the adoption of jgb novels in the list of dystopias, doesn’t seem like a misreading to me. i even think that it is a good thing to do so, because as i understand the literary cathegory of distopia as a political one, therefore a very subjective one, depending on the political/social/aesthetical goals of the reader or the writer. i think the problem with this topic is to be found in the fact, that the term “dystopia” as we know it, is based on the idea of humanism. and since it seems like “western civilisation” has been set equal to humanism by a huge campaign of brainwashing, terms like humanism have to be discussed again. the fact that ballard does not specificly describes the apparatus of “the state” is based on the simple fact that mordern societies (made of human flesh) rule themselve. like hannah arendt describes in the concept of the “domination of nobody”, in which the authority is like the rizom or grid that is part of every person. authority structures are inherent in the public mind and bodys, and of course in the architecture of our enviroment. “the state” as a symbol for an authority system is part of everyones “inner space”. because there hasn’t been any outside nor inside since quite a long time now. and at least i am not sure if there ever was a difference.

grm/nhl

It’s good to see a perceptive reading of “Rushing to Paradise”, a novel that’s been all too easy to ignore or mis-read. Although I’m not that familar with Jameson’s writings, the use of his questioning of the notion of Utopia seems to have been really productive.

And I love those photos of Eniwetok and Wake Island …