Re: Culture and Self-Negation

--part1_ae.35edccc3.2b531c18_boundary
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

In a message dated 1/9/03 12:11:34 AM Pacific Standard Time,
Nathan_Goralnik@xxxxxxxxx writes:
> On the one hand, you describe subject formation along the lines of
> interpellation into a symbolic order constructed through narratives, and on
> the other hand you seem to cast negative light on precisely the perspective
> you offer.

Nathan,

I am not "casting a negative light on a perspective." Rather, I am
suggesting that our attachment to the symbolic order, the relationship of the
subject to cultural narratives, has deeply negative (as well as positive)
consequences).

I wish to emphasize the close connection between "goodness" and
"badness" in the individual's relationship to culture. Our attachment to the
symbolic order may be significant in generating our subjectivity, but it also
may lead to the most extreme forms of destruction and self-destruction. That
which a culture values as the essence of "goodness" is also that which
generate the most extreme forms of evil.

Hitler said:

"What brought the National Socialist Movement into being is the yearning for
a true community of the German Volk. Fate has given us the great task of
eliminating the disunity of the German Volk, the roots of its misfortune."

This sounds positive. Hitler embraced "community" and "unity." These terms
embody the essence of what is considered "good" within a national culture.

However, then Hitler goes on to say that his Movement can only fulfill
this "one great mission" (of creating a unified community) if it
"uncompromisingly exterminates the things which tear our Volk apart."

I have been attempting to convey the message that human violence is
not generated on the basis of the "breakdown" of society or civilization, but
precisely the opposite.

Hitler constantly called the Jew a "force of disintegration." They
were identified as the group that worked to fracture the sense of community,
destroy German unity.

What I am suggesting is that we need to be aware of the inherently
AMBIVALENT meaning of our attaching to meta narratives. On the one hand, we
relate to ideas like "community," "civilization," etc., as the essence of
goodness.

On the other hand, it is in the name of maintaining these ideas that
societal violence is generated. Attachment to meta narratives (the "good")
and cultural violence ("evil") CANNOT BE SEPARATED.

Regards,

Richard K.

Richard Koenigsberg, Ph. D.
Director, Library of Social Science

--part1_ae.35edccc3.2b531c18_boundary
Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

<HTML>In a message dated 1/9/03 12:11:34 AM Pacific Standard Time, Nathan_Goralnik@xxxxxxxxx writes: 
<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">On the one hand, you describe subject formation along the lines of interpellation into a symbolic order constructed through narratives, and on the other hand you seem to cast negative light on precisely the perspective you offer.</BLOCKQUOTE> 
 
Nathan, 
 
       I am not "casting a negative light on a perspective." Rather, I am suggesting that our attachment to the symbolic order, the relationship of the subject to cultural narratives, has deeply negative (as well as positive) consequences). 
 
       I wish to emphasize the close connection between "goodness" and "badness" in the individual's relationship to culture. Our attachment to the symbolic order may be significant in generating our subjectivity, but it also may lead to the most extreme forms of destruction and self-destruction. That which a culture values as the essence of "goodness" is also that which generate the most extreme forms of evil. 
 
       Hitler said: 
 
"What brought the National Socialist Movement into being is the yearning for a true community of the German Volk. Fate has given us the great task of eliminating the disunity of the German Volk, the roots of its misfortune." 
 
This sounds positive. Hitler embraced "community" and "unity." These terms embody the essence of what is considered "good" within a national culture. 
 
       However, then Hitler goes on to say that his Movement can only fulfill this "one great mission" (of creating a unified community) if it "uncompromisingly exterminates the things which tear our Volk apart." 
 
       I have been attempting to convey the message that human violence is not generated on the basis of the "breakdown" of society or civilization, but precisely the opposite. 
 
       Hitler constantly called the Jew a "force of disintegration." They were identified as the group that worked to fracture the sense of community, destroy German unity. 
 
       What I am suggesting is that we need to be aware of the inherently AMBIVALENT meaning of our attaching to meta narratives. On the one hand, we relate to ideas like "community," "civilization," etc., as the essence of goodness. 
 
       On the other hand, it is in the name of maintaining these ideas that societal violence is generated. Attachment to meta narratives (the "good") and cultural violence ("evil") CANNOT BE SEPARATED. 
 
Regards, 
 
Richard K. 
 
 
Richard Koenigsberg, Ph. D. 
Director, Library of Social Science</HTML>

--part1_ae.35edccc3.2b531c18_boundary--