I think that the discussion of Baudrillard's FORGET FOUCAULT so far has
missed why JB thinks we can forget MF. Although, as one contributor noted,
JB follows a Foucaultian genealogical method in developing his theory of
simulations as historical stages, once we enter the era of simulations
proper, postmodernity, we are propelled beyond modernity and thus beyond
the world of Foucault. Thus, JB affirms that MF has very nicely described
the world of modern power but these forms of power are volatized in the
worlds of simulation. Henceforth, media, cyberspace, and other areas not
described by MF are the locus of the postmodern and power dissolves into
cynical effects. Of course, one can argue that JB exaggerates the
transition to postmodernity and I would argue that we are between the
modern and the postmodern and that we should therefore not forget either
JB nor MF, but can use both to help theorize our current situation.
Douglas Kellner, Dept of Philosophy, Univ of Texas, Austin, TX 78712
kellner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx fax: 512 471-4806
Web sites: Postmodern theory= http://ccwf.cc.utexas.edu/~kellner/pm/pm.html
Critical theory= http://www.uta.edu/english/dab/illuminations/
missed why JB thinks we can forget MF. Although, as one contributor noted,
JB follows a Foucaultian genealogical method in developing his theory of
simulations as historical stages, once we enter the era of simulations
proper, postmodernity, we are propelled beyond modernity and thus beyond
the world of Foucault. Thus, JB affirms that MF has very nicely described
the world of modern power but these forms of power are volatized in the
worlds of simulation. Henceforth, media, cyberspace, and other areas not
described by MF are the locus of the postmodern and power dissolves into
cynical effects. Of course, one can argue that JB exaggerates the
transition to postmodernity and I would argue that we are between the
modern and the postmodern and that we should therefore not forget either
JB nor MF, but can use both to help theorize our current situation.
Douglas Kellner, Dept of Philosophy, Univ of Texas, Austin, TX 78712
kellner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx fax: 512 471-4806
Web sites: Postmodern theory= http://ccwf.cc.utexas.edu/~kellner/pm/pm.html
Critical theory= http://www.uta.edu/english/dab/illuminations/