Slavoj Žižek in Liverpool, Andy Miah, 2008.
8. Dude Doesn't Have to Apologize to Judith Butler, from Authors at Google, October 3, 2008.
Later in the video Žižek uses one of his more personal examples in recounting a hiccup in his friendship with Judith Butler. According to Žižek, one of his playful gestures went a little too far, got a little too vulgar, and it had something to do with a comment on her sexuality in reference to a friend of hers.
He somewhat ashamedly dissects the incident with apparent honesty, mild self-deprecation, and in a way that illustrates a genuine disappointment in himself for offending her. Even now, he sociologically notes the apologizing process and recalls his reception of the classic response of - no need to apologize. The observation becomes that the 'no need to apologize response' is something that can only be said after one has appropriately apologized.
The subtext, however, is the very braggable feat of - this is how tight I am with Judith Butler. Jealous. The next time he apologizes to lecture audiences for taking too much time and his apparent vulgarity, we remember that, again, he really doesn't have to apologize to us, but paradoxically we probably think this only precisely because he apologizes to people he doesn't even know, and so compulsively. No, Yes. The real truth is that, in this context, Žižek effectively dishes out apologies perhaps too often to event coordinators in order to justify to himself and others that it is perfectly acceptable for him to take up as much time as possible while being exactly as vulgar as he permits himself to be.
Ten top video moments featuring Slavoj Žižek
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