What is Symbolic Exchange? | Jean Baudrillard | Keyword

In this episode, I provide an introduction to Jean Baudrillard's notion of "Symbolic Exchange."

If you want to support me, you can do that with these links:

Twitter: @DavidGuignion
IG: @theory_and_philosophy

[Mareyy]

Just to say, I think what you're doing is incredibly valuable and I'd like to thank you for making this content and sharing your knowledge! While I know some of the theorists and texts you discuss, I find your insight really useful in contextualizing my own ideas and your videos on concepts I haven't really explored yet are a great way to start to get to grips with some very tricky concepts. I'm very interested in Baudrillard and I'd love to see his work come back into focus, especially given some of his takes on things (e.g., advertising and virtual reality) that hadn't come into their own in his lifetime, and content like yours makes ideas like this accessible to people that don't have a deep background knowledge

[Megaghost_]

I love your "Keyword" videos. Thank you so much for your explanations!

[ccilie]

I wish your account had existed ten years ago when I was studying philosophy - you are really good at explaining, calm and it is very easy to follow difficult theories and this seems a lot like a book club I never knew I missed. 😅

[Dimee]

It seems like so many French theorists get ideas from Bataille (Baudrillard, Lacan, Deleuze, etc..)

[SIVSO-wu]

I have mentioned Pawlett before to you, but I will also say his Violence, Society, and Radical Theory in which he combines analysis of both Baudrillard’s Symbolic Exchange and the work of Bataille to great effect is worth a gander

[vp]

Thanks v.v. much. I love your no drama style of exposition.

[JAMAICADOCK]

The images of the dead now live on perfectly, frozen in suspension on Facebook pages.. Almost as if they are the sacrifice to the virtual. Their ultimate point of existence to serve the collection of information in perfect limbo.

But maybe that was always the case, with paintings, photographs, film etc, but the difference with digital images is they never age, they don't fade as we fade, rather they stay in real time. A development that has upset the juxtaposition between history and death.

The charm and mystery of the past no more, as the images from 40 years ago now look identical to images made yesterday. Whereas by comparison, images taken 1940 present a vast chasm of time, speaking to a bygone age. The images like the bodies of the people they depict, ossified and ghostly. Receding into history.

Forty years no longer feels like a vast chunk of history, no longer signifies the end of eras, ages, epochs - but now seems like part of the same endless digital fin de siecle that stretches out to infinity.

The perfection and the infinite preservation of the image, rather than better preserving our memories for posterity, rather annihilates the concept of posterity. The more the image is frozen in real-time, the more death is robbed of its symbolic power.

The times don't die with us, rather we are devoured by the virtual in real time.

[romanticplacebo]

Great explanation. I'm reading a book on Ernst Cassier right now and all his talk about the Symbolic reminds me there have been so many other ideas for human nature that our present one is merely the result of markets and false desire.

I think your explanation of bartering may have missed a step, and David Graeber's book on the history of Debt helps bridge some of it concerning how relations are solidified into fiat currency.

[matth]

Great video David and very important. Im glad you brought up Mauss, 'the gift' it's a really important text during that period.

I didn't realise there was a recorded debate between the two. But would love to see a video on it! Enjoy your weekend 🙂

[davidpeterson]

Thank you for a very helpful discussion!

[leinaamatsuji-berry]

Ha! Love the preface! Thanks for this; very helpful and always grateful to have the books to point to (which I’m glad I already have on hand)!

[Theorychad]

Shots fired! Very Lucid explanation of this highly counter-intuitive concept. I'd like to see you do one on Impossible Exchange, where I believe he clarifies that symbolic exchange is a thing of the past

[deprogramr]

That Manuel DeLanda book really stands out on a bookshelf, I have that one too. Edit: haha I also have the edition of a Thousand Plateaus next to it too. samesies...

[mswatilicious]

Oh boy. Been trying my utmost best to avoid Deleuze and Guattari but everywhere I go, I am directed to their maze. Anyone who can recommend a short text to gently introduce me to their ideas especially becoming?

[mariahkoko]

I do not work with D/G's concept of becoming-animal too much, but it sure sounded like it right after you said you don't mean it like that :D

[davebanner-ojte]

semiotic exchange is what the content creators are on about

[thanatos_.]

Your speaking about the command and control over death reminds me of part of Freud's 'Beyond the Pleasure Principle'. In it he speculates that part of every biological organism's driving force is to chose the way in which it dies. On what terms it dies. It is Freud at his most existential and experimental. Out of this comes his 'Death Drive', famously explored further in 'Civilization and Its Discontents'.

Anyway, I haven't read any Baudrillard, but this makes me wonder if he converses with Freud's work in this regard. To any of you who have read Baudrillard: is there a connection here?

[dfwherbie]

Love the channel. Although, I personally never understood why ppl regulate themselves in just the continental or just the analytic traditions. Although, from my experience, analytic philosophers are usually more open-minded than continent types, as they are not only willing to engage in the literature, but also take some of it seriously. Whereas, with continental types, there’s a pompous arrogance to them. Anyway, you should explore the other side too. It will help

[dethkon]

I enjoyed this video. I thank you for making it.

[TheDemythifier]

Can you please explain Lacan's stain theory