A panoramic and essayistic portrait of the new global economy and a compelling…
Marx Reloaded
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- Citation
- Cataloging
- Transcript
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MARX RELOADED is a cultural documentary that examines the relevance of German socialist and philosopher Karl Marx's ideas for understanding the global economic and financial crisis.
The recent crisis triggered the deepest global recession in 70 years and prompted the US government to spend more than 1 trillion dollars in order to rescue its banking system from collapse. Today the full implications of the crisis in Europe and around the world still remain unclear. Nevertheless, should we accept the crisis as an unfortunate side-effect of the free market? Or is there another explanation as to why it happened and its likely effects on our society, our economy and our whole way of life?
Today a new generation of philosophers, artists and political activists are returning to Marx's ideas in order to try to make sense of the crisis and to consider whether a world without or beyond capitalism is possible. Is the severity of the ongoing recession a sign that the capitalist system's days are numbered? Ironically, 20 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, could it be that communism might provide the solution to the growing economic and environmental challenges facing the planet?
Written and directed by Jason Barker - himself an experienced writer, lecturer, translator and doctor of philosophy - MARX RELOADED includes interviews with leading thinkers on Marxism, including those at the forefront of a popular revival in Marxist and communist ideas. The film also includes interviews with leading skeptics of this revival as well as light-hearted animation sequences which follow Marx's adventures through the matrix of his own ideas.
Interviews with leading experts include: Norbert Bolz, Micha Brumlik, John Gray, Michael Hardt, Antonio Negri, Nina Power, Jacques Ranciere, Peter Sloterdijk, Alberto Toscano, and Slavoj Zizek.
'An engaging hour-long talking-head-meets-animation doc examines the potentially terminal crisis of the free market system through Marx...creating a compelling dialogue of Marx's theories as they apply to its contemporary form.' -Little White Lies
'Lively...well worth a watch for those with an interest in philosophy, politics and the general state of the world as we know it.' -Time Out
Citation
Main credits
Barker, Jason (screenwriter)
Barker, Jason (film director)
Barker, Jason (film producer)
Barker, Jason (actor)
Weltz, Alexandra (film director)
Höfer, Irene (film producer)
Schroth, Andreas (film producer)
Posener, Ben (narrator)
Nikolić, Ivan (actor)
Other credits
Camera, Boris Becker [and 5 others]; editors, Carsten Piefke, Nebojsa Andric, Steven Djordjevic; Marx animation produced by Films Noirs.
Distributor subjects
Economics; Future Studies; Philosophy; Philosophers; Political Theory; Politics; Social Movements; MarxismKeywords
WEBVTT
00:00:11.800 --> 00:00:13.365
- GOOD EVENING.
00:00:13.366 --> 00:00:16.100
THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARY PERIOD
FOR AMERICA\'S ECONOMY.
00:00:17.333 --> 00:00:20.265
Male narrator: IN 2007,
A CRISIS ERUPTED
00:00:20.266 --> 00:00:22.265
IN THE U.S. HOUSING MARKET
00:00:22.266 --> 00:00:24.965
WHICH SOON SPREAD
AROUND THE WORLD.
00:00:24.966 --> 00:00:28.299
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE
LOST THEIR HOMES AND THEIR JOBS,
00:00:28.300 --> 00:00:31.699
PROMPTING GOVERNMENTS
TO SPEND TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS
00:00:31.700 --> 00:00:35.999
IN ORDER TO RESCUE THE GLOBAL
FINANCIAL SYSTEM FROM COLLAPSE.
00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:39.132
THE EXTENT OF THE CRISIS
REMAINS UNCLEAR.
00:00:39.133 --> 00:00:41.032
BUT SUSPICIONS ARE GROWING
00:00:41.033 --> 00:00:44.832
THAT CAPITALISM
MAY BE ON THE BRINK OF COLLAPSE.
00:00:44.833 --> 00:00:45.965
- THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
00:00:45.966 --> 00:00:49.065
- WE ARE IN DEEP SHIT,
AND WE KNOW IT.
00:00:49.066 --> 00:00:51.899
BUT SECRETLY,
WE DON\'T REALLY BELIEVE
00:00:51.900 --> 00:00:54.565
THAT IT CAN ALL FALL APART
AND SO ON.
00:00:54.566 --> 00:00:57.232
Narrator: IS CAPITALISM
DESTROYING ITSELF
00:00:57.233 --> 00:00:59.366
AND THE WEALTH
OF THE PLANET WITH IT?
00:01:02.466 --> 00:01:04.099
- I THINK THAT\'S TOTAL HOGWASH.
00:01:04.100 --> 00:01:06.032
CAPITALISM
DOESN\'T DESTROY WEALTH;
00:01:06.033 --> 00:01:07.900
CAPITALISM CREATES WEALTH.
00:01:14.533 --> 00:01:17.665
Narrator: TODAY, KARL MARX
AND THE IDEA OF COMMUNISM
00:01:17.666 --> 00:01:19.299
ARE BACK IN VOGUE.
00:01:19.300 --> 00:01:21.832
THE ORIGINAL
REVOLUTIONARY SOCIALIST
00:01:21.833 --> 00:01:23.966
HAS BECOME A CULTURAL ICON.
00:01:25.000 --> 00:01:28.000
- [speaking German]
00:01:52.033 --> 00:01:54.700
- [speaking French]
00:01:56.133 --> 00:01:59.165
narrator: BUT CAN
MARX\'S CRITIQUE OF CAPITALISM
00:01:59.166 --> 00:02:03.599
REALLY HELP US THROUGH
OUR CRISIS-RIDDEN TIMES?
00:02:03.600 --> 00:02:04.765
- THE QUESTION FROM MARX,
00:02:04.766 --> 00:02:06.599
WHICH MIGHT BE SLIGHTLY
DIFFERENT FOR US NOW,
00:02:06.600 --> 00:02:08.166
IS, WHAT COMES AFTER
THAT CRITIQUE?
00:02:10.800 --> 00:02:13.999
- [speaking indistinctly]
00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:16.265
narrator: WHAT MIGHT WE LEARN
FROM A THINKER
00:02:16.266 --> 00:02:18.765
WHOSE IDEAS WERE SUPPOSED
TO HAVE DISAPPEARED
00:02:18.766 --> 00:02:20.999
WITH THE FALL
OF THE BERLIN WALL
00:02:21.000 --> 00:02:23.566
MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO?
00:02:25.300 --> 00:02:28.300
- [speaking German]
00:02:37.266 --> 00:02:39.832
narrator: HAVE WE BEEN LIVING
IN A DREAM?
00:02:39.833 --> 00:02:43.165
IS THE CAPITALIST WORLD
ABOUT TO BE UNMASKED
00:02:43.166 --> 00:02:45.899
AS AN IDEOLOGICAL ILLUSION
00:02:45.900 --> 00:02:48.365
AND REPLACED
BY THE COMMUNIST SYSTEM
00:02:48.366 --> 00:02:50.400
WE THOUGHT HAD GONE FOR GOOD?
00:03:16.666 --> 00:03:21.332
[thunder crashing]
00:03:21.333 --> 00:03:24.399
- AT LAST.
COMRADE MARX.
00:03:24.400 --> 00:03:27.265
- HAVE WE MET?
00:03:27.266 --> 00:03:30.633
- LET\'S JUST SAY WE ARE
THEORETICALLY ACQUAINTED.
00:03:32.700 --> 00:03:35.865
DO YOU BELIEVE IN DESTINY,
COMRADE?
00:03:35.866 --> 00:03:37.932
- MM. NO.
00:03:37.933 --> 00:03:39.199
- WHY NOT?
00:03:39.200 --> 00:03:42.232
- BECAUSE THE EMANCIPATION
OF THE PROLETARIAT
00:03:42.233 --> 00:03:45.199
REQUIRES THE CRITIQUE
OF BOURGEOIS IDEOLOGY.
00:03:45.200 --> 00:03:48.266
- OH, I KNOW EXACTLY
WHAT YOU MEAN.
00:03:50.400 --> 00:03:55.065
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH,
COMRADE?
00:03:55.066 --> 00:03:57.899
YOU\'RE A SLAVE
TO A LIBERAL IDEOLOGY
00:03:57.900 --> 00:04:02.165
THAT GOES DEEPER
THAN YOU CAN POSSIBLY IMAGINE.
00:04:02.166 --> 00:04:05.032
IDEOLOGY IS EVERYWHERE...
00:04:05.033 --> 00:04:07.132
WHEN YOU READ SHAKESPEARE,
00:04:07.133 --> 00:04:10.665
WHEN YOU PAY FOR
YOUR DAUGHTER\'S ACTING CLASSES,
00:04:10.666 --> 00:04:13.532
WHEN YOU BUY
YOUR HEMORRHOID CREAM.
00:04:13.533 --> 00:04:14.566
- [clears throat]
00:04:16.133 --> 00:04:20.499
- NO ONE CAN BE TOLD
WHAT AN IDEOLOGY IS, KARL.
00:04:20.500 --> 00:04:25.365
YOU MUST SEE IT
NOT TO BELIEVE IT.
00:04:25.366 --> 00:04:27.365
TAKE THE BLUE PILL,
00:04:27.366 --> 00:04:29.399
AND YOU\'LL WAKE UP IN COLOGNE
00:04:29.400 --> 00:04:32.565
AS THE EDITOR
OF A PROVINCIAL NEWSPAPER
00:04:32.566 --> 00:04:34.199
AND JOIN A MASONIC LODGE.
00:04:34.200 --> 00:04:35.265
- HMM...
00:04:35.266 --> 00:04:37.099
- TAKE THE RED PILL,
00:04:37.100 --> 00:04:42.699
AND I WILL SHOW YOU HOW FAR
THE PERMANENT REVOLUTION GOES.
00:04:42.700 --> 00:04:44.532
- IT\'S A NIGHTMARE
THEY DON\'T WANT TO REVISIT.
00:04:44.533 --> 00:04:46.565
- TODAY, WE HAD A LOT OF
FINANCIAL FIREWORKS.
00:04:46.566 --> 00:04:47.999
Narrator: MARX DEVOTED HIS LIFE
00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:51.632
TO STUDYING CAPITALISM
AND ITS CRISES.
00:04:51.633 --> 00:04:53.365
BUT HOW DO TODAY\'S ECONOMISTS
00:04:53.366 --> 00:04:56.432
EXPLAIN THE MOST
DAMAGING ECONOMIC EVENT
00:04:56.433 --> 00:04:59.732
SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION
OF THE 1930s?
00:04:59.733 --> 00:05:01.132
NORBERT WALTER
00:05:01.133 --> 00:05:04.066
IS THE FORMER CHIEF ECONOMIST
AT DEUTSCHE BANK.
00:05:05.366 --> 00:05:08.366
- [speaking German]
00:05:34.500 --> 00:05:37.999
narrator: IN LONDON,
THE FINANCIAL CENTER OF EUROPE,
00:05:38.000 --> 00:05:40.632
THE CRISIS
HAS ALSO RAISED QUESTIONS
00:05:40.633 --> 00:05:43.965
ABOUT THE FUTURE
OF THE FREE MARKET.
00:05:43.966 --> 00:05:45.532
[phone ringing]
00:05:45.533 --> 00:05:49.532
EAMONN BUTLER IS THE HEAD
OF THE ADAM SMITH INSTITUTE.
00:05:49.533 --> 00:05:51.399
BUTLER BLAMES THE CRISIS
00:05:51.400 --> 00:05:53.899
NOT ON TOO LITTLE
FINANCIAL REGULATION
00:05:53.900 --> 00:05:56.199
BUT ON TOO MUCH.
00:05:56.200 --> 00:05:59.732
- ONE OF THE FOUNDATIONS
OF THE MODERN ECONOMY IS MONEY.
00:05:59.733 --> 00:06:03.199
AND UNFORTUNATELY, MONEY
IS A MONOPOLY OF THE GOVERNMENT.
00:06:03.200 --> 00:06:06.665
AND SO WHAT THEY TEND TO DO
IS TO DEBAUCH THE CURRENCY.
00:06:06.666 --> 00:06:08.499
THEY OVERINFLATE THE CURRENCY.
00:06:08.500 --> 00:06:10.832
THEY KEEP INTEREST RATES
ARTIFICIALLY LOW,
00:06:10.833 --> 00:06:13.265
WHICH THE MARKET WOULD NOT DO.
00:06:13.266 --> 00:06:14.565
WE GO OUT,
AND WE GET LOANS,
00:06:14.566 --> 00:06:16.399
AND WE BUY HOUSES,
AND THEN WE FEEL EVEN...
00:06:16.400 --> 00:06:19.165
AND THE HOUSES GO UP IN VALUE,
AND THEN WE FEEL EVEN RICHER,
00:06:19.166 --> 00:06:21.232
AND THEN WE GO OUT
AND BUY MORE THINGS.
00:06:21.233 --> 00:06:23.165
IT\'S JUST LIKE BEING
ON A DRUG.
00:06:23.166 --> 00:06:25.365
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A DRUG,
00:06:25.366 --> 00:06:27.532
AND IT GIVES YOU
AN INSTANT HIGH,
00:06:27.533 --> 00:06:28.865
AND YOU SAY, \"THIS IS GREAT.\"
00:06:28.866 --> 00:06:31.932
BUT THEN IT STARTS TO WEAR OFF,
SO YOU TAKE A BIT MORE,
00:06:31.933 --> 00:06:33.199
AND THEN THAT WEARS OFF,
00:06:33.200 --> 00:06:35.699
SO YOU NEED
AN EVEN BIGGER DOSE NEXT TIME.
00:06:35.700 --> 00:06:37.265
AND THAT\'S WHAT
GOVERNMENTS HAVE DONE
00:06:37.266 --> 00:06:38.932
TO OUR ECONOMY, UNFORTUNATELY,
00:06:38.933 --> 00:06:41.065
AND THAT\'S WHY
WE ARE IN A BIG MESS,
00:06:41.066 --> 00:06:42.465
AND I REALLY HOPE THAT
00:06:42.466 --> 00:06:44.599
THEY DON\'T DO THE SAME THING
AGAIN.
00:06:44.600 --> 00:06:46.599
- MY ADMINISTRATION
IS WORKING WITH CONGRESS
00:06:46.600 --> 00:06:48.099
TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSE
00:06:48.100 --> 00:06:50.766
BEHIND MUCH OF THE INSTABILITY
IN OUR MARKETS.
00:07:59.600 --> 00:08:01.832
Narrator:
WHAT WAS KARL MARX\'S APPROACH
00:08:01.833 --> 00:08:06.165
TO THINKING THE ECONOMIC SYSTEM
WE CALL CAPITALISM?
00:08:06.166 --> 00:08:09.865
HOW DO HIS IDEAS
HELP US UNDERSTAND A SYSTEM
00:08:09.866 --> 00:08:13.866
WHICH HAS COME TO DOMINATE
SO MANY ASPECTS OF OUR LIVES?
00:08:15.633 --> 00:08:19.765
- AS A THINKER,
I WOULD CHARACTERIZE MARX,
00:08:19.766 --> 00:08:21.099
PRINCIPALLY,
00:08:21.100 --> 00:08:24.765
AS A BRILLIANT THEORIST
OF CAPITALISM.
00:08:24.766 --> 00:08:26.765
BUT AS WELL AS BEING
A THEORIST OF CAPITALISM,
00:08:26.766 --> 00:08:30.365
HE WAS ALSO THE LEADER
OF A POLITICAL MOVEMENT
00:08:30.366 --> 00:08:35.899
AND WHAT I WOULD CALL
A UTOPIAN THEORIST.
00:08:35.900 --> 00:08:41.099
WHAT I MEAN IS THAT
HE BELIEVED HE\'D DISCOVERED
00:08:41.100 --> 00:08:42.765
A KIND OF LOGIC IN HISTORY,
00:08:42.766 --> 00:08:45.265
A KIND OF LOGIC
OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT,
00:08:45.266 --> 00:08:48.999
A LOGIC OF THE DEVELOPMENT
OF THE ENTIRE SPECIES,
00:08:49.000 --> 00:08:50.999
WHOSE BUILT-IN END POINT,
00:08:51.000 --> 00:08:53.432
ALTHOUGH IT MIGHT NOT
BE ACHIEVED,
00:08:53.433 --> 00:08:55.699
WAS A CONDITION
OF UNIVERSAL FREEDOM.
00:08:55.700 --> 00:08:58.365
- THERE\'S A BEAUTIFUL PHRASE,
BY, UH...
00:08:58.366 --> 00:09:00.932
OR EXPRESSION BY ERNEST BLOCH
00:09:00.933 --> 00:09:03.599
WRITING ABOUT MARX,
WHERE HE SAYS...
00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:05.899
WELL, MARX IS OFTEN ACCUSED
00:09:05.900 --> 00:09:10.699
FOR HAVING THIS
UNCOMPROMISING,
00:09:10.700 --> 00:09:14.199
YOU KNOW, BRUTALIZING,
KIND OF IMPERSONAL THINKING.
00:09:14.200 --> 00:09:17.499
AND BLOCH SAYS,
WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS IS...
00:09:17.500 --> 00:09:21.965
THIS IS A RESULT OF MARX HAVING
TO THINK LIKE CAPITALISM.
00:09:21.966 --> 00:09:23.465
SO HE SAYS,
00:09:23.466 --> 00:09:26.665
\"JUST LIKE THE BEST DETECTIVE
HAS TO THINK LIKE A CRIMINAL,
00:09:26.666 --> 00:09:27.932
\"THE BEST DETECTIVE
00:09:27.933 --> 00:09:30.965
HAS TO ENTER INTO
THE MENTALITY OF THE CRIMINAL,\"
00:09:30.966 --> 00:09:33.199
WHICH IS
A VERY DANGEROUS PRACTICE.
00:09:33.200 --> 00:09:34.699
AND, OF COURSE,
MANY MARXISTS
00:09:34.700 --> 00:09:37.032
WHO HAVE TRIED
TO THINK LIKE CAPITALISM
00:09:37.033 --> 00:09:40.532
HAVE EFFECTIVELY
BECOME APOLOGISTS OF CAPITALISM,
00:09:40.533 --> 00:09:42.365
AND THAT MIGHT BE
THE REASON WHY.
00:09:42.366 --> 00:09:44.365
BUT THAT, IN A SENSE,
IS, I THINK,
00:09:44.366 --> 00:09:47.699
A GREAT WAY OF UNDERSTANDING
MARX\'S METHOD
00:09:47.700 --> 00:09:49.865
AND THE ENERGY AND COMBATIVENESS
OF HIS THOUGHT.
00:09:49.866 --> 00:09:51.332
YOU KNOW,
WHAT DOES IT MEAN
00:09:51.333 --> 00:09:57.999
FOR A DETECTIVE
TO THINK LIKE A CRIMINAL?
00:09:58.000 --> 00:10:01.265
- \"A SPECTER
IS HAUNTING EUROPE,
00:10:01.266 --> 00:10:03.865
\"THE SPECTER OF COMMUNISM.
00:10:03.866 --> 00:10:05.465
\"ALL THE POWERS OF OLD EUROPE
00:10:05.466 --> 00:10:07.065
\"HAVE ENTERED INTO
A HOLY ALLIANCE
00:10:07.066 --> 00:10:09.432
\"TO EXORCISE THIS SPECTER...
00:10:09.433 --> 00:10:10.999
\"POPE AND CZAR,
00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:12.799
\"METTERNICH AND GUIZOT,
00:10:12.800 --> 00:10:17.899
FRENCH RADICALS,
AND GERMAN POLICE SPIES.\"
00:10:17.900 --> 00:10:19.665
narrator:
\"THE COMMUNIST MANIFESTO\"
00:10:19.666 --> 00:10:23.899
IS MARX\'S MOST FAMOUS
POLITICAL WORK.
00:10:23.900 --> 00:10:27.833
IT SEEMS LIGHT-YEARS AWAY FROM
OUR MODERN LIBERAL CONCERNS.
00:10:32.033 --> 00:10:33.699
THEN AGAIN,
COULD IT BE
00:10:33.700 --> 00:10:35.699
THAT THE CLASS CONFLICTS
OF THE PAST
00:10:35.700 --> 00:10:37.532
BETWEEN RICH AND POOR
00:10:37.533 --> 00:10:40.199
OR CAPITALISTS AND PROLETARIANS
00:10:40.200 --> 00:10:42.832
ARE RETURNING
TO HAUNT THE PRESENT?
00:10:42.833 --> 00:10:45.165
[crowd shouting]
00:10:45.166 --> 00:10:46.166
[loud banging]
00:10:46.167 --> 00:10:47.299
- OVER HERE!
00:10:47.300 --> 00:10:49.532
[crowd shouting]
00:10:49.533 --> 00:10:52.699
narrator: TODAY, MARX REMAINS
INDISPENSIBLE READING
00:10:52.700 --> 00:10:54.365
FOR A NEW GENERATION
00:10:54.366 --> 00:10:56.699
OF POLITICALLY MOTIVATED
PHILOSOPHERS,
00:10:56.700 --> 00:10:59.899
AMONG THEM, NINA POWER.
00:10:59.900 --> 00:11:01.665
- \"THE COMMUNIST MANIFESTO\"
HAS ALWAYS HAD
00:11:01.666 --> 00:11:03.899
REALLY INTERESTINGLY DELAYED
EFFECTS IN HISTORY.
00:11:03.900 --> 00:11:05.232
YOU KNOW, IT\'S NOT A BOOK...
00:11:05.233 --> 00:11:07.232
EVEN THOUGH IT\'S WRITTEN
WITH THIS TONE OF URGENCY
00:11:07.233 --> 00:11:08.732
BECAUSE IT\'S A MANIFESTO;
00:11:08.733 --> 00:11:13.399
IT\'S THIS KIND OF, YOU KNOW...
A BREATHLESS TEXT, IN A WAY.
00:11:13.400 --> 00:11:15.399
NEVERTHELESS, THE KIND OF REAL
EFFECTS OF THAT
00:11:15.400 --> 00:11:17.432
WEREN\'T SORT OF SEEN
FOR KIND OF, YOU KNOW,
00:11:17.433 --> 00:11:19.732
50 OR SO YEARS LATER.
00:11:19.733 --> 00:11:21.065
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW,
00:11:21.066 --> 00:11:22.899
IT GOES THROUGH
VARIOUS REITERATIONS.
00:11:22.900 --> 00:11:25.299
YOU KNOW, IT REAPPEARS,
AND, YOU KNOW, ITS RELEVANCE
00:11:25.300 --> 00:11:27.700
AND DIFFERENT PARTS OF IT
ARE STRESSED AT DIFFERENT TIMES.
00:11:30.833 --> 00:11:33.465
Narrator: WHAT IS CAPITALISM?
00:11:33.466 --> 00:11:38.199
CAPITALISM IS AN ECONOMIC SYSTEM
DRIVEN BY THE PROFIT MOTIVE.
00:11:38.200 --> 00:11:41.099
ACCORDING TO MARX,
CAPITALISM THRIVES
00:11:41.100 --> 00:11:44.232
ON THE EXPLOITATION
OF THE WORKING CLASS.
00:11:44.233 --> 00:11:48.265
IN ORDER TO MAKE A PROFIT,
THE CAPITALIST PAYS HIS WORKERS
00:11:48.266 --> 00:11:51.699
LESS THAN THE TRUE VALUE
OF THEIR LABOR TIME.
00:11:51.700 --> 00:11:54.165
FOR MARX,
SUCH EXPLOITATION
00:11:54.166 --> 00:11:56.665
WAS THE MAIN CAUSE
OF SOCIAL CONFLICT...
00:11:56.666 --> 00:11:58.632
OR CLASS STRUGGLE...
00:11:58.633 --> 00:12:02.532
BETWEEN CAPITALISTS DETERMINED
TO INCREASE THEIR PROFITS
00:12:02.533 --> 00:12:05.700
AND WORKERS
STRUGGLING TO EARN A LIVING.
00:12:10.133 --> 00:12:11.632
- BOTTOM LEVEL,
I MEAN, YOU KNOW,
00:12:11.633 --> 00:12:13.332
THERE REALLY ARE
ONLY TWO CLASSES,
00:12:13.333 --> 00:12:16.266
AND, YOU KNOW,
ONE OF THEM EXPLOITS THE OTHER.
00:12:21.400 --> 00:12:23.565
Narrator:
BUT DO MARX\'S THEORIES
00:12:23.566 --> 00:12:25.565
OF EXPLOITATION
AND CLASS STRUGGLE
00:12:25.566 --> 00:12:28.065
STILL HOLD TRUE TODAY?
00:12:28.066 --> 00:12:30.265
OR IS THE WAY
IN WHICH CAPITALISTS
00:12:30.266 --> 00:12:33.932
MAKE THEIR PROFITS CHANGING?
00:12:33.933 --> 00:12:37.065
SLAVOJ ZIZEK
IS A SLOVENIAN PHILOSOPHER
00:12:37.066 --> 00:12:39.599
AT THE FOREFRONT
OF A POPULAR REVIVAL
00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:43.765
IN MARXIST
AND COMMUNIST THINKING.
00:12:43.766 --> 00:12:47.199
- IT\'S OBVIOUS... AND MARX ALREADY
HAD AN IDEA... VAGUE... OF IT...
00:12:47.200 --> 00:12:49.665
THAT WITH KNOWLEDGE EMERGING
00:12:49.666 --> 00:12:54.232
AS A CENTRAL FACTOR
OF WEALTH PRODUCTION,
00:12:54.233 --> 00:12:57.732
THIS CLASSICAL LOGIC
OF EXPLOITATION NO LONGER WORKS.
00:12:57.733 --> 00:12:59.165
A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE,
00:12:59.166 --> 00:13:04.932
BILL GATES OWNS WHAT MARX CALLS
PART OF OUR GENERAL INTELLECT,
00:13:04.933 --> 00:13:07.765
OUR... THE SUBSTANCE...
OUR SYMBOLIC SUBSTANCE.
00:13:07.766 --> 00:13:09.265
MEANS OF COMMUNICATION.
00:13:09.266 --> 00:13:10.599
AND IT\'S AS IF
00:13:10.600 --> 00:13:14.265
IN ORDER FOR US
TO COMMUNICATE AMONG OURSELVES,
00:13:14.266 --> 00:13:16.099
WE HAVE TO PAY HIM RENT.
00:13:16.100 --> 00:13:19.865
SO... AND ALSO, THIS, I THINK,
CHANGES THE VERY DEFINITION
00:13:19.866 --> 00:13:23.365
OF WHAT IS PROLETARIAT TODAY.
00:13:23.366 --> 00:13:24.532
PROLETARIAT POSITION...
00:13:24.533 --> 00:13:26.065
IT\'S NO LONGER
JUST THE WORKING CLASS.
00:13:26.066 --> 00:13:28.065
IT\'S NO LONGER TYPICAL.
00:13:28.066 --> 00:13:30.899
EVEN TO BE A LITTLE BIT CYNICAL
TODAY, THOSE...
00:13:30.900 --> 00:13:34.732
IT\'S ALMOST AS IF
MOST OF THE PROTESTS TODAY...
00:13:34.733 --> 00:13:37.332
PROTESTS OF THE UNEMPLOYED
AND SO ON...
00:13:37.333 --> 00:13:41.299
ARE IRONICALLY SUSTAINED
BY A DEMAND,
00:13:41.300 --> 00:13:44.299
\"PLEASE, PROVIDE US A JOB
WHERE WE CAN BE,
00:13:44.300 --> 00:13:46.633
AT LEAST IN A NORMAL WAY,
EXPLOITED.\"
00:13:49.133 --> 00:13:52.399
narrator: FOR MANY THINKERS,
THE QUESTION OF EXPLOITATION
00:13:52.400 --> 00:13:56.699
REMAINS AS IMPORTANT TODAY
AS IT WAS IN MARX\'S TIME.
00:13:56.700 --> 00:14:00.732
BUT CAPITALISM HAS EVOLVED
AND MODES OF WORK HAVE CHANGED
00:14:00.733 --> 00:14:04.432
IN WAYS WHICH MARX HIMSELF
WAS UNABLE TO PREDICT,
00:14:04.433 --> 00:14:06.765
ACCORDING TO ITALIAN
POLITICAL PHILOSOPHER
00:14:06.766 --> 00:14:08.466
ANTONIO NEGRI.
00:15:04.100 --> 00:15:07.100
- [speaking German]
00:15:45.933 --> 00:15:48.399
narrator: HERFRIED MUNKLER
IS THE COEDITOR
00:15:48.400 --> 00:15:50.999
OF MARX AND ENGELS\'
COMPLETE WORKS.
00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:52.332
HE TEACHES POLITICS
00:15:52.333 --> 00:15:57.565
AT THE HUMBOLDT UNIVERSITY
OF BERLIN.
00:15:57.566 --> 00:15:59.465
ALONG WITH ANTONIO NEGRI,
00:15:59.466 --> 00:16:01.699
MICHAEL HARDT IS THE COAUTHOR
00:16:01.700 --> 00:16:04.365
OF BEST-SELLING BOOKS
ON GLOBALIZATION.
00:16:04.366 --> 00:16:06.965
LIKE NEGRI,
HARDT SEES KNOWLEDGE,
00:16:06.966 --> 00:16:09.032
INFORMATION,
AND NATURAL RESOURCES
00:16:09.033 --> 00:16:12.332
AS THE COMMONWEALTH
OF ALL PEOPLES.
00:16:12.333 --> 00:16:14.165
- I THINK, INSTEAD,
WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS,
00:16:14.166 --> 00:16:17.165
CAPITALIST ECONOMY
HAS DEVELOPED TOWARDS
00:16:17.166 --> 00:16:19.332
CENTERING ON PRECISELY
THE PRODUCTION
00:16:19.333 --> 00:16:21.499
OF MANY IMMATERIAL
00:16:21.500 --> 00:16:23.832
AND, IN SOME WAYS,
IMMEASURABLE GOODS.
00:16:23.833 --> 00:16:26.399
IT\'S NO LONGER CENTERED ON
00:16:26.400 --> 00:16:30.799
THE PRODUCTION
OF COUNTABLE AUTOMOBILES
00:16:30.800 --> 00:16:33.499
AND REFRIGERATORS AND TOASTERS
00:16:33.500 --> 00:16:37.565
BUT RATHER CENTERED ON
THE PRODUCTION OF IDEAS,
00:16:37.566 --> 00:16:40.899
THE PRODUCTION OF SOCIAL
RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH SERVICES,
00:16:40.900 --> 00:16:43.032
A VARIETY OF...
00:16:43.033 --> 00:16:47.033
THEY\'RE NOT UNREAL
BUT OFTEN INTANGIBLE ASSETS.
00:16:50.100 --> 00:16:52.765
Narrator: THE THEORIST
ALBERTO TOSCANO
00:16:52.766 --> 00:16:55.432
IS MORE ORTHODOX
WHEN IT COMES TO THINKING
00:16:55.433 --> 00:16:57.765
THE RELATION
OF WORK AND EXPLOITATION
00:16:57.766 --> 00:17:00.132
UNDER CAPITALISM.
00:17:00.133 --> 00:17:03.799
- PEOPLE IN A CALL CENTER
MIGHT BE ENGAGING IN ACTIVITY
00:17:03.800 --> 00:17:06.732
WHICH WE COULD REFER TO
AS COGNITIVE OR IMMATERIAL,
00:17:06.733 --> 00:17:09.732
BUT THEY ARE ALSO...
AND, IN FACT, MOST IMPORTANTLY...
00:17:09.733 --> 00:17:14.399
WORKING IN AN ENVIRONMENT
WHICH IS ORGANIZED
00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:19.565
IN TERMS OF VERY CLASSICAL FORMS
OF LABOR DESPOTISM,
00:17:19.566 --> 00:17:22.399
OF VERY CLASSICAL FORMS
OF HOW TO EXTRACT,
00:17:22.400 --> 00:17:26.232
YOU KNOW, EVERY SECOND
OR MILLISECOND,
00:17:26.233 --> 00:17:29.899
HOW TO SCIENTIFICALLY MANAGE
WORK IN SUCH A WAY
00:17:29.900 --> 00:17:33.065
THAT IT CAN BE MORE PRODUCTIVE
00:17:33.066 --> 00:17:35.065
AND IN SUCH A WAY THAT
THE RATE OF EXPLOITATION,
00:17:35.066 --> 00:17:38.132
AS MARX WOULD PUT IT,
IS INTENSIFIED.
00:17:38.133 --> 00:17:39.832
THOUGH, I THINK, YOU KNOW,
HARDT AND NEGRI
00:17:39.833 --> 00:17:45.965
ARE ENTIRELY RIGHT
TO IDENTIFY CERTAIN TENDENCIES;
00:17:45.966 --> 00:17:50.899
I DON\'T THINK THAT
IMMATERIAL LABOR, FOR INSTANCE,
00:17:50.900 --> 00:17:53.565
IS THE SOURCE...
00:17:53.566 --> 00:17:55.565
YOU KNOW, WILL BE THE SOURCE,
AS SUCH,
00:17:55.566 --> 00:18:00.900
OF, YOU KNOW, FUTURE
EMANCIPATORY POLITICS.
00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:07.332
Narrator: JACQUES RANCIERE
IS A RENOWNED THINKER
00:18:07.333 --> 00:18:09.632
OF WORKING-CLASS POLITICS.
00:18:09.633 --> 00:18:12.432
FOR RANCIERE,
ECONOMIC EXPLOITATION
00:18:12.433 --> 00:18:16.200
IS NOT THE DOMINANT FACTOR
IN ALL SOCIAL STRUGGLE.
00:18:17.633 --> 00:18:20.633
- [speaking French]
00:18:53.400 --> 00:18:55.566
[no audio]
00:18:58.500 --> 00:19:00.232
narrator: FOR MARX,
CLASS STRUGGLE
00:19:00.233 --> 00:19:03.765
WAS PART OF EVERYDAY LIFE.
00:19:03.766 --> 00:19:05.632
BUT THE THEORY OF EXPLOITATION
00:19:05.633 --> 00:19:11.265
WAS NOT MARX\'S SOLE CONTRIBUTION
TO UNDERSTANDING CAPITALISM.
00:19:11.266 --> 00:19:14.599
IN ORDER TO GRASP
CAPITALISM\'S TRUE POWER
00:19:14.600 --> 00:19:16.499
AND PERSUASIVE HOLD OVER US,
00:19:16.500 --> 00:19:20.499
WE MUST DELVE INTO
THE STRANGE AND MYSTICAL WORLD
00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:22.300
OF THE COMMODITY.
00:19:33.166 --> 00:19:36.166
[whooshing]
00:19:37.833 --> 00:19:39.833
- [screaming]
00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:45.832
- \"IT IS CLEAR AS NOONDAY,
THAT MAN, BY HIS INDUSTRY,
00:19:45.833 --> 00:19:49.665
\"CHANGES THE FORMS OF THE
MATERIALS FURNISHED BY NATURE
00:19:49.666 --> 00:19:52.332
\"IN SUCH A WAY
AS TO MAKE THEM USEFUL TO HIM.
00:19:52.333 --> 00:19:53.965
\"THE FORM OF WOOD,
FOR INSTANCE,
00:19:53.966 --> 00:19:56.432
\"IS ALTERED
BY MAKING A TABLE OUT OF IT.
00:19:56.433 --> 00:19:58.599
\"AND YET THE TABLE
CONTINUES TO BE
00:19:58.600 --> 00:20:01.599
\"THAT COMMON EVERYDAY THING,
WOOD.
00:20:01.600 --> 00:20:04.432
\"BUT SO SOON AS IT
STEPS FORTH AS A COMMODITY,
00:20:04.433 --> 00:20:07.633
IT IS CHANGED
INTO SOMETHING TRANSCENDENT.\"
00:20:12.600 --> 00:20:13.832
narrator: \"CAPITAL,\"
00:20:13.833 --> 00:20:17.132
MARX\'S LANDMARK STUDY
OF POLITICAL ECONOMY
00:20:17.133 --> 00:20:20.532
BEGINS WITH A CHAPTER
DEVOTED TO COMMODITIES
00:20:20.533 --> 00:20:23.832
AND THE FETISHISM
OF COMMODITIES.
00:20:23.833 --> 00:20:27.465
TODAY, WE\'RE USED TO
HEARING ABOUT SEXUAL FETISHES,
00:20:27.466 --> 00:20:30.299
BUT FOR MARX,
THE COMMODITY FETISH
00:20:30.300 --> 00:20:33.732
WAS SOMETHING QUITE DIFFERENT.
00:20:33.733 --> 00:20:36.665
NORBERT BOLZ
IS A LEADING MEDIA THEORIST
00:20:36.666 --> 00:20:40.166
AND THE AUTHOR
OF \"THE CONSUMERIST MANIFESTO.\"
00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:46.000
- [speaking German]
00:21:43.666 --> 00:21:46.832
narrator: PETER SLOTERDIJK
ALSO SEES ONGOING RELEVANCE
00:21:46.833 --> 00:21:49.565
IN MARX\'S THEORY
OF COMMODITY FETISHISM
00:21:49.566 --> 00:21:52.365
IN OUR MODERN
CONSUMER WAY OF LIFE.
00:21:52.366 --> 00:21:55.366
- [speaking German]
00:23:06.966 --> 00:23:10.365
narrator: THE THEORY
OF COMMODITY FETISHISM DESCRIBES
00:23:10.366 --> 00:23:14.465
HOW WE ACCEPT VALUE
AS A NATURAL QUALITY OF THINGS.
00:23:14.466 --> 00:23:18.832
BUT ACCORDING TO MARX,
SUCH BELIEF IS AN ILLUSION.
00:23:18.833 --> 00:23:21.532
EVERY COMMODITY,
LIKE EVERY VALUE,
00:23:21.533 --> 00:23:23.965
MUST BE PRODUCED.
00:23:23.966 --> 00:23:26.599
EVEN SOMETHING
AS SEEMINGLY NATURAL AS WATER
00:23:26.600 --> 00:23:30.099
IS COMMODIFIED...
PURIFIED, PACKAGED,
00:23:30.100 --> 00:23:32.432
AND TRANSPORTED
TO THE CUSTOMER...
00:23:32.433 --> 00:23:34.599
A PROCESS FROM WHICH
THE CAPITALIST
00:23:34.600 --> 00:23:37.399
DULY EXTRACTS A PROFIT.
00:23:37.400 --> 00:23:39.165
- VALUE IS
IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER.
00:23:39.166 --> 00:23:41.399
VALUE DOESN\'T EXIST IN OBJECTS.
00:23:41.400 --> 00:23:43.565
- WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT,
COMMODITY FETISHISM
00:23:43.566 --> 00:23:45.232
IS ONLY THE CAPITALIST VERSION
00:23:45.233 --> 00:23:48.499
OF A TYPE OF OBJECTIFICATION
00:23:48.500 --> 00:23:50.665
WHICH IS HUMANLY UNIVERSAL.
00:23:50.666 --> 00:23:54.332
Narrator:
IS THIS THE REAL WORLD,
00:23:54.333 --> 00:23:58.799
OR ARE WE THE VICTIMS OF
A MARKETPLACE THAT SEDUCES US,
00:23:58.800 --> 00:24:03.165
MYSTIFYING OUR SENSES
WITH ITS FANTASY OBJECTS?
00:24:03.166 --> 00:24:07.799
FOR MARX, COMMODITIES EXIST
NOT TO SATISFY OUR NEEDS,
00:24:07.800 --> 00:24:10.632
NOR BECAUSE
THEY ARE REALLY USEFUL TO US,
00:24:10.633 --> 00:24:14.066
BUT SIMPLY
TO BE BOUGHT AND SOLD.
00:24:29.866 --> 00:24:31.700
- [grunts]
00:24:33.366 --> 00:24:36.366
[cymbals clanging]
00:24:46.933 --> 00:24:49.433
[mumbling]
THE HEMORRHOID CREAM...
00:24:53.566 --> 00:24:56.566
[humming softly]
00:25:05.366 --> 00:25:06.533
[clanging stops]
00:25:22.833 --> 00:25:24.166
HUH?
00:25:30.133 --> 00:25:34.832
- FETISHISM IS AN ILLUSION
WHICH IS PART OF REALITY ITSELF.
00:25:34.833 --> 00:25:38.665
YOU HAVE THIS WONDERFUL
DOUBLE REVERSAL THAT...
00:25:38.666 --> 00:25:40.832
THINGS ARE THE WAY THEY ARE.
00:25:40.833 --> 00:25:44.132
YOU MAY BE CONSCIOUS
HOW THINGS REALLY ARE,
00:25:44.133 --> 00:25:45.699
BUT IN YOUR PRACTICE,
00:25:45.700 --> 00:25:49.332
YOU FOLLOW AN ILLUSION
OF WHICH YOU ARE NOT CONSCIOUS.
00:25:49.333 --> 00:25:55.332
- WELL, I THINK OUR TENDENCY
TO OVERINVEST IMPORTANCE,
00:25:55.333 --> 00:25:57.232
IN PARTICULAR, OBJECTS,
00:25:57.233 --> 00:26:01.465
IS A MATTER OF HUMAN PSYCHOLOGY
RATHER THAN OF ECONOMICS.
00:26:01.466 --> 00:26:02.965
IT\'S THE WAY WE ARE.
00:26:02.966 --> 00:26:05.832
AND WE FOLLOW FASHION,
FOR EXAMPLE.
00:26:05.833 --> 00:26:09.765
SO WE LOOK AND SEE
WHAT ARE THE GREAT CELEBRITIES
00:26:09.766 --> 00:26:14.932
WEARING OR EATING OR DRIVING,
AND WE WANT ONE OF THOSE,
00:26:14.933 --> 00:26:17.699
AND THAT\'S HUMAN NATURE.
00:26:17.700 --> 00:26:22.399
THE ECONOMIC SYSTEM IS
MORALLY NEUTRAL ON THIS SUBJECT.
00:26:22.400 --> 00:26:24.000
IT SIMPLY PRODUCES
WHAT PEOPLE WANT.
00:26:25.166 --> 00:26:27.432
Narrator: HOW DOES
COMMODITY FETISHISM
00:26:27.433 --> 00:26:31.599
APPLY TO THE NEW SOCIAL NETWORKS
OF THE INFORMATION AGE?
00:26:31.600 --> 00:26:34.599
IS IT POSSIBLE
THAT THE COMMODITY EXTENDS
00:26:34.600 --> 00:26:38.766
FROM WHAT WE BUY
TO THE VERY CORE OF WHO WE ARE?
00:26:40.200 --> 00:26:43.965
- THE MODERN MEDIA, SO TO SPEAK,
COLONIZE...
00:26:43.966 --> 00:26:45.565
PARTLY CREATE
AND PARTLY COLONIZE,
00:26:45.566 --> 00:26:50.232
PARTLY MOBILIZE
COLLECTIVE FANTASIES.
00:26:50.233 --> 00:26:51.899
I THINK THAT
SORT OF TRANSCENDS
00:26:51.900 --> 00:26:53.565
ANYTHING WHICH YOU FIND
IN MARX,
00:26:53.566 --> 00:26:56.565
BECAUSE THE TECHNOLOGY
AND THE LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT
00:26:56.566 --> 00:27:00.299
WASN\'T SUCH THAT
IT PERMITTED THAT KIND OF
00:27:00.300 --> 00:27:02.100
INSIGHT AT THAT TIME.
00:27:11.600 --> 00:27:14.599
Narrator: TODAY, THE COMMODITY
OR CONSUMER WAY OF LIFE
00:27:14.600 --> 00:27:18.065
IS EVERYWHERE
AND IN EVERYTHING WE DO.
00:27:18.066 --> 00:27:20.732
WE SEE THE WORLD
THROUGH COMMODITY EYES
00:27:20.733 --> 00:27:24.732
SO THAT EVERY SOCIAL ENCOUNTER
BECOMES A POTENTIAL SALE,
00:27:24.733 --> 00:27:26.899
NOT JUST
OF MATERIAL POSSESSIONS
00:27:26.900 --> 00:27:29.333
BUT OF OUR INDIVIDUAL SELVES.
00:28:37.800 --> 00:28:40.165
- \"THE WHOLE MYSTERY
OF COMMODITIES,
00:28:40.166 --> 00:28:42.132
\"ALL THE MAGIC AND NECROMANCY
00:28:42.133 --> 00:28:44.632
\"THAT SURROUNDS
THE PRODUCTS OF LABOR,
00:28:44.633 --> 00:28:47.065
\"AS LONG AS THEY TAKE THE FORM
OF COMMODITIES,
00:28:47.066 --> 00:28:48.565
\"VANISHES, THEREFORE,
00:28:48.566 --> 00:28:51.866
SO SOON AS WE COME
TO OTHER FORMS OF PRODUCTION.\"
00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:57.832
narrator: FOR MARX,
THE EXPECTATION
00:28:57.833 --> 00:29:01.065
WAS THAT THE COMMODITY
WOULD EVENTUALLY GIVE WAY
00:29:01.066 --> 00:29:04.632
TO OTHER FORMS OF ECONOMIC
PRODUCTION AND COOPERATION
00:29:04.633 --> 00:29:06.965
IN WHICH VALUE
IS NO LONGER MEASURED
00:29:06.966 --> 00:29:09.632
PURELY IN MONETARY TERMS.
00:29:09.633 --> 00:29:12.933
CAN WE IMAGINE A WORLD
WITHOUT COMMODITIES?
00:29:54.133 --> 00:29:55.299
- PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO THINK
00:29:55.300 --> 00:29:57.065
ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
DIFFERENT WAYS OF LIVING...
00:29:57.066 --> 00:30:00.732
LIVING SUSTAINABLY...
TO TRY AND CREATE THESE KIND OF,
00:30:00.733 --> 00:30:03.399
LIKE, HOMEOSTATIC MODES
OF EXISTENCE
00:30:03.400 --> 00:30:05.132
WHERE THERE IS NO WASTE,
00:30:05.133 --> 00:30:06.465
YOU KNOW,
AND MAYBE EVEN LIVE
00:30:06.466 --> 00:30:08.132
IN A KIND OF COLLECTIVE WAY
OR A...
00:30:08.133 --> 00:30:11.632
YOU KNOW, HINT AT
A COMMUNAL WAY OF LIVING.
00:30:11.633 --> 00:30:13.799
YOU KNOW, AND I THINK THERE IS...
PEOPLE DO FEEL A REAL
00:30:13.800 --> 00:30:16.932
KIND OF NEED SOMETIMES
OR A DESIRE FOR THAT,
00:30:16.933 --> 00:30:19.932
SORT OF, UH,
LET\'S SAY A SIMPLER
00:30:19.933 --> 00:30:22.665
BUT KIND OF MORE CREATIVE
AND MORE INTERESTING LIFE,
00:30:22.666 --> 00:30:25.999
YOU KNOW, TO HAVE PROPER
RELATIONS WITH PEOPLE
00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:27.665
THAT AREN\'T MEDIATED THROUGH
00:30:27.666 --> 00:30:31.200
THIS KIND OF, YOU KNOW,
COMMODITY FETISHISM.
00:30:34.733 --> 00:30:36.899
Narrator: TODAY,
THERE IS GROWING DISQUIET
00:30:36.900 --> 00:30:38.732
IN WESTERN SOCIETIES
00:30:38.733 --> 00:30:42.932
ON A RANGE OF SOCIAL, ECONOMIC,
AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTIONS.
00:30:42.933 --> 00:30:46.265
A NEW GENERATION
OF MARX-INSPIRED THINKERS
00:30:46.266 --> 00:30:50.933
SEES ECOLOGY
AS A DECISIVE POLITICAL ISSUE.
00:30:55.100 --> 00:30:58.599
- THE MANAGEMENT
OF THE ECOLOGICAL COMMON...
00:30:58.600 --> 00:31:01.065
OF THE AIR, THE EARTH,
THE ATMOSPHERE...
00:31:01.066 --> 00:31:03.565
BY PRIVATE PROPERTY
AND EVEN BY STATES
00:31:03.566 --> 00:31:07.799
HAS LED US
TO THE BRINK OF DISASTER.
00:31:07.800 --> 00:31:09.899
BUT SIMILARLY,
I THINK, IN ECONOMIC TERMS,
00:31:09.900 --> 00:31:16.465
WE\'RE EVERMORE HANDICAPPED
IN OUR, UM...
00:31:16.466 --> 00:31:22.132
EVEN IN ECONOMIC FUNCTIONING
BY THE RULE OF PRIVATE PROPERTY
00:31:22.133 --> 00:31:25.265
AND EVEN THE MECHANISMS OF...
00:31:25.266 --> 00:31:27.565
OF ACCUMULATION THROUGH PROFIT.
00:31:27.566 --> 00:31:29.732
- COMMUNISM IN THE SENSE OF,
00:31:29.733 --> 00:31:31.999
WE ARE DEALING WITH A COMMONS.
00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:34.199
OUR EARTH IS NATURAL SUBSTANCE;
00:31:34.200 --> 00:31:36.965
SOMEHOW WE HAVE TO MANAGE IT
TOGETHER.
00:31:36.966 --> 00:31:39.132
- IF YOU LOOK AT
THE \"COMMON\" IN COMMUNISM,
00:31:39.133 --> 00:31:40.599
IT GIVES YOU
A VERY DIFFERENT VIEW
00:31:40.600 --> 00:31:42.699
THAN WE\'VE INHERITED FROM...
00:31:42.700 --> 00:31:44.199
EITHER FROM SOVIET IDEOLOGY
00:31:44.200 --> 00:31:47.733
OR FROM
U.S. ANTICOMMUNIST IDEOLOGY.
00:31:52.800 --> 00:31:56.799
Narrator: CAN MARX\'S WORK
PRESENT A GREEN ALTERNATIVE
00:31:56.800 --> 00:32:00.166
TO THE MANAGEMENT OF
OUR PLANET\'S NATURAL RESOURCES?
00:32:49.233 --> 00:32:50.665
Narrator: JOHN GRAY BELIEVES
00:32:50.666 --> 00:32:53.732
THAT GLOBAL CAPITALISM
DEVELOPS IN WAYS
00:32:53.733 --> 00:32:56.065
THAT ARE NOT ONLY
DIFFICULT TO PREDICT
00:32:56.066 --> 00:33:00.099
BUT ALSO IMPOSSIBLE
TO CONTROL.
00:33:00.100 --> 00:33:02.932
- WHERE THE NEO-LENINISTS
00:33:02.933 --> 00:33:08.665
BUT ALSO THE GREENS
ARE CORRECT
00:33:08.666 --> 00:33:13.165
IS IN ARGUING
THAT HUMAN ACTION
00:33:13.166 --> 00:33:18.465
HAS DESTABILIZED
THE PLANETARY ENVIRONMENT.
00:33:18.466 --> 00:33:21.232
WHERE THEY ARE DELUDED
00:33:21.233 --> 00:33:24.399
IS IN BELIEVING
THAT HUMAN ACTION
00:33:24.400 --> 00:33:28.665
CAN RESTABILIZE
THE PLANETARY ENVIRONMENT.
00:33:28.666 --> 00:33:31.832
WHAT... FROM THE FACT
THAT HUMANS
00:33:31.833 --> 00:33:34.499
HAVE TRIGGERED
THIS INSTABILITY,
00:33:34.500 --> 00:33:37.499
IT DOES NOT FOLLOW
THAT HUMANS CAN STOP IT,
00:33:37.500 --> 00:33:40.865
EVEN IF HUMANS WERE CAPABLE OF
ACTING AS A GLOBAL COLLECTIVE,
00:33:40.866 --> 00:33:42.800
WHICH THEY ARE NOT
AND WILL NOT BE.
00:33:46.433 --> 00:33:48.765
Narrator: AN UNDER-REGULATED
BANKING SECTOR
00:33:48.766 --> 00:33:51.465
IS OFTEN REGARDED
AS HAVING BEEN RESPONSIBLE
00:33:51.466 --> 00:33:56.099
FOR THE ECONOMIC CRISIS
WHICH BEGAN IN 2007.
00:33:56.100 --> 00:34:00.499
BUT IS STATE REGULATION OF
THE ECONOMY THE ONLY SOLUTION?
00:34:00.500 --> 00:34:02.499
WHICH EXAMPLES FROM HISTORY
00:34:02.500 --> 00:34:07.665
MIGHT HELP US AVOID EVER GREATER
CATASTROPHES IN FUTURE?
00:34:07.666 --> 00:34:09.632
- THERE WAS
A VERY INTERESTING TIME
00:34:09.633 --> 00:34:12.199
IN THE 19TH CENTURY
IN THE UNITED STATES,
00:34:12.200 --> 00:34:15.999
WHERE, IN BOSTON, THERE WAS
A BANK CALLED THE SUFFOLK BANK.
00:34:16.000 --> 00:34:19.832
AND AT THAT TIME, BANKS WOULD
PRODUCE THEIR OWN CURRENCIES,
00:34:19.833 --> 00:34:22.899
AND THE SUFFOLK BANK WOULD TAKE
THE CURRENCY OF ANY BANK,
00:34:22.900 --> 00:34:26.332
AND IT WOULD GIVE YOU
HARD CURRENCY, HARD CASH BACK.
00:34:26.333 --> 00:34:29.499
IT WOULD TAKE THE NOTES IN,
AND IT WOULD GIVE YOU COINS OUT.
00:34:29.500 --> 00:34:31.832
IF IT DIDN\'T
TRUST A PARTICULAR BANK,
00:34:31.833 --> 00:34:33.332
IF IT THOUGHT
A PARTICULAR BANK
00:34:33.333 --> 00:34:36.765
WAS PERHAPS
TAKING TOO MANY RISKS,
00:34:36.766 --> 00:34:39.765
IT MIGHT ONLY GIVE YOU
95 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR.
00:34:39.766 --> 00:34:41.599
NOW, THAT\'S A BRILLIANT SYSTEM
00:34:41.600 --> 00:34:43.599
BECAUSE WHAT IT MEANS IS THAT
00:34:43.600 --> 00:34:47.433
BANKS BECOME VERY AWARE OF
THE RISKS THAT THEY\'RE TAKING.
00:34:49.966 --> 00:34:56.199
- THAT\'S A KIND OF UTOPIAN
PATHOLOGY OF DELUDED THINKING
00:34:56.200 --> 00:34:58.532
ON THE RIGHT,
WHICH IS RECURRENT
00:34:58.533 --> 00:35:02.099
BECAUSE WHAT IT REFUSES
TO CONFRONT
00:35:02.100 --> 00:35:05.565
ARE THE INHERENT CONTRADICTIONS
WHICH EMERGE
00:35:05.566 --> 00:35:08.499
IN RAPIDLY DEVELOPING
CAPITALIST ECONOMIES.
00:35:08.500 --> 00:35:11.532
THE REASON WE ARE
WHERE WE ARE NOW
00:35:11.533 --> 00:35:13.765
AND HAVE THE TYPE
OF LARGE BANKING SYSTEMS
00:35:13.766 --> 00:35:14.899
AND SO FORTH THAT WE DO HAVE
00:35:14.900 --> 00:35:16.532
IS THAT, AT EVERY POINT
IN ITS HISTORY,
00:35:16.533 --> 00:35:19.065
CAPITALISM HAS BEEN
INTERTWINED WITH STATE POWER.
00:35:19.066 --> 00:35:22.532
- LAST YEAR, WE FOUND
$17 BILLION IN CUTS.
00:35:22.533 --> 00:35:25.432
THIS YEAR, WE\'VE ALREADY FOUND
$20 BILLION.
00:35:25.433 --> 00:35:28.265
Narrator: WHAT POWER OR
INCENTIVE DO GOVERNMENTS HAVE
00:35:28.266 --> 00:35:31.132
TO REFORM CAPITALISM?
00:35:31.133 --> 00:35:33.965
COULD IT BE
THAT ECONOMIC CRISIS,
00:35:33.966 --> 00:35:36.665
INSTEAD OF BEING
AN UNWANTED SIDE EFFECT,
00:35:36.666 --> 00:35:38.666
IS WHAT KEEPS THE SYSTEM GOING?
00:36:18.233 --> 00:36:20.899
- THE KIND OF CAPITALISM
THAT HAS ENTERED INTO CRISIS
00:36:20.900 --> 00:36:23.132
IS A CAPITALISM
THAT IS PRODUCING EVERMORE
00:36:23.133 --> 00:36:25.732
OF WHAT MARX CALLED
SUPERFLUOUS POPULATIONS,
00:36:25.733 --> 00:36:27.732
OR SURPLUS POPULATIONS,
00:36:27.733 --> 00:36:30.065
WHAT MIKE DAVIS IN THE
\"PLANET OF SLUMS\" HAS CALLED
00:36:30.066 --> 00:36:32.165
A KIND OF SURPLUS HUMANITY.
00:36:32.166 --> 00:36:34.199
THAT IS TO SAY,
IT\'S NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR
00:36:34.200 --> 00:36:36.699
THAT CAPITALISM
AS IT EXISTS TODAY
00:36:36.700 --> 00:36:39.032
NEEDS PEOPLE, NEEDS WORKERS
00:36:39.033 --> 00:36:41.233
IN THE SAME WAY
THAT IT NEEDED BEFORE.
00:36:51.966 --> 00:36:53.965
- CAPITAL FUNCTIONS
THROUGH CRISES.
00:36:53.966 --> 00:36:57.799
SO CRISIS DOESN\'T MEAN, UM...
00:36:57.800 --> 00:37:00.132
THE DEMISE OF CAPITAL.
00:37:00.133 --> 00:37:01.999
CAPITAL FUNCTIONS
BY BREAKING DOWN.
00:37:02.000 --> 00:37:05.165
IT\'S A PARADOXICAL
WAY OF WORKING,
00:37:05.166 --> 00:37:06.565
BUT THAT\'S THE WAY IT WORKS.
00:37:06.566 --> 00:37:09.399
AND OFTEN WHAT HAPPENS...
THIS IS, OF COURSE,
00:37:09.400 --> 00:37:11.065
ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT\'S HAPPENING
00:37:11.066 --> 00:37:15.732
AS A RESULT OF THE 2008
ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRISIS...
00:37:15.733 --> 00:37:18.899
IS THAT CRISIS ALLOWS
00:37:18.900 --> 00:37:23.332
THE POSSIBILITY FOR NEW
CONCENTRATIONS OF CAPITAL,
00:37:23.333 --> 00:37:27.965
SOMETIMES THROUGH PRIVATIZATION,
SOMETIMES SIMPLY THROUGH
00:37:27.966 --> 00:37:32.533
THE CONCENTRATION OF WEALTH
OR POWER IN FEWER HANDS.
00:37:40.866 --> 00:37:44.199
- THERE\'S A WAY IN WHICH KIND OF
CAPITALISM IS UNDEAD.
00:37:44.200 --> 00:37:46.199
YOU KNOW, IT KEEPS GOING,
EVEN THOUGH, YOU KNOW,
00:37:46.200 --> 00:37:48.365
NO ONE HAS ANY FAITH IN IT
ANYMORE.
00:37:48.366 --> 00:37:50.699
NO ONE BELIEVES IN IT, YOU KNOW,
AND, YOU KNOW,
00:37:50.700 --> 00:37:54.765
THIS IDEA OF A KIND OF
FREE MARKET WAS ALWAYS A JOKE,
00:37:54.766 --> 00:37:56.332
BUT IT\'S EVEN MORE
OF A JOKE NOW.
00:37:56.333 --> 00:37:58.499
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THE LEVEL
OF STATE INTERVENTION...
00:37:58.500 --> 00:38:00.132
YOU KNOW, WE\'RE SEEING
THE WAY IN WHICH
00:38:00.133 --> 00:38:02.732
THIS KIND OF PLAYS OUT BADLY
FOR THE LOSERS.
00:38:02.733 --> 00:38:06.333
I MEAN, LOOK AT WHAT\'S HAPPENING
IN GREECE AT THE MOMENT.
00:38:35.800 --> 00:38:37.465
Narrator: IF THE STATE
AND THE ECONOMY
00:38:37.466 --> 00:38:39.632
ARE SO CLOSELY INTERTWINED
00:38:39.633 --> 00:38:42.899
AND IF CAPITALISM
NEEDS CRISIS TO FUNCTION,
00:38:42.900 --> 00:38:45.099
THEN WHAT SENSE IS THERE
IN BELIEVING
00:38:45.100 --> 00:38:48.932
THAT ANOTHER WORLD
IS POSSIBLE?
00:38:48.933 --> 00:38:52.600
IS THERE ANY WAY OUT
OF OUR CRISIS-RIDDEN TIMES?
00:39:12.900 --> 00:39:15.600
[gunshots]
00:39:26.200 --> 00:39:28.665
- MM?
00:39:28.666 --> 00:39:30.665
HUH?
00:39:30.666 --> 00:39:32.032
MM-HMM...
00:39:32.033 --> 00:39:34.500
- [growls]
00:39:48.233 --> 00:39:50.565
narrator: TODAY,
CAPITALISM\'S FLAWS
00:39:50.566 --> 00:39:53.599
ARE LEADING PEOPLE TO CONSIDER
POLITICAL ALTERNATIVES,
00:39:53.600 --> 00:39:56.632
OF WHICH COMMUNISM IS ONE.
00:39:56.633 --> 00:40:00.632
BUT GIVEN THE COMMUNIST
DISASTERS OF THE 20TH CENTURY,
00:40:00.633 --> 00:40:05.199
HOW CAN WE REALLY TAKE THE IDEA
OF COMMUNISM SERIOUSLY?
00:40:05.200 --> 00:40:09.365
- BUT THE BIGGEST MODE
OF THE FALSE FIDELITY
00:40:09.366 --> 00:40:12.599
TO THE 20TH-CENTURY COMMUNISM
IS, I THINK,
00:40:12.600 --> 00:40:17.132
THE REJECTION OF
ALL REALLY EXISTING SOCIALISMS
00:40:17.133 --> 00:40:20.932
ON BEHALF OF SOME AUTHENTIC
WORKING-CLASS MOVEMENT
00:40:20.933 --> 00:40:23.766
JUST AROUND THE CORNER
WAITING TO EXPLODE.
00:40:27.700 --> 00:40:30.700
- [speaking German]
00:40:35.633 --> 00:40:38.633
- [speaking German]
00:40:48.900 --> 00:40:50.565
- 20TH CENTURY,
00:40:50.566 --> 00:40:55.032
NOT ONLY
IN ITS TOTALITARIAN ASPECT,
00:40:55.033 --> 00:40:56.732
COMMUNISM AS WE KNEW IT, BUT...
00:40:56.733 --> 00:40:58.499
THAT\'S IMPORTANT TO ADD.
00:40:58.500 --> 00:41:00.832
NOW I WILL GET
LESS AND LESS POPULAR...
00:41:00.833 --> 00:41:02.632
EVERYONE WOULD AGREE
WITH THIS...
00:41:02.633 --> 00:41:06.499
THEN I ADD TO IT ALSO
SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC WELFARE STATE
00:41:06.500 --> 00:41:08.432
BUT NOT ONLY SOCIAL DEMOCRACY,
EVEN...
00:41:08.433 --> 00:41:10.032
THAT\'S MY NASTIEST THESIS...
00:41:10.033 --> 00:41:14.265
EVEN THE DARLING
OF THE RADICAL DEMOCRATIC LEFT
00:41:14.266 --> 00:41:18.665
DISAGREE AGAINST
THE OSSIFIED STATE STRUCTURES...
00:41:18.666 --> 00:41:22.232
SPONTANEOUS, LOCAL,
SELF-ORGANIZATION,
00:41:22.233 --> 00:41:27.032
DIRECT DEMOCRACY,
COUNCILS, AND SO ON...
00:41:27.033 --> 00:41:30.800
EVEN THAT SHOULD BE WRITTEN OFF.
00:41:33.000 --> 00:41:34.999
Narrator: MICHA BRUMLIK
IS A CRITIC
00:41:35.000 --> 00:41:37.332
OF THE NEW MARXIST THINKING.
00:41:37.333 --> 00:41:39.699
FOR BRUMLIK,
THE PROSPECT OF CREATING
00:41:39.700 --> 00:41:43.665
AN ALTERNATIVE TO CAPITALISM
WHICH NEGLECTS DEMOCRACY
00:41:43.666 --> 00:41:45.500
IS HIGHLY PROBLEMATIC.
00:42:19.133 --> 00:42:22.465
Narrator: HOW PRACTICAL
IS THE IDEA OF COMMUNISM?
00:42:22.466 --> 00:42:24.632
DOES IT OFFER
A POLITICAL ALTERNATIVE
00:42:24.633 --> 00:42:27.399
TO THE STATE SOCIALISMS
OF THE PAST,
00:42:27.400 --> 00:42:30.899
OR IS IT A PHILOSOPHICAL DEBATE?
00:42:30.900 --> 00:42:33.065
- I DO THINK IT\'S IMPORTANT
TO STRUGGLE OVER THE TERM.
00:42:33.066 --> 00:42:34.232
YOU KNOW, TO...
00:42:34.233 --> 00:42:36.732
BECAUSE THE TERMS
HAVE SUCH A HISTORY
00:42:36.733 --> 00:42:39.299
OF HOPE AND SUFFERING
THAT ARE ATTACHED TO THEM.
00:42:39.300 --> 00:42:41.132
WHAT\'S MEANT BY COMMUNISM
IN COMMON LANGUAGE?
00:42:41.133 --> 00:42:43.465
IT\'S MEANT THE EXACT OPPOSITE
OF WHAT I MEAN BY IT.
00:42:43.466 --> 00:42:45.799
IT\'S MEANT
ABSOLUTE STATE CONTROL
00:42:45.800 --> 00:42:47.165
OF THE ECONOMY AND SOCIETY,
00:42:47.166 --> 00:42:49.165
WHICH SEEMS TO BE COUNTER
00:42:49.166 --> 00:42:51.500
TO EVERYTHING MARX SAID
ABOUT IT TOO.
00:42:53.600 --> 00:42:56.100
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
00:43:35.000 --> 00:43:36.799
narrator: MARX IMAGINED
COMMUNISM
00:43:36.800 --> 00:43:39.465
AS A CLASSLESS SOCIETY.
00:43:39.466 --> 00:43:42.632
FOR JACQUES RANCIERE,
THE POLITICAL CHALLENGE TODAY
00:43:42.633 --> 00:43:46.465
IS ONE OF CREATING
AN EMANCIPATED SOCIETY
00:43:46.466 --> 00:43:49.566
IN WHICH EVERYONE
HAS AN EQUAL SHARE.
00:46:03.100 --> 00:46:06.100
[men and women singing
operatically]
00:46:17.000 --> 00:46:22.332
- A COMMUNIST SOCIETY
WOULD BE A SOCIETY WHERE YOU...
00:46:22.333 --> 00:46:24.499
EVERYONE WOULD BE ALLOWED
TO DWELL
00:46:24.500 --> 00:46:27.199
IN HIS OR HER OWN STUPIDITY.
00:46:27.200 --> 00:46:29.699
YOU KNOW...
YOU KNOW WHO GAVE ME THIS IDEA,
00:46:29.700 --> 00:46:31.532
EVEN FRED JAMESON WHO SAID,
00:46:31.533 --> 00:46:33.699
WHAT IF YOU IMAGINE COMMUNISM
00:46:33.700 --> 00:46:36.165
NOT AS A PERFECTLY NORMAL
SOCIETY
00:46:36.166 --> 00:46:40.665
BUT LIKE A CRAZY SOCIETY
THAT YOU FIND, LIKE,
00:46:40.666 --> 00:46:43.799
IN SOME BRUEGHEL\'S PAINTING,
\"PROVERBS,\" YOU KNOW?
00:46:43.800 --> 00:46:48.499
A MADMAN HERE; THERE IS A MAN
WHO THINKS HE IS A CHICKEN AND...
00:46:48.500 --> 00:46:50.365
\"AH, AH, AH, GA-GA,\"
WALKS LIKE THIS.
00:46:50.366 --> 00:46:52.965
THERE IS A MAN
WHO THINKS HE IS NAPOLEON.
00:46:52.966 --> 00:46:55.565
YOU KNOW, ALL THESE MADMEN
POLITELY EXIST.
00:46:55.566 --> 00:46:57.466
WOULDN\'T THIS BE NICE?
00:47:00.233 --> 00:47:03.566
Narrator: IS THE IDEA
OF COMMUNISM A FANTASY?
00:47:05.366 --> 00:47:09.366
IS COMMUNISM ONLY REALIZABLE
IN OUR IMAGINATION?
00:47:13.200 --> 00:47:15.199
- IT CAN\'T BE SOME KIND OF
UTOPIAN FANTASY
00:47:15.200 --> 00:47:17.199
ABOUT WHAT COMES
AFTER THE APOCALYPSE, YOU KNOW?
00:47:17.200 --> 00:47:21.232
PEOPLE ARE THINKING ALL THE TIME
ABOUT THIS KIND OF, UH,
00:47:21.233 --> 00:47:23.399
THE END OF THE WORLD
AND THIS KIND OF, YOU KNOW...
00:47:23.400 --> 00:47:25.265
SOMEHOW IT\'S SUPPOSED
TO BE EASIER TO IMAGINE
00:47:25.266 --> 00:47:27.565
THE END OF THE WORLD
THAN THE END OF CAPITALISM.
00:47:27.566 --> 00:47:28.832
- THE END POINT IS KNOWLEDGE.
00:47:28.833 --> 00:47:31.799
THINGS ARE GETTING SO RATIONAL
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW,
00:47:31.800 --> 00:47:34.532
THERE IS
THE PARADOX OF KNOWLEDGE.
00:47:34.533 --> 00:47:38.365
EVERYBODY KNOWS OF...
OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES.
00:47:38.366 --> 00:47:41.032
THAT WITH ORDINARY
MATERIAL PROPERTY,
00:47:41.033 --> 00:47:42.365
WE HAVE A COMPETITION,
00:47:42.366 --> 00:47:44.865
BECAUSE IF WE HAVE HERE
A NICE STEAK,
00:47:44.866 --> 00:47:47.199
IF I EAT IT,
THEN YOU DON\'T EAT IT.
00:47:47.200 --> 00:47:48.365
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
00:47:48.366 --> 00:47:50.365
LIKE, THROUGH USE,
IT GETS USED.
00:47:50.366 --> 00:47:52.065
WITH KNOWLEDGE,
IT\'S THE OPPOSITE.
00:47:52.066 --> 00:47:54.232
IF I KNOW SOMETHING
AND TELL IT TO YOU,
00:47:54.233 --> 00:47:57.332
KNOWLEDGE NOT ONLY
DOESN\'T GET USED
00:47:57.333 --> 00:48:00.232
IN THE SENSE OF
LESS FUNCTIONAL, TRUE,
00:48:00.233 --> 00:48:03.065
BUT IT EVEN GETS RICH.
00:48:03.066 --> 00:48:04.732
KNOWLEDGE, AS COMMODITY,
00:48:04.733 --> 00:48:07.133
IS EFFECTIVELY AN
ANTICAPITALIST COMMODITY.
00:48:13.100 --> 00:48:15.032
- THERE\'S NO PROLETARIAN
REVOLU... OR MOVEMENT.
00:48:15.033 --> 00:48:19.199
THERE ARE NO
MASS COMMUNIST PARTIES.
00:48:19.200 --> 00:48:23.432
THE LEFT IS IN PRETTY WELL
UNIVERSAL DISARRAY.
00:48:23.433 --> 00:48:25.099
THERE IS NO AGENCY.
00:48:25.100 --> 00:48:26.765
THERE IS NO HISTORICAL AGENCY.
00:48:26.766 --> 00:48:29.532
I MEAN, THIS IS ENTIRELY
THE NEO-BOLSHEVIST...
00:48:29.533 --> 00:48:31.499
NEO-BOLSHEVIK
AND NEO-LENINIST MOVEMENT.
00:48:31.500 --> 00:48:36.365
THIS IS ENTIRELY
A CREATION OF THE MEDIA
00:48:36.366 --> 00:48:39.365
OF CULTURAL CRITICISM,
00:48:39.366 --> 00:48:42.899
OF HERMETIC SEMINARS,
00:48:42.900 --> 00:48:47.999
OF CABARET-LIKE PERFORMANCES.
00:48:48.000 --> 00:48:52.165
IT DOES NOT EXIST IN ANY FORM
OF PRACTICAL POLITICS
00:48:52.166 --> 00:48:54.933
ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD
AND WILL NOT.
00:49:43.100 --> 00:49:46.865
Narrator: TODAY, PERHAPS
THE ATTRACTION OF MARX\'S IDEAS
00:49:46.866 --> 00:49:51.165
CAN BE EXPLAINED BY OUR DESIRE
FOR CLEAR ALTERNATIVES
00:49:51.166 --> 00:49:54.265
IN A WORLD WHERE FEW EXIST.
00:49:54.266 --> 00:49:59.165
A SIMPLE CHOICE
BETWEEN A BLUE OR A RED PILL...
00:49:59.166 --> 00:50:01.699
THE BLUE PILL
FOR THE COZY RETREAT
00:50:01.700 --> 00:50:04.499
INTO OUR CONSUMER FANTASIES,
00:50:04.500 --> 00:50:06.299
OR THE RED PILL
00:50:06.300 --> 00:50:09.333
WHICH FINALLY REVEALS THE TRUTH.
00:50:14.266 --> 00:50:16.599
- I\'M NOT SURE I DO THINK
THIS IS VERY HELPFUL AT ALL.
00:50:16.600 --> 00:50:19.965
I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE ONLY WAY
TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE WORLD
00:50:19.966 --> 00:50:23.665
IS TO BE KIND OF CONTINUALLY
CURIOUS AND SKEPTICAL
00:50:23.666 --> 00:50:25.632
AND CYNICAL ABOUT IT, PERHAPS.
00:50:25.633 --> 00:50:28.132
BUT ALWAYS PERHAPS THERE\'S
A SORT OF UNDERLYING OPTIMISM
00:50:28.133 --> 00:50:31.299
THAT THINGS CAN GET BETTER
AND THAT YOU YOURSELF
00:50:31.300 --> 00:50:34.232
CAN CONTRIBUTE TO
MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.
00:50:34.233 --> 00:50:36.232
- IN MY WORLD,
IT\'S THE BLUE PILL
00:50:36.233 --> 00:50:38.032
WHICH IS THE REALITY,
OF COURSE.
00:50:38.033 --> 00:50:40.232
- RED.
00:50:40.233 --> 00:50:42.299
- MY ULTIMATE POSITION...
MAYBE I CHANGE MY POSITION.
00:50:42.300 --> 00:50:44.420
I\'D KNOW... \'CAUSE WE KNOW
THERE MUST BE A THIRD PILL.
00:50:49.866 --> 00:50:51.065
- I WANT THE THIRD PILL,
00:50:51.066 --> 00:50:53.365
BUT, OF COURSE
WHEN YOU TAKE THE THIRD PILL,
00:50:53.366 --> 00:50:55.632
YOU SEE THAT
THIS IS THE TRUE SECOND PILL.
00:50:55.633 --> 00:50:57.032
- ANYWAY,
I WOULD GO ALONG WITH HIM.
00:50:57.033 --> 00:50:59.065
IF HE WANTS THE THIRD PILL,
I WANT THE THIRD PILL TOO.
00:50:59.066 --> 00:51:01.099
- THERE ARE NO PILLS.
00:51:01.100 --> 00:51:05.899
NO PILLS CAN STABILIZE
ANY OF THESE CONSTRUCTIONS.
00:51:05.900 --> 00:51:08.566
ALL THESE CONSTRUCTIONS
ARE HIGHLY FRAGILE.
00:51:30.966 --> 00:51:36.966
[mellow instrumental music]
Distributor: Icarus Films
Length: 52 minutes
Date: 2011
Genre: Expository
Language: English; German; French / English subtitles
Grade: 11-12, College, Adult
Color/BW:
Closed Captioning: Available
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