July 17th: Capitalist Realism

Leading Class Discussion

Today Brian is going to lead us into a discussion on Fisher's Capitalist Realism, so let's give him our attention for the next 20 minutes or so.

Capitalist Realism

Fisher's Capitalist Realism: Is There No Alternative? (Zero Books, 2009)

Before we get too far ahead and wonder why there's all these socialist authors we're reading, remember, I first read this on the way home from Las Vegas--one of the most grandiose centers of American consumerism. There are tons of zombies there. These authors weren't selected for us to start a global revolution; instead, they were selected because they have quite insightful observations to make about a system that we assume to be a given, one that's beyond critique.

Critical thinking is uncomfortable.

Below is a quotation that should always be on our minds when discussing Fisher's book:

"Capialist realism: the widespread sense that not only is capitalism the only viable political and economic system, but also that it is now impossible even to imagine a coherent alternative to it" (Fisher, 2009, p. 2).

Below are some definitions from or for the text:

• neoliberalism: the idea of a total (or nearly total) market-driven economy with little or no government regulations.
  In America, we often label people who promote this philosophy conservatives, neoconservatives, libertarians, or Republicans. Popularaly, the term neoliberal would be confusing in the media because a "liberal" is considered (these are generalizations, of course) having the opposite view of the term "neoliberal." This term is more a European one and rarely heard outside of academic discussions in America.
  As a fun side note, check out the history of the usage of liberalism.

• socialist realism: an artistic style that glorifies the socialist cause, especially that of J. Stalin's authoritarian regime.

• confabulation: in psychology it means to replace fact with fantasy unconsciously in memory.

• lacuna: empty space or missing part (often in the mind or memory).

Below are some notes from the text:

• p. 22: "Control only works if you are complicit with it."
  Consider Anthony Giddens theory of structuration: humans operate under a pre-existing social structure, which controls actions.

• p. 24: Being bored means NOT being instantly, immediately gratified.

• p. 25: Teenage slogan recognition.

• p. 26: "education...is the engine room of the reproduction of social reality."

• p. 28: "neoliberal politics are not about the new, but a return of class power and privilege."

• p. 33: Families produce labor power.
  {Modern Family...same as it ever was: Disneyland, Javier's Fiancee, and Phil's backing out of getting snipped. All support the view that families should raise children, thus, reinforcing the idea that the family (superstructure) supports capitalism.}

• p. 36: "In the entrepreneurial fantasy society, the delusion is fostered that anyone can be Alan Sugar or Bill Gates" (James, qtd. in Fisher, p.36).

• p. 49: Bureaucrats don't make decisions "they are permitted only to refer to decisions that have always-already been made."
  {What does that tell us about a "democratic society"?}

• p. 54: "The 'reality' here is akin to the multiplicity of options available on a digital document, where no decision is final, revisions are always possible, and any previous moment can be recalled at any time."

• p. 56: "solipsistic delusion projected...conforms with our infantile fantasies of omnipotence."
  {compare with narcissism}

• p. 58: What can Jason bourne tell us about culture?
  {ahistoricity}

• p. 61: "solutions in products, not political processes."
  {Images of Consumption--what can a picture show..."}

• p. 61: Mistaking choice and freedom.

• p. 63: Media doesn't look at the root, systemic causes.

"Capialist realism...entails subordinating oneself to a reality that is infinitely plastic, capable of reconfiguring itself at any moment" (Fisher, 2009, p. 54).
{Think about the ideal worker...what attributes does he or she have in the service economy vs. the manufacturing (industrial) economy?}

Time Permitting--Zombies

This a tradition in this class--talk about zombies!

Next Class--Readings on Feminism

Tomorrow's hybrid activity is up, and it's our introduction into Feminism and Gender Studies. This is the time of the term where students tend to get annoyed when we discuss gender inequality and representations of femininity and masculinity. Remember, the readings and discussions might seem to be slanted to make you think a particular way, but the real goal of the course is to get you to understand how the arguments are constructed, so you can better reflect on what anyone claims to you about media-reinforced topics.

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