Slavoj Žižek in Liverpool, Andy Miah, 2008.
6. Rumsfeldian Knowns and Unknowns, from Why Only an Atheist Can Believe. (multiple parts).
Around 8:30 into the video he uses a quotation from another prominent contemporary philosopher, Donald Rumsfeld. Interestingly, Rumsfeld's omission of the fourth category, the category of Ideology, seems suspect and unsurprisingly characteristic of the regime as a whole.
Then again, perhaps this is always the category that gets omitted from the public sphere out of perceived political necessity, and especially when televised by the type of journalistic institutions notorious for simultaneously embodying Ideology and masking its existence. The Rumsfeld routine can be found in multiple lectures viewable online.
7. Canned Laughter, the protection of innocence, even consistent evil requires a presupposed good, again from Why Only an Atheist Can Believe. Part of the same lecture as the moment previously cited, this video contains a wealth of the usual Žižekian schtick. His observations on the work of canned laughter is admittedly funny and perhaps only winkingly illuminating. Yes, canned laughter in many senses actually does do our laughing for us, what's next - airline peanuts? But no, seriously, it's still worth seeing at least once.
Ten top video moments featuring Slavoj Žižek
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