A Voice and Nothing More (Short Circuits)
"An immensely ambitious theoretical edifice in which new relations between Kant and Marx are established, as well as a new kind of synthesis between Marxism and anarchism. The book is timely from both practical and theoretical perspectives, and stands up well against a tradition of Marx exegesis that runs from Rosdolsky and Korsch to Althusser and Tony Smith."--Fredric Jameson, William A. Lane, Jr., Professor of Comparative Literature, Duke UniversityPlease note: Minor word changes -- apologies for the recirculations!"In his firstDuino Elegyand in a strophe dedicated to the hearing of voicesRilke speaks of 'the ceaseless message that forms itself from silence.' In thistour de forceof philosophical engagement with our acoustic universe, Mladen Dolar has given us the key to this message, to what it means to be genuinely responsive to it. Our understanding of language, ethics, politics, philosophy, and aesthetic experience will never be the same."Eric L. Santner, Chair, Department of Germanic Studies, University of Chicago"It takes a certain intrepid curiosity to pick up a book that is not of one's universe-to plunge into an in-depth examination of a common phenomenon. But the payoff can be huge: a new meaning, new resonance accruing to something one previously paid barely any attention to.A Voice and Nothing Moreis such a book-a deeply academic yet readable inquiry into the nature of voice and its role as a bridge between nature and culture, subject and other, body and language, the personal and the political....Again, no worries: There will be no final exam; this is just life, examined carefully."Los Angeles Times Book Review"Mladen Dolar acts as if he is not an idiot and looks as if he is not an idiot, but this should not deceive you he is NOT an idiot!"Slavoj Zizek"The most telling, even thrilling, passages in this exacting book emphasize the intricate knitting together of body and soul in the voice....Though A Voice and Nothing More is driven throughout by ardent and formidable intelligence, Dolar is, like George Meridith's a 'Later Alexandrian,' mad for the kind of 'mystic wryness' that Lacanian theory so amply allows. Indeed, the last words of his book make it clear that he regards the mysteries of the voice as a kind of royal road to the Secret Doctrine of Psychoanalysis." Steven ConnorBookforum"In his first *Duino Elegy* -- and in a strophe dedicated to the hearing of voices -- Rilke speaks of 'the ceaseless message that forms itself from silence.' In this *tour de force* of philosophical engagement with our acoustic universe, Mladen Dolar has given us the key to this message, to what it means to be genuinely responsive to it. Our understanding of language, ethics, politics, philosophy, and aesthetic experience will never be the same."--Eric L. Santner, Chair, Department of Germanic Studies, University of Chicago