‘The Fool’ Revisited: The Making of Žižek as Sacrificial Public Intellectual


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Type
Article
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Authors
Bar-El, Eliran 
Baert, Patrick 
Abstract

jats:pThis article provides a sociological explanation for the global emergence of Slavoj Žižek as a public intellectual. It presents an integrative account encompassing both personal and institutional aspects. Drawing on positioning theory and performative frameworks, the article contributes to the sociology of intellectuals, as well as to the vast ‘Žižek-literature’ that focuses on his philosophical content or political activities. We analyse the distinctiveness of Žižek’s performances, arguing that Žižek acts as a ‘sacrificial intellectual’: he plays ‘the fool’ and relies on irony to undermine the traditional role of the authoritative intellectual. Within the context of the digital public sphere and declining intellectual authority, Žižek’s unique form of positioning has been particularly effective and has contributed to his celebrity status.</jats:p>

Description
Keywords
4701 Communication and Media Studies, 47 Language, Communication and Culture, 44 Human Society
Journal Title
Cultural Sociology
Conference Name
Journal ISSN
1749-9755
1749-9763
Volume Title
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Rights
All rights reserved