The status of women and the role of violence in contemporary culture and politics.
The experience of the Yugoslav war and the rise of "irrational" violence in contemporary societies provides the theoretical and political context of this book, which uses Lacanian psychoanalysis as the basis for a renewal of the Marxist theory of ideology. The author's analysis leads into a study of the figure of woman in modern art and ideology, including studies of The Crying Game and the films of David Lynch, and the links between violence and power/gender relations.
“Discussing Hegel and Lacan is like breathing for Slavoj.”
– Judith Butler
“The most formidably brilliant exponent of psychoanalysis, indeed of cultural theory in general, to have emerged from Europe in some decades.”
– Terry Eagleton
“The Giant of Ljubljana provides the best intellectual high since Anti-Oedipus.”
– Village Voice