On Anxiety (Thinking in Action)

Rating:
Summary: All Lacanians are wierd
Review: Lacanian writers, not writers who write about Lacan, but those who write in the mode of Lacan, I can list a few, of course there's Zizek, Darian Leader, Richard Boothby, and Salecl. Renata's Salecl's book on anxiety is a very good brief overview of how "anxiety" gets played out in a variety of situations, from war to the nike logo and ubiquity of "lifestyle choices". It's an enjoyable read and for those who want a solid application of the uses of "Big Other" and "Fantasy framework", this is the book to open as Salecl works these concepts in every chapter. One small peeve is that I wish Salecl pursued the interesting point about the "ideal ego" and "ego ideal" in relation to anxiety. But overall a very good book. Oh and my point about Lacanian inspired writers is that one should be prepared for a lot of "openess" in the text. Lacanian writers (I find) introduce arguments and makes points with the purpose of later refining them or using them in a different context (sometimes creating tensions in that the concept seems to get pulled in all directions. Zizek is a master of introducing a concept and then using it in so many contexts you begin to lose sight of the original intended meaning, and are awash in elasticity, plasticity, ephemerality, sliding signifiers you name it). Nothing is ever concluded or closed off, but explored and left open, not necessarily 'hanging' just open. That's the Lacanian Thing.

Rating:
Summary: Lacan in Action
Review: Renata Salecl's book is a timely intervention in light of recent historical events. It was said that today's culture is one that no longer feels anxious--but with recent events, it is obvious that claim has to be reassessed. Salecl's book is just that timely intervention. She moves through many discourses, tackling examples of anxiety in art, popular culture, film, books on anxiety, etc. in order to elucidate the concept of anxiety. In the end she makes a very provocative and important argument for the necessity of anxiety in today's politics and culture. Lacan's seminar on anxiety (seminar 8) is not available in English, so this book is a very good resource for US Lacanians.