Franco 'Bifo' Berardi Calls for Reactivation of Society's Erotic Body Amid Capitalist Collapse
During the seminar 'Em Defesa da Natureza e da Cultura' on October 8, philosopher Franco 'Bifo' Berardi characterized modern society as being in the final stages of capitalism. He pointed out issues such as environmental crises, the rise of fascism, and widespread social suffering, emphasizing the role of youth, poets, and artists as catalysts for change. Berardi urged a shift towards solidarity and enjoyment rather than rivalry, referencing events like the 2019 Chilean protests, Greta Thunberg's activism, and the 2020 U.S. protests against racism following the deaths of Eric Garner and George Floyd, which influenced his book 'Asfixia: Capitalismo Financeiro e Insurreição da Linguagem'. He likened the COVID-19 pandemic to a storm that has hindered the transformative capacity of social movements, concluding that music, poetry, and psychoanalysis will serve as the political languages of the future.
Key facts
- Philosopher Franco 'Bifo' Berardi spoke at the seminar 'Em Defesa da Natureza e da Cultura' on October 8.
- He diagnosed contemporary society as being in the terminal phase of capitalism.
- Berardi cited the 2019 Chilean protests, Greta Thunberg's movement, and the 2020 U.S. anti-racism uprisings as key social movements.
- The police killing of George Floyd inspired the title of his book 'Asfixia: Capitalismo Financeiro e Insurreição da Linguagem', published by UBU in Brazil.
- He argued the COVID-19 pandemic has acted as a 'metaphysical danger', suffocating social solidarity.
- Berardi identified the root crisis as capitalist aggression against freedom and the environment.
- During quarantine, he wrote 'Extremo – Crônicas da Psicodeflação', a diary analyzing the pandemic's psychological impact.
- He concluded that psychoanalysis, music, and poetry, not political reason, are the future's political languages.
Entities
Artists
- Franco 'Bifo' Berardi
- Greta Thunberg
- Eric Garner
- George Floyd
Institutions
- UBU
Locations
- Chile
- United States
- Brazil
- Italy