‘실재에의 열정’과 20세기의 주체성

‘Passion for the Real’ and the Subjectivity of the 20th Century

This paper aims to inquire the subjectivity of the ‘Passion for the Real’ that characterizes the 20th century, by analysing the philosophical thought of Alain Badiou. This investigation is mainly concentrated on the subjectivity of art and politics. The 20th century was a period in which one pursued the end and beginning of the old and new, in order to create the new Man. It was marked by wars and revolutions in pursuit of the new, because the new Man, conceived by Marx and Nietzsche in 19th century, was possible only by destruction of the old. Thus, what governed the subjectivity of 20th century was the Real of struggle and antagonism destined for completion. The ‘Passion for the Real’ has been revealed, in politics, by the politics of purification[épuration], and in art, by the inclination of subtraction showing minimum difference (Malevich). In both cases, the ‘Passion for the Real’ was indicated as the passion for the coming of the new day, that is, as the passion for the new being, which was definitely demonstrated by the artistic trend named as the Avant-garde. The Avant-garde art destroyed old forms, sought for the ceaseless production of the present, and attempted to access the bond to politics through manifestos. The Avant-garde politicized themselves to radicalize the ‘Passion for the Real,’ and eventually conflated themselves with the politics, but it resulted as the subordination of art to politics. Badiou claims that the production of artistic truths is possible if, and only if, art remains not overly unified with politics. However, the ‘Passion for the Real’ was a power of the break and the new, which were desired by the 20th centry. According to Badiou’s philosophy, it is imposed on us as an urgent task today that we have to affirm in reflexive way the 20th century’s thought and to continue practices for the new.