#11 THE PRICE OF PRODUCTIVITY: Reclaiming Imagination in a Capitalist World

This is the fifth lecture for the 2024 Fall session of ENGLISH 1110 for The Ohio State University, taught by PhD Candidate Peyton Del Toro. In this lecture, we dive into Mark Fisher's book Capitalist Realism: Is There No Alternative? and how neoliberal capitalism impacts daily life. We explore how capitalism co-opts strategies and movements of opposition, turning women’s empowerment (for example) into a hustle, “girl boss” narrative that often perpetuates existing modes of power and oppression. By critiquing the pressures of constant productivity and success, we examine the ways this impacts social justice and environmental issues, imagination, and mental health. How do we begin to imagine—let alone create—an alternative way of existing in this world? How do we “fight back” when we feel psychologically defeated and are instead filled with existential dread?