Slow down my friend.... What you are sharing is important and needs to land. Hence; Delivery is important. Many folks are still conditioned and will require the 'space' for these important insights to integrate. Keep up the wonderful work!
Hey, at least there's an attempt at making it digestible. Like, grammatically. Have you read the thing? Fucking French philosophers using ... five compléments d'objet in one sentence that should have been seven ...
@@purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Far slower than this guy, that's certain. He sounds like a 4th grader who memorized the lesson and wants to parrot it before it escapes his memory.
Thank you Moustafa for your thought-provoking video. A few decades ago we sat down to watch on TV whatever 'they' decided we should watch, we thought we were informed by newspapers, we shopped in the local shops where the stock was dull, and most conformed with the expectations of the local religion. Things are looking up, I think. We can now pick and choose what we want to watch (eg. I just listened to you), we can choose a variety of commentators on UA-cam and elsewhere, we can shop globally, and we can compare and contrast religions in order to search for the truth. So we can be individuals if we wish. I am glad I have lived to this time and now, in my old age, feel more liberated intellectually than ever (even if I can't fully absorb your fast, sentence-free delivery). But, I agree with DeBord, the power of 'the society' is pernicious. Recently, I heard of national lobbyists who fund both parties substantially before an election, thereby becoming the unseen power controlling the nation whoever wins. Make the most of your freedom if you still have it.
I would consider this an essential listen for all humans. Please slow down a bit because you make some great comments that could be lost in the rush. Great video!
Thank’s for this. I found it put into words feelings I had experienced for the last 20 years. Since video cameras came into popular use people no longer enjoyed events but instead recorded them in order to get the dopamine hit of people saying the video was great.😢
And simultaneously, Fa***ook became a lifestyle. There, you are either validated or not validated, depending on the images you post on it's pages. The incessant image production really boils down to our desperate need for acceptance. Appearances can be easily modified, the character only grows through pain, and it makes or breaks whatever tangible relationships we have, in personal life or business.
This philosophy makes sense to me, that the powers that be (corporate capitalism) are molding people to their liking and their bottom line, making us into passive, mindless consumers. So many commodities have been created as “collectibles”, kitsch that is supposed to increase in value over time, but has little intrinsic value in people’s lives.
The consumer has the power, if only they would give up greed and materialism. The amount of stuff that goes into landfills is mindboggling. I'm 73, I'm at at stage where I am unloading all the stuff and very regretting what I spent my money.
Excellent video. I agree with the comments suggesting a slower pace. Not necessarily slowing the video .75x across the board (as I did for the start), but maybe choosing to slow down at certain points that are dense and a pause for emotional beats to hit. subscribed!
Bravo. Best video I have consumed in a long time. Ordered "The Society of the Spectacle," but when it arrives this weekend I will be at my off grid property, away from the Spectacle reaffirming my ambition to live closer to Nature and my thoughts as Thoreau, and then being able to live my urban ambition as Diogenes. Thank you for such a good, concise narrative and opinion.
Excellent presentation. How refreshing to listen to some thoughtful, rational, insightful analysis - as a counter to the "shut up - words are violence" madness that has gripped so much of the young university crowd. Read Debord years ago and this was a great "revisit." Thank you.
Yes, Plato separated abstract and physical reality, allowing us to play games with them. Capitalism plays games with material and fiat, so consumers do not see the consequences of their consumption. In the end God will judge on what we did, not on what we thought we did.
As a street poet once said many decades ago, every idea eventually gets condensed, packaged, marketed, merchandised and sold. There is no original thought we share; we are social beings ruled by neoliberalism, and this too will be sold in time, as it is marketed here on UA-cam.
You are so right. Those looking to be “themselves,” whatever that means, will have to dig a mighty deep well to find water. And it gets pretty dark down there.
Never heard about street poets before, just street photographers. Yes, even Haugianism got the destiny you tells. We move to France, I can do street photography there, and maybe my daughters can do street poetry, as they learn French. Norway has become a criminal act, so we're in the process of telling good bye. Good to learn about Guy Debord🙂
@@bioliv1 You can do street photography anywhere there are streets. There were many great street photographers in the US like Robert Frank, Elliott Erwitt, Lee Friedlander, Bernice Abbott, Diane Arbus to name a few.
'Our society is run by insane people for insane objectives. I think we're being run by maniacs for maniacal ends and I think I'm liable to be put away as insane for expressing that. That's what's insane about it.'
Much food for thought. Thank you. The Golden Rule: He who has the gold makes the rules. It has always been true. What does capitalism do with all the power it has?
See Gaza as an example. The forever wars, destruction of environment, murdering civilians in the continual wars, surveillance of the human population and increasing poverty. Malignant greed is a great destroyer.
Excellent video!! So glad I stuck around till the end. I wasn’t sure at first how capitalism and philosophy were connected, but now it all makes sense, thanks to you!
This is a very good summary analysis (fitting within YT's dictatorial time dictate). One critique: you gave the impression that contemplation is a problem. Perhaps as within "the spectacle," yes, but to follow-through on your recommendations one must LIVE and THEN CONTEMPLATE one's experience... WITHOUT social media. The image of the man camping in the forest is the one to internalize. Indeed, we can take very good lessons from the Taoist/Daoist sages b/c even 3-5,000 years ago, China's civilization had its own imperial-urban problems that made contemplation 'away from it all' necessary. And if you can't get away, then that's where the contemplation of, e.g., landscape painting in a home shrine became 'a thing' in Chinese and esply Japanese culture. So, contemplation is necessary as a tool against the spectacle.
I’m tired of constantly being bombarded by ads as I navigate through my day. I was sad when I realized that popular events like Comic Con are just huge marketing opportunities for entertainment and merchandise. Places like Las Vegas and theme parks use spectacle to get us to come and spend money.
Y'all, if you aren't bots, you'll remember all of those things didn't used to be that way. Tired of navigating ads, too. Feels like the blade runner reality where you can't access your morning shower without a coin and a personalized ad.
Thank you for this video and your point of view. It is a sad world that we are living, my friend, with high expectations, judgment from each corner and thousands of so called philanthropist and influences, busy trying to state that what they say is the dogs balls. I remember going to the club and just dancing, having fun. Now you are going to an event and you see more and more people concentrated capturing each and every moment on phone, etc instead of living it. It feels as if we went mentally bankrupt.
Thanks for such an informative clip. Although Debord's situationism has influenced my thinking more than most, I fundamentally disagree with his notion that individuals and society-at-large are powerless to escape the influence of, or compliance to, the spectacle.. That is just sheer nonsense. But his description of the means the spectacle become prominent is pretty bang on. But it's success in controlling people is overstated, and more indicative of what the French resistance at the time saw as psycho economic authoritarianism, that anything you seeing now. As in late 60s Paris, whilst technology and political reach continues to balloon, we still have the 1 solution that can never be thwarted by the Situationist's: we can ignore them. You can make them, whoever 'them' are, completely irrelevant to your life. They don't matter.
Your reply is good,but fails on the point that most people are sheep and don't even know they're sheep,don't even realise they've been hypnotised since birth. You are awakened , that's the difference
@@uwayn9829 No it’s not wrong, but it is unusual. Don’t confuse conservatism with right wing reactionism which is what the current Republican Party is.
@@dennissilber287 conservatism is illogical and outdated in the current political and socio-economic context of the world. Its a delusional fanatism and a destructive ideology. Nothing enlightening about it
Excellent, keep up the good work! We are so easily distracted by the flashing lights and brightly colored cloth of the material world. Such is the nature of the senses. As if we have a ladder to the heavens, and are enthralled by having reached the first rung.
Excellent summary of a very important point of view. The brevity of your presentation allows me to focus and think clearly about how I am leading my life in an unconscious way. Thank you! I am so glad I found your channel!
Wow. What great insights. Thank you for again broadening my perspective. And I agree: sharing that one had a specific experience with other people has become more important than living the experience itself.
I think its important to distinguish that "capitalism" is an externality or phenomenon of liberalism, but it is not a system per se in fact, and also a market economy is not equivalent to capitalism, or the whole of the concept of liberalism, it is a component of liberalism. Also, there is no actual "market economy" anywhere in the world. A market economy can also happen spontaniously anywhere -even in hardcore "communist" or "socialist" regimes- as a black market. You can experience these market economies in third world countries in pop-up markets or the informal economy and are key to the survival of lots of people, a free market actually starts when 2 or more people meet to exchange value, the rules of the exchange are determined by them alone, therefor they can just barter, give credit, pay in installments, etc... this is what the concept of a free market and liberalism means, this on itself is not bad. When the problem of a so called "market economy" arises comes from corporations, and actually corporations struggle in a free market economy, because they can not have an advantage over their competitors. So corporations actually thrive under strong states, because they can bribe state officials, they can even take over entire departments of the state, like we see in the USA with the FDA(by Bayer) or with the Treasury(Blackrock). So then they set the regulations so nobody can compete with them... So this is a whole other problem that in fact is not a free market economy, but the oppossite, and thanks in part, to a state, which was supposed to impede this sort of thing from happening in the beginning, but by now we do know that it is not effective, the concentration of power actually makes it easier for corporations to get ahead of smaller competitors...
corporate fascism it is. all sectors of the economy are under control of the corporations who do not compete among themselves but are in synergy, having the same owners who also control the state.
I've been learning old-time music to fight the spectacle. I love connecting to the songs, and occasionally find some that are still very relevant. "A Song of Hard Times" is one of those.
Mann Please Talk HEAVY💪🏿👁️ Great content. What's crazy to me about humans is how we can be so smart. While simultaneously being very stupid. We have extreme levels of intellect and understanding, yet most just blindly follow without question. Smh 🤦🏿♂️🤨😒
It's been a while since I read Herbert Marcuse's One Dimensional Man, but I found a lot of parallels from your discussion. I'll have to go back and re-read it as well as read Debord's works. Thanks for a great video!
Very well said. Sometimes I feel like I live in a world full of mindless drones that either can’t or don’t wanna think for themselves. The herd mentality is at an all time high and when you take a deep look at people most are just sheep being lead to the slaughter. The worse part is the sheep don’t even know who the shepherd is and yet go to church and swear up and down their saved, but even Jesus warned about false Shepards. So people don’t even listen to the teacher who they swear they love.
Excellent explanation of the "spectacle". Thanks. Chris Hedged frequently refers to it in his critique of the US. To thine own self be true as they say.
My solution to this "problem" so to say is looking for, acting and constructing a new paradigme. I wouldn't dare to do it by myself. I have got the blessing of getting to know a whole community of men and women practicing what I mentioned. Also this community has had living guidance. There is work for many generations, but we try every instsnt to continue in the right path. My best wishes to the publisher of this video, he us right in what he tells, but in order to debunk this sistem you need a new society, a new people; you can get easily lost beeing alone.
Nicely done. My only request would be to name each painting with artist name along the bottom or sidebar. Yes, more effort required, but the effect will raise the professionalism of your production.
For years many have done for the sake of story rather than enjoyment. Symphonies on Friday night with a mad dash to get ready after work all for the story on Monday to fellow workers to say "I did ...." Spray painting your name on the side of the cliff in the desert to show "I have been here too..." Drinking a Singapore Sling at Raffles. Walking the beach of Ipanema. Bolshoi Ballet, Circus, When the "I did ...." exultation fades. When you finally tell your ego to take a seat and be quiet. When you experience the Naked Lunch with others and see we are all just seagulls fighting over a trash can. Then, you are at where I am now. I found that saving helps.
What is the painting shown @8:47? I know I’ve seen it before and it kinda reminds me of Van Gogh, I just can’t place it. The angles are beautiful despite the feeling of sadness the image strikes
Great channel. I have been aware of this for a long time. Imaginary false identities are like a spiritual possession, people become what they identify with and if it’s an ideological identity then you become a slave to that identity.
The individual is no longer the consumer, rather they are the consumed. The consumer is still an individual with some degree of will. The next stage is to be subsumed by the means of conveying the image ie. the individual doesn’t lose authenticity, but they vanish altogether.
There was a demographic explosion after WW2. This created an unprecedented mass of consumers. As global fertility rates decline so will demand for products, services, and resources. The author cited experienced consumerist expansion first hand, but consumers, like all resources, will become depleted.
Wow! Thank you! Yes I’ve been saying the West is all “Bread & Games”, keep us fed & quiet! But that’s possible to observe only if you come from a different system, political & social.
Glad to come across this excellent presentation. I'd like to recommend the Gospel of Thomas, available to read online at gnostic archive. The texts from the Nag Hammadi Library (or that portion of it that became 'unacceptable reading' in the 4th century), especially the sayings of GT, are relevant here. If you haven't read it, I feel sure you'll be glad to.
Sir, Debord's perspective is interesting but ultimately, as you suggest, the situation comes down to longstanding identity traps and attempts to transcend them. If The Spectacle, for example basing my clothing purchases on what celebrities are currently waring, gives me a sense of false personal and social power that masks my actual felt insignificance how do I even become aware of this role that I am playing? And this celebrity imitating role that I've adopted has a seductive power because my friends are impressed by it; i.e., it works, it is socially effective, it gets me that job or that attractive partner. That effectiveness, therefore, gives the false self I'm living legitimacy. I think the basic question is where does the insignificance so many of us feel come from? Perhaps from being shamed for thousands of years for not being able to live up to impossible religious ideals a shaming which has been secularized now if I am not wearing this years clothing fashion.
Read this book many years ago. I would suggest that it’s best read in conjunction with Raoul Vaneigem’s ‘Revolution of Everyday Life’. There are a few excellent text interviews with Vaneigem (in English) online. Incredibly, he’s still alive!
Well you told me what I shou;d have found out for myself about Situationism. That shows you are a great summariser and I am lazy! Your set of remedies at the end are excellent but although they are correctly aimed at individual self development there must be (for historical materialists) an intersection with collective class emancipation?
How ironic that in their desire for nonconformity, people regularly create movements and subcultures with their own codes of conformity. Reinhard Mey sang about the "nonconformist's uniform".
This touches on anti-mimesis or life imitating art as more powerful than the popular Aristotle mimesis; ie art imitating life. The use of art, images and visual communication is very powerful and could easily be argued to be more so than the descriptive innocence of “art imitates life.” Those with power know which applies more.
How might one pursue things based on their interests and values, if these things have been programmed/propagandized into one’s self? Most people I know argue against the notion that we are propagandized.
I believe we’re being conditioned to think in a certain way, but that doesn’t diminish our power to regain control over our lives and start living authentically. I advocate for self-education as the best way to think for ourselves and discover our true passions. I made a video about this, so feel free to check it out if you’re interested. In brief, if you adopt a proactive mindset and begin crafting your own life philosophy based on your personal experiences and what you read, you will start to separate yourself from the herd mentality. This starts by developing critical thinking, reflecting and meditating on what truly matters to you, and remaining open to new perspectives and ways of thinking. It's a short answer to a deep question but hope that helps :)
Thank you (!) for your excellent “synopsis” of this book. I read it last year (on Audible) . It’s a great book but bit of a tough read. Read in bite site chunks. Digest. Take another bite… repeat…
Interesting question as to whether a reality that is contemplated is no longer a reality if you consider Descartes “I think therefore I am.” Is it too much contemplation or a lack of it that’s the problem, a lack of questioning the received ideas presented to us in the commercial spectacles? Consider the difference between reading books and watching a video feed on Instagram. Or consider the difference between writing and watching. Writing involves much contemplation as does reading.
People believe that are living in democracy , in the west ,but democracy does not exist, what exists is plutocracy, there are some people, the plutocratas.who are the largest shareholders of all large multinationals, who can be found as the largest shareholders in Blackrock and Vanguard, who have as clients , the oligarchs of the various countries of the West,(a system inherited from the ancient Romans) and these in turn, control the politicians who take turns in power in these countries, through financing the political campaigns of these politicians, with their two-party system, and who take turns. Since the 70s, these plutocrats have formed an alliance, the Trilateral Commission, in which they define the policies to be followed in the West and in the satellites of Western countries, no one knows who they are, their power allows them to be invisible and they managed to create the idea ,through the control of the media, and all communication, on the population, that people lives in a democracy, in the West. The problem with this state of affairs is that they are creating economic crises artificially, so that they can channel the added value created by the efforts of the populations, into their pockets, and on the other hand, they are also sequestering the added value created with technological advances- scientific and technological, which are achieved through the effort of society, since these scientific technical advances take place in scientific institutions and universities, which are built with the economic effort of society, but then the results of these scientific advances are diverted, and monopolized by the multinationals of these plutocrats, through the political and formal connections of these multinationals with these scientific institutions, and which end up retaining the added value generated by these technological advances. And then there is the paradox of being able to create in the populations, the idea (through the media, which they control) that there are no financial conditions for the populations to continue to enjoy previous social achievements, such as reforms, or health services, etc.
The last thing anyone should do is look for all the traps and blind spots. Look to yourself for ideas and questions. Go out of your way to concentrate on a feeling for a while. Advertising, conditioning, and institutionalisation are of no concern to complex instincts impulsed and intent on self-expression.
Slow down my friend.... What you are sharing is important and needs to land. Hence; Delivery is important. Many folks are still conditioned and will require the 'space' for these important insights to integrate. Keep up the wonderful work!
hwta do you mean how slow should one be
Hey, at least there's an attempt at making it digestible. Like, grammatically. Have you read the thing? Fucking French philosophers using ... five compléments d'objet in one sentence that should have been seven ...
@@purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Far slower than this guy, that's certain. He sounds like a 4th grader who memorized the lesson and wants to parrot it before it escapes his memory.
Thank you for your support and feedback. I will take this into account in my next video.
All the best,
Moustafa
@@chickenlover657 idk was the perfect speed for me who will ever think about us "have to put everything on x1.25-x1.75"'-ers booowaaaahhh
Thank you Moustafa for your thought-provoking video. A few decades ago we sat down to watch on TV whatever 'they' decided we should watch, we thought we were informed by newspapers, we shopped in the local shops where the stock was dull, and most conformed with the expectations of the local religion. Things are looking up, I think. We can now pick and choose what we want to watch (eg. I just listened to you), we can choose a variety of commentators on UA-cam and elsewhere, we can shop globally, and we can compare and contrast religions in order to search for the truth. So we can be individuals if we wish. I am glad I have lived to this time and now, in my old age, feel more liberated intellectually than ever (even if I can't fully absorb your fast, sentence-free delivery). But, I agree with DeBord, the power of 'the society' is pernicious. Recently, I heard of national lobbyists who fund both parties substantially before an election, thereby becoming the unseen power controlling the nation whoever wins. Make the most of your freedom if you still have it.
I would consider this an essential listen for all humans. Please slow down a bit because you make some great comments that could be lost in the rush.
Great video!
Thank’s for this. I found it put into words feelings I had experienced for the last 20 years. Since video cameras came into popular use people no longer enjoyed events but instead recorded them in order to get the dopamine hit of people saying the video was great.😢
And simultaneously, Fa***ook became a lifestyle. There, you are either validated or not validated, depending on the images you post on it's pages. The incessant image production really boils down to our desperate need for acceptance. Appearances can be easily modified, the character only grows through pain, and it makes or breaks whatever tangible relationships we have, in personal life or business.
This philosophy makes sense to me, that the powers that be (corporate capitalism) are molding people to their liking and their bottom line, making us into passive, mindless consumers. So many commodities have been created as “collectibles”, kitsch that is supposed to increase in value over time, but has little intrinsic value in people’s lives.
The consumer has the power, if only they would give up greed and materialism. The amount of stuff that goes into landfills is mindboggling. I'm 73, I'm at at stage where I am unloading all the stuff and very regretting what I spent my money.
.>making us into passive, mindless
the mind is free. you did it to yourself
And it very rarely increases in value. A tiny few do but most don't.
Excellent video. I agree with the comments suggesting a slower pace. Not necessarily slowing the video .75x across the board (as I did for the start), but maybe choosing to slow down at certain points that are dense and a pause for emotional beats to hit. subscribed!
I agree.
I think he is reading a prepared script.
That’s not bad in itself.
But the text is stiff and technical..not easy and conversational.
It stirs up and succinctly identifies, articulates what we all feel or know deep down.
🎼I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony 🎶
Wow! WOW! ... I really remember that jingle and now it makes sense , how scarey is that. Omg
😕
Bravo. Best video I have consumed in a long time. Ordered "The Society of the Spectacle," but when it arrives this weekend I will be at my off grid property, away from the Spectacle reaffirming my ambition to live closer to Nature and my thoughts as Thoreau, and then being able to live my urban ambition as Diogenes. Thank you for such a good, concise narrative and opinion.
Don’t forget, though, Thoreau had a great deal of family and friends supporting him.
We need to connect and band together for each other.
@@Find-Your-Bliss- for sure. The balance of society and solitude, while tricky, is necessary.
hmmmmm , i wouldnt have it any other way !
Excellent presentation. How refreshing to listen to some thoughtful, rational, insightful analysis - as a counter to the "shut up - words are violence" madness that has gripped so much of the young university crowd. Read Debord years ago and this was a great "revisit." Thank you.
Nothing less than earthshaking. How did I miss Debord during the 1960s?
You were asleep. The situationists were key players in Paris 68
Mass consumerism is novel, but at the core, we’re still living in Plato’s Cave. The time-tested game.
That must be why feudalism lasted so long.
Yes, Plato separated abstract and physical reality, allowing us to play games with them. Capitalism plays games with material and fiat, so consumers do not see the consequences of their consumption. In the end God will judge on what we did, not on what we thought we did.
Yes!
@@paveli1181modern society commoditized “God” … it’s become god, incorporated…
I think we are crawling back in the cave. Not that we got out at some point, but I think in past centuries education pushed us in right direction.
As a street poet once said many decades ago, every idea eventually gets condensed, packaged, marketed, merchandised and sold. There is no original thought we share; we are social beings ruled by neoliberalism, and this too will be sold in time, as it is marketed here on UA-cam.
You are so right. Those looking to be “themselves,” whatever that means, will have to dig a mighty deep well to find water. And it gets pretty dark down there.
Never heard about street poets before, just street photographers. Yes, even Haugianism got the destiny you tells. We move to France, I can do street photography there, and maybe my daughters can do street poetry, as they learn French. Norway has become a criminal act, so we're in the process of telling good bye. Good to learn about Guy Debord🙂
@@bioliv1 You can do street photography anywhere there are streets. There were many great street photographers in the US like Robert Frank, Elliott Erwitt, Lee Friedlander, Bernice Abbott, Diane Arbus to name a few.
'Our society is run by insane people for insane objectives. I think we're being run by maniacs for maniacal ends and I think I'm liable to be put away as insane for expressing that. That's what's insane about it.'
Well.... ODD is a diagnose now. It could be declared a crime at some point... So... careful with being Defiant LOL
john lennon?
Excellent. Please keep up the good work.
Much food for thought. Thank you. The Golden Rule: He who has the gold makes the rules. It has always been true. What does capitalism do with all the power it has?
See Gaza as an example. The forever wars, destruction of environment, murdering civilians in the continual wars, surveillance of the human population and increasing poverty. Malignant greed is a great destroyer.
Interesting, thought-provoking and very well put together, thank you brother 👌
Thanks a lot! glad you liked it :)
Excellent video! Thank you for producing great material!! I will add it to my teaching curriculum, for contrast.
Excellent video!! So glad I stuck around till the end. I wasn’t sure at first how capitalism and philosophy were connected, but now it all makes sense, thanks to you!
Glad you did! thanks for your comment :)
People mistake Adam Smith as an economist when he is, in fact, a philosopher.
This is a very good summary analysis (fitting within YT's dictatorial time dictate). One critique: you gave the impression that contemplation is a problem. Perhaps as within "the spectacle," yes, but to follow-through on your recommendations one must LIVE and THEN CONTEMPLATE one's experience... WITHOUT social media. The image of the man camping in the forest is the one to internalize. Indeed, we can take very good lessons from the Taoist/Daoist sages b/c even 3-5,000 years ago, China's civilization had its own imperial-urban problems that made contemplation 'away from it all' necessary. And if you can't get away, then that's where the contemplation of, e.g., landscape painting in a home shrine became 'a thing' in Chinese and esply Japanese culture. So, contemplation is necessary as a tool against the spectacle.
Get organized... Tell people around you to get organized... We have to win the class struggle to become free beings.
I’m tired of constantly being bombarded by ads as I navigate through my day. I was sad when I realized that popular events like Comic Con are just huge marketing opportunities for entertainment and merchandise. Places like Las Vegas and theme parks use spectacle to get us to come and spend money.
This doesn't really sound so bad.
Go to Russia!
Same with pagan celebrations like Easter, Christmas, Halloween, new years etc
How else are they supposed to drum up interest?
Y'all, if you aren't bots, you'll remember all of those things didn't used to be that way. Tired of navigating ads, too. Feels like the blade runner reality where you can't access your morning shower without a coin and a personalized ad.
Thank you for this video and your point of view. It is a sad world that we are living, my friend, with high expectations, judgment from each corner and thousands of so called philanthropist and influences, busy trying to state that what they say is the dogs balls. I remember going to the club and just dancing, having fun. Now you are going to an event and you see more and more people concentrated capturing each and every moment on phone, etc instead of living it. It feels as if we went mentally bankrupt.
Wonderful video. I appreciate the solutions offered at the end.
Great! It’s time the contributions of the Situationists were re-evaluated 👍
Thanks for such an informative clip. Although Debord's situationism has influenced my thinking more than most, I fundamentally disagree with his notion that individuals and society-at-large are powerless to escape the influence of, or compliance to, the spectacle.. That is just sheer nonsense. But his description of the means the spectacle become prominent is pretty bang on. But it's success in controlling people is overstated, and more indicative of what the French resistance at the time saw as psycho economic authoritarianism, that anything you seeing now. As in late 60s Paris, whilst technology and political reach continues to balloon, we still have the 1 solution that can never be thwarted by the Situationist's: we can ignore them. You can make them, whoever 'them' are, completely irrelevant to your life. They don't matter.
Your reply is good,but fails on the point that most people are sheep and don't even know they're sheep,don't even realise they've been hypnotised since birth. You are awakened , that's the difference
I will watch this many times....using the pause button ...so much info butfull of insight ...solid .thanks
Spectacular, spectacular! No words in the vernacular, can describe this great event. You'll be dumb with wonderment.
Wow ! I'm a true Conservative but I'm fully awakened . This video is really spot on.
Conservative and awakened in the same sentence is wrong
these ideas are powerful no matter one's current niche.. they are about culture and ROLES
I used to be conservative until reality caught up with my desire for what the world "should be". Donald was the nail that closed that coffin for good.
@@uwayn9829 No it’s not wrong, but it is unusual. Don’t confuse conservatism with right wing reactionism which is what the current Republican Party is.
@@dennissilber287 conservatism is illogical and outdated in the current political and socio-economic context of the world. Its a delusional fanatism and a destructive ideology. Nothing enlightening about it
Excellent, keep up the good work! We are so easily distracted by the flashing lights and brightly colored cloth of the material world. Such is the nature of the senses. As if we have a ladder to the heavens, and are enthralled by having reached the first rung.
Excellent summary of a very important point of view. The brevity of your presentation allows me to focus and think clearly about how I am leading my life in an unconscious way. Thank you! I am so glad I found your channel!
Wow. What great insights. Thank you for again broadening my perspective. And I agree: sharing that one had a specific experience with other people has become more important than living the experience itself.
Thanks a lot, this was very interesting and well summarized! Gonna have to read Debord myself.
I think its important to distinguish that "capitalism" is an externality or phenomenon of liberalism, but it is not a system per se in fact, and also a market economy is not equivalent to capitalism, or the whole of the concept of liberalism, it is a component of liberalism. Also, there is no actual "market economy" anywhere in the world. A market economy can also happen spontaniously anywhere -even in hardcore "communist" or "socialist" regimes- as a black market. You can experience these market economies in third world countries in pop-up markets or the informal economy and are key to the survival of lots of people, a free market actually starts when 2 or more people meet to exchange value, the rules of the exchange are determined by them alone, therefor they can just barter, give credit, pay in installments, etc... this is what the concept of a free market and liberalism means, this on itself is not bad. When the problem of a so called "market economy" arises comes from corporations, and actually corporations struggle in a free market economy, because they can not have an advantage over their competitors. So corporations actually thrive under strong states, because they can bribe state officials, they can even take over entire departments of the state, like we see in the USA with the FDA(by Bayer) or with the Treasury(Blackrock). So then they set the regulations so nobody can compete with them... So this is a whole other problem that in fact is not a free market economy, but the oppossite, and thanks in part, to a state, which was supposed to impede this sort of thing from happening in the beginning, but by now we do know that it is not effective, the concentration of power actually makes it easier for corporations to get ahead of smaller competitors...
corporate fascism it is. all sectors of the economy are under control of the corporations who do not compete among themselves but are in synergy, having the same owners who also control the state.
I've been learning old-time music to fight the spectacle. I love connecting to the songs, and occasionally find some that are still very relevant. "A Song of Hard Times" is one of those.
You should discuss the Siutationists and how they took the concepts of the spectacle a step further to challenge the oppressive tactics of capitalism.
Very well explained. Enjoyed it. Thanks! ❤
You explained this excellently, thank you.
Mann Please Talk HEAVY💪🏿👁️ Great content. What's crazy to me about humans is how we can be so smart. While simultaneously being very stupid. We have extreme levels of intellect and understanding, yet most just blindly follow without question. Smh 🤦🏿♂️🤨😒
Thanks Moustafa! Subscribed. Stay well. 👊
We do know who holds the power in our countries. "To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize"
This is very good! Thank you.
Glad you liked it ! Thanks for your comment :)
It's been a while since I read Herbert Marcuse's One Dimensional Man, but I found a lot of parallels from your discussion. I'll have to go back and re-read it as well as read Debord's works. Thanks for a great video!
Very smart point of view. Thank you.
This articulates what i have been feeling for a long time. Thank you for this.
Excellent presentation and synopsis, loved it!
Very well said. Sometimes I feel like I live in a world full of mindless drones that either can’t or don’t wanna think for themselves. The herd mentality is at an all time high and when you take a deep look at people most are just sheep being lead to the slaughter. The worse part is the sheep don’t even know who the shepherd is and yet go to church and swear up and down their saved, but even Jesus warned about false Shepards. So people don’t even listen to the teacher who they swear they love.
Even people who follow so-called contrarian leaders like Alex Jones entirely suspend their own judgment and believe everything they say.
Excellent explanation of the "spectacle". Thanks. Chris Hedged frequently refers to it in his critique of the US. To thine own self be true as they say.
Excellent presentation
My solution to this "problem" so to say is looking for, acting and constructing a new paradigme. I wouldn't dare to do it by myself. I have got the blessing of getting to know a whole community of men and women practicing what I mentioned. Also this community has had living guidance. There is work for many generations, but we try every instsnt to continue in the right path. My best wishes to the publisher of this video, he us right in what he tells, but in order to debunk this sistem you need a new society, a new people; you can get easily lost beeing alone.
loved it, saved it to listen to it again. very deep!
Nicely done.
My only request would be to name each painting with artist name along the bottom or sidebar.
Yes, more effort required, but the effect will raise the professionalism of your production.
Very enlightening video. Well done, 👌
Great video, very dense in a good way. Very timely, a few days after this video was published, netflix removed most of its Palestinian movies.
I came across Guy Dabord in the 80s and didn't really understand his ideas. They make a lot more sense now. So prescient. I'll reread this soon.
For years many have done for the sake of story rather than enjoyment. Symphonies on Friday night with a mad dash to get ready after work all for the story on Monday to fellow workers to say "I did ...." Spray painting your name on the side of the cliff in the desert to show "I have been here too..." Drinking a Singapore Sling at Raffles. Walking the beach of Ipanema. Bolshoi Ballet, Circus,
When the "I did ...." exultation fades. When you finally tell your ego to take a seat and be quiet. When you experience the Naked Lunch with others and see we are all just seagulls fighting over a trash can. Then, you are at where I am now.
I found that saving helps.
Brilliant Young man you have enlighten me thank you 🕵️♂️ Remarkable 🙋
Thanks!
Thanks a lot for your support, i appreciate it :)
What is the painting shown @8:47? I know I’ve seen it before and it kinda reminds me of Van Gogh, I just can’t place it. The angles are beautiful despite the feeling of sadness the image strikes
Nicolae Tonitza - Coada la Paine
@@sinkhole_of_happiness thank you so much for the response, despite my weird typo even!
@@sinkhole_of_happiness Been checking out his work and I love it! Thanks again.
Advertising is evil. I never listen to an ad. And, there aren't billboards in my state.
Advertising is not inherently evil. Like many things it’s as evil as the people who create it.
We are truly living in Debord's Society of the Spectacle with social media: Facebook Twitter Instagram tiktok
Being --> having --> appearing
Every culture has a counter culture, it’s about who’s more right in this time
Thank you for posting
Great advice, I am the author of five books under a pseudonym.
Well explained.
Moustafa has 50,000 views on his video in 1 month's time, and 375 comments. Respect 👏
Great channel. I have been aware of this for a long time. Imaginary false identities are like a spiritual possession, people become what they identify with and if it’s an ideological identity then you become a slave to that identity.
The individual is no longer the consumer, rather they are the consumed. The consumer is still an individual with some degree of will. The next stage is to be subsumed by the means of conveying the image ie. the individual doesn’t lose authenticity, but they vanish altogether.
How do I know this video isn't part of the spectacle?
Use your brain
Awesome video! Thank you
Subbed, going to make my way through the backlog gradually too. Keep ‘em coming.
Welcome to the channel! 🙏
Very insightful video
Great video. Perfect delivery!
That was really good! Thank you.
Very interesting. You have the most beautiful eyes.
I thought the same thing but very handsome overall, 😂
Imagine a world where you get sent to Siberia for speaking a banned word or even holding up a blank paper as a protest.
Being sent to Wallmart Amazon is much better -- on the material part of life.
There was a demographic explosion after WW2. This created an unprecedented mass of consumers. As global fertility rates decline so will demand for products, services, and resources. The author cited experienced consumerist expansion first hand, but consumers, like all resources, will become depleted.
Great topic for video, but the delivery is too fast. I had to slow it down to .75 speed to make it easier to listen to.
Wow! Thank you! Yes I’ve been saying the West is all “Bread & Games”, keep us fed & quiet! But that’s possible to observe only if you come from a different system, political & social.
Glad to come across this excellent presentation. I'd like to recommend the Gospel of Thomas, available to read online at gnostic archive. The texts from the Nag Hammadi Library (or that portion of it that became 'unacceptable reading' in the 4th century), especially the sayings of GT, are relevant here. If you haven't read it, I feel sure you'll be glad to.
Save and meditate on this one! Thx
Brilliant. Thank you.
Sir, Debord's perspective is interesting but ultimately, as you suggest, the situation comes down to longstanding identity traps and attempts to transcend them. If The Spectacle, for example basing my clothing purchases on what celebrities are currently waring, gives me a sense of false personal and social power that masks my actual felt insignificance how do I even become aware of this role that I am playing? And this celebrity imitating role that I've adopted has a seductive power because my friends are impressed by it; i.e., it works, it is socially effective, it gets me that job or that attractive partner. That effectiveness, therefore, gives the false self I'm living legitimacy. I think the basic question is where does the insignificance so many of us feel come from? Perhaps from being shamed for thousands of years for not being able to live up to impossible religious ideals a shaming which has been secularized now if I am not wearing this years clothing fashion.
Read this book many years ago. I would suggest that it’s best read in conjunction with Raoul Vaneigem’s ‘Revolution of Everyday Life’. There are a few excellent text interviews with Vaneigem (in English) online. Incredibly, he’s still alive!
Well you told me what I shou;d have found out for myself about Situationism. That shows you are a great summariser and I am lazy! Your set of remedies at the end are excellent but although they are correctly aimed at individual self development there must be (for historical materialists) an intersection with collective class emancipation?
How ironic that in their desire for nonconformity, people regularly create movements and subcultures with their own codes of conformity. Reinhard Mey sang about the "nonconformist's uniform".
Yeah i agree with you! I did a video on nonconformity long time ago and that was the first point mentioned in the video :)
This touches on anti-mimesis or life imitating art as more powerful than the popular Aristotle mimesis; ie art imitating life.
The use of art, images and visual communication is very powerful and could easily be argued to be more so than the descriptive innocence of “art imitates life.”
Those with power know which applies more.
How might one pursue things based on their interests and values, if these things have been programmed/propagandized into one’s self? Most people I know argue against the notion that we are propagandized.
I believe we’re being conditioned to think in a certain way, but that doesn’t diminish our power to regain control over our lives and start living authentically. I advocate for self-education as the best way to think for ourselves and discover our true passions.
I made a video about this, so feel free to check it out if you’re interested. In brief, if you adopt a proactive mindset and begin crafting your own life philosophy based on your personal experiences and what you read, you will start to separate yourself from the herd mentality.
This starts by developing critical thinking, reflecting and meditating on what truly matters to you, and remaining open to new perspectives and ways of thinking. It's a short answer to a deep question but hope that helps :)
That is part of the propaganda system.
Thank you (!) for your excellent “synopsis” of this book. I read it last year (on Audible) . It’s a great book but bit of a tough read. Read in bite site chunks. Digest. Take another bite… repeat…
Interesting question as to whether a reality that is contemplated is no longer a reality if you consider Descartes “I think therefore I am.” Is it too much contemplation or a lack of it that’s the problem, a lack of questioning the received ideas presented to us in the commercial spectacles? Consider the difference between reading books and watching a video feed on Instagram. Or consider the difference between writing and watching. Writing involves much contemplation as does reading.
Thanks for covering one of my favorite writers since I was a teenager. Subscribed, keep it going
My pleasure! Welcome to the channel 🙏
Video can be played at .75x or
Wow really good work!
People believe that are living in democracy , in the west ,but democracy does not exist, what exists is plutocracy, there are some people, the plutocratas.who are the largest shareholders of all large multinationals, who can be found as the largest shareholders in Blackrock and Vanguard, who have as clients , the oligarchs of the various countries of the West,(a system inherited from the ancient Romans) and these in turn, control the politicians who take turns in power in these countries, through financing the political campaigns of these politicians, with their two-party system, and who take turns. Since the 70s, these plutocrats have formed an alliance, the Trilateral Commission, in which they define the policies to be followed in the West and in the satellites of Western countries, no one knows who they are, their power allows them to be invisible and they managed to create the idea ,through the control of the media, and all communication, on the population, that people lives in a democracy, in the West. The problem with this state of affairs is that they are creating economic crises artificially, so that they can channel the added value created by the efforts of the populations, into their pockets, and on the other hand, they are also sequestering the added value created with technological advances- scientific and technological, which are achieved through the effort of society, since these scientific technical advances take place in scientific institutions and universities, which are built with the economic effort of society, but then the results of these scientific advances are diverted, and monopolized by the multinationals of these plutocrats, through the political and formal connections of these multinationals with these scientific institutions, and which end up retaining the added value generated by these technological advances. And then there is the paradox of being able to create in the populations, the idea (through the media, which they control) that there are no financial conditions for the populations to continue to enjoy previous social achievements, such as reforms, or health services, etc.
Awesome work!
Nice video. Put lots of images in my head.
Glad you liked it ! Thanks for your comment :)
Fantastic video🎉
Excellent
The last thing anyone should do is look for all the traps and blind spots. Look to yourself for ideas and questions. Go out of your way to concentrate on a feeling for a while.
Advertising, conditioning, and institutionalisation are of no concern to complex instincts impulsed and intent on self-expression.