Public Radio International (PRI)

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Slavoj Žižek on the Hypocrisy of Conscious Consumerism
Do you buy organic apples because you think they taste better or because you’re trying to buy redemption for your own participation in a pernicious capitalist system? In this lecture, compellingly illustrated by the RSA Animate crew, the philosopher Slavoj Žižek criticizes charity and what he calls “cultural capitalism”—think TOMS shoes or Fair Trade coffee—as palliatives that only perpetuate an immoral economic system.

People may buy organic apples to feel “warm,” but many do so to reaffirm their social status. I am sure some do have good intentions, but I wonder if they consider the exploited labourer doing the picking.

Anyway, I think this is a great video in many respects. I don’t agree that the consumption side of capitalism is the one we need to worry about. It is a fun view, however, of charity under late capitalism.

A little misanthropy for this afternoon. Žižek seems a bit easier to deal with when accompanied by cartoons. A bit.