An Introduction to the Situationists

JanD.Matthews AnIntroductionto theSituationists

“Presentedwiththealternativeofloveoragarbagedisposalunit,youngpeople ofallcountrieshavechosenthegarbagedisposalunit.”

IS#1

Introduction

TheSituationistInternational(1957–1972)wasarelativelysmallyetinfluential Paris-basedgroupthathaditsoriginsintheavantgardeartistictradition.The situationistsarebestknownfortheirradicalpoliticaltheoryandtheirinfluenceon theMay1968studentandworkerrevoltsinFrance.TheSituationistInternational (SI)publishedajournalcalledInternationaleSituationniste(IS)Selectionsfrom thejournal’stwelveissueshavebeentranslatedandpublishedbyKenKnabbas theSituationistInternationalAnthology.Thetwoothertextsthatareessentialto anunderstandingoftheSI’stheoryareTheSocietyoftheSpectaclebyGuyDebord (theSI’sleadingtheoristthroughoutitsexistence)andTheRevolutionofEveryday LifebyRaoulVaneigemDebordsaidofTheSocietyoftheSpectacle:“therehave doubtlessnotbeenthreebooksofsocialcriticismofsuchimportanceinthelast hundredyears.”DebordwasperhapsthinkingofMarx’sCapital,thefirstvolume ofwhichwaspublishedin1867,exactly100yearspriortothepublicationofThe SocietyoftheSpectacle.WhileDebordwascertainlynotknownforhismodesty, manywhoarefamiliarwithhisbook,includingmyself,aretemptedtoagree withhim.TheBritishanti-statecommunistjournalAufheben,forexample,feels thatwhileitmaynotbethiscentury’sCapital,itisoneofthefewbooksthat couldmakesuchaclaim.Anothersituationistclaim,madein1964inIS#9,isin manywaysfargrander:“Oursisthebestefforttowardgettingoutofthetwentieth century.”Thisessaywillinevitablypresentsomeofthegroundsonwhichtojudge thevalidityofthislatterclaim.

TheSI’sinfluenceintheUnitedStatesismostnoticeableintheanarchistmilieu. Thesituationists,however,werenotanarchists.“Allkindsofrecentexperiences haveshowntherecuperatedconfusionismoftheterm‘anarchist,’anditseemsto methatwemustopposeiteverywhere,”wroteDebordin1968.Thesituationists couldbetermedanti-statecommunists:theywereheavilyinfluencedbyMarxand didnotidentifywiththeanarchisttradition,yetsharedtheanarchistoppositionto thestate.(Thesituationists,however,didnotcallthemselvescommunistsdueto itspopularassociationwithCommunistParties.)AnarchistsintheUnitedStates oftenhaveanumberofmisconceptionsregardingtheSI.Onemisconceptionis thatthesituationistswereincomprehensibleMarxistintellectualsandtherefore havenothingtoofferthemassesofpeoplewaitingforthesimpleandpractical

ideasoftheanarchists.Thismisconceptionappealstothegrowingnumberof anarchistswhohaveaknee-jerkreactiontoanythingthatsounds“Marxist”or “theoretical,”andthegrowingnumberofanarchistswhocareneitherforMarxist theorynoranarchistprinciplesbutpreferidentitypoliticsorleftistmoralizing Othermisconceptionsresultfromdivorcingtheconceptofthespectaclefrom Debord’scritiqueofcapitalism,orfromfocusingonlyonthelifestyleoraesthetic aspectsoftheSI.

ItisimportanttounderstandtheSIinrelationtoMarx,toseehowtheysaw theirownprojectasacontinuationofMarx’scritiqueofcapitalism(andthis essaywillcertainlyfocusonthis).“Thephilosophershaveonlyinterpretedthe world,invariousways;thepointistochangeit,”wroteMarx.“Sofarphilosophers andartistshaveonlyinterpretedsituations;thepointnowistotransformthem,” wrotetheSI.Inmanywaysthesituationistideaoftherealizationandsuppression ofartissimilartothetheoreticalrealizationandsuppressionofphilosophyundertakenbyMarx.InkeepingMarx’stheoryalive,thesituationists,likeMarx,drew inspirationfromHegel.“TheowlofMinerva[Romangoddessofwisdom]spreads itswingsonlywiththefallingofthedusk,”wroteHegel,meaningthatphilosophy presupposesashapeoflifegrownold,adetachmentfromlife,andajudgement postfestum.EchoingHegel,butwithafundamentallydifferentapproach,Debord wrote,“[t]hegreatnessofartonlyemergesattheduskoflife.”TheSIwereno mereartists,andtheyproclaimedtheirgreatnessratherearlyon.

FoundingandHistoryoftheSI

Inhisbook,GuyDebord,AnselmJappewrites,“GuyDebordfeltcertainthat thedisorderthatovertooktheworldin1968haditssourceatafewcafétables, where,in1952,ahandfulofsomewhatstrayedyoungpeoplecallingthemselves theLetteristInternationalusedtodrinktoomuchandplansystematicrambles theycalledderives.”TheLetteristswereoriginallyagroupofavante-gardeartists followinginthetraditionoftheDadaistsandSurrealistsclusteredaroundIsadore Isou,whosedesiretoreducepoetrytothelettergavethemthenameLetterists. In1951,theyoungDebordwenttotheCannesFilmFestivalandwasparticularly impressed(unliketherestoftheaudience)byafilmshownbyIsouandthe Letteristsentitled“TreatiseonSlobberandEternity,”whichhadnoimagesand onomatopoeicpoetryandmonologuesforasoundtrackSubsequentlyDebord wastoplayanimportantroleamongtheLetterists.In1952Debordmadethe filmHowlinginfavorofSade.Thefilm,likeallofDebord’sfilms,sendsamessage whilecritiquingthemedium:“CinemaisdeadFilmsarenolongerpossible.If youwant,let’shaveadiscussion”isDebord’smessagenearthebeginningof

thefilm.Thefilmhadablackorwhitescreenthroughout.Variousquotations, observationsontheLetterists,andtheoreticalpropositionsarespokeninthefilm, butthereisalsomuchsilence.Thelatterpartofthefilmconsistsof24minutesof silenceanddarkness.

TheLetteristswereinterestedinDada-typeculturalsabotage,inventinganew activitytoreplaceart,andaestheticsandartinitself.In1950,theLetterists sabotagedEasterhighmassatNotreDame.Theygagged,stripped,andbounda priest.Anex-CatholicLetteristtookhisvestments,wentuptothepulpitandsaid, “freres,Dieuestmort”andstartedtalkingabouttheimplicationsofthedeathof God.Thecongregationtriedtolynchhimandhehadtosurrendertothepolice inordertosavehislife.AnotherstuntsomeLetteristspulledwassabotaging CharlieChaplin’spressconference.ThiswastoomuchforIsou,however,andhe denouncedit.ThisledtoasplitamongtheLetterists.

DebordandthefactionthatbrokewithIsoufoundedtheLetteristInternational (LI)inNovember,1952.TheysetupajournalcalledPotlach.TheLetteristsdrank alot,diddrugs,andgenerallytriedtoavoidwork.Withintheirsocialgroup therewasmorethanoneattemptedmurderandseveralsuicidesDuringthistime Francewasundergoingarapidmodernization,andtheLetteristsrailedagainstthe banalityoftheconsumersociety.TheLIhadacertainorganizationalseriousness thatwouldbecomeevenmoreapparentintheSI.Memberswereexpectedto livetheirtheoryandcompletelyrejectbourgeoissociety.Ina1961film,Debord capturedthespiritofuncompromisingradicalismthatwasbeingformedinthese years:“IhavescarcelybeguntomakeyouunderstandthatIdon’tintendtoplay thegame.”

In1957theSIwasfoundedatCosiod’ArrosciainNorthernItaly,principally outoftheunionoftwoprioravant-gardegroups,theLIandTheMovementfor anImaginistBauhaus.“TheSIisthefirstartisticorganizationtobaseitselfonthe radicalinadequacyofallpermissibleworks,”theyproclaimedin1960.(Itwould seemthattheylaterceasedtoconsiderthemselvesan“artisticorganization”atall.) TheSIhadmembersfromAlgeria,Belgium,England,France,Germany,Holland, Italy,andSweden Organizationallythenationalsectionswereheldtogether throughannualconferencesandthejournal,whichwaspublishedonceortwicea yearinParis.Thejournalwasdirtcheap,hadglossypaperandgoldmetal-board covers,andhadnocopyright.

TheearlySIwasconcernedwithbreakingoutofeverydaycapitalistroutines androlesandcreating“situations”ofasuperiorpassionalquality.Theywere interestedinurbanplanningandarchitecture.Theywentonderives,orwanderingsthroughoutthecity,experiencingtheurbanenvironmentinanewway,and recordingtheirfindingsandexperiences.Theytookto“[t]hestudyofthespecific effectsofthegeographicalenvironment(whetherconsciouslyorganizedornot)

ontheemotionsandbehaviorofindividuals,”whichtheytermed“psychogeography.”Theybelievedinthenecessityoftherealizationandsuppressionofart,or theabolitionofartasaseparatesphereoflifeandtherealizationorintegration ofthepassionandbeautyofartintoeverydaylife.

In1962therewasasplitbetweenpoliticaltheoristsandartistsintheSI.Debord insistedthatartmustbedissolvedintoaunitaryrevolutionarypraxis.Fromthen on,theSInolongerfocusedonsupersedingartthroughfindinganactivityto replaceit.In1967Debord’sTheSocietyoftheSpectacleandVaneigem’sThe RevolutionofEverydayLifewerepublished,bothprovidingbrilliantcritiquesof moderncapitalismfromasituationistperspective.

Throughoutitsexistence,theSIhadanaveragemembershipofaround10or 20.Inall,63menand7womenfrom16differentcountriesweremembersatone timeoranother.Overhalfwereexcludedatonetimeoranother,andmostof theothersresigned.IS#1–5weredonecollectively,issues6–9weredonemostly bythreepeople,andissues10–12weredonemostlybyDebord(hecalledthese issues“thebestones”).TheSI’slastconferencewasheldin1969.After1968, theSIwasunabletodealwiththenewperiodofstruggleWhentheyformally dissolvedin1972,therewereonlytwomembersleft,GuyDebordandGianfranco Sanguinetti.

TheSI’sTheory

TheSI’spoliticaltheorywasinfluencedbyMarx,Hegel,Lukacs,theFrench groupSocialismorBarbarism(fromwhichtheygottheircouncilismandcritique oftheSovietUnion),thehumanistMarxistHenriLefebvre(whoformulateda critiqueofeverydaylife),andtoalesserextentpeopleasdiverseasWilhelmReich andNietzsche.TheSIalwaysusedwhattheyfoundrelevantinvariouswriters anddiscardedtherest.AtvarioustimestheydenouncedpeoplelikeLukacs,Henri Lefebvre,andSartrequitestrongly.TheSIwasalwaysquiteconvincingintheir denunciationsofvariousleftistacademicsorartistsandtheirfashionableideas. IamnowgoingtopresentsomeoftheSI’skeytheoreticalconcepts:

1. RecuperationandDetournement

Recuperationisthechannelingofsocialrevoltinawaythatperpetuates capitalism.Tounderstandrecuperationistounderstandhowworkingclass strugglesarekeptundercontrolandhowworkingclassdemandsbecome integratedintocapital’sstrategy.Tounderstandrecuperationistounderstand thatitisacentralfunctionofthemediaandofmodernunionsPunkrock culturebeingsoldinboutiquestoresisaninstanceofrecuperation.Ofcourse,

itistheinabilityofpunkrockculturetoeffectivelychallengeanythingthat opensitupsocompletelytorecuperation.Theleft,ascapital’sloyalopposition, istheembodimentofpoliticalrecuperation orkeepingthingswithinthe realmofpoliticsandrepresentation Detournementissomethinglikethe oppositeofrecuperation.Itistheappropriationofimagesorideasandthe changingoftheirintendedmeaninginawaythatchallengesthedominant cultureAgoodexampleofthisisthedetournedcomicsthatthesituationists popularized,inwhichrevolutionaryideasandslogansaresubstitutedforwhat thecomiccharactersaresupposedtobesaying.

2. AlienationandSeparations

Inthe1844Manuscripts,Marxputforwardhiscritiqueofalienation.He observedthatthecapitalistrelationshipofwage-laborputstheworkerin thepositionofbeingforcedtosellhislabor-power(histimeandenergy) tothecapitalistinordertosurvive Hisworkingactivityisthereforenot anexpressionofhisdesiresandcreativecapacity,butaforcedlaborthat confrontstheworkerasanalienimpositiondictatedbysomeoneelse.The workeralienateshislabor-powerinordertoreceiveawage.Thiscircumstance, Marxobserved,alienates1)thelaborerfromtheproductofhislabor(since hedoesnotdetermineitsfate),2)thelaborerfromtheactoflabor(sincethe laborprocessisdictatedbythecapitalist),3)manfromhisspecies-being(his natureandintellectualspecies-powers,determinedbythecourseofhuman development),and4)manfromman(workersdonotdeterminetheiractivity togetherandthecapitaliststandsabovethemasatyrant).

UnlikeMarxist-Leninists,thesituationistsmadefulluseofMarx’stheory ofalienationandbuiltmuchoftheiranalysisofmoderncapitalismonthis conceptualbasis.TheSIemphasizedthat“therevolutionaryorganization mustlearnthatitcannolongercombatalienationwithalienatedmeans.” Organizationalformsthatdonotallowforpeopletofreelydeterminetheir activitiestogether(hierarchy)arealienatedmeans.Theyencouragepeopleto workforaliencausesorideals.LikeSocialismorBarbarism,theSIwanted todestroythedivisionbetweenorder-giversandorder-takers.Theircritique ofalienationledtheSItostronglyrejectthestateasaperfectexampleofan “alienatedmeans.”

TheSIalsocharacterizedspectacularsociety(moreonthespectaclelater) asasystemofseparations.Asthesituationist-influencedAgainstSleepAnd Nightmarewrites,“Asthemarketexpands,itneedstosellmorecommodities Tosellthecommodities,acapitalisthastomakepeoplenotjustwantthe commoditybutneedthecommodity.Byfragmentingmoreareasofpreviouslyundifferentiatedsociallifeintoquantifiableunits,thecapitalistsforced

atomizedworkerstomeettheirneedsexternallyratherthanthroughcommunity-directnon-marketrelations.”Astheeconomyasaseparatesphereoflife expandstoencompassmoreandmoreofouractivities,ourseparationfrom eachotherandfromourowndesiresandpowersbecomesmoreacute.TheSI hadatheoreticalbasisforunderstandingthealienatedconditionofmodern manasdepictedinartandliterature.Onlythedestructionofcapitalismcan endthedominationoftheeconomyoveralloflife.

3. SpecializationandMilitantism

AsMarxpointedout,classsocietydependsonthedivisionoflaborinaugurated throughthedivisionofmentalandphysicallabor.Capitalismfurtherexpands thisdivisionoflaborbycreatingtheneedforthemanagementandcontrol ofevergreaterdomainsofsociallifeCapitalismproducesawholearrayof specialists(psychologists,professors,scientists,etc.)whoworktoperpetuate capitalismWeusuallydon’tchoosetobedependentonspecialists,itisjustthe waythesystemissetupAgoodexampleofthisistheruleofspecialistscalled politicianswhorepresentpeoplewhetherornottheywishtoberepresented. Thesituationistsunderstoodhowthisfeatureofcapitalismismirroredbyits leftistopposition.Theleftistroleofmilitantfitsperfectlywithintheworldof separationsthatthesituationistshated:themilitantisadevoutbelieverina causetowhichothersmustbeconverted,andintheserviceofthiscausethe militantfeelsobligedtospeakfor“thepeople”andsaywhatisgoodfor“the people.”Theleftistmilitantisanaspiringbureaucrat.TheSIunderstoodthe critiqueofspecializationtobefundamentallyacritiqueofclasssocietyandan affirmationofcommunism.“Inacommunistsocietytherearenopaintersbut atmostpeoplewhoengageinpaintingamongotheractivities,”wroteMarx.

4. Subjectivity

IncontrasttotheobjectivistdialecticsofMarxism-Leninismandthecold objectivityofcorporatecapitalism,theSIemphasizedthesubjectivityofrevolt, theproletariat’scapacitybetheconscioussubjectsofhistoryandnotthe passiveobjectsofbureaucraticdesignDespitetheobjectivebuild-upofgreat amountsofwealthandtheabilityofworkersintheindustrializedworldto buyvariousnewcommodities,thereisanincreasingsubjectivepovertyof everydaylife.TheSIrailedagainstboredomandthebanalityofthespectacular commoditysociety.Theyspokeofthesubjectivefeelingsofoppressionand passivitythatcharacterizedeverydaylifeincapitalistsociety,insteadofonly focusingoneconomicstrugglesorpoliticalconflicts.Vaneigemepitomized theSI’stendencytofocusonthesubjective,ondesireanditsfrustration.

5. Survival

TheSI,observingwhattheysawasthe“proletarianizationoftheworld,” feltitnecessarytoemphasizethatthesurvivalthatcanbeguaranteedby

capitalismisnotthesamethingasactuallyliving Wereitnotfortheir emphasisonthesubjective,theywouldnothaveseenthisasveryimportant. Marxstronglycriticizedthedegradationofhumanactivityinherentinthe wage-laborrelationship:“[labor]isthereforenotthesatisfactionofaneed butonlyameanstosatisfyneedsoutsideitself.”Theworkergetsawagewith whichhecanbuycommoditiessoldbycapitalists,buthehasnocontrolover production.ThisisperhapsthefundamentalbasisfortheSI’scounterposing oflifetosurvival.Lifeisanaffirmationofone’sdesiresandcreativecapacities, whereassurvivalisworking,consuming,watchingtelevision,etc.Oftenthe SIexpandeduponmanyofMarx’sideas,whichiscompletelynecessarygiven thedevelopmentofcapitalismthatoccurredoverthecourseofacentury.

6. Ideology

“Revolutionarytheoryisnowtheswornenemyofallrevolutionaryideology, andknowsit,”wroteDebordinTheSocietyoftheSpectacle.TheSIonceproudly remindedtheirreadersthatMarxhadacritiqueofideology,thatthiswas inherentinhismethod.Theywereright,ofcourse.AlthoughMarxdidnot reallyfleshoutthiscritiquetoomuch,itisimplicitinmuchofhiswork,and TheGermanIdeologywasmeanttobeacritiqueoftheideologicalthinkingof Germanphilosophers.Ideologyisthefalseconsciousnessthatisreproduced bythedominantsocialorderforthepurposeofitscontinueddominance.The divinerightofkingswouldbeanexampleofsuchfalseconsciousness.Racism, SocialDarwinism,Liberalism,andProgressareallideologiesthathavebeen usedbycapitalismforvariousreasons.Incapitalism,ideologyappearsasthe reificationofthought,ortheseveranceoftheoryfrompractice(inwhichcase thetheorycouldbestbetermedideology).TheSIwaskeenlyawareofthe separationofthetheoryofworker’scontrolfromitsapplicationinpractice, asexemplifiedbyBolshevikideology.ThecontinueddominanceoftheSoviet Bureaucracynecessitatedtheuseofthemythofworker’scontrol,themyth ofa“worker’sstate,”tohidethefactofcontinuedexploitationoflabor.The workerswerenotbeingexploited,themythgoes,becauseeverythingtheydid wasforthegoodoftheworker’sstate,whichincludesthemSoifworkersrise upinrevoltagainstthisstate,theymustbecounter-revolutionaries,sincethey arefightingagainsttheworker’sstate,thepoliticalembodimentofrevolution Thereisareligiousaspecttoallideology.Onasubjectivelevel,ideology appearsasthedominationofideas peopleactingforthegreatergloryof theirideology(God)insteadofactingonthebasisoftheirdesires.

NowIwillgointoanoverviewofsomeoftheMarxistideasthataremostimportantforthesituationistsandthenintoabrieflookattheconceptofthe“spectacle.” Marxhasbeenviewedbysomeasatheoristofpoliticaleconomy,byothersas

atheoristofacritiqueofpoliticaleconomy;bysomeasaproponentofsome sortofplannedeconomy,byothersasaclearproponentofthedestructionofthe economy.Theoretically,thelatterviewsaremoredefensible.However,Marxdid leavehimselfopentotheLeninistinterpretationwhichseesstatemanagement(of capital)astheessenceofsocialisminthathedidnottakeastanceagainstpolitical participationandtheseizureofstatepowerasBakunindid.Bakunin’sgreatmerit wasinpredictingthattheseizureofstatepowerbyaMarxistpartywouldleadto thecreationofanewrulingclass.TowhatextentdoesMarxism-Leninismdepart fromMarx’srevolutionaryproject?Thisisundoubtedlyarathercomplexdebate, butImentionthatitexiststomakeclearthatanti-statecommunistsgenerally rejectthestateonthebasisofMarx’stheory,assurprisingasthatmaysoundto thosewhohaven’treadMarx(butwhoreally,reallydon’tlikehim).

Theideaofdialecticscomesupagainandagainwiththesituationists,and atfirstseemsrathermystifying Ananarchistwriteroncecalleddialectics“a Marxists’excusewhenyoucatchhimlying.”Andwhileitcancertainlybethat, itisalsootherthings.Lookingitupinadictionarywillnotsolvethedilemma. TheGreek‘dia’meanssplitintwo,opposed,clashing,and‘logos’ meansreason Dialecticsisamodeofreasoningthatdoesnotseethingsmerelyassplitintwo, butseesthingsasmoving,interacting,andturningintotheiropposites.Dialectics isanunderstandingofthingsinmotionSinceanobjectinmotionistheunity ofwhereitwasandwhereitisgoing,dialecticsimpliesanunderstandingof contradiction.Themomentsofadialecticalprocesscanbedescribedasaffirmation, negation,andnegationofthenegation,wherethetwooppositesof“negation” aredistinctanddifferent—the“negationofthenegation”representinganew sortofaffirmation.Thisispossible,inasense,becausedialecticsreasonsinthree dimensions.AsLukacspointedout,thepremiseofthedialecticisthat“things shouldbeshowntobeaspectsofprocesses.”“Thestudent’sbecomingisthetruth ofhisbeing,”observedDebordDialecticscanalsobeunderstoodasawayof reasoningthatlooksbeyondthemereappearanceofthingsinordertograsp theunderlyingrelationsorprocessestakingplacebehindimmediateappearance Engelsdidnotsay“theproof’sinthepudding,”butrather,“theproofofthe pudding’sintheeating,”whichismoredialecticalbecauseitgraspstheobjective (thepudding)andthesubjective(theeating)aspectsofanyjudgementofpudding Marxnotonlywroteoftheclassconflictthathastakenplacethroughouthistory, healsounderstoodthatthosewhowriteaboutthisconflictarenotseparatefrom itsmovement.Itishisunderstandingofthedialecticalrelationbetweentheory andpracticethatmakeshistheoryrevolutionary(seeespeciallyhisTheseson Feuerbach).Marxoncewrotethat“[i]tisnotenoughthatthoughtshouldstrive torealizeitself;realityitselfmuststrivetowardthought.”MustaphaKhayatiof

theSIimprovedonMarx’sformulation:“Itisnotenoughfortheorytoseekits realizationinpractice;practicemustseekitstheory.”

Relatedtotheideaofdialecticsisthecategoryoftotality,presentinthewritings ofHegelandMarx,emphasizedbyLukacs,andusedoftenbytheSI.Totalitymeans partlywhatitsoundslikeitmeans,butalsoimpliesadialecticalunderstanding ofawholeandthepartsofwhichitiscomposed.ForHegelthetotalitywasGod, whileforMarxitwastherelationsofproductioninagivensociety.Lukacshad thefollowingtosayonthesubject:“Theinteractionwehaveinmindmustbe morethantheinteractionofotherwiseunchangingobjects Thustheobjective formsofallsocialphenomenachangeconstantlyinthecourseoftheirceaseless dialecticalinteractionswitheachother.Theintelligibilityofobjectsdevelopsin proportionaswegrasptheirfunctioninthetotalitytowhichtheybelong.This iswhyonlythedialecticalconceptionoftotalitycanenableustounderstand realityasasocialprocessForonlythisconceptiondissolvesthefetishisticforms necessarilyproducedbythecapitalistmodeofproductionandenablesustosee themasmereillusionswhicharenotlessillusoryforbeingseentobenecessary.”

The“fetishisticforms”Lukacsmentionsarearesultofreification(anotherterm thattheSIused),ortheprocessinwhichcapitalismpersonifiesrelationships betweenthingsand“thingifies,”orreifiesrelationshipsbetweenpeople.Allof thisshouldmakeclearthatdialecticalthinkingaimsataknowledgeofreality,as distinctfromasimpleknowledgeoffacts.

AnimportantaspectofMarx’smethodishismaterialism Marxheldthat existencedeterminesconsciousness,whereasconsciousnessdoesnotdetermine existence.Inotherwords,ideasdonotexistinarealmoftheirownandcome downtomanifestthemselvesinthematerialworld.Ideasareproducedthrough ourexperiencesintheworld,andtheyremainacomponentofthatsameworld. ThisistheessenceofMarx’scritiqueofidealistphilosophy,asrepresentedby Hegel.Attheageof19,MarxwroteapoemaboutHegelinwhichhesaidthat Hegelmixesupwordsintoa“devilishmuddle.”Partofthereasonforthisis thatHegel’sdialecticsisultimatelytheworkofimmaterialforces,whereasMarx placesmaninhismaterialrelationsatthecenterofhisthinkingMarx’scritique ofidealismwasintimatelylinkedtohiscritiqueofideology,sinceideological thinking,whetheritadmitsitornot,isbasedontheassumptionofsomecorrect consciousnessthatwilltransformsocialreality.Hegelwrotethat“[h]istoryis mindclothingitselfwiththeformofeventsortheimmediateactualityofnature.”

Incontrast,Lukacs,representingaMarxistviewpoint,wrote:“ historyisthe historyoftheunceasingoverthrowoftheobjectiveformsthatshapethelifeofman.”

Anunderstandingofcapitaliscentraltoanyunderstandingofcapitalismand Marxisttheory.So,whatiscapital?FredyPerlmandefinedcapitalas,“ atonce anameforasocialrelationbetweenworkersandcapitalists,fortheinstrumentsof

productionownedbyacapitalist,andforthemoney-equivalentofhisinstruments and‘intangibles,’ ”Capitalisasocialrelationthatnecessitatestheuseofthings inaspecificway,anditisthosethingsinsofarastheyaredirectlyreproducingthis socialrelationintheprocessofvalueaccumulation.AsMarxemphasizedinthe Grundrisse,capitalmustbeunderstoodasaprocess.Marxdefinedcapitalvariously as “asocialrelationofproduction,”“valueinprocess,”“aMoloch,”“accumulated labor,”andmostpoeticallyas“deadlabourwhich,vampirelike,livesbysucking livinglabour,andlivesthemore,themorelabouritsucks.”Aufhebendefined capitalas“theself-expansionofalienatedlabour.”Thisalienatedlaborappearsas acommodity(C)inMarx’sbasicformulaforcapital(whereMismoney):M-C-M Moneyisexchangedforthecommodity(labor-power)thatyieldsagreateramount ofmoney.Tosimplify,wehaveM-M,moneythatyieldsmoremoney(which soundslikenonsenseinitself),orcapital,“self-expandingvalue,”asMarxwrote. ItisoffundamentalimportancetounderstandthatMarxhadacritiqueofvalueproducinglabor(andmanyMarxistsdonotunderstandthis).Incapitalistsociety, laborhasatwofoldcharacter:itisanactivitythatproducesuse-values,oruseful products,anditisauniquecommoditythatproducesvalue,the“appearance-form” ofwhichisexchange-value.Valueexistsbyvirtueoftheprocessofexchange andisnotsimplya“property”ofacommodity.Incapitalism,peoplerelate toeachothereconomicallyonlyinsofarastheotherpersonpossessesthings (labor-powerorothercommodities)thattheyfinduseful.Socialrelationsarenot establisheddirectly,butthroughthings.Inthisway,valuemakesitsappearance andbecomesmeasurablebythequantityofabstractsociallynecessarylabor-time embodiedintheproductoflabor,thecommodity.Valueisregulatedthrough themarket,butnotbyanyindividual.Capitalistsocialrelationsnotonlyappear tobebutactuallyare“materialrelationsbetweenpersonsandsocialrelations betweenthings.”Marxtermedthischaracteristicofcapitalism“thefetishismof commodities.”Marxtriedtoexplainthefetishismofcommoditiesbylikeningit toreligion,inwhich“theproductionsofthehumanmindappearasindependent beingsendowedwithlife,enteringintorelationshipswitheachotherandwith humans.”

Debord’sconceptofthespectacleisaformofcommodityfetishism.Debord emphasizedthatthespectacleisnotacollectionofimages,butrather,“asocialrelationshipbetweenpeoplemediatedbyimages.”Similarly,Marxhadwrittenthat capitalisasocialrelationshipbetweenpeoplemediatedbythings.Thespectacle is“theconcreteinversionoflife”andthe“autonomousmovementofnon-life.”The principleofthespectacleis“non-intervention.”ForMarx,moneyaccumulated beyondacertainthresholdistransformedintocapital.ForDebord,capitalaccumulatedbeyondacertainthresholdistransformedintoimages.Debordupdated andexpandeduponMarx’stheoryofcommodityfetishism,applyingtheideaof

reificationtoallareasofsociallife.Tobetterunderstandallofthis,onemustread TheSocietyoftheSpectacle

May1968

NowIwillpresentabriefoverviewoftherevolutionarymovementandevents ofMay1968.FromthestandpointoftheSI,itisimportanttomentionOnthe PovertyofStudentLife,asituationistcritiqueofstudentlifeandcapitalistsociety, andanexcellentintroductiontosituationistideas.In1966,somestudentssympathetictotheSIgotthemselveselectedtotheUniversityofStrasbourgstudent union.Theyintendedondissolvingthestudentunionaftergainingtheirpositions, butfirsttheywantedtocauseabitofascandal.TheycontactedtheSI,seekingto collaborateonsomeformofpropagandadenouncingtheuniversityandputting forwardarevolutionarycritiqueofcapitalism.TheresultwasthatOnthePoverty ofStudentLifewaswrittenmainlybytheSImemberMustaphaKhayati,10,000 copiesweremadeusinguniversityfunds,andthepamphletsweredistributedall overcampusonthefirstdayofclasses.Thisledtoacourtcaseinwhichthejudge denouncedtheanarchisticthreattotheuniversity.(Seelibrary.nothingness.org)

WithinthecontextofradicalideaslikethoseoftheSIgainingsomedegreeof popularity,growingagitationagainsttheVietnamwar,anddisgustwithuniversity regulationsandanti-sexualstatutes,thestudentsofFrancebegantostirthingsup abit.AtNanterreuniversity,forexample,meninvadedthewomen’sdormitories andthewomeninvadedthemen’sdormitories.ThesituationistReneVienet, inhisbookaboutMay‘68,writesthatatNanterre,about4or5radicalswho were‘campusbums’ofsortswhoagreedwiththeSIstartedtheagitationin December1967thatwouldleadtotherevolutionarycrisisofMay‘68.Duringa struggleagainstpolicepresenceatNanterre,theseyoungradicalsbegancalling themselvestheenrages,or“theenraged,”asthiswasthenamegiventothemost radicalelementsduringtheFrenchRevolution.Theyphotographedplain-clothed policemenandpublicizedblown-upphotographsofthemoncampus.Theyalso beganinterruptingthecoursesofsociologistsandthrowingfruitattheprofessors, whoweresometimesprotectedbyleftiststudents.

OnMarch22therewasastudenttake-overofanadministrationbuildingat Nanterre,andonMarch29Nanterrewasclosedfor2days.ThenonMay2, theuniversitywasclosedindefinitely.OnMay3therewasalargemeetingat theSorbonnetoprotesttheclosureofNanterreandthethreatenedexpulsion ofstudents Afterthepoliceshowedup,peopleendedupgettingbeatenup andarrestedAtthispoint,thestudentswereextremelyangryandoneofthe policevansnevermadeitbacktothestation.BattleseruptedinthenearbyLatin

QuarterbetweenstudentsandpoliceAfterthisinitialbattle,aweekofstudent demonstrationsandriotingensued.

ByMay6theriotshadgrowntoincludemanyworkers,unemployed,high schoolstudents,andyounghoods(juveniledelinquents)andbyMay10mostof therioterswerenotstudents.Residentsoftheareagavefoodandwatertothe rioterseventhoughsomeoftheircarswereperhapsbeingburnedinthestreets. Policehadbeengivenorderstoclearthestreetsandtherewasstreet-fighting throughoutthenight.Rioterserectedbarricades,madelotsofgraffiti,andthrew manycobblestonesandmolotovcocktailsatpolice.

OnMay11thepolicewereorderedtowithdrawfromtheLatinQuarterand onMay13ththefacultieswerereopened.SoonMay13th,immediatelyafter theriotpoliceleft,theSorbonnewasoccupiedbythestudents.Thestudents beganmeetinginageneralassemblyandforminganOccupationCommitteeto coordinatethestruggle.TheOccupationCommitteeconsistedof15members whowereelectedandrevocableonadailybasisbythegeneralassembly(oneof whichwastheenrageReneRiesel).Thereweremanydifferentpoliticaltendencies visibleattheoccupiedSorbonne.Therewerethosewhowanteduniversityreform, thosewhowantedthefallofGaullism(deGaullewaspresidentofFrance),and thosewhowantedtoseetheendofclasssociety.

AlsoonMay13,themaintradeunions,theCGT(CommunistPartycontrolled union),CFDT,andFO,calledaonedaygeneralstrikeprotestingpoliceviolence andforlong-neglectedclaimshavingtodowithwages,hours,retirement,and unionrightsManyworkersassembledattheRenaultworksplantatBoulogne Billancourt(thelargestfactoryinFrance).AlreadytheCommunistParty(CP)is distributingaleafletcallingfor“resolution,calm,vigilance,andunity”andwarningagainst“provacateurs.”Theunion(CGT)loudspeakercallsformodernization andwarnsabout“disruptiveelements,alientotheworkingclass.”

Intheafternoon,ahugemarchassemblesworkers,students,andteachers TheCPhasthousandsofstewardsencirclingthemarchers,preventingcontact betweenstudentsandworkers,andthentryingtodispersepeoplewhenthey saythemarchissupposedtobeover.Manyofthestudentswantedtoassemble withworkersdownanotherstreet,andwhensomeofthemproposethis,they areassaultedbyCPstewardsAtonepointduringthemarch,apolicecarwent downoneofthestreetswherepeopleweremarching(perhapstheydidnotexpect peopletobeonthisstreetortheythoughtthemarchwasover).Withnowhereto go,thecopaccelerates,injuringpeopleOneofthetwocopsinthecarisdragged outandbeaten,buthislifeissavedbytheCPstewards.Thecrowdstartedrocking thepolicecarandtheothercopfiredintothecrowd,luckilynothittinganyone. Hewasimmediatelysetuponbythecrowd,buttheCPstewardshelpedthiscop getawayaswell.

OnMay14,theSudAviationplantatNantesisoccupiedbyworkers.Itbecomes clearthattheunionsarenotincontrolofthemovement,andtheonedaygeneral striketurnsouttobeamassivewildcatstrike.OnMay16,theRenaultfactories atCleonandFlinsareoccupiedbytheworkersByMay17,millionsofFrench workersareonwildcatstrike.ManystudentsmarchtotheRenaultworksfactory toshowtheirsolidaritywiththestrikingworkersandcommunicatewiththem. ThestudentsaregreetedbyclosedfactorygatesandaCGTloudspeakertelling themitwouldbebestiftheywenthome.Someofthestudentsareabletotalk totheworkersthroughthegatesandlaterthatnight,buttheydonotchargethe factorygates,thuslegitimizingtheauthorityoftheCGT.TheCGTtriedtoclaim responsibilityforthestrikemovementandreduceageneralstriketoaseriesof individualenterprisestrikesAtthispoint,theywerenotverysuccessful.The workerswhoweretakingcontroloftheirownliveshadlittleintentionofgoing backtowork.AsReneVienetobserved,“[f]ortheunionstheonlyuseofallthe revolutionarystrengthoftheproletariatwastomakethemselvespresentablein theeyesofaneffectivelydispossessedmanagementandpracticallynonexistent government.”

Bythistime,backattheSorbonnetherehasbeenallsortsofdiscussions ofsocialissuesandtherevolutionarystruggleinthelecturehalls,andworkerstudentactioncommitteeswereformedbystudentsandwhoeverelsewanted tojointhem.TheoccupieduniversitiessuchastheSorbonneandCensierhave invitedworkersandthegeneralpublictoparticipateintheiractivities.The worker-studentactioncommitteeswereespeciallyprevalentatCensier.These committeesestablishedlinkswithrevolutionaryworkers,withwhomtheywould draftanddistributeleaflets,calledforworker-controlledstrikecommittees,and generallyencourageddiscussionofimmediateproblemsamongworkersand students.Thereismuchgraffitiappearingallovertheplace,muchofitsituationistinspired.GuyDebord’s1953slogan,“neverwork,”appearsagain,thistimewith anobviouslymoreexpansivemeaning.Oneparticularlytouchinginscription fromtheSorbonnereads:“Since1936IhavefoughtforwageincreasesNowI haveatelly,afridge,andaVolkswagen.Yetallinall,mylifehasalwaysbeena dog’slife.Don’tdiscusswiththebosses.Eliminatethem.”

TheOccupationCommitteeattheSorbonnewaseventuallysquashedbyleftist sectsandconservativesandthegeneralassemblywasdeteriorating.Manyof themoreradicalpeoplearounddecidedtoleavetheSorbonne.ThustheCouncil fortheMaintenanceoftheOccupations(CMDO)wasfoundedOnMay19the CMDOmovedintotheNationalPedagogicalInstitute.TheCMDOcontained SituationistssuchasDebord,Khayati,Riesel,andVaneigem.Theyhadaprinting committee,aliaisoncommittee,andarequisitionscommittee.Theyaimedto encouragethespreadoftheoccupationsandtheautonomousorganizationofthe

workersapartfromtheStalinistunionhacks,withtheultimategoalofcreatinga societywherethepoweroftheworker’scouncilswouldbetheonlypowerinthe land.

AgoodexampleoftheexperienceofMay‘68andofaworker-studentaction committeeisgivenbyFredyPerlman,whowasactiveinoneofthesecommittees atthetime.AtaCitroenfactory,astrikecommitteecalledforastrikeand occupation,whichtheworker-studentactioncommitteehelpedpublicizeOnthe dayofthestriketheactioncommitteewaspreventedfromenteringthefactory gatesbytheCGT.TheCGTactedasiftheyhadcalledthestrike,soastolimitit towageandworkingconditiondemandsManyforeignCitroenworkers,already segregatedinmanywaysfromtheFrenchworkers,livedinhousingprojectsand wereunabletomakeittothefactoryduringthestrikeMembersoftheaction committeehelpedorganizeFrenchcoursesfortheseworkersandfoundtrucks andarrangedforfoodtobetransportedfrompeasantswhoweresupportive ofstrikersPerlman’sactioncommitteeencouragedrankandfileorganization amongworkersbysupportingthestrikeandtryingtobreakdownthebarriers thatdividethepotentiallyrevolutionaryelementsofsociety.

OnMay24,therewasademonstrationthatturnedintoriotinginwhichpart ofthestockexchangewasburnedandtwopolicestationsweretrashed.The governmentandbureaucraticorganizationscalledforabanondemonstrations andimmediatenegotiations(withbosses).Francehadbeenmoreorlessshut downbystrikesBanksinFrancewereclosed.Therewassomeamountoffree fooddistributionfrompeasants,butnotasmuchlootingastherecouldhavebeen

OnMay30,afterreturningtoFrance(hehadleft),presidentDeGaulleannouncedthatheintendedtostayinpower.Hescheduledupcomingelections, thealternativesbeingelectionsorcivilwar.Therightwingmadeanappearance demonstratinginfavorofDeGaulle.Theworkersweregivenanofferforhigher wagesnationallycalledtheGrenelleagreement,whichwasrejected.Thestrike hadtobebrokenfactorybyfactory.AndtowardtheendofMay,theFrench revolutionarymovementseemedtobelosingsteam.OnJune6thepolicedrove workersoutoftheRenaultfactoryatFlins.Theunionswereinstrumentalin limitingtherevolutionarymovementandwereabletobringabouttheresumptionofworkalmosteverywhere.Theunionswouldsometimestellworkersthat otherfactorieshadreturnedtoworkwhentheyhadn’t.Throughthefailureofthe revolutionarymovement,thegovernmentgainedbackthepowerandrelevance ithadlost.ManyleftistorganizationsweredisbandedOnJune16theoccupation oftheSorbonneended—thepoliceforcedeveryoneout.AfterDeGaullewonthe electionsonJune23,alloccupiedbuildingswereevacuated.Thewildcatstrikehad involved10millionworkers,or2/3oftheFrenchworkforce.Theyhadparalyzed amodernindustrializednationandcreatedanear-revolution.

SupersedingtheSI

“TheSImustbesuperseded,”theywrote.Theyfeltthatrevolutionariestocome afterthemmustimproveupontheirtheorywhileincorporatingitsstrengths. HereIwillraiseafewquestionsastowhatthesupersessionoftheSI’stheory mightlooklike.In1919,LukacswroteofthesituationintheSovietUnion:“[t]he classstruggleisnowbeingfoughtfromabove.”Thisisaridiculousideological assertionButwhatisitinLukacs’theory,orinMarx’s,thatmightleadonetosay somethinglikethis?In1969theSIbemoaneda“lackoftheoreticalknowledgeof theautonomousgoalsoftheproletarianclassstruggle.”I’mnotsureexactlywhat wasmeantbythis.Butdoesthe“proletarianclassstruggle”havegoals?How wereRussiananarchistsabletocalltheBolshevikregimestate-capitalistasearly as1918,ayearbeforeLukacsgavehisMarxistopinionontheissue?

AnarchistoppositiontothestatecanseemrathercrudefromaMarxiststandpoint,evenpurelyideological.ButiftheMarxistseestheclassstruggleashaving goalsthatflowthroughhistoryandhoversomewhereabovereality,isthisnot ideological?DeterminismdidindeedappearintheSI’stheory.TheSIoftenwrote abouttherapiddevelopmentoftechnologyassomethingthathelpedenablethe birthofcommunistsociety.ThebasisforthiswayofseeingthingsistheMarxistnotionofagrowingcontradictionbetweentheforcesofproductionandthe propertyrelationsofcapitalistsociety.TheSI,likeMarx,hadaratheroptimistic attitudetowardtechnology.Now,itseems,thisattitudecouldonlybenaivete.

OtheraspectsoftheSIthatseemratherquestionabletodayincludetheircouncilismandformoforganization.TheSI’senthusiasmforworker’scouncilsasthe formthattherevolutionarystruggleshouldtakeneglectstolookatthenature ofsuchcouncilsCommunismisnotanyparticularformoforganization,and focusingontheformthatworker’sstrugglestakewithoutdealingcriticallywith theircontentisanobviousdanger.(Isadirectlydemocraticformnecessarilya revolutionaryone?)TheSIcreatedaformalorganizationinwhichDebordwas verymuchtheleadingpersonality.JacquesCamatte’sessay,“OnOrganization” presentsaninterestingcritiqueofhowsuchorganizationscanfunctionasrackets thatreproducecapitalistforms.

JeanBarrot,inanessaycritiquingtheSI,writesofVaneigem’sTheRevolutionof EverydayLife:“Vaneigem’sbookwasadifficultworktoproducebecauseitcannot belived,threatenedwithfallingontheonehandintoamarginalpossibilismand ontheotherintoanimperative,whichisunrealizableandthusmoral.Eitherone huddlesinthecrevicesofbourgeoissociety,oroneceaselesslyopposestoita differentlife,whichisimpotentbecauseonlytherevolutioncanmakeitareality. TheS.I.puttheworstofitselfintoitsworsttext.Vaneigemwastheweakest

sideoftheS.I.,theonewhichrevealsallitsweaknesses.”Onlytherevolution? VaneigemrepresentsthepartoftheSIthatdidnotrelytooheavilyonMarx. Butisn’tBarrot(probablywithoutknowingit)presentingaratherundialectical conceptofrevolution?Aninsurrectionaryanarchistapproach,forexample,is somewhatdifferent.AstheItalianAnarchismowrote,inreferencetotherelative meritofsucha“differentlife”,“[i]tisthisanti-authoritarianillegalbehavior whichindicatedwhatisdefinedthepre-revolutionaryphase,ratherthan,assome maintain,thatitisthisphasewhichrenderssuchbehaviorrational.”

HowdidVaneigem,andDebordaswell,pointbeyondsomeoftheweaknesses oftheirtheory?AndhowhasthepassageoftimesinceMay‘68changedhow theirtheoryistobeputintopractice?Itseemsacontinualquestioningofthese topicsisnecessary,butsomewhatbeyondthescopeofthisessay.

SuggestedReading

“AllthetalkabouttheFrenchSituationistsbeingassociatedwithpunkisbollocks It’snonsense!...Thesituationists...weretoostructuredformyliking,word gamesandnowork.PlustheywereFrench,sofuckthem.”

—JohnLyden(JohnnyRottenoftheSexPistols)

• Debord,Guy.TheSocietyoftheSpectacle:Remarkableanalysisofmodern capitalism.Oneofthemostimportantbooksofthe20thcentury.

• Debord,Guy.CommentsontheSocietyoftheSpectacle:Furtherdevelopment ofTheSocietyoftheSpectacle’sideasFocusesonspectacularpoliticsinaway thatisrelevanttothepost-9-11world.

• Debord,GuyandGianfrancoSanguinetti.TheRealSplitintheInternational: WrittenwhentheSIwasdissolving.Interesting,butnotasgoodasDebord’s otherbooks.

• Debord,Guy.Panegyric:Verywellwrittenautobiographythatisn’tmuchof anautobiographyatall.

• Debord,Guy.CompleteCinematicWorks:Scripts,Stills,Documents:Excellent.

• Vaneigem,Raoul.TheRevolutionofEverydayLife:Brilliantandapleasureto read.Mostinfluentialformanyanarchists.

• Vienet,ReneEnragesandSituationistsintheOccupationMovement,France, May’68:Situationistaccountofwhatthetitlesays.

• Perlman,FredyandRogerGregoire.Worker-StudentActionCommittees,France, May’68:Informativeandself-criticalaccountfrompeopleinvolved.

• Gray,Christopher,edLeavingthe20thCentury:Aestheticallypleasinganda goodshortintroductiontotheSituationists.

• DarkStar.SituationistsandtheBeach:Alsoadecentintroductiontothe Situationiststhatisaestheticallypleasing.

• Knabb,Ken,ed.SituationistInternationalAnthology:ThebestoftheSIjournals. Quitealargebook,butwellworththetime.

• Jappe,Anselm.GuyDebord:ExcellentlookatDebord’stheory.

• Black,Bob.“TherealizationandsuppressionofSituationism”:introducesthe SI.Availableatwww.inspiracy.com

• AgainstSleepandNightmare.“Go‘BeyondtheSI’inTenSimpleSteps”:lays outasummaryoftheSI’stheoryandanalyzesitabit.Availableatwww.againstsleepandnightmare.com

• Barrot,Jean.“CritiqueoftheSI”:critiquefromananti-statecommunist perspective.Availableatwww.geocities.com

• Jappe,Anselm.“GuyDebord’sConceptoftheSpectacle”:fromtheJappebook Availableunder“pamphlets”attreason.metadns.cx

• Brinton,Maurice.“Paris:May1968”:eye-witnessaccountoftheevents Availableatwww.prole.info

• AllsortsofSitiuationisttexts:www.cddc.vt.eduandlibrary.nothingness.org

• May,’68graffiti:www.bopsecrets.org(fromKenKnabb’swebsite)

Anti-Copyright May21,2012

JanDMatthews

AnIntroductiontotheSituationists 2005

RetrievedonMay7,2009fromanti-politicsnet