Post #6

Slavoj Žižek is a Slovenian philosopher who dissects the way we think about the world. Considered one of the most dangerous philosophers in the west, his ideas threaten the passive behavior many people exhibit today. Žižek analyzes the film “They Live” in a YouTube video from 2014. In this video, he explains what ideology means in terms of todays society. Žižek explains that ideology is the illusion of free will and choice. This ideology is categorized as anything that tries to persuade people. Advertisements, political messages, and even government messages all try to influence the way in which people think. Žižek explains that this propaganda is the “dictatorship within democracy.” It controls minds the same way a ruthless leader might, yet propaganda is far more dangerous because it hides behind the veil of free choice.

The scariest part about ideology is that when you think you have rid yourself of it, that is when you fall deeper into its trap. Žižek mentions that one must be aware that they are not acting of their own free will, but rather as a conformation to society. In this way, one can be aware of the ideology around them while still submersed in it. This contradicts the societal view of ideology due to the fact that many people believe that once they realize they are being manipulated, they are free from the grasps of propaganda. Žižek argues that this is simply falling deeper into the ideological trap.

Slavoj Žižek once said; “When we think we escape it into our dreams, at that point we are within ideology.” By this he means that our thoughts and feelings are manipulated by the outside world and the lies spread by corporations and the perpetuation of the ideology by society. When we dream, we hope and aspire for what society thinks we ought to be. Our dreams are created by false realizations of what it means to be recognized in society, whether that be through personality or superficial things such as wealth or beauty. Žižek has also said, “Ideology is our spontaneous relationship to our social world, how we perceive its meaning…”. This implies that what we think and how we act is simply a result of how we interact with ideology and its manifestation in the world around us. Both our waking thoughts an our dreams are influenced by ideology. There is nothing one can do to rid themselves of it, one must simply understand its power and how it affects daily thoughts.

Before learning about Žižek’s philosophy on ideology, I never understood how much of my life is being run by outside influences. My dreams and aspirations are controlled by the manipulation of ideology. In other classes, I have learned about the subconscious manipulation that companies will invoke in their advertisements, yet I has never considered myself to fall into the trap. Turning on the television reveals “destination vacations” that look amazing, yet it is not my own desire to go but rather the marketing of corporations that convince me that a vacation is the only thing that will bring me joy. Similarly, during holiday seasons such as Christmas, companies thrive on ideology and the desire of people to empty their pockets in exchange for gifts, simply because society and marketing tell people that this is what must be done. Ideology can be scary when it is first understood, yet it can lead to a more fulfilled life.