Zizek: A Guide for the Perplexed

Guides for the Perplexed

by Sean Sheehan

One of the most widely-read thinkers writing today, Slavoj Žižek's work can be both thrilling and perplexing in equal measure. Žižek: A Guide for the Perplexed is the most up-to-date guide available for readers struggling to master the ideas of this hugely influential thinker. Unpacking the philosophical references that fill Žižek's writings, the book explores his influences, including Lacan, Kant, Hegel and Marx. From there, a chapter on 'Reading Žižek' guides the reader through the ways that he applies these core theoretical concepts in key texts like Tarrying With the Negative, The Ticklish Subject and The Parrallax View and in his books about popular culture like Looking Awry and Enjoy Your Symptom! Major secondary writings and films featuring Žižek are also covered.

Genres: Philosophy, Academic

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Peter Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps not the best choice if you are brand new to continental philosophy or theory; but if you have a basic foundation Sheehan does a great job in showing how Zizek is in dialogue with Lacan, Kant, and Marx. He also includes useful summaries of Zizek's most important texts and suggestions for further secondary sources.

[John Tessitore · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sheehan presents "a multidimensional road map through the various twits and turns of Zizek's philosophy." The problem is--and the problem seems to be Zizek's, not Sheehan's--there may be no destination to Zizek's thinking. Sheehan repeatedly credits Zizek with great "energy," but one has the sense that Zizek's energy amounts to a fast car circling Lacan, Hegel, and Marx. Like Clark Griswold, to use a simile Zizek might appreciate, he just keeps pointing at the same landmarks. Look kids, there's The Other.