Society of the Spectacle

[skitty]

Just finished Society of the Spectacle and, once again, am left with the feeling that I'm just not the brightest bulb in the ceiling:(. There were whole paragraphs where I was adrift by the 2nd sentence; and thereafter mechanically went through familiar words that conveyed no meaning to me. Am going to try Vaneigem, who was recommended to me.

[GiantMonkeyMan]

Do you remember any specific parts you had trouble with?

[Ethics Gradient, Traitor For All Ages]

That's just how it's written, I wouldn't stress too much. It's unfortunate that it acts as an introduction for so many people, I would suggest reading the group's earlier writings and then revisit it http://www.bopsecrets.org/SI/index.htm

[Sasha]

for some reason lots of people find the "movie" easier to understand than the book, give it a shot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g34XVscFkIs

[Manic Impressive]

I remember watching the film and about half an hour in I wanted to bang my head against the wall. I pressed on thinking this is supposed to be important. By the end of it I felt like I really should have gotten more from it. It might be good, but I just didn't get it.

I might try it again seeing as a few years have passed and I've perhaps grown a little more receptive to some situationist stuff.

[skitty]

Do you remember any specific parts you had trouble with?

Many:laugh:!

[Decolonize The Left]

Just finished Society of the Spectacle and, once again, am left with the feeling that I'm just not the brightest bulb in the ceiling:(. There were whole paragraphs where I was adrift by the 2nd sentence; and thereafter mechanically went through familiar words that conveyed no meaning to me. Am going to try Vaneigem, who was recommended to me.

Vaneigem is much easier to read and would definitely be a better place to start than Debord.

[Ethics Gradient, Traitor For All Ages]

I've not read any of these yet but they may be helpful as well http://libcom.org/library/spectacular-times-larry-law

Edit; OK I just read a couple. I would say they're helpful at introducing some of the key concepts, if Debord's writing didn't make them particularly understandable for you in the book. They're only a few pages long as well.

[Ravachol]

Libcom has a decent introduction (http://libcom.org/thought/ideas/situationists) to the SI as well as this pamphlet by Prole.info (www.prole.info/pamphlets/situationistsabout.pdf) or this reading guide (http://libcom.org/library/situationists-reading-guide). This overview and critique by Gilles Dauve (http://libcom.org/library/critique-situationist-international-gilles-dauve) is also really worthwhile.