enfants perdus
situationist ⁽¹⁾ chrestomathy ⁽²⁾
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Whereas Russia and Germany were largely responsible for the formation of the concentrated spectacle, and the United States for the diffuse form, the integrated spectacle has been pioneered by France and Italy. The emergence of this new form is attributable to a number of shared historical features, namely, the important role of the Stalinist party and unions in political and intellectual life, a weak democratic tradition, the long monopoly of power enjoyed by a single party of government, and the need to eliminate an unexpected upsurge in revolutionary activity.
Guy Debord, Commentaires sur la société du spectacle §4

The integrated spectacle shows itself to be simultaneously concentrated and diffuse, and ever since the fruitful union of the two has learnt to employ both these qualities on a grander scale.
Guy Debord, Commentaires sur la société du spectacle §4

When the spectacle was concentrated, the greater part of surrounding society escaped it; when diffuse, a small part; today, no part. The spectacle has spread itself to the point where it now permeates all reality.
Guy Debord, Commentaires sur la société du spectacle §4

Yet the highest ambition of the integrated spectacle is still to turn secret agents into revolutionaries, and revolutionaries into secret agents.
Guy Debord, Commentaires sur la société du spectacle §4

The society whose modernisation has reached the stage of the integrated spectacle is characterised by the combined effect of five principal features: incessant technological renewal; integration of state and economy; generalised secrecy, unanswerable lies; an eternal present.
Guy Debord, Commentaires sur la société du spectacle §5

The capitalism of today’s integrated spectacle still pretends to believe that the capitalism of bureaucratic totalitarianism—sometimes even presented as the terrorists’ base camp or inspiration—remains its fundamental enemy, despite the innumerable proofs of their profound alliance and solidarity.
Guy Debord, Commentaires sur la société du spectacle §16

Under the rule of the integrated spectacle, we live and die at the confluence of innumerable mysteries.
Guy Debord, Commentaires sur la société du spectacle §18

In the integrated spectacle, the laws are asleep; because they were not made for the new production techniques, and because they are evaded in distribution by new types of agreement. 
Guy Debord, Commentaires sur la société du spectacle §26

A general working rule of the integrated spectacle, at least for those who manage its affairs, is that in this framework, everything which can be done, must be done. This means that every new instrument must be employed, whatever the cost.
Guy Debord, Commentaires sur la société du spectacle §29

2025