File spoon-archives/baudrillard.archive/baudrillard_1999/baudrillard.9909, message 13


From: CathB2-AT-aol.com
Date: Fri, 24 Sep 1999 12:29:23 EDT
Subject: Re: [Tenure idea for publish or perish in the Baudrillard dept: ]


I have a vague notion that Foucault, Derrida and Lacan have some arguments 
that the depts. of Knowledge have as yet not made much of a comeback to.  I 
keep waiting. On the other hand, I tend to take Baudrillard as a bit given to 
hyperbole, so when events seem to confirm his diagnostics, I'm impressed.

I'm a Texan. My ancestors were some of the most famous Indian fighters.  My 
nephew (half English) is editor of one of the most scurrilous Handgun mags in 
the NRA arsenal.  I much prefer Terminator to Titanic.  Nevertheless, when 
our nonentieis in Washington  voted against even modest gun control within a 
few days of Littleton, Colorado, it reminded me that it is illegal in this 
country to threaten public servants with violence.  If  someone who was 
brought up with coonskin caps for girls as well as boys is sick of the NRA 
and the use of the Bill of Rights to justify an incredible peacetime 
deathtoll, surely political action is possible.

The other alternative is scary, but not impossible, though.  I heard an SMU 
Media Studies prof in Dallas give a rundown on Baudrillard's idea that 
national gov'ts are a thing of the past.  That they have already really lost 
all power, except some Draconian last ditch efforts to reaffirm what  was 
lost in dim historical mists of the irrelevant previous quarter hour.   ATF 
shows David Koresh's children who's boss. Maybe the US is really too diverse, 
 that tiny tribes of race creed and lifestyle are only kept from war of all 
against all by the illusionary religion of athletic shoes that is all that we 
all share.  We'll see. 

Catherine Brown

   

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