René Viénet
Encyclopedia
René Viénet is a French
sinologist
who is famous as a situationist writer and filmmaker. Viénet used the situationist technique of détournement
— the diversion of already existing cultural elements to new subversive purposes.
in Paris
, he moved to China
but he was expelled in 1966 for his critical approach towards the Maoist regime. In the 1970s, he worked at CNRS from where he was fired on two different occasions in 1971 and 1978 for heavily criticising those who defended Mao
, particularly through the books from the publishing house Champ libre where he directed the series Bibliothèque asiatique. From 1974 to 1978, he also taught Chinese
at the École polytechnique
. After 20 years spent in Mainland China
, Hong Kong
, and Taiwan
, he returned to France. He is the director of redaction for the review Monde chinois since 2007.
[Grestitions and Ensituats in the Abrem Movement] by Rene Vienet (1972)
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
sinologist
Sinology
Sinology in general use is the study of China and things related to China, but, especially in the American academic context, refers more strictly to the study of classical language and literature, and the philological approach...
who is famous as a situationist writer and filmmaker. Viénet used the situationist technique of détournement
Detournement
A détournement is a technique developed in the 1950s by the Letterist International, and consist in "turning expressions of the capitalist system against itself." Détournement was prominently used to set up subversive political pranks, an influential tactic called situationist prank that was...
— the diversion of already existing cultural elements to new subversive purposes.
Career
After completing his studies in SinologySinology
Sinology in general use is the study of China and things related to China, but, especially in the American academic context, refers more strictly to the study of classical language and literature, and the philological approach...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, he moved to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
but he was expelled in 1966 for his critical approach towards the Maoist regime. In the 1970s, he worked at CNRS from where he was fired on two different occasions in 1971 and 1978 for heavily criticising those who defended Mao
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
, particularly through the books from the publishing house Champ libre where he directed the series Bibliothèque asiatique. From 1974 to 1978, he also taught Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
at the École polytechnique
École Polytechnique
The École Polytechnique is a state-run institution of higher education and research in Palaiseau, Essonne, France, near Paris. Polytechnique is renowned for its four year undergraduate/graduate Master's program...
. After 20 years spent in Mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, and Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, he returned to France. He is the director of redaction for the review Monde chinois since 2007.
Books
Enragés and Situationists in the Occupations Movement by René Viénet (1968)[Grestitions and Ensituats in the Abrem Movement] by Rene Vienet (1972)
Films
- Can Dialectics Break Bricks?Can dialectics break bricks?La Dialectique Peut-Elle Casser Des Briques?, in English, "Can Dialectics Break Bricks?", is a 1973 Situationist film produced by the French director René Viénet which explores the development of class conflict through revolutionary agitation against a backdrop of graphic kung-fu fighting.The film...
(1972) - The Girls of KamareThe Girls of KamareThe Girls of Kamare is a Situationist film by René Viénet. Unlike Viénet's previous work, Can dialectics break bricks? , The Girls of Kamare includes original 16 mm hardcore inserts shot by Viénet....
(1974) - One More Effort, Chinamen, if you want to be revolutionaries!One More Effort, Chinamen, if you want to be revolutionaries!One more effort, Chinese, if you want to be revolutionaries! a.k.a. Peking Duck Soup is a 1977 film by Situationist director René Viénet....
(1977) - Mao, by himself (1977, short)
External links
- NOT BORED!'s Viénet archive
- UBU.com's Viénet archive
- Translator's Preface for the French Edition of Harold Isaac's The Tragedy of the Chinese Revolution. By Rene Viénet, February 1967
- Viénet: Enrages and Situationists in the Occupations Movement, 1968
- Rene Viénet – the bad boy of sinology at www.notbored.org