The Pervert’s Guide to Ideology (2012)

I’m not smart enough to understand more than 50% of what Slavoj Žižek is talking about. Ever. I once tried reading a book of his, and while I found it absolutely thrilling I absorbed probably 25% of the thing. Some of that is because I am not nearly as well-versed in philosophy and psychoanalysis as one might want to be to when engaging Žižek. I think the other part is the man really likes jumping around a lot. He’s excited, and excitable. That’s precisely what’s so fascinating about him, and what makes watching him on the screen preferable (for me) to his written word.

When I saw that a “sequel” to The Pervert’s Guide to Cinema was on the horizon, I just about lost it in my pants. Then, I saw it was virtually impossible to get a copy of and wasn’t playing anywhere near me. So I sat and waited. And that’s when my husband’s association with the film department pays off! For just a few days, The Pervert’s Guide to Ideology played at our local theater and we’d be damned if we were going to miss it.

Well, it absolutely lived up to my expectations, and pulls a lot of the same tricks Cinema did. The ever-enchanting Žižek implants himself in scenes from the films that he discusses. Such films include They Live, The Sound of Music, Dark Knight, A Clockwork Orange, Taxi Driver, and my personal favorite moment: Titanic. But, to what end? Well, to explain to the poor, drooling masses what ideology actually, is, of course. Why do we see the world the way we do? What are they doing to us?

I have no interest whatsoever in attempting to paraphrase what the man does here. You really should see it for yourself, and anything I try to reiterate here would just pale in comparison and lack the gusto and freneticism that makes this movie so much fun to watch. Seriously, get to know Žižek. Watch this movie. I know I’ll be watching it a few more times before I fully absorb its message. What I know for sure is that this is awesome and fun.