Mari Ruti is my new favorite author to go for post-Lacanian psychoanalytic theories an expert on sexual,gender,queer & feminist theories and philosophy at University of Toronto & lectureship at Harvard.

Having spent last year reading through introductory books related to Lacan and his seminars; this book most helped me level up - coupling with post Lacanian thinkers like Zizek , Alain Badiou , Alenka Zupancic , Judith Butler .

The earlier chapters felt like a build up for a climax, a critique of Slavoj Zizek and French philosopher Alain Badiou.

Slavoj Zizek draws some critique for his “Final Act” ; where one has no choice but to submit to the “Real” i.e. Antigone sacrifice ; Zizek’s interpretation of Lacan does not leave any room . Ruti concurs with Alain Badiou on this ; self-destruction is not an option but rather use the process of “Sublimation” ; the closer the subject gets to the object ( L’Objet A – the Object cause of Desire ) its ability to sublimate i.e. . use Symbolism such tribe , political ideology etc. fails & collapse around the subject only to be swallowed by the “Real” .

Further sharpens her attack on the duo in the later chapters of Multiculturism & Ethics ; while Ruti is in agreement with them on that the alternatives in post-capitalistic society only fuels mindless consumerism while leaving the subject with an all too familiar empty feeling & deceptiveness being accepted into this new “tribe” . However, Zizek sides with the proletarian and class warfare while ignore identity as any basis of a universal multiculturalism ethics.

Enjoyed her work , she does have some great counter points , while I was not all convinced on certain stances ; it does open the door for more constructive discussion .
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