the rebbeca [art was good, the part before that I found kinda incoherent and unrelated.You could have worked out the Rebbeca part juuust a bit more too I guess. good that you made the video (plus you have a nice voice :P)
The entire system of Youtube plays on that notion as well, as it emphasizes and bases its retribution system (advertisements) on the sole number of views, and not the reception (like/dislike ratio), or, why not, the actual time spent watching the video. The content or actual reception doesn't matter, only "having seen it".
I like your idea. I would say perhaps by contrasting ourselves to our image of her we are able to remain blind to the fact that we are fundamentally the same.
what i would add to that notion is that the potential for one to create such a block resides in the mutual imagery of interpolative intersubjectivity. through the lens of youtube, all of the shit of my repressed theory about what is really going on must be flushed to the comment section where it splits diacritically in an up vote/ down vote ordering. our sameness lies not in the banality and harshness of our daily rituals compared to hers, but rather constant obfuscation of them.
"interpolating into the mindless consumerism, at the very moment of rejecting it." No.
Asking why Rebecca made the video is a red herring, the question is what about it struck a nerve with millions. The answer, in your preferred Lacanian terms, is that Rebecca is the autonomous partial object that can only be destroyed by becoming it. Narcissism can't react to something, it can only react to the interpretation of something.
@TheLastPsychiatrist I'm very open to the idea that I've gotten it wrong describing how the identity of a mindless consumer is an identity we are called into even as we subjectively experience ourselves rejecting the call. However, I don't believe that my claim in that direction rests on an answer to why Rebecca made the video. In fact, I believe I'm saying that out interpretation of Rebecca Black and rejection of the video is what gives us an identity
@douglain Your point about Rebecca Black as a partial object would place her in the realm of Real? But I believe this video works as part of the Symbolic order and not as any undigestible real. She fits quite neatly in with bubblegum pop, for instance.
@douglain Which Real? You can't get at the Real, because it's blocked by the Real of impossible "sexuality" (I can only want what is prohibited, and this is most certainly not prohibited.) Her song doesn't "exist" except when distorted by the wants/needs/desires/fears of the viewer.
@TheLastPsychiatrist Okay. Well, my explanation was simpler than that, but I think we fundamentally agree. I chose to use a simple version of Althusser to contrast with Zizek's concept of cynical distance and sidestep Lacan here, but we agree.
@douglain "Our interpretation of RB and rejection of the video is what gives us identity." Almost my point exactly. The problem is that our interpretation of the video isn't what gives us identity, but our interpretation of the interpretation. If hipsters like it, I will hate it because I want to be identified as not a hipster. This is exemplified by the public's reversal about hating it. Suddenly, it was no longer cool/unique to despise it, you're an individual if you say you like it.
Great video! Do you think Althusser's concept of interpolation is influenced by Walter Benjamin, and before that, by the tradition of Jewish philosophy (which we can see, for instance, in Martin Buber's writings) in which there is a call (from G-d, ostensibly) and we become, fully, a subject (and a Mensch) as we answer this call, as Abraham did when he said, "Here I am" ("Hinneni")? (Of course the call is important in Heidegger's philosophy as well....)
@dialectic76 I think there is nearly an equivalence between a religious interpellation from God and any other ideological interpellation. I haven't read Martin Buber (sad to say) but I've read a bit of Benjamin.
@piplepipo I'm interested in this concept of disavowal in terms of Hegel's negativity. Any suggestions for links to essays on these ineffectual negations? Or am I going to have to go read Hegel now (finally)?
Well, English is not my native language since I am from Serbia, so I don't know if I could express my opinion in a right way, but if you really want, send me a link and I will try my best! :)
the rebbeca [art was good, the part before that I found kinda incoherent and unrelated.You could have worked out the Rebbeca part juuust a bit more too I guess. good that you made the video (plus you have a nice voice :P)
Enothrae 3 months ago
The entire system of Youtube plays on that notion as well, as it emphasizes and bases its retribution system (advertisements) on the sole number of views, and not the reception (like/dislike ratio), or, why not, the actual time spent watching the video. The content or actual reception doesn't matter, only "having seen it".
Dummy257 4 months ago 4
René Girard would fit well here.
etbadaboum 4 months ago
So Rebecca Black is like a troll; ignore her and she'll go away?
Qtown20 4 months ago
0:46 picture of Stalin, fuck yeah.
xx1994xxversion2 5 months ago
I like your idea. I would say perhaps by contrasting ourselves to our image of her we are able to remain blind to the fact that we are fundamentally the same.
stochastic24 5 months ago 2
@stochastic24 I would agree with that, yeah.
douglain 5 months ago
@stochastic24 I would agree with that, yeah.
douglain 5 months ago
@stochastic24
what i would add to that notion is that the potential for one to create such a block resides in the mutual imagery of interpolative intersubjectivity. through the lens of youtube, all of the shit of my repressed theory about what is really going on must be flushed to the comment section where it splits diacritically in an up vote/ down vote ordering. our sameness lies not in the banality and harshness of our daily rituals compared to hers, but rather constant obfuscation of them.
michaelkarouzos 4 months ago 2
"it reassures people...." almost.
"interpolating into the mindless consumerism, at the very moment of rejecting it." No.
Asking why Rebecca made the video is a red herring, the question is what about it struck a nerve with millions. The answer, in your preferred Lacanian terms, is that Rebecca is the autonomous partial object that can only be destroyed by becoming it. Narcissism can't react to something, it can only react to the interpretation of something.
TheLastPsychiatrist 5 months ago
@TheLastPsychiatrist I'm very open to the idea that I've gotten it wrong describing how the identity of a mindless consumer is an identity we are called into even as we subjectively experience ourselves rejecting the call. However, I don't believe that my claim in that direction rests on an answer to why Rebecca made the video. In fact, I believe I'm saying that out interpretation of Rebecca Black and rejection of the video is what gives us an identity
douglain 5 months ago
@douglain Your point about Rebecca Black as a partial object would place her in the realm of Real? But I believe this video works as part of the Symbolic order and not as any undigestible real. She fits quite neatly in with bubblegum pop, for instance.
douglain 5 months ago
@douglain Which Real? You can't get at the Real, because it's blocked by the Real of impossible "sexuality" (I can only want what is prohibited, and this is most certainly not prohibited.) Her song doesn't "exist" except when distorted by the wants/needs/desires/fears of the viewer.
TheLastPsychiatrist 5 months ago
@TheLastPsychiatrist Okay. Well, my explanation was simpler than that, but I think we fundamentally agree. I chose to use a simple version of Althusser to contrast with Zizek's concept of cynical distance and sidestep Lacan here, but we agree.
douglain 5 months ago
@douglain "Our interpretation of RB and rejection of the video is what gives us identity." Almost my point exactly. The problem is that our interpretation of the video isn't what gives us identity, but our interpretation of the interpretation. If hipsters like it, I will hate it because I want to be identified as not a hipster. This is exemplified by the public's reversal about hating it. Suddenly, it was no longer cool/unique to despise it, you're an individual if you say you like it.
TheLastPsychiatrist 5 months ago
@TheLastPsychiatrist Obviously neither reaction is particularly helpful. Liking it is no solution at all.
douglain 5 months ago
Zizek should try explaining things to his kid, too--maybe he'd be easier to understand! Probably less funny, though.
HebaruSan 5 months ago
Great video! Do you think Althusser's concept of interpolation is influenced by Walter Benjamin, and before that, by the tradition of Jewish philosophy (which we can see, for instance, in Martin Buber's writings) in which there is a call (from G-d, ostensibly) and we become, fully, a subject (and a Mensch) as we answer this call, as Abraham did when he said, "Here I am" ("Hinneni")? (Of course the call is important in Heidegger's philosophy as well....)
dialectic76 6 months ago
@dialectic76 I think there is nearly an equivalence between a religious interpellation from God and any other ideological interpellation. I haven't read Martin Buber (sad to say) but I've read a bit of Benjamin.
douglain 6 months ago
@piplepipo I'm interested in this concept of disavowal in terms of Hegel's negativity. Any suggestions for links to essays on these ineffectual negations? Or am I going to have to go read Hegel now (finally)?
douglain 8 months ago
Nice video!
I read your book, it's very good! :)
FleshMob 8 months ago 2
@FleshMob Thanks for reading my book. I'd love to know a bit more about what you thought of it. Any chance that you might review it over at Amazon?
douglain 8 months ago
@douglain
Well, English is not my native language since I am from Serbia, so I don't know if I could express my opinion in a right way, but if you really want, send me a link and I will try my best! :)
FleshMob 8 months ago
@FleshMob Oh, that's okay then. I am curious to know if the book met your expectations based on these vids though.
douglain 8 months ago