Tentative Andy
I'm in the Meal Deal
Ok, that k-punk post has got me fairly annoyed, but that's probably what he wanted, and it's useful in a way because it's got me geared up to make a topic about some of the presuppositons behind it and some other blogland posts. Come soon. In the meantime, something vaguely relevant to this thread and the question about whether Badiou is a hegemonic figure currently, and if so, why is this annoying people?
I'll happily admit that I know next to nothing about the higher echelons of academia, and so can't comment on whether there a huge number of card-carrying Badiouvians about at the level, or how being one affects people in terms of conference reception, presitgeous job appointments, publishing deals etc (though the recent Communism Conference and the ammount of attention that was paid Badiou at it must mean something, I think, even if it's just that he's held as something as a figurehead for the oppositional/marginalised parts of the academy).
Where Badiouvian thought does appear to be very influential however, to the point of often being accepted without question or justification, is... not perhaps this site in particular, but certainly the larger network of message boards, websites and blogs of which it is a part. It seems to me that a particulary strong influence is notable on the sort of blogs which dabble in a bit of philosophy, a bit of general cultural theory, a bit of more specific criticism on music, film etc (and I'm not the first by any means to make this accusation, of course) - there's definately a small but very influential network that exists between k-punk, Infinite Though, owen h and Poetix's own blog (however modest he may be about it), one of the functions of which has to been to promote central Badiouvian ideas. It should also be noted that k-punk in particular has been influential in the passing-down of similar ideas to other bloggers and critics like Reynolds and Woebot, who do not primarily deal with philosophy and who may not be formally philosophically trained. (I'm aware this may all seem a bit paranoid, but reckon it contains some undeniable truth).
Edit: I forgot to mention gek/Mr Splintering, who's clearly another important part of the Badiouvian on-line merry-go-round (or austerity-go-round? ;D ), but to his credit he's far more self-aware and self-critical than most. If there's anyone else that I've missed, then no offence, I've probably just not read you yet.
Oh and Poetix, I really don't mean to pick a fight with you, but as regards Heidegger and 'authoritarian obscuratanism', I really don't find Being and Time on the whole to be obscure in any needless or oppressive way. His later work I struggle with though, I'll acknowledge that.
I'll happily admit that I know next to nothing about the higher echelons of academia, and so can't comment on whether there a huge number of card-carrying Badiouvians about at the level, or how being one affects people in terms of conference reception, presitgeous job appointments, publishing deals etc (though the recent Communism Conference and the ammount of attention that was paid Badiou at it must mean something, I think, even if it's just that he's held as something as a figurehead for the oppositional/marginalised parts of the academy).
Where Badiouvian thought does appear to be very influential however, to the point of often being accepted without question or justification, is... not perhaps this site in particular, but certainly the larger network of message boards, websites and blogs of which it is a part. It seems to me that a particulary strong influence is notable on the sort of blogs which dabble in a bit of philosophy, a bit of general cultural theory, a bit of more specific criticism on music, film etc (and I'm not the first by any means to make this accusation, of course) - there's definately a small but very influential network that exists between k-punk, Infinite Though, owen h and Poetix's own blog (however modest he may be about it), one of the functions of which has to been to promote central Badiouvian ideas. It should also be noted that k-punk in particular has been influential in the passing-down of similar ideas to other bloggers and critics like Reynolds and Woebot, who do not primarily deal with philosophy and who may not be formally philosophically trained. (I'm aware this may all seem a bit paranoid, but reckon it contains some undeniable truth).
Edit: I forgot to mention gek/Mr Splintering, who's clearly another important part of the Badiouvian on-line merry-go-round (or austerity-go-round? ;D ), but to his credit he's far more self-aware and self-critical than most. If there's anyone else that I've missed, then no offence, I've probably just not read you yet.
Oh and Poetix, I really don't mean to pick a fight with you, but as regards Heidegger and 'authoritarian obscuratanism', I really don't find Being and Time on the whole to be obscure in any needless or oppressive way. His later work I struggle with though, I'll acknowledge that.
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