Search - Derrick Jensen :: Now This War Has Two Sides

At War With The World

William Gresham | 05/21/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Among those who have read the works of Derrick Jensen (including A Language Older Than Words, The Culture Of Make-Believe, and, most recently [with artist Stephanie McMillan], the graphic novel As The World Burns: 50 Simple Things You Can Do To Stay In Denial), many have had the opportunity to see and hear him in person. It is not overstating the case to call what Jensen does performance. Jensen's newest release is a recording of the talk he's been doing, more-or-less, since the publication of Endgame in 2006. This recording was made live in Vancouver, BC (the liner notes indicate "fills from various other shows").



Given the gravity of the topic (track titles include "Apocalypse", "Smashing The Death Camp", "Civilization Can Never Be Sustainable", "How Bad Does It Have To Get?", "Insanity", and "Culture Of Occupation") and length of his talk (with Q & A, these 2 CDs run nearly two hours), Jensen is wildly entertaining.



Jensen's presentation is not for the faint-of-heart. He levels both barrels at what he has called "the most destructive culture ever to exist", and few are spared, including environmental activists. He reserves his strongest criticism for the corporations and related forces which are malignantly stripping the planet of what is necessary to support life - not just that of its human inhabitants, but all life. But few, if any of us are immune to the level of reflection for which Jensen calls. Some listeners will blanch at Jensen's strong language, but it is not gratuitous. In fact, while that language would qualify this as PG-13 (or R) as a film, the message is one which should be heard by audiences of all ages. Perhaps the greatest trepidation on the part of listeners will be reserved for Jensen's methodical disparagement of hope, which he calls "a longing for a future condition over which you have no agency". In fact, Jensen is doing us a favor, arguing that we must stop hoping and start doing, whatever it takes to prevent industrial civilization from destroying the world.



In Endgame, Jensen explicitly lays out twenty premises at the beginning of the book, in order to avoid the device of hiding his presumptions, which he says is customary in other writing. In Now This War Has Two Sides, Jensen uses several of these premises as jumping-off points on which to expand on his philosophical and scientific conclusions. In language as beautiful as a Beethoven sonata (check out his reading of "Pretend You Are A River") or as blunt as a Megadeth guitar riff in the solar plexus at 110 decibels, he displays his art, and his heart, on his sleeve.



For fans of Jensen's earlier works, or for those who have enjoyed seeing him in person, it would be difficult to overemphasize this recommendation to get and listen to Now This War Has Two Sides. And for those who find themselves interested (and not put off by the above qualifications regarding topic and language), this audio release would be a great introduction to the work of one of this generation's most important intellectuals and cultural critics."

Controversial But Well Thought Out

Daniel Fedorenko | Oakland, CA United States | 06/18/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Pretty intense spoken work/lecture from this leading proponent of the "de-civilization" movement. On this double CD a wide range of environmental issues are discussed from a very personal and intimate standpoint. I think the beauty of Derrick Jensen is that he uses humor even when speaking on dire issues AND that he is not above poking fun at himself and other environmentalists. His use of humor not only shows him to be a genuine person but it also helps lend his "serious" passages that much more impact. He maintains that even though things are really f*cked planet-wise that one can fight to change them AND STILL have a great time loving life in the process. Quite a bit of thought provoking material on these discs. Recommended not only to those who consider themselves "environmentally active" but even more so to those who think such people are "quacks". For wherever you may fall in this spectrum Derrick Jensen will cause you to examine where you stand and hopefully inspire you into action."

Beyond hope

2 cents | B.F.N. United Snakes | 01/16/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Listening to Derrick Jensen speak is an interesting experience. I recommend it. I can't say I've heard him live, but on CD his presence is powerful enough. Some segments of this CD were already done in his previous CD THE OTHER SIDE OF DARKNESS. Great titles. He's a great writer. Part poet really. Part poet, part philosopher and at least in his talks I've heard part comedian. Bill Hicks and George Carlin ain't got nothing on Derrick Jensen. Well that's going too far, but he is funny. The Star Wars bit is great. The readings from his books are amazing. The Q and As are entertaining. What can I say about it? Jensen's work and his talks recorded here are utterly profound, uncompromising and are about the most serious issues we humans in the early 21st century face. Jensen mentions a talk radio show he was a guest on and how the guy seemed to just want an environmentalist on to yell at. And the guy told him to "get real" or get in the "real" world or something. This is what Jensen is about and it is the world the radio talk show host represents that Jensen considers to be nothing short of completely and hopelessly insane and wicked. It's the world we largely inhabit. Well, I want to say for starters I do not agree with everything he has to say. I'm not entirely sure civilization is evil and that we should fight for it's destruction. Sorry. I'm not sure even if civilization will always have to be unsustainable. To the extent the "dominant culture" is bent on consuming all the planet I don't believe that people will or can stop it or that even if they somehow did the result in doing so wouldn't be about as bad as if the whole dreadful process were just left to more or less unfold. I don't know--perhaps I'm admitting to you my confussion. I mean Jensen's views are a lot to swallow if you actually think about them. Let me think about it. But yes, I agree there is probably no time to sit around and think to the extent Jensen is right. I like what Jensen says about philosophy. And about hope. I appreciate a thinker like Jensen for helping me to be more critical. Even if from the persepective of radicals I'm about as lost as the rest of the sheeple, it has been reading and listening to radicals like Jensen that has saved me from being so deluded as to, for example, believe in change through presidental elections and faith in the products of public relations like Barack Obama. It's true most political and social change comes from the bottom up and bringing about change means regular people like you and me taking action.

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