Biopolitics in "The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil", by George Saunders

Ioannis Antzus Ramos

doi:10.18172/jes.5619

Autores/as

Ioannis Antzus Ramos American University in Dubai https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1831-218X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18172/jes.5619

Palabras clave:

Georges Saunders, Biopolítica, The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil, ficción norteamericana contemporánea

Resumen

En este artículo analizo la novela corta de George Saunders The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil (2005) desde la perspectiva de la biopolítica, siguiendo los marcos teóricos establecidos por Michel Foucault, Giorgio Agamben y Frédéric Lordon. Me centro en dos aspectos de la biopolítica: uno de ellos está ligado a la exterminación del enemigo y, el otro, a la manipulación de las pasiones de los sujetos gobernados. En relación con el primer aspecto, examinaré las estrategias que Phil, el dictador del relato, utiliza para matar o desplazar al Otro. En relación con el segundo objetivo, indagaré en el uso del deseo y del afecto como tecnologías biopolíticas que contribuyen a mantener y reforzar el poder. Por último, abordaré la posición crítica de varios personajes vinculados al régimen biopolítico de Phil y la dimensión política de la novela misma.

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Citas

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