The Society of the Spectacle, Social Democracy and the Economy

Since 1967 it has become more and more common to hear that we’re living in a spectacle. Matt Christman, for instance, mentions this often. Chris Hedges has talked about the Empire of illusion. Even the New York Times has referred to Debord’s concept as a way to explain the Trump years.

But just what is the Spectacle?

In this video, we’ll be considering just what those social relationships between people really are in themselves, and asking if images and information are the primary mediators. We’ll take up the question of the culture war as Spectacle by turning to Angela Nagle’s “Kill All Normies,” as we quote from Steven Paxton’s “Unlearning Marx,” and we’ll examine Debord’s critique of economism as we attempt to develop at least the beginnings of a new understanding of how the economy influences our cultural and political expression.

Text of Essay on Substack

Relevant Titles

Kill All Normies by Angela Nagle

Unlearning Marx by Steve Paxton

Society of the Spectacle by Guy Debord

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The modern world is at an impasse. Disasters scroll across our smartphone screens and we’re invited to like, follow or upvote, but critical thinking is harder and harder to find. Rather than connecting us in common struggle and debate, the internet has sped up and deepened a long-standing process of alienation and atomization.

Zero Books aims to work against this trend.