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A review by faulkneribarelyknowher
The Spirit of Terrorism and Other essays by Chris Turner, Jean Baudrillard
3.0
damn
first of all, it's certainly misguided to view Baudrillard's claims as the true, real-life intentions of the terrorists of 9/11; these essays read more like a philosophical analysis of the outcomes (real, yes, but also symbolic) of the event.
the first essay was eye-opening. Baudrillard's remarks on globalization (more accurately anti-globalization) were interesting, and wove 9/11 as an event into the context of Western advancement of the world order, the Cold War, and the outcomes of 9/11 as harbinger of surveillance society and general modern mental malaise. the idea of 9/11 as a symptom of a suicidal world order is also interesting, and serves as a good metaphorical vehicle for similar self-destructive behavior of Western-led globalization.
the second, shorter essay was digestible and clear. the symbolic implications of the architecture of the towers was interesting to read about in a metaphorical kind of way.
the third and fourth essays were harder for me to understand, dealing more with 9/11's act in relation to Baudrillard's mapping of simulation and simulacra. there were some interesting ideas that i could tease out from here (e.g. universality vs. globalization vs. singularity), but for the most part i think it went over my head. i think this would be more digestible if i had read Simulation and Simulacra (which i have tried and failed to do).
i question the virtue of these works as well: sure, there are interesting symbolic and metaphorical implications of these terrorist acts (which i guess is Baudrillard's specialty) but there are more realistic, tangible effects to be discussed (Islamophobia in globalization, anti-US sentiments in 3rd world countries (esp. post-Cold War (or, as Baudrillard calls it, WWIII)), the psychological impacts, etc.). but again, i don't know if i entirely gleaned the essence of some of these works, and Baudrillard makes it clear that he is discussing something distinct from these other, more tangible effects and causes.
if you are ambitious, this collection of essays could be good to read, but i urge that you at least read the first essay.
first of all, it's certainly misguided to view Baudrillard's claims as the true, real-life intentions of the terrorists of 9/11; these essays read more like a philosophical analysis of the outcomes (real, yes, but also symbolic) of the event.
the first essay was eye-opening. Baudrillard's remarks on globalization (more accurately anti-globalization) were interesting, and wove 9/11 as an event into the context of Western advancement of the world order, the Cold War, and the outcomes of 9/11 as harbinger of surveillance society and general modern mental malaise. the idea of 9/11 as a symptom of a suicidal world order is also interesting, and serves as a good metaphorical vehicle for similar self-destructive behavior of Western-led globalization.
the second, shorter essay was digestible and clear. the symbolic implications of the architecture of the towers was interesting to read about in a metaphorical kind of way.
the third and fourth essays were harder for me to understand, dealing more with 9/11's act in relation to Baudrillard's mapping of simulation and simulacra. there were some interesting ideas that i could tease out from here (e.g. universality vs. globalization vs. singularity), but for the most part i think it went over my head. i think this would be more digestible if i had read Simulation and Simulacra (which i have tried and failed to do).
i question the virtue of these works as well: sure, there are interesting symbolic and metaphorical implications of these terrorist acts (which i guess is Baudrillard's specialty) but there are more realistic, tangible effects to be discussed (Islamophobia in globalization, anti-US sentiments in 3rd world countries (esp. post-Cold War (or, as Baudrillard calls it, WWIII)), the psychological impacts, etc.). but again, i don't know if i entirely gleaned the essence of some of these works, and Baudrillard makes it clear that he is discussing something distinct from these other, more tangible effects and causes.
if you are ambitious, this collection of essays could be good to read, but i urge that you at least read the first essay.