Historian Underground: Making History Relevant For Life

Georges Bataille and the Notion of Gift

By David L. R. Kosalka Copyright 12/99 There has always bee a strai o! tho"ght that arg"ed that the #apitalist syste$ la#ked a perso al se se o! h"$a ity. %ll e!!ort is p"t i to the i #rease o! prod"#tio . &al"e is see$i gly a alogo"s to pri#e. There see$s little allowa #e !or the tr"ly h"$a ' !or e$otio a d passio . There is othi g tr"ly sa#red or o"tside the s#ope o! #apitalisti# #al#"latio . (or a while' so$e saw #o$$" is$ as a alter ative to #apitalis$. )evertheless' as details o! the #o str"#tio s o! *tali ist #o$$" is$ were revealed' the path see$ed eve $ore $e#ha i+ed a d depressi g tha the #apitalist alter ative. , either syste$' e#o o$i#s was the pri$e deter$i a t o! h"$a history. , light o! these tre ds' so$e thi kers so"ght alter atives to #apitalist prod"#tio a d e-#ha ge' !or the re. i trod"#tio o! the tr"ly h"$a a d o .e#o o$i# ele$e t i to $oder so#iety. /ithi this dis#o"rse' dis#"ssio s o the e#o o$i# at"re o! the gi!t have played a #e tral role i atte$pti g to e-pose the #ra#ks i theories that pla#e e#o o$i# e#essity as the pri$e $over o! history. There was o e pro$isi g hope that e$erged !ro$ % thropology. 0ar#el 0a"ss proposed the otio o! the gi!t as a alter ative to the ratio alist #al#"latio o! #apitalist e-#ha ge. 0a"ss1 " i2"e perspe#tive i spired $a y philosophers a d so#ial s#ie tists seeki g to !i d a $ore h"$a isti# basis !or h"$a relatio s a d the $ove$e t o! goods. 3 e o! the thi kers who$ 0a"ss1 essay i spired was be 4eorges Bataille. (or Bataille' re!le#tio o the at"re o! the gi!t was a poi t o! depart"re !or his overall #o #eptio o! ge eral e#o o$y. Bataille1s revol"tio ary perspe#tive o e#o o$i# str"#t"re "sed the 0a"ssia #o #eptio o! the gi!t to s"pport his a!!ir$atio o! the possibility o! h"$a sovereig ty withi e#o o$i# syste$s' to break the sta glehold o! e#o o$i# predeter$i atio . Bataille1s #o str"#t is i$porta t to e-plore i that holds $"#h !ertile gro" d !or philosophy a d the h"$a s#ie #es. 4eorges Bataille 51697 . 19829 was a :arisia thi ker i the great s"b#"lt"ral traditio o! :aris that prod"#ed s"#h !ig"res as Ba"delaire' %ppolio aire' a d Breto . ;e was a literary !ig"re' a art #riti#' a d a philosopher' ot to $e tio a libraria . ;e $oved i *"rrealist #ir#les' ear i g early o the wrath o! Breto !or appeari g to #reate a #o$peti g gro"p o! s"rrealists' a ri!t healed i the wake o! risi g !as#is$ i <"rope. Bataille had a !lair !or the dra$ati# a d the $ysti#al that was so $"#h a part o! *"rrealis$. ;e e$phasi+ed the irratio al i oppositio to the ratio al' the eroti# as opposed to bo"rgeois $orality' #elebratio o! e-#ess as opposed to #apitalist restrai t' tra sgressio as opposed to #o !or$ity. i ;e #arried these te de #ies over i to his work o =ge eral e#o o$y=' whi#h is !o" d pri$arily i The Accursed Shareii. ;e saw the des#riptio s o! #lassi#al e#o o$i#s as havi g a li$ited " dersta di g o! the at"re o! e#o o$i# $ove$e t. , respo se' Bataille #o #eived o! a $eta.#ategory o! the $ove$e t o! e ergy to whi#h #lassi#al e#o o$i#s is o ly a s"b#ategory. The !low o! e ergy i his $odel e-te ds as !ar ba#k as the e ergy re#eived !ro$ the s" . %s the light a d its e ergy !alls "po the pla ts they #apt"re it a d $ake e ergy o"t o! it to "se !or their ow s"rvival. B"t $ore i$porta tly they #reate a e-#ess o! e ergy. The e-#ess that they prod"#e goes either i to growth a d reprod"#tio or $"st be e-pe ded' "sed !or the bea"ty o! their leaves' !or "seless parts' or si$ply spilled i to the gro" d. This $odel he e-te ds to all e#o o$i# phe o$e a. %s he writes i The Accursed Share>
3 the whole' a so#iety always prod"#es $ore tha is e#essary !or its s"rvival? it has a s"rpl"s at its disposal. ,t is pre#isely the "se it $akes o! this s"rpl"s that deter$i es it> The *"rpl"s is the #a"se o!

the agitatio ' o! the str"#t"ral #ha ges a d o! the e tire history o! so#iety. B"t this s"rpl"s has $ore tha o e o"tlet' the $ost #o$$o o! whi#h is growth. % d growth itsel! has $a y !or$s' ea#h o e o! whi#h eve t"ally #o$es "p agai st so$e li$it. Thwarted de$ographi# growth be#o$es $ilitary? it is !or#ed to e gage i #o 2"est. 3 #e the $ilitary li$its is rea#hed' the s"rpl"s has the s"$pt"ary !or$s o! religio as a o"tlet' alo g with ga$es a d spe#ta#les that derive there!ro$' or perso al l"-"ry.iii

0oreover' therei lies his pri$ary #halle ge to traditio al e#o o$i#s. , #o trast to the #lassi#al otio o! s#ar#ity drivi g e#o o$i# a#tivity' he proposed a law o! s"rpl"s. /hile #lassi#al e#o o$i# tho"ght e$phasi+ed the eed !or a e!!i#ie t "tili+atio o! reso"r#es to !ight the ravages o! the s#ar#ity o! e#o o$i# reso"r#es' he a aly+ed history i ter$s o! the e-pe dit"re o! e-#ess e ergy a d prod"#tio . This p"t i to 2"estio $a y o! the #lassi#al histori#al ass"$ptio s' those o! war as the #o$petitio a$o g atio s over s#ar#e e#o o$i# reso"r#es or that o! the state as a ;obbesia li$it pla#ed o the #o$petitio o! i divid"als !ighti g over those sa$e reso"r#es. The i$pa#t o! this re!"tatio o! #lassi#al e#o o$i#s #a ot be " deresti$ated. The way a give so#iety #hooses to a ihilate the e-#ess e ergy it prod"#es is o! the "t$ost i$porta #e. ,t is aro" d this e-pe dit"re that a #"lt"re is de!i ed. /hether a so#iety is aggressive' i$perialisti#' or o .viole t all depe ds o the !or$ the so#iety gives to e-pe dit"re o! s"rpl"s e ergy. <a#h so#iety had a de!i i g #hoi#e o how it wo"ld e-pe d e-#ess reso"r#es' b"ildi g its val"es o a e#o o$i#ally "seless e-pe dit"re. The arti!i#es o! religio a d art all !or$ aro" d this esse tial #"lt"ral a#tivity' a#ti g as re#ipie ts a d $odes o! e-pressio o! the basi# e$bodi$e t o! s"rpl"s. Be it a #h"r#h with its #orps o! people re$oved !ro$ e#o o$i# a#tivity' or a !r"gal dedi#atio o! e ergy i ter$s o! a $ilitary str"#t"re dedi#ated to e-pa sio ' they all have their origi s i the sa$e eed to !i d a #ha el !or e-#ess prod"#tio . ,t is withi this ge eral e#o o$i# #o te-t' the ' that Bataille begi s a e-pli#atio o! the gi!t whi#h !irst o! all !" da$e tally related to a type o! sa#ri!i#e. To " dersta d Bataille1s otio o! the gi!t' however' it is !irst e#essary to see his #o #eptio o! sa#ri!i#e a d the how that relates to the gi!t. , a ratio al e#o o$y goods a d prod"#tio are either desig ated !or $eeti g the ge eral li!e eeds o! the pop"la#e or !or the pro#ess o! growth. %ll prod"#tio the is desig ed with the !"t"re i $i d' as part o! a pro#ess o! growth a d e-pa sio i whi#h all ob@e#ts are pre.ordai ed a d " derstood as $ea s towards the e d' o! the !"t"re telos o! the e#o o$y. =The s"b@e#t leaves its ow do$ai a d s"bordi ates itsel! to the objects o! the real order as soo as it be#o$es #o #er ed !or the !"t"re.= iv , the rit"al destr"#tio o! $aterial i the !or$ o! sa#ri!i#e' however' these goods are re$oved !ro$ that pro#ess' !ro$ that orie tatio towards a !"t"re telos. They are o lo ger see as ob@e#ts dire#ted towards the "se o! the overall #"lt"ral syste$' b"t are see i a d o! the$selves' !ree o! "tilitaria do$i atio . *y$boli#ally' alo g with the ob@e#t itsel!' the o e who o!!ers the sa#ri!i#e is see as re$oved !ro$ the de$a ds o! "tility a d #o se2"e tly as possibly a sovereig s"b@e#t. Those who o!!er the sa#ri!i#e are ot #o$pletely do$i ated by the eeds o! the syste$ or the pro#ess' b"t' rather' #a e-ist !ree o! their #o strai ts i the $o$e t o! the sa#ri!i#e. Bataille e-a$i es these otio s i light o! %+te# sa#ri!i#e. /hile to $oder se sibilities the i$$e se level o! h"$a sa#ri!i#e i that #"lt"re see$s a abo$i atio ' it represe ts the at"re o! sa#ri!i#e. , the words o! Bataille' =The vi#ti$ is s"rpl"s take !ro$ the $ass o! useful wealth. % d he #a o ly be withdraw !ro$ it i order to be #o s"$ed pro!itlessly' a d there!ore "tterly destroyed. 3 #e #hose ' he is the accursed share' desti ed !or viole t #o s"$ptio . B"t the #"rse tears hi$ away !ro$ the order of things? it gives hi$ a re#og i+able !ig"re' whi#h ow radiates i ti$a#y' a g"ish' the pro!" dity o! livi g bei gs.= v Those #apt"red i war were sa#ri!i#ed in place of the i divid"als o! a parti#"lar #"lt"re. % i$$e se sy$boli# tie was #reated betwee the vi#ti$ o! the sa#ri!i#e a d those !or who$ the vi#ti$ was a s"bstit"te. % i$$e se level o! intimacy is i !"sed i the relatio ship with the vi#ti$. The vi#ti$ is treated like a so ' a da"ghter' or eve as a ki g. By killi g the asso#iated vi#ti$' that vi#ti$ is re$oved !ro$ the real$ o! the ob@e#t. ;e #a o lo ger be "sed !or a ythi g' a d be#o$es si$ply itsel!' a sovereig s"b@e#t i its absol"te "seless ess' a d by asso#iatio so is the o e who o!!ers the sa#ri!i#e. They e ter the real$ o! the sa#red' o! the !ree s"b@e#t who is ot s"bordi ated to the de$a ds o! "se!"l prod"#tio . =The world o! the s"b@e#t is the ight> that #ha geable' i !i itely s"spe#t ight whi#h' i the sleep o! reaso ' produces monsters. I submit that madness itself gives a rarefied idea of the free 'subject,' unsubordinated to the 'real' order and occupied only with the present. =vi

The otio o! the gi!t i Bataille is #losely related to that o! sa#ri!i#e. Bataille basis his #o$$e ts o the at"re o! the gi!t o the essay by 0ar#el 0a"ss' !irst p"blished as =<ssai s"r le Do = i 19ABvii. 0ar#el 0a"ss 51672 . 19AB9 was the literal heir o! <$ile D"rkhei$ a d deeply i volved i D"rkhei$1s pro@e#t o! so#iology. /hile s"bsta tially a work o! ob@e#tive a thropology' the i$pa#t o! the work' as 0a"ss $akes #lear i #o$$e ts i his #o #l"sio ' was to be a #riti2"e' i deed a alter ative visio ' to "tilitaria visio s o! #apitalis$. %s 0ary Do"glas has arg"ed i her !oreword to the tra slatio o! the essay' =The Essay on the ift was part o! a orga i+ed o sla"ght o #o te$porary politi#al theory' a pla k i the plat!or$ agai st "tilitaria is$.=viii %t the heart o! the essay lies a #riti2"e o! a thropologists1 readi g o! gi!t.givi g as a !or$ o! ratio al e#o o$i# e-#ha ge. ;e berated a thropologists !or i$posi g o other #"lt"res pre#o #eived $odels #o #er i g the e#essity a d " iversality o! e#o o$i# e-#ha ge. Co sideri g the a alyses o! gi!t e-#ha ge give by $a y o! his #o te$poraries' 0a"ss arg"ed that =#"rre t e#o o$i# a d @"di#ial history is largely $istake i this $atter. ,$b"ed with $oder ideas' it !or$s a priori ideas o! develop$e t a d !ollows a so.#alled e#essary logi#.=i- )evertheless' he !o" d di!!ere t ai$s tha "tilitaria e#o o$i#s had i its #o sideratio s o! di!!ere t syste$s o! gi!t.givi g. =Th"s o e se#tio o! h"$a ity' #o$paratively ri#h' hardworki g' a d #reati g #o siderable s"rpl"ses' has k ow how to' a d still does k ow how to' e-#ha ge thi gs o! great val"e' " der di!!ere t !or$s a d !or reaso s di!!ere t !ro$ those with whi#h we are !a$iliar.=0a"ss asserted that i the ability to give a gi!t' as !o" d i the s"pposedly =ar#hai#= so#ieties he was a aly+i g' there is a #ertai spirit"al !or#e that is asso#iated with the gi!t. (or every gi!t' there is a e#essity o! #o" ter.gi!t e#essary to re$ove or ret"r the i here t power o! the gi!t. ,t was the o ly way o! li!ti g a #ertai hold that the giver had o the re#ipie t thro"gh the gi!t. 4i!t.givi g' a##ordi g to 0a"ss' is !" da$e tal gl"e i these so#ieties !or the $ai te a #e o! so#ial str"#t"res. %s 0ary Do"glas agai arg"es' =the theory o! the gi!t is a theory o! so#ial solidarity.= -i Thro"gh gi!t givi g so#ial bo ds are #reated' i divid"als are @oi ed' shari g with ea#h other the ba#k a d !orth o! the so#ial power that is asso#iated with the gi!ts e-#ha ged. ,t pla#es the i divid"al i to a str"#t"re o! =total servi#es.= , typi#al D"rkhei$ia !ashio ' he e$phasi+es the #ollaborative' #o se s"al so#ial str"#t"re o! a e#o o$i# syste$ as opposed to the ratio al #al#"latio o! i divid"als. , other so#ieties' however' 0a"ss related that this otio o! gi!t.e-#ha ge rises to a other level where gi!t.e-#ha ge takes o a esse tially #o$petitive aspe#t. The te-tbook #ase o! this type o! this ki d o! gi!t is !o" d i the =potlat#h= pra#ti#ed a$o g the tribes o! the %$eri#a )orthwest. The potlat#h takes the gi!t #o$pletely beyo d the regi$e o! "tilitaria e#o o$i# e-#ha ge' taki g o a esse tially destr"#tive at"re. D"ri g a potlat#h' there is a orgy o! gi!t.givi g by the perso holdi g the eve t. The e$phasis is o a display o! l"-"ry a d e-#ess. ;owever' o e good potlat#h deserves a other. Bei g the re#ipie t o! a potlat#h de$a ds that o e re#ipro#ates a d holds a eve $ore lavish potlat#h. =<verythi g is based "po the pri #iples o! a tago is$ a d rivalry. The politi#al stat"s o! i divid"als i the brotherhoods a d #la s' ra ks o! all ki ds' are gai ed i a 1war o! property1.= -ii The givers o! the potlat#h are "rged to show a disdai !or e#o o$i# wealth to the poi t o! destroyi g gi!ts i order that they will ot be ret"r ed. :re#io"s #oppers are broke a d throw i to the rivers. , e-tre$e #ases' e tire villages are le!t destit"te by the ravages o! potlat#h. , the destr"#tio o! wealth' the ' the i divid"al gai s stat"s' the re#og itio o! s"periority by their #o te$poraries. )eedless to say' the p"bli#atio o! 0a"ss1s essay i spired a lot o! i terest. %s Bataille stated it' =si #e the p"bli#atio o! 0ar#el 0a"ss1s The ift' the i stit"tio o! potlat#h has bee the ob@e#t o! so$eti$e d"bio"s i terest a d #"riosity.= -iii Bataille !o" d' i the des#riptio o! potlat#h' a !" da$e tal #halle ge to the e#essity a d role o! ratio al #apitalist e#o o$i#s. ;e saw i the potlat#h the hi t o! his #o #eptio o! the eed to a ihilate e-#ess' rather tha the gatheri g a d hoardi g e#essitated by #o ve tio al a alyses based o the ass"$ptio o! s#ar#ity. ;e arg"ed that =#lassi#al e#o o$y i$agi ed the !irst e-#ha ges i the !or$ o! barter. /hy wo"ld it have tho"ght that i the begi i g a $ode o! a#2"isitio s"#h as e-#ha ge had ot a swered the eed to a#2"ire' b"t rather the #o trary eed to lose or s2"a derC The #lassi#al #o #eptio is ow 2"estio able i a se se.= -iv %s o e #o$$e tator o Bataille des#ribed' =The e tire #lassi#al #o #ept"al str"#t"re e-#l"des a e-pla atio !or all h"$a a#tivities 5s"#h as e-tre$e or viole t pleas"re9 that are $otivated ot by a desire to gai ' b"t rather by a desire to lose.=-v

Th"s' i this pro#ess he #o"ld #o #eive o! the gi!t as havi g a #e tral role. ,t is o e o! the pri$ary $ea s o! e-pe di g e-#ess. %s Bataille arg"es i #o sideri g the potlat#h as well as the a#tivities o! %+te# =$er#ha ts=' /e eed to give away' lose or destroy. B"t the gi!t wo"ld be se seless 5a d so we wo"ld ever de#ide to give9 i! it did ot take o the $ea i g o! a a#2"isitio . ;e #e giving $"st be#o$e ac!uiring of power. 4i!t.givi g has the virt"e o! s"rpassi g o! the s"b@e#t who gives' b"t i e-#ha ge !or the ob@e#t give ' the s"b@e#t appropriates the s"rpassi g> ;e regards his virt"e' that whi#h he had the #apa#ity !or' as a asset' as a power that he ow posses. ;e e ri#hes hi$sel! with a #o te$pt !or ri#hes' a d what he proves to be $iserly o! is i !a#t his ge erosity.-vi Th"s by $aki g a display o! his disregard !or his e-#ess he obtai s i the eye o! the other who observes 5a d th"s the e#essity !or givi g over private destr"#tio 9 a stat"s' a power o! e-pe dit"re a d destr"#tio . ,t is a $ea s o! killi g two birds with o e sto e. )ot o ly is the e#essary a ihilatio a##o$plished' b"t also there is a#2"ired the respe#t a d regard o! the other $e$bers o! the so#iety. Th"s' parado-i#ally' by givi g o e is i !a#t gai i g i presteige a d so#ietal power a d stat"s. This is tied to his #o #eptio o! sa#ri!i#e i that the gi!t is a es#ape !ro$ the #ir#le o! e#essity. =% arti#le o! e-#ha ge' i these pra#ti#es' was ot a thing? it was ot red"#ed to the i ertia' the li!eless ess o! the pro!a e world. The gift that o e $ade o! it was a sig o! glory' a d the ob@e#t itsel! had the radia #e o! glory. By givi g o e e-hibited o e1s wealth a d o e1s good !ort" e 5o e1s power9.= -vii Th"s by asso#iatio the giver es#apes the do$i atio o! ob@e#tivity thro"gh a assertio o! the ability to e gage i s"#h e-pe dit"re. %s the ob@e#t is take !ro$ the real$ o! "tility to the sa#red "seless ess o! sa#ri!i#e' so too is the s"b@e#thood' a basi# !reedo$ to e-press a i divid"al will' o! the giver a!!ir$ed thro"gh his ability to e-pe d beyo d the de$a ds o! "tility. Bataille applies the s#he$a o! the gi!t to $a y parts o! h"$a li!e. The se#o d $a@or portio o! The Accursed Share atte$pts a history o! eroti#is$. There he arg"es that =it sho"ld #o$e as o s"rprise to "s that the pri #iple o! the gi!t' whi#h propels the $ove$e t o! ge eral a#tivity' is at the basis o! se-"al a#tivity.= -viii ,t is a e-pressio o! the ki d o! sa#red i ti$a#y that is e ge dered !ro$ the es#ape !ro$' a d' i deed' the blata t disregard !or ratio al e#essity. Like 0a"ss' Bataille saw the $oder world havi g !orgotte ' to be la#ki g the type o! i ti$a#y that the gi!t allows. Bataille asserted a ki d o! great ess i the "seless e-pressio o! wealth' whi#h laid the !o" datio !or great #"lt"ral a d i divid"al e-pressio . The #apitalist de$a d !or the "tilitaria deploy$e t o! reso"r#es does ot allow !or the ki d o! sa#red a!!ir$atio o! s"b@e#thood that the e-#ess o! the gi!t re2"ired' a basi# s"b@e#thood that allowed !or a i ti$a#y that was a titheti#al to appropriatio o! the i divid"al as a ob@e#t o! prod"#tio . ;e arg"ed' ,t wo"ld be easy i !a#t to !i d o"rselves perso ally looki g !or a !or$ o! h"$a ity that does ot betray it' sh" i g those va#a t lots' those s"b"rbs a d !a#tories' whose appeara #e e-presses the at"re o! i d"strial so#ieties' a d $aki g o"r way toward so$e dead #ity' bristli g with gothi# spires. /e #a ot de y that prese t.day h"$a ity has lost the se#ret' kept " til the #"rre t age' o! givi g itsel! a !a#e i whi#h it $ight re#og i+e the sple dor that is proper to it. Do"btless the 1works1 o! the 0iddle %ges i a se se were o ly thi gs> They #o"ld rightly appear worthless to a yo e who e visio ed' beyo d' i its i a##essible p"rity' the wealth that he attrib"ted to 4od. % d yet the $edieval represe tatio o! so#iety has the power today o! evoki g that 1lost i ti$a#y.1 -iTh"s with #apitalist so#iety Bataille saw a esse tial abdi#atio o! the sear#h !or s"b@e#tive $ea i g i the e-pe dit"re o! s"##ess' a phe o$e o well do#"$e ted to i the #o te$porary sit"atio . The eeded o"tlet o! e-pe dit"re is provided i the #o trolled e viro $e t o! strip $alls' providi g the s$all a d dire#ted release e#essary to avoid a o"tright e-plosio . The i divid"al is $argi ali+ed as spe#tator' shari g sy$boli#ally i the e-p"lsio o! e-#ess !o" d i sports a d talk shows. %s La"ra 0ar+ has e$phasi+ed' =the spe#ta#le steals every e-perie #e a d sells it ba#k to "s' b"t o ly sy$boli#ally' so that we are ever satis!ied> via this $e#ha is$ we s"pport the $a#hi e o! e dless #o s"$ptio over a d over.=-- *"b@e#thood is lost to a syste$ o! prod"#tio a d #o s"$ptio . ,t does ot allow

!or the ki d o! e-pressio o! perso al power a d s"b@e#thood !o" d i the gi!t. The at"re o! the e-pe dit"re does ot #o$e !ro$ a perso al' i ti$ate' relatio to the s"b@e#t' b"t is rather give to the #o s"$er by the large #orporatio s operati g o a e#o o$y o! s#ale. The perso al a d h"$a ' as was !o" d i Bataille1s #o sideratio s o! %+te# sa#ri!i#e' is e tirely abse t i a pre.give i$perso al world o! the s"b"rbs. Th"s' there is o perso al es#ape i to the real$ o! the sa#red s"b@e#t. ,t is i this #o te-t that o e #a re#og i+e his esse tial i terest i )iet+s#he. , deed' Bataille1s work "n #iet$sche is o e o! the !" da$e tal do#"$e ts o! )iet+s#he re#eptio i (ra #e. ,t provides a esse tial bridge i the (re #h re#eptio betwee the i validatio o! )iet+s#he by his asso#iatio with )a+is$ a d the re@"ve atio o! the i terest i )iet+s#he with s"#h !ig"res as Derrida a d (o"#a"lt. (o"#a"lt hi$sel! has stated that =, read hi$ D)iet+s#heE be#a"se o! Bataille' a d Bataille be#a"se o! Bla #hot.= --i They !o" d i his i terpretatio o! )iet+s#he a way o! des#ribi g a d holdi g o to the s"b@e#t that had bee de#lared dead by *tr"#t"ralis$. , deed o e #a say that Bataille p"t the =post= i post. str"#t"ralis$. %s (o"#a"lt !"rther arg"ed' =readi g )iet+s#he was the poi t o! r"pt"re !or $e. There is a history o! the s"b@e#t @"st as there is a history o! reaso ? b"t we #a ever de$a d that the history o! reaso " !old at a !irst a d !o" di g a#t o! the ratio alist s"b@e#t.= --ii This #learly !ollows Bataille1s readi g i that he sees )iet+s#he as the prophet o! the s"b@e#t i oppositio to a i .h"$a e ratio al e#o o$i# #o str"#tio . Bataille arg"ed that =i !a#t' today there are o ly two ad$issible positio s re$ai i the world> Co$$" is$' red"#i g ea#h $a to the object 5th"s re@e#ti g the de#eptive appeara #es that the s"b@e#t had ass"$ed9' a d the attit"de o! )iet+s#he .. si$ilar to the o e that e$erges !ro$ this work .. !ree the subject at the sa$e ti$e' o! the li$its i$posed o it by the past a d o! the ob@e#tivity o! the prese t.=--iii )iet+s#he so"ght to es#ape the i$positio o! ob@e#tive ratio al e#essity. Bataille !"rther arg"ed =he D)iet+s#heE re$ai ed #o$pletely o the side where #al#"latio is " k ow > )iet+s#he1s gi!t is the gi!t that othi g li$its? it is the sovereig gi!t' that o! s"b@e#tivity.=--iv The pri$ary 4er$a re#eptio s o! )iet+s#he that e$phasi+ed the will to power' tied to a adva #e$e t o! the so#ietal str"#t"re. They possited a telos o! the %ol& #o #er ed with a !"t"re i a relatio to the past all tied to a esse tial te$poral progress. Bataille' o the other ha d' asserted the i$porta #e o! <ter al Ret"r i )iet+s#he1s tho"ght' whi#h e$phasi+ed the e-perie #e o! the $o$e t a d whi#h th"s es#aped the esse tially te$poral progress. ;aber$as has said that =(or Bataille' as !or )iet+s#he' there is a #o verge #e betwee the sel!.aggra di+i g a d $ea i g.#reati g will to power a d a #os$i#ally $oored !atalis$ o! the eter al ret"r o! the sa$e.= --v Bataille arg"es that =i! we stop looki g at states o! ardor si$ply as preli$i ary to other s"bse2"e t #o ditio s grasped as be e!i#ial' the state , propose see$s a p"re play o! lighte i g' $erely a e$pty #o s"$$atio . La#ki g a y relatio to $aterial be e!its s"#h as power or growth o! the state 5or o! 4od or a Ch"r#h or a party9' this #o s"$$atio #a 1t eve be #o$prehe ded. ,t appears that positive val"e o! loss #a o ly be give as gai .=--vi This is #losely related to Bataille1s otio o! the gi!t i its reli 2"ishi g o! the ob@e#tivity o! a pro#ess !or a es#ape i to a possibility o! a $o$e t. ,t is the !reedo$ provided by the s"b@e#thood allowed by the gi!t. The e$phasis is o a es#ape !ro$ the !orward progressio o! h"$a ity i ti$e a d' i stead' a !o#"s o the pote tiality o! the $o$e t. =,$$a e #e e-ists si$"lta eo"sly a d i a i dissol"ble $o$e t as both a i$$ediate s"$$it 5whi#h !ro$ all sta dpoi ts' is the sa$e as the i divid"al1s destr"#tio 9 a d a spirit"al s"$$it.= --vii That is the esse tial $ea i g o! eter al ret"r ' a $o$e t' a d e-perie #e' that es#apes ratio al e#essity. =%t least the idea o! eter al ret"r is added . . . , a spo ta eo"s $ove$e t 5so it see$s9' it adds the e-pa sio o! eter al ti$e to passive terrors.=--viii %s he arg"ed elsewhere i re!ere #e to *"rrealis$' this sei+"re o! the $o$e t as opposed to dissol"tio i the te$poral !low is esse tial. This sei+"re o! the i sta t .. i whi#h the will is reli 2"ished at the sa$e ti$e .. #ertai ly has a de#isive val"e. ,t is tr"e that operatio is ot witho"t di!!i#"lties' whi#h s"rrealis$ has revealed b"t ot resolved. The possibilities bro"ght i to play go !"rther tha they see$. ,! we were ge "i ely to break the servit"de by whi#h the e-iste #e o! the i sta t is s"b$itted to "se!"l a#tivity' the esse #e wo"ld s"dde ly be revealed i "s with a " bearable #larity. %t least' everythi g leads o e to believe so. The sei+"re o! the i sta t #a ot di!!er !ro$ e#stasy.--i-

The a ti.te$poral #hara#ter o! the gi!t as e-pe dit"re o! e-#ess #a ot be " derstated !or it is the s"pport o! the es#ape !ro$ "tility. % d yet' this $"st be #oordi ated with Derrida1s #o #eptio o! the gi!t i his work iven Time. Derrida !o" d the gi!t a $ost parado-i#al' perhaps i$possible idea 5i deed' =the ,$possible=9. %##ordi g to Derrida' ver a#"lar "sage o! the ter$ i di#ates the gi!t is a givi g witho"t e-pe#tatio o! ret"r . Fet' so$e ki d o! ret"r see$s i evitable. ,! o e gives a gi!t or$ally o e e-pe#ts to get o e ba#k' i! o e gives a party it is proper !or others i the gro"p to hold o e i t"r ' i! o e b"ys a !rie d a 4"i ess' that !rie d "s"ally tries to b"y o e e-t ti$e. /he this is ot the #ase' the ret"r is i ter$s o! a gai i prestige at the $a i!estatio o! power that is i here t i the gi!t' or $erely i the pleas"re o! givi g a d i seei g the @oy o! the re#ipie t. <ve a ki d o! sy$boli# ret"r wo"ld see$ to eli$i ate the possibility o! gi!t. There!ore' i Derrida1s view' i! a gi!t e-ists at all' it $"st ot be re#og i+ed as s"#h' either by the giver or the re#eiver. The parties i volved $"st !orget the givi g every o##"rred' eve be!ore it is give . ;owever' it wo"ld have to be a !orgetti g $ore #o$plete tha eve the or$al $odes o! !orgetti g o! psy#hoa alysis. ,t $"st ot be repressed a d be part o! the s"b#o s#io"s. ,t $"st' rather' be appare tly obliterated' witho"t obliterati g the gi!t itsel!. To be a gi!t the gi!t $"st ot be a gi!t? i.e. it is the ,$possible. ,t is !ro$ this " dersta di g o! the gi!t that Derrida also approa#hed 0a"ss1s a thropologi#al a##o" t o! the gi!t a d givi g. ;e #riti#i+ed it pri$arily o two gro" ds. The !irst see$s a $ore ge eral #riti2"e o! a thropologi# sy thesis itsel!. ;e asked =;ow is o e to legiti$ate the tra slatio s tha ks to whi#h 0a"ss #ir#"lates a d travels' ide ti!yi g !ro$ o e #"lt"re to a other what he " dersta ds by gi!t' what he #alls gi!t.= --- Derrida da #es a$o gst the a$big"ities o! la g"age a d was very #are!"l as to how the parti#"lar ter$s are bei g "sed. ;e oted how 0a"ss had #riti#i+ed other s#holar1s #as"al appli#atio o! gi!t to the la g"age o! e#o o$i# e-#ha ge. Fet' later o ' 0a"ss see$ed to re#og i+e the a$big"ity o! the ter$ gi!t whe it is e#essarily part o! a e-#ha ge' a d arg"ed e-pli#itly !or a $eldi g o! the two i a " dersta di g o! the pra#ti#es he had #o sidered. (or Derrida' this shows a re#og itio towards the $ad ess o! the i$possibility o! the ter$ itsel!. , deed' this ties i to a se#o d li e o! his #riti2"e o! 0a"ss' his idea o! the gi!t itsel!. ,! a gi!t is a givi g witho"t hope o! e-#ha ge' 0a"ss1s a##o" t de ies its very possibility by i sisti g that !or every gi!t there is a ret"r . =;e ever asks the 2"estio as to whether gi!ts #a re$ai gi!ts o #e they are e-#ha ged.=---i Derrida graphs this e-#ha ge i ter$s o! the #ir#le' o! gi!t a d #o" ter gi!t' o! e-#ha ge. ;owever' the gi!t' to be a gi!t' $"st break o"t o! this #ir#le. %##ordi g to 0a"ss1 perspe#tive this is a i$possibility' the gi!t is #e$e ted !ir$ly i to this #ir#le o! e-#ha ge. =,t deals with e#o o$y' e-#ha ge' #o tra#t 5 do ut des9' it speaks o! raisi g the stakes' sa#ri!i#e' gi!t and #o" ter.gi!t .. i short' everythi g that i the thi g itsel! i$pels the gi!t and the a "l$e t o! the gi!t.= ---ii The gi!t 0a"ss dis#"ssed' a##ordi g to the Derrida1s perspe#tive' #a ot be a gi!t at all. There are two aspe#ts o! 0a"ss1 des#riptio that i trig"ed Derrida' however. The !irst is the e$phasis o ti$e. (or 0a"ss there $"st elapse a #ertai period betwee gi!t a d #o" ter.gi!t. ,t is r"de to both ret"r too 2"i#kly a d to ret"r i$$ediately. Th"s' what the gi!t gives is ti$e. =The gi!t is ot a gi!t' the gi!t o ly gives to the e-te t it gives time.=---iii ,t gives to the #y#le o! h"$a relatio s a history' a esse tial te$porality. This is a poi t that will i$porta t later !or #o$pariso with Bataille. *e#o d' he oti#es that the gi!t $"st be e-#essive. ,t tries to $ove beyo d the #ir#le o! e-#ha ge i e-travaga #e. ;owever' this see$s to be a hopeless task. %s with the potlat#h' a atte$pt to go beyo d si$ply "ps the bet' re2"iri g a greater e-#ha ge gi!t. , deed' this aspe#t gives to the idea o! the gi!t a #ertai $ad ess' a =$ad ess o! keepi g or o! hyper$ esi# #apitali+atio and $ad ess o! the !orget!"l e-pe dit"re.= ---iv ,! the gi!t atte$pts to break !ree o! the #ir#le o! e-#ha ge' it i stead draws the #ir#le to it' $ovi g it a ew. Derrida #o$pared the gi!t to the !irst $over. , a atte$pt to break !ree o! the #ir#le' it draws the #ir#le aro" d it. The gi!t i its destr"#tio o! itsel! as gi!t bri gs $ove$e t a d history !orward' i itiati g a ew' sparki g the #ir#le' a d #ha gi g its weave. =(or !i ally' the overr" i g o! the #ir#le by the gi!t' i! there is a y' does ot lead to a si$ple' i e!!able e-teriority that wo"ld be tra s#e de t a d witho"t relatio . ,t is this e-teriority that sets the #ir#le goi g? it is this e-teriority that p"ts the e#o o$y i $otio . ,t is this e-teriority that e gages i the #ir#le a d $akes it t"r .=---v Derrida1s otio o! the gi!t also see$s to have a esse tially te$poral #hara#ter that o !irst gla #e see$s to i validate Bataille1s e$phasis o a es#ape !ro$ te$poral progressio . Derrida e-trapolates !ro$ 0a"ss1s observatio that betwee gi!t a d #o" ter.gi!t

there $"st be a proper lapse o! ti$e. Th"s while the val"e o! the gi!t is ret"r ed i the so#ially re2"ired #o" ter.gi!t' i deed' i $ost #ases a de$a d o! ret"r with i terest' the gi!t gives ti$e. =3 e #a tra slate as !ollows> The gi!t is ot a gi!t' the gi!t o ly gives to the e-te t it gives time. The di!!ere #e betwee a gi!t a d every other operatio o! p"re a d si$ple e-#ha ge is that the gi!t gives ti$e. There where there is gift, there is time . /hat it gives' the gi!t' is ti$e.=---vi Th"s how does o e re#ti!y the otio o! Bataille that the gi!t as a a ihilatio o! e-#ess es#apes a !orward $ove$e t o! ti$e i to the privileged do$ai o! the sa#red a d eter al $o$e t a d Derrida1s arg"$e t that the gi!t a#t"ally #reates a !orward $otio ' a ope i g i te$poral !lowC The a swer lies i the $ag eti#' i deed i$possible' power o! the gi!t. %s Derrida arg"ed' the gi!t draws the !low o! e-#ha ge a d the te$poral !low towards itsel!. , the gi!t' the giver as s"b@e#t i itiates' the giver #reates the de$a ds a d deter$i es the very at"re o! the e-#ha ge. ,t is th"s !or that s"b@e#t a es#ape !ro$ the ratio al dis#o"rse' whi#h de$a ds the i divid"al as ob@e#t. ,t ope s the area o! !reedo$' o! play' that Bataille de$a ded a d saw the hope !or i )iet+s#he. %s Bataille saw a esse tial paradoo! a gi!t that is a atte$pt at a#2"isitio o! a power' so Derrida saw a esse tial $ad ess o! the gi!t that seeki g to es#ape a d lose itsel!' draws the world to it. ,t is a es#ape !ro$ the ratio al dis#o"rse o! e#o o$i# "tility' a e$ptyi g o"t that is really a ew #reatio a d a#2"isitio . The s"b@e#t be#o$es sovereig i the very #reatio o! the te$poral pla#e !or play. ,t is the i$possible $o$e t that diverts the !low o! e ergy i ratio al e-#ha ge i its sel!ish "seless ess to a ew poi t o! de!i itio . *"#h a power o! the a ihilatio o! e-#ess is re!le#ted i the str"#t"ral a alyses Bataille gives i The Accursed Share o! di!!ere t #"lt"res. <a#h #"lt"re he a aly+es' be it Tibet' the %+te#s' or early ,sla$' is de!i ed by a i itial #hoi#e o! gi!t' o! the way the e-#ess wealth the #"lt"re prod"#es is e-pe ded. =;"$a i$prod"#tive e-pe dit"re #reates ew i$prod"#tive val"es' whi#h re#o e#t h"$a s to the " iverse thro"gh the loss pri #iple.= ---vii , this otio ' there is $ore tha a slight e#ho o! the de$a ds o! Dio ys"s as the !o" datio o! a healthy #"lt"re. There is the possibility o! a sovereig a#t o! #"lt"ral prod"#tio that bears little rese$bla #e to a ratio al #hoi#e deter$i ed by $a-i$i+atio o! available reso"r#es. ,t is the very $o$e t o! de!i itio o! h"$a ity risi g above the "tilitaria do$i a #e that sig i!ies the li!e o! a a i$al. %s a other #o$$e tator has arg"ed' !or Bataille' =i terdi#tio is prese ted as a egatio o! at"re 5le do J9 whi#h !o" ds #"lt"re' $arki g the e$erge #e o! $a !ro$ a i$al.=---viii Th"s' !or Bataille' the otio o! gi!t plays a esse tial role i the li!e o! i divid"als a d o! #"lt"res. , his visio o! ge eral e#o o$y' every #"lt"re prod"#es e-#ess that $"st be e-pe ded' a ihilated. ,t is a visio o! #"lt"ral s"rpl"s rather tha o! e#o o$i# s#ar#ity. The gi!t is o e o! the pri$ary $ea s o! the e-pe dit"re o! that s"rpl"s. %s he e-pa ds o the observatio s o! 0ar#el 0a"ss' i the givi g o! the gi!t' givers a!!ir$s their power as sovereig s"b@e#ts' the ability to give' to e-pe d i e-#ess' to e @oy i l"-"ry a d leis"re their wealth' taki g the$ beyo d the do$i atio o! ratio al e#o o$i# e#essity that wo"ld $ake the$ ob@e#ts. /ith Derrida' he a!!ir$s that i the moment of madness that is the gi!t there is a ope i g o! !reedo$ to #ha ge a d de!i e i divid"al a d #"lt"ral sel!." dersta di g. The gi!t' the ' !or Bataille is a $a i!estatio o! the de$a d to es#ape a str"#t"ral deter$i is$' allowi g !or a ret"r o! the s"b@e#t a d h"$a !reedo$ to philosophi#al dis#o"rse thro"gh a parado- o! loosi g it' o! givi g it away.

Return to The Historian Underground *o"r#es Cited Bataille' 4eorges. The Accursed Share' two vol"$es. )ew Fork> Gr+o e' , #.' 1966. Bataille' 4eorges. "n #iet$sche. Tra slated by Br"#e Book. )ew Fork' 1992. Bataille' 4eorges. =*"rrealis$ a d ;ow it Di!!ers !ro$ <-iste tialis$.= (o" d i 'ritings on Surrealism. <dited by 0i#hael Ri#hardso . Lo do ' 199H. Derrida' Ia#2"es. 1992. iven Time( I. )ounterfeit *oney. Tra slated by :eggy Ka$"!. Chi#ago'

(o"#a"lt' 0i#hel. =Criti#al theory/, telle#t"al ;istory.= (o" d in +olitics, +hilosophy, )ulture( Interviews and "ther 'ritings. <dited by Lawre #e D. Krit+$a . )ew Fork' 1966. 4"erla#' *"+a e. =Bataille i Theory> a!teri$ages 5Lass#a"-9.= (o" d o in America 5http://www.phreebyrd.com/~sisyphus/bataille/) ' 12/A/99. eorge ,ataille

;aber$as' Ihrge . =Betwee <roti#is$ a d 4e eral <#o o$i#s> Bataille.= (o" d i The +hilosophical -iscourse of *odernity( Twelve .ectures . Tra slated by (rederi#k 4. Lawre #e. Ca$bridge' 0%' 1998. ;o#hroth' Lysa. =The *#ie ti!i# ,$perative> ,$prod"#tive <-pe dit"re a d < ergeti#is$.= (o" d o eorge ,ataille in America 5http://www.phreebyrd.com/~sisyphus/bataille/) ' 12/A/99. 0art+' La"ra. =(ree Ti$eJ L"#idity a d the % ti.work <thi#.= (o" d o America 5http://www.phreebyrd.com/~sisyphus/bataille/)' 12/A/99. eorge ,ataille in

0a"ss' 0ar#el. The 4i!t> The (or$ a d Reaso !or <-#ha ge i %r#hai# *o#ieties. Tra slate by /. D. ;alls. (oreword by 0ary Do"glas. )ew Fork> /. /. )orto ' 199B.

For a general biographical summary o !ataille see http://www. ringeware.com/subcult/"eorges#!ataille.html $accessed on %&/&/'') ii "eorge !ataille( The Accursed Share( two )ols. $*ew +or,: Ur-one( .nc. %'//). The irst )olume was originally published in France as La Part Maudite in %'01. The second )olume was originally published as L'Histoire de l'erotisme and La SouveraintJ in "eorges !ataille2s Oeuvres ComplPtes $)ol /) in %'10. iii The Accursed Share( )ol %( %30. i) The Accursed Share( )ol %( 4/. ) The Accursed Share( )ol. %( 4'. )i The Accursed Share( )ol. %( 4/. )ii For this essay( . will be using the translation( The Gift: The orm and !eason for "#chan$e in Archaic Societies( trans. 5. 6. Halls( with a oreword by 7ary 6ouglas $*ew +or,( %''3). )iii The Gift( )iii. i8 The Gift( 90. 8 The Gift( 99. 8i The Gift( 8. 8ii The Gift( 91. 8iii The Accursed Share( )ol. %( 0/. 8i) The Accursed Share( )ol. %( 01. 8) :ysa Hochroth( ;The <cienti ic .mperati)e: .mproducti)e =8penditure and =nergeticism(; ound on Geor$e %ataille in America $http://www.phreebyrd.com/~sisyphus/bataille/( accessed %&/4/''). 8)i The Accursed Share( )ol. %( 0'. 8)ii The Accursed Share( )ol. %( 04. 8)iii The Accursed Share( )ol. &( >%. 8i8 The Accursed Share( )ol. %( %9&. 88 :aura 7art-( ;Free Time? :ucidity and the @ntiAwor, =thic(; ound on Geor$e %ataille in America $http://www.phreebyrd.com/~sisyphus/bataille/( accessed %&/4/''). 88i 7ichel Foucault in an inter)iew ;Britical Theory/.ntellectual History; ound in Politics& Philosoph' Culture: (ntervie)s and Other *ritin$s( ed. :awrence 6. Crit-man $*ew +or,( %'//)( &>. 88ii ;Britical Theory/.ntellectual History;( &9. 88iii The Accursed Share( )ol. &( 90/. 88i) The Accursed Share( )ol. &( 91%. 88) Jhrgen Habermas( ;!etween =roticism and "eneral =conomics: !ataille(; ound in The Dhilosophical 6iscourse o 7odernity: Twel)e :ectures( trans. Frederic, ". :awrence $Bambridge( 7@( %''0)( &%>. 88)i "eorge !ataille( On +iet,sche( trans. !ruce !oone $*ew +or,( %''&)( 88. Eriginally published as Sur +iet,sche in %'>4. 88)ii On +iet,sche( %>'. 88)iii On +iet,sche( %9'. 88i8 "eorges !ataille( ;<urrealism and How it 6i ers rom =8istentialism;( *ritin$s on Surrealism( ed. 7ichael Richardson $:ondon( %''>)( 00. 888 JacFues 6errida( Given Time: (- Counterfeit Mone'( trans. Deggy Camu $Bhicago( %''&)( &9. Eriginally published as .onner le temps in %''%. 888i Given Time( 91. 888ii Given Time( &>. 888iii Given Time( 43. 888i) Given Time( >1. 888) Given Time( 93. 888)i Given Time( >%. 888)ii Hochroth. 888)iii <u-anne "uerlac( ;!ataille in Theory: a terimages $:ascau8)(; ound on Geor$e %ataille in America $http://www.phreebyrd.com/~sisyphus/bataille/( accessed %&/4/'').