TRAGEDY THEN FARCE

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Tragedy Then Farce is focused on constructively battling the illnesses our age through creativity, curiosity, and communication. If you want any higher quality copies of my photographs to download, just let me know and I'd be happy to oblige. Welcome.

A Philosophy and Photography Blog

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Thursday, March 31, 2011

A Žižekian Rant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpAMbpQ8J7g (An informative but not necessarily related video)

Slovanian contemporary philosopher Slavoj Zizek has made a particularly interesting insight into the hypocratic, sugar coated, irrational, and absurd mode in which our society, dominated by and manifested out of capitalism and neo-liberal policy, operates.


When making a decision, for example, of where to invest, a person doesn't pick a stock or a firm or a trend to ride based on its value. Rather, it is very much like asking a man to pick a picture of the most beautiful girl out of a page of 100 pictures, every girl a knockout stunner. The man's investment prospers in only one certain condition.

It doesn't happen to those who pick the women who is the most beautiful to them.
Nor will the one succeed who picks the actual average beauty pick, had all men actually chosen their favorites.

Rather, the winner is three steps removed: We have developed an economic system that rewards those choices that are made on picking what everyone thinks everyone thinks is the average. Rather than cold, calculated, analytic stock margins, we now see a picture where shockingly human factors like crisis, insecurity, and faith come into play.

Just something to chew on as we chew our planet into muck in the name of this unsustainable system.
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45 comments:

  1. MattiMarch 31, 2011 at 5:20 PM

    Interesting, my friend

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  2. SpadeMarch 31, 2011 at 5:24 PM

    Wow, my friend has the exact same mentality as you

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  3. WilcoMarch 31, 2011 at 5:25 PM

    nice post!

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  4. SOMSMarch 31, 2011 at 5:46 PM

    philosophic! Love to read this stuff, following you.

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  5. GoGoGoViralMarch 31, 2011 at 6:38 PM

    I'm diggin all the info! I'm following ya!

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  6. FearlessLeaderMarch 31, 2011 at 6:45 PM

    Three parts removed indeed. No wonder some compared investing in stocks to legalized gambling.

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  7. john178March 31, 2011 at 6:45 PM

    Im learning so much nice haha

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  8. CrawlerMarch 31, 2011 at 6:45 PM

    I'd actually call it neo-pseudo-liberalism and neo-pseudo-capitalism. Let me explain myself in 4 easy steps.
    1) Why neoliberalism? It's not what used to be called liberalism.
    2) Why psuedoliberalism? It's not liberalism, like people call it nowadays. People buy stocks, they think others would buy. They're not free, they are enslaved by general opinion.
    3) Why neocapitalism? It's not what used to be called capitalism.
    4) Why pseudo? It's not capitalism. People buy stocks, they think other think are the best, not stocks that are actually the best or they think it's the best. Lost? You don't think for yourself, but for others. It's not capitalism

    This makes it neopseudoliberalism and neopseudocapitalism.

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  9. cool_ciclerMarch 31, 2011 at 6:47 PM

    The slovene is a bright mind in nowadays obscure world.

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  10. Jon ShedMarch 31, 2011 at 6:51 PM

    Good post. Makes my blog seem rather immature as I decided to focus todays blog on the fact it is National Cleavage Day!..oh well..followed you anyway to try to feel more intelligent

    http://hyperpringle.blogspot.com

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  11. AnoMarch 31, 2011 at 7:21 PM

    thanks for sharing :)

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  12. WumboMarch 31, 2011 at 7:33 PM

    I like this post and I'm glad people think this way. Our economy is balanced on a very thin thread above a flame.

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  13. EmoGothMarch 31, 2011 at 7:37 PM

    Investing is difficult, but it's one of the best ways to make money.

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  14. WestusMarch 31, 2011 at 7:54 PM

    Great post man, keep them coming!

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  15. AnonymouseApril 1, 2011 at 1:47 AM

    interesting take on things.

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  16. LeestanderApril 1, 2011 at 4:23 AM

    Nah, the life is wath you make it to..

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  17. CaptainApril 1, 2011 at 4:32 AM

    interesting

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  18. Random StormtrooperApril 1, 2011 at 5:04 AM

    Damn, good philosophical subject. Wish I took a few more PHI classes at university, lol.

    I look forward to more of your posts.

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  19. NopeApril 1, 2011 at 5:07 AM

    Sure man, this whole thing is messed up. But it's true when you think about it.

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  20. AllenTeschApril 1, 2011 at 5:42 AM

    Certainly something to think about.

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  21. psykeApril 1, 2011 at 5:44 AM

    As George Carlin has said, the planet is fiiiine.

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  22. JohnApril 1, 2011 at 8:00 AM

    If everyone traded stocks without emotion it would be a child's game.

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  23. CoryApril 1, 2011 at 5:02 PM

    some interesting stuff.

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  24. NaviApril 1, 2011 at 6:29 PM

    interesting good brain food following for more

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  25. HabsAreTheBestApril 1, 2011 at 11:02 PM

    this is an interesting point of view

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  26. Fishy CorporationApril 1, 2011 at 11:08 PM

    I like Slavoj Zizek, hes a smart guy. Followed for more :)

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  27. JoeApril 1, 2011 at 11:18 PM

    Wow I wasn't expecting such philosophic post.

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  28. DaleApril 1, 2011 at 11:27 PM

    great post, it leaves me with a lot to think about

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  29. JayApril 1, 2011 at 11:56 PM

    that is indeed the present logic used by many systems today. good post.

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  30. CanonApril 2, 2011 at 12:34 AM

    I like this, makes me think.

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  31. LegitApril 2, 2011 at 12:56 AM

    Oh wow...
    Very deep and philosophic. Made me think.

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  32. BaddApril 2, 2011 at 1:19 AM

    Interesting... can't say I fully agree with this concept. I mean, when looking at stocks as an example, this does apply, as what you believe others will believe and buy into is going to affect your decision, just as it affects the value of what you're working with. But... there is more too it than that.
    Either way though, an interesting look at it, curious to hear more.

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  33. frameaj1April 2, 2011 at 2:38 AM

    Deep stuff :)

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  34. CloventtApril 2, 2011 at 2:53 AM

    sweet

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  35. UnknownApril 2, 2011 at 3:03 AM

    You had me at beautiful women =D

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  36. pezasiedApril 2, 2011 at 3:25 AM

    this is deep, but a very good post. I like your blog man!

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  37. R.CApril 2, 2011 at 3:40 AM

    Very nice post, I think I'll be following you from now on, I could learn a lot!

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  38. izzfoshizzzApril 2, 2011 at 4:06 AM

    i like your choice in words

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  39. Big UnicornApril 2, 2011 at 4:22 AM

    Very good post.

    Followed.
    bigunicorn.blogspot.com

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  40. El OsvyApril 2, 2011 at 4:27 AM

    nice work
    :)

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  41. ggtbishopApril 2, 2011 at 4:37 AM

    well written and very enjoyable, great post that makes you think, thanks

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  42. AnonymousApril 2, 2011 at 12:43 PM

    I love posts that make you think, cool stuff

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  43. TrelinApril 2, 2011 at 12:48 PM

    Humans are stupid. Sadly it was kinda start to smart assuming humans are stupid and factor that into things.

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  44. CostyApril 3, 2011 at 2:56 PM

    Nice one.

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  45. EssentialUndergroundApril 3, 2011 at 11:13 PM

    need to visit Slovenia some day.

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