In A Thousand Plateaus, Deleuze and Guattari reject the conflation of fascism with totalitarianism, arguing instead that ‘There is fascism when a war machine is installed … in every niche’ of daily life.
Having narrowly avoided Big Bang Theory re-runs by having lunch a little later last week, I found myself trying to chew a sandwich while slackjawed in front of re-runs of Sabrina (no longer a teenager or a witch) and some guy called Joey (who thank god wasn’t the one from Friends). The broadcast of this “comedy” is sponsored by the Royal Air Force as part of their recruitment and public relations. Godalone knows who they think they are going to recruit, or impress, this way.
Also, it was broadcast on some variant of Channel 4. That is, I as a tax-payer was paying for it to be on the air on a commercial channel (taxes converted straight into private profit rather than being spent on something useful, like welfare, health or education) as well as paying for it by sitting through the ads – in addition to the emotional and intellectual cost of being opposite it with eyes and ears open. (And mouth. Half-chewed sandwich all down my front.)
D&G were right. The war machine is in every niche.
What would Salem – let alone Stouffer – make of it?
(Still, nice to see Melissa again, and that she still hasn’t bothered – or found reason – to learn to act. Unironically: good for her!)
Mark Bould 