Slavoj Zizek, Welcome to the Desert of the Real!

Question 1

The Real vs. the Symbolic and Imaginary

Answer 1

Real: external reality, impossible to experience or symbolize, only traceable from after-effects
Symbolic: “other,” the invisible force that tells us how to perceive reality
Imaginary: how we perceive reality, “direct lived experience,” dreams, and nightmares too

Question 2

Ideological Fantasy

Answer 2

ideology is merely how we make sense of the world
reality is the escape

Question 3

Postmodern Spectacle

Question 4

9/11

Answer 4

• We love action, but the moment it happens we are shocked and in awe
• we run to find bad guys and people that need saving
• want to be heroes so bad