Mari Ruti (1964–2023)

Mari Ruti is my new favorite author to go for post-Lacanian psychoanalytic theories an expert on sexual,gender,queer & feminist theories and philosophy at University of Toronto & lectureship at Harvard.

Having spent last year reading through introductory books related to Lacan and his seminars; this book most helped me level up - coupling with post Lacanian thinkers like Zizek , Alain Badiou , Alenka Zupancic , Judith Butler .

The earlier chapters felt like a build up for a climax, a critique of Slavoj Zizek and French philosopher Alain Badiou.

Slavoj Zizek draws some critique for his “Final Act” ; where one has no choice but to submit to the “Real” i.e. Antigone sacrifice ; Zizek’s interpretation of Lacan does not leave any room . Ruti concurs with Alain Badiou on this ; self-destruction is not an option but rather use the process of “Sublimation” ; the closer the subject gets to the object ( L’Objet A – the Object cause of Desire ) its ability to sublimate i.e. . use Symbolism such tribe , political ideology etc. fails & collapse around the subject only to be swallowed by the “Real” .

Further sharpens her attack on the duo in the later chapters of Multiculturism & Ethics ; while Ruti is in agreement with them on that the alternatives in post-capitalistic society only fuels mindless consumerism while leaving the subject with an all too familiar empty feeling & deceptiveness being accepted into this new “tribe” . However, Zizek sides with the proletarian and class warfare while ignore identity as any basis of a universal multiculturalism ethics.

Enjoyed her work , she does have some great counter points , while I was not all convinced on certain stances ; it does open the door for more constructive discussion .
… (plus d'informations)

Penis Envy was a delightful read that belays Ruti's grasp of a wide array of heady concepts and I found it particularly helpful in illuminating the current academic landscape of critical theory or what she sometimes refers to as "posthumanist." She does a lot of work in the text to ground her arguments in her own experience and doesn't cede to platitudes or certainties, but in the way of many writers I love and appreciate puts the impetus on the reader to, like her, ask better questions and engage their philosophical and moral tenets in the context of their lived experience.… (plus d'informations)

I was slow and reluctant to get into this book, as I might be considered jaded on the subject of love. But, once I got into the material and realized it was not another "how to win the perfect guy" self-help book, I really paid attention and enjoyed the read. I especially liked the second half of the book, which helps figure out where love went wrong. It's an honest and up-to-date look at what relationships are all about. I especially like Ruti's opinion that not all relationships need be life-long commitments, and the failure of one relationship does not make it a life failure. It's also an easy book to skip around in and find chapters or sections that apply to your life right now, or pick it up in the future and find another section that applies to you later in your life.… (plus d'informations)