zizek

Slavoj Žižek (born 1949) is a Slovenian philosopher and cultural critic known for integrating Lacanian psychoanalysis, Marxist theory, and Hegelian philosophy to analyze ideology and contemporary politics. He writes on topics ranging from capitalism and democracy to film and popular culture, often using cinema as a site for philosophical reflection.

Žižek’s approach, sometimes described as parallax or “pop-Lacanian,” emphasizes that truth emerges when incompatible perspectives illuminate each other. He argues that social reality is structured by symbolic systems, fantasies, and ideological constructs, and that political change requires contesting these structures. His work frequently blends dense theoretical argument with everyday cultural examples, aiming to reveal how ideology shapes perception and action.

Notable works include The Sublime Object of Ideology (1989), The Parallax View (2006), In Defense of Lost Causes (2008), Living in the End Times (2010), and Less Than Nothing (2012). He has also produced film essays and collaborations such as The Pervert’s Guide to Cinema, expanding his analysis into visual culture and documentary form.

Born in Ljubljana, he studied philosophy and sociology at the University of Ljubljana. He has held positions such as senior researcher at the Institute of Sociology, University of Ljubljana, and professor at the European Graduate School, among other teaching roles worldwide. His writings have been translated into many languages and have sparked extensive debate within philosophy, political theory, and cultural studies.