Why Theory Surplus Enjoyment
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Sep 16, 2023 The podcast explores the concept of surplus enjoyment and its ties to capitalism. It discusses the disappearance and revival of the term 'lekon' in seminars. The podcast also delves into the connection between surplus enjoyment and perversion, Trump's embodiment of surplus enjoyment, and the connection between right-wing populism and capitalism. It further explores the historical development of the current system and its impact on society, as well as comparing action movies from the 80s to recent films.
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Surplus Enjoyment As Causal Force
- Lacan proposes surplus enjoyment as a psychic counterpart to Marx's surplus value that helps explain capitalism's hold.
- This homology makes surplus enjoyment causal for capitalist relations, not merely an effect.
Translation Shapes The Concept
- Lacan uses the French phrasing 'plus de jouir' which translators rendered as 'surplus enjoyment', not the noun jouissance.
- That verbal form ties the term to Marx's 'plus-value' and creates a conceptual homology, not a simple synonym.
Why People Stay Invested
- Surplus enjoyment explains why nonbeneficiaries remain invested in capitalism; it offers psychic rewards that material analysis alone misses.
- Lacan links this enjoyment to masochistic structures and the persistence of capitalist relations.