'social satisfaction' o f n e e d s , for - a n d this is t r u e of t h e m o s t archaic or t h e m o s t m o d e r n societies e v e r y social b o n d i s f u n d a m e n t a l l y t h r e a t e n e d b y m o n e y . T h e o n l y s o l u t i o n , t h e n , is to ' l a u n d e r ' it a n d , to t h a t e n d , to m i s s p e n d it, or at all costs to p u t it i n t o c i r c u l a t i o n , as q u i c k l y as possible — to p u t t h e a c c u r s e d share i n t o o r b i t . W h i c h is d o n e , i n t h e i r o w n t i n y way, b y individuals a n d , o n a m u c h l a r g e r scale, b y all t h e s y n d i cates of fraudsters. A p a r t f r o m b e i n g i m p r a c t i c a l , a s e x p e r i e n c e has s h o w n , t h e r a t i o n a l r e d i s t r i b u t i o n of resources is a d a n g e r o u s ideology. It confuses m e a n s a n d e n d s . It believes t h a t m o n e y i s a m e a n s a n d can b e r e d e e m e d b y useful e n d s . A t o u c h i n g illusion. M o n e y is a m e d i u m , n o t a m e a n s , a n d it has all t h e p o w e r of a m e d i u m w h i c h d e v e l o p s a c c o r d i n g t o its o w n e n d s .

' E n l i g h t e n e d ' m i n d s t h i n k m o n e y , l i k e m a n for

R o u s s e a u , w o u l d b e naturally g o o d i f i t w e r e n o t m i s d i r e c t e d t o w a r d evil. B u t t h e

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o p p o s i t e is t r u e : m o n e y is, by its v e r y p r i n c i p l e , of t h e o r d e r of evil; it is its destiny t o w o r k for evil a n d for i t t o m o v e t o w a r d s g o o d i t has t o b e subtly r e - r o u t e d . T h i n g s h e r e are a s t h e y are w i t h h u m a n b e i n g s , w h o s e f u n d a m e n t a l passion, a c c o r d ing to Freud, is and remains hatred. It is hatred w h i c h binds h u m a n beings together m u c h m o r e strongly t h a n love. A n d i t c h a n g e s i n t o love o n l y b y travelling d o w n e x c e p t i o n a l p a t h w a y s , w h i c h r e m a i n f o r e v e r fragile. T h i s e r r o r o n t h e p a r t o f p e o p l e ' o f g o o d w i l l ' i s fatal i n t h e political m a n a g e m e n t o f societies, since i t m e r e l y p e r p e t u a t e s evil b y m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g its g u i d i n g p r i n c i p l e a n d t h e p e r v e r s e e c o n o m y on w h i c h o u r society is based. I f w e f o l l o w t h e p a t h s o f this politics o f evil, t h e i r o n i c p a t h s o f c o r r u p t i o n , w e a r r i v e at a r e a s s u r i n g c o n c l u s i o n : t h e fact is t h a t c o r r u p t i o n is t h e ' b a d ' w h i c h p r e serves u s f r o m t h e w o r s t . T a k e t h e scandal w h i c h has b e e n m o s t i n t h e h e a d l i n e s : t h e e m b e z z l e m e n t o f p u b l i c o r p r i v a t e funds for f i n a n c i n g e l e c t i o n c a m p a i g n s o r political parties. W h a t finer e n d - g o a l for m o n e y t h a n t o b e s q u a n d e r e d i n t h a t s u p r e m e l y useless o p e r a t i o n , t h a t l a u g h a b l e v e n t u r e , a n e l e c t i o n ? T h e s e funds have at least g e n u i n e l y v a n i s h e d i n t o t h i n air. It is m e r e l y c o r r u p t m o n e y r e - u s e d for c o r r u p t e n d s a n d a t b o t t o m t h a t d o e s little h a r m t o t h e c o m m u n i t y . W h e n y o u t h i n k w h a t w o u l d have c o m e o f a healthy, e n l i g h t e n e d m a n a g e m e n t o f these funds, all t h e projects for t h e p u b l i c g o o d w h i c h w o u l d h a v e b e e n visited u p o n us, all t h e g y r a t o r y r o a d s c h e m e s , t h e t h o u s a n d s of useless offices — that w h o l e s u p e r s t r u c t u r e , that u r b a n , c u l t u r a l b l i g h t , o n w h i c h t o w n s a n d e v e n t h e smallest villages n o w a d a y s pride themselves! N o t c o u n t i n g the further sophistication of administration, p o l i c i n g a n d security, t h e a d d i t i o n a l h e l p i n g of c u l t u r e a n d c o n t r o l - a n d all this for o u r g r e a t e r g o o d ! A t least i n t h e c l a n d e s t i n e s q u a n d e r i n g o f t h e cash, w e are spared all t h e s e d u b i o u s blessings. C e r o n e t t i : ' O n e silly idea c u r r e n t l y d o i n g t h e r o u n d s : w h a t g o o d things w e c o u l d d o w i t h all t h e m o n e y that's s p e n t ! I n fact, s t u p i d a n d c r i m i n a l a s w e are, w e 148

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w o u l d c e r t a i n l y d o w o r s e t h i n g s . T h e m o s t e x p e n s i v e w e a p o n s are o n e s t h a t are u n u s a b l e as s u c h : t h e i r utility lies precisely in t h e q u a n t i t y of w e a l t h s u n k i n t o t h e m , w h i c h w o u l d o t h e r w i s e u n l e a s h itself i n o t h e r fields for t h e r u i n a t i o n o f t h e e a r t h a n d t h e d e g r a d a t i o n o f its p e o p l e s . If, i n s t e a d o f m i l l i o n s o f p r i v a t e cars, w e b u i l t b a t t l e t a n k s , t h e y w o u l d all e n d u p i n u n d e r g r o u n d d e p o t s a n d o u r cities w o u l d b e able t o b r e a t h e . ' So, w e s h o u l d n ' t k e e p g o i n g o n a b o u t c o r r u p t i o n a n d e m b e z z l e m e n t o f all k i n d s (in any case, t h e r e c r i m i n a t i o n is p a r t of t h e c r i m e ) . We s h o u l d lucidly take t h e v i e w that, f r o m a rational p o i n t of v i e w a n d a reasonable h u m a n perspective, t h e r e are no l o n g e r sufficient n e e d s o r useful e n d s t o c o p e w i t h s u c h a mass o f m o n e y a n d r e s o u r c e s . W e r e i t n o t for efficient, o r g a n i z e d e m b e z z l e m e n t , t h e r e i s a d a n g e r w e w o u l d be c o n f r o n t e d w i t h an excess of m e a n s a n d a s h o r t a g e of e n d s — a grave a n d d e m o r a l i z i n g s i t u a t i o n w h i c h w e m u s t stave off w i t h b a n k r u p t c i e s , waste, m i s u s e o f p u b l i c funds, etc. T h e o n l y offender i n all this, i f w e a c c e p t t h a t t h e m a i n f u n c t i o n o f m o n e y i s t o circulate a n d b e s p e n t , i s t h e small saver. F o r w h e r e a s t h e b i g financial c r o o k s m e r e l y c o n t r a v e n e t h e m o r a l l a w o r legality, h e c o n t r a v e n e s t h e i m m o r a l law, t h e p r o f o u n d l a w of o u r s o c i e t y . . . Saving, t h e r e t e n t i o n of m o n i e s , t h e u n l a w f u l i m p r i s o n m e n t o f p r i v a t e funds w h i c h c o u l d b e p u t t o p u b l i c use, t h a t i s t o say w h i c h c o u l d b e c o m e l i q u i d capital — t h a t i s w h e r e real c o r r u p t i o n lies today. A n d i t i s o n l y r i g h t t h a t t h e l a w s h o u l d c o m e d o w n o n t h e small saver a t t h e s a m e t i m e a s i t grants a n a m n e s t y t o t h e large-scale fraudsters a n d gives t h e g r e e n light t o t h e i r operations. 19 February

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Disneyworld

Company

I n t h e early 1980s, w h e n t h e i r o n a n d steel i n d u s t r y o f L o r r a i n e w e n t i n t o i r r e versible d e c l i n e , t h e a u t h o r i t i e s h a d t h e i d e a o f c u s h i o n i n g t h e collapse b y c r e a t i n g a E u r o p e a n leisure p a r k , a n ' i n t e l l i g e n t ' t h e m e p a r k i n t e n d e d t o r e - i n j e c t s o m e d y n a m i s m i n t o t h e r e g i o n . I t was called S m u r f J a n d .

31

T h e managing director of the

d e f u n c t s t e e l w o r k s b e c a m e , q u i t e naturally, t h e m a n a g i n g d i r e c t o r o f t h e t h e m e p a r k a n d t h e u n e m p l o y e d s t e e l w o r k e r s w e r e r e - e m p l o y e d a s ' S m u r f m e n ' . Sadly, w h e n t h e p a r k itself h a d for v a r i o u s reasons t o close its d o o r s , t h e e x - s t e e l w o r k e r s f o u n d t h e m s e l v e s u n e m p l o y e d o n c e again. A g r i m destiny w h i c h m a d e t h e m , first, real v i c t i m s o f t h e w o r l d o f w o r k , t h e n p h a n t o m v i c t i m s o f leisure, t h e n , i n t h e e n d , cast-offs f r o m b o t h spheres. B u t Smurfland was merely a miniature. T h e Disney enterprise is on quite a n o t h e r scale. T o g e t s o m e i d e a o f it, y o u h a v e t o k n o w t h a t D i s n e y ' U n l i m i t e d ' , after t a k i n g over o n e o f t h e b i g g e s t A m e r i c a n T V c h a n n e l s , i s c u r r e n t l y b u y i n g u p

3 1 . Strictly speaking, it was called Schtroumpfland, but was largely k n o w n as Smurfland in t h e UK (les Schtwumps = t h e Smurfs).

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4 2 n d Street i n N e w York, t h e ' r e d light district' o f 4 2 n d Street, t o t u r n i t i n t o a k i n d of e r o t i c a m u s e m e n t z o n e , w i t h o u t c h a n g i n g it in any — significant — w a y It is m e r e l y t r a n s f o r m i n g a m e c c a of p o r n o g r a p h y , in situ, i n t o a s u b s i d i a r y of Disneyworld.

Transforming the p o r n o g r a p h e r s and the prostitutes,

like t h e

S m u r f l a n d s t e e l w o r k e r s , i n t o extras i n t h e i r o w n w o r l d , all m e t a m o r p h o s e d i n t o s o m e t h i n g identical, into m u s e u m pieces, Disney characters. A n d d o you k n o w h o w G e n e r a l S c h w a r z k o p f , a r c h i t e c t o f t h e U S G u l f W a r strategy, c e l e b r a t e d his ' v i c t o r y ' ? W i t h a g i g a n t i c p a r t y a t D i s n e y w o r l d . S u c h revellings i n t h e m e c c a o f t h e i m a g i n a t i o n w e r e surely a w o r t h y c o n c l u s i o n t o t h a t v i r t u a l w a r . B u t the Disney enterprise goes further than t h e imagination. T h e great p r e c u r sor, t h e initiator of t h e virtual reality of t h e i m a g i n a t i o n , is c u r r e n t l y t a k i n g over t h e w h o l e o f t h e real w o r l d t o i n c o r p o r a t e i t i n t o its s y n t h e t i c w o r l d i n t h e f o r m o f a n i m m e n s e 'reality s h o w ' , in w h i c h it is reality itself w h i c h presents itself as spectacle, i n w h i c h t h e real itself b e c o m e s a t h e m e p a r k . A reality transfusion, t h e w a y w e speak of b l o o d transfusions. E x c e p t , in this case, it is a transfusion of real b l o o d i n t o the bloodless universe of the virtual. T h e y are e v e n r e b u i l d i n g a n e x a c t r e p l i c a o f D i s n e y l a n d L o s A n g e l e s a t D i s n e y w o r l d in O r l a n d o . Like a k i n d of second-level attraction, a s i m u l a c r u m raised t o t h e s e c o n d p o w e r . T h i s i s t h e s a m e j o b a s C N N d i d o n t h e G u l f W a r t h e p r o t o t y p e o f t h e e v e n t w h i c h d i d n o t t a k e p l a c e b e c a u s e i t t o o k p l a c e i n real t i m e , i n t h e i n s t a n t a n e i t y o f C N N . Today, D i s n e y m i g h t w e l l restage t h e G u l f W a r as a global attraction. Christmas at Eurodisney was celebrated w i t h the R e d A r m y c h o i r s . E v e r y t h i n g i s possible, e v e r y t h i n g can b e r e c y c l e d i n t h e p o l y m o r p h o u s w o r l d o f t h e v i r t u a l . N o t h i n g i s i r r e d e e m a b l e . T h e r e i s n o real r e a s o n w h y D i s n e y should not buy up the h u m a n g e n o m e , w h i c h is currently being sequenced, to t u r n it into a genetic attraction. W h y n o t cryogenize the w h o l e planet, exactly as Walt D i s n e y h a d h i m s e l f c r y o g e n i z e d i n l i q u i d n i t r o g e n , w i t h a v i e w t o s o m e k i n d

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o f r e s u r r e c t i o n o r o t h e r i n t h e real w o r l d ? B u t t h e r e n o l o n g e r i s a real w o r l d , a n d t h e r e w o n ' t b e o n e — n o t e v e n for Walt D i s n e y : i f h e w a k e s u p o n e day he'll get t h e s h o c k o f his life. I n t h e m e a n t i m e , f r o m t h e d e p t h s o f his l i q u i d n i t r o g e n h e g o e s o n a n n e x i n g t h e w o r l d - b o t h i m a g i n a r y a n d real - s u b s u m i n g i t i n t o t h e spectral u n i v e r s e o f v i r t u a l reality i n w h i c h w e h a v e all b e c o m e extras. T h e difference i s t h a t , a s w e slip o n o u r data suits o r o u r s e n s o r s , o r t a p away a t o u r k e y b o a r d s , w e are m o v i n g i n t o l i v i n g spectrality, w h e r e a s h e , t h e b r i l l i a n t p r e c u r s o r , has m o v e d i n t o t h e v i r t u a l reality o f d e a t h . T h e N e w W o r l d O r d e r i s a D i s n e y i s h o r d e r . B u t D i s n e y i s n o t a l o n e i n this k i n d o f attractive c a n n i b a l i s m . W e ' v e seen B e n e t t o n d r a w o n all t h e i m m e d i a c y o f t h e h u m a n d r a m a i n its a d v e r t i s i n g c a m p a i g n s ( A I D S , B o s n i a , p o v e r t y , a p a r t h e i d ) b y transfusing reality i n t o t h e N e w M e d i a F i g u r a t i o n a t t h e p o i n t w h e r e m i s e r y a n d c o m m i s e r a t i o n c o m e t o r e s o n a t e t o g e t h e r interactively. T h e v i r t u a l b u y s u p t h e real 'as is' a n d serves it up j u s t so: ' r e a d y - t o - g o ' . If this o p e r a t i o n can be successful on s u c h a scale, w i t h o u t i n c u r r i n g a n y t h i n g b u t m o r a l disapproval, a n d i n d e e d a r o u s i n g universal fascination, this is b e c a u s e reality itself, t h e w o r l d itself, w i t h all its frenetic c l o n e activity, has already t r a n s f o r m e d itself i n t o a n i n t e r a c t i v e p e r f o r m a n c e , i n t o a k i n d o f L u n a p a r k o f i d e o l o g i e s , t e c h n o l o g i e s , w o r k s , k n o w l e d g e - a n d e v e n o f d e a t h a n d d e s t r u c t i o n . All j u s t r i g h t for c l o n i n g a n d r e s u s c i t a t i o n i n a n infantile m u s e u m o f t h e I m a g i n a t i o n , i n a v i r t u a l museum of Information. Similarly, there's n o p o i n t l o o k i n g for c o m p u t e r viruses. W e are all c a u g h t u p i n t h e viral i n t e r c o n n e c t i o n of systems, a n d it is i n f o r m a t i o n itself w h i c h is t h e v i r u s , n o t yet t r a n s m i t t e d sexually, b u t m u c h m o r e effectively c o n d u c t e d a l o n g digital channels. S o D i s n e y m e r e l y has t o s t o o p d o w n t o p i c k u p reality a s i t is. ' B u i l t - i n s p e c t a c l e ' , a s G u y D e b o r d w o u l d say. B u t w e are n o l o n g e r i n t h e s o c i e t y o f t h e 152

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spectacle, w h i c h has itself b e c o m e a s p e c t a c u l a r c o n c e p t . I t i s n o l o n g e r t h e c o n t a g i o n o f s p e c t a c l e w h i c h alters reality, i t i s t h e c o n t a g i o n o f t h e v i r t u a l w h i c h obliterates t h e spectacle. W i t h its d i v e r t i n g , d i s t a n c i n g effects, D i s n e y l a n d still r e p r e s e n t e d spectacle a n d folklore, b u t w i t h D i s n e y w o r l d a n d its t e n t a c u l a r e x t e n s i o n , w e are d e a l i n g w i t h a g e n e r a l i z e d metastasis, w i t h a c l o n i n g o f t h e w o r l d a n d o f o u r m e n t a l u n i v e r s e , n o t i n t h e i m a g i n a r y register, b u t i n t h e viral a n d t h e v i r t u a l . W e are b e c o m i n g n o t a l i e n a t e d , passive s p e c t a t o r s , b u t i n t e r a c t i v e extras, t h e m e e k , f r e e z e - d r i e d extras i n this i m m e n s e reality show. T h i s i s n o l o n g e r t h e s p e c t a c u l a r l o g i c of a l i e n a t i o n , b u t a spectral l o g i c of d i s e m b o d i m e n t ; n o t a fantastic l o g i c of d i v e r s i o n , b u t a c o r p u s c u l a r l o g i c o f transfusion, t r a n s u b s t a n t i a t i o n o f e a c h o f o u r cells. A n u n d e r t a k i n g o f radical d e t e r r e n c e o f t h e w o r l d , t h e n , b u t f r o m t h e inside this t i m e , n o t f r o m o u t s i d e , a s w e saw i n w h a t i s n o w t h e a l m o s t n o s t a l g i c w o r l d o f capitalist reality. In virtual reality t h e e x t r a is no l o n g e r e i t h e r an a c t o r or a s p e c t a t o r ; he is off-stage, he is a t r a n s p a r e n t o p e r a t o r . A n d D i s n e y w i n s o n yet a n o t h e r level. N o t c o n t e n t w i t h o b l i t e r a t i n g t h e real b y t u r n i n g i t i n t o a 3 - D , b u t d e p t h l e s s , v i r t u a l i m a g e , i t obliterates t i m e b y s y n c h r o n i z i n g all p e r i o d s , all c u l t u r e s i n t h e s a m e t r a c k i n g shot, b y s e t t i n g t h e m a l o n g s i d e e a c h o t h e r in t h e s a m e s c e n a r i o . In this way, it i n a u g u r a t e s real t i m e — t i m e as a single p o i n t , o n e - d i m e n s i o n a l t i m e , a t h i n g w h i c h i s also w i t h o u t d e p t h : n e i t h e r p r e s e n t , past n o r future, b u t t h e i m m e d i a t e s y n c h r o n y o f all places a n d all t i m e s i n t h e s a m e timeless virtuality. T h e lapsing o r collapsing o f t i m e : this i s t h e real f o u r t h d i m e n s i o n . T h e d i m e n s i o n o f t h e v i r t u a l , o f real t i m e , t h e d i m e n s i o n w h i c h , far from s u p e r a d d i n g itself to t h e t h r e e d i m e n s i o n s of real space, obliterates t h e m all. So it has b e e n suggested that in a c e n t u r y or a m i l l e n n i u m , t h e o l d 'swords a n d sandals' epics w i l l b e s e e n a s actual R o m a n films, d a t i n g f r o m t h e R o m a n p e r i o d , a s t r u e documentaries on Antiquity; that the Paul Getty M u s e u m at Malibu, a pastiche of a villa f r o m P o m p e i i , will be c o n f u s e d a n a c h r o n i s t i c a l l y w i t h a villa f r o m t h e t h i r d

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c e n t u r y B . C . (as will t h e w o r k s i n s i d e : R e m b r a n d t a n d Fra A n g e l i c o will all b e j u m b l e d together in the same flattening of time); and that the c o m m e m o r a t i o n of t h e F r e n c h R e v o l u t i o n a t Los A n g e l e s i n 1 9 8 9 will b e confused retrospectively w i t h t h e real e v e n t . D i s n e y achieves t h e de facto realization of this timeless Utopia by p r o d u c i n g all events, past o r future, o n s i m u l t a n e o u s screens, remorselessly m i x i n g all t h e s e q u e n c e s as t h e y w o u l d — or will — a p p e a r to a civilization o t h e r t h a n o u r o w n . B u t this is already our civilization. It is already increasingly difficult for us to i m a g i n e t h e real, t o i m a g i n e History, t h e d e p t h o f t i m e , t h r e e - d i m e n s i o n a l space - j u s t a s difficult a s i t o n c e w a s , starting o u t f r o m t h e real w o r l d , t o i m a g i n e t h e v i r t u a l o n e or the fourth dimension. 4 March

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1996

The Global and the Universal

G l o b a l i z a t i o n a n d universality d o n o t g o t o g e t h e r . I n d e e d , t h e y m i g h t b e said t o b e m u t u a l l y exclusive. G l o b a l i z a t i o n i s t h e g l o b a l i z a t i o n o f t e c h n o l o g i e s , t h e m a r k e t , t o u r i s m a n d i n f o r m a t i o n . U n i v e r s a l i t y i s t h e universality o f values, h u m a n r i g h t s , f r e e d o m s , c u l t u r e a n d d e m o c r a c y . G l o b a l i z a t i o n s e e m s irreversible; t h e universal m i g h t be said, by c o n t r a s t , to be d i s a p p e a r i n g . At least as c o n s t i t u t e d as a s y s t e m of values a t t h e level o f W e s t e r n m o d e r n i t y , w h i c h i s s o m e t h i n g t h a t has n o e q u i v a l e n t i n any o t h e r c u l t u r e . E v e n a living, c o n t e m p o r a r y c u l t u r e like t h e J a p a n e s e has n o t e r m for it. N o w o r d t o refer t o a system o f values w h i c h regards itself a s a t t u n e d t o all c u l t u r e s a n d t h e i r difference b u t w h i c h , paradoxically, d o e s n o t c o n c e i v e itself as relative, a n d aspires, in all i n g e n u o u s n e s s , to be t h e ideal t r a n s c e n d e n c e [depassetnent] o f all t h e o t h e r s . W e d o n o t i m a g i n e for a m o m e n t t h a t t h e universal m i g h t m e r e l y b e t h e p a r t i c u l a r style o f t h i n k i n g o f t h e W e s t , its specific p r o d u c t - a n original one, admittedly, but in the end no m o r e exportable than any h o m e - g r o w n p r o d u c t . A n d yet, this is h o w t h e J a p a n e s e see it, as a specific, W e s t e r n feature; a n d , far f r o m s i g n i n g up to an abstract c o n c e p t , they, by a s t r a n g e twist, relativize o u r universal a n d i n c o r p o r a t e i t i n t o t h e i r singularity.

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E v e r y c u l t u r e w o r t h y o f t h e n a m e c o m e s t o g r i e f i n t h e universal. E v e r y c u l t u r e w h i c h universalizes itself loses its s i n g u l a r i t y a n d dies away. T h i s is h o w it is w i t h t h o s e we h a v e d e s t r o y e d by t h e i r e n f o r c e d assimilation, b u t it is also h o w it is w i t h o u r s i n its p r e t e n s i o n t o universality. T h e difference i s that t h e o t h e r s d i e d o f t h e i r singularity, w h i c h is a fine d e a t h ; w h e r e a s we are d y i n g f r o m t h e loss of all s i n g u larity, f r o m t h e e x t e r m i n a t i o n o f all o u r values, w h i c h i s a n i g n o b l e d e a t h . W e b e l i e v e t h e fate o f e v e r y value i s t o b e elevated t o universality, w i t h o u t g a u g i n g t h e m o r t a l d a n g e r that p r o m o t i o n r e p r e s e n t s : far r a t h e r t h a n a n e l e v a t i o n , t h a t process r e p r e s e n t s a r e d u c t i o n or, alternatively, a n e l e v a t i o n t o t h e d e g r e e z e r o o f value. I n E n l i g h t e n m e n t times, universalization o c c u r r e d at the top, by an u p w a r d progress i o n . Today, i t h a p p e n s a t t h e b o t t o m , b y a n e u t r a l i z a t i o n o f values d u e t o t h e i r p r o l i f e r a t i o n a n d indefinite e x t e n s i o n . T h i s i s h o w i t i s w i t h h u m a n r i g h t s , d e m o c racy, e t c . T h e i r e x p a n s i o n c o r r e s p o n d s t o t h e i r w e a k e s t d e f i n i t i o n , t h e i r m a x i m u m e n t r o p y . D e g r e e X e r o x o f value. I n fact, t h e universal p e r i s h e s i n g l o b a l i z a t i o n . O n c e it is t u r n e d i n t o a reality, t h e d y n a m i c of t h e universal as t r a n s c e n d e n c e , as ideal g o a l , as Utopia, ceases to exist as s u c h . T h e g l o b a l i z a t i o n of t r a d e p u t s an e n d to t h e universality of values. It is t h e t r i u m p h of la pensee unique o v e r universal thought.

3 2

W h a t first b e c o m e s globalized is t h e m a r k e t , t h e p r o m i s c u i t y of all e x c h a n g e s a n d p r o d u c t s , t h e p e r p e t u a l flow of m o n e y . In c u l t u r a l t e r m s , it is t h e p r o m i s c u i t y of all signs a n d values or, i n o t h e r w o r d s , p o r n o g r a p h y . F o r t h e w o r l d w i d e b r o a d c a s t i n g 32.

'La pensee unique' has in recent years b e c o m e o n e of the watchwords of French political dis-

cussion. It implies a single-track t h i n k i n g of the kind o n c e referred to in Britain by the acronym T I N A ('There is no alternative'). T h e editor of Le Monde diplomatique has defined it as 'the translation into ideological terms . . . of the interests of a set of e c o n o m i c forces, in particular those of international capital' (Ignacio R a m o n e t , 'La pensee u n i q u e ' , Le Monde diplomatique, no. 490, January 1995).

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a n d p a r a d i n g o f a n y t h i n g a n d e v e r y t h i n g over t h e n e t w o r k s i s p o r n o g r a p h y . N o n e e d for sexual o b s c e n i t y ; this i n t e r a c t i v e c o p u l a t i o n suffices. A t t h e e n d o f this process t h e r e i s n o l o n g e r any difference b e t w e e n t h e global a n d t h e universal. T h e universal itself i s g l o b a l i z e d : d e m o c r a c y a n d h u m a n r i g h t s circulate like a n y o t h e r global p r o d u c t - like oil or capital. G i v e n all this, w e m a y ask o u r s e l v e s w h e t h e r t h e universal has n o t already s u c c u m b e d t o its o w n critical mass, a n d i f i t has ever h a d a n y t h i n g b u t l i p - s e r v i c e p a i d t o it, o r b e e n h o n o u r e d a n y w h e r e b u t i n official m o r a l i t i e s . A t any rate, for u s t h e m i r r o r of t h e u n i v e r s a l is s h a t t e r e d (we c a n , in fact, see in this s o m e t h i n g like t h e m i r r o r - s t a g e of h u m a n i t y ) . B u t p e r h a p s this is f o r t u n a t e , for, in t h e fragments of this b r o k e n m i r r o r , all t h e singularities r e - e m e r g e . T h e o n e s w e t h o u g h t t h r e a t e n e d s u r vive, t h e o n e s w e t h o u g h t h a d d i s a p p e a r e d revive. T h e case o f J a p a n is, o n c e again, q u i t e r e m a r k a b l e i n this c o n n e c t i o n . J a p a n has a c h i e v e d its (technical, e c o n o m i c a n d financial) g l o b a l i z a t i o n b e t t e r t h a n a n y o t h e r c o u n t r y , b u t has d o n e so without passing through the universal (the succession of b o u r g e o i s ideologies a n d f o r m s of political e c o n o m y ) a n d w i t h o u t l o s i n g a n y t h i n g o f its singularity, d e s p i t e w h a t i s said. W e m a y e v e n s u p p o s e t h a t i t was a s a result o f n o t b e i n g e n c u m b e r e d b y t h e universal t h a t i t has h a d s u c h global, t e c h n i c a l success, directly c o m b i n i n g t h e singular (the p o w e r o f ritual) w i t h t h e global (virtual p o w e r ) . T h e increasingly intense resistances to globalization — social a n d political resistances, w h i c h m a y s e e m like an archaic r e j e c t i o n of m o d e r n i t y at all costs - have to be seen as h a r b o u r i n g an o r i g i n a l defiant r e a c t i o n to t h e sway of t h e universal. S o m e t h i n g w h i c h goes b e y o n d t h e e c o n o m i c a n d t h e political. A k i n d o f painful revisionism i n respect of t h e established positions of m o d e r n i t y , in respect of t h e idea of progress a n d history - a k i n d of rejection n o t o n l y of t h e f a m o u s global t e c h n o s t r u c t u r e , b u t of t h e m e n t a l s t r u c t u r e of t h e identification of all cultures a n d all c o n t i n e n t s in t h e c o n c e p t of t h e universal. T h i s r e s u r g e n c e — or e v e n i n s u r r e c t i o n — of singularity m a y assume

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v i o l e n t , a n o m a l o u s , irrational aspects from t h e v i e w p o i n t o f ' e n l i g h t e n e d ' t h o u g h t it m a y take e t h n i c , religious or linguistic f o r m s , b u t also, at t h e individual level, m a y find expression in character disorders or n e u r o s e s . B u t it w o u l d be a basic e r r o r (the v e r y e r r o r o n e sees e m e r g i n g i n t h e m o r a l o r c h e s t r a t i o n o f t h e politically c o r r e c t disc o u r s e c o m m o n t o all t h e p o w e r s - t h a t - b e a n d t o m a n y 'intellectuals') t o c o n d e m n all these u p s u r g e s o u t o f h a n d a s populist, archaic o r e v e n terroristic. E v e r y t h i n g w h i c h constitutes an event t o d a y is d o n e against t h e universal, against t h a t abstract u n i v e r sality (and this includes t h e frantic a n t a g o n i s m of Islam to W e s t e r n values: it is because it is t h e m o s t v e h e m e n t protest against this W e s t e r n globalization that Islam t o d a y is public e n e m y n u m b e r o n e ) . I f w e will n o t u n d e r s t a n d this, t h e n w e will b e c a u g h t u p in an endless a n d pointless w r a n g l e b e t w e e n a universal t h o u g h t assured of its p o w e r a n d g o o d c o n s c i e n c e a n d a n ever greater n u m b e r o f implacable singularities. E v e n i n o u r societies w h i c h are a c c u l t u r a t e d t o t h e universal, o n e can see t h a t n o n e o f w h a t has b e e n sacrificed to this c o n c e p t has really disappeared. It has simply g o n e u n d e r g r o u n d . A n d w h a t i s n o w r u n n i n g b a c k w a r d s i s a w h o l e self-styled progressive history, a w h o l e e v o l u t i o n i s m crystallized on its e n d - p o i n t — an e n d - p o i n t w h i c h has, in fact, b e e n lost sight of in t h e m e a n t i m e . T h a t Utopia has fallen apart t o d a y a n d its deep-level dislocation is a d v a n c i n g e v e n m o r e q u i c k l y t h a n its c o n s o l i d a t i o n by force. We have before us a c o m p l e x t h r e e - t e r m arrangement: there is the globalization o f e x c h a n g e s , t h e universality o f values a n d t h e singularity o f f o r m s (languages, c u l t u r e s , i n d i v i d u a l s a n d c h a r a c t e r s , b u t also c h a n c e , a c c i d e n t , e t c . - all t h a t t h e universal, i n k e e p i n g w i t h its law, i m p u g n s a s a n e x c e p t i o n o r a n o m a l y ) . N o w , a s universal values lose s o m e o f t h e i r a u t h o r i t y a n d legitimacy, t h e s i t u a t i o n c h a n g e s a n d b e c o m e s m o r e radical. S o l o n g a s t h e y c o u l d assert t h e m s e l v e s a s m e d i a t i n g values, t h e y w e r e ( m o r e or less well) able to i n t e g r a t e t h e singularities as differences, in a universal c u l t u r e of difference. H o w e v e r , as t r i u m p h a n t g l o b a l i z a t i o n s w e e p s away all differences a n d all values, u s h e r i n g in a perfectly i n - d i f f e r e n t ( u n ) c u l t u r e ,

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t h e y can n o l o n g e r d o this. A n d o n c e t h e universal has disappeared, all t h a t r e m a i n s i s t h e a l l - p o w e r f u l global t e c h n o s t r u c t u r e s t a n d i n g o v e r against t h e singularities w h i c h h a v e r e v e r t e d t o t h e w i l d state a n d b e e n t h r o w n b a c k o n t h e i r o w n d e v i c e s . T h e universal has h a d its h i s t o r i c a l c h a n c e . B u t today, c o n f r o n t e d w i t h a n e w w o r l d order to w h i c h there is no alternative, w i t h an irrevocable globalization on t h e o n e h a n d a n d t h e w a y w a r d drift o r t o o t h - a n d - n a i l revolt o f singularities o n t h e o t h e r , t h e c o n c e p t s o f liberty, d e m o c r a c y a n d h u m a n r i g h t s c u t a v e r y p a l e figure i n d e e d , b e i n g m e r e l y t h e p h a n t o m s o f a v a n i s h e d universal. A n d i t i s h a r d t o i m a g i n e t h e universal r i s i n g f r o m its ashes o r t o b e l i e v e t h a t t h i n g s can b e s o r t e d o u t b y t h e m e r e play o f politics - this latter b e i n g c a u g h t u p i n t h e s a m e d e r e g u l a t i o n a n d h a v i n g barely a n y m o r e s u b s t a n c e t o i t t h a n i n t e l l e c t u a l o r m o r a l p o w e r . M a t t e r s are n o t , h o w e v e r , finally settled, e v e n if it is n o w all up w i t h universal values. I n t h e v o i d left b y t h e universal, t h e stakes h a v e risen, a n d g l o b a l i z a t i o n isn't certain t o b e t h e w i n n e r . I n t h e face o f its h o m o g e n i z i n g , solvent p o w e r , w e c a n see h e t e r o g e n e o u s forces s p r i n g i n g u p all over, forces w h i c h are n o t o n l y different, b u t antagonistic and irreducible. 18 March

159

1996

Deep Blue or the Computer's Melancholia

T h e clash b e t w e e n a h u m a n b e i n g a n d a n ' i n t e l l i g e n t ' artefact (Kasparov against D e e p Blue) is highly symbolic, n o t only on a c c o u n t of the prestige of the g a m e of chess, b u t b e c a u s e i t s u m s u p t h e d i l e m m a o f h u m a n b e i n g s w h e r e all o u r c o n t e m p o r a r y m a c h i n e s are c o n c e r n e d : c o m p u t e r s , v i r t u a l o r c y b e r n e t i c d e v i c e s , n e t w o r k s , etc. B e h i n d t h e i n s t r u m e n t a l , creative o r interactive use w e m a k e o f s u c h m a c h i n e s , t h e r e is, at b o t t o m , always a clash, a c h a l l e n g e , a m a t c h , a d u e l , in w h i c h o n e o f t h e parties m a y b e c h e c k m a t e d o r lose face. T h e r e i s n o i n t e r a c t i v i t y w i t h m a c h i n e s (any m o r e , i n fact, t h a n t h e r e i s w i t h h u m a n b e i n g s : t h a t i s t h e illusion o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n ) . T h e interface d o e s n o t exist. T h e r e i s always, b e h i n d t h e a p p a r e n t i n n o c e n c e o f t h e t e c h n o l o g y , a n issue o f rivalry a n d c o n t r o l . T h e g a m e o f chess m e r e l y carries this s i t u a t i o n t o e x t r e m e s . So, i n t h e e n d , Kasparov b e a t t h e c o m p u t e r , a n d e v e r y o n e was greatly relieved, since in a w a y t h e h o n o u r of t h e species was at stake. E v e n if h u m a n intelligence will o n e day have to a d m i t defeat, that m o m e n t m u s t be p o s t p o n e d for as l o n g as possible. A n d this is w h a t makes this v i c t o r y s o m e w h a t a m b i g u o u s , for e v e n if it was n o t rigged (and it certainly wasn't), Kasparov c o u l d n o t - at all costs - n o t w i n . M a n dreams w i t h

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all his m i g h t of i n v e n t i n g a m a c h i n e w h i c h is s u p e r i o r to himself, w h i l e at t h e same t i m e h e c a n n o t c o n c e i v e o f n o t r e m a i n i n g master o f his creations. H e can n o m o r e d o this t h a n G o d c o u l d . C o u l d G o d have envisaged creating m a n s u p e r i o r t o himself a n d confronting h i m in a decisive c o m b a t (with D e e p Blue, Kasparov was m o r e or less p i t t i n g h i m s e l f against a technical divinity, a technical s u p e r e g o divine in essence)? Yet that i s w h a t w e d o w i t h o u r c y b e r n e t i c creations, a n d w e offer t h e m a c h a n c e t o b e a t us. O r , rather, it is o u r d r e a m that t h e y s h o u l d surpass us - a n d do this, of c o u r s e , as a m a r k of o u r p o w e r , t h o u g h we c a n n o t b e a r this either. So, m a n is t r a p p e d in t h e Utopian aspiration of h a v i n g a d o u b l e s u p e r i o r to himself, b u t o n e he n o n e t h e l e s s has t o b e a t t o save face. G o d himself, defeated b y his o w n creature, w o u l d have c o m m i t t e d suicide. M o r e o v e r , o n t h e o n l y occasion o n w h i c h h u m a n b e i n g s really s t o o d u p t o h i m , i n t h e T o w e r o f Babel episode, h e i m m e d i a t e l y cut t h e i r supply lines, i n t h e form of language and mutual understanding. If computers were in danger of gaining t h e u p p e r h a n d , s h o u l d w e n o t spread t h e s a m e confusion a m o n g artificial languages a s G o d d i d a m o n g natural ones? B u t w e k n o w that t h e diversity o f l a n g u a g e e v e n t u ally b e c a m e man's privilege a n d his absolute w e a p o n . It is, in a way, t h a n k s to that diversity that h u m a n beings g o t t h e b e t t e r o f G o d b y i n v e n t i n g m u l t i p l e w o r l d s a n d divinities, each in t h e i m a g e of t h e i r respective languages. B u t , t o c o m e b a c k t o Kasparov, i f h e w o n , i t was surely b e c a u s e h e i s ( m e t a p h o r ically) c a p a b l e o f s p e a k i n g m o r e t h a n o n e l a n g u a g e : t h a t o f t h e e m o t i o n s , o f i n t u i t i o n , o f t h e s t r a t a g e m , i n a w o r d , t h e l a n g u a g e o f play - n o t t o m e n t i o n t h e l a n g u a g e o f c a l c u l a t i o n . W h e r e a s D e e p B l u e speaks o n l y t h e l a n g u a g e o f c a l c u l a t i o n . T h e day this latter l a n g u a g e prevails, i n w h a t e v e r f o r m , K a s p a r o v will b e b e a t e n . T h e day m a n h i m s e l f speaks o n l y t h a t single l a n g u a g e - t h e l a n g u a g e o f c o m p u t e r s - h e will b e b e a t e n . I n t e r m s o f play, m a n i s n e i t h e r i n f e r i o r n o r s u p e r i o r t o G o d : h e has m a n a g e d t o k e e p u p a k i n d o f rivalry a n d o p e n g a m e . T h i s i s w h a t w e can best h o p e for.

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B a l t h a z a r G r a c i a n said t h a t G o d ' s strategy i s t o k e e p m a n e t e r n a l l y i n suspense. B u t t h e p r o p o s i t i o n i s reversible a n d w e t o o k e e p H i m i n suspense. I t i s t h e s a m e i n t h e c o n f r o n t a t i o n b e t w e e n n a t u r a l a n d artificial i n t e l l i g e n c e : t h e rivalry i s u l t i m a t e l y irresolvable, a n d t h e best t h i n g i s for t h e m a t c h t o b e e t e r n a l l y p o s t p o n e d . T h e possible v i c t o r y o f t h e c o m p u t e r p o s e s n o p r o b l e m : w e k n o w i t c a n b e d u e o n l y t o c a l c u l a t i n g p o w e r . T h e i n t e r e s t i n g q u e s t i o n is: w h a t m a k e s K a s p a r o v w i n ? T h e f i r s t a n s w e r i s g i v e n b y K a s p a r o v h i m s e l f w h e n h e says, ' I play w i t h o u t t h i n k i n g . M y h a n d s m o v e faster t h a n m y t h i n k i n g . ' Clearly, D e e p B l u e has n o h a n d s t o m o v e faster t h a n its t h i n k i n g . It c a n o n l y t h i n k fast. N o w , it is a feature of h u m a n b e i n g s t h a t t h e y m o v e faster t h a n t h e i r t h i n k i n g , t h a n k s t o s o m e t h i n g relating t o t h e i r b o d i e s , t h e i r sex, a n d w h i c h , i n a way, d o e s n o t e v e n pass t h r o u g h t h e b l a c k b o x of t h e b r a i n . Y o u can call it affect, i n t u i t i o n , strategy. Y o u c a n call it ' p s y c h o l o g y ' . B u t i t isn't s o m u c h a q u e s t i o n o f any ' p s y c h i c a l ' faculties w h i c h m a n m i g h t possess i n a d d i t i o n t o his m e n t a l faculties o f c a l c u l a t i o n . T h e basic difference is that, for Kasparov, t h e r e is an o p p o n e n t , a n o t h e r party. F o r D e e p B l u e , t h e r e is n o t h i n g o u t t h e r e - n o o t h e r , n o o p p o n e n t . I t m o v e s w i t h i n t h e confines o f its o w n p r o g r a m m e . T h e s a m e applies h e r e , relatively s p e a k i n g , a s w i t h ' D e s e r t S t o r m ' : for t h e G u l f W a r c o m p u t e r s , t h e r e w e r e n o o t h e r s , n o Iraqis, n o e n e m i e s ( n o t even any A m e r i c a n s , i n t h e e n d ) ; t h e w h o l e t h i n g was played o u t i n a c l o s e d c i r c u i t o n t h e basis of c a l c u l a t i o n . N o w , it is precisely at this p o i n t , b e y o n d t h e m e n t a l p o w e r of calculation, that t h e h u m a n b e i n g can e x p e c t t o b e definitively s u p e r i o r — i n t h a t r e l a t i o n s h i p o f o t h e r ness w h i c h i s b a s e d o n r e l i n q u i s h m e n t o f his o w n t h o u g h t . T h i s r e l i n q u i s h m e n t , w h i c h D e e p B l u e will n e v e r k n o w , i s t h e s u b t l e a s s u m p t i o n o f g a m e - p l a y i n g . I t i s h e r e t h a t t h e h u m a n b e i n g c a n i m p o s e h i m s e l f t h r o u g h illusion, decoy, c h a l l e n g e , s e d u c t i o n a n d sacrifice. I t i s this strategy o f n o t g o i n g t h e full h o g , o f p l a y i n g w i t h i n o n e ' s c a p a b i l i t i e s , t h a t t h e c o m p u t e r u n d e r s t a n d s least w e l l , s i n c e i t i s

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c o n d e m n e d t o play a t t h e h e i g h t o f its capabilities. T h i s s y n c o p a t i o n o r ellipsis o f presence by w h i c h you provoke the e m e r g e n c e of the other - even in the f o r m of t h e v i r t u a l e g o of t h e c o m p u t e r - is real g a m e - p l a y e r ' s t h i n k i n g . K a s p a r o v h i m s e l f has s p o k e n (to ask that i t b e t a k e n a c c o u n t o f i n t h e t i m e o n t h e clocks) o f this ' d e a d t i m e o f t h e real d u r i n g w h i c h h e really t h i n k s ' . T h a t i s t o say, d u r i n g w h i c h h e i s m e n t a l l y a b s e n t , w h i l e t h e o t h e r party, D e e p B l u e , i s s u n k i n c a l c u l a t i o n . T h e h u m a n b e i n g takes this distraction o f t h o u g h t , this ' d e a d t i m e ' , f r o m his available t i m e , w h e r e a s t h e c o m p u t e r d o e s n o t d i v e r t a single s e c o n d f r o m its o w n c a l c u l a t i n g t i m e . B u t , paradoxically, it is this w h i c h t u r n s r o u n d against it. K a s p a r o v insists o n t h e fact t h a t after his f i r s t defeat (but d o u b t l e s s y o u have always t o k n o w t o lose t h e f i r s t g a m e ) , h e played against his o w n n a t u r e , ' w i t h i n h i m s e l f , t o e n t r a p his a d v e r s a r y (this is j u s t like Tire Diary of a Seducer). He l e a r n s to play w e a k m o v e s , to simplify o r close u p t h e g a m e . Clearly, w i t h a s i m u l a c r u m , y o u h a v e t o play against nature, to simulate better than it does and catch it out, catch it o u t by simulation w h i c h , for it, i s m e r e l y t h e s i m u l a t i o n o f c a l c u l a t i o n , w h e r e a s for h u m a n b e i n g s i t is an i r o n i c p o w e r . W h e n u p against t h e m a c h i n e t h e y h a v e t h e m s e l v e s p r o g r a m m e d (let u s n o t forget t h a t i t was m e n like Kasparov w h o p r o g r a m m e d D e e p B l u e ) , h u m a n b e i n g s c a n o n l y s u b t l y d e - p r o g r a m m e t h e m s e l v e s , b e c o m e ' t e c h n i c a l l y i n c o r r e c t ' t o stay a h e a d o f t h e g a m e . T h e y m a y e v e n have t o take o v e r t h e m a c h i n e ' s o w n place. L i k e t h e illusionist w h o h a d i n v e n t e d a n a u t o m a t o n w h i c h i m i t a t e d h u m a n b e i n g s o well that, o n stage, h e was h i m s e l f forced t o b e c o m e m e c h a n i c a l a n d m i m i c t h e a u t o m a t o n t o m a i n t a i n t h e d i s t i n c t i o n . T h i s i s t h e o n l y possible strategy: i f y o u b e c o m e t e c h n i c a l l y c o r r e c t , y o u are unfailingly b e a t e n b y t h e m a c h i n e . T h e r e i s a n o t h e r factor f a v o u r i n g h u m a n s u p r e m a c y h e r e : this i s t h e basic s y m b o l i c r u l e w h i c h states that n o player c a n b e b i g g e r t h a n t h e g a m e itself. T h e player m u s t n o t b e u n b e a t a b l e , o r t h e g a m e m a y die. T h e player i s m o r t a l ; t h e rules 163

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a l o n e are i m m o r t a l . N o w t h e a b s o l u t e a i m o f t h e m a c h i n e (its secret a m b i t i o n p e r haps?) i s t o b e perfect, u n b e a t a b l e a n d i m m o r t a l . W h i c h s h o w s i t has u n d e r s t o o d n o t h i n g o f t h e v e r y essence o f g a m e - p l a y i n g , a n d for that r e a s o n i t will always b e b e a t e n i n t h e e n d , i f n o t b y t h e o p p o n e n t , a t least b y t h e g a m e itself. S o t h e r e i s little sense i n p r e d i c t i n g t h e c e r t a i n v i c t o r y o f t h e m a c h i n e i n 2 0 0 5 , o n t h e g r o u n d s that m a n has o n l y c u m u l a t i v e k n o w l e d g e , w h e r e a s t h e m a c h i n e has e x p o n e n t i a l k n o w l e d g e . F o r i f t h e c o m p u t e r ' s k n o w l e d g e i s e x p o n e n t i a l , its t h i n k i n g is n o t — w h i c h c o n d e m n s it to a k i n d of e x p o n e n t i a l stability: at e a c h m o v e , it goes b a c k t o zero a n d goes t h r o u g h all t h e o p e r a t i o n s again. W h e r e a s m a n , w h o f i l ters t h e data, a n d actively c o n s i d e r s o n l y a few of w h a t is actually an i m m e n s e n u m b e r of possibilities, is capable of e x t r a p o l a t i n g the data in a single d i r e c t i o n , w i t h o u t regard for t h e initial state. H e t h u s has t r u l y e x p o n e n t i a l t h o u g h t a t his c o m m a n d , t h o u g h t w h i c h i s creative o f u n p r e c e d e n t e d , u n p r e d i c t a b l e c o n s t e l l a t i o n s - a k i n d of c h a o t i c strategy w h i c h e v e n a c o m p u t e r a t h o u s a n d t i m e s m o r e p o w e r f u l t h a n D e e p B l u e c o u l d n o t m a t c h u p to. Against t h e c o m p u t e r , m a n p e r sonifies, a s i t w e r e , t h e i n f i n i t y o f c o m p l e x i t y , w h i c h i s n o t t h e i n f i n i t y o f c a l c u l a t i o n , a n d w h i c h i s p e r h a p s closer t o t h e infinity o f c h a n c e (it w o u l d i n fact b e i n t e r e s t i n g t o c o n f r o n t t h e c o m p u t e r w i t h a g a m e o f c h a n c e or, i n o t h e r w o r d s , a probabilistic disorder, w h i c h is different f r o m h u m a n disorder. W h e r e w o u l d it find a w i n n i n g formula?) T h e m a c h i n e may, t h e n , b e u n b e a t a b l e a t all k i n d s o f o p e r a t i o n s , b u t , w h e r e t h e essence of play is c o n c e r n e d , it is forever d i s a d v a n t a g e d — forever o u t of t h e g a m e . T o have access t o t h a t essence, t h e m a c h i n e w o u l d have h a d t o have i n v e n t e d it, w o u l d h a v e h a d t o h a v e b e e n able t o i n v e n t t h e very arbitrariness o f t h e rules, w h i c h is u n i m a g i n a b l e . A n d it is t o o late for this. M o r e g e n e r a l l y to be a m a t c h for m a n , t h e m a c h i n e w o u l d h a v e h a d t o h a v e i n v e n t e d h i m - a n d i t i s t o o late for t h a t t o o . I n a d e s p e r a t e effort t o l o o k like h i m , o r c o m p e t e w i t h h i m , t h e o n l y r e m a i n -

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i n g possibility is a c c i d e n t : an a c c i d e n t of c a l c u l a t i o n - a n d m a k i n g a strategy o u t of that. O r suicide. M a n has i n v e n t e d m a c h i n e s w h i c h w o r k , m o v e a n d t h i n k b e t t e r t h a n h i m , o r t h i n k for h i m . H e has n e v e r i n v e n t e d a n y w h i c h c o u l d take pleasure o r suffer i n his stead. N o r e v e n w h i c h c a n play b e t t e r t h a n h e c a n . W h i c h p e r h a p s e x p l a i n s w h y c o m p u t e r s get s u c h d e e p b l u e s . 1 April

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F o r m u l a O n e i s a r a t h e r g o o d e x a m p l e o f t h e era o f p e r f o r m a n c e , i n w h i c h t h e h e i g h t s a c h i e v e d are t h e w o r k o f m a n a n d m a c h i n e simultaneously, e a c h p r o p e l l i n g t h e o t h e r t o e x t r e m e s w i t h o u t i t b e i n g really clear w h i c h i s t h e e n g i n e o f this m e teoric advance and w h i c h merely the other's double. I f m a n i s h a u n t e d b y t h e evil g e n i u s o f t e c h n o l o g y , w h i c h p u s h e s h i m t o t h e limits - a n d even b e y o n d his capabilities - t h e n t e c h n o l o g y is h a u n t e d by m a n , w h o identifies w i t h i t a n d projects all his passions i n t o it. T h e alliance b e t w e e n t h e t w o , t h e p a c t b e t w e e n t h e m , can b e b r o u g h t a b o u t o n l y t h r o u g h a n excessive e x p e n d iture, a spectacular sacrifice. In F o r m u l a O n e , t h e t w o are r e c o n c i l e d by s p e e d — t h e p h a n t a s m , t h e spectre, t h e ecstasy o f s p e e d — w h i c h has b e c o m e a n u n s t o p p a b l e , u n d e n i a b l e collective passion. V i e w e d i n m a c h i n e t e r m s , F o r m u l a O n e l o o k s like a p y r a m i d : a p y r a m i d a l s y n thesis of t h e efforts of t h o u s a n d s of p e o p l e w h i c h c u l m i n a t e in a single car, a single m a n , a single brief, dazzling m o m e n t . T h e c o n d e n s a t i o n i s e x t r e m e , a n d t h e m i r r o r of t h e race refracts all t h e energies d e p l o y e d - energies all w o r k i n g towards o n e goal i n t o t h e p e r f o r m a n c e of a single m a n , or r a t h e r i n t o a t w o - s i d e d c o n f r o n t a t i o n , t h e

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intensity a n d b r e v i t y o f w h i c h have n o t h i n g t o d o w i t h t h e a c c u m u l a t i o n o f effort a n d t h e e x t e n t o f t h e infrastructure. T h e collective fascination w i t h t h e race certainly o w e s m u c h t o this transfiguration o f all i n t o o n e . B u t this p y r a m i d , o f w h i c h t h e d r i v e r is s i m p l y t h e tip, is p r o j e c t e d in its t u r n t h r o u g h t h e m e d i a a n d television on to millions of p e o p l e — a gigantic r e d i r e c t i o n , a spectacular s u p e r s t r u c t u r e (even leavi n g o u t o f a c c o u n t t h e c o m m e r c i a l a n d p r o m o t i o n a l aspects o f t h e o p e r a t i o n ) . H i g h c o n c e n t r a t i o n , t h e n h i g h d i l u t i o n . I n this w a y F o r m u l a O n e encapsulates a w h o l e — collective, t e c h n i c a l a n d i m a g i n a r y — cycle. T h e driver, for his p a r t , i s a l o n e . I n his c o c k p i t h e n o l o n g e r i s a n y o n e . H e m e r g e s w i t h his d o u b l e , w i t h t h e car, a n d s o n o l o n g e r has a n i d e n t i t y o f his o w n . He is a bit like Italo C a l v i n o ' s Non-existent Knight in his a r m o u r . A n d he d o e s n o t see t h e o t h e r s , t h e o t h e r t o u r n a m e n t k n i g h t s . ' Y o u d o n ' t h a v e t o like t h e m o r respect t h e m , ' said Alain Prost, ' w h e n t h e g r e e n light c o m e s o n , t h e y d o n ' t exist. I k n o w I ' m g o i n g t o d o b a t t l e w i t h a W i l l i a m s , a L o t u s o r a Ferrari.' T h e o n l y t i m e t h e y see e a c h o t h e r , w h e n t h e y really feel like adversaries, is on t h e start line, in p o l e position or just b e h i n d - the m o s t dramatic m o m e n t , w h e n often t h e race is d e c i d e d on a single reflex in a p e r i l o u s m o m e n t of d i c i n g w i t h a rival in close c o m b a t . After t h a t , car a n d d r i v e r are m e r e l y a l i v i n g projectile, w h o s e p u r p o s e is t o r e a c h t h e goal. K e e p y o u r sights fixed o n t h e p o d i u m . A G r a n d P r i x i s v e r y m u c h a n o b s t a c l e r a c e t h e s e days, w i t h o n e ' s o p p o n e n t s a m o n g t h e obstacles, t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e rain, t h e state o f t h e tyres a n d u n p r e d i c t a b l e a c c i d e n t s . A p e r p e t u a l c a l c u l a t i o n . T h e projectile has t o b e c o n s t a n t l y regulated, c o r r e c t e d . O n l y i n a p p e a r a n c e i s t h e c i r c u i t t h e site o f t h e c o m p e t i t i o n . T h e c o m p e t i t i o n takes p l a c e e l s e w h e r e — o n t h e w o r l d car m a r k e t , i n t h e d r i v e r s ' p o p u l a r i t y charts, i n a d v e r t i s i n g a n d t h e star system. T h e race takes p l a c e o n a s c r e e n , t h e s c r e e n o f s p e e d . For, in t h e s e e x t r e m e r e a c h e s , s p e e d is no l o n g e r e x a c t l y a spatial d i m e n s i o n b u t a s c r e e n o n w h i c h t h e d r i v e r has t o m o v e w i t h t h e d e x t e r i t y o f a t e l e c o n d u c t o r . 'As

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t h e fans can i m a g i n e , t h e real pleasure of d r i v i n g has, if we are h o n e s t a b o u t it, p r a c tically disappeared.' T h e e r o s i o n o f one's o w n p l e a s u r e i s t h e p r i c e t o b e p a i d for shifting u p f r o m m o v e m e n t t o p u r e s p e e d , f r o m t h e b o d y i n m o v e m e n t t o t h e s c r e e n o f s p e e d . T h e r e i s n o p a s s i o n i n this - e x c e p t t h e passion for w i n n i n g , o f c o u r s e , t h o u g h t h a t i s n o t a p e r s o n a l , b u t a n o p e r a t i o n a l passion. I t s h o w s u p i n t h e driver's b r a i n t h e w a y t h e t e c h n i c a l data s h o w o n t h e d a s h b o a r d . I t i s i n - b u i l t i n t h e t e c h n i c a l o b j e c t itself, w h i c h i s m a d e t o w i n , a n d w h i c h i n c o r p o r a t e s t h e driver's w i l l a s o n e o f t h e t e c h n i c a l e l e m e n t s r e q u i r e d for victory. T h i s s e e m s i n h u m a n , b u t t o b e h o n e s t a b o u t it, i t i s t h e m e n t a l l o g i c o f t h e race. H a v i n g said this, at 180 m p h , t h e r e is c a l m . T h i s is t h e e q u i v a l e n t of t h e eye of t h e s t o r m , t h e stasis o f s p e e d , t h e t r a n c e - l i k e state: y o u are n o l o n g e r i n t h e s a m e w o r l d ( m o r e m o d e s t l y , y o u c a n a c h i e v e this s a m e s e n s a t i o n i n a n o r m a l car a t over 125 m p h ) . T h e b a c k g r o u n d b e c o m e s definitively televisual, t h e physical p e r c e p t i o n o f t h e o t h e r cars fades; y o u are i n t h e p u r e e v e n t o f speed; t h e p e r c e p t i o n o f space b e c o m e s a tactile, reflex p e r c e p t i o n (in M c L u h a n ' s sense: t h e car b e c o m e s a tactile, tactical e x t e n s i o n o f t h e h u m a n b o d y ) . T h e r e i s n o l o n g e r a n y r e f e r e n c e h e r e t o a real l a n d s c a p e , o r t o c o m p e t i t i o n o r p r e s t i g e : y o u pass i n t o v i r t u a l i m a g e r y . Y o u a p p r o a c h real t i m e , t h e i n s t a n t a n e i t y o f m o t i o n - b u t also, o f c o u r s e , c a t a s t r o p h e . A n d h e r e m i g h t b e said t o lie t h e o t h e r passion — a l o n g s i d e t h e passion for w i n n i n g - a passion b o t h m o r e s p e c t a c u l a r a n d m u r k i e r . C o n n e c t e d , a d m i t t e d l y , w i t h t h e d r a m a t i z a t i o n o f t h e d a n g e r b y t h e m e d i a , b u t also, m o r e p r o f o u n d l y , w i t h t h e s y m b o l i c r u l e o f t h e c h a l l e n g e a n d t h e d u e l : t h e passion for a c c i d e n t s a n d d e a t h . T h e r e was a t i m e w h e n n o t j u s t t h e drivers, b u t t h e spectators t o o , risked t h e i r lives o n t h e circuits. T h o s e sacrificial days are g o n e . A s t h e p e r s o n a l p l e a s u r e i n d r i v i n g is g r a d u a l l y d i s a p p e a r i n g f r o m t h e circuits, so t o o is t h e p e r s o n a l risk of d e a t h . D e a t h i s n o l o n g e r a n y t h i n g b u t a v i r t u a l i m a g i n a r y e l e m e n t . O n l y t h e cars die, o n l y t h e e n g i n e s are d r i v e n t o d e s t r u c t i o n . O n l y t h e t e c h n i c a l ' d o u b l e ' dies, w h i c h

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reinforces t h e abstract n a t u r e o f t h e race. A d m i t t e d l y , e v e r y o n e d r e a m s o f i t ( w h i c h i s n o t t o say t h a t t h e y desire it), b u t t h e spectacle o f d e a t h , s h o w n 'live', i s u n acceptable today. H o w e v e r , t h e definitive e l i m i n a t i o n of accidents is u n t h i n k a b l e , as u n t h i n k a b l e as t h e a b s e n c e of s p e c t a t o r s . E v e n if t h e real s p e c t a t o r s are o n l y a t i n y p a r t of t h e v i r t u a l (television) a u d i e n c e , t h e y are t h e r e . E v e n if t h e real risk is tiny in r e l a t i o n to t h e i m a g i n a r y risk, it is t h e r e . A n d this d i m e n s i o n is a b s o l u t e l y vital. W i t h o u t a n y r a n d o m factor, w i t h o u t i n c i d e n t , e x p u r g a t e d o f all its u n p r e d i c t a b l e e l e m e n t s , m o t o r r a c i n g w o u l d lose all interest. S o t h e F o r m u l a O n e d r i v e r has a d u a l status: h e i s b o t h a n a u t o m a t i c t e r m i n a l o f t h e m o s t refined t e c h n i c a l m a c h i n e r y , a t e c h n i c a l o p e r a t o r , a n d h e i s t h e s y m b o l i c o p e r a t o r o f c r o w d passions a n d t h e risk o f d e a t h . T h e p a r a d o x i s t h e s a m e for t h e m o t o r c o m p a n i e s , c a u g h t as t h e y are b e t w e e n i n v e s t m e n t a n d p o t l a t c h . Is all this a calculated — a n d h e n c e rational — i n v e s t m e n t ( m a r k e t i n g a n d advertising)? H a v e w e here a m i g h t y commercial operation, or is the c o m p a n y spending inordinate sums, far b e y o n d w h a t i s c o m m e r c i a l l y v i a b l e , t o assuage a p a s s i o n for p r e s t i g e a n d c h a r i s m a (there is also a m a n u f a c t u r e r s ' w o r l d c h a m p i o n s h i p ) ? In this c o n f r o n t a t i o n b e t w e e n m a n u f a c t u r e r s , isn't t h e r e an excessive u p p i n g of t h e stakes, a d i z z y i n g p a s sion, a d e l i r i u m ? T h i s is c e r t a i n l y t h e aspect w h i c h appeals, in t h e first i n s t a n c e , to t h e m i l l i o n s o f v i e w e r s . I n t h e e n d , t h e average T V v i e w e r has doubtless n e v e r b e e n aware t h a t M c L a r e n is a flagship for H o n d a . A n d I am n o t sure he or she is t e m p t e d t o play t h e F o r m u l a O n e d r i v e r i n o r d i n a r y life. T h e i m p a c t o f F o r m u l a O n e lies, t h e n , i n t h e e x c e p t i o n a l a n d m y t h i c c h a r a c t e r o f t h e event o f t h e race a n d t h e figure o f t h e driver, a n d n o t i n t h e t e c h n i c a l o r c o m m e r c i a l spin-offs. I t i s n o t clear w h y speed w o u l d b e b o t h severely l i m i t e d a n d m o r a l l y c o n d e m n e d i n t h e p u b l i c d o m a i n a n d , at t h e s a m e t i m e , c e l e b r a t e d in F o r m u l a O n e as n e v e r before, unless t h e r e is an effect o f s u b l i m e c o m p e n s a t i o n g o i n g o n h e r e . F o r m u l a O n e c e r t a i n l y serves t o p o p u l a r i z e t h e cult o f t h e car a n d its use, b u t i t d o e s m u c h m o r e t o m a i n t a i n t h e

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passion for a b s o l u t e difference — a f u n d a m e n t a l illusion for all, a n d o n e w h i c h j u s tifies all t h e excesses. In t h e e n d , h o w e v e r , hasn't it g o n e a b o u t as far as it can? Isn't it close to a final state, a final p e r f e c t i o n , in w h i c h all t h e cars a n d drivers, given t h e colossal resources d e p l o y e d , w o u l d , i n a repetitive s c e n a r i o , a c h i e v e t h e s a m e m a x i m u m p e r f o r m a n c e a n d p r o d u c e t h e s a m e p a t t e r n i n e a c h race? I f F o r m u l a O n e w e r e m e r e l y a rational, i n d u s t r i a l p e r f o r m a n c e , a t e s t - b e d for t e c h n i c a l possibilities, w e s h o u l d h a v e t o p r e dict t h a t i t w o u l d s i m p l y b u r n itself o u t . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , i f F o r m u l a O n e i s a spectacle, a collective, passionate ( t h o u g h perfectly artificial) e v e n t , e m b r a c i n g t h e m u l t i p l e screens o f t e c h n o l o g i c a l research, t h e living prosthesis o f t h e driver, a n d t h e t e l e v i s i o n screens i n t o w h i c h t h e v i e w e r s p r o j e c t t h e m s e l v e s , t h e n i t c e r t a i n l y has a v e r y f i n e future. In a w o r d , F o r m u l a O n e is a m o n s t e r . S u c h a c o n c e n t r a t i o n of t e c h n o l o g y , m o n e y , a m b i t i o n a n d prestige is a m o n s t e r (as is t h e w o r l d of haute couture, w h i c h is e q u a l l y abstract, a n d as far r e m o v e d f r o m real c l o t h i n g as F o r m u l a O n e is f r o m r o a d traffic). N o w , m o n s t e r s are d o o m e d t o disappear, a n d w e are afraid t h e y m i g h t b e d i s a p p e a r i n g . B u t w e are n o t k e e n , either, t o see t h e m survive i n a d o m e s t i c a t e d , r o u t i n i z e d f o r m . I n a n era o f daily insignificance — i n c l u d i n g t h e insignificance o f t h e car a n d all its c o n s t r a i n t s — we w a n t at least to save t h e p a s s i o n of a p u r e e v e n t , a n d e x c e p t i o n a l b e i n g s w h o are p e r m i t t e d t o d o a b s o l u t e l y a n y t h i n g . March

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T h e m a d c o w e p i d e m i c is, first a n d f o r e m o s t , a s o f t e n i n g o f h u m a n b r a i n s o n a n e p i d e m i c scale, w i t h p o p u l a t i o n s o f h u m a n b e i n g s r e e l i n g i n p a n i c i n a massive o u t b r e a k o f b o v i n e m i m i c r y . W h a t w e h a v e b e f o r e u s i s a full-scale test o f t h e quality of the h u m a n herd. T h e r e i s n o d a n g e r o f cattle passing o n t h e i r s p o n g i f o r m disease t o us. I t i s already all a r o u n d us, a m e n t a l virus far m o r e h a r m f u l t h a n t h e biological o n e . If o u r n e w s a n d i n f o r m a t i o n s y s t e m is itself t h e area m o s t seriously affected ( w h a t e v e r it says a b o u t t h a t ) , t h e r e is g o o d r e a s o n : it is b e c a u s e t h a t s y s t e m r e p r e s e n t s an ideally sensitive t a r g e t - a r e a for t h e w h o l e e p i d e m i c . T h e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s n e t w o r k s are a h u g e viral s y s t e m a n d instant t r a n s m i s s i o n is, in itself, a lethal d a n g e r . In this p e r p e t u a l c r i t i c a l - m a s s s i t u a t i o n , t h e slightest spark is sufficient to p r i c k t h e abscess of collective responsibility, j u s t as t h e tiniest b o d y p r o j e c t e d i n t o a diffuse s o l u t i o n b r i n g s a b o u t l i g h t n i n g - q u i c k crystallization. O u r systems secrete s u c h a c h a r g e o f floating responsibility t h a t this c o n d e n s e s f r o m t i m e t o t i m e a s static e l e c t r i c i t y d o e s i n l i g h t n i n g . T o t h e real threats w e face, w e m u s t also a d d this vast store o f responsibility, this radioactive c l o u d a w a i t i n g t h e

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slightest c h a n c e t o b u r s t . T h e m a d c o w i s a r e i n c a r n a t i o n o f t h e sacred c o w a s r o t t i n g cow. U n l i k e t h e I n d i a n e x a m p l e , w h e r e t h e sacred a n i m a l shares i n f e c t i o u s diseases w i t h h u m a n b e i n g s b u t d o e s s o i n e n d e m i c m o d e , cattle d o o m e d t o t h e b u t c h e r ' s knife take t h e i r r e v e n g e b y shifting f r o m t h e e n d e m i c t o t h e e p i d e m i c . C o w s have n e v e r c o m e t o t e r m s w i t h b e i n g fed r o t t e n s h e e p carcases a n d s o t u r n e d i n t o c a r n i v o r e s . I n spite o f t h e i r o w n t r a n q u i l obliviousness, t h e y have n e v e r c o m e t o t e r m s w i t h b e i n g t u r n e d i n t o b u t c h e r ' s m e a t for a single species, w h i c h r e m a i n e d e n t i r e l y o b l i v i o u s o f t h e b r e a k t h u s c r e a t e d w i t h t h e rest o f t h e a n i m a l k i n g d o m . C o w s h a v e n e v e r c o m e t o t e r m s w i t h b e i n g t u r n e d i n t o simulacra, as, i n k e e p i n g w i t h this c a r n i v o r o u s ideal, has r e c e n t l y b e e n t h e case. F o r e v e r y t h i n g a b o u t t h e m i s p r o g r a m m e d n o w : b y h o r m o n e s , transplants, t h e g e n e t i c r e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f parts o f t h e b o d y , b y w a y o f a plastic s u r g e r y a i m e d a t m a x i m u m profitability o f t h e a n i m a l as m e a t . T h e c o w is n o t w h a t it o n c e was. It is an artefact, a k i n d of d i s e m b o d i e d m e a t , w h i c h takes its suicidal r e v e n g e by infecting its p r e d a t o r . T h i s is t h e v e n g e a n c e cows have b e e n r u m i n a t i n g . It is b e c a u s e t h e b o d y of t h e c o w has b e c o m e a n o n - b o d y , a m e a t - m a c h i n e , that t h e viruses lay h o l d of it. It is b e c a u s e o u r h u m a n b o d i e s have b e c o m e n o n - b o d i e s n e u r o n a l , o p e r a t i o n a l m a c h i n e s — that t h e y have lost t h e i r i m m u n i t y a n d t h e viruses are laying h o l d of t h e m . A n d it is also because c o m p u t i n g has b e c o m e purely a m a t t e r o f m e d i a t e c h n o l o g y t h a t i t has b e c o m e v u l n e r a b l e t o all t h e viruses o f i n f o r m a t i o n . All viruses are i n l e a g u e : from t h e p r i o n w h i c h infects t h e c o w t o t h e c o w w h i c h infects m a n , a n d t o m a n w h o infects t h e w h o l e p l a n e t (to t h e p o i n t o f infiltrating h i m s e l f i n t o his o w n g e n e t i c c o d e to m o d i f y it). P e r h a p s t h e r e is a secret p u r p o s e in all this? W h o can k n o w w h a t s u b t e r r a n e a n processes o f revolt a n d v e n g e a n c e exist a m o n g t h o s e b e i n g s w e have d o o m e d t o i m p r i s o n m e n t a n d b u t c h e r y ? T h e biological virus in a sense ' k n o w s ' t h a t it can avail itself of t h e t e c h n i c a l virus o f c o m p u t i n g a n d t h e m e n t a l v i r u s o f b r a i n - s o f t e n i n g t o spread itself a n d gain total 172

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r e v e n g e . S t u d i e s h a d already s h o w n cattle — a n d , i n d e e d , all r u m i n a n t s — to be t h e m a i n destroyers o f t h e o z o n e layer, w i t h t h e i r s u l p h u r o u s farting, t h e i r p o i s o n o u s flatulence. So, t h e c o n s p i r a c y has b e e n g o i n g o n for q u i t e s o m e t i m e ! T h e r e i s n o p o i n t i m p u t i n g all this to a n y o n e in p a r t i c u l a r : collective m a d n e s s is a p y r a m i d a l synthesis o f c o n v e r g e n t effects, o f p h e n o m e n a i n r e s o n a n c e . F r o m t h e p r o t e i n t o t h e cow's b r a i n , f r o m t h a t b r a i n t o o u r i n f o r m a t i o n systems, f r o m t h o s e systems a n d n e t w o r k s t o t h e a u t o m a t i c m e n t a l d e c o d e r o f o p i n i o n a n d o n i n t o t h e s p o n g i f o r m e n c e p h a l o n o f t h e political class, t h e s t r u c t u r e i s t h e s a m e , a n d t h e r e f o r e allows e x p o n e n t i a l d e v e l o p m e n t t o o c c u r . L e t u s r u n b a c k a l o n g this c h a i n f r o m t h e o t h e r e n d : t h e r e i s n o t h i n g n o w t o p r o t e c t politicians f r o m t h e virus o f o p i n i o n ; b u t n o t h i n g p r o t e c t s t h a t o p i n i o n f r o m t h e virus o f i n f o r m a t i o n ; n o t h i n g p r o t e c t s o u r c o m p u t e r i z e d i n f o r m a t i o n s y s t e m f r o m t h e tiniest little n e w s s t o r y o r f r o m its o w n hysteria; a n d , for m y s t e r i o u s reasons, w h a t p r o t e c t e d t h e c o w f r o m t h e p r i o n seems t o h a v e disappeared t o o . T h e r e i s total i m m u n o d e f i c i e n c y f r o m o n e e n d o f t h e c h a i n t o t h e o t h e r . A n d s o i t i s t h a t i n a n allegedly rational s y s t e m , chaos c a n g r o w e x p o n e n t i a l l y , p r o d u c i n g massive effects o f collective i n t o x i c a t i o n w h o l l y o u t o f p r o p o r t i o n w i t h t h e initial c o n d i t i o n s . A I D S , t e r r o r i s m , t h e s t o c k m a r k e t crash, c o m p u t e r viruses, n a t u r a l c a t a s t r o p h e s : all t h e s e p h e n o m e n a are c o r r e l a t e d a n d c o n f o r m t o t h e s a m e p r o t o c o l o f v i r u l e n c e . T h e y are w h o l l y c o n s i s t e n t w i t h e a c h o t h e r , a n d w i t h t h e b a n a l i t y o f t h e system. F o r e x a m p l e , a single t e r r o r i s t act forces u s t o r e v i e w t h e w h o l e political s c e n e i n t h e light o f t e r r o r i s m . T h e m e r e a p p e a r a n c e o f A I D S , e v e n a t a statistically l o w level, forces u s t o r e v i e w t h e w h o l e s p e c t r u m o f disease a n d t h e b o d y i n t h e l i g h t o f t h e viral, i m m u n o d e f i c i e n c y h y p o t h e s i s , etc. So, t h e a p p e a r a n c e o f m a d c o w s i s t h e e q u i v a l e n t of a t e r r o r i s t act. T h e r e i s savage i r o n y i n t h e fact o f c o w s p r o v i d i n g t h e l i t m u s test, s o t o s p e a k , for t h e E u r o p e a n p o l i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n ( w h e n e v e n t h e m a s s a c r e i n B o s n i a h a d n o t

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m a n a g e d t o d i s t u r b its i n c o h e r e n t , h y p o c r i t i c a l state). So, B r i t i s h p u b l i c o p i n i o n c a n o n l y e i t h e r t u r n o n its g o v e r n m e n t , a s g u i l t y o f n e g l i g e n c e , o r o n a E u r o p e a l l e g e d l y s e e k i n g t o i m p o s e its l a w o n t h e c o u n t r y . A n i m m e d i a t e b o o s t for all n a t i o n a l i s m s : ' S p o n g i f o r m o r n o t , t h e y ' r e our c o w s ! ' W h e n a s i t u a t i o n i s r o t t e n a n d c o n t r a d i c t o r y , t h e tiniest i n c i d e n t reveals all its r o t t e n n e s s a n d c o n t r a d i c t o r i ness. E v e n t h e r o t t e n n e s s a n d c o n t r a d i c t o r i n e s s o f t h e liberal s y s t e m . ' E v e r y t h i n g m u s t c i r c u l a t e freely' - w e l l , s o t h e n m u s t g e r m s , v i r u s e s , d r u g s , c a p i t a l a n d t e r r o r i s t s . A n d this c i r c u l a t i o n o f t h e w o r s t o f t h i n g s i s m u c h q u i c k e r t h a n t h e c i r c u l a t i o n o f t h e best. T h e r e w i l l b e n o e n d , t h e n , t o t h e o p e n i n g a n d r e - c l o s i n g of frontiers. H i s t o r y itself a r g u e s i n favour o f t h e t e r r o r i s t h y p o t h e s i s w h e r e m a d c o w disease is concerned, the Turin European summit on spongiform encephalopathy followi n g o n f r o m t h a t a t S h a r m - e l - S h e i k o n Islamic t e r r o r i s m . E x c e p t t h a t t h e w o b b l y solidarity o f t h e E u r o p e a n s a r o u n d t h e e r a d i c a t i o n o f this threat was e v e n m o r e p i t i ful a n d U b u e s q u e t h a n t h e w o r l d p a r a d e o f h e a d s o f State a s s e m b l e d t o d o b a t t l e w i t h a p h a n t o m e n e m y T h e B r i t i s h m a d c o w a n d t h e Palestinian k a m i k a z e b o m b e r are all p a r t o f t h e s a m e struggle, t h e n : t h e y share t h e s a m e suicidal energy, t h e s a m e u n f a t h o m a b l e h a t r e d . A n d e v e n t h e p r i o n i s i n o n it. F r o m w h a t g e n e t i c abyss has t h a t p r o t e i n arisen? W h e r e d o e s t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l t e r r o r i s t p l o t o r i g i n a t e ? A n d w h a t i s t h e m e a n i n g o f this s e q u e n c e : t h e p r i o n i n f e c t i n g t h e cow, t h e c o w i n f e c t i n g t h e m e d i a , t h e m e d i a d r i v i n g t h e masses t o hysteria - all v i c t i m s o f e a c h o t h e r a n d , a t t h e s a m e t i m e , all c o l l u d i n g t o w a r d s m a x i m u m c a t a s t r o p h i c effect. S e e n f r o m t h e a n g l e o f t h e serial d e r e g u l a t i o n o f t h e system, t h e success i s total. W h o i s h a r m e d b y a n y o f this? T h e masses finally h a v e a d i s t r a c t i o n f r o m t h e i r dull lives a n d t h e p o w e r s - t h a t - b e h a v e a w a y t o distract a t t e n t i o n f r o m t h e i r w i c k e d o n e s . H o w e v e r , t h r o u g h s u c h events, t h e social o r d e r loses credibility b y t h e day. N o t b e i n g ' p e r s o n a l l y ' r e s p o n s i b l e for a n y t h i n g (as i n t h e c o n t a m i n a t e d b l o o d

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affair), t h e g o v e r n i n g classes are all t h e m o r e i m p o t e n t i n t h e face o f t h e i n d i s c e r n i b l e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f t h e e v e n t . A d m i t t e d l y , t h e y can fight t h e s y m p t o m s s l a u g h t e r c o w s o r e r a d i c a t e terrorists - b u t t h e y will have g r e a t p r o b l e m s b r e a k i n g t h e c h a i n o f events w h i c h has led u p t o this p o i n t , t h e e p i d e m i c o f c i r c u m s t a n c e s and objective conditions w h i c h have themselves colluded in the catastrophe. T h e p o w e r s - t h a t - b e u n d e r s t a n d n o t h i n g o f t h e ' p e r v e r s e ' processes o f virality, i n w h i c h e v e n c a l m i n g a n d p r o p h y l a c t i c m e a s u r e s - t h e excess of p r o p h y l a c t i c m e a s u r e s m e r e l y increase t h e p a n i c . A n d t h e r e i s a n o t h e r ' p e r v e r s e ' variable - t h e m e d i a . A c c u s e d a s s c a p e c o w s , t h e y p r o t e s t t h a t t h e y are o n l y d o i n g t h e i r j o b . B u t i t i s p r e cisely i n d o i n g t h e i r j o b ( w h i c h was, w e m i g h t r e m e m b e r , t h e e x c u s e o f t h e c o n c e n t r a t i o n c a m p officials) t h a t t h e y are m o s t solidly i n t h e viral l o o p . D o u b t l e s s , t h e n e x t w o r l d s u m m i t will b e against e a r t h q u a k e s - w i t h t h e s a m e success. A n d t h e r e i s n o d o u b t , either, t h a t this s t o r m w h i p p e d u p b y t h e c o l l u s i o n b e t w e e n a c o w a n d a p r o t e i n will e n d in a b e a t i n g of butterfly w i n g s - t h a t is to say, i n n o p e r c e p t i b l e c h a n g e t o t h e o r d e r o f t h i n g s . B u t , i n t h e m e a n w h i l e , i t will have r e v e a l e d t h e secret d i s o r d e r , t h e colossal d i s o r d e r o f o u r s y s t e m s , t h e t h r e a t o f i m m i n e n t failure b y w h i c h t h e y are c o n s t a n t l y beset. T h i s a t least can b e c h a l k e d u p t o t h e e v e n t , n o t t o m e n t i o n t h e useful f i n d i n g t h a t h u m a n livestock t e e t e r s o n t h e b r i n k o f t h e s a m e fate a s m a d c o w s , a n d t h a t t h e b r a i n - s o f t e n i n g effect o f n e w s a n d information is every bit the equal of spongiform encephalopathy. A n d n o t c o u n t i n g , also, t h e secret d e l i g h t t h e r e i s i n p a n i c , e v e n for t h o s e w h o are p a n i c k i n g , t h e (aesthetic) pleasure i n t h e a b s u r d d i s p r o p o r t i o n o f t h e e v e n t , a n d t h e p l e a s u r e g e n e r a t e d b y t h e i m p o t e n c e o f a s y s t e m g r a p p l i n g w i t h its o w n viruses. 15 April

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V i d e o , i n t e r a c t i v e screens, m u l t i m e d i a , t h e I n t e r n e t , virtual reality — w e are t h r e a t e n e d o n all sides b y interactivity. W h a t w a s separated i n t h e past i s n o w e v e r y w h e r e m e r g e d ; distance i s a b o l i s h e d i n all t h i n g s : b e t w e e n t h e sexes, b e t w e e n o p p o s i t e p o l e s , b e t w e e n stage a n d a u d i t o r i u m , b e t w e e n t h e p r o t a g o n i s t s o f a c t i o n , b e t w e e n subject a n d object, b e t w e e n t h e real a n d its d o u b l e . A n d this c o n f u s i o n of t e r m s , this collision of poles m e a n s that n o w h e r e — in art, m o r a l i t y or politics - is t h e r e n o w any possibility of a m o r a l j u d g e m e n t . W i t h t h e a b o l i t i o n of distance — of t h e ' p a t h o s o f d i s t a n c e ' - e v e r y t h i n g b e c o m e s u n d e c i d a b l e . A n d this i s t r u e e v e n i n t h e p h y s ical realm: w h e n t h e receiver a n d t h e s o u r c e of a transmission are t o o close t o g e t h e r , a f e e d b a c k effect ensues w h i c h scrambles t h e transmission waves; w h e n an event a n d t h e b r o a d c a s t i n g o f t h a t e v e n t i n real t i m e are t o o close t o g e t h e r , this r e n d e r s t h e e v e n t u n d e c i d a b l e a n d v i r t u a l , s t r i p p i n g i t o f its historical d i m e n s i o n a n d r e m o v i n g i t from m e m o r y . W h e t h e r i t i s v i r t u a l t e c h n o l o g i e s w h i c h c r e a t e u n d e c i d a b i l i t y o r o u r u n d e c i d a b l e w o r l d w h i c h gives rise t o t h e s e t e c h n o l o g i e s i s itself u n d e c i d a b l e . W h e r e v e r a m i n g l i n g of this k i n d - a collision of p o l e s - o c c u r s , t h e n t h e vital t e n s i o n is d i s c h a r g e d .

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E v e n i n 'reality' TV, w h e r e , i n t h e live telling o f t h e story, t h e i m m e d i a t e t e l e v i s u a l a c t i n g , w e see t h e c o n f u s i o n o f e x i s t e n c e a n d its d o u b l e . T h e r e i s n o s e p a r a t i o n a n y l o n g e r , n o e m p t y space, n o a b s e n c e : y o u e n t e r t h e s c r e e n a n d t h e visual i m a g e u n h i n d e r e d . Y o u e n t e r y o u r life as y o u w o u l d w a l k on to a screen. Y o u slip on y o u r o w n life like a data suit. U n l i k e p h o t o g r a p h y , c i n e m a a n d p a i n t i n g , in w h i c h t h e r e is a s c e n e a n d a gaze, t h e v i d e o i m a g e - a n d t h e c o m p u t e r s c r e e n - i n d u c e a k i n d of i m m e r s i o n , a sort o f u m b i l i c a l r e l a t i o n , o f ' t a c t i l e ' i n t e r a c t i o n , a s M c L u h a n , i n his day, said o f t e l e v i s i o n . A cellular, c o r p u s c u l a r i m m e r s i o n : y o u e n t e r t h e fluid s u b s t a n c e o f t h e i m a g e — possibly to m o d i f y it — in t h e s a m e w a y as s c i e n c e infiltrates itself i n t o t h e g e n o m e , t h e g e n e t i c c o d e , t o t r a n s f o r m t h e b o d y itself b y t h a t m e a n s . Y o u m o v e a s y o u like, y o u m a k e o f t h e i n t e r a c t i v e i m a g e w h a t y o u will, b u t i m m e r s i o n i s t h e p r i c e to p a y for this infinite availability, this o p e n c o m b i n a t o r i a l of e l e m e n t s . It is t h e s a m e w i t h t h e ' v i r t u a l ' t e x t — any v i r t u a l t e x t (the I n t e r n e t , w o r d - p r o c e s s i n g ) . T h i s i s w o r k e d o n like a c o m p u t e r - g e n e r a t e d i m a g e — s o m e t h i n g w h i c h n o l o n g e r b e a r s a n y r e l a t i o n t o t h e t r a n s c e n d e n c e o f t h e gaze o r o f w r i t i n g . A t a n y rate, a s s o o n a s y o u are i n front o f t h e s c r e e n , y o u n o l o n g e r see t h e t e x t a s t e x t , b u t a s i m a g e . N o w , i t i s i n t h e strict s e p a r a t i o n o f t e x t a n d screen, o f t e x t a n d i m a g e , t h a t w r i t i n g is an activity in its o w n r i g h t — n e v e r an i n t e r a c t i o n . Similarly, i t i s o n l y w i t h t h e strict s e p a r a t i o n o f stage a n d a u d i t o r i u m t h a t t h e s p e c t a t o r i s a p a r t i c i p a n t i n h i s / h e r o w n r i g h t . E v e r y t h i n g t o d a y conspires t o a b o l ish t h a t s e p a r a t i o n : t h e s p e c t a t o r b e i n g b r o u g h t i n t o a user-friendly, i n t e r a c t i v e i m m e r s i o n . T h e a p o g e e o f t h e s p e c t a t o r o r h i s / h e r e n d ? W h e n all are a c t o r s , t h e r e i s n o a c t i o n any l o n g e r , n o s c e n e . T h e e n d o f t h e aesthetic illusion. M a c h i n e s p r o d u c e o n l y m a c h i n e s . T h i s i s increasingly t r u e a s t h e v i r t u a l t e c h n o l o g i e s d e v e l o p . A t a c e r t a i n level o f m a c h i n a t i o n , o f i m m e r s i o n i n v i r t u a l m a c h i n e r y , t h e r e i s n o l o n g e r any m a n - m a c h i n e distinction: t h e m a c h i n e i s o n b o t h

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sides o f t h e interface. P e r h a p s y o u are i n d e e d m e r e l y t h e m a c h i n e ' s space n o w - t h e h u m a n b e i n g h a v i n g b e c o m e t h e v i r t u a l reality o f t h e m a c h i n e , its m i r r o r o p e r a t o r . T h i s has t o d o w i t h t h e v e r y essence o f t h e screen. T h e r e i s n o ' t h r o u g h ' t h e screen the way there is a 'through' the looking-glass or mirror. T h e dimensions of time itself m e r g e t h e r e i n 'real t i m e ' . A n d , t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f any v i r t u a l surface b e i n g first o f all t o b e t h e r e , t o b e e m p t y a n d t h u s capable o f b e i n g filled w i t h a n y t h i n g , i t i s left t o y o u t o e n t e r i n real t i m e i n t o i n t e r a c t i v i t y w i t h t h e v o i d . Similarly, e v e r y t h i n g w h i c h i s p r o d u c e d b y w a y o f m a c h i n e s i s a m a c h i n e . T h e texts, i m a g e s , films, s p e e c h a n d p r o g r a m m e s w h i c h c o m e o u t o f c o m p u t e r s are m a c h i n e p r o d u c t s , a n d t h e y b e a r t h e features o f s u c h p r o d u c t s : t h e y are artificially p a d d e d - o u t , face-lifted by t h e m a c h i n e ; t h e films are stuffed w i t h special effects, t h e texts full of longueurs a n d r e p e t i t i o n s d u e to t h e m a c h i n e ' s m a l i c i o u s will to f u n c t i o n at all costs (that is its passion), a n d t h e o p e r a t o r ' s fascination w i t h this limitless p o s sibility o f f u n c t i o n i n g . H e n c e t h e w e a r i s o m e c h a r a c t e r i n f i l m s o f all this v i o l e n c e a n d p o r n o g r a p h i e d sexuality, w h i c h are m e r e l y special effects o f v i o l e n c e a n d sex, n o l o n g e r e v e n fantasized b y h u m a n s , b u t p u r e m a c h i n i c v i o l e n c e w h i c h n o l o n g e r e v e n affects us. A n d this explains all t h e s e texts w h i c h r e s e m b l e t h e w o r k o f ' i n t e l l i g e n t ' v i r t u a l agents, w h o s e o n l y act i s t h e act o f p r o g r a m m i n g , t h e rest u n f o l d i n g o n p u r e l y a u t o m a t i c lines. T h i s has n o t h i n g t o d o w i t h ecriture automatique, w h i c h played o n t h e m a g i c a l t e l e s c o p i n g o f w o r d s a n d c o n c e p t s , w h e r e a s all w e h a v e h e r e is t h e a u t o m a t i s m of p r o g r a m m i n g , an a u t o m a t i c r u n - t h r o u g h of all t h e possibilities. R o l l o n t h e m a c h i n e d e s i g n o f t h e b o d y , t h e t e x t , t h e i m a g e . T h i s i s called c y b e r n e t i c s : c o n t r o l l i n g t h e i m a g e , t h e t e x t , t h e b o d y f r o m w i t h i n , a s i t w e r e , f r o m its m a t r i x , b y p l a y i n g w i t h its c o d e o r t h e g e n e t i c details. I t i s this p h a n t a s m o f t h e ideal p e r f o r m a n c e o f t h e t e x t o r i m a g e , t h e possibility o f c o r r e c t i n g endlessly, w h i c h p r o d u c e i n t h e 'creative artist' this v e r t i g e o f i n t e r a c t i v i t y w i t h his o w n o b j e c t , a l o n g s i d e t h e a n x i o u s v e r t i g e a t n o t h a v i n g r e a c h e d t h e t e c h n o l o g i c a l limits

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of his possibilities. In fact, it is t h e (virtual) m a c h i n e w h i c h is s p e a k i n g y o u , t h e machine w h i c h is thinking you. A n d i s t h e r e really any possibility o f d i s c o v e r i n g s o m e t h i n g i n c y b e r s p a c e ? T h e I n t e r n e t m e r e l y simulates a free m e n t a l space, a space of f r e e d o m a n d discovery. In fact, it m e r e l y offers a multiple, b u t c o n v e n t i o n a l , space, in w h i c h t h e o p e r a t o r i n t e r acts w i t h k n o w n e l e m e n t s , p r e - e x i s t e n t sites, established c o d e s . N o t h i n g exists b e y o n d these search p a r a m e t e r s . E v e r y q u e s t i o n has its a n t i c i p a t e d response. Y o u are the automatic questioner and, at the same time, the automatic answering device of t h e m a c h i n e . B o t h c o d e r a n d d e c o d e r — i n fact y o u r o w n t e r m i n a l , y o u r o w n c o r r e s p o n d e n t . T h a t i s t h e ecstasy o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n . T h e r e i s n o ' O t h e r ' o u t t h e r e a n d n o f i n a l d e s t i n a t i o n . A n d s o t h e system g o e s o n , w i t h o u t e n d a n d w i t h o u t p u r p o s e . A n d its sole p o t e n t i a l i s for infinite r e p r o d u c t i o n a n d i n v o l u t i o n . H e n c e t h e c o m fortable vertige of this electronic, c o m p u t e r i n t e r a c t i o n - like t h e vertige i n d u c e d by d r u g s . Y o u can s p e n d y o u r w h o l e life at this, w i t h o u t a b r e a k . D r u g s t h e m s e l v e s are o n l y ever t h e perfect e x a m p l e of a crazed, c l o s e d - c i r c u i t interactivity. T o w i n y o u over t o it, t h e y tell y o u t h e c o m p u t e r i s m e r e l y a h a n d i e r , m o r e c o m p l e x k i n d o f t y p e w r i t e r . B u t this i s n o t t r u e . T h e t y p e w r i t e r i s a n e n t i r e l y e x t e r n a l o b j e c t . T h e p a g e flutters in t h e o p e n air, a n d so do I. I h a v e a physical r e l a t i o n to w r i t i n g . I t o u c h t h e b l a n k o r w r i t t e n p a g e w i t h m y eyes - s o m e t h i n g I c a n n o t d o w i t h t h e s c r e e n . T h e c o m p u t e r i s a t r u e prosthesis. I a m n o t m e r e l y i n a n i n t e r a c tive r e l a t i o n w i t h it, b u t a tactile, i n t e r s e n s o r y r e l a t i o n . I b e c o m e , myself, an e c t o p l a s m o f t h e s c r e e n . A n d this, n o d o u b t , explains, i n this i n c u b a t i o n o f t h e v i r tual i m a g e a n d b r a i n , t h e t e c h n i c a l faults w h i c h afflict c o m p u t e r s , a n d w h i c h are like t h e failings o f o n e ' s o w n b o d y . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e fact t h a t i d e n t i t y i s t h e i d e n t i t y o f t h e n e t w o r k a n d n e v e r t h a t o f i n d i v i d u a l s , t h e fact t h a t p r i o r i t y i s g i v e n t o t h e n e t w o r k r a t h e r t h a n t o t h e n e t w o r k ' s p r o t a g o n i s t s i m p l i e s t h e possibility o f h i d i n g , o f d i s a p p e a r i n g i n t o t h e

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i n t a n g i b l e space o f t h e v i r t u a l , s o t h a t y o u are n o t d e t e c t a b l e a n y w h e r e — e v e n b y yourself. T h i s resolves all p r o b l e m s o f identity, n o t t o m e n t i o n t h o s e o f alterity. So, t h e a t t r a c t i o n o f all t h e s e v i r t u a l m a c h i n e s n o d o u b t derives n o t s o m u c h from t h e thirst for i n f o r m a t i o n a n d k n o w l e d g e a s f r o m t h e desire t o disappear, a n d t h e p o s sibility o f dissolving o n e s e l f i n t o a p h a n t o m conviviality. A k i n d o f ' h i g h ' , w h i c h takes t h e p l a c e o f h a p p i n e s s , o f o b v i o u s h a p p i n e s s , b y t h e v e r y fact t h a t h a p p i n e s s no l o n g e r has any raison d'etre h e r e . Virtuality c o m e s close to h a p p i n e s s o n l y b e c a u s e it surreptitiously r e m o v e s all refe r e n c e to things. It gives y o u e v e r y t h i n g , b u t at t h e s a m e t i m e it subtly deprives y o u o f every t h i n g . T h e subject i s realized t o p e r f e c t i o n , b u t w h e n realized t o p e r f e c t i o n , t h e s u b j e c t a u t o m a t i c a l l y b e c o m e s o b j e c t , a n d p a n i c sets in. 6 May

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The Art Conspiracy

J u s t as, a m i d all t h e p o r n o g r a p h y w h i c h s u r r o u n d s us, w e h a v e lost t h e illusion o f desire, so in c o n t e m p o r a r y art we have also lost t h e desire for illusion. In p o r n , t h e r e i s n o l o n g e r a n y r o o m for desire. After t h e o r g y a n d t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f all desires, w e have m o v e d i n t o t h e transsexual, in t h e sense of a t r a n s p a r e n c y of sex, i n t o signs a n d i m a g e s w h i c h o b l i t e r a t e t h e w h o l e secret, t h e a m b i g u i t y o f sex. T r a n s s e x u a l i n t h e sense t h a t sex n o w has n o t h i n g t o d o w i t h t h e illusion o f desire, b u t relates solely to the hyperreality of the image. So it is w i t h art, w h i c h has also lost t h e desire for illusion — p r e f e r r i n g t h e e l e vation

of everything to

aesthetic

b a n a l i t y - a n d has

consequently become

t r a n s - a e s t h e t i c . F o r art, t h e o r g y o f m o d e r n i t y c o n s i s t e d i n t h e e x h i l a r a t i o n o f d e c o n s t r u c t i n g t h e o b j e c t a n d r e p r e s e n t a t i o n . D u r i n g that p e r i o d , t h e aesthetic illusion was still v e r y p o w e r f u l , as is, for sex, t h e illusion of desire. T h e e n e r g y of sexual difference, w h i c h passes i n t o all t h e figures of desire, has as its c o u n t e r p a r t in art t h e e n e r g y o f d i s s o c i a t i o n f r o m reality ( C u b i s m , a b s t r a c t i o n , E x p r e s s i o n i s m ) , t h o u g h e a c h o f t h e s e c o r r e s p o n d s t o a desire t o p i e r c e t h e secret o f desire a n d t h e secret o f t h e o b j e c t . T o t h e p o i n t w h e r e t h e s e t w o s t r o n g c o n f i g u r a t i o n s , t h e s c e n e o f desire

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a n d t h e s c e n e o f illusion, disappear, g i v i n g w a y t o t h e s a m e transsexual, t r a n s a e s t h e t i c o b s c e n i t y — t h e o b s c e n i t y o f visibility a n d o f t h e i n e x o r a b l e t r a n s p a r e n c y o f e v e r y t h i n g . I n reality, t h e r e i s n o l o n g e r a n y p o r n o g r a p h y identifiable a s s u c h , b e c a u s e t h e essence o f t h e p o r n o g r a p h i c has passed i n t o all t h e t e c h n o l o g i e s o f t h e visual a n d televisual s p h e r e s . B u t p e r h a p s , d e e p d o w n , w e are m e r e l y p l a y i n g o u t t h e c o m e d y o f art, a s o t h e r societies h a v e played o u t t h e c o m e d y o f ideology, a s Italian society, for e x a m p l e ( t h o u g h i t i s n o t t h e o n l y o n e ) , plays o u t t h e c o m e d y o f p o w e r , a s w e play o u t t h e c o m e d y o f p o r n i n t h e o b s c e n e a d v e r t i s i n g o f t h e i m a g e s o f t h e female b o d y . T h i s p e r p e t u a l striptease, t h e s e p h a n t a s i e s a sexe ouvert, this sexual b l a c k m a i l - if it w e r e all t r u e , it w o u l d be g e n u i n e l y u n b e a r a b l e . B u t f o r t u n a t e l y it is all t o o o b v i o u s to b e t r u e . T r a n s p a r e n c y i s t o o g o o d t o b e t r u e . A s for art, i t i s t o o superficial t o b e really useless. T h e r e m u s t b e a n u n d e r l y i n g mystery. A s w i t h a n a m o r p h o s i s , t h e r e m u s t b e a n a n g l e f r o m w h i c h all this useless o r g y o f sex a n d signs m a k e s c o m p l e t e sense b u t , for t h e m o m e n t , w e c a n o n l y a d o p t a n a t t i t u d e o f i r o n i c indifference t o w a r d s it. I n this u n r e a l i t y o f p o r n , this insignificance o f art, t h e r e i s s o m e t h i n g o f t h e o r d e r o f a n u n d e r l y i n g e n i g m a , a n i n h e r e n t mystery. A n i r o n i c f o r m o f o u r d e s t i n y p e r h a p s ? If e v e r y t h i n g b e c o m e s t o o o b v i o u s to be t r u e , p e r h a p s t h e r e is still a c h a n c e for illusion. W h a t lurks b e h i n d this falsely t r a n s p a r e n t w o r l d ? A n o t h e r sort of i n t e l l i g e n c e or a definitive l o b o t o m y ? ( M o d e r n ) art was able to be p a r t of t h e part maudite, t h e ' a c c u r s e d s h a r e ' , by b e i n g a sort of d r a m a t i c alternative to reality, by expressing t h e i r r u p t i o n of unreality i n t o reality. B u t w h a t c a n art m e a n n o w i n a w o r l d t h a t i s h y p e r r e a l i s t f r o m t h e outset, a w o r l d that is cool, transparent, image-conscious? W h a t can p o r n m e a n in a w o r l d t h a t is p o r n o g r a p h i e d f r o m t h e o u t s e t ? W h a t can t h e y do b u t tip us a last p a r a d o x i c a l w i n k - t h a t of reality m o c k i n g itself in its m o s t hyperrealistic f o r m , that o f sex m o c k i n g itself i n its m o s t e x h i b i t i o n i s t i c f o r m , t h a t o f art m o c k i n g itself a n d

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its o w n d i s a p p e a r a n c e i n its m o s t artificial f o r m : irony. T h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f i m a g e s is, i n a n y e v e n t , a n i r o n i c d i c t a t o r s h i p . B u t t h a t i r o n y itself i s n o l o n g e r p a r t o f t h e a c c u r s e d share; i t is, r a t h e r , p a r t y t o i n s i d e r - t r a d i n g , t o t h a t h i d d e n , s h a m e f u l c o m plicity w h i c h b i n d s t h e artist, p l a y i n g o n h i s / h e r a u r a o f d e r i s i o n , t o t h e stupefied, i n c r e d u l o u s masses. Irony, t o o , is a p a r t of t h e art conspiracy. A r t playing on its o w n disappearance a n d t h e disappearance of its object was still an art of great w o r k s . B u t art playing at r e - c y c l i n g itself indefinitely by h e l p i n g itself to reality? M o s t c o n t e m p o r a r y art is e n g a g e d in j u s t this: a p p r o p r i a t i n g banality, t h e throwaway, m e d i o c r i t y as value a n d as ideology. In these i n n u m e r a b l e installations a n d p e r f o r m a n c e s , w h a t is g o i n g on is m e r e l y a c o m p r o m i s e w i t h t h e state of things - a n d s i m u l t a n e o u s l y w i t h all t h e past f o r m s o f t h e history o f art. A n admission o f u n o r i g inality, banality a n d worthlessness, elevated i n t o a p e r v e r s e aesthetic value, if n o t i n d e e d a p e r v e r s e aesthetic pleasure. A d m i t t e d l y , it is c l a i m e d that all this m e d i o c r i t y is s u b l i m a t e d in t h e transition to t h e level of art, w h i c h is distanced a n d ironic. B u t it is j u s t as w o r t h l e s s a n d insignificant at that level as before. T r a n s i t i o n to t h e aesthetic level rescues n o t h i n g . In fact t h e o p p o s i t e is t r u e : it is m e d i o c r i t y raised to t h e s e c o n d p o w e r . It claims to be worthless: 'I'm worthless, I'm worthless!' a n d it really is worthless! W e have h e r e t h e w h o l e d u p l i c i t y o f c o n t e m p o r a r y art: laying claim t o w o r t h lessness [la nullite], insignificance a n d n o n - m e a n i n g ; a i m i n g for worthlessness, w h e n it is already w o r t h l e s s ; a i m i n g for n o n - m e a n i n g , w h e n it already signifies n o t h i n g ; c l a i m i n g to a c h i e v e superficiality in superficial t e r m s . N o w , nullity is a secret q u a l i t y w h i c h n o t e v e r y o n e c a n aspire to. I n s i g n i f i c a n c e - t r u e i n s i g n i f i c a n c e , t h e v i c t o r i o u s d e f i a n c e o f m e a n i n g , t h e s t r i p p i n g away o f m e a n i n g , t h e art o f t h e d i s a p p e a r a n c e of m e a n i n g — is an e x c e p t i o n a l q u a l i t y possessed by a f e w rare w o r k s — w o r k s w h i c h n e v e r claim t h a t quality. T h e r e is an i n i t i a t o r y f o r m of nullity, j u s t as t h e r e is an i n i t i a t o r y f o r m of t h e n o t h i n g , o r a n i n i t i a t o r y f o r m o f evil. A n d t h e n t h e r e i s i n s i d e r - t r a d i n g , t h e fakers

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o f nullity, t h e s n o b b e r y o f nullity, o f all t h o s e w h o p r o s t i t u t e t h e N o t h i n g for value, w h o p r o s t i t u t e Evil for useful e n d s . W e m u s t n o t let t h e s e fakers g e t away w i t h it. W h e n t h e N o t h i n g s h o w s u p i n signs, w h e n N o t h i n g n e s s e m e r g e s a t t h e v e r y h e a r t of t h e system of signs, that is t h e f u n d a m e n t a l event of art. It is t h e p r o p e r task o f p o e t r y t o raise t h e N o t h i n g t o t h e p o w e r o f t h e sign — n o t t h e b a n a l i t y o r indifference of t h e real, b u t t h e radical illusion. In this way, W a r h o l t r u l y is a ' z e r o ' , i n t h e sense t h a t h e r e i n t r o d u c e s n o t h i n g n e s s i n t o t h e h e a r t o f t h e i m a g e . H e t u r n s nullity a n d insignificance i n t o a n e v e n t w h i c h h e t r a n s f o r m s i n t o a fatal strategy o f the image. T h e o t h e r s m e r e l y have a c o m m e r c i a l strategy of nullity, to w h i c h t h e y give a p r o m o t i o n a l f o r m , t h e s e n t i m e n t a l f o r m o f t h e c o m m o d i t y , a s B a u d e l a i r e p u t it. T h e y h i d e b e h i n d t h e i r o w n nullity a n d t h e metastases o f t h e d i s c o u r s e o n art, w h i c h w o r k s g e n e r o u s l y to p r o m o t e this nullity as a value ( a m o n g o t h e r t h i n g s , a value on t h e art m a r k e t , of c o u r s e ) . In a sense, this is w o r s e t h a n n o t h i n g , b e c a u s e it m e a n s n o t h i n g a n d yet it exists all t h e s a m e , g i v i n g itself every reason to exist. W i t h this p a r a n o i a c o l l u d i n g w i t h art, t h e r e i s n o r o o m for critical j u d g e m e n t any m o r e , b u t m e r e l y for an amicable, a n d inescapably convivial, participation in nullity. T h i s is t h e art c o n s p i r a c y a n d its p r i m a l scene, c a r r i e d f o r w a r d by all t h e p r i v a t e s h o w s , h a n g i n g s , e x h i b i t i o n s , r e s t o r a t i o n s , c o l l e c t i o n s , d o n a t i o n s a n d s p e c u l a t i o n s . It is a c o n s p i r a c y w h i c h c a n n o t b e ' u n h a t c h e d ' i n any k n o w n universe, since, b e h i n d t h e mystification o f i m a g e s , i t has p u t itself b e y o n d t h e r e a c h o f t h o u g h t . T h e o t h e r side o f this t r i c k e r y i s t h e w a y p e o p l e are bluffed i n t o a c c o r d i n g i m p o r t a n c e a n d c r e d e n c e to all this, on t h e g r o u n d s t h a t it is n o t possible t h a t it s h o u l d b e s o w o r t h l e s s a n d e m p t y a n d t h e r e m u s t b e s o m e t h i n g t o it. C o n t e m p o r a r y art plays on this u n c e r t a i n t y , on t h e impossibility of a r e a s o n e d aesthetic v a l u e j u d g e m e n t , relying o n t h e guilt o f t h o s e w h o simply c a n n o t u n d e r s t a n d , o r have n o t u n d e r s t o o d that t h e r e is n o t h i n g to u n d e r s t a n d . H e r e again, this is i n s i d e r - t r a d i n g .

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B u t w e m a y also take t h e v i e w that these p e o p l e , w h o m art keeps a t bay, have i n d e e d fully u n d e r s t o o d , since, b y t h e i r v e r y s t u p e f a c t i o n , t h e y s h o w a n intuitive u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h a t t h e y are v i c t i m s o f a n abuse o f p o w e r ; that t h e y are n o t b e i n g let i n o n t h e rules o f t h e g a m e ; that t h e w o o l i s b e i n g p u l l e d o v e r t h e i r eyes. I n o t h e r w o r d s , art has m a d e its e n t r y i n t o t h e general process o f i n s i d e r - t r a d i n g (and n o t m e r e l y from t h e financial p o i n t o f v i e w o f t h e art m a r k e t , b u t i n t h e v e r y m a n a g e m e n t o f aesthetic values). In this it is n o t a l o n e : t h e s a m e k i n d of collusion is to be f o u n d in politics, t h e e c o n o m y a n d i n f o r m a t i o n , w i t h t h e s a m e ironic r e s i g n a t i o n o n t h e p a r t of the 'consumers'. ' O u r a d m i r a t i o n for p a i n t i n g i s t h e c o n s e q u e n c e o f a l o n g process o f a d a p t a t i o n w h i c h has g o n e o n o v e r c e n t u r i e s , a n d exists for reasons w h i c h v e r y often h a v e n o t h i n g t o d o e i t h e r w i t h art o r t h e m i n d . P a i n t i n g c r e a t e d its r e c e p t o r . I t is, a t b o t t o m , a relationship of convention' ( G o m b r o w i c z to Dubuffet). T h e only q u e s t i o n is h o w s u c h a m a c h i n e c a n c o n t i n u e to f u n c t i o n in a s i t u a t i o n of critical d i s i l l u s i o n m e n t a n d c o m m e r c i a l frenzy. A n d i f i t can, h o w l o n g will this illusionism, this o c c u l t i s m last? A h u n d r e d years? T w o h u n d r e d ? W i l l art have a s e c o n d , in m i n a b l e e x i s t e n c e , like t h e secret services, w h i c h , t h o u g h w e k n o w t h e y h a v e l o n g h a d n o secrets t o steal o r . x c h a n g e , still t h r i v e a m i d a s u p e r s t i t i o u s b e l i e f i n t h e i r usefulness, a n d c o n t i n u e to g e n e r a t e a m y t h o l o g y ? 20 May

185

1996

TV F a n t a s i e s

Television has b e e n in t h e n e w s a lot lately. It is s u p p o s e d to exist to s p e a k to us a b o u t t h e w o r l d . A n d , like a n y self-respecting m e d i u m , i t i s also s u p p o s e d t o p u t events first a n d its o w n c o n c e r n s s e c o n d . B u t for s o m e t i m e n o w , i t s e e m s e i t h e r t o h a v e lost this r e s p e c t for itself or to h a v e c o m e to r e g a r d itself as t h e e v e n t . E v e n t h e ' G u i g n o l s ' o n C a n a l Plus h a v e started t o target t h e c o n f u s e d g o i n g s - o n i n t h e little w o r l d o f T V a n d r a d i o , i n c l u d i n g t h o s e o n t h e i r o w n c h a n n e l .

3 3

N o t to

m e n t i o n all t h e m o v e m e n t s o f star p r e s e n t e r s , c h a n n e l heads a n d p r o g r a m m e d i r e c tors b e t w e e n t h e different c o m p a n i e s , a n d t h e i n t r i g u e a n d c o r r u p t i o n w h i c h o n e s u p p o s e s i s e n d e m i c i n t h a t j u n g l e , b u t w h i c h has n o w b e e n transferred t o t h e s c r e e n a n d i s s e r v e d u p t o t h e a u d i e n c e a s a T V s h o w i n its o w n r i g h t . T h e r e s e e m e d little c h a n c e t h e m e d i a w o u l d e s c a p e t h e c o m p u l s i v e s y n d r o m e o f investigation, w h i t e w a s h i n g , r e h a b i l i t a t i o n a n d r e p e n t a n c e t h e political class a n d b i g b u s i n e s s h a v e b e e n g o i n g t h r o u g h for s o m e t i m e n o w . All f o r m s o f p o w e r are

3 3 . Canal Plus's satirical puppet show 'Les Guignols de l'lnfo' has been r u n n i n g since 29 August 1988.

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c u r r e n t l y afflicted w i t h t h e depressive s y n d r o m e o f p o w e r - t h e j u s t i f i c a t i o n c o m p l e x w h i c h b e s e t s all p o w e r o n c e i t g r o w s t o e x c e s s a n d n o l o n g e r has a n y r e p r e s e n t a t i v e f u n c t i o n . T h i s i s t h e case w i t h political p o w e r , a n d t o d a y also w i t h m e d i a p o w e r . I f television has b e g u n t o r e v o l v e a r o u n d its o w n c o n c e r n s a n d t o e n g a g e endlessly in e x a m i n i n g its o w n c o n v u l s i o n s , this is b e c a u s e it is no l o n g e r capable of f i n d i n g a m e a n i n g o u t s i d e itself, of g e t t i n g b e y o n d itself as a m e d i u m , a n d f i n d i n g its p u r p o s e : t o p r o d u c e t h e w o r l d a s i n f o r m a t i o n a n d give m e a n i n g t o t h a t i n f o r m a t i o n . T h r o u g h u s i n g a n d a b u s i n g events w i t h i m a g e s - t o t h e p o i n t o f c o m i n g u n d e r s u s p i c i o n o f c o n j u r i n g events u p o u t o f n o t h i n g - television has b e c o m e virtually d i s c o n n e c t e d f r o m t h e w o r l d a n d has b e g u n t o t u r n b a c k i n o n its o w n u n i v e r s e like a m e a n i n g l e s s signifier, d e s p e r a t e l y s e e k i n g an e t h i c to r e p l a c e its failing credibility, a m o r a l status to r e p l a c e its lack of i m a g i n a t i o n ( o n c e again, t h e s a m e applies w i t h t h e political class). It is at this p o i n t t h a t it b e g i n s to b e c o m e c o r r u p t . It is c h a l l e n g e d on all sides a n d i n c a p a b l e o f r e s p o n d i n g t o t h e basic q u e s t i o n , w h i c h i s a t t h e s a m e t i m e t h e m a j o r c h a r g e levelled against it: h o w d o things stand w i t h i m a g e s a n d t h e i r m e a n i n g , h o w d o t h i n g s s t a n d w i t h t h e v e r y m y t h o f i n f o r m a t i o n a n d television w h i c h i s e v e r y w h e r e t r u m p e t e d shamelessly? W h e r e i s y o u r responsibility i n all this? T h e m e d i a w o r l d as a w h o l e , incapable of replying to these questions, or doubtless even of a s k i n g t h e m , prefers t o p i c k a t its o w n sores, t o p u t its o w n conflicts, rivalries, profligacy a n d b a d m a n a g e m e n t o n show. B u t this i s m e r e l y a d i v e r s i o n . Excessive pay deals, settlings o f o l d scores, t h e p o l e m i c b e t w e e n p u b l i c service b r o a d c a s t i n g a n d t h e p r i v a t e c o m p a n i e s — all t h e s e t h i n g s w h i c h m a k e t h e h e a d l i n e s t o d a y are m e r e l y m a s k i n g t h e f u n d a m e n t a l fact t h a t television has lost b o t h any i d e a o f w h a t it is d o i n g a n d t h e ability to i m a g i n e t h e real w o r l d . As a result, it is t a l k i n g o n l y to itself o r t o a n u n i d e n t i f i e d a u d i e n c e w h o s e role i s m e r e l y t o p r o v i d e v i e w i n g f i g ures — w h i c h a m o u n t s to t h e s a m e t h i n g . It is c o n s e q u e n t l y l o s i n g its credibility

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w i t h t h e public, a n d losing all credit in its o w n eyes. In t h e light of t h e latest g o i n g s o n , i t s e e m s i t n o l o n g e r has a n y illusions a b o u t its o w n practices. T h e v i c e h e r e i s circularity. T h e v i c e o f t h e m e d i u m for t h e m e d i u m ' s sake, a s i n t h e past w e h a d art for art's sake. I t i s t h e v i c e o f all i n s t i t u t i o n s w h i c h b e g i n t o o p e r a t e autarkically, n o l o n g e r s h o w i n g a n y c o n c e r n for t h e i r o b j e c t o r t h e i r f u n c t i o n . I m m e n s e b a c h e l o r m a c h i n e s w h o s e w h o l e e n e r g y g o e s i n t o fuelling a n d r e p r o d u c i n g themselves. This is o u r dilemma, o n e that c o m e s to us from the d e p t h s o f s i m u l a t i o n : w h a t i f t h e sign d i d n o t relate e i t h e r t o t h e o b j e c t o r t o m e a n i n g , b u t t o t h e p r o m o t i o n o f t h e sign a s sign? A n d w h a t i f i n f o r m a t i o n d i d n o t r e l a t e e i t h e r t o t h e e v e n t o r t h e facts, b u t t o t h e p r o m o t i o n o f i n f o r m a t i o n itself a s e v e n t ? A n d m o r e p r e c i s e l y t o d a y : w h a t i f t e l e v i s i o n n o l o n g e r r e l a t e d t o a n y t h i n g e x c e p t itself a s m e s s a g e ? T h i s i s w h e r e M c L u h a n ' s f o r m u l a t i o n c a n b e s e e n t o b e a b s o l u t e l y b r i l l i a n t : t h e m e d i u m has s w a l l o w e d t h e m e s s a g e a n d i t i s t h i s , t h e m u l t i - m e d i u m , w h i c h i s p r o l i f e r a t i n g i n all d i r e c t i o n s . A n d w e are, indeed, seeing terrestrial and cable channels and services proliferating w h i l e a c t u a l p r o g r a m m e c o n t e n t i s d i s a p p e a r i n g a n d m e l t i n g away — t h e T V v i e w e r ' s almost involuntary c h a n n e l - h o p p i n g h e r e e c h o i n g television's o w n obsession w i t h its o w n c h a n n e l s . B u t this i s n o t w h e r e t h e t r u e c o r r u p t i o n lies. T h e secret v i c e , already p o i n t e d o u t b y U m b e r t o E c o , lies i n t h e w a y t h e m e d i a b e c o m e self-referring a n d speak o n l y a m o n g themselves. T h e multimedium is b e c o m i n g t h e intermedium. T h i s already p r o b l e m a t i c s i t u a t i o n is a g g r a v a t e d w h e n it is a single h y p e r m e d i u m — television — e y e i n g itself. All t h e m o r e so as this t e l e - c e n t r i s m is c o m b i n e d w i t h a v e r y severe i m p l i c i t m o r a l a n d political j u d g e m e n t : i t i m p l i e s t h a t t h e masses basically n e i t h e r n e e d n o r desire m e a n i n g or i n f o r m a t i o n — t h a t all t h e y ask t o r is signs a n d i m a g e s . Television provides t h e m w i t h t h e s e i n g r e a t quantities, r e t u r n i n g t o t h e real w o r l d , w i t h u t t e r - t h o u g h well- — n o u f l a g e d — c o n t e m p t , i n t h e f o r m o f ' r e a l i t y s h o w s '

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or v o x - p o p s — t h a t is to say, in t h e f o r m of universal s e l f - c o m m e n t a r y a n d m o c k e d u p s c e n a r i o s , w h e r e b o t h t h e q u e s t i o n s a n d t h e answers are 'fixed'. O f c o u r s e , t e l e v i s i o n i s n o t a l o n e i n b e i n g c o n f r o n t e d w i t h this d e s t i n y - this v i c i o u s circle: t h e d e s t i n y o f all t h o s e t h i n g s w h i c h , n o l o n g e r h a v i n g a n o b j e c t i v e p u r p o s e , t a k e t h e m s e l v e s for t h e i r o w n e n d s . I n s o d o i n g , t h e y escape all r e s p o n s i bility, b u t also b e c o m e b o g g e d d o w n i n t h e i r o w n i n s o l u b l e c o n t r a d i c t i o n s . T h i s is, h o w e v e r , m o r e p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e critical s i t u a t i o n o f all t h e c u r r e n t m e d i a . O p i n i o n polls t h e m s e l v e s are a g o o d e x a m p l e . T h e y h a v e h a d t h e i r m o m e n t o f t r u t h (as, i n d e e d , d i d television), w h e n t h e y w e r e t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e m i r r o r o f a n o p i n i o n , i n t h e days w h e n s u c h a t h i n g still existed, b e f o r e it b e c a m e m e r e l y a c o n d i t i o n e d reflex. B u t p e r p e t u a l h a r a s s m e n t b y o p i n i o n polls has r e s u l t e d i n t h e i r b e i n g n o l o n g e r a m i r r o r at all; t h e y have, rather, b e c o m e a s c r e e n . A p e r v e r s e e x c h a n g e has b e e n established b e t w e e n polls w h i c h n o l o n g e r really ask questions a n d masses w h o n o l o n g e r reply. O r r a t h e r t h e y b e c o m e c u n n i n g p a r t n e r s , like rats i n l a b o r a t o r i e s o r t h e v i r u s e s p u r s u e d i n e x p e r i m e n t s . T h e y t o y w i t h t h e polls a t least a s m u c h a s t h e polls toy w i t h t h e m . T h e y play a d o u b l e g a m e . I t i s n o t , t h e n , t h a t t h e polls are b o g u s o r deceitful, b u t r a t h e r t h a t t h e i r v e r y success a n d a u t o m a t i c o p e r a t i o n h a v e m a d e t h e m r a n d o m . T h e r e i s t h e s a m e d o u b l e g a m e , t h e s a m e p e r v e r s e social r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n a n a l l - p o w e r f u l , b u t w h o l l y self-absorbed, television a n d t h e mass o f T V v i e w e r s , w h o are v a g u e l y scandalized b y this m i s a p p r o p r i a t i o n , n o t j u s t o f p u b l i c m o n e y , b u t o f t h e w h o l e value system o f n e w s a n d i n f o r m a t i o n . Y o u d o n ' t n e e d t o b e politically aware t o realize t h a t , after t h e f a m o u s d u s t b i n s o f history, w e are n o w s e e i n g t h e d u s t b i n s o f i n f o r m a t i o n . N o w , i n f o r m a t i o n m a y w e l l b e a m y t h , b u t this alternative m y t h , t h e m o d e r n substitute for all o t h e r values, has b e e n r a m m e d d o w n o u r throats incessantly. A n d t h e r e i s a g l a r i n g c o n t r a s t b e t w e e n this universal m y t h a n d t h e actual state o f affairs. T h e real c a t a s t r o p h e o f t e l e v i s i o n has b e e n h o w d e e p l y i t has failed t o live u p t o its p r o m i s e o f p r o v i d i n g i n f o r m a t i o n -

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its s u p p o s e d m o d e r n f u n c t i o n . We d r e a m e d first of g i v i n g p o w e r - political p o w e r t o t h e i m a g i n a t i o n , b u t w e d r e a m less a n d less o f this, i f i n d e e d a t all. T h e fantasy t h e n shifted o n t o t h e m e d i a a n d i n f o r m a t i o n . A t t i m e s w e d r e a m e d (at least c o l lectively, e v e n i f i n d i v i d u a l l y w e c o n t i n u e d t o have n o illusions) o f f i n d i n g s o m e f r e e d o m t h e r e — a n o p e n n e s s , a n e w p u b l i c space. S u c h d r e a m s w e r e s o o n d a s h e d : t h e m e d i a t u r n e d o u t t o b e m u c h m o r e c o n f o r m i s t a n d servile t h a n e x p e c t e d , a t t i m e s m o r e servile t h a n t h e professional p o l i t i c i a n s . T h e latest d i s p l a c e m e n t o f t h e i m a g i n a t i o n has b e e n o n t o t h e j u d i c i a r y . A g a i n this has b e e n a n illusion, since, apart f r o m t h e p l e a s i n g w h i f f o f scandal p r o d u c e d , this i s also d e p e n d e n t o n t h e m e d i a o p e r a t i o n . W e are g o i n g t o e n d u p l o o k i n g for i m a g i n a t i o n i n places f u r t h e r a n d f u r t h e r r e m o v e d f r o m p o w e r - f r o m a n y f o r m o f p o w e r w h a t e v e r ( a n d definitely far r e m o v e d f r o m c u l t u r a l p o w e r , w h i c h has b e c o m e t h e m o s t c o n v e n t i o n a l a n d professional f o r m t h e r e is). A m o n g t h e e x c l u d e d , t h e i m m i g r a n t s , t h e h o m e less. B u t t h a t will really take a lot o f i m a g i n a t i o n b e c a u s e they, w h o n o l o n g e r even h a v e a n i m a g e , are t h e m s e l v e s t h e b y - p r o d u c t s o f a w h o l e society's loss o f i m a g i n a t i o n , o f t h e loss o f a n y social i m a g i n a t i o n . A n d this i s i n d e e d t h e p o i n t . W e shall s o o n see i t i s n o use t r y i n g t o l o c a t e t h e i m a g i n a t i o n s o m e w h e r e . Q u i t e simply, b e c a u s e t h e r e n o l o n g e r i s any. T h e day this b e c o m e s p a t e n t l y o b v i o u s , t h e v a g u e collective d i s a p p o i n t m e n t h a n g i n g o v e r u s t o d a y will b e c o m e a massive sicke n i n g feeling. 3 June

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Of Course C h i r a c is Useless

A s w e k n o w , c o m p u l s o r y revelling m a k e s t h e y e a r - e n d a severe ordeal. E v e n a m o n g t h o s e h a v i n g a w h a l e of a t i m e , t h e s p e c t r e of a b a n d o n m e n t l o o m s . It is precisely h e r e , i n this staged e u p h o r i a , t h a t t h e crucial q u e s t i o n o f t h e social b o n d arises. I s t h e h u m a n b e i n g a social b e i n g ? N o t h i n g c o u l d b e less c e r t a i n . A n d i t s e e m s m u c h less c e r t a i n w h e n y o u h e a r t h e m i d n i g h t h o w l i n g , i n every t o n g u e , o f t h e c r o w d o n t h e C h a m p s - E l y s e e s . B u t is t h e h u m a n b e i n g in fact a human being? T h a t is w h a t e v e r y o n e s e e m s t o b e t r y i n g t o p r o v e t o t h e m s e l v e s w i t h all t h e s e p a t h e t i c y e a r - e n d initiatives ( w h a t e v e r will t h e e n d o f t h e c e n t u r y b e like?), f o r c i n g t h e i r excessive t h e r a p e u t i c a t t e n t i o n s o n t h e p o o r . T h e a t t e n t i o n i s t h e r a p e u t i c for t h e r i c h , o f c o u r s e , w h o m i t rescues f r o m d e p r e s s i o n , b u t t h e r e i s also a n excess o f c h a r i t a b l e zeal d i r e c t e d a t t h e p o o r , w h i c h a t t i m e s a m o u n t s t o h a r a s s m e n t , as, for e x a m p l e , w h e n t h e h o m e l e s s are d r i v e n i n t o hostels against t h e i r wills, s o m e o f t h e m p r e f e r r i n g t o live a n d die n o n - s o c i a l l y . T h r o u g h this h y p o c h o n d r i a c a l e m o t i o n for t h e s e sick m e m b e r s a n d o r g a n s o f a s o c i e t y w h i c h i n d u l g e s all t h e w h i l e i n t h e fantasy t h a t i t i s t h e world's f o u r t h largest p o w e r , w e are k e e n t o p r o v e t o ourselves t h a t w e are h u m a n . I t w o u l d b e n i c e i f this p a t h o s o f a u t o m a t i c m o u r n i n g o f t h e C h r i s t m a s

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h o l i d a y p e r i o d c o u l d b e s w e p t u p b y t h e c u r r e n t c o l d front a n d fall i n stalactites o f frozen tears o n all t h e p r o p h e t s o f o t h e r p e o p l e ' s misery. W e find t h e s a m e i c y p r e o c c u p a t i o n a t N o t r e - D a m e , w h e r e t o t h e e x c l u s i o n o f t h e p o o r a n d the transparency of t h e cold is a d d e d t h e televisual transparency of t h e o m n i p r e s e n t s c r e e n s . L i k e t h e n e w Y e a r - 2 0 0 0 c r i b s , t h e s e s c r e e n s are e v e r y w h e r e , i n all t h e naves a n d aisles — t h e p u l p i t b e i n g o c c u p i e d b y t h e c a m e r a e q u i p m e n t . I f t h e W o r d was m a d e flesh, t h e n solid flesh t o d a y has m e l t e d i n t o t h e screen. Cardinal Lustiger

34

m i g h t simply be a h o l o g r a m — he m i g h t n o t even be

t h e r e - a n d t h e mass m i g h t b e a k i n d o f b a r e l y i n t e r a c t i v e C D - R o m ; a reality a s virtual as the Virgin's Immaculate C o n c e p t i o n . Outside, w i t h the queues at the d o o r s o f t h e c a t h e d r a l , w e h a v e a p r e f i g u r a t i o n o f P a r a d i s e . B u t this i s n o t a t all i n t e r a c t i v e : r a t h e r i t i s d i r e c t i v e a n d t h e p o l i c e are i n c o n t r o l . T h e c r o w d i s f u n nelled in t h r o u g h barriers an d searched by the security forces. Paradise is over-full, t h e c h u r c h is s a t u r a t e d - t h e r e ' s a w a i t i n g list (there's s o m e d a n g e r it m a y b e like this a t t h e gates o f t h e real P a r a d i s e ) . F o r t h o s e w h o w i l l n o t g e t i n , t h e s o u n d i s relayed live i n t h e i c y w i n d . ' U n t o y o u a S a v i o u r i s b o r n ' . B u t t h e o r i g i n a l i s i n a c c e s s i b l e . It's like t h e L a s c a u x caves. L a s c a u x a n d B e t h l e h e m : o n e s t r u g g l e ! P e r h a p s t h e faithful c a r r y t h e h y m n i n t h e i r h e a r t s , t h e h y m n t o this o r i g i n a l reality, this o r i g i n a l d e s c e n t o f h u m a n i t y w h i c h t h e y c a r r y t o b a p t i s m a l fonts, b u t t h e secret i s closely g u a r d e d . F o r o u t s i d e , t e r r o r i s m i s o n t h e p r o w l a n d t h e p o l i c e s t a n d by. O n l y i n t h e s h a d o w o f a n a n t i - t e r r o r i s t c r a c k d o w n c a n t h e G o d - c h i l d be revived. W a t c h i n g t h e p r e s i d e n t ' s C h r i s t m a s m e s s a g e p r o d u c e s this s a m e n e c r o p o l a r , w h i t e - m a s s sensation. Seeing the video broadcast of the Christmas service in the c a t h e d r a l itself, w i t h t h e s e p a t h e t i c screens a n d t h e y o u n g w o r s h i p p e r s s l u m p e d 34. J e a n - M a r i e Cardinal Lustiger, Archbishop of Paris.

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a r o u n d t h e m h e r e a n d t h e r e , y o u tell y o u r s e l f t h a t G o d a n d r e l i g i o n d e s e r v e d b e t t e r . D e s e r v e d t o die, yes, b u t n o t this. H o w e v e r , w a t c h i n g t h e presidential figure a n d his s o n o r o u s inanity, y o u tell y o u r s e l f t h a t h e r e y o u g o t w h a t y o u d e s e r v e d . C h i r a c is useless — t h a t goes w i t h o u t saying — b u t so are we all. T h e q u e s t i o n d o e s n ' t e v e n arise w h e t h e r w e ' r e useless b e c a u s e h e is, o r t h e o t h e r w a y a r o u n d . Uselessness of this k i n d has no o r i g i n : it exists i m m e d i a t e l y , reciprocally; like a s h a r e d secret, y o u savour it i m p l i c i t l y — w i t h its w a r m b i t t e r n e s s - p a r t i c u l a r l y in t h e s e c o l d snaps, a s t h e v e r y essence o f t h e social b o n d . S a n c t i o n e d b y t h a t o t h e r i n t e r a c t i v e uselessness — t h e uselessness of t h e s c r e e n . C h i r a c ' s uselessness c a n n o t be verified. It c o u l d be p e r h a p s , if it w e r e a specific quality - o r i f h e w e r e e q u a l t o himself. B u t , u n l i k e M i t t e r a n d , w h o t o o k h i m s e l f for M i t t e r a n d , C h i r a c d o e s n ' t e v e n see h i m s e l f a s C h i r a c . H e n e i t h e r takes h i m s e l f for h i m s e l f n o r for a n y o n e else. H e d o e s s o m e t h i n g o r h e d o e s n ' t . A n d i f t h e s i t u a t i o n dictates, h e d o e s t h e o p p o s i t e . Political will plays n o p a r t , for, t h e w a y t h e political s p h e r e is today, it is n o t a p l a c e of will or r e p r e s e n t a t i o n . A n d h o w c o u l d C h i r a c start r e p r e s e n t i n g s o m e t h i n g w h e n t h e r e n o l o n g e r is, a m o n g t h e ' p e o p l e ' , a n y p r o f o u n d w i l l o r d e m a n d t o b e r e p r e s e n t e d ? N o p o i n t , for e x a m p l e , discussing t h e d i s s o l u t i o n o f t h e A s s e m b l y w h e n i t i s t h e p e o p l e itself t h a t has b e e n dissolved. O r w h e n t h e p e o p l e has dissolved itself a n d g o e s o n dissolving i n a p e r p e t u a l n i g h t o f t h e f o u r t h o f A u g u s t , s u r r e n d e r i n g its p r i v i l e g e o f b e i n g r e p r e s e n t e d , c a n c e l l i n g itself i n its o w n m a s s .

35

Today, as a ' p e o p l e ' , we are all w o r t h l e s s a n d useless, w h i c h m e a n s t h e r e are no representatives o r r e p r e s e n t e d a n y m o r e , b u t m e r e l y ' e x t r a s ' . W e a t t h e grass r o o t s are statistical extras a n d t h e ' p o l i t i c i a n s ' are T V extras.

35. On 4 August 1789 the French National Assembly m e t at 8 p.m. and m a d e sweeping reforms, w h i c h were generally represented as putting an end to 'feudal' privilege.

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U p t o this p o i n t , e v e r y t h i n g i s f i n e . A s B r e c h t said o f t h e b e e r a n d t h e cigar, t h e fact t h a t C h i r a c d o e s n o t i n h i m s e l f exist i s h a r m o n i o u s l y c o u n t e r b a l a n c e d b y t h e fact t h a t t h e p e o p l e no l o n g e r is a p e o p l e . It is s i m p l y t h e e n d of a fine story, or of h i s t o r y itself - a t h i n g w h i c h o c c u r s , to use R i v a r o l ' s u n c o m p r o m i s i n g f o r m u l a , b e t w e e n r e v o l u t i o n a n d t h e spectacle o f r e v o l u t i o n . ( R i v a r o l i s harsher, a r g u i n g that d o u b t l e s s t h e p e o p l e ' h a d o n l y ever w a n t e d t h e spectacle o f r e v o l u t i o n ' — b u t let u s a t least a l l o w h i s t o r y its historical c h a n c e . ) W i t h t h a t m o m e n t past a n d g o n e , w e n o l o n g e r h a v e t o deal w i t h h i s t o r y o r p o w e r exactly (and, e v e n less, w i t h seizing p o w e r ) , b u t w i t h t h e f i c t i o n a n d spectacle o f p o w e r w h i c h , for t h e e n t e r t a i n m e n t o f t h e p e o p l e , has t o feed o n t h e s a m e s i m u l a t e d events a s real h i s t o r y (the u n d y i n g — t h o u g h transparent a n d nostalgic - i m a g e of w h i c h still h a u n t s imaginations). O n l y t h o s e events — strikes, s p e e c h e s , e l e c t i o n s , assassination a t t e m p t s - w h i c h are c a u g h t u p i n t h e i r o w n spectacle exist today. T h o s e i n v o l v i n g real issues o f r e p resentation do not. M o r e o v e r , t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c real events (for e x a m p l e , t h e t h r e e w h i c h t o p this year's list: p a e d o p h i l i a , u n e m p l o y m e n t a n d m a d c o w disease) are u n r e p r e s e n t a b l e ; t h e y are i m p o s s i b l e t o p i n d o w n politically (even u n e m p l o y m e n t s e e m s like a viral e p i d e m i c o r a s l o w - m o t i o n social collapse). H i g h l y s y m p t o m a t i c events, b u t r e p r e sentative o f n o t h i n g w h a t s o e v e r . W i t h o u t this — possibly v i o l e n t — e l e m e n t of spectacle a n d in t h e a b s e n c e of any real issues, e v e r y t h i n g g o e s a l o n g s m o o t h l y , m e r g i n g i n w i t h t h e n o r m a l state o f political affairs, w h i c h is, as we k n o w , as flat a n d s p o n g y as an e n c e p h a l o g r a m . N o w , if t h e fiction a n d t h e p l e a s u r e of spectacle are to be p r e s e r v e d , a differential t e n s i o n has t o b e m a i n t a i n e d . A s i n t h e s t o r y o f t h e illusionist w h o was forced d u r i n g his p e r f o r m a n c e artificially t o m e c h a n i z e his gestures t o m a r k h i m s e l f off f r o m t h e a u t o m a t o n at his side — an a u t o m a t o n so perfect y o u c o u l d n o t tell t h e difference b e t w e e n m a n a n d m a c h i n e . N o w , this i s precisely w h a t i s h a p p e n i n g : y o u c a n n o t

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distinguish C h i r a c f r o m t h e g e n e r a l state o f t h i n g s . H e b l e n d s i n perfectly w i t h t h e a u t o m a t i c nullity o f t h e state o f t h i n g s . Y o u c a n n o t h o l d this against h i m ; y o u c a n o n l y p i t y h i m f o r it.

T h i s i s his d e e p e s t n a t u r e - this basic m i m i c r y , this

R o u s s e a u i s m of a n a t u r a l l a n d s c a p e g a r d e n e r of t h e political s c e n e . B u t , as a c o n s e q u e n c e , e v e n in a z e r o - s u m g a m e , he saps all t h e passion f r o m t h i n g s . A n d this is i n e x c u s a b l e . E x c e p t t h a t in this e x t r e m e c o r r u p t i o n — c o n n e c t e d w i t h s i m p l i c i t y — b y w h i c h h e , a useless p e r s o n , b e c o m e s t h e perfect m i r r o r o f everyone's uselessness, h e m i g h t w e l l give all t h o s e h e (so negatively) r e p r e s e n t s t h e idea o f s m a s h i n g t h e m i r r o r to r e c o v e r a n o t h e r i m a g e — at least in t h e scattered fragments. A n d this m i g h t b e ( w h o k n o w s ? ) a n e w f o r m o f p r e s e n c e o r r e p r e s e n t a t i o n , i n v o l v i n g t h e dispelling of this r e p r e s e n t a t i v e uselessness. B u t w o u l d n ' t this e l i m i n a t i o n (and t h a t o f m a n y others) still b e t h e spectacle o f his disappearance? N o w , that is s o m e t h i n g Chirac provides, unaided, on every occasion. 7 January

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1991

The Clone or the Degree Xerox of the Species

Assuredly, t h e a n i m a l w o r l d still has s o m e surprises i n store for us. After t h e m a d cow, t h e c l o n e d sheep. C r a z y C o w a n d B a b y Dolly. A n d i t i s n o t b y c h a n c e t h a t t o g e t h e r t h e y f o r m t h e astral t h e m e o f this c e n t u r y ' s e n d . W e are g o i n g t o b e able t o c l o n e ever m o r e s h e e p a n d s o m a k e m o r e a n d m o r e a n i m a l feed w i t h w h i c h t o feed ever m o r e m a d c o w s . . . B u t t h e r e i s e v e n m o r e o f a c o n n e c t i o n b e t w e e n t h e t w o : c l o n i n g i s itself a f o r m o f e p i d e m i c , o f c o n t a g i o n , o f metastasis o f t h e species — o f a species i n t h e c l u t c h e s o f i d e n t i c a l r e p r o d u c t i o n a n d i n f i n i t e p r o l i f e r a t i o n , b e y o n d sex a n d d e a t h . T h e key e v e n t h e r e i s t h e l i q u i d a t i o n o f s e x u a l r e p r o d u c t i o n a n d , a s a result, o f a n y d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n o f - a n d s i n g u l a r d e s t i n y for - t h e l i v i n g b e i n g . B y way, paradoxically, o f s c i e n c e a n d p r o g r e s s , w e are n o w q u i t e s i m p l y e r a d i c a t i n g the greatest revolution in the history of living beings, the transition from p r o t o zoan, bacterial, undifferentiated cell-division - the i m m o r t a l i t y of single-cell o r g a n i s m s - t o sexual r e p r o d u c t i o n a n d t h e i n a l i e n a b l e d e a t h o f e v e r y i n d i v i d u a l b e i n g , a n d r e p l a c i n g this w i t h t h e b i o l o g i c a l m o n o t o n y o f t h e earlier state o f

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affairs, t h e p e r p e t u a t i o n o f a m i n i m a l , u n d i f f e r e n t i a t e d life, for w h i c h w e h a v e perhaps never stopped yearning. W h a t F r e u d t e r m e d t h e d e a t h d r i v e was s i m p l y this d i z z y i n g t e m p t a t i o n t o return to annihilation in the eternal repetition of the Same, to go back b e y o n d the biological r e v o l u t i o n o f sex, b a c k b e y o n d d e a t h . T h i s i s o n t o l o g y b e c o m e p u r e t a u tology, p h y l o g e n e s i s b e c o m e p u r e t a u t o g e n e s i s . W h e r e a s living b e i n g s h a v e striven for h u n d r e d s of m i l l i o n s of years to w r e s t t h e s a m e away f r o m t h e s a m e — to tear t h e m s e l v e s free f r o m this k i n d o f p r i m i t i v e e n t r o p y a n d incest — w e are w o r k i n g a t t h e d i s i n f o r m a t i o n o f t h e species b y c a n c e l l i n g differences a n d m a n u f a c t u r i n g e n t r o p y w i t h i n f o r m a t i o n . T h e v e r y idea o f it! W i t h c l o n i n g , w e are e n g a g e d u p o n a crucial r e v i s i o n o f t h e w h o l e e v o l u t i o n o f l i v i n g b e i n g s , a n d this r e p r e s e n t s b o t h t h e t e c h n i c a l a n d scientific t r i u m p h o f a species a n d its d e a t h b y r e p e t i t i o n o f its o w n f o r m u l a . T h e p a r a d o x o f c l o n i n g i s t h a t i t w i l l p r o d u c e a n d r e p r o d u c e b e i n g s w h i c h are still sexed, w h e r e a s t h e sexual f u n c t i o n has b e c o m e a b s o l u t e l y useless since, j u s t a s e a c h s e g m e n t o f e a r t h w o r m r e p r o d u c e s itself a s a w h o l e w o r m , e v e r y cell o f a m a n a g i n g d i r e c t o r c a n p r o d u c e a n e w m a n a g i n g d i r e c t o r (in m u c h t h e s a m e w a y as every fragment of a h o l o g r a m can again b e c o m e the m a t r i x of t h e c o m p l e t e hologram). B u t this p h a n t a s m o f r e p e t i t i o n i s m e r e l y o n e side o f t h e b i o g e n e t i c e n t e r p r i s e : the other is perfection. For centuries, in the theological debate on resurrection, t h e r e was s p e c u l a t i o n a s t o w h i c h b o d y w o u l d b e resuscitated. W o u l d i t b e t h e b o d y i n t h e full flush o f y o u t h , t h e r e g e n e r a t e d , transfigured b o d y , o r t h e o l d , sick o n e ? T h i s s a m e d e b a t e n o w c o m e s b a c k to us in a b i o - i n d u s t r i a l v e r s i o n , for it is clear t h a t i t w o n ' t b e t h e s h e e p w i t h staggers o r t h e African w i t h A I D S t h a t will b e c l o n e d . It is o b v i o u s t h a t c l o n i n g , if it is to d e v e l o p , will be a u t o m a t i c a l l y d i s c r i m i n a t o r y — far m o r e t h a n n a t u r a l s e l e c t i o n e v e r was. In this w a y it will c o n n e c t w i t h

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that o t h e r p h a n t a s m u n d e r l y i n g t h e w h o l e g e n e t i c project (the w h o l e technical p r o j e c t i n g e n e r a l ) : t h e p h a n t a s m o f p e r f e c t i n g t h e ideal f o r m u l a for t h e species s o t h a t n o t h i n g r e m a i n s b u t t o r e p r o d u c e it. B u t w e have t o l o o k a t w h a t ' i d e a l ' a n d ' p e r fection' m e a n here. T h e y assume an unrelenting selection in terms of agreed m o d e l s o f race, h e a l t h , p e r f o r m a n c e a n d ' i n t e l l i g e n c e ' (defined b y o p e r a t i o n a l q u o tients). N o w , this d o e s n o t raise t o o m a n y p r o b l e m s w h e r e t r a n s g e n i c m a i z e o r b u t c h e r s ' m e a t are c o n c e r n e d , w h e r e p e r f e c t i o n is a q u e s t i o n of w h a t is best to eat. A n d i t d o e s , p e r h a p s , p o s e n o p r o b l e m s for G o d , since H e i s t h e ( d i s ) e m b o d i m e n t o f p e r f e c t i o n . B u t w h e r e t h e h u m a n species a n d o t h e r c o m p l e x b e i n g s are c o n c e r n e d , t h e p r o b l e m i s i n s o l u b l e . Biologically, h o w e v e r , i t will b e resolved i n t e r m s o f t h e w e a k e s t f o r m u l a , t h a t i s t o say, i n t e r m s o f perfect n o r m a l i t y , u n e r r i n g a d a p t a t i o n , e r a d i c a t i o n o f all a n o m a l o u s (or useless) characteristics a n d g e n e s , a n d t h u s , ultimately, i n t e r m s o f f u n c t i o n a l a n d statistical p e r f e c t i o n . A n d i n this way, w e shall m e e t t h e s a m e fate a s a n i m a l s (it i s o n l y j u s t i c e t h a t w e s h o u l d ) . I m m o r t a l i t y a n d p e r f e c t i o n a c h i e v e d t h r o u g h g e n e t i c e n g i n e e r i n g a n d c l o n i n g will o n l y ever b e t h e i m m o r t a l i t y a n d p e r f e c t i o n o f t h e average f o r m u l a , o f t h e ' m e d i o c r i t y ' o f t h e species raised to a h i g h e r p o w e r . All this v i r t u a l e u g e n i c s m i g h t p e r h a p s b e justified, a t a p i n c h , i f t h e a i m w e r e t o create a ' h i g h e r r a c e ' (a h i g h e r level of c o m p l e x i t y ) . B u t all m a n i p u l a t i o n i n t e n d e d t o b r i n g t h e species closer t o n o r m a l p e r f e c t i o n - or, i n o t h e r w o r d s , statistical m e d i o c r i t y — is t h o r o u g h l y abject. U n l e s s t h e r e is h e r e , p e r h a p s , s o m e o b s c u r e desire t o obliterate t h e specificity o f t h e species b y g e n e t i c c o n f u s i o n , t o c h a n g e t h e rules o f t h e g a m e a t t h e risk o f c o m i n g t o grief. I n w h i c h case, t h e r e c a n b e n o o b j e c t i o n : h u m a n b e i n g s have always d o n e this i n t h e s y m b o l i c order, n o w t h e y will d o i t i n t h e b i o l o g i c a l o r d e r . T h e r e is, h o w e v e r , a n a p p r e c i a b l e difference i n a c t u ally c a r r y i n g o u t t h e b i o l o g i c a l d e e d , w h e n this fated c h a r a c t e r o f t h e S a m e , w h i c h u p t o n o w was m e r e l y m e n t a l o r m e t a p h y s i c a l , b e c o m e s m a t e r i a l l y i n s c r i b e d i n o u r

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cells, a n d w h e n s c i e n c e itself b e c o m e s a 'fatal strategy'. E v e r y o n e m a y a t s o m e t i m e have d r e a m t of d u p l i c a t i n g or m u l t i p l y i n g h i m s e l f to perfection, b u t this is, precisely, a fantasy: i t i s d e s t r o y e d w h e n y o u a t t e m p t t o force reality t o c o n f o r m t o it. E v e r y t h i n g - Utopias, transparency, p e r f e c t i o n - b e c o m e s t e r r i f y i n g as s o o n as it is t u r n e d i n t o a reality. D N A itself, t h a t m e t a - s t a b i l i z e d f o r m u l a for life, i s p e r h a p s m e r e l y a n average f o r m u l a , w h i c h has o n l y m a n a g e d t o universalize itself o n t h e basis o f a statistical o u t c o m e — that is to say, a lowest c o m m o n d e n o m i n a t o r . S i n g u l a r i t y b e i n g , by defi n i t i o n , w h a t c a n n e v e r b e r e p r o d u c e d , all t h a t c a n b e r e p r o d u c e d t o infinity c a n only ever be of very l o w definition. Multiplication is positive only in o u r system of a c c u m u l a t i o n . In t h e symbolic o r d e r , i t i s e q u i v a l e n t t o s u b t r a c t i o n . I f five m e n p u l l o n a r o p e , t h e f o r c e t h e y e x e r t is a d d e d t o g e t h e r . By c o n t r a s t , if an i n d i v i d u a l d i e s , his d e a t h is a c o n s i d erable event, w h e r e a s if a t h o u s a n d individuals die, t h e d e a t h of each is a t h o u s a n d t i m e s less i m p o r t a n t . E a c h o f t w o t w i n s , b e c a u s e h e has a d o u b l e , i s u l t i m a t e l y j u s t h a l f a n i n d i v i d u a l - i f y o u c l o n e h i m t o infinity, his v a l u e b e c o m e s equal to zero. T h i s i s already visible h e r e a n d n o w i n t h e social register, w h e r e w h a t t h e system p r o d u c e s a n d r e p r o d u c e s are virtually m a t c h i n g b e i n g s , b e i n g s s u b s t i t u t a b l e for e a c h o t h e r , already m e n t a l l y c l o n e d . I n t h e e n d , this w h o l e c l o n i n g business i s n o t so v e r y n e w ; we h a v e e x p e r i e n c e of it in all areas of life - i n t e l l e c t u a l , c u l t u r a l a n d o p e r a t i o n a l , n o t t o m e n t i o n t h e fields o f w o r k a n d t e c h n o l o g y , w h e r e t h e s y s t e m l o n g s i n c e t r a i n e d u s t o b e c l o n e s o f ourselves o r o f e a c h o t h e r . C l o n i n g , t h e ecriture automatique of ' r e a d y - m a d e ' i n d i v i d u a l s a n d t h e i r i d e n t i f i c a t i o n w i t h a m i n i m a l f o r m u l a (their m e n t a l , b e h a v i o u r a l c o d e ) , t h e i r u n t h i n k i n g i n s c r i p t i o n i n t h e o p e r a t i o n a l n e t w o r k s — all t h e s e t h i n g s are already largely a c h i e v e d . T h e c l o n e s are already t h e r e ; t h e v i r t u a l b e i n g s are already t h e r e . W e are all replicants! W e are s o

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in t h e sense t h a t , as in Blade Runner, it is already a l m o s t i m p o s s i b l e to distinguish p r o p e r l y h u m a n b e h a v i o u r from its p r o j e c t i o n o n t h e screen, f r o m its d o u b l e i n t h e i m a g e a n d its c o m p u t e r i z e d p r o s t h e s e s . T h i s is t h e case in a n u m b e r of fields. We are familiar w i t h t h e replica of t h e L a s c a u x cave a n d w i t h R i c h a r d B o h r i n g e r ' s c i n e m a t i c d o u b l e .

3 6

B u t isn't E u r o p e

itself, as it is b e i n g d e v e l o p e d f r o m t h e t o p d o w n , a v i r t u a l , artificially c l o n e d entity? A n d isn't v i r t u a l reality a s a w h o l e a n i m m e n s e c l o n i n g o f t h e s o - c a l l e d real world? A d m i t t e d l y , w i t h c l o n i n g , w e are d e a l i n g w i t h a n infinitely m o r e subtle a n d a r t i ficial prosthesis t h a n a n y m e c h a n i c a l o n e . T h e g e n e t i c c o d e , s u b s t i t u t i n g for t h e father and t h e m o t h e r , b e c o m e s t h e t r u e universal matrix, t h e individual b e i n g n o w o n l y t h e c a n c e r o u s metastasis o f his basic f o r m u l a . S u c h i s t h e i n c r e d i b l e v i o l e n c e o f g e n e t i c s i m u l a t i o n . B u t this is, a t b o t t o m , m e r e l y t h e final p h a s e o f a p r o c e s s o u r m o d e r n t e c h n o l o g i e s h a v e s i m p l y s p e e d e d u p : t h e p r o c e s s o f a n ideal c o u n t e r f e i t i n g o f t h e w o r l d , allied t o t h e p h a n t a s m o f a n i m m o r t a l r e c u r r e n c e . I n o t h e r w o r d s , t h e p e r f e c t c r i m e : t h e w o r k o f finishing off t h e w o r l d , for w h i c h w e n o w have to u n d e r g o a process of m o u r n i n g . A r e c u r r e n c e w h i c h is the exact o p p o s i t e o f N i e t z s c h e ' s E t e r n a l R e t u r n (of t h e S a m e ) . T h a t a s s u m e d t h a t t h i n g s w e r e c a u g h t i n a necessary, fatal c o n c a t e n a t i o n w h i c h e x c e e d e d t h e m . N o t h i n g o f t h e k i n d applies today, w h e r e t h e y are c a u g h t i n a c o n t i g u i t y r u n n i n g off, w i t h n o great c o n s e q u e n c e , t o infinity. Today's E t e r n a l R e t u r n i s t h e r e t u r n o f t h e infinitely small, t h e fractal — t h e obsessive r e p e t i t i o n of t h i n g s on a m i c r o s c o p i c , i n h u m a n

3 6 . B o h r i n g e r was t h e first French actor to provide a voice for a virtual reality ' d o u b l e ' of himself. This virtual ' c l o n e ' starred as Dr. N e m o in 20,000 licues au-dela du reel (20,000 Leagues b e y o n d t h e R e a l ) , a d o c u m e n t a r y p r o d u c e d by t h e C i t e des Sciences et de l ' l n d u s t r i e de La Villette.

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scale. I t i s n o l o n g e r t h e e x a l t a t i o n o f a will, n o r t h e s o v e r e i g n a f f i r m a t i o n o f a n e v e n t , a ' b e c o m i n g ' , a n d its c o n s e c r a t i o n by an i m m u t a b l e sign, as N i e t z s c h e h a d it. I t i s t h e viral r e c u r r e n c e o f m i c r o - p r o c e s s e s , w h i c h i s e q u a l l y i n e l u c t a b l e , b u t w h i c h n o p o w e r f u l sign b r i n g s alive i n o u r i m a g i n a t i o n s . T h i s i s w h y n o n e o f t h e ethics c o m m i t t e e s will c h a n g e a n y t h i n g . W i t h all t h e i r g o o d i n t e n t i o n s , t h e y are m e r e l y t h e e x p r e s s i o n o f o u r b a d c o n s c i e n c e a b o u t t h e irresistible a n d f u n d a m e n t a l l y i m m o r a l d e v e l o p m e n t of o u r sciences — a d e v e l o p m e n t w h i c h has b r o u g h t u s t o this p o i n t a n d t o w h i c h w e secretly c o n s e n t , w h i l e s u p p l e m e n t i n g that consent w i t h the moral delights of repentance. Let us say, to c o n s o l e ourselves, that t h e c l o n e d t w i n will n e v e r be t h e s a m e as his ' b e g e t t e r ' , t h a t h e will n e v e r b e 'as t u r n e d i n t o h i m s e l f b y t h e g e n e t i c c o d e ' ,

3 7

b e c a u s e t h o u s a n d s o f c o m p l i c a t i n g factors will m a k e h i m a different b e i n g i n spite o f e v e r y t h i n g , b u t also b e c a u s e t h e r e will h a v e b e e n a n o t h e r b e f o r e h i m — w h i c h i s n o t t h e case w i t h t h e o r i g i n a l . A n d in fact t h e c l o n e c a n be s e e n — this is t h e p o s i t i v e side of r e p e t i t i o n - as t h e p a r o d y o f t h e o r i g i n a l , a s its i r o n i c , g r o t e s q u e v e r s i o n , t h e w a y N a p o l e o n III w a s , i n M a r x ' s v i e w , t h e g r o t e s q u e d o u b l e o f N a p o l e o n I . O n e c a n i m a g i n e all k i n d s o f n e w - s t y l e conflicts a r i s i n g f r o m this. S u c h a s t h e f u t u r e c l o n e d o i n g away w i t h his ' f a t h e r ' , n o t i n o r d e r t o sleep w i t h his m o t h e r ( s o m e t h i n g w h i c h i s n o w i m p o s s i b l e ) , b u t s o a s t o r e c o v e r his status a s o r i g i n a l a n d his e x c l u s i v e i d e n t i t y . L i k e t h e final s c e n e o f Jurassic Park, w h e r e t h e l i v i n g d i n o s a u r s , all c l o n e d f r o m fossilized D N A , b u r s t i n t o t h e d i n o s a u r m u s e u m a n d w r e a k h a v o c a m o n g t h e i r ancestors before b e i n g themselves e x t e r m i n a t e d . O r , alternatively, t h e disqualified o r i g i n a l t a k i n g r e v e n g e o n his c l o n e . F o r w h a t b e c o m e s o f t h e h u m a n b e i n g

37. In the original French text here, Baudrillard is playing on the first line of Mallarme's Tombcau d'Edgar Poe: 'Tel q u ' e n L u i - m e m e enfin l'eternite le change'.

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w h e n h e i s p u s h e d o u t b y his o w n c l o n e a n d r e n d e r e d useless? A reserve? A relic? A fossil? A fetish? A n a r t o b j e c t ? T h e r e i s n o i m m e d i a t e e n d i n s i g h t t o t h e c o n flict b e t w e e n t h e o r i g i n a l a n d its d o u b l e , t h e clash b e t w e e n t h e real a n d t h e virtual. 17 March

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Exorcism in P o l i t i c s or the Conspiracy of Imbeciles

T w o s i t u a t i o n s , e a c h equally critical a n d irresolvable: t h e w o r t h l e s s n e s s o f c o n t e m p o r a r y art; political i m p o t e n c e i n t h e face o f L e P e n . T h e r e i s a t r a d e - o f f b e t w e e n t h e t w o a n d a r e s o l u t i o n b y transfusion: powerlessness t o m o u n t a n y political o p p o s i t i o n t o L e P e n i s displaced o n t o t h e t e r r a i n o f c u l t u r e a n d t h e c u l t u r a l H o l y A l l i a n c e . So, w h e n i t c o m e s t o q u e s t i o n i n g c o n t e m p o r a r y art, this c a n b e t h e p r o d u c t o n l y of r e a c t i o n a r y a n d i r r a t i o n a l - if n o t , i n d e e d , fascistic - t h i n k i n g . H o w can o n e c o u n t e r this respectful c o n s p i r a c y o f imbeciles? Sadly, n o t h i n g c a n c o r r e c t this m e c h a n i s m of intellectual p e r v e r s i o n , since it is inspired by b a d c o n science a n d t h e i m p o t e n c e o f o u r ' d e m o c r a t i c ' elites t o resolve b o t h t h e impasse o f art a n d t h e political impasse o f t h e struggle against t h e F r o n t N a t i o n a l . T h e easiest s o l u t i o n i s t o m e r g e t h e t w o p r o b l e m s i n t h e s a m e m o r a l i z i n g v i t u p e r a t i o n . T h e real q u e s t i o n t h e n b e c o m e s : can o n e n o t ' o p e n u p ' t h e issue i n s o m e way, suggest s o m e t h i n g u n u s u a l , irreverent, u n c o n v e n t i o n a l o r paradoxical w i t h o u t automatically b e i n g seen as c o m i n g f r o m t h e e x t r e m e R i g h t ( w h i c h is, it m u s t be said, a h o m a g e p a i d to t h e e x t r e m e R i g h t ) ? W h y has e v e r y t h i n g m o r a l , c o n v e n t i o n a l a n d c o n f o r m i s t things w h i c h w e r e traditionally o n t h e R i g h t — n o w g o n e over t o t h e Left?

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A painful revision. W h e r e a s t h e R i g h t e m b o d i e d m o r a l values a n d t h e Left, b y c o n t r a s t , a c e r t a i n c o n t r a d i c t o r y h i s t o r i c a l a n d political resolve, t h e Left today, s t r i p p e d of all political energy, has b e c o m e a p u r e c o u r t of m o r a l i t y — t h e e m b o d i m e n t o f universal values, t h e c h a m p i o n o f t h e r e i g n o f V i r t u e a n d u p h o l d e r o f t h e a n t i q u a t e d values o f t h e G o o d a n d t h e T r u e — a c o u r t b e f o r e w h i c h e v e r y o n e i s a n s w e r a b l e b u t itself. T h e political illusion o f t h e Left, d e e p - f r o z e n for t w e n t y years s p e n t i n o p p o s i t i o n , has t u r n e d o u t , o n t h e Left's g a i n i n g p o w e r , t o b e p r e g n a n t n o t w i t h t h e m e a n i n g o f history, b u t w i t h a m o r a l i t y o f history. W i t h a m o r a l i t y o f T r u t h , R i g h t a n d g o o d c o n s c i e n c e — t h e d e g r e e z e r o o f politics a n d e v e n , w e m a y safely say, t h e l o w e s t p o i n t o f t h e g e n e a l o g y o f m o r a l s . T h i s m o r a l i z a t i o n o f values i n w h i c h t h e h i s t o r i c a l t r u t h o f a p a r t i c u l a r e v e n t , t h e aesthetic quality of a w o r k of art or t h e scientific p e r t i n e n c e of a p a r t i c u l a r h y p o t h e s i s can be j u d g e d o n l y i n m o r a l t e r m s , i s t h e h i s t o r i c a l defeat o f t h e Left (and o f t h o u g h t ) . E v e n reality, t h e reality p r i n c i p l e , is an article of faith. Q u e s t i o n t h e reality of a w a r a n d y o u ' l l b e c o n d e m n e d for b e t r a y i n g t h e m o r a l law. W i t h t h e Left as l a c k i n g in political vitality as t h e R i g h t , w h e r e has politics m o v e d to? T h e a n s w e r i s simple: o n t o t h e g r o u n d o f t h e e x t r e m e R i g h t . A s B r u n o L a t o u r p u t it v e r y well in Le Monde, t h e o n l y p e r s o n t a l k i n g politics in F r a n c e today is Le P e n . All t h e o t h e r s are talking m o r a l i t y or civics; t h e y s o u n d like s c h o o l t e a c h e r s o r i n s t r u c t o r s , m a n a g e r s o r p r o g r a m m e r s . L e P e n , c o m m i t t e d t o evil a n d i m m o r a l ity, snaffles all t h e political stakes, s c o o p s up all t h a t has b e e n cast aside or positively repressed b y t h e politics o f G o o d a n d E n l i g h t e n m e n t . T h e m o r e t h e m o r a l coalition h a r d e n s against h i m - a m a r k of political i m p o t e n c e - t h e m o r e political capital he m a k e s o u t o f i m m o r a l i t y , o u t o f b e i n g t h e o n l y o n e o n t h e side o f evil. W h e n , i n t h e past, t h e R i g h t w e n t over t o d e f e n d i n g m o r a l values a n d t h e established order, t h e Left d i d n o t hesitate t o defy t h o s e s a m e m o r a l values i n t h e n a m e o f political o n e s . It is itself t o d a y t h e v i c t i m of s u c h a slide, of s u c h a d e r e l i c t i o n : w i t h t h e Left

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o v e r t a k e n b y m o r a l i s m , t h e repressed political e n e r g y necessarily crystallizes elsew h e r e - i n t h e e n e m y c a m p . A n d s o t h e Left, b y e m b o d y i n g t h e r e i g n o f V i r t u e , w h i c h is also t h e r e i g n of t h e greatest hypocrisy, can o n l y fuel V i c e . If Le P e n d i d n ' t exist, h e ' d h a v e to be i n v e n t e d . He it is w h o delivers us from a w h o l e evil side of ourselves, f r o m t h e q u i n t e s s e n c e of all t h a t is w o r s t in us. F o r this w e s h o u l d r i g h t l y a n a t h e m a t i z e h i m . B u t i f h e d i s a p p e a r e d , w o e b e t i d e us, e x p o s e d to all o u r racist, sexist a n d nationalist viruses (we all have t h e m ) or, q u i t e simply, to t h e m u r d e r o u s n e g a t i v i t y o f social b e i n g . I n this r e s p e c t h e i s t h e m i r r o r o f t h e political class, w h o use h i m t o e x o r c i z e t h e i r o w n evils, j u s t a s w e use t h e m t o e x o r cize all t h e c o r r u p t i o n i n h e r e n t i n t h e o p e r a t i o n o f society. T h e s a m e c o r r u p t i n g f u n c t i o n , t h e s a m e c a t h a r t i c f u n c t i o n . T h e desire t o r o o t all this o u t , t h e desire t o p u r i f y s o c i e t y a n d m o r a l i z e p u b l i c life, to l i q u i d a t e all t h a t r e p r e s e n t s evil, s h o w s a total m i s c o n c e p t i o n o f t h e m e c h a n i s m s o f evil, a n d t h u s o f t h e v e r y f o r m o f t h e political. T h e a n t i - L e P e n forces, e m p l o y i n g tactics o f u n i l a t e r a l c o n d e m n a t i o n a n d s h o w i n g n o a p p r e c i a t i o n o f this r e v e r s i b i l i t y o f evil, h a v e e n t i r e l y a b a n d o n e d its u s e t o L e P e n himself. A s a result h e is, b y his v e r y e x c l u s i o n , i n a n i m p r e g n a b l e p o s i t i o n . T h e p o l i t i c a l class, b y s t i g m a t i z i n g h i m i n t h e n a m e o f V i r t u e , p u t s h i m i n t h e m o s t c o m f o r t a b l e o f s i t u a t i o n s , w h e r e all h e has t o d o i s s w e e p u p t h e s y m bolic

charge of ambivalence,

o f r e j e c t i o n o f evil a n d h y p o c r i s y w h i c h h i s

r i g h t e o u s a d v e r s a r i e s o b l i g i n g l y p r o d u c e for h i m — a l m o s t a s i f t h e y w e r e i n his pay. H e d r a w s his e n e r g y f r o m his e n e m i e s t h e m s e l v e s , w h o r u s h t o t u r n his o w n m i s t a k e s t o his a d v a n t a g e . T h e y h a v e n o t u n d e r s t o o d t h a t g o o d i s n e v e r t h e p r o d u c t o f r o o t i n g o u t evil, w h i c h always e x a c t s a g l o r i o u s r e v e n g e , b u t o f s u b t l y t r e a t i n g evil w i t h evil. L e P e n is, t h e n , t h e e m b o d i m e n t o f s t u p i d i t y a n d w o r t h l e s s n e s s , a d m i t t e d l y , b u t of the stupidity and worthlessness of the others, of those w h o , in d e n o u n c i n g h i m ,

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d e n o u n c e t h e i r o w n i m p o t e n c e a n d stupidity, s i m u l t a n e o u s l y r e v e a l i n g t h e a b s u r d i t y o f f i g h t i n g h i m h e a d o n w i t h o u t a n y u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f this diabolical g a m e o f m u s i c a l chairs - t h u s , i n a t e r r i f y i n g lack o f lucidity, f e e d i n g u p t h e i r o w n p h a n toms, their o w n negative doubles. W h a t g o v e r n s this p e r v e r s e effect b y w h i c h t h e Left i s s t u c k i n d e n u n c i a t i o n , w h i l e L e P e n retains a n exclusive h o l d o n e n u n c i a t i o n — w i t h t h e o n e profiting fully from his c r i m e a n d t h e o t h e r h a r v e s t i n g all t h e negative effects o f r e c r i m i n a t i o n , t h e o n e d e l i g h t i n g i n evil a n d t h e o t h e r b e c o m i n g e n t a n g l e d i n v i c t i m h o o d ? T h e a n s w e r is a s i m p l e t r u t h : by c o n f i n i n g Le P e n to a g h e t t o , t h e d e m o c r a t i c Left has w a l l e d itself u p ; it p o i n t s to itself as t h e d i s c r i m i n a t o r y p o w e r a n d exiles itself in its obsession. I t a u t o m a t i c a l l y c e d e s t h e o t h e r party's c l a i m o f a d e n i a l o f j u s t i c e . A n d L e P e n d o e s n o t shy f r o m a p p e a l i n g t o R e p u b l i c a n legality for his o w n a d v a n t a g e . A b o v e all, h o w e v e r , h e cloaks h i m s e l f i n t h e illegal, i m a g i n a r y , b u t v e r y p r o f o u n d p r e s t i g e o f t h e p e r s e c u t e d — s o w e l l , i n d e e d , t h a t h e can enjoy t h e benefits b o t h o f legality a n d illegality. F r o m this o s t r a c i s m he derives a f r e e d o m of l a n g u a g e a n d a b o l d n e s s o f j u d g e m e n t w h i c h t h e Left d e n i e s itself. A n e x a m p l e o f t h e m a g i c a l t h i n k i n g w h i c h c u r r e n t l y d o e s s e r v i c e for political t h o u g h t : Le P e n is c r i t i c i z e d for r e j e c t i n g a n d e x c l u d i n g i m m i g r a n t s , b u t this is as n o t h i n g c o m p a r e d w i t h t h e p r o c e s s o f social e x c l u s i o n w h i c h i s g o i n g f o r w a r d a t all levels o f s o c i e t y ( e x c l u s i o n itself, t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e 'social f r a c t u r e ' , f o u n d itself e x c l u d e d b y t h e d e c r e e dissolving t h e N a t i o n a l A s s e m b l y ) . A n d this c o m p l e x , i n e x t r i c a b l e p r o c e s s o f collective r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i s o n e w e are all accessories to, a n d v i c t i m s of. It is, t h e r e f o r e , typically m a g i c a l t h i n k i n g to s e e k to w a r d off this v i r u s w h i c h i s s p r e a d i n g e v e r y w h e r e a s a n effect o f o u r social a n d t e c h n i c a l ' p r o g r e s s ' ; t o e x o r c i z e this c u r s e o f e x c l u s i o n a n d o u r i m p o t e n c e i n t h e face o f i t by vesting it in o n e execrable m a n , institution or group, w h o e v e r or whatever they m a y b e ; t o treat i t a s a c a n k e r t h a t c o u l d s i m p l y b e surgically r e m o v e d , w h e n t h e

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s e c o n d a r y i n f e c t i o n s h a v e already spread t o all p a r t s . T h e F r o n t N a t i o n a l i s m e r e l y f o l l o w i n g t h e p a t h s b e a t e n b y t h e s e s e c o n d a r i e s — p a t h s b e a t e n w i t h all t h e m o r e v i r u l e n c e for t h e fact t h a t w e b e l i e v e w e h a v e e l i m i n a t e d t h e t u m o u r , a n d so, a s a result, t h e g e r m s spread i n t o t h e w h o l e o r g a n i s m . N o t t o m e n t i o n t h a t this m a g i c a l p r o j e c t i o n w h e r e t h e F r o n t N a t i o n a l i s c o n c e r n e d d o e s t o i t precisely w h a t i t d o e s t o i m m i g r a n t s . W e m u s t b e w a r e o f this r u s e o f c o n t a m i n a t i o n i n w h i c h , b y s h e e r t r a n s p a r e n c e o f evil, t h e positive c h a n g e s i n t o a n e g a t i v e v i r u s , a n d t h e d e m a n d for l i b e r t y i n t o ' d e m o c r a t i c d e s p o t i s m ' . A s ever, w e see h e r e t h a t reversibility, t h a t s u b t l e c o i l i n g a n d w i n d i n g , o f evil w h i c h c a t c h e s r a t i o n a l i n t e l l i g e n c e off its g u a r d ( w h e n t h e w h o l e o f m o d e r n p a t h o l o g y t e a c h e s u s s o m u c h a b o u t this a t t h e level o f t h e p h y s i c a l b o d y , w e p a y n o h e e d t o i t w h e r e t h e social b o d y i s c o n c e r n e d ) . T o r e m a i n w i t h politics, w e m u s t avoid i d e o l o g y a n d see t h i n g s i n t e r m s o f social physics. O u r d e m o c r a t i c s o c i e t y is t h e stasis a n d Le P e n t h e metastasis. S o c i e t y as a w h o l e i s d y i n g o f i n e r t i a a n d i m m u n o d e f i c i e n c y . L e P e n i s t h e visible t r a n s c r i p t i o n of this viral state, its s p e c t a c u l a r p r o j e c t i o n . T h i n g s h e r e are as t h e y are in d r e a m s : he is t h e b u r l e s q u e , h a l l u c i n a t o r y f i g u r a t i o n of this latent state, of this silent i n e r t i a m a d e u p i n e q u a l m e a s u r e o f e n f o r c e d i n t e g r a t i o n a n d systematic e x c l u s i o n . S i n c e , i n this society, t h e h o p e o f r e d u c i n g social i n e q u a l i t y has (almost) definitively d i s a p p e a r e d , w e s h o u l d n o t b e s u r p r i s e d t o see t h e r e s e n t m e n t shifted o n t o r a c e inequality. T h e b a n k r u p t c y o f t h e social p r o j e c t i s r e s p o n s i b l e for t h e successful r e e m e r g e n c e o f race (and o f all t h e o t h e r f o r m s o f fatal strategies). I n this sense, L e P e n is t h e o n l y 'unofficial' analyser of this society. T h e fact t h a t t h e analysis is on t h e e x t r e m e R i g h t is m e r e l y a sad c o n s e q u e n c e of t h e fact t h a t t h e r e is no s u c h analyst o n t h e Left o r t h e far Left. A n d c e r t a i n l y n o n e i s t o b e f o u n d a m o n g t h e j u d g e s o r t h e intellectuals. O n l y i m m i g r a n t s , a t t h e o p p o s i t e e x t r e m e , m i g h t also b e i n a p o s i t i o n t o analyse w h a t i s g o i n g o n , b u t a c e r t a i n f o r m o f ' r i g h t t h i n k i n g ' has largely t a k e n t h e m over. L e P e n i s t h e o n l y o n e radically t o m i n i m i z e t h e Right—Left

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d i s t i n c t i o n — a d m i t t e d l y , b e c a u s e i t i s o f little i m p o r t a n c e t o h i m , b u t t h e u n c o m p r o m i s i n g c r i t i q u e o f t h a t d i s t i n c t i o n m a d e s i n c e t h e 1 9 6 0 s a n d i n 1 9 6 8 has u n f o r t u n a t e l y d i s a p p e a r e d f r o m political life. He benefits, t h e n , f r o m a de facto situ a t i o n t h e political class refuses t o face u p t o ( i n d e e d , t h e y d o all t h e y can t o m a s k i t w i t h e l e c t i o n s ) , b u t o n e day t h e e x t r e m e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f t h a t s i t u a t i o n will have t o b e d r a w n . If, o n e day, political i m a g i n a t i o n , political will a n d resolve h a v e s o m e o p p o r t u n i t y t o b o u n c e b a c k , t h e y will d o s o o n l y o n t h e basis o f t h e radical a b o l i t i o n o f this fossilized d i s t i n c t i o n w h i c h has, over t h e d e c a d e s , revealed itself t o b e an e m p t y sham, and w h i c h only holds up n o w by c o r r u p t collusion. It is a distinct i o n w h i c h has v a n i s h e d i n reality, b u t w h i c h , b y s o m e i n c u r a b l e r e v i s i o n i s m , i s c o n s t a n t l y b e i n g revived, t h e r e b y m a k i n g L e P e n t h e b e g e t t e r o f t h e o n l y n e w political s c e n e . I t i s a s t h o u g h e v e r y o n e w e r e i n v o l v e d i n s c u p p e r i n g w h a t r e m a i n s o f d e m o c r a c y , doubtless t o give t h e retrospective illusion that i t o n c e existed. M a n y t h i n g s t o d a y h a v e n o o t h e r e x i s t e n c e t h a n this s t a g i n g o f t h e i r d i s a p p e a r a n c e . P r o v i n g t h a t t h e y e x i s t e d b y a p r e m a t u r e act o f m o u r n i n g , L e P e n h e r e b e i n g t h e agent of that w o r k of m o u r n i n g and the m a n carrying out the 'contract'. I s t h e r e s o m e c h a n c e o f d r a w i n g t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f this e x t r e m e (but original) s i t u a t i o n o t h e r t h a n t h r o u g h t h e h a l l u c i n a t o r y m e d i u m o f L e P e n — t h a t i s t o say, o t h e r t h a n b y a m a g i c a l c o n j u r a t i o n w h i c h saps all energies? H o w are w e t o avoid s u c c u m b i n g t o this viral e x c r e s c e n c e o f o u r o w n d e m o n s , o t h e r t h a n b y g o i n g b a c k , b e y o n d political m o r a l i s m a n d d e m o c r a t i c r e v i s i o n i s m , t o t h a t unofficial analysis w h i c h L e P e n a n d t h e F r o n t N a t i o n a l h a v e i n a sense s n a t c h e d f r o m us? 7 May

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1997

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Time Out

Screened Out

Out

Out

Snuffed Out

Snuffed Out

Fade Out

Lights Out!

Black Out

Time Out

Inside Out

Lights Out!

Coming Out

Hide-Out

Inside Out

Inside Out

Fouling Out

Working Out

School's Out

Inside Out

Inside Out

Walking Out

Tapped Out

Time Out

Lights Out

Cop Out

Spinning Out

Finding Out

Fade Out

Fade Out

watching out

Time Out

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