A genealogy and critique of Guy Debord's theory of spectacle
This thesis addresses Guy Debord's theory of spectacle through its primary philosophical and theoretical influences. Through doing so it highlights the importance of his largely overlooked concerns with time and history, and interprets the theory on that basis. The theory of spectacle is shown to be not simply a critique of the mass media, as is often assumed, but rather an account of a relationship with history; or more specifically, an alienated relation to the construction of history. This approach thus offers a means of addressing Debordâs Hegelian Marxism. The thesis connects the latter to Debordâs interests in strategy, chance and play by way of its existential elements, and uses these themes to investigate his own and the Situationist Internationalâs (S.I.) concerns with praxis, political action and organisation. Addressing Debord and the S.I.âs work in this way also highlights the shortcomings of the theory of spectacle. The theory is based upon the separation of an acting subject from his or her own actions, and in viewing capitalist society under this rubric it tends towards replacing Marx's presentation of capital as an antagonistic social relation with an abstract opposition between an
Bunyard, Tom
A genealogy and critique of Guy Debord's theory of spectacle. This thesis addresses Guy Debord's theory of spectacle through its primary philosophical and theoretical influences. Through doing so it highlights the importance of his largely overlooked concerns with time and history, and interprets the theory on that basis. The theory of spectacle is shown to be not simply a critique of the mass media, as is often assumed, but rather an account of a relationship with history; or more specifically, an alienated relation to the construction of history. This approach thus offers a means of addressing Debordâs Hegelian Marxism. The thesis connects the latter to Debordâs interests in strategy, chance and play by way of its existential elements, and uses these themes to investigate his own and the Situationist Internationalâs (S.I.) concerns with praxis, political action and organisation. Addressing Debord and the S.I.âs work in this way also highlights the shortcomings of the theory of spectacle. The theory is based upon the separation of an acting subject from his or her own actions, and in viewing capitalist society under this rubric it tends towards replacing Marx's presentation of capital as an antagonistic social relation with an abstract opposition between an
genealogy critique theory spectacle address theory spectacle primary philosophical theoretical influence highlight_importance largely_overlooked concern time history interpret theory basis theory spectacle show simply critique mass_medium often_assume rather account relationship history specifically alienate relation construction history thus_offer mean address hegelian marxism connects latter interest strategy chance play way existential element use theme investigate international concern praxis political_action organisation addressing work way also_highlight shortcoming theory spectacle theory base_upon separation act subject action view capitalist_society rubric tend_towards replace marx presentation capital antagonistic social_relation abstract opposition