The political philosophy of "V For Vendetta" / Seoul philosophy discussion group

> > > THE POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY OF V FOR VENDETTA and ALAN MOORE < < <

(see below for group introduction/info)

For the Sunday, April 12, 2026 meeting we'll be looking at V For Vendetta (2005 movie; 1980s comic-book series) and what lessons on political philosophy we should take from it.

The session will also be our first introduction to the work of Alan Moore, which we will be revisiting in two or so near-future sessions (especially for the Paik chapter on Watchmen).

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[Preparation materials]

Attendees at the April 12 session should be familiar with the following materials, expected to take about two to three hours' preparation time (several more hours, with optional/supplemental reading):

(1.) [Required] -- In Peter Paik's book From Utopia to Apocalypse (2010), read the SECOND half of Chapter 4, pgs. 143-182 in the text (pgs. 39-48 in the PDF) (access the book in PDF form here).

(The second half of Chapter 4 includes Paik's sections titled "Enlightenment and Scarcity," "The Extremes of Fortune," "V For Verisimilitude," and "The Last and Only Freedom.")

(2.) [Optional] -- Read the Introduction to From Utopia to Apocalypse, by Peter Paik, pgs. 1-23 in the text (pgs.3-8 in the PDF).

(3.) [Recommended] -- Read the original 1980s "V For Vendetta" comic (graphic novel). Hosted here for purposes of our study: Book 1, Book 2, Book 3, and supplemental materials.

(4.) [Optional] -- Watch (or re-watch) the 2005 movie V For Vendetta (available here), 2h04m run-time.

(NOTE: Although neither reading nor watching of V For Vendetta is necessary to participate meaningfully in this discussion, you should be familiar with the outline of the premise and story/plot and how the film adaptation differs from the original, differences discussed often by Paik. If choosing only one, read the comic. If choosing both, read the comic first.)

(5.) [Optional, supplemental to Paik's discussion] -- Read the following four original 2006 blog commentaries and discussions, from twenty years ago, on the political-philosophy themes of V For Vendetta discussed by Paik on pp.170-71):

--- (5a.) Jodi Dean, "V with and against Z" (March 27, 2006) [650 words main-entry; 1750 words inclusive of comments);
--- (5b.) Steven Shaviro, "V For Vendetta," Pinocchio Theory blog (April 9, 2006) [1400 words,; 5300 words inclusive of comments;
--- (5c.) K-Punk [blogger], "Dis-Identity Politics" (April 25, 2006) [2700 words];
--- (5d.) Steven Shaviro, "K-Punk on 'Dis-Identity Politics'," Pinocchio Theory blog (April 25, 2006) [2000 words; 3900 inclusive of comments].

(6.) [Optional] -- Familiarize yourself with the general critiques of modern and postmodern liberal political order made by authors mentioned often in the Paik text: Slavoj Zizek, Eric Voegelin, Terry Eagleton, John Gray, Giorgio Agamben, Alain Badiou, Leo Strauss, Hardt & Negri.

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You may find the Paik book, Utopia to Apocalypse: Science Fiction and the Politics of Catastrophe, here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sog5CIipIvfgvOhwxQYZ-dBhg3gALFkM/view

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[Discussion Questions]

These are a few questions to think through before the meeting, to guide discussion. (Subject to being updated.)

TBA.

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[Group introduction]

Greetings!

In the spring of 2026, we are reviving an in-person, English-language philosophy discussion group in Seoul. The working name of our group is "The Philosopher's Pebble."

THIS SESSION: The Sunday, April 12, 2026 meeting (3:30 to 5:30pm) will be this group's third meeting in this form.

WHO: All interested persons who can discuss philosophical ideas in English are welcome to join. We have a core group of several people off "Meetup" that participates. We are welcome to outsiders.

WHAT IT'S ABOUT: Each gathering will be organized around a specific topic for discussion. (The March 15 topic deals with the political philosophy of "V For Vendetta," following the Peter Paik Paik From Utopia to Apocalypse text, Ch.4)

Attendees are asked to prepare by reading, listening, and/or watching material, generally to be at around 1.5 to 3 hours' worth of your time, and announced well in advance. (For our sessions in spring and summer 2026, we are going through the book From Utopia to Apocalypse by Peter Paik, 2010.)

WHAT YOU NEED TO BE/DO: There is no need to be an expert. There is a need to be someone interested in good-faith open discussion and mutual learning!

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Get in touch and join us!

-- Peter J., on behalf of the organizers.