Society of the Spectacle

[epiksonik]

the end of the age of exploration gave rise to technical expertise, governmental control of population movement, scientific exploitation of resources for the sole purpose of capitalist consumerism, and the solidification of boundaries - which has contributed to the flourishing of conflicts and wars in the last one hundred years.

I'm not saying it was something that could have been avoided, but cause is sometimes so general that it can easily be overlooked.

our ignorance is peculiar, though.

[annaomeara]

Was it intentional that the Debord text looks like a ticker?

I especially liked the beginning about images of American decapitation, the boundaries of warfare, civilized behavior, and fanaticism. The irony of Bush's criticism given his own fanaticism as well as how relevant Bush's words seems to Debord and the Spectacle is eerily perfect.

[monoamine]

wouldn't it be nice if there was a detournment program. There must be what can joe blow use to insert text into footage

[Blexieblexie]

Pure strike of genius. Insta-faved! ((( ♥ )))

[Silence4Sounds]

Good work dalanmcnabola, I think  the texts are moving at a good pace, its a very dense text, gives time to absorb it. I like they way you placed them as "headliners".

de-TOUR-nment-DE FORCE!

[MrNemy86]

As long as the masses have their fast food, tv and perscription pills everything is ok. Give billions to pondscum corporations while fighting two unjust wars....its alright as long we have our spectacles.

[NicosMind]

I just guess this video upsets me cause it reminds me of Bushes constant lies and how so many believed him. And now we have Obamas constant lies and so many believe him.

Also when Obama wasnt even in power he was voting on what cause the crisis, and then blamed Bush. And then went ahead to do more of the same.

Makes me sick thats all! You made a good video.

[NicosMind]

I cant watch any more of this. I got to 1.30 and had to stop

What utter lies and bullshit! And if people think Obama is different theyre very much mistaken.Hes more of the same. Nothing has changed. I heard him the other day saying how he wants to bring the troops back from Iraq. Thats what Bush said. They just need a plan! Hes increased troops to Afghan. Says theyre needed there to secure America. He promised transparancy in the markets, However numbers r only shown months after theyre needed

[dalanmcnabola]

I made this video in 2005 and it was based on Guy Debord's Society of the Spectacle in 1967. The fact that you're relating it to today is great. But why did you turn it off? Because it doesn't paint Bush in a positive light? He was the president at the time so I made it with a speech of his. Thanks for your comment.

[NicosMind]

No i had to turn it off cause i hate him so much. The lies and deciept makes me sick. The wanted destruction of the economy, The continued destruction of the economy by Obama under the guise of help.

Im listening to it now again and have gotten to 4.27 The prison thing is a joke considering the tourcher thats happened. And Obama has just passed it into Iraq itself into prison without windows.

[NicosMind]

Also how he says terrorists wont determine the future yet its Americans terrorising, seeking total control.

Obama also promised change yet hes pushing the exact same agenda. Invading someones country, killing their brother, mother, father, child, cousin or friend does not stop terrorism.

Imagine living in packistan hearing Obama saying "We need to go into Pakistan(invade) In order to stop terrorists"

Now if he did what he promised he'd stop it.

[YarnDarner]

@NicosMind I would suggest reading 'Welcome to the Desert of the Real' by Slavoj Zizek, it might help you understand Debord's concept of spectacle in a modern context. @ delanmcnabola, great video, hope you make more like this.

[anonimoalfin]

Definitely, what a genius, what a prophet was Debord... Reason can only admire and thank this author . All the future generations should read him, but RESPECTFULLY and with devotion, without changing what he truly said and meant.

[bluehairspaz]

the spectacle is big enough to envelop youtube as well. its not just about obvious propaganda but about how images mediate reality, its not their side vs. our side but the presentation of sides through image. this video isnt outside of the society of the spectacle but also a part of it.

[JoeyDaytona]

Extremist religious "terrorists" hear voices, think it is a higher power, get captured and tortured, so we torture the mentally ill. A city is made up of religious extremists and we bomb them over there because they are Muslim, yet we tolerate the Fundamentalist (Church of) Latter Day Saints (FLDS) IN Utah and elsewhere - I'd like to see an Islamic religious city here remain unbombed.

Re: Romney, Cofer Black, CIA... etc.

[ShaneR1988]

what the hell is goin on in 4.42??

[dalanmcnabola]

If you're talking about what's going on in the piece at 4:42, then it's a still of the female private who took the blame for the whole Abu Ghraib Prison torture debacle, with a leash around the next of one of the detainees. I pushed in on the still to her hand holding the leash or maybe it was a belt.

[BlackRabbit2264]

The symbolism is consistent.

[ShaneR1988]

bush is the biggest tyrant goin

i dont care what anyone sez

[SuburbanHell]

at least as a youtube viewer I have some control over the images I choose to see, which is slightly better than the propaganda spewed by the reigning mammoth media conglomerates on the boob tube.

[joyboy1985]

who do you think owns youtube?

[GlobalDissident]

Would you say that Youtube is a spectacle or a situation? It does have fleeting moments of authenticity, but seems governed by images, same as the rest of our society. Plus it is even more impersonal and alienating.

[ThatRabblerouser]

GlobalDissident, YouTube is a reflection of society, so it is a mass of spectacle punctuated by situations.

[ontheraido]

"In both form and content the spectacle serves as a total justification of the conditions and goals of the existing system. The spectacle also represents the constant presence of this justification since it monopolizes the majority of the time spent outside the production process."

[ontheraido]

"In all of its particular manifestations--news, propoganda, advertising, entertainment--the spectacle represents the dominant model of life. It is the omnipresent affirmation of the choices that have already been made in the sphere of production and in the consumption implied by the production."

[ontheraido]

"Understood in its totality, the spectacle is both the result and the project of the dominant mode of production. It is not a mere decoration added to the real world. It is the very heart of this real society's unreality"

[ontheraido]

Debord hasn't failed as long as someone who grasps detournement is spreading thought-provoking video. . .

After watching this, I dug into Debord's text and found this section which I think is illuminating (section 6 in Society of the Spectacle):

[mjufpn]

1:06 she sure looks sexy!

[cbrislain]

"This perfect democracy fabricates its own inconceivable enemy, terrorism. It wants, actually, to be judged by its enemies rather than by its results. The history of terrorism is written by the State and it is thus instructive. The spectating populations must certainly never know everything about terrorism, but they must always know enough to convince them that, compared with terrorism, everything else seems rather acceptable, in any case more rational and democratic."

[fastmailfm]

Debord has failed. That is the only way to explain the confused posts you all have made.

That is why they are teaching this in media studies. That is why Debord could be seen as similar to the rip off Baudrillard when they have nothing in common. This is not supposed to be gnosticism.

This is supposed to be an updating of both anarchism and marx;s thought for the post world war 2 era.

Read Debord by Anselm Jappe.

[prayfertrey]

I found De Bord's book totally impenetrable. What is "the spectacle"? Many thanks.

[Acumensch]

the spectacle is the stage at which the commodity has succeeded in totally colonizing social life.

[prayfertrey]

I distrust cant.

[JoeyDaytona]

The ultimate triumph of style over substance causes us all to reconsider whatever we once held dear, I believe it is in that act of pausing and reflecting that we can begin to seperate ourselves from the simulacra and attempt to create something real, something true...

[KingWoodchuckII]

its message. not "it's" message.

[durcetcurval]

I really wonder what Debord would say today... The society of the spectacle is gone so far and became so false that i can feel a raise. Now that Bush helped the spies to become terrorists and the terrorists to become spies, which after Debord, was supposed to be the ultimate aim of the spectacle, i do think the spectacle has started the process of decay. I think old mother nature might oblige us to live more situations. Life might come back. We'll see.

[yupper99]

Debord might say what Baurdillard is saying...

[itubeyoutubewetube]

all was well except the rhythm. i think it has to be speeded up. especially the text below the images

[n0s1r]

Ok...Not to be rude...But what the fuck did I just watch?

[locotronix]

trans x video

[yupper99]

good question. now educate yourself so you won't need other people to tell you what to watch, how to think, what to believe..

[carovego]

The matrix

[omiko06]

YouTube is the absolute embodiment of the spectacle which is "a social relation beween people that is mediated by images"... or is it?

[theKitAnderson]

To escape the Spectacle, one must first turn off the infernet and step outside. Once outside, you must hug a tree. Only then can we shake off the shackles.

PS: Eating granola with your left hand also helps maintain the mellow.

[theKitAnderson]

I just got off the phone with W.'s campaign manager for his third term. The official slogan of the GOP for the upcoming presidential election {insert drum roll effect} "Kill 'em All. Let Allah Sort 'em Out."

[yupper99]

excape the spectacle? what? why? Heh. Sure, I can isolate myself in a mountain cabin like the unabomber...what would be the point? that's not "resistance", that's surrender.

[motopu]

This is a good detournment. The combination of the audio, the images, and the text bring the text to light in a new way.The text moves very slowly which allows for a good close reading and reflection. Well, I liked it anyway.

[dalanmcnabola]

thanks for the comment. I had problems animating the text during the edit. It was either too fast or too slow. I think it might be a little too slow still, but it does allow you to read it.

[bapyou]

Suggestion: Fade in whole sentences on screen. I kept waiting for the next word...the next word...

[neoteric90]

@dalanmcnabola

it's not so much the speed that's the issues it's that you can only see a few words at a time

[Xoloitzcuintle]

Very great man, it's excelent!

Saludos desde MExico!

[dalanmcnabola]

Thanks man!!

[confusia]

then.. is it possible to get outside the 'spectacle' dalanmcnabola?

[dalanmcnabola]

of course. But it's not easily done. We are all part of the spectacle, and most of the time we don't even realize that we are.

[confusia]

so then..is this message board part of the spectacle?

[dalanmcnabola]

youtube is part of the spectacle. The internet is part of the spectacle.

[confusia]

so.. is this video part of the spectacle?

[dalanmcnabola]

of course

[mysterycity]

"not caused by any action of ours"

"not caused by any ACTION of ours"

"not caused by any action of ours"

"not...

[ponlur]

reminds a lot of Nam June Paik´s Video Tape study.....

it is the contemporary piece to it.

[Halifaxion]

The text scrolls at a speed so slow it's frustrating. It's hard to read and pay attention to something that scrolls so slowly.

[demirpla]

Debord was the most talented of situationists. His aforisms are stil fresh and guiding