Slavoj Žižek on toilets and ideology

From an unknown source. You've probably heard this already in some of Zizek's lectures. German ideology - reflective, philosophical
French - revolutionary, dismissive
Anglo-American - intermediate, passive

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• zizek
• ideology
• toilets

[georgezimmer]

philosophy is the study of one's own shit

[martini1179]

Zizek is arguing that ideology is alive and well in our respective cultures, which manifests itself even in mundane things such as the way a culture designs its toilets.

[2LARGEGAYBUTTS]

@Antilogocentric Neglected only by people who need every idea curated by academia.

[PapaWilk]

This video answers the most intractable philosophical question of all: who gives a shit?

[Antilogocentric]

However, this would have again overlooked historical forces determining consumption practices, shaping ideologies, and handing over identities—for instance, the toilet landscape of postcolonial societies has significantly been transformed by colonial modernities and modern colonialities.

Since Žižek has been objectified as an object of intellectual desire by contemporary capitalism, I am forced to discover wisdom even in this piece! Therefore, my analysis is wrong!

[Antilogocentric]

A more relevant, but still hopeless, example would have been the analysis of various slogans, images, poetry, and so on, within the public toilets—that is an analysis of ‘toilet art.’ Such an analysis could help us comprehend the day to day workings of ideologies even in the most neglected parts of our existence, and how sex, politics, and ideology permeate toilet art.

[Antilogocentric]

Contrarily, what his example signifies more concretely is, I believe, the immense diversity produced in modern capitalism’s ultra-consumptive societies. Therefore, as soon as you flush your toilets, you are not in the middle of ideology, but in the middle of capitalism.

[Antilogocentric]

I don’t believe that there is an underlying or immediate link between the initial propositions (difference of toilets) and the conclusion (reflects the difference in ideology), as Žižek attempts to show. To say that this is so is tantamount to saying that the fact that German women wear bra, tribal Mongol women wear vests, and Australian aboriginal women go topless, entails that German women are reserved, Mongol free, and aboriginal pervert.

[WeToldYouSo1]

And the Japanese toilets are full-automatical, heated, make bird's voice, clean your hole, hot and cold, and flush timely. Farting triggers a honk.

And the Chinese toilets have no seats. One squats and shits straight into the abysmal pipe, no flushing required. No paper is provided.

[jasnovlatka]

Nikomur svoj drek ne smrdi. :D  :D

[bodner1]

erica jong first touches upon the subject in her 73´ novel fear of flying

[TheRacistsMustDie]

@LukeGeoDude Aaight, I'm afraid I'll have to check him out then, thanks man.