Immunitarian Aesthetics: On the figuration of the enemy through the political metaphorology of the immunitarian paradigm

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2024-03-19
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en
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The Covid-19 pandemic was metaphorized through war and acted upon accordingly. This thesis discusses the aesthetics conjunctional to the immunitarian paradigm primarily as conceptualised by Roberto Esposito. Starting with an exposition of current discourse in the field of immunology and virology, the descriptively and sensory elusive virus is positioned at the onset for the rendition of a metaphorology. It functions according to immunitarian logic, that is, a mode of political understanding of safety and threat by method of opposing the two as mutually exclusive. It requires of the threat to the safe a structural externality, animism and actionism in order to figure it as enemy. Since it figures the virus into something that it is not, an enemy, this produces a false behavioural imperative that results in a war waged on the self. It does since only and as long as the virus is internalised by the host, it is a threat.
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Faculteit der Filosofie, Theologie en Religiewetenschappen
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