I’m Watching You!
Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Žižek in two conversations on surveillance and voyeurism with interviewer Paul Holdengräber (director of Public Programs at the New York Public Library) on stage at The Royal Library in Copenhagen.
Everybody is talking about surveillance. The name of the game is whistleblowers and social media, democracy and civic rights. Tickets are now on sale for the two conversations between Slavoj Žižek and Paul Holdengräber on May 17 and May 18 at the Royal Library in Copenhagen.
‘Mesmerizing, fascinating, infuriating, paradoxical’ – this is the way Paul Holdengräber characterizes Žižek as a conversation partner.
Slavoj Žižek - the rock star philosopher
When Foreign Policy Magazine published its list of ‘Top 100 Global Thinkers 2012’ the Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Žižek was to be found amongst the likes of Hillary Clinton, Bill Gates, Angela Merkel, Ai Weiwei, Salman Rushdie and Bjørn Lomborg.
Through his more than 50 books translated into more than 20 languages, numerous articles published in the world's leading newspapers and his two films on film making, Žižek has reached rock star status throughout the world.
The 64-year-old Slovene's incredible ingenuity to penetrate our culture is due to his ability to combine a solid intellectual capacity with a deeply rooted understanding of the modern media reality. As a philosopher he is especially inspired by heavyweights like Hegel, Marx and Lacan. Yet he promotes his thoughts by digging up examples from pop culture - especially the art of film making - and brings them on stage like an academic stand-up performer.
Žižek's approach to ideology, capitalism, fundamentalism, racism, toleration, multiculturalism, human rights, ecology, globalization, surveillance, post modernism and religion has created both furore, fascination and a breath of fresh air into the on-going world-wide debate on society and culture.
Interviewer: Paul Holdengräber
Paul Holdengräber is considered to be among the most prestigious live interviewers in the international cultural life. Through his intellectual capacity and his notorious virtuosity in interviews and debates he has turned New York Public Library into one of the world's leading scenes for writers, intellectuals and artists. On Live from the NYPL at the library Holdengräber has interviewed high-profiled guests from Zadie Smith to Patti Smith, Werner Herzog to Umberto Eco, Toni Morrison to Mike Tyson, Wes Anderson to Adam Phillips, Brian Eno to Anish Kapoor, Jay-Z to the great magician, Ricky Jay.
On his two talks with Žižek in The Royal Library in Copenhagen Holdengräber says:
‘Žižek is mesmerizing, fascinating, infuriating, paradoxical. I will keep a close eye on Žižek and do my best to sneak in questions, to provoke and goad and illicit an exchange, while also surprising Žižek with some film clips for wild commentary. I will encourage Žižek to unpack some of his recent comments, for instance: Facebook and Twitter should be prohibited. Why? I must ask him. And what link does he draw between whistleblowers like Assange and Snowden and the ideals of Communism? This double feature Žižek promises to be quite a ride.’
On May 17 Žižek and Holdengräber will discuss the role of the whistleblower in modern democracies – are Snowden, Manning and Assange the heroes of our age?
On May 18 the two intellectuals will discuss voyeurism, digital identity and social media.
Saturday May 17 at 4 pm
Dronningesalen (Queen’s Hall)
International Authors’ Stage:
I’m Watching You! (1)
Slavoj Žižek in conversation with Paul Holdengräber
Sunday May 18 at 7 pm
Dronningesalen (Queen’s Hall)
International Authors’ Stage:
I’m Watching You! (2)
Slavoj Žižek in conversation with Paul Holdengräber
Link to web page of International Authors’ Stage here (English version).
Download photos: www.kb.dk/pressphoto
Further information: Head of International Authors’ Stage Lise Bach Hansen, +45 91 32 43 64, lbha@kb.dk
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