A talk titled “Anxiety, Choice and the Digital Subject” was held by the Department of New Media and Communication (English) of Üsküdar University's Faculty of Communication.
The guest of the talk was the renowned thinker and Sociologist Renata Salecl, known for her work in psychoanalysis, political theory, and cultural criticism. Salecl made evaluations regarding ideology, freedom of choice, and anxiety in contemporary society. In the talk, choice, anxiety, and ignorance in neoliberal society were also discussed.
The talk, held in the Ibn Sina Conference Hall of the South Campus and moderated by Asst. Prof. Koray Kırmızısakal from the Department of New Media and Communication (English) of Üsküdar University's Faculty of Communication, attracted great interest from students and academics.
Choice, anxiety, and ignorance in neoliberal society discussed
Salecl's intellectual production, who is considered one of the important figures connecting Jacques Lacan's psychoanalytic approach with contemporary ideology critique, is shaped around the Ljubljana School of Psychoanalysis, which re-establishes the relationship between psychoanalysis and social theory. Salecl, mentioned alongside names such as Slavoj Žižek, Mladen Dolar, and Alenka Zupančič, emphasized that psychoanalysis is not limited to individual psychology alone, but also provides an important theoretical tool for understanding ideology, desire, and power relations.
In the talk, the structure of neoliberal ideology, which constantly calls individuals to make choices, was also discussed. Salecl stated that the discourse of freedom in late capitalist societies is becoming increasingly paradoxical, emphasizing that individuals are faced with the claim of having unlimited choices on the one hand, and on the other, are forced to bear the responsibility for these choices alone. She pointed out that this situation, as she also addressed in her work titled 'The Dilemma of Choice,' often leads the freedom of choice to turn into a mechanism that produces feelings of oppression and inadequacy.
Anxiety and threat perception in contemporary society discussed
The transformation of anxiety in contemporary society was also discussed at the event. Salecl stated that during the Cold War era, threats were mostly defined through external and distinct enemy figures, whereas today, the perception of threat has become increasingly invisible and uncertain.
Salecl, pointing out that developments such as digital communication technologies, constant connectivity, and data tracking further intensify this anxiety regime, stated that individuals in modern societies are increasingly confronted with a growing sense of uncertainty and insecurity.
Reproduction of ignorance in the information age discussed
In the talk, the question of how ignorance is reproduced in the information age was also brought up. Salecl, referencing her work titled 'The Passion of Ignorance,' stated that feigned ignorance often stems not only from a lack of information but also from individuals' desire to avoid confronting uncomfortable truths.
In this context, it was emphasized that the “post-truth” phenomenon, frequently discussed today, is closely related not only to information but also to ideology and the psychology of the subject.
Effects of digital culture on the individual discussed
Furthermore, the effects of digital culture on the formation of the subject were discussed in the talk. It was stated that social media platforms, algorithmic guidance, and the data economy reshape individuals' self-perception; and online environments transform forms of desire, identity, and belonging.
The event concluded with a Q&A session followed by a group photo.
The meeting, held at the intersection of philosophy, psychoanalysis, and communication theory, provided a fruitful academic discussion environment that deepened critical thought on the individual's position in contemporary society.