PRIMER 5 — SOCIETIES OF SPECTACLE : Situationism + Plants
ABOUT THE TEXT
First published as La Société du Spectacle, Paris: Editions Buchet-Chastel, 1967; reprinted Paris: Champ Libre 1971. The first English translation was published by Black & Red in 1970. It was revised in 1977, incorporating numerous improvements suggested by friends and critics of the first translation. Additional excerpts from The Anarchist Library, and The Revolution Of Everyday Life
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Guy Debord (1931-1994) was a French Marxist theorist, philosopher, filmmaker, member of the Letterist International, and founding member of the Situationist International.
Raoul Vaneigem (1934–2026) was a Belgian writer and central figure in the Situationist International alongside Guy Debord. His work, marked by a radical critique of consumer society and a defense of individual liberty, profoundly influenced the events of May 68.
16 PAGES; 4×7; SADDLE-STITCHED
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read an excerpt
People who talk about revolution and class struggle without referring explicitly to everyday life, without understanding what is subversive about love and what is positive in the refusal or constraints, such people have a corpse in their mouth.”
—Raoul Vaneigem, The Revolution Of Everyday Life
HOW TO TALK LIKE A SITUATIONIST
Always use the most obscure language possible…. In particular, the words “boredom” (as in “there’s nothing they won’t do to raise the standard of boredom”), “poverty” (of the university, of art), and “pleasure” are important tools in the young situationist’s kit, and use of them will greatly enhance your standing in the situationist community.
Cultivate a conceit and self-importance bordering on megalomania. Take credit for spontaneous uprisings in far-flung corners of the world, sneer at those who oppose or disagree with you.
— Anonymous, excerpts from Shoe Polish Week
- IT IS FORBIDDEN TO FORBID
- ART IS DEAD – DO NOT CONSUME ITS CORPSE
- SAME THING DAY AFTER DAY – SUBWAY – WORK – SUPPER – WORK – SUBWAY – COUCH – TV – SEX – SLEEP – SUBWAY – WORK – HOW MUCH MORE CAN YOU TAKE?
- BECOME A GROUCHO MARXIST
- IS IT EVER WRONG TO PUNCH A NAZI?
