Play Reading

***"In this complex and terrible development which has carried the epoch of class struggles toward new conditions, the proletariat of the industrial countries has completely lost the affirmation of its autonomous perspective and also, in the last analysis, its illusions, but not its being. It has not been suppressed. It remains irreducibly in existence within the intensified alienation of modern capitalism[.]"*** **\- Guy Debord\, *The Society of the Spectacle*** Welcome back readers! By popular request, we're bringing back (for a new generation of LMRG readers) an old favourite: the always-relevant Guy Debord and his masterful *Society of the Spectacle*. This is meeting two, where we'll be reading the fourth, fifth and sixth chapters. Find the classic text here: https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/debord/society.htm Or an alternative, possibly more readable translation here: [https://files.libcom.org/files/The%20Society%20of%20the%20Spectacle%20Annotated%20Edition.pdf](https://files.libcom.org/files/The%20Society%20of%20the%20Spectacle%20Annotated%20Edition.pdf) Often maligned as theorymaxxed nonsense but little-read, this slim volume is certainly dense with ideas - all of which carry as much relevance today as those half-forgotten postwar years when the Situationist International made its mark on the world, if not more. With the rise of the Internet and social media, the decline of literacy and the closing of the mass mind, the endless doom-loop of doomscrolling and bed-rotting, increasingly performative protest, the commodification of everything, the Epstein-approved culture war, and the theatre of spectacular cruelty that is imperialist colonial policy from Gaza to Venezuela, we really are living an age where everything that was once directly participated in has passed into representation. Every hand-grip one searches for to get some kind of grasp on the world seems to be a mirage; "participation" in anything, from politics to culture, has been reduced to fandom - limited to nothing more than expressing approval or disapproval through totally mediated social media platforms. Above it all stands an utterly corrupt, irresponsible elite class more and more transparent in how it relishes in conspiratorial play, power-games with unlimited stakes for us and no consequences for them. Such a world where power wears a shit-eating grin and keeps us off our balance by endlessly[ "flooding the zone"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flood_the_zone) (in Steve Bannon's terms) with distractions so intricate they short-circuit the collective brain is exactly what Debord not only predicted but described in frightening detail, with more than a little bit of humour. So let's dig in and find out: just what can we do to unplug from the spectacle? Is the spectacle even un-plug-from-able? Debord haters, cope and seethe: as a much more orthodox Marxist than he ever gets credit for, there really are some strategies in here. We just need to be creative. Take care and happy reading!

• What we'll do Want to Play Basketball in London? Step 1. Visit our website [https://www.basketble.com](https://www.basketble.com) Step 2. Find the game you want and sign up Step 3: Get confirmation email and Come Out & Play \*Note: You need to sign up on the website and the attendance is not monitored through meetup. • What to bring • Important to know

Hi everyone! (pre-pandemic information) If you like to play modern board, card and dice games, and to meet new people, then join us every Wednesday evening, for as long as you like between the hours of 6pm and 11pm (when the pub closes). Feel free to bring your own games if you have them, but don't worry if you don't as there are plenty that live at the pub, and plenty more that regular members bring along. And of course, we'll teach you how to play them if you don't know already. You work late? No worries - you can come along any time before closing (11pm), so if you don't arrive at 7pm (when attendees trickle in), don't worry! Everyone comes and goes whenever they like, so it is possible that you may be the first to arrive or last to leave. Please write in the comments what time you expect to arrive at the pub, so we can try to avoid anyone having to wait alone for long. We are a relaxed and friendly group, made up of both natives and foreigners, of locals and those living further afield, happy to welcome newbies and regulars. Events are free to attend, but it is respectable to the public venues we hold them at if you can buy at least one drink or some food while you are present. If you would like to contribute towards the costs of running of this group, feel free to buy the host(s) a drink of their choice when you see them, for which they'd be very grateful. This saves money that can be put towards the Meetup subscription fees and buying the games that we all play. https://peppersaintontiod.com/wp-content/uploads/games-night-pepper.jpg Pepper Saint Ontiod is a nice cosy reasonably-priced pub in the Docklands, near Canary Wharf, just 3 minutes walk from both Crossharbour and South Quay DLR stations, or about 10 minutes walk from the Jubilee line station. Various TFL buses stop nearby. Don't forget to join our group on Facebook for games news, articles, memes, gossip and banter: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Tabletop.Gamers.London.Docklands

It's **Thursday** & our main night of the week & the fun & games are just getting started here at DWL! We're located here in the Cinema (which can be found on the 3rd floor of the Mercury Mall Shopping Centre) on: * **Tuesdays & Thursdays**: From 17:30 to 22:00. * **Saturdays**: From 12:00 to 22:00 🦁 And we're still running every Monday 6pm to 11pm at the Golden Lion Pub too. 🌭☕ There are hot & cold food & drink options available from the cinema at low prices! Supporting Premiere Cinema by buying their food & drink IS supporting Dicing With Life! The cinema has been very generous to us by bringing us into their space & our way of showing our gratitude is by sending some business their way. And their menu is surprisingly cheap! Especially compared to any other cinema. Here's some cool examples of some great **offers**: Buy a large **Popcorn** (it's a huge bucket!) or a large **fizzy drink** & it'll initially cost you £4, BUT, take your bucket or cup back to the bar for a **refill** & the cinema will refill it back up to the top for just £2! 🍿🥤 That's half price Popcorn & Pop! This also applies to **Ice Blasts** too (£5 initially but to refill it's just £3). There's also Hot Dogs, Nachos, Pick n Mix & many other treats in store too! Check out their menu 😋 If you have any questions, please ask & let the fun commence! 🎲

**BOOK HERE**: https://sportas.co.uk/games/45507 **Game Description:** Come and play in a casual women’s 6 aside game ⚽️ Super chill game with some fun football 🙌 Christmas special! Wear your best Christmas jumper🎄 **Directions:** 📍Pitch 2 🚶‍♂️7 minute walk from Stratford International DLR Station **Rules** \- No aggressive behaviour \- No slide tackles \- Change keeper every 6 minutes \- Be positive\, respectful and have fun\!

Join us at Ludoquist for a fun-filled evening of Lorcana gameplay! Our very friendly and casual league meets every Thursday evening to play. Bring along a deck or two, or borrow one of our starter sets. £10 entry fee lets you play and gets an attendance booster as well. To attend this event, you need to buy a ticket[ from our website](https://www.theludoquist.com/collections/star-wars-unlimited). Please NB that though very few people sign up on this meetup - the event fires without 10 people every Wednesday!