Georges Bataille’s Theory of ‘The Accursed Share’: Obsession with Safety and Spectacular Violence

Georges Bataille’s theory of ‘the accursed share‘ explores the paradox of modern civilization’s simultaneous obsession with safety and a spectacle of violence. He proposes that excess—both material and psychological—shapes human behavior and societal structures. This concept is rooted in Bataille’s broader philosophical inquiries into desire, transgression, and the nature of human existence, asserting that societal norms dictate how surplus energy is expended.

Bataille argues that unspent energy often manifests in destructive or violent forms, reflecting a fundamental tension between productive and non-productive activities within cultures marked by economic and existential crises. His work is notable for its interdisciplinary approach, drawing from history, economics, and philosophy to unravel the complexities of human desire and societal order.

His examination of ‘the accursed share’ elucidates how cultures channel surplus through art, ritual, and even violence, creating a framework to understand contemporary phenomena, such as media portrayals of violence and the role of law in maintaining social control. By investigating these themes, Bataille challenges the Enlightenment’s emphasis on rationality, advocating for a recognition of the irrational and ecstatic dimensions of human life, which he sees as integral to authentic existence.

Central to Bataille’s critique is the idea that societal structures, often repressing expressions of the sacred, create a rupture that leads individuals to alienate themselves from their inherent sovereignty. He categorizes human experiences into forms of sovereignty, slavery, and alienation, positing that modern life frequently relegates individuals to the status of mere objects, thus obscuring their true, liberated selves. This perspective offers a critical lens through which to analyze the interplay of safety and violence in contemporary culture, revealing deeper currents of human psychology that underpin these seemingly contradictory impulses.

Despite its insights, Bataille’s theory has faced significant critiques, particularly regarding its empirical grounding and potential normalization of violence as a social mechanism. Scholars argue that while his framework is provocative, it often lacks nuance, oversimplifying complex social dynamics and raising questions about gender representation within his analyses. This ongoing discourse highlights the need for a more contextualized understanding of Bataille’s contributions to contemporary thought, particularly in relation to the material and psychological implications of violence in modern society.

Historical Context

Georges Bataille’s theories, particularly his concept of ‘the accursed share,’ arise from a complex interplay of historical, economic, and philosophical contexts. Bataille’s reflections are deeply rooted in a materialist conception of human existence, where the conditions of production shape both individual identity and societal structures. He posited that:

as individuals express their life, so they are

Georges Bataille

This suggests that the essence of humanity is inseparable from the material conditions of life and the mode of production in which individuals find themselves.

Bataille’s work can be understood against the backdrop of historical materialism, particularly the ideas espoused by Karl Marx. Marx argued that:

the nature of individuals thus depends on the material conditions determining their production

Karl Marx

This perspective underlines the significance of production over consumption, establishing a foundation for understanding social relations and historical development as inherently linked to economic forces.

The context of early writing in urban centers like Uruk further illustrates the emergence of complex social structures as a direct result of economic activities. Writing was developed not only to track trade and tax records but also to enforce social rules and codify laws, highlighting how economic necessity influenced the evolution of communication and societal organization. This intertwining of economic practices and cultural developments laid the groundwork for later philosophical inquiries into the nature of human desire and excess, themes that would resonate in Bataille’s exploration of ‘the accursed share’—the surplus of production that cannot be utilized for basic needs and is often redirected into forms of excess, including art, ritual, and violence.

Furthermore, Bataille’s philosophical stance reflects a rebellion against the limitations of rationality imposed by Enlightenment thinking, as he sought to reclaim a sense of the irrational, the excess, and the ecstatic within human experience. He critiqued the dominant metaphysical narratives that separated matter from consciousness, proposing instead a view where matter itself is lively and exhibits agency. This perspective aligns with the posthumanist discourse that challenges traditional hierarchies between human and non-human actors, emphasizing the role of materiality in shaping human experiences and societal norms.

Madness is something rare in individuals – but in groups, parties, peoples, ages, it is the rule.

Friedrich Nietzsche

Through his work, Bataille aimed to unravel the complexities of desire, violence, and the human condition in a world marked by the tension between the sacred and the profane, the productive and the destructive. His engagement with these themes provides a critical lens through which to examine contemporary culture’s fascination with both safety and violence, revealing the underlying economic and existential currents that drive human behavior.

Key Concepts

Sovereignty, Slavery, and Alienation

Georges Bataille’s philosophy revolves around the states of human existence, which he categorizes into three distinct forms: sovereignty, slavery, and alienation. He argues that the true sovereign self exists in a state of freedom, akin to a wild animal, free from the objectification and utility imposed by society. This objectification leads individuals to become tools themselves, reducing their essence to mere objects of use, which in turn fosters alienation from their own being. Bataille posits that most people experience a degree of this alienation, thereby losing touch with their inherent sovereignty.

The Sacred and the Profane

Bataille’s exploration of the concepts of the sacred and the profane is fundamental to understanding his philosophical framework. He argues that social facts can be categorized into these two realms, which reflect broader categories of appropriation and excretion. This division allows for a comprehensive analysis of various social phenomena, from taboos to ritual practices, which serve to illustrate the duality present in human interactions with the world. The sacred is often seen as a force that transcends mundane experiences, representing a connection to something greater, while the profane encompasses the everyday, often banal aspects of life.

The sacred is that which the profane must not touch, and cannot touch with impunity.

Émile Durkheim

General Economy and Expenditure

Central to Bataille’s thought is the notion of a general economy, characterized by the concept of excess and the necessity of expenditure. He asserts that human society is defined not only by accumulation but also by the need to squander surplus energy. According to Bataille, failure to