Speed & Politics [Paperback]

Paul Virilio (Author)

Book Description

Series: Semiotext(e) Foreign Agents | Publication Date: June 1, 1986

With this book Paul Virilio inaugurated the new science whose object of study is the "dromocratic" revolution. First to use the concept of speed as a definining concept for contemporary civilization, Virilio unveils his theories of dromodology here for the first time. Understanding the disappearance of power into a vector of speed where knowledge-power is eliminated to the benefit of moving-power, Virilio discovers the new terrain of "virtual" war long before its popularization in the Gulf War of the early 1990s. Building on the work of Morand, Marinetti, and McLuhan, Virilio presents a vision more radical politically than that of any of his French contemporaries. Speed as the engine of destruction....In these pages the reader surveys dromocratic aesthetics with its eloquent X-ray of speed flesh, speed wars, speed power, and speed fetishism. This work prevents the reader from becoming the "last man" drifting in all those "metabolic vehicles."

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Paul Virilio is considered the most important theorist of technology since Heidegger. Beginning with Speed and Politics (1977), his books have transformed our understanding of the nature of velocity, politics, relativity, space, and time.

Product Details

• Paperback: 172 pages
• Publisher: Semiotext(e) (June 1, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0936756330
• ISBN-13: 978-0936756332
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,314,717 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Slowly speeding, August 25, 2006

By 

P. L. Rzazewski - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Speed & Politics (Paperback)

"Speed and Politics" is an insightful post-modern examination into what I call 'exponential progress'. In one part, Virilio suggests that since society is increasingly less patient (mostly as a result of technology), people in general are less willing to spend the time to read or investigate their oppressive situations (probably because they were overly busy shopping and thinking about the next best and greatest thing to own) and, as such, require a quick dose of knowledge. To do this, the philosopher/politician/revolutionary must boil down the essence of an idea and serve it before the attention of the people diminishes into thoughtless, emotion-driven consumption once again.

The book is short. However, each sentence has the brilliance of two pages. Read slow.

3 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars This book has nothing to do with Foucault, January 22, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Speed & Politics (Paperback)

I don't know if there is some bug in Amazon's system, but the three reviewers do not appear to be review Virilio's "Speed and Politics."

2 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful Interviews, December 5, 2000

By 

Rabble (Montevideo, Uruguay) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Speed & Politics (Paperback)

I found this was a very interesting series of interviews with Foucault by a journalist from the Italian Communist Party. His discussions about social change and marxism were enlightening. I think this kind of interview format offers a refreshing and different perspective on his work compaired reading his books.