[lbo-talk] Butler

[Miles Jackson]

Angelus Novus wrote:
>
> What interests me is that Butler, contra Foucault,
> embraces sexual identity, rather than seeking to
> negate it.
>   
"Embrace" is a bit strong.  She recognizes that sexual identity is 
socially and historically constructed, and she thinks there are good 
reasons for using temporarily established categories as part of a 
political strategy.  I don't agree with her political strategy here, but 
she is definitely not uncritically "embracing" the common sense notion 
of essential sexual identities.


> I see a parallel to Foucault's position in Moishe
> Postone's in _Time, Labor, and Social Domination_.
>
> The proletariat is a category constituted by
> capitalism.  The proletariat qua proletariat is
> therefore not the negation of capitalism, but an
> essential component of it.
>
> Those of us constituted by capital as wage-dependent
> laborers must therefore *negate* our status as
> proletarians, not seek to affirm it.
>   
This is actually a good analogy, but not in the way you imply.  It is 
necessary for workers to identify and organize as wage-laborers in a 
capitalist system in order to challenge the capitalist system.  Butler 
is making a similar argument for sexual identity.  As I said, I disagree 
with this approach as a "queer" political strategy, but it has a marxist 
feel to it.

Miles