Slavoj Zizek

Routledge Critical Thinkers

by Tony Myers

Slavoj Zizek is no ordinary philosopher. Approaching critical theory and psychoanalysis in a recklessly entertaining fashion, Zizek's critical eye alights upon a bewildering and exhilarating range of subjects, from the political apathy of contemporary life, to a joke about the man who thinks he's a chicken, from the ethicial heroism of Keanu Reeves in Speed, to what toilet designs reveal about the national psyche. Tony Myers provides a clear and engaging guide to Zizek's key ideas, explaining the main influences on Zizek's thought (most crucially his engagement with Lacanian psychoanalysis) using examples drawn from popular culture and everyday life. Myers outlines the key issues that Zizek's work has tackled, including:
* What is a Subject and why is it so important?
* The Imaginary, the Symbolic and the Real
* What is so terrible about Postmodernity?
* How can we distinguish reality from ideology?
* What is the relationship between men and women?
* Why is Racism always a fantasy?
Slavoj Zizek is essential reading for anyone wanting to understand the thought of the critic whom Terry Eagleton has described as "the most formidably brilliant exponent of psychoanalysis, indeed of cultural theory in general, to have emerged in Europe for some decades.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Psychoanalysis, Psychology, Politics, Pop Culture

ebook

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Mohammad Mirzaali · Rating 4 out of 5]

هر چند خواندن قلم ژیژک سرخوشی و حظی به خواننده می‌دهد که قابل انتقال به کتاب‌های «در مورد» ژیژک نیست، اما این اثر خواندنی و راه‌گشا از آب درآمده، از مجموعه‌ای به‌دردبخور («متفکران انتقادی» انتشارات راتلج) که ضمناً در این مورد ترجمه‌ی کم‌نقصی هم دارد. مایرز به روشنی و بی پیچیدگی ریشه‌های تفکر ژیژک، این نابغه‌ی عصر ما، را معرفی می‌کند؛ مارکس، هگل و به خصوص لاکان در مرکز این ردیابی اند. مؤلف هر جا نیاز بوده نظریاتی را که در تقابل با پروژه‌ی ژیژک و مورد مواجهه‌ی اوست نیز به اختصار شرح می‌دهد و کتابش را بدین گونه مفیدتر نیز کرده است

[Povilas Račkauskas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a nice short intro to Žižek's more theoretic work, worth a read if you don't know where to start.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nearly perfect introduction to the work of Zizek. One of the best in the Routledge series.

[Tushant Mittal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't have asked for a better introduction! It's concise and still conveys the main ideas clearly with examples. Must read if you'd like to engage with Zizek's work or completely understand what he's trying to say.

[Hedgehog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very beginner friendly but not necessarily over simplified thoughts of the great thinker. I am no veteran in the field of philosophy but could learn a thing or two from this book. It is a great motivator for myself to keep digging into the subject to fully understand world from Zizek's perspective.

[Keith]

there is a great torrent called something like "routledge critical thinkers"...i encourage all philosophy dorks to btjunkie it.

[Nyard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trying to bring structure into the madness that is Zizek is not an easy task, yet Myers succeeded at relaying a broad palette of his positions into a coherent introduction that makes eager to read more.

[Peter Podbielski · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this is indeed an interesting and engaging guide to Slavoj Zizek, I remain doubtful his analysis will be a dynamic guide through the 21st Century.

[Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good intro to big z

[Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

preshishely https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTTiw...

[Bryce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat accessible

[Ryan Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great introduction to Zizek and his theories, explaining his influences and other philosophers who's theories intertwine.

[Kürşat Alev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zizek felsefesini anlamak için güzel bir başlangıç kitap. Zizek'in düşüncesini tanimlayan insanları ve kavramları tanıtıyor. Ek Okumalar kısmında Zizek kitapları tanıtılması da cok faydalı olmuş.

[dvd.tbg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buku ini memaparkan kompleksitas pemikiran Slavoj Zizek dengan jernih. Myers memetakan tiga pemikir yang mempengaruhi dan membentuk pemikiran Zizek, 1) Hegel, 2) Marx dan 3) Lacan. Dari Hegel, Zizek mengambil konsep 'dialektika'. Dari Marx, Zizek tentu mengambil persoalan ideologi, emansipasi, dan juga revolusi. Dari Lacan, Zizek mengambil the Real, the Imaginary dan the Symbolic. Menurut saya, Marx menjadi orientasi pemikiran Zizek, Hegel menjadi metodologi Zizek mengolah masalah dan Lacan menjadi pendasaran ontologi sekaligus filsafat manusia Zizek.

Satu hal yang menarik bagi saya adalah rekonsepsi ulang Zizek atas 'dialektika' Hegel. Jika Hegel menetapkan dialektika sebagai sarana sintesa mencapai Roh Absolut, suatu totalitas yang menyatukan atau mengidentikkan Subjek dan Objek; Zizek malah menempatkan 'dialektika' sebagai afirmasi atas totalitas yang sekaligus menyertakan pengecualian atas totalitas--dalam kata lain: sintesa selalu menyertakan antitesa. Saya pikir, inilah yang menjadi jantung pemikiran Zizek, sebuah negativitas yang memungkinkan transformasi koordinat realitas sebagai perubahan order of the Symbolic, yang tak lain merupakan wujud emansipasi atau revolusi.

Di sisi lain, melalui rekonsepsi 'dialektika', saya melihat Zizek dapat mengkonstruksikan suatu hal baru, yang saya sebut: multiplisitas paradoks. Jika dalam bagian pengantar, Zizek mengatakan (kurang lebih): "Awal mula filsafat adalah saat kita bertanya mengapa realitas itu begini, bukan begitu." Multiplisitas paradoks tak lain: "Bukankah yang-begini mengecualikan yang-begitu dan yang-begitu mengecualikan yang-begini? Kalau begitu, bukankah tidak ada yang perlu dipertanyakan? Lantas, bukankah 'tidak ada yang perlu dipertanyakan' mengecualikan 'ada yang perlu dipertanyakan'? Tapi, bukankah 'ada yang perlu dipertanyakan' mengandaikan 'saat kita bertanya mengapa realitas itu begini, bukan begitu." 'Gesture' pemikiran yang demikian lazim diistilahkan sebagai negativitas--dan Zizek memberikan pengecualian dengan mengadopsi Marx dalam pemikirannya: kemungkinan emansipasi, revolusi sebagai jalan keluar dari negativitas.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very fine introduction to one of the premiere minds of our generation. One of the great things about Zizek is that most anyone can pick up most of his books and see where he's coming from thanks to an abundance of real life references (try that with Sein und Zeit!) And with Myers' introduction Zizek--the stand-up comic of philosophers--is shown for his methodological side, which can get lost in his poop jokes and Lacanisms.

[Judith Smulders · Rating 4 out of 5]

A laymen-friendly introduction into the works and theories of Slovenian philosopher and psycho-analyst Slavoj Zizek. With its practical and entertaining illustration of complex concepts like those on the fantasy of racism. Even lays out the theories of Zizek's main influences: Jacques Lacan (psychoanalysis), Karl Marx (materialism, political-economic ideology) and Hegel (idealism). Even touches upon criticism by others such as Judith Butler. All-in-all a very complete overview.

[未知生焉知死 Anvil · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine introduction to yet another "French Theory" philosopher, Zizek. I appreciate how the author tries to make the thoughts of Zizek more accessible to general readers unfamiliar to contemporary European continental philosophies in general, especially post...things such as Lacan, (and french way interpretation of) Hegel etc...

[Rezan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is actually a permanent introduction to Zizekian Theories and perfect review as well. I recommend it to those friends who want to know about Zizek and read his books, please read this book first.

[Sajjad Pouya · Rating 5 out of 5]

کتابی بسیار مناسب برای آشنایی با ایده های ژیژک و مبانی اندیشه های او.
ایده های کلی هگل، لکان و مارکس و تاثیرات این متفکرین بر ژیژک در این کتاب شرح داده شده است.
از نقاط قوت کتاب می توان به خلاصه های پایانی فصل ها و معرفی کتب دیگر ژیژک در پایان کتاب اشاره کرد.

[Adam F · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't want to read any work by Žižek so I picked this up instead. It is a decent summary but it is dense. I don't know how much Žižek's thought has changed since then. He probably published another thirty books or so.

[H Wesselius · Rating 4 out of 5]

made me want to tackle zizek a decision i regretted

[Hooman]

Great Book!

[fsff · Rating 5 out of 5]

<3

[Zoo Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

it helped me resummarize the thoughts of zizek

[Ola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Świetne wprowadzenie do przygody z myślą Żiżka.