Jean-François Lyotard

In this course

Lyotard appears in the course readings primarily through his *Libidinal Economy*, which the Benzel text invokes to theorize the affective and desire-driven dimensions of computational systems and surveillance architectures. His framework helps the seminar think beyond rational governance models toward the irrational intensities—what he called libidinal flows—that animate both human and machine systems, especially in contexts of exploit, deception, and informatic warfare. This allows the course to grapple with how cybernetic systems don't just process information but generate and redirect libidinal energy, making his critique of instrumental rationality crucial for understanding the seductive and destabilizing logics of AI and automated control.

Mentioned in 2 readings