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• One of Zizek's favourite tracks is his "substances deprived of their malignant property: coffee without caffeine, cream without fat, beer without alcohol" routine. One could add: investment without exploitation, as exemplified by so-called "ethical funds" targeted at the liberal bourgeoisie that scrupulously avoid investing in arms, tobacco, porn and other Bad Stuff. Of course, the problem with such well-meaning do-goodyness (apart from its screaming naffness) is that capitalism swiftly finds a way round it. Increase demand for "ethical" stocks and you depress the price of not-so-ethical ones, hence increasing their returns, thus making them a more attractive prospect. Hence the emergence of this little beauty: vicefund.com. "It is our philosophy that although often considered politically incorrect, these and similar industries and products... will continue to experience significant capital appreciation during good and bad markets," its prospectus boasts. Presumably Zizek would class this as the "obscene underside" to the superego of ethical funds... all that is holy is profaned, eh? | |
