AS, Althusser

In the immortal words of Mrs. Broslofski, a.k.a. Kyle’s mom: “What, what, WHAT?!?” Basically, that’s my first gut reaction to Althusser – man of the thousand-use “ideology” and “subject of the Subject” times a subject to the nth subjective degree. ARGH. Who writes like this? I mean, really. ISA is a little less ambiguous than UFO, I’ll give you that. His underlying concept is actually pretty straightforward, if you cut through some purple prose: “There is no ideology except by the subject and for the subjects” (45). I get it; we allow our own subjectification by various “agents,” and conform almost unconsciously to the ruling ideology’s requirements. I would much rather stroll through life in my pj’s, but because the social norm directs apparel different for bed and for work (well, mostly), I end up in heels. How was it determined that heels are more acceptable daily footwear than bunny slippers? Depends on what ideology you’re subject to.

Althusser states that “each [ideological State apparatuses and their practices] was the realization of an ideology (the unity of these different regional ideologies – religious, ethical, legal, political, aesthetic, etc. – being assured by their subjection to the ruling ideology” (45). It’s easy to not see the puppet strings of every day life, but we all function on a normative path. We only see the rigid walls when something different is introduced. Which is why I can’t wait to see Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan. For the uninitiated few, Borat is an alter ego of Sacha Baron Cohen. Cohen, the master mind behind “Da Ali G Show,” expertly conceals himself behind a mask of impeccable political incorrectness, and in the guise of a bumbling, bigoted, journalist, takes on American culture. The results – as far as the previews go – are cringingly hilarious. Cohen’s guerrilla warfare reveals, in Althusser’s terminology, the “so be it” attitude of those subject to the “ruling ideology.” It’s not pretty, but it sure is funny.