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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
!"#$%&'()%)#')%)#*+,-%.(/+)*+0$%'-%)#$1%'2$3%*-%*)-$4&%)#$%
(')'-)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
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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.