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F ACUL T Y / SL AVOJ Z IZ EK / AR T ICL ES / MAST UR BAT ION, OR SEX UAL IT Y IN

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SLAVOJIEK.MASTURBATION,ORSEXUALITYINTHEATONAL
WORLD.
Slavojiek."Masturbation,orSexualityintheAtonalWorld."in:
Lacan.com.2008.(English).
Todayspredominantmodeofpoliticsisthepostpoliticalbiopolitics[1]anexpressionwhichiseffectively
tautological:postpoliticsdesignatesthereductionofpoliticstotheexpertadministrationofsociallife.Sucha
politicsisultimatelyapoliticsoffear,apoliticsfocusedonthedefenseagainstapotentialvictimizationor
harassment.Thereinresidesthetruelineofseparationbetweenradicalemancipatorypoliticsandthe
predominantstatusquopolitics:itisnotthedifferenceoftwodifferentpositivevisions,setsofaxioms,but,rather,
thedifferencebetweenthepoliticsbasedonasetofuniversalaxiomsandthepoliticswhichrenouncesthevery
constitutivedimensionofthepolitical,sinceitresortstofearasitsultimatemobilizingprinciple:fearofimmigrants,
fearofcrime,fearofgodlesssexualdepravity,fearoftheexcessiveStateitself(withtoohightaxation),fearof
ecologicalcatastrophes,fearofharassment(whichiswhyPoliticalCorrectnessistheexemplaryliberalformofthe
politicsoffear)sucha(post)politicsalwaysreliesonthemanipulationofaparanoidochlosthefrightening
rallyingoffrightenedmen.Thezerolevelofpoliticstodayisthedepoliticizedexpertadministrationand
coordinationofintereststheonlywaytointroducepassionintothisfield,toactivelymobilizepeople,isthrough
fear.Atthelevelofsocialobjectivity,wehavemechanismsandprocessestoberegulatedbyexpert
administratorsthesubjectivecounterpartofitisfear,thebasicconstituentoftodayssubjectivity.Thisiswhythe
bigeventnotonlyinEuropeintheearly2006wasthattheantiimmigrationpoliticswentmainstream:theyfinally
cuttheumbilicallinkthatconnectedthemtothefarRightfringeparties.FromFrancetoGermany,fromAustriato
Holland,inthenewspiritofprideatonesculturalandhistoricalidentity,themainpartiesnowfinditacceptableto
stressthattheimmigrantsareguestswhohavetoaccommodatethemselvestotheculturalvaluesthatdefinethe
hostsocietyitisourcountry,loveitorleaveit.
Thisfearis,atitsmostbasic,thefearoftheNeighbor.Therearetwotopicswhichdeterminetodaysliberaltolerant
attitudetowardsOthers:therespectofOtherness,opennesstowardsit,andtheobsessivefearofharassmentin
short,theOtherisOKinsofarasitspresenceisnotintrusive,insofarastheOtherisnotreallyOtherInthestrict
homologywiththeparadoxicalstructureofchocolatelaxative,tolerancethiscoincideswithitsopposite:mydutyto
betoleranttowardstheothereffectivelymeansthatIshouldnotgettooclosetohim,nottointrudeintohis/her
spaceinshort,thatIshouldrespecthis/herintolerancetowardsmyoverproximity.Thisiswhatismoreandmore
emergingasthecentralhumanrightinlatecapitalistsociety:therightnottobeharassed,i.e.,tobekeptata
safedistancefromtheothers.
Thepostpoliticalbiopoliticsalsohastwoaspectswhichcannotbutappearasbelongingtotwoopposite
ideologicalspaces:thatofthereductionofhumanstobarelife,tohomosacerastheobjectoftheexpert
caretakingknowledge[2]andthatoftherespectforthevulnerableOtherbroughttoextreme,oftheattitudeof
narcissisticsubjectivitywhichexperiencesitselfasvulnerable,constantlyexposedtoamultitudeofpotential
harassments.IsthereastrongercontrastthantheonebetweentherespectfortheOthersvulnerabilityandthe
reductionoftheOthertomereliferegulatedbytheadministrativeknowledge?Butwhatifthesetwostances
nonethelessrelyonthesameroot,whatiftheyarethetwoaspectsofoneandthesameunderlyingattitude,whatif
theycoincideinwhatoneistemptedtodesignateasthecontemporarycaseoftheHegelianinfinitejudgment
whichassertstheidentityofopposites?Whatthetwopolesshareispreciselytheunderlyingrefusalofanyhigher
Causes,thenotionthattheultimategoalofourlivesislifeitself.Thisiswhythereisnocontradictionbetweenthe
respectforthevulnerableOtherandthereadinesstojustifytorture,theextremeexpressionoftreatingindividuals
ashominisacer.
InTheEndofFaith,SamHarrisdefenseoftortureisbasedonthedistinctionbetweenourimmediatebeing
impressedbythesufferingofothersandourabstractnotionofotherssuffering:itismuchmoredifficultforusto
tortureasingularpersonthantodropabombfromafardistancethatwouldcausetheevenmorepainfuldeathof
thousands.WearethusallcaughtinakindofethicalIllusion,paralleltoperceptualillusionstheultimatecauseof
theseillusionsisthat,althoughourpowerofabstractreasoninghasdevelopedimmensely,ouremotionalethical
responsesremainconditionedbyhundredsofthousandsyearsoldinstinctualreactionsofsympathytosuffering
andpainthatisdirectlywitnessed.Thisiswhyshootingsomeonepointblankisformostofusmuchmore
repulsivethanpressingabuttonthatwillkillthousandabsentpersons:
Givenwhatmanyofusbelieveabouttheexigenciesofourwaronterrorism,thepracticeoftorture,incertain

circumstances,wouldseemtobenotonlypermissiblebutnecessary.Still,itdoesnotseemanymoreacceptable,
inethicalterms,thanitdidbefore.Thereasonsforthisare,Itrust,everybitasneurologicalasthosethatgiverise
tothemoonillusion.//Itmaybetimetotakeoutourrulersandholdthemuptothesky.[3]
NowonderthatHarrisreferstoAlanDerschowitzandhislegitimizationoftorture.[4]Inordertosuspendthis
evolutionaryconditionedvulnerabilitytothephysicaldisplayofotherssuffering,Harrisimaginesanidealtruth
pill,aneffectivetortureequivalenttodecafcoffeeordietcoke:
adrugthatwoulddeliverboththeinstrumentsoftortureandtheinstrumentoftheirutterconcealment.Theactionof
thepillwouldbetoproducetransitoryparalysisandtransitorymiseryofakindthatnohumanbeingwouldwillingly
submittoasecondtime.Imaginehowwetorturerswouldfeelif,aftergivingthispilltocaptiveterrorists,eachlay
downforwhatappearedtobeanhoursnaponlytoariseandimmediatelyconfesseverythingheknowsaboutthe
workingsofhisorganization.Mightwenotbetemptedtocallitatruthpillintheend?[5]
Theveryfirstlinesadrugthatwoulddeliverboththeinstrumentsoftortureandtheinstrumentoftheirutter
concealmentintroducesthetypicallypostmodernlogicofchocolatelaxative:thetortureimaginedhereislikea
decafcoffeewegettheresultwithouthavingtosufferunpleasantsideeffects.Thefirstreaction:atthenotorious
SerbskyInstituteinMoscow(thepsychiatricoutletoftheKGB),theyalreadyinventedasimilardrugtotorture
dissidents,aninjectionintotheprisonersheartzonewhichsloweddownhisheartbeatingandcausedterrifying
anxietyviewedfromoutside,theprisonerseemedjustdozing,whilehewasgoingthroughanightmareThe
furtherproblemisthatHarrisviolatesherehisownrulewhenhefocusesonSeptember11,andinhiscritiqueof
Chomsky:thepointofChomskyispreciselythehypocrisyoftoleratingtheabstractanonymouskillingof
thousandswhilecondemningindividualcasesoftheviolationofhumanrightswhyisKissinger,whenhe
orderedthecarpetbombingofCambodiathatledtothedeathoftensofthousands,lessacriminalthanthose
responsiblefortheTwinTowerscollapse?Isitnotthatbecausewearepreciselyvictimsoftheethicalillusion:
thehorrorofSeptember11waspresentedindetailinthemedia,whiletotakeanothercasewhentheal
JazeeraTVshowsshotsoftheresultsoftheUSbombingofFaludjaiscondemnedforitscomplicitywiththe
terrorists
Thereis,however,amuchmoredisquietingprospectatworkhere:theproximity(ofthetorturedsubject)which
causessympathyandmakestortureunacceptableisnotamerephysicalproximity,but,atitsmostfundamental,
theproximityoftheNeighbor(withalltheJudeoChristianFreudianweightonthisterm),oftheThingwhich,no
matterhowfarawayitisphysically,isalwaysbydefinitiontooclose.Consequently,whatHarrisaimsatwithhis
imaginedtruthpillisnothinglessthantheabolitionofthedimensionoftheNeighbor:thetorturedsubjectisno
longeraNeighbor,butanobjectwhosepainisneutralized,reducedtoapropertythathastobedealtwithina
rationalutilitariancalculus(somuchpainistolerableifitpreventsamuchgreateramountofpain)what
disappearshereistheabyssoftheinfinitythatpertainstoasubject.Itisthussignificantthatthebookwhich
arguesfortortureisalsothebookentitledTheEnd.ofFaithnot,however,intheobvioussenseofYousee,itis
onlyourbeliefinGod,thedivineinjunctiontoloveyourneighbor,thatultimatelypreventsusfromtorturing
people!,butinamuchmoreradicalsense.Anothersubject(and,ultimately,subjectassuch)isforLacannot
somethingdirectlygiven,butapresupposition,somethingpresumed,anobjectofbeliefhowcanIeverbesure
thatwhatIseeinfrontofmeisanothersubject,notadepthlessflatbiologicalmachine?
Whatkindofsexualityfitsthisuniverse?OnAugust62006,LondonwashostingtheUKSfirstmasturbatea
thon,acollectiveeventinwhichhundredsofmenandwomenpleasuredthemselvesforcharity(raisingmoneyfor
sexualandreproductivehealthagencies),andtoraisetheawarenessof,anddispeltheshameandtaboosthat
persistaround,thismostcommonplace,naturalandsafeformofsexualactivity.TheformulawasinventedatGood
Vibrations(aSanFranciscosexhealthcompany)aspartoftheNationalMasturbationMonth,whichtheyfounded
andhavebeenhostingsince1995,whentheoriginalSanFranciscoMATtookplace.HereishowDr.Carol
Queenjustifiesit:
Weliveinasocietyinwhichsexualexpressionhasalwaysbeenlegislatedandrestrictedandthepursuitofpure
pleasureisfrequentlycondemnedasselfishandchildish.Alotofpeoplewhoconsiderthemselvesfreeofsexual
hangupshavesimplyrewrittentheequationsexisonlygoodifitinvolvesprocreationtosexisonlygoodifit
involvestwolovingpeople.//Masturbationisourfirstsexualactivity,anaturalsourceofpleasurethats
availabletousthroughoutourlives,andauniqueformofcreativeselfexpression.Eachtimeyoumasturbate,
yourecelebratingyoursexualityandyourinnatecapacityforpleasure,sogiveyourselfahand!//Masturbation
canbearadicalact,andtheculturethatsuppressesmasturbationmaysuppressmanyotherpersonalfreedoms
aswell.WhilecelebratingNationalMasturbationMonthanddoingyourparttobringselfloveoutofthecloset,
keepinmindthateroticfreedomisessentialtotruewellbeing,everywhere.[6]
Theideologicalstanceunderlyingthenotionofmasturbathonismarkedbyaconflictbetweenitsformand
content:itbuildsacollectiveoutofindividualswhoarereadytosharewithotherswhat?Thesolipsisticegotism
oftheirstupidenjoyment.Thiscontradiction,however,ismoreapparentthanreal:Freudalreadyknewaboutthe
linkbetweennarcissismandimmersionintocrowd,bestrenderedpreciselybytheCaliforniaphrasetosharean
experience.Thiscoincidenceoftheopposedfeaturesisgroundedintheexclusionthattheyshare:onenotonly
canbe,oneISaloneinacrowd,i.e.,bothanindividualsisolationandhis/herimmersionintoacrowdexclude
intersubjectivityproper,encounterwithanOther.(Thisiswhy,asAlainBadioudeployedinaperspicuousway,
today,morethanever,oneshouldinsistonthefocusonlove,notmereenjoyment:itislove,theencounterofthe
Two,whichtransubstantiatestheidioticmasturbatoryenjoymentintoaneventproper.)[7]Aminimallyrefined
sensitivitytellsusthatitismoredifficulttomasturbateinfrontonanotherthantobeengagedinasexual
interactionwithhim/her:theveryfactthattheotherisreducedtoanobserver,notparticipatinginmyactivity,

makesmyactmuchmoreshamefulthisiswhyeventslikemasturbathonsignaltheendofshameproper.
Masturbathonisthusoneoftheclearestindicationsofwheredowestandtoday,oftheideologywhichsustains
ourmostintimateselfexperienceitissufficienttorereadthelistofreasonswhymasturbateproposedby
Queen:
1.Becausesexualpleasureiseachpersonsbirthright.
2.Becausemasturbationistheultimatesafesex.
3.Becausemasturbationisajoyousexpressionofselflove.
4.Becausemasturbationoffersnumeroushealthbenefitsincludingmenstrualcramprelief,stressreduction,
endorphinrelease,strongerpelvicmuscles,reductionofprostateglandinfectionformenandresistancetoyeast
infectionsforwomen.
5.Becausemasturbationisanexcellentcardiovascularworkout.
6.Becauseeachpersonistheirownbestlover.
7.Becausemasturbationincreasessexualawareness.
Everythingishere:increasedselfawareness,healthbenefits,struggleagainstsocialoppression,themostradical
PoliticallyCorrectstance(here,forsure,nobodyisharassed),andtheaffirmationofsexualpleasureatitsmost
elementaryeachpersonistheir(sic)ownbestlover.Theuseoftheexpressionusuallyreservedfor
homosexuals(masturbationbringsselfloveoutofthecloset)hintsatakindofimplicitteleologyofthegradual
exclusionofallotherness:first,inhomosexuality,theothersexisexcluded(onedoesitwithanotherpersonofthe
samesex)then,inakindofmockinglyHegeliannegationofnegation,theverydimensionofothernessis
cancelled,onedoesitwithoneself.
InDecember2006,theNewYorkCityauthoritiesdeclaredthattherighttochoseonesgender(andso,if
necessary,tohavethesexchangeoperationperformed)isoneoftheinalienablehumanrightstheultimate
Difference,thetranscendentaldifferencethatgroundstheveryhumanidentity,thusturnsintosomethingopento
manipulationtheultimateplasticityofbeinghumanisthoroughlyasserted.Masturbathonistheidealformof
thesexactivityofthistransgenderedsubject,or,inotherwords,ofyou,ofthesubjectelevatedintothePerson
oftheYearbytheDecember18issueoftheTimemagazine.ThisannualhonorwentnottoAhmadinejad,
Chavez,KimYongIl,oranothermemberofthegangofusualsuspects,buttoyou:eachandeveryoneofus
whoisusingorcreatingcontentontheWorldWideWeb.Thecovershowedawhitekeyboardwithamirrorfora
computerscreenwhereeachofus,readers,canseehisorherownreflection.Tojustifythechoice,theeditors
citedtheshiftfrominstitutionstoindividualswhoarereemergingasthecitizensofthenewdigitaldemocracy.
Thereismorethanmeettheeyeinthischoice,inmorethantheusualsenseoftheterm.Ifthereeverwasan
ideologicalchoice,thisisit:themessagenewcyberdemocracyinwhichmillionscandirectlycommunicateand
selforganize,bypassingcentralizedstatecontrolcoversupaseriesofdisturbinggapsandtensions.Thefirst
andobviouspointofironyisthatwhateveryonewholooksattheTimecoverdoesnotseeotherswithwhomheor
sheissupposedtobeindirectexchangewhatheseesisthemirrorimageofhimorherself.Nowonderthat
Leibnizisoneofthepredominantphilosophicalreferencesofthecyberspacetheorists:doesourimmersioninto
cyberspacenotgohandinhandwithourreductiontoaLeibnizeanmonadwhich,althoughwithoutwindowsthat
woulddirectlyopenuptoexternalreality,mirrorsinitselftheentireuniverse?IsthetypicalWorldWideWebsurfer
today,sittingaloneinfrontofaPCscreen,notmoreandmoreamonadwithnodirectwindowsontoreality,
encounteringonlyvirtualsimulacra,andyetimmersedmorethaneverintotheglobalnetwork,synchronously
communicatingwiththeentireglobe?Masturbathon,whichbuildsacollectiveoutofindividualswhoarereadyto
sharethesolipsismoftheirownstupidenjoyment,istheformofsexualitywhichfitsperfectlythecyberspace
coordinates.
AlainBadiou[8]developsthenotionofatonalworlds(mondeatone),worldslackingapoint,inLacanese:the
quiltingpoint(pointdecaption),theinterventionofaMasterSignifierthatimposesaprincipleoforderingonto
theworld,thepointofasimpledecision(yesorno)inwhichtheconfusedmultiplicityisviolentlyreducedtoa
minimaldifference.Thatistosay,whatisaMasterSignifier?[9]IntheverylastpagesofhismonumentalSecond
WorldWar,WinstonChurchillpondersontheenigmaofapoliticaldecision:afterthespecialists(economicand
militaryanalysts,psychologists,meteorologists)proposetheirmultiple,elaboratedandrefinedanalysis,
somebodymustassumethesimpleandforthatveryreasonmostdifficultactoftransposingthiscomplexmultitude,
whereforeveryreasonfortherearetworeasonsagainst,andviceversa,intoasimpleYesorNoweshall
attack,wecontinuetowaitNoneotherJohnF.Kennedyprovidedaconcisedescriptionofthispoint:The
essenceofultimatedecisionremainsimpenetrabletotheobserveroften,indeed,tothedeciderhimself.This
gesturewhichcanneverbefullygroundedinreasons,isthatofaMaster.
ThebasicfeatureofourpostmodernworldisthatittriestodispensewiththisagencyoftheMasterSignifierthe
complexityoftheworldshouldbeassertedunconditionally,everyMasterSignifiermeanttoimposesomeorder
onitshouldbedeconstructed,disperseddisseminated:Themodernapologyofthecomplexityoftheworld//
isreallynothingbutageneralizeddesireofatony.[10]Badiousexcellentexampleofsuchanatonalworldisthe
PoliticallyCorrectvisionofsexuality,aspromotedbygenderstudies,withitsobsessiverejectionofbinarylogic:
thisworldisanuanced,ramifiedworldofmultiplesexualpracticeswhichtoleratesnodecisionnoinstanceofthe
Two,noevaluation(inthestrongNietzscheansenseoftheterm).
ThereinresidestheinterestofMichelHouellebecqsnovels:[11]heendlesslyvariesthemotifofthefailureofthe
EventofloveincontemporaryWesternsocietiescharacterizedbythecollapseofreligionandtraditionthe
unrestrainedworshipofpleasureandyouth,andtheprospectofafuturetotalizedbyscientificrationalityand
ylessness.[12]Thereinresidesthedarksideofthesexualliberationofthe1960s:thefullcommodificationof

sexuality.HouellebecqdepictsthemorningafterSexualRevolution,thesterilityoftheuniversedominatedbythe
superegoinjunctiontoenjoy.Allofhisworkfocusesontheantinomyofloveandsexuality:sexisanabsolute
necessity,torenounceitistowhitheraway,solovecannotflourishwithoutsexsimultaneously,however,loveis
impossiblepreciselybecauseofsex:sex,whichproliferatesastheepitomeoflatecapitalismsdominance,has
permanentlystainedhumanrelationshipsasinevitablereproductionsofthedehumanizingnatureofliberal
societyithas,essentially,ruinedlove.[13]Sexisthus,toputitinDerrideanterms,simultaneouslythecondition
ofpossibilityandofimpossibilityoflove.
ThisiswhyHouellebecqsLesparticuleselemental[14]isthestoryofradicalDESUBLIMATION,ifthereeverwas
one:inourpostmoderndisenchantedpermissiveworldsexualityisreducedtoanapatheticparticipationin
collectiveorgies.Lesparticules,asuperbexampleofwhatsomecriticsperspicuouslybaptizedLeft
conservatism,tellsthestoryoftwohalfbrothers:Bruno,ahighschoolteacher,isanundersexedhedonist,while
Michelisabrilliantbutemotionallydesiccatedbiochemist.Abandonedbytheirhippiemotherwhentheywere
small,neitherhaseverproperlyrecoveredalltheirattemptsatthepursuitofhappiness,whetherthrough
marriage,thestudyofphilosophy,ortheconsumptionofpornography,merelyleadtolonelinessandfrustration.
Brunoendsupinapsychiatricasylumafterconfrontingthemeaninglessnessofthepermissivesexuality(the
utterlydepressivedescriptionsofthesexualorgiesbetweenfortysomethingsareamongthemostexcruciating
readingsincontemporaryliterature),whileMichelinventsasolution:anewselfreplicatinggeneforthepost
humandesexualizedentity.Thenovelendswithapropheticvision:in2040,humanityisreplacedbythese
humanoidswhoexperiencenopassionsproper,nointenseselfassertionthatcanleadtodestructiverage.
Almostfourdecadesago,MichelFoucaultdismissedmanasafigureinthesandthatisnowbeingwashed
away,introducingthe(then)fashionabletopicofthedeathofman.AlthoughHouellebecqstagesthis
disappearanceinmuchmorenaiveliteralterms,asthereplacementofhumanitywithanewposthumanspecies,
thereisacommondenominatorbetweenthetwo:thedisappearanceofsexualdifference.Inhislastworks
FoucaultenvisionedthespaceofpleasuresliberatedfromSex,andoneistemptedtoclaimthatHouellebecqs
posthumansocietyofclonesistherealizationoftheFoucauldiandreamoftheSelveswhopracticetheuseof
pleasures.Whilethissolutionisthefantasyatitspurest,thedeadlocktowhichitreactsisarealonehowarewe
togetoutofit?Thestandardwaywouldbetosomehowtrytoresurrectthetransgressiveeroticpassionfollowing
thewellknownprinciple,firstfullyassertedinthetraditionofthecourtlylove,thattheonlytrueloveisthe
transgressiveprohibitedoneweneednewProhibitions,sothatanewTristanandIsoldeorRomeoandJuliet
willappearTheproblemisthat,intodayspermissivesociety,transgressionitselfisthenorm.Which,then,isthe
wayout?OneshouldrecallheretheultimatelessonofLacanconcerningsublimation:inawaytruesublimationis
exactlythesameasdesublimation.Letstakealoverelationship:sublimeisnotthecoldelevatedfigureofthe
Ladywhohadtoremainbeyondourreachifsheweretostepdownfromherpedestal,shewouldturnintoa
repulsivefilth.Sublimeisthemagiccombinationofthetwodimensions,whenthesublimedimensiontranspires
throughtheutmostcommondetailsoftheeverydaysharedlifethesublimemomentofthelovelifeoccurswhen
themagicdimensiontranspireseveninthecommoneverydayactslikewashingthedishesorcleaningthe
apartment.(Inthisprecisesense,sublimationistobeopposedtoidealization.)
Perhapsthebestwaytospecifythisroleofsexualloveisthroughthenotionofreflexivityasthetwistbymeansthat
whichgeneratedasystembecomespartofthesystemitgenerates.Thisreflexiveappearanceofthegenerating
movementwithinthegeneratedsystem,intheguiseofwhatHegelcalledtheoppositionaldetermination,asa
ruletakestheformoftheoppositewithinthematerialsphere.Spiritappearsintheguiseofthemostinertmoment
(crane,formlessblackstone)inthelaterstageofarevolutionaryprocesswhenRevolutionstartstodevouritsown
children,thepoliticalagentwhicheffectivelysetinmotiontheprocessisrenegadedintotheroleofitsmain
obstacle,ofthewaverersoroutrighttraitorswhoarenotreadytofollowtherevolutionarylogictoitsconclusion.
Alongthesamelines,isitnotthat,oncethesociosymbolicorderisfullyestablished,theverydimensionwhich
introducedthetranscendentattitudethatdefinesahumanbeing,namelySEXUALITY,theuniquelyhuman
undeadsexualpassion,appearsasitsveryopposite,asthemainOBSTACLEtotheelevationofahumanbeing
tothepurespirituality,asthatwhichtieshim/herdowntotheinertiaofbodilyexistence?Forthisreason,theendof
sexualityinthemuchcelebratedposthumanselfcloningentityexpectedtoemergesoon,farfromopeningupthe
waytopurespirituality,willsimultaneouslysignaltheendofwhatistraditionallydesignatedastheuniquely
humanspiritualtranscendence.AllthecelebratingofthenewenhancedpossibilitiesofsexuallifethatVirtual
Realityofferscannotconcealthefactthat,oncecloningsupplementssexualdifference,thegameisover.[15]
WeallknowofAlanTuringsfamousimitationgamewhichshouldserveasthetestifamachinecanthink:we
communicatewithtwocomputerinterfaces,askingthemanyimaginablequestionbehindoneoftheinterfaces,
thereisahumanpersontypingtheanswers,whilebehindtheother,itisamachine.If,basedontheanswerswe
get,wecannottelltheintelligentmachinefromtheintelligenthuman,then,accordingtoTuring,ourfailureproves
thatmachinescanthink.Whatisalittlebitlessknownisthatinitsfirstformulation,theissuewasnottodistinguish
humanfromthemachine,butmanfromwoman,whythisstrangedisplacementfromsexualdifferencetothe
differencebetweenhumanandmachine?WasthisduetoTuringssimpleeccentricity(recallhiswellknown
troublesbecauseofhishomosexuality)?Accordingtosomeinterpreters,thepointistoopposethetwo
experiments:asuccessfulimitationofawomansresponsesbyaman(orviceversa)wouldnotproveanything,
becausethegenderidentitydoesnotdependonthesequencesofsymbols,whileasuccessfulimitationofmanby
amachinewouldprovethatthismachinethinks,becausethinkingultimatelyistheproperwayofsequencing
symbolsWhatif,however,thesolutiontothisenigmaismuchmoresimpleandradical?Whatifsexual
differenceisnotsimplyabiologicalfact,buttheRealofanantagonismthatdefineshumanity,sothatoncesexual
differenceisabolished,ahumanbeingeffectivelybecomesindistinguishablefromamachine.
ThefurtherthingoneshouldemphasizehereisTuringsblindnesstothedistinctionbetweendoingandsaying:as
manyaninterpreterhasnoticed,TuringsimplyhadnosensefortheproperlySYMBOLICdomainof

communicationinsexuality,powerpolitics,etc.,inwhichlanguageisusedasarhetoricaldevice,withits
referentialmeaningclearlysubordinatedtoitsperformativedimension(ofseduction,coercion,etc.).ForTuring,
therewereultimatelyonlypurelyintellectualproblemstobesolvedinthissense,hewastheultimatenormal
psychotic,blindedforthesexualdifference.ThecrucialinterventionoftheTuringtestappearsthemomentwe
acceptitsbasicdispositif,i.e.thelossofastableembodiment,thedisjunctionbetweenactuallyenactedand
representedbodies:anirreduciblegapisintroducedbetweentherealfleshandbloodbodybehindthescreen
anditsrepresentationinthesymbolsthatflickeronthecomputerscreen.Suchadisjunctioniscosubstantialwith
humanityitself:themomentalivingbeingstartstospeak,themediumofitsspeech(say,voice)isminimally
disembodied,inthesensethatitseemstooriginatenotinthematerialrealityofthebodythatwesee,butinsome
invisibleinferiorityaspokenwordisalwaysminimallythevoiceofaventriloquist,aspectraldimensionalways
reverberatesinit.Inshort,oneshouldclaimthathumanityassuchALWAYSALREADYWASposthuman
thereinresidesthegistofLacansthesisthatthesymbolicorderisaparasiticalmachinewhichintrudesintoand
supplementsahumanbeingasitsartificialprothesis.
Ofcourse,thestandardfeministquestiontoaskhereis:isthiserasureofthebodilyattachmentgenderneutral,or
isitsecretlygendered,sothatsexualdifferencedoesnotconcernonlytheactualenactedbodybehindthescreen,
butalsothedifferentrelationshipbetweenthelevelsofrepresentationandenactment?Isthemasculinesubjectin
itsverynotiondisembodied,whilethefemininesubjectmaintainstheumbilicalcordtoitsembodiment?InThe
CurvesoftheNeedle,ashortessayongramophonefrom1928.[16]Adornonotesthefundamentalparadoxof
recording:themorethemachinemakesitspresenceknown(throughobtrusivenoises,itsclumsinessand
interruptions),thestrongertheexperienceoftheactualpresenceofthesingeror,toputittheotherwayround,
themoreperfecttherecording,themorefaithfullythemachinereproducesahumanvoice,themorehumanityis
removed,thestrongertheeffectthatwearedealingwithsomethinginauthentic.[17]Thisperceptionistobe
linkedtoAdornosfamousantifeministremarkaccordingtowhichawomansvoicecannotbeproperlyrecorded,
sinceitdemandsthepresenceofherbody,incontrasttoamansvoicewhichcanexertitsfullpoweras
disembodieddowenotencounterhereaclearcaseoftheideologicalnotionofsexualdifferenceinwhichman
isadisembodiedSpiritSubject,whilewomanremainsanchoredinherbody?However,thesestatementsareto
bereadagainstthebackgroundofAdornosnotionoffemininehysteriaastheprotestofsubjectivityagainst
reification:thehystericalsubjectisessentiallyinbetween,nolongerfullyidentifiedtoherbody,notyetreadyto
assumethepositionofthedisembodiedspeaker(or,withregardtomechanicalreproduction:nolongerthedirect
presenceofthelivingvoice,notyetitsperfectmechanicalreproduction).Subjectivityisnottheimmediateliving
selfpresenceweattainwhenweshedawaythedistortingmechanicalreproductionitisratherthatremainderof
authenticitywhosetraceswecandiscerninanimperfectmechanicalreproduction.Inshort,thesubjectis
somethingthatwillhavebeeninitsimperfectrepresentation.Adornosthesisthatawomansvoicecannotbe
properlyrecorded,sinceitdemandsthepresenceofherbody,thuseffectivelyassertsfemininehysteria(andnot
thedisembodiedmalevoice)astheoriginaldimensionofsubjectivity:inwomansvoice,thepainfulprocessof
disembodimentcontinuestoreverberate,itstracesarenotyetobliterated.InKierkegaardsterms,sexual
differenceisthedifferencebetweenbeingandbecoming:manandwomanarebothdisembodiedhowever,
whileamandirectlyassumesdisembodimentasanachievedstate,femininesubjectivitystandsforthe
disembodimentinbecoming.[18]
Notes:
[1].Forthenotionofbiopolitics,seeGiorgioAgamben,Homosacer,StanfordStanfordUniversityPress1998for
thenotionofpostpolitics,seeJacquesRancire,Disagreement,Minneapolis:UniversityofMinnesotaPress
1998.
[2].SeeAgamben,op.cit.
[3].SamHarris,TheEndofFaith,NewYork:Norton2005,p.199.
[4].Harris,op.cit.,p.192193.
[5].Op.cit.,p.197.
[6].Availableonlineathttp://www.masturbateathon.com.
[7].SeeAlainBadiou,Logiquesdesmondes,Paris:EditionsduSeuil2006.
[8].SeeBadiou,op.cit.
[9].FortheconceptoftheMasterSignifier,seeJacquesLacan,TheOtherSideofPsychoanalysis,NewYork:
Norton2006.
[10].Badiou,op.cit.,p.443.
[11].See,exemplarily,MichelHouellebecq,ThePossibilityofanIsland,NewYork:Knopf2006.
[12].NicholasSabloff,OfFilthandFrozenDinners,TheCommonReview,Winter2007,p.50.

[13].Sabloff,op.cit.,p.51.
[14].MichelHouellebecq,Atomised,London:Heinemann2000.
[15].And,incidentally,withallthefocusonthenewexperiencesofpleasurethatlayaheadwiththedevelopment
ofVirtualReality,directneuronalimplants,etc.,whataboutnewenhancedpossibilitiesofTORTURE?Do
biogeneticsandVirtualRealitycombinednotopenupnewandunheardofhorizonsofextendingourabilityto
endurepain(throughwideningoursensorycapacitytosustainpain,throughinventingnewformsofinflictingit)
perhaps,theultimateSadeanimageonanundeadvictimofthetorturewhocansustainendlesspainwithout
havingathis/herdisposaltheescapeintodeath,alsowaitstobecomereality?Perhaps,inadecadeortwo,our
mosthorrifyingcasesoftorture(say,whattheydidtotheChiefofStaffoftheDominicanArmyafterthefailedcoup
inwhichthedictatorTrujillowaskilledsewinghiseyestogethersothathewasntabletoseehistorturers,and
thenforfourmonthsslowlycuttingoffpartsofhisbodyinmostpainfulways,likeusingclumsyscissorstodetach
hisgenitals)willappearasnaivechildrensgames.
[16].TranslatedbyTomLevineinOctober55,Winter1990,p.4855.
[17]ThesameholdsfortodaysprospecofVirtualReality:themoreperfectthedigitalreproduction,themore
artificialitseffect,inthesamewayanimperfectblackandwhitephotographisexperiencedasmorerealistthan
acolorone,althoughrealityisincolors.
[18]DoesLacansreadingofwoeswarsollichwerdennotinvolvethetemporalityofthefailedencounter,ofnot
yetandnolonger,ofItitselfandForitself?Thesubjectisthevanishingmediatorbetweenwhereitwhatwill
becomeasubjectwas(inthestateofinitself,notyetfullyrealized),andthefullsymbolicrealizationinwhichthe
subjectisalreadystigmatizedintoasignifier.LacanrefersheretotheFreudiandreamofthefatherwhodidnt
knowhewasdead(andforthatreasonremainedalive):thesubjectisalsoonlyaliveinsofarasitdoesntknow
(thatitisdead)themomentitknowsit,assumingsymbolicknowledge,itdies(inthesignifierthatrepresentsit,
thesubject).
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