Imaginary Party

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THESESONTHEIMAGINARYPARTY

Thepoliticalandmoralsignificanceof

thinkingonlyappearsinthoseraremomentsinhistorywhenthingsfall

apart;thecentercannothold;mereanarchyisloosedupontheworld,whenthebestlackallconviction,whilethe

worstarefullofpassionateintensity.Atthesemomentsthinkingceasestobea

marginalaffairinpoliticalmatters.When

everyoneissweptawayunthinkinglybywhateverybodyelsedoesandbelievesin,

thosewhothinkaredrawnoutofhidingbecausetheirrefusaltojoinis

conspicuousandtherebybecomesakind

ofaction.

HannahArendt,ThinkingandMoralConsiderations

ITheImaginaryPartyistheparticularformtakenbyContradictioninthehistorical

periodwhendominationimposesitselfasthedictatorshipofvisibility,anddictatorshipinvisibility;inaword,asSpectacle.Becauseitisaboveallmerelythe

negativepartyofnegativity,andbecausethesorceryoftheSpectacle(sinceitis

unabletoliquidatethem)consistsinrenderinginvisiblealltheexpressionsof

negationandthatgoesforfreedominactsaswellasforsufferingorpollutionitsmostremarkablecharacterispreciselythatitisreputedtobenon-existent,or-moreexactly-tobeimaginary.Butpeoplespeakincessantlyaboutit,and

exclusivelyaboutit,sincealittlemoreeverydayitdisruptstheproperoperationof

society.Still,peopleavoidsayingitsnamecoulditbesaidanyway?withthesamefearasiftheywereinvokingtheDevil.Andpeoplearequiterighttodoso:ina

worldsothathassoconspicuouslybecomeanattributeoftheMind,pronouncementshavetheunfortunatetendencytobecomeperformative.Inversely,

thenominalevocationoftheImaginaryParty,evenrighthereinthesepages,may

serveasitsactofconstitution.Uptonow,thatis,uptoitsnaming,itcouldbenomorethanwhattheclassicalproletariatwasbeforecomingtoknowitselfasthe

proletariat:aclassofcivilsocietythatisnotaclassofcivilsociety,butratheritsverydissolution.And,ineffect,todayitcomprisesbutthenegativemultitudesof

thosewhohavenoclass,anddontwanttohaveany;thesolitarycrowdofthosewho

havereappropriatedtheirfundamentalnon-belongingtocommoditysocietyintheformoftheirvoluntarynon-participationinit.Atfirst,theImaginaryPartypresents

itselfsimplyasthecommunityofdefection,thepartyofexodus,thefleetingandparadoxicalrealityofasubjectlesssubversion.Butthisisnomoretheessenceofthe

ImaginaryPartythanthedawnistheessenceoftheday.Itstillremainstobeseen


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howitwillcomefullyintoitsown,andthatcanonlyappearinitslivingrelationship

withwhatproduceditandnowdeniesit.Onlyhewhohasthededicationandwilltomakethefuturecomeintobeingcanseetheconcretetruthofthepresent.

(Lukcs,HistoryandClassConsciousness).

IITheImaginaryPartyisthepartythattendstobecomereal,incessantly.TheSpectaclehasnootherministryasidefromendlesslyobviatingitsmanifestationas

such,thatis,obviatingitsownbecoming-conscious,itsbecoming-real,sincewereitnottodosoitwouldhavetoadmittheexistenceofthenegativityofwhich(since

theSpectacleisthepositivepartyofpositivity)itistheperpetualdenial .Itisthus

partoftheessenceoftheSpectaclethatitactslikeitsoppositionisjustanegligibleresidue,makesitatotalnon-value,anddeclaresitcriminalandinhumanasawhole,

whichcomesdowntothesamething;otherwiseofcourseitwouldhavetorecognizethatititselfisthecriminalmonster.Thatswhytherearereallyonlytwo

partiesinthissociety:thepartyofthosethatclaimthatthereisonlyoneparty,and

thepartyofthosewhoknowthattherearereallytwo.Thatsallweneedtoknowtoseewhoswithus.

III

Itisincorrectthatpeoplereducewartotheraweventofconfrontation,buttheydo

soforreasonsthatcaneasilybeexplained.Itwouldcertainlybequiteharmfultopublicorderifitweretobeseenforwhatitreallyis:thesupremepossibility,the

preparationandadjournmentofwhichareatworkwithinallhumangroupingsinacontinualmovementofwhichpeaceisreallybutamoment.Thesamegoesforthe

socialwar,whosebattlescanbeperfectlysilentand,inamannerofspeaking,clean

[white].Theycanhardlyevenbediscernedinthesuddenresurgenceofthe

dominantaberration.Inlightofthefacts,itmustbeacknowledgedthattheconfrontationsareexaggeratedlyrarecomparedtothelosses.

[Alwaysbe

careful]


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mobilizableenergyofeachindividual.Ontheother,wereseeingabiologicalization

ofthepolitical:ecology,economy,thegeneraldistributionofwell-beingandcare,thegrowth,longevity,andagingofthepopulace-alltheseemergeasthe

principalsubjectsformeasuringtheexerciseofpower.Andindeed,thisisonlytheappearanceoftheprocess,nottheprocessitself.Inrealityitsaboutfalselysetting

upasobviousandasbasedonthebodyandbiologicallifeamovementtowardstotalbehaviorcontrol,controloverrepresentationsandrelationsamongpeopleforcingassenttotheSpectaclebyeachindividual,bymakingitouttobepartoftheir

instinctsofself-preservation.Becauseitbasesitsabsolutesovereigntyonthezoologicalunityofthehumanraceandontheimmanentcontinuumofthe

productionandreproductionoflife,Biopoweristhatessentiallyhomicidal

tyrannythatisexercisedovereachpersoninthenameofall,andinthenameofnature.Allhostilitytothissociety,whetherthatofthecriminal,thedeviant,orthe

politicalenemy,mustbeliquidatedbecauseitgoesagainstthebestinterestsofthehumanspecies,andmorespecificallythehumanspeciesasitexistsinthevery

personofthecriminal,thedeviant,andthepoliticalenemy.

OBVIOUSLY!

Delinquencyisbecomingtheprimaryforceofsocialization,inlieuofinstitutions.

(LeMonde,Tuesday,June9th,1998)

Andsoitisthateachnewdiktat,restrictingalittlefurtherouralreadypathetic

freedoms,claimstoprotecteachofusfromourselvesbyopposingtotheextravaganceofitssovereigntytheultimaratioofbarelife.Forgivethem,they

knownotwhattheydo,saysBiopower,andreadiesthesyringe.Certainly,barelife

hasalwaysbeenthepointofviewfromwhichcommoditysocietyconsideredmankind,apointofviewwherehumanlifeisnolongerdistinctfromanimallife.But

nowitisallmanifestationsoftranscendence(whichpoliticsisjustaloudexpressionof),allremnantsoffreedom,allexpressionsofthemetaphysicalessenceand

negativityofmankindthatistreatedlikeasickness,whichforthesakeofgeneral

happinessmustbesuppressed.Therevolutionarypenchantthatendemicpathologywhichapermanentvaccinationcampaignhasstillnotmanagedtodeal

withisexplainedawayasanunfortunateconvergenceofariskyheredity,excessivehormones,andachemicalimbalanceamongcertainneuro-mediators.

TherecantbeanypoliticswithinBiopower,justagainstBiopower.Because

Biopoweristhenegationofpoliticsfulfilled,realpoliticshastostartbyliberatingitselffromBiopower;thatis,byrevealingitassuch.

VIInBiopower,mansphysicaldimensionescapeshim,standsagainsthimand

oppresseshim;anditisinthatsensethatBiopowerisbutamomentoftheSpectacle,likephysicsisamomentofmetaphysics.Ironnecessity,felteveninwhat

inappearancesisthesimplest,mostimmediate,mostmaterialdetailthebodycondemnsthepresentmovementofcontestationtohavingtoeithertakeaposition

onthemetaphysicallevelorbenothing.Andsoitcannotbeunderstoodnor

perceivedfrominsidetheSpectacleorBiopower,anymorethancananythingtodo


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withtheImaginaryParty.Fornowitsprimaryattributeisitsdefactoinvisibility

withinthecommoditymodeofdisclosure,whichismostdefinitelymetaphysical,buthasthatmostsingularofmetaphysicswhichitselfisthedenialofmetaphysics,

andaboveallitdeniesthatititselfismetaphysical.ButtheSpectaclefearstheemptyvoid,andsoitcantrestrictitselftojustdenyingthemassiveevidenceof

thesenewkindsofhostilitiesagitatingthesocialbodyevermoreviolently;itmustgofurtherandmaskthem.Andsoitfallswithintheproperroleofthemany-variedforcesofmystificationandconcealmenttoinventevermoreemptypseudo-conflicts,

conflictsthatthemselvesareevermorefabricated,andstillevermoreviolent,howeveranti-politicaltheymaybe.AnduponthisdeafequilibriumofTerrorrests

theapparentcalmofalllatecapitalistsocieties.

VII

Inthissense,theImaginaryPartyisthepoliticalparty,ormorepreciselythepartyofthepolitical,sinceitistheonlypartofsocietythatperceivesthemetaphysical

workingsofabsolutehostilityatthesourceofthissociety;thatis,thatseesthe

seriousschismatitsveryheart.Andsoittootakesuptheroadofabsolutepolitics.TheImaginaryPartyistheformtakenbypoliticsinthetimeofthecollapseof

Nation-Stateswenowknowthattheyarequitemortal.ItdramaticallyremindseveryStatethatitisnotdementedenoughorvigorousenoughtosuccessfullypass

itselfoffastotal,thatthepoliticalspaceisinrealitynodifferentfromphysical,

social,culturalspace,etc.,that,inotherwords-andaccordingtoanoldformula-everythingispolitical,oratleastitispotentially.Atthispoint,politicsappears

ratherliketheWholeofthosespacesthatliberalismbelievedthatitcouldfragment,premisebypremise.TheeraofBiopoweriswhen,dominationhavingapplieditself

totheverybody,evenindividualphysiologytakesonapoliticalcharacter,inspiteof

thelaughablealibiofbiologicalnaturalness.Politicsisthusmorethaneverthe

total,existential,metaphysicalrealmwherethemovementofhumanfreedomtakesplace.

VIII

Inthesedarklingdayswearewatchingthefinalphaseofthedecompositionofcommoditysociety,which,weadmit,haslastedonlytoolong.Ontheplanetary

level,weareseeingthedivergence,ofevergrowingproportions,betweenthemapofthecommodityandtheterritoriesofMan.TheSpectaclestagesaglobalchaos,

butthischaosonlymanifeststhenowadmittedinabilityoftheeconomicvisionof

theworldtounderstandanythingabouthumanreality.Ithasbecomeobviousthatvaluenolongermeasuresanything:itsaccountantsarespinningtheirwheels.The

onlypointofworknowistosatisfytheuniversalneedforservitude.Evenmoneyhasendeduplettingitselfbewonoverbytheemptinessitpropagated.Atthesame

time,thetotalityoftheoldbourgeoisinstitutions,whichrestedontheabstract

principlesofequivalenceandrepresentation,havefallenintoacrisis,andtheylooktoofatiguedtorecover:Justicenolongermanagestojudge,Teachingnolonger

managestoteach,Medicinecantcure,theParliamentcantlegislate,thePolicecantgetthelawtoberespected,andFamiliescantevenraisetheirchildren.Certainly,

theoutershelloftheoldedificeremains,butallthelifehasdefinitelygoneoutofit.


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Itfloatsinatimelessnessthatisevermoreabsurdandevermoreperceptible.To

staveoffthemountingdisastertheystillfromtimetotimeputtheirsymbolsonparade,butnooneunderstandsthemanymore.Theonlyonestheirmagic

fascinatesnowareitsmagicians.AndsotheNationalAssemblybuildingbecameahistoricalmonument,whichisonlyexcitingtothestupidcuriosityoftourists.The

OldWorldspreadsoutbeforeoureyesadesolatelandscapeofnewruinsanddeadcarcasses,alljustwaitingforademolitionthatnevercomes,andtheymightwaitforitforeverifnoonegetstheideatoundertakeit.Peopleneverplannedsomany

parties,andtheirenthusiasmaboutthemneverlookedsofalse,sofeigned,soforced.Eventhegreatestcelebrationsthesedayshaveacertainairofsadnessto

themthattheycantshakeoff.Inspiteofallappearances,thedeathofthewhole

takesplacenotsomuchinthewayitdecomposesandbecomescorruptedorganbyorgan,norinanyotherpositivelyobservablephenomenonforthatmatter;ratherit

isinthegeneralindifferencethatthisdecompositionandcorruptionunleashes,anindifferencethatbringsabouttheplainfeelingthatnoonethinksitconcernsthem

andnooneresolvestoremedytheproblem.Andsincefacedwiththefeelingthat

everythingisfallingapart,todonomorethantowaitpatientlyandblindlyforthecollapseoftheold,crackingedifice,eatenawayatitsveryroots,andtoletoneselfbe

crushedinthefallingpile,isascontrarytowisdomasitistodignity,(Hegel)weforeseethepreparationofaninevitableExodusoutofthatoldcrackingedifice,

fromcertainsignsthatthespectacularmodeofdisclosuremakesimpossibleto

decipher.Already,massesofsilentandsolitarypeoplehavebeguntoappear,whohavechosentoliveintheintersticesofthecommodityworldandrefuseto

participateinanythingtodowithit.Itsnotjustthatthecharmsofthecommodityleavethemdoggedlycold,itsthattheyhaveaninexplicablesuspicionabout

everythingthattiesthemtotheworldithasbuilt,whichisnowcollapsing.Atthe

sametime,theevermoreobviousmalfunctionsofthecapitalistState,whichhas

becomeincapableofanykindofintegrationwiththesocietyuponwhichitstands,guaranteethatatitsveryhearttherewillsubsistnecessarilytemporaryspacesofindetermination,evervaster,evermorenumerousautonomouszones.Inmany

waysthisresemblesamassexperienceofillegalityandclandestinity.Thereare

momentswherepeoplealready liveasifthisworldnolongerexisted.Duringthistime,likeaconfirmationofthisbadomen,weseeeverywherethehopelesstensing

andtighteningofanorderthatfeelsitselfdying.PeoplestilltalkaboutreformingtheRepublic,whenthetimeofrepublicsisover.Peoplestilltalkaboutthecolorson

flags,whenthetimeofflagsitselfispast.Suchisthegrandioseandmortalspectacle

thatunveilsitselftowhoeverdarestoconsiderourtimesfromthepointofviewoftheirnegation;thatis,fromtheperspectiveoftheImaginaryParty.

IX

Thehistoricalperiodweareenteringmustbeoneofextremeviolenceandgreat

disorder.Apermanentandgeneralizedstateofexceptionistheonlywaycommoditysocietycanmaintainitselfwhenithascompletelyundermineditsown

conditionsofpossibilitysoastosetitselffirmlyinitsnihilism.Certainly,dominationstillhasforcephysicalandsymbolicforcebutithasnomorethan

that.Thissocietyhaslostitsgriponthediscourseofitscritiqueatthesametimeas


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thediscourseofitsjustification.Itfindsitselffacedwithanabyss,whichitdiscovers

isactuallylocatedatitsveryheart.Anditisthistruthwhichcanbefelteverywherethatitdistortsendlessly,byembracingateveryopportunitythelanguageof

flatterywherethecontentofthediscoursethatthemindhaswithitselfandaboutitselfistheperversionofallconceptsandallrealities;itistheuniversaltrickeryof

theselfandtheother,andtheimpudentexpressionofthattrickeryisthusthehighesttruth,andwherethesimpleconsciousnessofthetrueandgoodcantellthemindnothingthatitdoesntitselfalreadyknowandsay.Intheseconditions,if

simpleconsciousnessfinallydemandsthedissolutionofthiswholeworldofperversion,itcanneverthelessstillnotrequiretheindividualtoremovehimself

fromthisworld,becauseevenDiogeneshimselfinhisbarrelisconditionedbyit;

furthermorethisrequirementposedtothesingularindividualispreciselywhatpassesforevil,sinceevilconsistsinbeingconcernedonlyforoneselfasasingular

beingtherequirementforthisdissolutioncanonlybeaddressedtotheveryspiritofculture.Hereweseethetruedescriptionofthelanguagethatdominationnow

speaksinitsmostadvancedforms,whenithasincorporatedintoitsdiscoursethe

critiqueoftheconsumersocietyandthespectacle,andoftheirmisery.TheCanal+cultureandtheInrockuptiblesspiritarefleetingbutsignificantexamplesofthis.

Itismoregenerallythescintillatingandsophisticatedlanguageofthemoderncynic,whohasdefinitivelyidentifiedallusesoffreedomwiththeabstractfreedomto

accepteverything,butinhisownway.Inhisblatheringsolitude,hisacute

consciousnessofhisworldpridesitselfonitsperfectpowerlessnesstochangeit.Andthatconsciousnessendsupmaniacallymobilizedagainstself-consciousness

andallquestsforsubstantiality.Suchaworld,whichknowseverythingashavingbecomeforeigntoitself,knowsbeing-for-itselfasseparatefrombeing-in-itself,or

thefocusandthegoalasseparatefromthetruth,(Hegel)aworldwhich,inother

words,whileeffectivelydominating,hasattacheditselftotheluxuryofopenly

acknowledgingitsdominationasvain,absurd,andillegitimate,onlycallsupagainstitself-astheonlyresponsetowhatitexpresses-theviolenceofthosewho,deprivedbyitofallrights,drawtheirrightsfromhostility.Peoplecannolonger

ruleinnocently.

UmbertoBoccioni,StatidanimoI:Quellicherestano(1911)

[StatesoftheSpiritI:ThoseThatStayedBehind]


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X

Atthisstage,domination,whichfeelsthelifetricklingoutofitinexorably,hasgoneinsane,andclaimsatyrannythatitnolongerhasthemeanstomaintain.Biopower

andtheSpectaclearethecomplementarymomentscorrespondingtothisfinalradicalizationofthecommodityaberration,whichappearstobeitstriumphandis

butapreludetoitsdefeat.Inbothcases,itsamatteroferadicatingfromrealityeverythingwithinitthatexceedsrepresentation.Attheend,anunchainedarbitrarinessisattachedtothisruinededificethatintendstoregulateeverything

andannihilateassoonaspossibleanythingthatwoulddaretogiveitselfanexistenceindependentofit.Wearegivingourselvesone.Thesocietyofthe

Spectaclehasbecomeinflexibleonthispoint:everyonemustparticipateinthe

collectivecrimeofitsexistence;nothingmustbeabletoclaimtoremainoutsideofit.Itcannolongertoleratetheexistenceofthatcolossalabstainingsegmentwhich

istheImaginaryParty.Everyonemustwork,thatis,putthemselvesatitsdispositionatalltimesandbemobilizable.Inordertoachieveitsends,itmakes

equaluseofthemostbrutemeans,suchasthethreatofstarvation,andthemost

underhandedofmeans,suchastheYoung-Girl.Thedustyoldtuneofcitizenship,whichissungeverywhereonanyandeverysubject,expressesthedictatorshipof

thisabstractdutyofparticipatinginasocialtotalitywhichhasneverthelessbecomeautonomized.Anditisthus,fromtheveryfactofthisdictatorship,thatthenegative

partyofnegativitylittlebylittlebecomesunifiedandacquirespositivecontent.The

elementsofthemultitudeofindifferentbeings,notknowingoneanotheratallandthinkingthattheyarepartofnoparty,allfindthemselvesfacingauniqueand

centraldictatorship,thedictatorshipoftheSpectacle-andthewagesystem,thecommodity,nihilism,ortheimperativeofvisibilityarebutpartialaspectsofthat.It

isthusdominationitselfthatforcesthosewhowouldbecontentwithafloating

existencetorecognizethemselvesforwhattheyare:rebels,Waldgngers.The

contemporaryenemyceaselesslyimitatesPharaohsarmy:ithuntsdownthefugitives,thedeserters,butitnevermanagestogetbeforethemorconfrontthem.(PaoloVirno:Miracle,Virtuosity,andDjVu).Inthecourseofthisexodus,

unprecedentedsolidaritiesform,friendsandbrothersgatheratnewfrontlinesthat

sketchthemselvesout,andtheformaloppositionbetweentheSpectacleandtheImaginaryPartybecomesconcrete.Thusapowerfulsenseofbelongingtonon-

belongingdevelopsamongthosewhorealizetheiressentialmarginality,asortof

communityofExile.

Thenecessaryfailureoftotalmobilization

Whatwouldbethedangersofatotaldepersonalizationofspace? Itwouldaccentuatewhathas

alreadybegun,thatis,thefeelingofhavingaveryfragileplaceinthebusiness.Itwouldreinforcethe

ideathatwearepawns,thatweareinterchangeable.Wewouldhavetoliveasifinastateofpuretransitionwithcontractualandephemeralrelationships.Perhapsthatwouldhelppeopletolosetheir

illusions,thosewhothoughtthatwithaCDI[indeterminate-durationemploymentcontract]inabig

structuretheydbesafe?Butthischangecoulddeterioratethesocialclimate,thecoherenceofthe

business.Relationshipsofloyaltyandbelongingtothebusinesswouldbeveryattenuated. (Liberation,

MondayOctober5,1998)

Thesimplefeelingofbeingforeigntothisworldbecomes,ascircumstanceschange,

anintimacywiththatforeignness.Runningaway,whichwassimplyanaction,

becomesastrategy.Now,escape,calledthethirty-sixthstrategem,isthesupreme


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politics.ButtheImaginaryPartyisalreadynolongerjustimaginary;ithasbegun

torecognizeitselfassuchandtoslowlyprogresstowardsitsrealization,whichwillbeitsdisappearance.Metaphysicalhostilitytothissocietyhasnowceasedbeing

livedinapurelynegativemode,asasmoothindifferencetoanythingthatmightcomeabout,asarefusaltoplayalong,asadefeatofdominationviaarejectionof

denomination.Ithastakenonapositivecharacter,andonethatisquitedisturbing;thuspowerisnotwrong,initsparanoia,toseeterroristseverywhere.Itisacold,cleanhatred,likeakindofangina;ahatredwhichforthetimebeingdoesnot

openly,theoreticallyexpressitself,butrathershowsitselfasapracticalparalysisofthewholesocialapparatus,amuteandobstinatemalice,thesabotageofall

innovation,allmovement,andallintelligence.Thereisnocrisisanywhere;there

isonlytheomnipresenceoftheImaginaryParty,whosecenteriseverywhereandcircumferencenowhere,sinceitoperatesonthesameterritoryastheSpectacle.

XI

Eachofthissocietysfailuresmustbeunderstoodpositively,asshouldtheworkof

theImaginaryPartyandtheworkofnegativity,thatis,ofwhatishuman.Inawarlikethis,everythingthatdeniesoneoftheparties,evenifonlysubjectively,

objectivelybackstheotherone.Theradicalnessofourtimesimposesitsconditions.RegardlessoftheSpectacle,itisthenotionoftheImaginaryPartythatrenders

visiblethenewconfigurationofhostilities.TheImaginaryPartyencompasses

everythingthatconspirestodestroythepresentorderinthought,word,ordeed.Thedisasterisitsdoing.

XII

Uptoacertainpoint,theImaginaryPartyisthespecter,theinvisiblepresence,the

fantasizedreturnoftheOthertoasocietywhereallothernessissuppressed,where

thereductionofeverythingseparatetoequivalenceisgeneralized.Butthisbaddream,thissuicidalideationrunningthroughtheSpectaclesmind,inlightofthepresentcharacterofsocialproduction-itselfimaginary-mustsoonengenderits

realityasconsciousnessbecomingpractical,asimmediatelypracticalconsciousness.

TheImaginaryPartyistheothernamefortheshamefulsicknessofpowerwhenithasbeenweakened:paranoia,whichCanettionlytoovaguelydefinedasanillness

ofpower.Thedesperateandplanet-widedeploymentofevermoremassiveandsophisticatedapparatusesforthecontrolofpublicspacematerializesinapiquant

waytheasylum-grademadnessofdominationwhenitsbeenwounded;itstill

pursuestheolddreamoftheTitans,thedreamofauniversalState,whenitisjustanothermidgetliketherestofthem;andthatmakesitsick.Inthisterminalphase,

allittalksaboutanymoreisthefightagainstterrorism,delinquency,extremismandcriminality,sinceitisconstitutionallyforbiddentoexplicitlymentiontheexistence

oftheImaginaryParty.This,moreover,iscertainlyacombathandicapforit,sinceit

cantnametherealenemy,inspiredbyinfinitecourage(Kafka)soastodirectthehatredofitsfanaticsagainstit.


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XIII

Itmusthoweverbeacknowledgedthatthisparanoiahassomereasontoit,inlightofthedirectiontakenbyhistoricaldevelopment.Itisafactthatatthepointwe

havearrivedtointheprocessofthesocializationofsociety,eachindividualactofdestructionconstitutesanactofterrorism;thatis,itobjectivelyattacksthewholeof

society.Andso,totheextreme,suicide-whichinasinglegestureinterminglesfreedomanddeathmanifestsalimitation,asuspension,andanannulmentofthesovereigntyofBiopower,andacquiresthesenseofadirectattackondomination,

whichthusfindsitselfdeprivedofafinesourcefortheconsumption,production,andreproductionofitsworld.Inthesameway,whenthelawrestsonnothingbut

itspronouncement-thatis,onforceandarbitrariness-whenitentersintoaphase

ofautonomousproliferation,andaboveall,whennoethosgivesitsubstanceanymore,thenallcrimeisseenasatotalcontestationofasolidlyruinedsocial

order.Allmurderthen,isnolongerthemurderofaparticularpersonifanythinglikeaparticularpersonisstillpossiblebutpuremurder,withnoobjector

subject,noguiltypartynorvictim.Itisimmediatelyanattackonthelaw,which

doesnotexistbutwantstoreigneverywhere.

Thosewhoarethesymbolsofsomethingthattheydonotinfactbearwithinthem

Adolescents,moreandmorenumerousandeveryounger,appeartobecreatingaparallelsystemof

theirown,rejectingallconsensualrules,andaffirmingthemselvesonlyonthebasisoftheeconomy

ofpredationandthecodesofviolence.Thenightbelongstothem,saythepolice,exasperatedtofind

themselvesaloneonthefrontlines.(LeMonde,TuesdayDecember15,1998)

Themostminorofinfractionshavetakenonadifferentmeaningnow.Allcrimes

havebecomepoliticalcrimes,andthatspreciselywhatdominationmusthideatall

costssoastoconcealfromeveryonethefactthatanerahascometoanend,that

politicalviolence,onceburiedalive,nowdemandsthataccountsbesettled,innewformsthatpeopledidntknowitcouldoccurin.AndsotheImaginaryPartymanifestsitselfwithacertaincharacterofblindterrorism,whichtheSpectacle

intuitivelygrasps.Itmightbeinterpretedasthemomentwhenalldeveloped

commoditysocietiesinternalizethenegationtheyhadkeptlockedawayintheillusorybutcatharticexteriorityoftrulyexistingsocialism,butthatisjustitsmost

superficialaspect.Itwouldalsobepermissibleforanyonetodiminishitsunusualcharacterbyaffirmingthatasageneralruleapoliticalunitcanonlyexistinthe

formofarespublica,ofpublicity,anditisattackedeverytimeaspaceofnon-

publicity,whichwouldbeaneffectivedisavowalofthatpublicity,iscreatedwithinit.Itiscertainlynotararethingtoseesomepeopletakethepositionof

disappearingintotheshadows,buttransformingtheshadowsintoastrategicspacefromwhichemergeattacksthatwilldestroytheplacewheretheimperiumhas

manifesteditselfuptonow,whichwilldismantlethevaststageofofficialpubliclife,

whichtechnocraticintelligencecouldnotmanagetoorganize.(CarlSchmitt,TheoryofthePartisan).Itisaconstanttemptationineffecttoconceiveofthepositive

existenceoftheImaginaryPartysimplyasguerrillawar,ascivilwar,aspartisanwar;asaconflictwithoutpreciselyestablishedfrontlinesnordeclarationsof

hostilities,withoutarmisticesorpeaceaccords.Andinmanywayswhatweare


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dealingwithhereisawarthatisindeednothingbutitsacts,itsviolence,andits

crimes,whichappearatthispointtohavenootherprogrambuttobecomeconsciousviolence,thatis,aviolenceconsciousofitsmetaphysicalandpolitical

character.

XIVBecausetheSpectacle,invirtueofthecongenitalaberrationinitsvisionoftheworldnolessthaninlightofstrategicconsiderations,cannotsay,see,orunderstanda

singlethingabouttheImaginaryParty,whosesubstanceispurelymetaphysical,theparticularforminwhichthelattereruptsintovisibilityisthecatastrophe-form.The

catastropheiswhatdisclosesbutcannotbedisclosed.Thusitmustbeunderstood

thatcatastropheonlyexistsfortheSpectacle;itruins,inasingle,irreversibleblow,alltheSpectaclespatientlabortopassoffasTheWorldthatwhichismerelyits

Weltanschauung--andthisshowsthat,likeeverythingfinite,itisincapableofconceivingofitsownannihilation.Ineachcatastropheitisthecommoditymode

ofdisclosureitselfbeingdisclosed/revealedandsuspended.Itscharacteras

somethingobviousandtakenforgrantedthusshatters.Thetotalityofthecategoriesitimposesforuseintheapprehensionofrealityisdestroyed.Interest,

equivalence,calculation,utility,labor,valueallarederailedbytheunattributabilityofnegation.AndsotheImaginaryParty,withintheSpectacle,is

understoodasthepartyofchaos,crisis,anddisaster.

XV

Itistotheexactextentthatthecatastropheisabrilliant,searingtruththatthemenoftheImaginaryPartyworktobringitaboutbyallmeans.Theaxesof

communicationarespecialtargetsforthem.Theyknowhowinfrastructureworth

millionscanbeannihilatedinasingleaudaciousblow.Theyknowthetactical

weaknesses,thepointsofleastresistance,andthemomentswhentheenemyorganizationisvulnerable.Theyarethusabletochoosemorefreelythanitiswhattheirtheaterofoperationswillbe,andactonthepointwherethetiniestpressures

cancausethegreatestdamages.Themosttroublingthing,whenpeopleaskthem

aboutit,iscertainlythattheyknowallaboutthatwithoutknowingthattheyknowit.Andsoananonymousworkerinabottlingplantjustlikethatdumpssome

cyanideintoahandfulofcans;ayoungmankillsatouristinthenameofthepurityofthemountains,andsignstohiscrimethenameTHEMESSIAH;anotherblows

outhispetty-bourgeoisfathersbrainsonhisbirthdaywithoutanyapparent

reason;yetanothersuddenlyopensfireonthepeacefulflockofhisschoolmates;andanothergratuitouslythrowscinderblocksdownontopassingcarsonthe

freewaybelowfromanoverpass,whenhesnotsettingthemonfireintheirparkinglots.IntheSpectacle,theImaginaryPartydoesnotappeartobecomprisedofmen,

butofstrangeacts,inthesenseunderstoodbytheSabbateantradition.Theseacts

themselvesarehowevernotconnectedtooneanother,butaresystematicallylockedawayasexceptionalenigmas;peoplewouldneverthinkofseeinginthemthe

manifestationsofoneandthesamehumannegativity,becausepeopledontknowwhatnegativityreallyisbesides,peopledontevenknowwhathumanityis,or

evenifsuchathingexists.Allthiscomesoffassomewhatabsurd,andindeedthere


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isntmuchthatdoesntatthispoint.Aboveall,peopledontwanttoseethatthese

areactuallyallattacksdirectedagainstthemandtheirignominy.Andso,fromthespectacularpointofview,fromthepointofviewofacertainalienationofthestateof

publicexplanation,theImaginaryPartyisamereconfusedensembleofgratuitous,isolatedcriminalacts,themeaningofwhichtheirauthorsdontgrasp;justthe

periodiceruptionintovisibilityofevermoremysteriousformsofterrorism,allthingsthatendupproducingthedispleasingimpressionthatinthelongrunpeoplearentsafefromanythingatallintheSpectacle,thatanobscurethreatisweighing

downontheemptytask-sequencingofcommoditysociety.Doubtlesswhatweredealingwithisageneralizedstateofexception.Ineithercamp,noonecanreally

claimsecurityorsafetyanymore.Thatsfine.Wenowknowthatthedenouementis

closeathand.Lucidholinessrecognizesinitselftheneedtodestroy,thenecessityofatragicoutcome.(Bataille,Guilty)

XVI

TheeffectiveconfigurationofhostilitiesthatthenotionoftheImaginaryParty

makeslegibleisessentiallymarkedbyasymmetry.Wearenotdealingherewiththestrugglebetweentwocampsatrivalryovertheconquestofoneandthesame

trophy,whereeventuallytheywillshakehandsoveritallandonewillconcededefeat.Heretheprotagonistsmoveontwolevelssoperfectlyforeigntooneanother

thattheyonlymeetatveryrarepointsofintersection,and,tosaytheleast,sortof

randomly.Butthisforeignnessisitselfasymmetrical.BecausealthoughfortheImaginaryPartytheSpectaclehasnomysterytoit,theImaginaryPartymustremain

foreverarcanetotheSpectacle.Whatensuesfromthisisastrategicconsequenceofthegreatestgrandeur:whereaswecaneasilyidentifyourenemy,whichisafterall

theidentifiableparexcellence,ourenemycannotidentifyus.Thereisnouniform

fortheImaginaryParty,sinceuniformityisthecentralattributeoftheSpectacle.

Andsoalluniformitymustnowfeelitselfthreatened,alongwitheverythingthatuniformityactsasthecurrencyfor.Inotherwords,theImaginaryPartyonlyrecognizesitsenemies,notitsmembers;itsenemiesarepreciselyallthosethat

peoplerecognize.ThemenoftheImaginaryParty,byreappropriatingtheirBloom-

being,reappropriatetheanonymitythattheyhavebeenforcedinto.InsodoingtheyturnagainsttheSpectacletheverysituationthatitputthemin,anduseitto

makethemselvesinvincible.Inacertainway,theymakethissocietypayfortheimprescriptiblecrimeofhavingdeprivedthemoftheirnamethatis,the

recognitionoftheirsovereignsingularityandthusofallproperlyhumanlifefor

havingexcludedthemfromallvisibility,allcommunity,allparticipation;forhavingthrownthemoutintotheindistinctmassofthecrowd,intothenothingnessof

ordinarylife,intothesuspendedanimationofthemassofhomosacer;forhavingwalledofftheirexistencefromanyaccesstomeaning.Thiscondition,whichpeople

wouldliketokeepthemin,iswheretheystartfrom,byleavingit.Itisperfectly

insufficient,howeverindicativeofacertainintellectualimpotence,toremarkthatinthisterrorism,innocentpeoplereceivethechastisementthattheyarenothing,that

theyhavenodestiny,thattheyaredispossessedoftheirnamebyasystemthatisitselfanonymous,consignedtoananonymitythattheythenbecomethepurest

incarnationof.(Because)theyarethefinishedproductsofthesocial,ofanabstract


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socialitywhichhasnowbecomeglobalized.(Baudrillard)Eachofthesemurders,

withoutanyidentifiablemotiveorparticularvictim,eachoftheseanonymousactsofsabotage,constitutesanactofTiqqun;itexecutesthesentencethatthisworldhas

alreadyprofferedagainstitself.ItreducestonothingnessthatwhichtheSpirithasabandoned;itkillswhatwasnotliving,butmerelysurvivingitself;itreducesto

ruinswhatforsolongwasmerelyremnants.Andthoughitmustbeacceptedthattheseactsbecalledgratuitous,itisonlybecausetheyonlyaimtomanifestthatwhichisalreadytrue,butisstillhidden;torealizewhatisalreadyreal,butnot

recognizedassuch.Theyaddnothingtothecourseofthedisaster;theymerelyacknowledgeitandputitintoacts.

[Italy2ShoppingMall,January17th,1998]

(Asquadofriotpolicevainlyattempttoidentifythe

agentsoftheImaginaryPartyhiddenamongtheconsumers)

XVIIThefactthatitsenemyhasnoface,noname,andnothingidentifiableaboutit,thatit

stillpresentsitselfinspiteofallcolossalplansintheguiseofaperfectlynormalBloom:thatswhatsetsoffPowersparanoiamost.JohannGeorgElser,whosebomb

attackinMunichonNovember8th1939almostkilledHitlerwereitnotforanarrow,luckyescape,providesthemodelwhichintheyearstocomewillplungecommodity

dominationintoanevermoreperceptiblepanic.ElserwasamodelBloom,however

unacceptablycontradictoryitmaybetosaythat.Everythingabouthimevokesneutralityandnothingness.Hisabsencefromtheworldwascomplete,hissolitude

absolute.Hisverybanalitywasbanal.Povertyofspirit,alackofpersonality,andinsignificancewerehisonlyattributes,buttheycouldneverreallymakehimstand

outassingular.Whentellingthestoryofhistotallyordinarylifeasacarpenter,itallcomesoffasendlesslyimpersonal.Nothingappearstohavestirredanypassioninhim.Hewasequallyindifferenttopoliticsandideology.Hedidntknowwhat

CommunismmeantorwhatNationalSocialismmeant,eventhoughhewasaworkerinGermanyinthe1930s.Andwhenthejudgesinterrogatedhimaboutthe

motivesforhisact,whichtookhimayeartopreparewiththemostmeticulouscare,

allhecouldmanagetomentionwastheincreaseddeductionsbeingtakenoutoftheworkerswages.HeevendeclaredthathehadnointentionofeliminatingNazism,


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butjustofgettingridofafewmenhethoughtwerebadpeople.Andthiswasthe

kindofbeingthatnearlysavedtheworldfromtheunparalleledsufferingofaglobalwar.Hisplanswerebasedonlyonasolitaryresolvetodestroywhatdeniedhis

existence;whatwasunspeakablyhisenemy;whatrepresentedthehegemonyofEvil.Hedrewhisrighttodosofromhimself;thatis,fromtheexplosiveforceofhis

owndecision.Thepartyoforderwillhavetofaceandisalreadyfacingtheproliferationofsuchelementaryactsofterrorismwhichitcannotunderstandnorpredict,sincetheyareauthorizedbynothingmorethananinexhaustible

metaphysicalsovereignty,theinsanepossibilityofdisasterthateachhumanexistencecontainswithinit,inhoweverinfinitesimaladose.Nothingcanprotect

anyonefromtheseeruptions,whichattacksocietyitselfinresponsetotheterrorism

ofsocialissues,notevenfameandglory.Theirtargetisasvastastheworlditself.AndsoeverythingthatattemptstoremainwithintheSpectaclemustnowliveinthe

terrorofathreatofannihilationandnooneknowswhereitscomingfromorwhatitsabout,andallanyonecantellisthatitsintendedtoserveasanexample.Thelack

ofanydecipherablegoalinsuchscandalousactionsastheseisnecessarilypartofthe

goalitself,sincethatshowtheyshowtheirexteriority,theirforeignness,theirirreducibilitytothecommoditymodeofdisclosureandthatishowtheycorrode

thatmodeofdisclosure.Itsamatterofspreadingthedisquietthatmakesmenintometaphysicians,spreadingthedoubtthatbreaksdownlevelbylevelthedominant

interpretationoftheworld.Itisthusinvainthatpeoplewouldattributetousany

immediategoal,ifnotperhapsthehopeofprovokingamoreorlesslastingbreakdowninthemachineasawhole.Nothingismorecapableofabolishingthe

totalityoftheworldofadministeredalienationthanoneofthesemiraculousinterruptions,whichsuddenlybringfloodingbackallthehumanitythatthe

Spectaclesoconstantlyobscures,wheretheempireofseparationisdefeated,where

mouthsrediscoverthespeechtheyoweittothemselvestovoice,wheremenare

reborntotheirpeersandtotheirinextinguishableneedforthem.Dominationsometimesneedsdecadestocompletelyrecoverfromasingleoneofthesemomentsofintensetruth.ButitwouldbeaseriousmisunderstandingoftheImaginary

Partysstrategytoreduceittothepursuitofthecatastrophe.Itwouldbejustas

muchamisunderstandingtothinkthatwewouldhavethechildishdesiretopulverizeinasingleblowsomemilitaryheadquartersorotherwherepoweris

concentrated.Onedoesnottakeamodeofdisclosurebyassaultasifitwereafortress,eveniftheonecouldusefullyleadtotheother.TheImaginaryPartydoes

notaimatgeneralinsurrectionagainsttheSpectacle,norevenitsdirectand

instantaneousdestruction.Ratheritassemblesthepropersetofconditionstomakedominationsuccumbasquicklyandbroadlyaspossibletotheprogressiveparalysis

towhichitsparanoiacondemnsit.Thoughatnotimedoesitgiveuptheintenttofinishitoff,itstacticisnotfrontalattack;ratheritistheveryactofevasion,guiding

andhasteningtheemergenceofitsillness.Thatiswhatmakesitfearedbythe

holdersofapowerthatdoesnotacknowledgeit:neverlettingitselfbegrasped,andsimultaneouslybeingthedissolutionoftheSocialFact,andtheunrulystubbornness

toreinventthelatterasasovereigntythatthelawcannotcircumscribe.(Blanchot,TheUnavowableCommunity).Powerlessinthefaceoftheomnipresenceofthis

danger,domination,whichfeelsitselftobemoreandmorealone,betrayed,and


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fragile,hasnootherchoicethantoextendcontrolandsuspicionoverthetotalityof

aterritorythatfreecirculationneverthelessremainsthevitalprincipleof.Itcansurrounditsgatedcommunitieswithallthesecurityguardsitwants;theground

willneverthelesscontinuetoslipoutfromunderitsfeet.ItispartoftheessenceoftheImaginaryPartythateverywhereiteatsawayattheveryfoundationof

commoditysociety:credit/credibility.Andthereisnolimittothisdissolvingactivityotherthanthecollapseofthatwhichitundermines.

XVIIIItsnotsomuchthecontentoftheImaginaryPartyscrimesthattendstoruinthe

imperiumofbloodthirstypeaceasitistheirform.Becausetheirformisthatofa

hostilitywithnopreciseobject,afundamentalhatredthateruptsfromthemostunfathomableinterioritywithnoregardforanyobstacle,fromtheuncorrupted

depthswheremanremainsintruecontactwithhimself.ThatswhyaforceemanatesfromthemthatalltheSpectaclesblathercannotdamup.Japanese

children,whoonemightfairlyconsiderakindoffrantic,violentavant-gardeofthe

ImaginaryParty,havecreatedverballocutionstonametheseheightsofabsoluterage,wheresomethingcarriesthemawaywhichisthembutnotthem,whichis

indeedmuchbiggerthantheyare.Themostwidespreadofthemismukatsuku--atrootitmeanstobenauseous,i.e.,tobeovertakenbythemostphysicalof

metaphysicalsensations.Inthisspecialkindofrage,thereissomethingsomehow

sacred.

XIXItishoweverobviousthattheSpectacle-facedwiththesemassacres,crimes,and

catastrophesbesiegingit,facedwiththisgrowingweightoftheunexplainable-can

nolongerbecontenttoaffirmthatthereisachasmopeninginitsvisionofthe

world.Anditexpressesthis,moreover,withoutbeatingaroundthebush:itwouldcertainlybepreferableifthisviolencewerethefruitofmisery,ofterriblepoverty;thatwouldbemucheasiertodealwith.(TheThursdayEvent,September10,1998).

Aswecanobservewithbreathtakingregularity,itsfirstactis,atallcosts,toput

forthanexplanationevenifitruinseverythingthatitsbasedonintheory.Andso,whenthepatheticBillClintonwascalledtoexplainanddrawtheconsequencesof

theBeauGeste*ofKiplandKinkel,anexemplaryBloominmanyrespects,hecouldfindnothingmoretoblamethantheinfluenceofthenewcultureofviolentfilms

andgames.Insodoing,heaffirmedtheradicaltransparency,insubstantiality,and

liquidationofthesubjectbycommoditydomination,andpubliclyacknowledgedthatthetragicdesert-island-fictionthatitclaimstobefoundedon,theirreducibility

oftheindividuallegalperson,isnolongertenable.Hethusartlesslyunderminedtheveryprincipleofcommoditysociety,withoutwhichlaw,privateproperty,the

saleoflaborpower,andevenwhathecallscultureis,atthemost,justapieceof

fantasyliterature.Peoplestillprefertosacrificethewholeedificeoftheirpseudo-justificationratherthantryingtounderstandtheenemysreasoningandnature.

Becauseweretheytodoso,theywouldhavetoagreewithMarxthatthe

*Agesturenobleinformbutmeaninglessinsubstance.


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coincidenceofthechangingofcircumstancesandofhumanactivityorself-change

canbeconceivedandrationallyunderstoodonlyasrevolutionarypraxis.Andthoughpeopletrysohardtohideit,theywilleventuallyfallbackandconfessitat

thepainfulmomentwhentheyatlasthaveexhaustedthemselveswithridiculousblatheraboutthenon-existentpsychologyoftheBloomswhovefinallytakenaction.

Inspiteoftheseendlessconsiderations,onecannotpreventoneselffromfeelingthatindeeditispeoplethemselvesbeingjudged,andsocietybeingaccused.ItisonlytooobviousthattheoriginoftheseBloomsgestureshasnothingsubjective

aboutit;initssacrednessitquitesimplyopposestheobjectivityofdomination.Atthispointpeoplewillreluctantlyadmitthat,yes,thisisasocialwartheyaredealing

withhere,withouthoweverpreciselyindicatingwhatsocialwaritis;thatis,who

theprotagonistsare:theauthorsoftheseattacksofmadness,thesenewbarbarians,arenotallnutcases.Theyaremostoftenactuallyveryordinarypeople.

(TheThursdayEvent,September10,1998).Anditsthiskindofrhetoric,arhetoricofabsolutehostility,whichhasbeguntoemergeuniversally:theenemy,thatpeople

refrainfromnaming,isdeclaredbarbarousandexcludedfromhumanity.Theproof

isthatnowwecanhearsomedictatorofpublictransitorother,rightsmackinthemiddleofaperiodofsupposedsocialpeace,proclaimingweshallre-conquerthe

territory.Andinfact,weseespreadingeverywherethecertitudethatthereexistsanunnamableinternalenemy,mostoftenincamouflagedform,whichiscarrying

outacontinuousactivityofsabotage:butthistime,unfortunately,therewontbe

anymorekulakstoeliminateasaclass.Soitwouldbequitewrongtonotsubscribetotheparanoidperspectivethatthinksthatbehindtheinarticulate

multiplicityofthemanifestationsoftheworldthereisauniquewill,armedwithdarkintentions:becauseinaworldofparanoids,theparanoidsareright.

XX

ThefactthattheSpectaclefearsthatitharborsanimaginarypartyinitsveryheart,evenifinfactitistheoppositeineffectitisreallytheImaginaryPartythatharborstheSpectacleinitsauraclearlybetraysitssuspicionthatbyqualifying

theseactsofdestructionasgratuitousithasnotreallysaidallthereistosayabout

them.Itisflagrantlyconspicuousthatthewholeensembleofthemisdeedsthatpeopleattributetothesemadmen,thesebarbarians,theseirresponsible

individuals,mergeadjacentlyintoaunique,non-formulatedproject:theliquidationofcommoditydomination.Inthefinalanalysis,itisalwaysobjectivelyamatterof

makinglifeimpossibleforit,ofpropagatingdisquiet,doubt,anddistrust,ofdoing

whateverdamageispossible,towhatevermodestextenteachpersonsmeanspermit.Nothingcanexplainthesystematicabsenceofanyremorseamongthese

criminalsbutthemutesentimentthattheyareparticipatinginagrandioseoeuvreofdevastation.Inallobviousness,thesemen,themselvesinsignificant,arethe

agentsofasevere,historical,andtranscendentreasoningthatdemandsthe

annihilationofthisworld,thatis,thefulfillmentofitsnothingness.TheonlythingthatdistinguishesthemfromtheconsciousfractionsoftheImaginaryPartyisthe

factthattheyarenotworkingfortheendoftheworld,butfortheendofaworld.Andthisdifferencemayatagivenmomentgivesufficientroomforamostreasoned


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hatred.ButthatisinconsequentialfortheImaginaryPartyitself,whichmust

remainthenextfigureoftheMind.

AnilliteratestrugglestoerasetheinscriptionDESTRUCTIONKEEPSYOUYOUNG.becausethesorceryoftheSpectacle,sinceitisunabletoliquidate

them,consistsinrenderinginvisiblealltheexpressionsofnegation

XXI

ThemenoftheImaginaryPartycarryonanirregularwarfare.TheyareengagedinakindofSpanishWarwherethespectacularoccupierbankruptsitselfstationing

troopsandmunitions,andaparoxysmaldialecticholdsswaywithinthetermsof

whichthestrengthandsignificanceoftheirregularsaredeterminedbythestrengthandsignificanceoftheregularorganizationtheyattack.(CarlSchmitt)and

vice-versa.TheImaginaryPartycancountonthefactthatahandfulofpartisansis

enoughtoimmobilizethewholepartyoforder.Inthewarbeingwagedatpresent,thereisnojusbellileft.Thehostilitiesareabsolute.Eventhepartyof

orderitselfsometimesdoesntshyawayfromacknowledgingit:onemustoperateasapartisaneverywheretherearepartisansitsenoughtoknowhowprisonshave

changedoverthelastdecade,andlookatthehabitsthatthevariouskindsofpolicehavegottenintowhenitcomestothewaytheydealwiththefringeelementsto

understandwhatthatwatchwordcanmeanintermsofbloodthirstyarbitrariness.

Andso,aslongascommoditydominationcontinuestoexist,themenoftheImaginaryPartywillhavetoexpecttobetreatedlikecriminals,orbehuntedlike

game,depending.Thedisproportionatemagnitudeoftheweaponsandpunishmentsthatpeoplenowwieldagainstithasnothingtodowithanyparticular

junctureinthepoliticsofrepression;itisconsubstantialwithwhattheyare,andwhattheirenemyis.WhatisexpressedinthisisthesimplefactthattheImaginaryPartycontainsinitsveryprinciplethenegationofeverythingthatcommodity

dominationisbasedon,anegationthatwillbemanifestedinactsbeforeitismanifestedindiscourse.Thecomingrebellionwillbedifferentfromtherevolutions

ofthepastinthatitwontcalluponanyoftheage-oldtranscendences,rendered

detestablebybeingworndowntoathreadsocontinuallybysomanyoppressiveregimesthirstyforjustification.Atnomomentwillitclaimtodrawitslegitimacy


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fromthePeople,fromPublicOpinion,theChurch,theNation,orfromtheWorking

Class,eveninanattenuatedmanner.Itwillbaseitscauseonnothing,butthatnothingisNothingnessitself,whichasweknowisidenticaltoBeing.Thatitscrimes

demonstratesuchamiraculoussovereigntycomesfromthefactthattheyarenotrootedinanyoftheseparticulartranscendences,whichafterallaretotallydefunct,

butrathertakerootintranscendenceassuch,withnomediation.ThusitrepresentsthemostformidableperiltotheCommodityStatethathaseverbeenmountedagainstit.Whatsbeforeitnowisnottocontestthisorthataspectofthelegal

system,orthisorthatlaw;ratheritistoattackthatwhichcomesbeforealllaw,theobligationofobedienceitself.Evenfurther,thepartisansoftheImaginaryParty

growanddevelopinthemostcompleteviolationofalltheexistingrules,without

everhavingthefeelingthattheyrebreakingthem,sincetheyactintotalcontemptforthemall.Thesepartisansdonotopposethelegalorder,theydeposeit.They

claimahigherjustificationbeyondallwrittenandunwrittenlaws:thelawlesstextthattheythemselvesare.Theythusunearthandrenewtheabsolutescandalof

Sabbateandoctrine,whichaffirmedthatthefulfillmentoftheLawisits

transgression,andleaveitbehind.TheythemselvesconstituteafragmentofTiqqun,inasmuchastheyarethelivingabolitionoftheoldlaw,whichsplit,divided,

andseparated.

FEARWhenitcomestosubjectivity,explainsChristopheDejours,[]weareenteringintoarealmthatis

notincludedinthevisible.Sufferingandpaincanbefelt,butnotseen.Whatisvisiblearethe

defensivestrategiesanddecompensations.

BeyondtheclassicstrainpathologiesamongwhichwehavetheJapanese karoushi(deathby

overwork),andtheAnglo-Saxonburnout,Mr.Dejourssees arecentandmassiveeruptionoffear.

(LeMonde,Thursday,April9th,1998).

ANDTREMBLING

Thuswevebeenseeingmoreandmoreoftheseexecutiveshakeups(bytheshoulders),whichChristopheDejoursaffirmsgeneratefearnotonlyintheshaken-upexecutivebutalsoamonghis

colleagues.(ibid.)

Theyrespondtothestateofexceptionwithastateofexception,andthusthrowthe

sadunrealityofthewholelegaledificebackinitsface.Insum,iftheyrepresentnooneandnothing,thatsnotbydefaultbutonthecontrarybyexcess,intheirrefusal

oftheveryprincipleofrepresentation.Startingfromthefundamentalirreducibility

ofallhumanexistence,theyproclaimthemselvesunsusceptibletorepresentation;theyaretheunrepresentableitself,butalsotheunrepresentative.Analogousinthis

sensetothetotalityoflanguage,oroftheworld,theydefyallconcretereductionto

equivalency.SuchanImaginaryParty,whichrendersthewholemonumentoflegalitytoitsinfamousoriginsasaRomanesquefiction,bringstheCommodityState

downtothelevelofacriminalassociationmerelymoreconsequential,betterorganized,andmorepowerfulthantheothers.Thisinnowaypresumesanykindof

socialdisorganization.Chicagowasadministeredinquitetheexemplaryfashioninthe1920s,afterall.Asyoucansee,theImaginaryPartyisjustasfundamentally

anti-stateasitisanti-popular.Nothingismoreodioustoitthantheideaofa

politicalunity,exceptperhapstheideaofobedience.Inthepresentconditions,it


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canbenoneotherthanthenon-partyofthemultitudes,sinceasthatpieceofshit

Hobbessoforcefullyputit,whenthecitizensrebelagainsttheState,itistheMultitudesagainstthePeople.

XXII

IfthenotionofanImaginaryPartyaboveallnamesthesuspendednegativityofourtimes,whileatthesametimedesignatingitsinvisibility,itmustinseparablybeconceivedofastheideaonthebasisofwhichonecanunderstandthepositive

contentofallthesepractices,whichtheSpectacleonlygraspsthenegativeaspectof;thatis,thebasisforanunderstandingofthatwhichtheyarenot.TheSpectaclecalls

themassdefectionfromtheappallinginstitutionalpoliticalsphereacrisisof

politics,callstheobstinateindifferencethatwelcomestheoverwhelmingfloodoftrashproducedyearafteryearbycontemporaryartacrisisofculture,callsthe

growingrefusalofimprisonmentinschoolsafailureofeducation,callsthemuteresistancetocapitalistmodernizationandtheevermorewidespreadrefusalto

workaneconomiccrisis,callstheresolutedestructionoftheunhealthynuclear

familyacrisisoffamily,andcallswhatisnomorethanthetransparentrejectionofalienatedsocialrelationsandspectacularmoralityacrisisofthesocialpact;thusit

remainsblindtothissilentrevolutionwhichisnotvisibletoalleyes,thatcontemporarymindsaretheleastcapableofobserving,andwhichisasdifficultto

putintowordsasitistoconceiveof.Itfailstorealizethattheformingmind

ripensslowlyandsilentlyintoitsnewfigure,disintegratingfragmentbyfragmenttheedificeofitspriorworld;andthecollapseofthisworldisonlyindicatedbythe

sporadicsymptomsthereof.Frivolousnessandboredominvadewhateverisstillleft,thevagueforebodingoftheunknownthesearethesignsannouncingthat

somethingdifferentishappening.Andthenthiscontinualcrumbling-whichcauses

nochangewhatsoeverinthephysiognomy-issuddenlyinterruptedbythesunrise,

which,inalightningflash,sketchesoutallatoncetheformofthenewworld.(Hegel)Afterallitistruethatwhileserpentsshedtheirskintheyremainblind.

XXIII

AllthepositivityoftheImaginaryPartyislocatedinthegiganticblindspotoftheunrepresentable,whichtheSpectacleisatavisticallyincapableevenofmerely

perceiving.TheImaginaryPartyis,inallaspects,merelythepoliticalconsequenceofthispositivity,theconceptofwhichisCriticalMetaphysics,andthefigureof

whichisBloom.WhenBloom,thatcreaturejusticiablebynosocialdetermination

otherthanthenegative,whoseprimarycharacteristics,asattributedtohimbyHannahArendt-whoidentifiedhimperhapsabitprematurelywiththemass-man-

areisolationandthelackofnormalsocialrelations,becomesthedominanthumantypeinmorethanjustoneworld,commoditysocietydiscoversthatitnolongerhas

anygriponthesesubjectivitieswhichwereneverthelessentirelyformedbyit,and

thatthus,simplybyfollowingitsownnaturalcourse,ithasengendereditsownnegation.Dominationsdefeatbyitsownproductsappearsinaprivilegedfashion

inthesphereofsociology:Bloomiseverywhere,butsociologycannotseehimanywhere.Inthesameway,itwouldbevaintoexpectthatthelatterwouldeverbe

abletogiveanyindicationwhatsoeveroftheeffectiveexistenceoftheImaginary


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Party,theessenceofwhichisextraterrestrialtoit.Andthis,beitsaidinpassing,is

butoneoftheaspectsofthedeathofsociology,whichhasdefinitivelyspoiltthesocializationofsociety,andthusalsosweepsawaythesocializationofsociology.In

thisprocessitdisappearsuponbecomingrealized,andismaderidiculousasaseparatesciencebyitsverylackeys,whointhemeantimewereforcedtobecome

themselvestheirownsociologists.Andso,assoonasacentral,unique,undifferentiatedinstanceofauthoritytheSpectacletakesoverthecontinualsecretionofallsocialcodes,thesocialscienceshavetheirsharereducedtothemere

weightoftheirlies,fromWebertoBordieu.Withthedeathofsociology,awholesectorofclassicalsocialcriticismbasedonsociologyandassociologyshowsits

double-dealing,servileessencebycollapsing.Thatkindofcriticismisnolonger

abletokeepupwiththetimes;itisnolongerapttodescribethemortocontestthem.ThistasknowfallstoCriticalMetaphysics.

XXIV

Uptonowthefrontlinesalongwhichthefriendsandenemiesofthedominant

orderarearrangedhavebeenverypoorlysketchedoutascontinualandlinear.Thisrepresentationmustnowbereplacedbyanimageofinnumerable,circularfront

lines,eachofwhichhasitsspace-timelocatedwithincommunitiesofhumanbeings,practices,andlanguagesthatareinastateofabsoluterebellionagainstcommodity

domination,andwhichthelatterbesiegesceaselessly,inkeepingwithitsimmanent

logic.Everythingthatcontributestothemaintenanceoftheoldrepresentationbelongsintheenemycamp.Thefirstconsequenceofthisnewgeometryofstruggle

hastodowiththeformsubversionspreadsin.Facedwiththeworldoftheauthoritariancommodity,wearenolongerdealingwiththeadvanceofabattlefront

companyaftercompanythatofthepoor,theworkers,orthewretchedoftheEarth

butwithacontagion,similartothesuccessionofconcentricwavesonthesurface

ofapoolofmercurywhenadropfallsintoit.Heretheherdinstinctsofthepastarealsoattacked,bytheintensityofwhatislivedatthedropzone.Itfollowsthattheelementaryrevolutionarysubjectisnolongertheclass,ortheindividual,butthe

metaphysicalcommunity,whateveritsdegreeofexilemaybethisiswhattestifies

tothefundamentallyinsignificantandinconsequentialdefaultcharacterofallpersonaladventuresandallprivatehistoriesintheSpectacle.Agoodgeometrician

doesnotconsideritexaggeratedtoreducetheworldasawholetotheseminiscule,dispersedfocuses,sinceeverythingthatisnotthem,everythingthatdoesnotgive

lifetoaparticularandsharedexistentialcontent,isdead,beyondtheboringwaltzof

appearances.Eachofthesemetaphysicalcommunitiesarisesfromanextremeworld,wheremencannolongerfindoneanotherexceptonthebasisofessentials,

andconstitutesanexclusivepoleofsubstantialityinthemiddleofthedesert.Allrecognitionthatdoesnothaveitsownlawsandallsimplesuperficialityare

excludedfromwithinit.TheretheconditionsarecreatedinwhichtheAbsolutecan

recoveritstemporalpretentions,andpossibilitiesopenupthathadbeenlostsincethemillenarianuprisingsandtheJewishmessianicmovementsofthe17thcentury.

Whateverpeoplemaysayaboutit,theacutedemandforanewstrengthandanewlanguagewhichisfeltthereshinesalightclarifyingthingsfarbeyondthemiseryof

ourtimes.Andthatispreciselywhattheforcesofdecompositionfear,forceswhich


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promisesuchexcessivefavortothosewhoconsenttorenouncingthemselvesin

ordertobelovedbythem.

Theprofessorspoke,thenwroteonthechalkboard,andshewaitedforustowrite,towrite,to

writetowriteeverythingshesaid.AndallofasuddenIlookedandsawwhatabeautifulday

itwasoutside.IdonthavetobotheranyoneelseifIdontagreewithwhatisbeingproposedtome.SoIleft.(LeMonde,TuesdayJuly7,1998).

TheImaginaryParty,aboveall,refersonlytothepositivefactofthismultitudeof

autonomouszones,freefromcommoditydomination,whichareexperiencinghereandnow-beyondthereachofthedeteriorationofthealienatedCommonandthe

lastdeaththroesofaperishingsocialorganismtheirownformsofPublicity.Upto

now,therehasbeennofederationtoitexceptbyintellection.Andthatwhichbondsthemisineffectatfirstmerelyapassivecharacter:thesearecommunitiesinwhich

themeaningandformoflifeismoreimportantthanlifeitself,wherethedutyofbeinghasbeenelevateduptothepointofincandescence.Theythussharethesame

metaphysicalsubstance,althoughtheystilldontknowit.Itisonlyundertheblackauspicesoftheircommonpersecutionbytheglobalhegemonyofthecommoditythattheymustcometorecognizethemselvesforwhattheyare:fractionsofthe

ImaginaryParty.Thereissomethingineluctableaboutthisprocess;theresistancethatthesecommunitiesputuptothegeneralizedreductiontoequivalencyexpressly

setsthemoutbeforetheroller-compactorsofthereigningabstraction.Butinthe

endtheonlyidentifiableeffectofthisoppressionisthattheseindependentuniversesseethemselvesforcedbytheirenemytoleavetheimmediacyoftheirown

particularityonebyone;andtoreceivetheiruniversalcharacterfromtheirenemyinthecourseoftheirstruggleagainstit.Anditistothepreciseextentthatthis

enemyisnoneotherthanapermanenteffortforthenegationofmetaphysicsthat

theyattaintotheconsciousnessofwhatunitesthem:nottheaffirmationofanyonemetaphysicsinparticular,butofmetaphysicsitselfassuch.Thisbond,whichis

certainlynotimmediate,isinnowayformal,andnotatallaconstruct;ratheritissomethingthatprecedesallfreedom,andgivesititsveryfoundation:anexistential,

absolute,concretehostilitytocommoditynihilism.Itfollowsfromthisthat,

contrarytoeverythingthathasbeencalledapartyinthepast,theImaginaryPartydoesnotneedtoconvergeonageneralunitedintentorwill,becauseitalready

sharestheCommon,hereidentifiedwithalanguage,Mentality,metaphysics,orevenapoliticsoffinitenessandinthesecircumstancesallthesetermsbecome

pseudonymsforoneandthesameUnspeakablething.Tosaythatthecoherenceof

theImaginaryPartyisofametaphysicalnatureisthusinnowayintendedtoevoke

anythingotherthantheeverydaywarthateachofusisalreadyengagedin,whichopposesthatcoherenceagainsttheruminantnegationofallforms-of-life.Atthispoint,theneedforitsunificationimposesitselfonallitselements,asidenticaltoits

becomingconscious:thebattleisbetweenthemodernworld,ontheonehand,and

alltheotherpossibleworldsontheother.(Pguy,SequentialNotes).Allthosewho,inlovewithtruth,thoughcertainlynotthesametruth,cometogethertowreckthe

patheticcommoditymetaphysics,arerallyingroundtheImaginaryParty.Butthemovementthatproducesthisunityisalsothemovementwheredifferencesareset


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outandfreezeinplace.Eachparticularcommunity,initsstruggleagainsttheempty

universalityofthecommodity,recognizesitsparticularnaturelittlebylittle,andelevatesitselftoaconsciousnessofthatparticularity;thatis,itapprehendsits

reflectionandmediatesitselfthroughtheuniversal.ItinscribesitselfintheconcretegeneralityoftheMind,whoseprogressthroughfiguresisabanquet

celebrationwhereallirreducibilitiesrejoiceindrunkenrevelry.Fragmentafterfragment,thereappropriationoftheCommoncontinues.Andsoitisthatoverthecourseofthebattlethenomadicballetofcommunitiestakesonthecomplex,

architecturalstructureofametaphysicalcastesystemwhoseprinciplecanonlybeplay,thatis,asovereignconsciousnessofNothingness.Eachmetaphysicalreign

slowlylearnsthefrontiersofitsterritoryonthecontinentoftheInfinite.Atthe

sametimeageneralcommonisconstructedwhichcontainswithinitallthedifferentiatedtotalitiesoftheregionalcommons;thatis,itisthelayoutoftheir

Limes.*ItistobeexpectedthatasvictoryapproachesthemenoftheImaginaryPartywillnolongersomuchhavetowagebattletodefeatwhatis,afterall,avery

weakenedenemy,astheywillhavetofighttofinallygivefreereintotheir

metaphysicalconflicts,whichtheyintendtoexhaust,physicallyandinplay.Andinsuchmatterstheyarefiercepartisansofviolence,butofahighlyritualized,agonistic

violence,richinmeaning.AsonecanplainlyseeanditwouldbequitewrongtobedisappointedaboutitthetriumphoftheImaginaryPartywillalsobeitsdefeat,

anditsdisintegration.

XXV

TheformofPublicityprefiguredbyandprevailingintheImaginaryPartyhas

nothingtodowithanythingthatcould

havebeenelaboratedinclassical

politicalphilosophy.Ifwereallyhadtoattributesomeancestrytoit,wewouldhavetohearkenbacktowhatwas

fugitivelysketchedoutinthoserareand

preciousmomentsofinsurrectionthataroseintheSoviets,theCommunes,the

Aragonesecollectivesof1936-1937,orinthesecretschoolsoftheKabbalah,

theSafedschoolforinstance.Every

timethatthelattermanagedtocarveoutawayontotheunwelcomingstage

ofHistory,theconsequencesknewnolimits.Fewamongthosewholived

throughthoseinstantswhereHistory

emerged,shatteringwholeslabsoftheamputatedandlimitedformsof

*i.e.thelimesromanus.Thelimes(pl.limites)wastheAncientRomanborderdelimiting/defense

system,markingtheboundariesoftheEmpire.

In these darkling days we are watching the final phase of the

decompositionofcommoditysociety,which,weadmit,haslastedonlytoo

long. On the planetary level, we are seeing the divergence, of ever

growing proportions, between the map of the commodity and theterritoriesofMan.


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Publicity,andmadeitselfplainlyperceptible,werethenabletoendureseeingthe

worldasitisremainingasitis,oncetheireyeshadglimpsedtheunparalleleddawnoftherestitutioinintegrumofTiqqun.Butitisnowanecessaryconsequenceof

evolutionasithastakenplaceinalldevelopedcommoditysocietiesthatthisthing,whichwehaveonlyseenviolentlybreakingandentering,hasnowtakenup

residenceinsilenceandcalmforthelonghaul,unperceived,withitsadvancementapparentlytakenforgranted.Astrangespectacleindeed,thisworldwherethedominantformsofexistenceareknownconceptuallytohavebeentranscended,but

persistwithinbeing,asifitwerenothing,while,beyondtheextremealienationofPublicityimposedbytheSpectacle,andasacounterweightthereunto,weseethe

dawningthoughstillmingledtogetherwiththecontraryprincipleofahumanity

whichfeedsexclusivelyonmeaning,adulteratedthoughitmaybe.Liberatedfromtheneedtoproduce,freedfromthechainsthatboundthemtoworkinglanded

estates,fragileworldstakeshapeinwhichelectiveaffinityiseverythingandservitudenothing.Theruinsofthemetropolisesalreadyhavenothinglivingwithin

thembesidesthesefluidhumanaggregatesofindividualswho,findingnomorereal

reasonfortheiralienation,scurryaroundinitinalldirections.TheslaveryofthemenoftheSpectacleappearsjustasextravaganttothemastheirfreedomappears

incomprehensibletotheformer.Inthesuspendedanimationoftheirexistence,theproblematicnatureoftheworldhasceasedtobeproblematic;ithasbecomethe

verymaterialofthelifetheylive.Languagenolongerappearstothemasa

laboriousexterioritythatmustfirstberecoveredintheselfandthen

appliedtotheworld;ithasbecometheimmediatesubstanceofthelatter.

Atnomomentdoestheiractioncome

offasseparatefromtheirspeech.

AndsothenwecanunderstandthattheSpectacle,wherepoliticsandeconomicsremainabstractions

separatefrommetaphysics,

representsforthemabygonefigureofPublicity.Butitisinfactalltheold

petrifieddualismsthathavebeenabolishedinthesubstantial

continuityofmeaning.Inthese

totalities,richinmeaning,full,andopen,eternitytakesupresidence

withineachinstant,andthewholeuniverseineachofitsdetails.Their

world,thecity,sheltersthemasan

interiority,whiletheirinterioritytakesonthedimensionsofawholeworld.Inapartial,andunfortunatelyreversible

andprovisionalmanner,theyarealreadywithintherestorationofthebrokenunityoftherealandthetranscendent.(Lukcs).Wereitnotforthecapricesof

domination,theirliveswouldbythemselvestendtowardstherealizationofallthe

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(')'-)2/5#$6%%7)%*-%+/)%-/8$)#*+,%)#')%8*,#)%#*)%0-%')%'+1%

8/8$+)9%*)3-%#'55$+*+,%2*,#)%+/:6;%


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humanpotentialitiesthattheycontain.ThiscomingfigureofPublicitycorresponds

tothemaximumdeploymentofthatrealization;thatis,itespouseslanguagewithouttheslightestreserve:indeed,itislanguage,asitknowssilence.There,the

essenceisnolongerseparatefromtheappearance,butmanhasceasedtoconfusethemwithhimself.There,theMindhasitsResidence,anditpeacefullywatchesits

ownmetamorphoses.Languageistheunique,new,andeternalLaw,whichgoesbeyondallthepastlawswhichitwas,afterall,butthematerialfor,thoughinafrozenstate.IftheoldformsofPublicityarosewithamoreorlessbalanced,more

orlessharmoniousconstruction,it,onthecontrary,ishorizontal,labyrinthine,topological.Norepresentationcanextendtocoveritatanypoint.Allitsspace

demandstobetraversed.AsfortheoperationalstructureoftheImaginaryParty--

asfortheinnervationofthisworld--itisnotcomprisedofanykindofaverticaldelegationsystematall,butofamodeoftransmissionwhichitselfispartyofthe

limitlesshorizontalityoflanguage:theExample.TheflatgeographyoftheworldofTiqquninnowaysignifiestheabolitionofvaluesandtheendoftheveryhuman

pursuitofrecognition.Itssimplythatinsteaditisbytheauthorityoftheprototype

andnotthenormativityoforder(Virno,Miracle,Virtuosity,andDj-vu)thatitistherepermissibletomen,asitisnowtothefractionsoftheImaginaryParty,to

imposetheirexcellence.ThemapoftheworldwearesketchingoutisnoneotherthanthemapoftheMind.ItisatpresentthisPublicityoftheMindthatis

everywhereoverflowingwiththepartyofnothingness,whoseidiocyand

tactlessnessbecomemoreferociousandmoreintolerableeveryday.Andwewillinevitablyputanendtoit.

XXVI

Theall-outwarwagedbytheSpectacleagainsttheImaginaryPartyandonfreedom

hasdoubtlessalreadydevastatedwholeregionsofthesocialspace.Peoplehave

decreedthatprotectivemeasuresbeimplementedinthatspace,measuresthattheworldhadbeenaccustomedtoonlyinglobalconflicts:curfews,militaryescorts,methodicalcollectionofpersonalinformationfordatabases,armsand

communicationscontrol,takeoverofwholesectorsoftheeconomy,etc.Themenof

thesetimesaremarchingstraightintoaworldofmaniacalfear.Theirnightmaresarepopulatedbytorturesthatarealreadynolongerjustthestuffofdreams.Once

againonehearspeoplespeakofpirates,monsters,andgiants.Tiedtotheprogressofauniversalsentimentofinsecurity,everydayfacialexpressionsshowthe

demonstrationofafatalandcontinualaccumulationofpettynervousexhaustions.

Andsinceeacheradreamsoftheeratocome,littlebigshotsproliferate,whofightforcontroloverpublicspace,whichhasalreadybeenreducedtothemerespaceof

circulation.Theweakestmindsgiveineasilytoinsanerumorsthatnoonecanconfirmordeny.Aninfinitedarknessfillsthedistancemenleavebetweeneach

other.Everyday,inspiteofthatgrowingdarkness,thegloomyoutlinesofthecivil

warareclarifiedalittlemore,acivilwarwherenooneknowswhosfightingandwhoisnt;wheretheonlylimittotheconfusionisdeath;whereinthefinalanalysis

theonlythingthatiscertainisthattheworstisyettocome.Andsoweremain,beforethecomingbirth,withintheobviousdisaster;butnothingkeepsourgaze

fromgoingbeyondit.Itappears,then,thatthesearethebirthpangs,thatnonew


25/25

erahastherighttobeexemptfrom.Hewhosquintstoseeinthenightthecoming

clashoftheTitanswilldiscoverthatallthisdesolation,allthesedeafechoesofcannonblasts,allthesefacelesscriesarebutthedoingofthelone,hideousTitanof

CommodityDomination,which,initsbloodthirstydelirium,isstruggling,howling,firingatwill,stompingitsfeet,convincedthatsomeonesafterhim,barkinginsane

orders,rollingaroundontheground,andendingupslamminghiswholeweightagainstthewallsofhislivingroom.Fromthedepthsofhismadness,heswearsthattheImaginaryPartyisthedarknesssurroundinghim,andthatitmustbeabolished.

Heappearstoreallyhaveaproblemwiththisnefariousterritory,whichinsistsonneveragreeingwithhismaps,andalreadyhethreatensitallwiththeworst

reprisals.Butashisdaywearson,nooneslisteninganymore;evenhisclosest

subjectslendnomorethanadistractedeartothedementedoldfoolashehuffsandpuffsTheyjustpretendtolisten,thenwinkaknowingeye.

XXVII

TheImaginaryPartyexpectsnothingfromthepresentsocietyanditsevolution,

becausepracticallythatis,initsrealactsitisalreadyitsverydissolutionandthatwhichliesbeyondit.Consequently,itcannotbeamatteroftakingpower,but

onlydefeatingdominationeverywhere,bymakingitdurablyimpossibleforitsapparatustogoonfunctioningthetemporary,andinplaceseventhefugitive

characterofthecontestationatworkunderthebanneroftheImaginaryPartycan

beexplainedbythis:itguaranteesthatititselfwillneverbecomeaPower.Thatswhytheviolenceittakesrecoursetoisofatotallydifferentnaturethanthe

Spectaclesviolence.Andthatsalsowhythelatterisinfactjuststrugglingaloneinthedarkness.Evenwhencommoditydominationunleashesitsfreedomofthe

void,itsnegativewillthatonlyfeelsitsexistencewhenitsbeingdestroyed

(Hegel),whereasitsviolencewithoutcontentonlyaspirestotheinfiniteextension

ofnothingness,theexerciseofviolencebytheImaginaryParty,unlimitedasitmaybe,isonlyattachedtothepreservationofforms-of-lifethatcentersofpowerarepreparingtoalter,oralreadythreaten.Thatiswhereitsincomparableforceand

auracomesfrom.Thatisalsowhereitsfullnessandabsolutelegitimacyoriginate.

Evenwhenitistotallyontheoffensive,itisapreservingviolence.Wethusreencounterthedissymmetrythatwespokeofbefore.TheImaginaryPartydoes

nothavethesamegoalsasdominationdoes,andiftheyareconcurrent,itsonlybecauseeachofthemwantstodestroythatwhichtheotherpursuestherealization

of;thedifferenceisthattheSpectaclewantsnomorethanthat.Whetherthe

ImaginaryPartywilldefeatcommoditysocietyandmakethatvictoryirreversibleornotwilldependonitsabilitytogiveintensity,grandeurandsubstancetoalifefreed

fromalldomination,nolessthanontheaptitudeofitsconsciousfractionstoexplainitintheirpracticeasmuchasintheirtheory.Itistobefearedthatdominationwill

findageneralizedsuicide,whereitwillatleastbeguaranteedtotakeitsadversary

downwithit,preferabletoitsdefeat.Butfromstarttofinish,thatsthebetweremaking.Itsgoingtobeuptohistoryanditsfrozenoperationtojudgewhether

whatwereundertakingismerelyabeginningoralreadyanend.TheAbsoluteisinhistory.

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Imaginary Party