Philosopher Slavoj Žižek delves into Wagner’s tale of forbidden knowledge in this keynote address, as part of Southbank Centre’s Power of Power festival.

Cultural theorist and philosopher Slavoj Žižek, author of The Sublime Object of Ideology.

Known for his wide and provocative range of thought, he has established himself as ‘the most dangerous philosopher in the West’ (The New Republic).

In his return to Southbank Centre, Žižek discusses one of his main concerns: the link between knowledge and power, and how often those who control knowledge also keep power for themselves.

This talk is part of Power of Power festival, which explores the nature of power in today’s world and features Opera North’s five-star production of Wagner’s Ring Cycle. What can Wagner’s tale of the ‘all-knowing’ woman Brünnhilde, pitted against the gods of Valhalla, tell us about our modern struggle with power? And what is the cost of wielding supreme knowledge?

Žižek discusses the pitfalls of modern-day power with reference to the opera.