The Debord Paper. On the Actuality of Guy Debord´s book "The Society of the Spectacle" from 1967
Alexander Potako
Essay from the year 2016 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: A, Colorado State University, language: English, abstract: This work aims to analyse Gyu Debord´s book "The Society of the Spectacle" and the actuality of the indications given in that book.Even though it is not quite a widespread attitude fulfilled in practice, analysing whether certain theoretical legacy of the past could be regarded as appropriate and valuable to the contemporary times is without any doubt appears to be a procedure that might provide one with productive outcomes. As far as Guy Debord is concerned in particular, his ideas definitely refer to a potential list of conceptions that need to be reconsidered today. This assumption could be explained at least by the fact that his basic positions presented in the well-recognized book "The Society of the Spectacle" (1967) obtain both critical and appreciative perceptions, which in fact are going to be discussed further. Nevertheless, it could be easily suggested that Debord’s statements are still relevant to the contemporary context, when technologies that constitute specificity of media are significantly advanced.While some of his theses could be used while describing practices people apply to while using social media, others eloquently represent a range of aspects that are crucial to analysis, as an instance, of celebrity culture. That is why it is important to state that the profound indications of Guy Debord articulated back in 1967, preserve their actuality these days as well.
