consciousness and despair

Transcript: http://rickroderick.org/consciousness-and-despair/
The goal of a mass telecommunication culture is psychoanalysis in reverse. Its that the little, last remaining parts of that garrison become unconscious. Its precisely to reverse that process of enlightenment. Mass culture is enlightenment in reverse gear. Precisely to wipe out that last little garrison of autonomy. It is a constant assault upon it.

That was why the last time I was out here, I approached it from this religious angle of Kierkegaards, and characterised the assault as one that caused despair. Where despair was not a mood, but a structure that belongs to a captured garrison. Not an accidental feature of a captured garrison, but part of it. A structure of it. Fundamental to it.

- Excerpt from Philosophy and Postmodern Culture, part of the Philosophy and Human Values series of lectures presented by Professor Rick Roderick for The Teaching Company in 1990.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• psychoanalysis
• enlightenment
• mass culture
• consciousness
• despair