Rotterdam philosophy reading group: Zizek (the Sublime Object of Ideology)

For this session, I made a presentation:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1TkacyvYBgWiBxyd_tohvG3d8TZSSamkW/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=116320130453819297109&rtpof=true&sd=true

During this session we will philosophize about a philosopher who perhaps needs not much introduction: the rockstar of philosophy: Slavoj Zizek. Slavoj Zizek can be considered a public philosopher, and is seen as an important voice within cultural theory and political philosophy.

In his philosophy, Zizek is well known for his references to pop-culture, such as movies, to explain his complicated philosophy on ideology in culture, and stars in some documentaries and in a lot of lectures, interviews and other places.

Ideology, Zizek's main claim is, is everywhere and he describes it as "the experience of something that is absolutely vast and powerful beyond all perception and objective intelligibility."

Not only that it is invisible, pervasive everywhere, but we also require a certain glasses in order to be able to see it (is in the movie 'They live' of which Zizek also has an analysis, see a link below) and do not really know how exactly it affects us.

His philosophy on ideology is sometimes likened to the parable where two fish are asked: 'how is the water'? Of course, they cannot answer. The same goes with ideology, it is hard to grasp and speak of.

This session, we will together with Zizek dive into ideology.

For this session, we will be reading the book that's considered to be his master-piece: the Sublime Object of Ideology.

Zizek is no easy philosopher to read, so watching some videos of and about him can be recommended.

Want to have deep conversations on philosophy and life in good company, which always consist of at least one person with a good sense of humour? Then please join this reading group.

We aim at making this a kind and inclusive group, where everyone feels appreciated and warmly welcomed. No background knowledge or reading is obligatory; everyone is free to join and listen in or join the discussion we're having.

The purpose of this group is to delve into philosophical topics and classic and modern philosophers. Each month we read a book of a contemporary or old philosopher, which we dan delve into in an informal and accessible manner. As a philosopher I can guide these meetings if wanted or needed, but will do minimum lecturing, except if anyone feels like it.

A professor of mine said: 'Bring philosophy everywhere' and that is what I try to do, also to give away my philosophy degree for free to a group such as this.

I have more than a decade worth of teaching experience, which also consists in engaging in philosophical and Socratic dialogue in the university of applied sciences, highschool, primary school and in prison. I also used philosophy as a conversational tool in the field of social work in the past.

The events are free, but you can pay as you please, which would be much appreciated. I donate 10% of the revenue, as I do with all of my income, to effective charities that are recommended by the Effective Altruism Movement (see: https://www.effectivealtruism.org/).

You can send me a one-time donation on:
https://www.paypal.me/FBIJoeri

Or you can support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/filosofischbureauvoorinzichtsvergaring

For those that would like to see me speak about other philosophy stuff, see:

https://www.youtube.com/user/1986Joeri

For those that like to complement or replace their reading with audio-visual material, I will post these in the comments aforehand of the meeting.