I’m currently working on applications for funding and schools and crap. I don’t have time to think about this blog, so changing hosts will have to wait until next week. Late next week, in all probability. Sorry, I actually have a couple of drafts I was saving to post on the new blog, so stick around and you’ll eventually see them. In the meantime, have some Zizek.
By that I mean that I just saw the documentary on the philosopher Slavoj Zizek, titled Zizek! I can only comment on the superficial stuff since I don’t have time for deep reflection.
First, I liked the film. It only gives a very broad presentation of Zizek’s ideas, but you’d have to read him to really get him anyway. The documentary was entertaining, just don’t expect to anything too, too deep. I think it was pretty much a necessity for the movie to explore Zizek more than his work, otherwise it would be a glorified Powerpoint presentation of his ideas. Second, Zizek is a rather engaging speaker. He’s very animated when he talks and keeps waving his hands around. By the end of each of his public talks he’s always dripping in sweat. Third, Zizek has seen Armageddon (the movie, not the end times). He’s also seen (and liked?) Hero, the Jet Li film, the politics of which always stuck in my craw — the filmmakers might as well have just addressed the audience directly and said, “So you see, this shows that unity is preferable to human rights and that therefore Taiwan should submit to China.” Fourth, he types with one finger (not even two-fingered hunt and peck, just one). Fifth, he keeps his clothes in his kitchen cupboards. Sixth, my supervisor apparently knows him personally. He’d once given a talk at King’s College, which is part of my own school, Dalhousie University, and she told me that he’d forgotten to pack clothes when he came over. I know, how can anyone forget that?
So in conclusion, Zizek! — good to watch if you’re not paying for it. Another excellent way to put off work for an hour.