Avital Ronell: The Philosopher as Troublemaker

In a 2012 interview with artpress, philosopher Avital Ronell discusses her distinctive approach to philosophy, blending high theory with performative provocation. A student of Jacques Derrida and key figure in French Theory, Ronell describes her writing as a multi-voiced, DJ-like practice that samples and scratches canonical texts. She explains her strategy of mobilizing authoritative figures (like Husserl, whom she 'kidnaps' in Test Drive) to undermine hierarchies and expose blind spots in contemporary thought. Ronell traces her intellectual style to her experience as a woman and immigrant in academia, where she felt voiceless yet aggressive. She deliberately tackles conservative themes—war, drugs, authority—to confront power structures, citing her work on Rodney King and the drug war. Ronell emphasizes weakness, fatigue, and dependence as critical resources, drawing on Levinas, Blanchot, and Kafka. She recounts performing as a 'buffoon' at conferences, risking ridicule as a Kantian imperative. The interview covers her engagement with Heidegger, her activism (including confronting military cadets), and her collaborations with Judith Butler. Ronell's philosophy is presented as a form of street theater, a rebellion against fast-thought in America, and a tireless effort to save the irreparable.