3 Review(s)

"Interrogating the Real" is the first volume of the collected writings of Slavoj Zizek - undoubtedly one of the world's leading contemporary cultural commentators. Drawing upon the full range of his prolific output, the articles here cover psychoanalysis, philosophy and popular culture. These essays not only reflect the remarkable breadth and depth of Zizek's interest in politics, culture and philosophy, but also showcase his sometimes controversial, but always entertaining style. Over course of the collection, a full and clear sense of Zizekian philosophy emerges, derived from Hegelian dialectics, Marxist politics and Lacanian psychoanalysis. At the same time, Zizek's witty and accessible approach to his subject matter remains constant throughout, and his choice of exemplars from pop culture - from Hollywood movies to pulp literature - ensures that this is a consistently fresh and surprising body of work. Thematically organised, the book is divided into three sections and includes a new preface by Zizek himself, as well as an introduction by the editors and a helpful glossary for those coming to Zizek's work for the first time.This collection, along with the second volume - "The Universal Exception" - is an excellent introduction to the work of one of the most inspiring, provocative and entertaining cultural critics at work today.