Politisierte Gefühle

Overview & Synopsis

Politicised feelings: This reversal of often talked about emotionalised politics tries to make clear that feelings have a genuine political dimension, which consists in their collectivising effect. If one manages to democratise them, they can be decisive for social change. Disgust, fear, hatred, murderousness and defiance: a selection of unwanted and recalcitrant feelings that can generate discomfort and resistance and are often held responsible for many problems in the political sphere. But is it really the case that problems and discomfort are triggered by these feelings or are they not rather merely indicators of the external situation which - instead of banishing the feelings - should be changed? What would happen if they were no longer suppressed from the political sphere, but looked at and analysed? This is precisely where Paul*A Helfritzsch starts, in order to lead us into a principle that adequately counters the political situation of our time - being at the mercy of seemingly overpowering and unconquerable structures - the principle of defiance.