Interrogating the Real [Paperback]

Slavoj Zizek (Author), Scott Stephens (Author), Rex Butler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 19, 2006

Interrogating the Real is the first volume of the collected writings of Slavoj Žižek - undoubtedly one of the world's leading contemporary cultural commentators, and one of the most inspiring, provocative and entertaining cultural critics at work today. Drawing upon the full range of his prolific output, the articles here cover psychoanalysis, philosophy and popular culture, reflecting the remarkable breadth and depth of Žižek's interest in politics, culture and philosophy, and also showcasing his entertaining style. A full and clear sense of Žižekian philosophy emerges, derived from Hegelian dialectics, Marxist politics and Lacanian psychoanalysis. At the same time, Žižek's witty and accessible approach to his subject and his choice of exemplars from pop culture ensure that this is a consistently fresh and surprising body of work.

The book includes a new preface by Žižek himself, as well as an introduction by the editors and a helpful glossary for those coming to Žižek's work for the first time.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'The most formidably brilliant exponent of psychoanalysis, indeed of cultural theory in general, to have emerged from Europe in some decades.' Terry Eagleton

'One of the most innovative and exciting contemporary thinkers of the left.' TLS

"The Giant of Ljubljana strikes again. In Interrogating the Real, the first volume of his collected writings. Slavoj Zizek proves that as a scholar he is as absurdly prolific as he is incorrigibly entertaining. Lauded by Terry Eagleton on the back cover of the book as "the most formidably brilliant exponent of psychoanalysis, indeed of cultural theory in general, to have emerged from Europe in some decades," Zizek is known for his fast and loose style and his penchant for fiddling with philosophy, psychoanalysis and cultural studies all in one fell swoop. Whether you love him or hate him, it is indisputable that Zizek has made quite a name for himself and has assumed the status of an academic rock star.

Appropriately, then, Interrogating the Real stands as a sort of greatest hits album. The book is an assemblage of fifteen pieces, dating mainly from the 1980's and 1990's. Of varying length and form, the pieces range from transcriptions of interviews and lectures to reprinted journal articles or book chapters. Although most of the essays have already appeared elsewhere, some of them had not yet been translated into English or were only available in journals that are not readily accessible to most readers. It is thus useful tot have the pieces collected into one easy to access volume."

Cristina Laurita, February 2007 , Janus Head, Summer/Fall Open issue 2006, 9.1.

"A critically important acquisition for academic library philosophy collections and student reading lists, this first volume of Professor Zizek's work is divided into three principle sections: 'Lacanian Orientations'; 'Philosophy Traversed by Psychoanalysis'; and 'The Fantasy of Ideology'. Enhanced with a glossary, an index, and an 'Author's Afterword: Why Hegel is a Lacanian', "Interrogating the Real" showcases impeccable scholarship and clearly documents Professor Zizek as an original and insightful philosopher in his own right." - The Midwest Book Review

"A...wiser approach for the uninitiated would be to go straight to Interrogating the Real. Advertised as the first volume in Zizek's collected works, this book is really a volume of selected essays. What distinguishes it from many of Zizek's other books that could also be described in that way, is that Butler and Stephens' superb collection of well chosen and carefully arranged pieces of writing provides an excellent introduction to Zizek's unwieldy oeuvre...a close reading of Interrogating the Real will show that a sustained engagement with Europe's anti-habermas while he is in his prime, can only enrich philosophy." —Roderick Nicholls, Philosophy in Review

Reviewed in Common Knowledge, Volume 14, Issue 1.

“The Giant of Ljubljana strikes again. In Interrogating the Real, the first volume of his collected writings. Slavoj Zizek proves that as a scholar he is as absurdly prolific as he is incorrigibly entertaining. Lauded by Terry Eagleton on the back cover of the book as “the most formidably brilliant exponent of psychoanalysis, indeed of cultural theory in general, to have emerged from Europe in some decades,” Zizek is known for his fast and loose style and his penchant for fiddling with philosophy, psychoanalysis and cultural studies all in one fell swoop. Whether you love him or hate him, it is indisputable that Zizek has made quite a name for himself and has assumed the status of an academic rock star.

Appropriately, then, Interrogating the Real stands as a sort of greatest hits album. The book is an assemblage of fifteen pieces, dating mainly from the 1980’s and 1990’s. Of varying length and form, the pieces range from transcriptions of interviews and lectures to reprinted journal articles or book chapters. Although most of the essays have already appeared elsewhere, some of them had not yet been translated into English or were only available in journals that are not readily accessible to most readers. It is thus useful tot have the pieces collected into one easy to access volume.”

Cristina Laurita, February 2007 , Janus Head, Summer/Fall Open issue 2006, 9.1.

"A critically important acquisition for academic library philosophy collections and student reading lists, this first volume of Professor Zizek’s work is divided into three principle sections: 'Lacanian Orientations’; 'Philosophy Traversed by Psychoanalysis’; and 'The Fantasy of Ideology’. Enhanced with a glossary, an index, and an 'Author’s Afterword: Why Hegel is a Lacanian’, “Interrogating the Real” showcases impeccable scholarship and clearly documents Professor Zizek as an original and insightful philosopher in his own right.” - The Midwest Book Review

“A…wiser approach for the uninitiated would be to go straight to Interrogating the Real. Advertised as the first volume in Zizek’s collected works, this book is really a volume of selected essays. What distinguishes it from many of Zizek’s other books that could also be described in that way, is that Butler and Stephens’ superb collection of well chosen and carefully arranged pieces of writing provides an excellent introduction to Zizek’s unwieldy oeuvre…a close reading of Interrogating the Real will show that a sustained engagement with Europe’s anti-habermas while he is in his prime, can only enrich philosophy.” –Roderick Nicholls, Philosophy in Review

About the Author

Slavoj Žižek is one of the world's leading contemporary cultural critics and a hugely prolific author. He is Professor of Cultural Studies at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia and Visiting Professor at the New School for Social Research, New York, USA. Rex Butler is Associate Professor in Art History at the University of Queensland, Australia. His previous publications include Jean Baudrillard: The Defence of the Real (Sage, 1999).

Scott Stephens is Researcher at the Centre for Theology and Politics, Brisbane, Australia.

Product Details

• Paperback: 392 pages
• Publisher: Continuum (December 19, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0826489737
• ISBN-13: 978-0826489739
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #182,178 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

"The most dangerous philosopher in the West," (says Adam Kirsch of The New Republic) Slavoj Zizek is a Slovenian philosopher and cultural critic. He is a professor at the European Graduate School, International Director of the Birkbeck Institute for the Humanities, Birkbeck College, University of London, and a senior researcher at the Institute of Sociology, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. His books include "First as Tragedy, Then as Farce;" "Iraq: The Borrowed Kettle;" "In Defense of Lost Causes;" "Living in the End Times;" and many more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

78 of 85 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars High theory's prankster at his best, January 11, 2006

By 

William H. Payne "William H. Payne" (Chattanooga, TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Interrogating the Real: Selected Writings (Hardcover)

I still have a few essays left in this little gem, but I would already highly recommend it because I have never had a better experience understanding Zizek.

First off, if you simply wish to gain a straight forward understanding of some of the possible theoretically usages of Lacan, Hegel, Kant, Foucault, Heidegger and a host of other heavy hitters then Zizek is your man. He loves a tangent, but he uses anecodotes, jokes and examples from popular culture to demonstrate difficult concepts in a clear way. (In my opion, that's what real genius is.)

Secondly, the essays are very witty, sometimes even hilarious. Whether Zizek is explaining that the Lacanian analyst is like Hannibal Lecter trying to eat Clarisse Starling's 'Dasein' or describing the perverse self-denials in Casablanca, he is always pretty snarky.

Lastly, I think Zizek, despite his penchant for silliness, does have a serious project. I think he wants people to use logic to transcend academic and psuedo-academic fads and to understand that human beings are miraculous and miraculously cracked. Zizek is miraculously cracked, that's for sure.

23 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A critically important acquisition, February 2, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Interrogating the Real (Paperback)

The first collection in a series of essays by Slavoj Zizek, who is a Professor of Cultural Studies at the University of Ljubljana, Slovena and Visiting Professor at the New School for Social Research, New York and one of the leading contemporary cultural critics of the 20th century. A critically important acquisition for academic library Philosophy collections and student reading lists, this first volume of Professor Zizek's work is divided into three principle sections: 'Lacanian Orientations'; 'Philosophy Traversed by Psychoanalysis'; and 'The Fantasy of Ideology'. Enhanced with a glossary, an index, and an 'Author's Afterword: Why Hegel is a Lacanian', "Interrogating The Real" showcases impeccable scholarship and clearly documents Professor Zizek as an original and insightful philosopher in his own right.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Zizek Dictionary on Hegel, Lacan, and Freud, November 16, 2008

By 

Carib "theorygirl" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Interrogating the Real (Paperback)

This text is a GREAT dictionary on the Zizekian reading of Lacan, Hegel, and Freud. In general, the interpretation of difference and the theoretical understanding of racism, ethnocentrism, anti-semitism, etc. is necessary reading for any student of post-strucutralist thought as it applies to the social world.