Slavoj Žižek: Power, Betrayal and Brexit

Philosopher Slavoj Žižek returns to Southbank Centre with a talk on power and betrayal in the wake of Brexit. Žižek explores what the referendum result tells us about the rise of populism and the balance of power today. Žižek discusses one of his main concerns: the link between knowledge and power, and how often those who control knowledge also keep power for themselves. Following on from Brexit and with populist movements gaining momentum around the world, how is this link between knowledge and power being manipulated to benefit elites?

This talk is part of Power of Power festival, which explores the nature of power in today’s world and features Opera North’s five-star production of Wagner’s Ring Cycle.

What can Wagner’s tale of the ‘all-knowing’ woman Brünnhilde, pitted against the gods of Valhalla, tell us about our modern struggle with power? And what is the cost of wielding supreme knowledge?

Žižek discusses the pitfalls of modern-day power with reference to the opera.

http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/what-brunhilde-knew-power-and-97579

Cultural theorist and philosopher Slavoj Žižek, author of The Sublime Object of Ideology, is regarded as ‘the thinker of choice for the Internet generation’ (The Guardian), extracting meaning from both high and low culture.

Known for his wide and provocative range of thought, he has established himself as ‘the most dangerous philosopher in the West’ (The New Republic).

Видео Slavoj Žižek: Power, Betrayal and Brexit канала Southbank Centre