TheTimeComplex.

Postcontemporary

AconversationbetweenArmenAvanessianandSuhailMalik
Timeischanging.Humanagencyandexperiencelosetheirprimacyinthecomplexityandscaleofsocial
organizationtoday.Theleadingactorsareinsteadcomplexsystems,infrastructuresandnetworksin
whichthefuturereplacesthepresentasthestructuringconditionoftime.AsthepoliticalLeftandRight
struggletodealwiththisnewsituation,weareincreasinglywhollypreemptedandposteverything.
TimeArrivesFromtheFuture

ArmenAvanessian:Thebasicthesisofpostcontemporaryisthattimeischanging.Wearenotjust
livinginanewtimeoracceleratedtime,buttimeitselfthedirectionoftimehaschanged.Weno
longerhavealineartime,inthesenseofthepastbeingfollowedbythepresentandthenthefuture.Its
rathertheotherwayaround:thefuturehappensbeforethepresent,timearrivesfromthefuture.If
peoplehavetheimpressionthattimeisoutofjoint,orthattimedoesntmakesenseanymore,oritisnt
asitusedtobe,thenthereasonis,Ithink,thattheyhaveorweallhaveproblemsgettingusedto
livinginsuchaspeculativetimeorwithinaspeculativetemporality.
SuhailMalik:Yes,andthemainreasonforthespeculativereorganizationoftimeisthecomplexityand
scaleofsocialorganizationtoday.Iftheleadingconditionsofcomplexsocietiesaresystems,
infrastructuresandnetworksratherthanindividualhumanagents,humanexperiencelosesitsprimacy
asdothesemanticsandpoliticsbasedonit.Correspondingly,ifthepresenthasbeentheprimary
categoryofhumanexperiencethankstobiologicalsentience,thisbasisfortheunderstandingoftime
nowlosesitspriorityinfavorofwhatwecouldcallatimecomplex.1Onetheoreticalramificationofthe
deprioritizationofthepresentwecanmentionstraightaway,butwillneedtoreturntolater,isthatitisno
longernecessarytoexplainthemovementofthepastandthefutureonthebasisofthepresent.Weare

insteadinasituationwherehumanexperienceisonlyapartoforevensubordinatedtomore
complexformationsconstructedhistoricallyandwithaviewtowhatcanbeobtainedinthefuture.The
pastandthefutureareequallyimportantintheorganizationofthesystemandthisovershadowsthe
presentastheleadingconfigurationoftime.
Complexsocietieswhichmeansmorethanhumansocietiesatscalesofsociotechnicalorganization
thatsurpassphenomenologicaldeterminationarethoseinwhichthepast,thepresent,andthefuture
enterintoaneconomywheremaybenoneofthesemodesisprimary,orwherethefuturereplacesthe
presentastheleadstructuringaspectoftime.Thisisnotabsolutelynew,ofcourse:foralongtime
politicaleconomyandsocialprocesseshavebeenpracticallydealingwiththesubordinationofthe
humantothesocialandtechnicalorganizationofcomplexsocieties.Equally,undertheheadingof
SpeculativeRealism,philosophytoohasrecentlybeentryingtoresetthenotionofspeculationasthe
taskoffindingmorethanhumanformsofknowledgebyestablishingtheconditionswithinconceptual
thoughtofknowledgeofwhatisbeyondhumanexperience.Thatprojectiscertainlyattachedtothe
conditionsofthetimecomplexbutisalsodistincttoit
AA:Andtosomeconcreteexamplesofthespeculativetimecomplexthatweknowfromeveryday
experienceorfromdailynews.Thesearephenomenathatusuallystartwiththeprefixpre,like
preemptivestrikes,preemptivepolicing,thepreemptivepersonality
SM:Couldyououtlinethesephenomena?
AA:Whathasbeencalledpreemptivepersonalityorpersonalizationishowyougetacertainpackageor
informationaboutwhatyoumightwantthatyouhaventexplicitlyaskedforfromacommercialservice.2
WeknowaversionofthisfromAmazon:itsalgorithmicproceduresgiveusrecommendationsforbooks
associatedwithonesactualchoicesbutthepreemptivepersonalityisonestepahead:yougetaproduct
thatyouactuallywant.Thecompanysalgorithmsknowyourdesires,theyknowyourneedsevenbefore
youbecomeawareofthemyourself.ItdoesntmakesensetosayinadvancethatIllsenditback
becauseitislikelythatitwillbesomethingyouwillneed.Idontthinkthatallthisisnecessarilybad,but
wedohavetolearnhowtodealwithitinaproductiveormoreproactivemanner.

Anotherthing,oftencriticized,isthepoliticsofpreemptivestrikes,whichisalsoanewphenomenonof
the21stcentury.BrianMassumiandothershavewrittenaboutthekindofrecursivetruththeyproduce:
youbombsomewhereandthenafterwardsyouwillfindtheenemyyouexpected.3Youproducea
situationthatwasinitiallyaspeculation.Thelogichereisrecursiveand,toreiterate,thestrikeisnot
madeinordertoavoidsomething,adeterrencebeforetheenemystrikes.Itsalsoverydifferenttothe
twentiethcenturylogicofthebalanceofthreatsorprevention.Rather,whathappensinthepresentis
basedonapreemptionofthefuture,andofcoursethisisalsolinkedtowhathasbeencalleda
tendencytowardspremediationinthemedia.
Anothereverydayexampleofthisnewspeculativetemporalitydiscussedalotnowadaysispreemptive
policing.Youhaveitinsciencefiction,notablywiththePreCrimeandprecogdetectionofPhilipK.
DicksMinorityReport(andtheSpielbergfilmbasedonit).Versionsofthisareadoptedmoreandmore
inpolicingtoday.Thishastobedistinguishedfromothercurrentsurveillancestrategiesforexample,
CCTVismoreofanolderideaofwatchingwhatpeoplearedoingordocumentingwhattheyhavedone,
toreinforceexclusionmechanisms.Thequestiontoday,ifoneputsitinchronologicalterms,seemsto
bemorealongthelines:whatkindofpolicingisneededtoapprehendpeopleevenbeforetheydo
something,withwhattheywilldoasifthefuturepositionpromisesmorepower,whichcreatesa
futureparanoia?Thisislessasurveillancedirectedtotheexclusionofpeoplethanonethatdealswith
peopleinsidethesocialspace,withthevaluetheyproduce.Howcantheybeobservedandhowto
extractvaluefromtheiractivities?Thereisofcourseahugelyimportantbiopoliticalfactorinthis
regulationofthepopulation,especiallywithregardstomedicineandinsurance.
SM:Alongwithpre,whatsadvancedbythetimecomplexisalsoaconditionofthepost,thecurrent
ubiquityofwhichcharacterizeswhereweareatnow,andwhichismaybeaddedtowiththecontention
ofthepostcontemporary.Everythingnowseemstobepostsomethingelse,whichindexesthatour
understandingofwhatishappeningnowhassomerelationtobutisalsodisconnectedtohistorically
givenconditions.Whilethepreindexesakindofanticipatorydeductionofthefuturethatisactingin
thepresentsothatfutureisalreadyworkingwithinthenow,againindicatinghowthepresentisntthe

primarycategorybutisunderstoodtobeorganizedbythefuturewhatthepostmarksishowwhats
happeningnowisinrelationshiptowhathashappenedbutisnolonger.Wearethefutureofsomething
else.Thepostisalsoamarkofthedeprioritizationofthepresent.
Ifwearepostcontemporary,orpostpostmodern,postinternet,orpostwhateverifwearenowpost
everythingitisbecausehistoricallygivensemanticsdontquiteworkanymore.So,inaway,the
presentitselfisaspeculativerelationshiptoapastthatwehavealreadyexceeded.Ifthespeculativeisa
namefortherelationshiptothefuture,thepostisawayinwhichwerecognizethepresentitselftobe
speculativeinrelationshiptothepast.Weareinafuturewhichhassurpassedtheconditionsandthe
termsofthepast.
Combined,thepresentisnotjusttherealizationofthespeculativefuture(thepre)butalsoafutureof
thepastthatwearealreadyexceeding.Asmanycontributorstothisissuepropose,wedontquitehave
thebearingsorthestabilityortheconventionsthatthepastofferstous(thepost).
AA:Thatstheimportantthing,thatthechangeofthepresent,theshapingofthepresent,isnot
necessarilydeterminedbythepast.Thepresentcannolongerprimarilybededucedfromthepastnoris
itanactofapuredecisionism,butitsshapedbythefuture.Forme,thatsthekeyproblemandthekey
indicationthatthelogicofthecontemporarywithitsfixationonthepresentyoucalleditthehuman
fixationonexperiencethatthispresentismhasdifficultiesorevencompletelyfailsindealingwiththe
logicofbeingconstitutedbythefuture.
Ithinkthatspartlythereasonforallthecriticalreasoningandquestioningofcontemporaneityinrecent
yearsthathappenedparalleltothesocalledspeculativeturn.Unfortunately,speculationisoften
discussedasjustalogicalorphilosophicalissuebutnotinitsuniquetimeaspect.Butobviouslyweare
alsostilllookingfortherightphilosophicalorspeculativeconceptsforthispostcontemporary(orpast
contemporary)conditionortimecomplex.

SM:Yes,asmuchasweareeachindebtedindifferentwaystospeculativerealism,andsharedthe
moveawayfromthepoststructuralistorlatetwentiethcenturymodelsofphilosophythatwebothcome
from,nonethelessspeculativerealismhasmostlyarguedforanintraphilosophicalorconceptualnotion
ofspeculation,whichistothinkoftheoutsideofthoughtandtheexperienceofthought.Theinterestof
thepostcontemporaryistounderstandandoperationalizethepresentfromoutsideofitself.Idont
knowatthispointifthatisalsooutsideofthought.But,inanycase,thetimecomplexcanbethought,
withspeculationtakenprimarilyasatimehistoricalspeculation,likefuturity,ratherthananexteriority
toexperienceoranexteriorityofthought.Thisbringsusmuchclosertocurrentbusinessandtechnical
operationsratherthantheconceptualdemandsofspeculativerealism.
OperationalizingtheSpeculativeTimeComplex

SM:Oneinstructivemanifestationoftheoperationalizedspeculativetimecomplexarederivatives.Of

course,derivativesarenowkeytospeculativefinance,andtheyarespeculativeinthattheyusethe
unknownfuturepriceofanassetandtherisksinvolvedthereintodrawprofitsagainstapresentprice.
AsElenaEspositoshowsreallyclearlyinhercontribution,withderivativestheuncertaintiesofthefuture
areusedtoconstructpricesinthepresentandthisscramblesthestandardtimestructureofpast
presentfuture.Thederivativeisaclearexampleofhowprofitsarenotextractedonthebasisof
productionorfromfixedcapitallikeequipment,plantandconstruction,allofwhichdependuponthe
historyofinvestment,norfromvariablecapitallikelabororwages.Thesebelongtotraditionalindustrial
modelsofaccumulation,inwhichafactoryisbuilt,workersareemployedandpaid,materialsareused
atacertainprice,aproductmadeorgrown,thensoldatahigherpricethanthecosts,andprofitsmade.
Allofwhichmeansthattheprofitsareaccruedfromproductionthathashappenedinthepastand
subsequentlyexchangedonthemarket.Theexchangeoftheproductisthecompletionofasequence
thatmusthavealreadyhappened.Withthederivativemodel,ontheotherhand,apriceinthefuture
whichisyettohappenisanticipated,anditisthisfutureeventualitywhichisunknownthatis
operationalizedtoextractprofitsonthebasis,toreiterate,ofafuturethatisunknownand
unactualized.
Derivativesare,inNataliaZuluagasphrase,aspecifickindoffuturemining,anextractionfromthe
futureinthepresent.Butthisminingofthefutureinthepresentchangeswhatthepresentis.The
presentisnttheonethatyoustartedwith.Theveryconstructionofaspeculativelyconstitutedpresent
thepreactivelyputsthepresentintoapastthatitalsois,thepost.Theresoneversionofthis
configurationthatyouandothershavedescribedthroughpreemptivepolicing,preemptivestrikes,pre
emptivepersonalityandsoon,whicharealsoanticipatedthroughbigdata,andtheuseofalgorithms
throughconsumerinformation.Butitalsodiffersfromthelogicofpreemptionwhere,takingtheexample
ofapreemptivestrike,youeliminateapossibleenemyinordertopreventwhatmighthavehappened
butwhichalsomaynot.Itsratherthatyouractpricesettinginthecaseofderivatives,butthe
constructionisgeneralizableisitselfmodifiedbecauseyoutakethisveryproximatefutureinto
accountasaconditionoftheactthatshouldthenbemade.Thefutureisactingnowtotransformthe
presentevenbeforethepresenthashappened.AsEspositoargues,itisnotonlythelinearschematicof
timethatisscrambled,butalsotheveryopennessofthepresenttothefuture.
ButarenttheseconditionsjustwhatyouandAnkeHenningwerealsodealingwithinyourSpeculative
Poeticsproject,beitmoreinrelationtoformalliteraryandlinguisticanalysis?4
AA:AnkeandIwantedtoproblematizecertaininitialassumptions,suchastheveryeasyand
oversimplifiedtensionbetweenspeculativerealismandpoststructuralism.YouandIalsosoughtto
reworkthatoppositionwiththeessayscollectedinGenealogiesofSpeculation,whichlookstovindicate
aspeculativedimensioninthephilosophyofthelastdecades.5But,inparticular,AnkeandIexplored
howaprehistoryofthecurrentspeculativephilosophytookuptheideaofspeculativetemporality.
SM:OneofthethingsyouandAnkedoinPresentTense,whichisreallyimportanttoemphasizehere,is
tointroducegrammarstructureswithinlanguageasakindoftimecomplex.Languageforyouseemsto
beacognitive,plasticandmanipulablemediumofthetimecomplex.6
AA:Languagehasoneuniqueandkeyfeatureinthisregard:atensesystem.Thetensesystemis
reallyimportanttoourunderstandingandconstructionoftime,evenmorefundamentalthanthe
experienceoftimebecauseitstructuresthatexperiencethoughnotinarelativistsense.Most
continentalphilosophiesoflanguageortimeactuallydontdealwithwhatisspecifictothissystem
becausetheydontreallyfocusonthegrammar.Itsaproblemwithphenomenologyaswellaswithalot
ofdeconstructivistandpoststructuralistphilosophies.Whatismoreinstructivethanthosetraditionshas
beenanalyticphilosophyandnonSaussureanlinguistics.Forexample,JohnMcTaggartandGustave
Guillaumethinkalotaboutsentenceslikeeverypastwasafutureandeveryfuturewillbeapast.
Thesebasicstructuralparadoxesorapparentstructuralparadoxescanbetackledviaananalysis
ofgrammar.TherearesomeimportanttechnicalissuesherethatIhadbetternotgointo

SM:Yes,maybelater.Thecorepointseemstobethatformulationslikeeverypastwasafutureand
everyfuturewillbeapast
AA:Andsoon:everypresentaswell
SM:ThatswhatIwasgoingtosay:whatsveryrelevantaboutthosetwoformulationsforthe
identificationofthespeculativetimecomplexthatweareherecallingthepostcontemporaryisthatthey
articulateatimestructuringinwhichthepresentdropsout.Sodeterminationsoftimecanbeestablished
thatdontrequirethepresentastheirbasis.Thetensestructureoflanguageallowsforthat,formulating
thenonnecessityofthepresentasastructuringconditionofthetensestructure.
AA:Andwhatstruckmeasnecessaryforspeculativerealismoranykindofspeculativephilosophywas
abetterunderstandingofwhatIwouldcallaspeculativeandmaterialisttemporality.ForAnkeandme,
thismeantunderstandingtimeonthebasisofthegrammaticalstructuresoflanguagelanguage
understoodassomethingmaterialandtodevelopnotatimephilosophybutratheratense
philosophy.
SM:Atthesametime,youmakethecriticismthatspeculativerealism,aswemainlyhaveit,doesnttake
ordinaryorliterarylanguageseriouslyenoughbecauseitconsignsittocorrelationismmeaning,
effectively,thedimensionofhumanexperiencethatneverleavesitself.
AA:Yes,butthatstheirselfmisunderstanding.
SM:Andwhydidyoucallitspeculativepoetics?
AA:Becauseourworkalsoimpliesapolemicagainstaestheticsandthegeneralfocusonaisthesis
[perception]inmodernphilosophyand,toreturntoyourearlierpoint,alsoagainsttheprimacyof
experience.

SM:Byconstructive,doyoumeanthattensecanbeoperationalizedinordertostructuretime
differently?Thesentencesformulatingthatthepastwasthefutureandeclipsingthepresentarenotjust
descriptive.Theyalsoconstructtimerelationswithinlanguage,especiallythroughnarrative.Doesthe
sameoperationalizationoftensehappenoutsideofhumanlanguages,forexamplethroughthe
derivativestructureswementioned?
AA:Thepointisratherthatexperienceoftimeandtheconstructionofsomethinglikechronological
timeareonlyeffectsofgrammar,notarepresentationofthedirectionoftimeorofwhattimereallyis.
Itsthetensesinlanguagethatcreateanontologyofchronologicaltimeforus,andwelivethistimeas
theillusionofhavingabiography.
SM:Isntthislimitationofconsecutiveorderingwhatthespeculativetimecomplexsurpasses?Whatwe
havewiththespeculativetimecomplexisthatthefuture,whichincludesthefuturewedontknow,gets
includedwithinthecurrentreckoningandthepresentiscomingdisconnectedfromthepast.The
dismantlingofthelinearorderingandtheprimacyofthepresentequalizespast,presentandfuture.
AA:Absolutely.Someoftodaysfictionand,moreprecisely,presenttensenovelsarefarmore
dangerousthantraditionalnarrativeinreallyforcingtimeoutofjoint.Astheresultof20thcentury
vangardisms,presenttensenovelssubjectreaderstoaspeculativesomaticsoftime.MaybeA.N.
Whiteheadwouldcallthismodeofsentiencefeeling.Thistimedoesindeedfeelhallucinogenic,
haunting,urging,hyperstitious,horrific,asDavidRodenshowsinhiscontributiontothisissue.Inshort,
onefeelstimespowercomingfromthefuture.Inthemostradicalcasethisspeculativefeelingmakes
youchangeyourlife.Becomingonaparwiththefutureyouhavespeculatedinitiatesametanoia.But
thisgoesveryfar.Thetemporalphenomenonwewereinterestedinishowalltheaesthetic
understandingofliteraturedoesntunderstandthatthepresenttenseproducesasynchrony.
SM:Asynchrony?
AA:Thatthepresentisnotfullyexperienceablebutissplitinitself,andthattensestructurescanactively
operationalizethissplitting.Itisladenwithinnumerablepastpresents.Itpresentsactualphenomenaas
postXphenomenaanditdesynchronizestime.

LeftandRightContemporaneity

SM:Thiscomesbacktowhatweweresayingearlier:thatthefutureitselfbecomespartofthepresent.
Thiscouldbetakenasanextensionofthepresentwithoutafutureradicallydistinctfromit.Anditoften
is,withtheleftistcriticalclaimofthelossoffuturityunderthecapitalismofcomplexsocieties.Thatisthe
fundamentallimitationofcontemporaryleftismthatNickSrnicekandAlexWilliamshaveidentified,and
whichtheylooktocountermandwiththeirspecificdeterminationofwhat,intheircontributiontothis
issue,theyidentifytobeabetterfuture,whichprovidesanactivehorizontodirectthepoliticsofthe
present.
AA:Ithinkwehaveaslightdisagreementonthecurrentstateofneoliberalism,whichyoudefineasa
statebusinessnexusdirectedtotheconcentrationofcapitalandpower,whichrequiresand
consolidatesincreasinglyautocraticelites.Itendtothinkthatwearealreadygoingpastthisstage.For
meandothers,neoliberalismisamovetowardsomethingonecancallfinancialneofeudalism,inwhich
keycolumnsorfoundationsofthepoliticaleconomyofcapitalismlikeasafenationstate,agoverned
populationandamarketregulatingitself,orotherbasiceconomicassumptionslikeeconomicrecovery
orgrowthleadingtomorejobsorhigherprofitsleadingtogreatercompetitioninsteadofmonopoliesor
oligopoliesetc.havestartedtodisappear,andwearenowinafundamentalfinancialandsocialcrisis,
withincreasingdepthofinequality.
Butinsteadofdebatingwhetherweareatanewfinancialfeudalismorjustanotherstageincapitalism,
letsinsteadfocushereonthebasichypothesiswearejointlyproposing:giventhesocial,technological,
andpoliticaltransformationssincethe1960sand70sthatwevealreadymentioned,andwhicharealso
embodiedincontemporaryartandinliteraturewiththeemergenceandconsolidationofthepresent
tensenovelintheperiodsince,weliveinanew,speculativetimestructure.Therehavebeenbasically
tworesponsestothistransformation.Ontheoneside,thereisarightwingorreactionary
countermanding,lookingtowardthepastasakindofcounterbalanceagainstthenegativeaspectsthat
everyoneobservesandfeels:thefrustrations,disadvantagesandmistakesofneoliberalfinancial
neofeudalism.Theotherstandardresponsetothespeculativetimestructureistheleftorcriticalone,
whichisalsotheprevalentoneincontemporaryart.Thefocushereisnotthepastasaplaceof
semanticsecuritybutinsteadonthepresentasasiteorconditionofresistanceagainstthechangetoa
speculativetime.

Yet,forallthecontentionsbetweenleftcriticalandrightreactionaryresponsestotheemergenceofthe
neoliberalmobilizationofthespeculativetimecomplex,botharejustplayingindifferentwaysintothe
handsofthisnewformationofneoliberalcapitalism,orfinancialfeudalism.Itsperhapsmoreobvious
withtherightwingreactionarytendencies,whichinnowaydisruptbutratherreinforcepowerstructures
thatenabledthenewsocial,economic,politicalformation.However,withleftcriticalreactionstoo,there
isakindofsuffocation,totheextentthatmostpeoplehavethefeelingofnotbeingabletogaintraction
inthepresent,tochangesomething,andtohavesomethinglikeafutureworthyofitsname.
Contemporaryartisbothasymptomandsurrogateofthatfuturelessness,withitsconstantcelebration
ofexperience:aestheticexperience,criticality,presentnessandsoon.

SM:Thatisaninstructiveformulationoftypicalleftandrightreactions,andtypicaldefensivemoves
aroundtheemergenceofthespeculativetimecomplexandthelossofbearingsthatitinstitutesin
relationshiptoboththepastandthefuture.Thoughtherearemanywaysofunderstandingorsettingup
arelationshiptothespeculativetimecomplex,whattherightdoesistosimplifyit,toreduceitasa
complex,andtorecenteritonthepresentasthedominantmomentonthebasisoftradition.Theright
hasalwaysdonethisinmodernity:ifmodernityisaparadigminwhichthenewhappensinthenow,what
hascharacterizedtherightisadefenseagainsttheemergenceofthenewasthebasisforactions,
socialorganizations,aesthetics,meaningandsoon.Theauthorityofpastconditionsisinvokedasa
stabilizationmechanismformodernization.Tobeclear:therightisnotnecessarilyagainst
modernizationbutstabilizesitsdisruptiveeffectsbycallingonwhatarethennecessarilyconservativeor
reactivehistoricalformations.Andfacedwiththeoperationalizedspeculativetimecomplexofneoliberal
capitalism,inawaytherightcancarryondoingwhatithasalwaysdonewithoutnecessarilyrecognizing
thatwhatitisreactingagainstisnolongerthemodernbutanewcondition.
TheRightismofneoliberalismmakessenseonthisbasis:eventhoughIdisagreewiththeadequacyof
thephrasefinancialneofeudalismtodescribewhatishappeningincapitalism,itnonethelessservesto
capturetheincreasingautocracythatgoesalongwiththeneoliberalrestructuring.Thepoliticalquestion
thenishowthatautocratic,postdemocratickindofpoweristobelegitimized.Thoseontherightare
veryusefuljustherebecausewhattheyendorse,essentially,istheauthorityofarecognisedhistoricalor
eliteformationthatstabilizessemanticsandperhapsonlysemanticsinthenewlyestablished
conditions.
AA:Andtheleftcriticalabreaction?

SM:Inaway,leftismmakestheproblemofthecontemporarymoreevidentbecausetheleftinits
progressiveformshasbeenattachedtomodernism.Thenowinwhichthenewtakesplaceisthefetish
ofchangefortheprogressiveleft,exemplifiedbyitsrevolutionaryidealsandclichs.Thelefts
abreactiontothespeculativetimecomplexistoretrenchthepresentasthevenueorthesiteforthinking
aboutandconfrontingthereconstitutionofsocialandtimeorganization,andsemanticreorganization
too.Insteadofseeingthefutureasconditionofthepresent,thepresentisinsteadtakentoextendout
indefinitelyandcancelouttheradicallydifferentfuture(therevolution,notably).
Butthespeculativepresentasweareidentifyingitis,bycontrasttothisleftistmelancholy,the
entrenchmentofthefutureandthepastwhichfoldsintothepresent,inawaythatcertainlydeprioritizes
itandmaybeevenmakesitdropoutasinthephrasesdemonstratingtensestructureswediscussed
earlier.Thepastwasthefuture,andthefuturewillbethepast.
AA:Thereisnocriticalinterruptionfromthepresentinthisspeculativepresent.
SM:No,itsconstructedbytheuncertaintiesofthefutureandtheabsenceofthepast.

AA:Thatswhytheleftcriticalthinkingoftheeventortheemptinessoropennessofthepresentof
contemporaneityisstillvestigiallymodernist.And,asLaboriaCuboniksremarkintheircontribution
fromseveraldifferentangles,itsnotadequatetothetasksandconditionsofthetwentyfirstcentury.
SM:Whattheleftseesinthespeculativecomplexificationoftimeisanextensionofthepresentrather
thanitsthinningoutbytheforcingofthefutureorthedisestablishmentofthepast.Historical,futural,
anticipatoryrelationshipsaremaintainedwithanemphaticinsistenceonthepresentnessofaction,
aestheticsorexperience.Thisisinsistenceonthecontemporary.Itisstillpremisedonthepresentas
theprimarytense.Andwhathappenswiththeemphasisoncontemporaneityisadeterminationofthe
presentasindefinitelyextended.Thecontemporaryisatimeformthatsaturatesboththepastandthe
future,ametastablecondition.
Aleftismstillattachedtomodernismwonthavetractiononthespeculativepresent,evenifthatleftismis
moreattentivetothetimecomplexthantherightbecauseitsnottryingtorestoreapast(thoughits
revolutionarywingdoesseemlargelyinterestedinrestoringahistoricalsemantics,whileitssocial

democraticwingnowmaintainsaninterestinfailedmarketsolutions).Evenifitsacceptedthattheleftis
moreopentomodernitythantheright(whichisquestionableoutsideoftheleftsselfreinforcing
phantasm),itholdsthatthepresentextendsintoboththepastandintothefuture,whichsupposedly
destroysthefutureasafuture.And,asEspositoremarksinhercontribution,itdoesntseethatwhatitis
actuallyinvolvedwithisthefuturenow.Thattodayistomorrow,asyouputitinanotheroccasion.
AA:ItwasTomorrowToday. 7
SM:Exactly.Thattitleindexeshowthespeculativepresentisinaprepostformation,orpost
contemporary.Thepresentnowisnotthetimeinwhichthedecisionsaremadeorthebasisforthenew,
asitwasinmodernism.Thenewishappeninginsteadinatransitionbetweenapastandafuturethatis
notaunidirectionalflux,butaspeculativeconstructioninorfromthedirectionsofpastandpresentat
once.
AA:ThewholeideaofwhatinGermaniscalledZeitgenossenschaftthecontemporary,moreliterally,
comradeoftimeisproblematicbecauseitfartoooftensignifiesthewishtochangethepresent
completelywithaninsistenceonthepresent.ThecontemporaneityofZeitgenossenschaftindicatesthe
ideaofhavingtractioninthepresentbygettingclosertoit,andthatisnolongeradequatetothetask.It
issimplythewrongwaytothink.WhatisneededinsteadisneitherGegenwartsgenossenschaft
comradeshipofthepresent,norVergangenheitsgenossenschaftcomradeshipofthepast,butrather
aZeitgenossenschaftfromthefuture(dieZukunft),akindofZukunftsgenossenschaft.Weneedto
becomecomradeswithandofthefutureandapproachthepresentfromthatdirection.
AnAestheticsofEverything:ContemporaryArtContraFuturity

SM:Undertheguiseofthecontemporarythemodernistlefthasakindofmelancholiaforafuturethatit
cancelstopreserveitsreceivedpremise:thepresent.Thepastandthefuturearetakenas
modificationsofthepresent.Theadvantageforleftcriticalityisthatthecontemporarycanthen
accommodate,dissimilate,colonizealloftimeinitsownterms.Thisisreallyevidentincontemporaryart,
whichbecomesakindoflastwordinart.Itcancelsevenitsownfuturityifnotthefutureingeneralfor
thesakeofitsowncriticalaccomplishments,whichareofcoursecapturemechanismsdemonstrating
contemporaryartssaliencetoeverything.
AA:Contemporaryartisagoodexamplealsobecauseithasnotbeenjustavictimoftherecent
economicandpoliticalreorderingofneoliberalism,buthasreallyhelpedbuildthematrixofthat
reorganizationbyimplementingitslogiconalllevelsfromaleftcriticalangle.Specifically,ithasstressed
thedominanceofthepresentorthepastasconditionforaction,andalso,aswesaidbefore,
individuatedexperienceasthemainbenefitofthatreorganization.Ittakestheleadinageneral
aestheticizationatalllevels:personal/individualcreativity,originalityetcenvironmentandcitiesas
spacesofcreativityanddisruptiveentrepreneurialismtheconflationofproductionandconsumption
withtheprosumer,whosenaturalhabitatis,precisely,thesmartcityitselfturnedintoakindof
continualbiennialevent.Allofthisgoesbacktothefetishizationofpresentnessandoftheaesthetic
experienceofeverydaylifeattheexpenseofitsreconstruction,whichwouldbethetaskofpoiesisora
poetics.
SM:Viathecontinuedenrichmentofexperiencethroughanaestheticencounter,contemporaryartalso
drawsattentiontospecificsandparticularsatthecostofsystemicunderstanding.VictoriaIvanovadraws
attentiontothisoperationallogicinhercontributiontothisissue,linkingittothehumanrightsregimeas
akindofcounterpartinglobalorderingthatconstructstherelationbetweenuniversalityandparticulars
afterthesocalledendofhistory.
Letsbeclearthatthisisnotaconditionofstasis:contemporaryartisintegratedintoneoliberalisms
enrichmentofexperienceforitselitebeneficiaries,andthosethereabouts,inawaythatpromotes
changeandrevision.Thisispartofthecomplexityofthespeculativepresentofneoliberalcapitalist
development:itlookslikeapersonalgood,anenrichmentofexperimentbyaestheticization,by

promotingchangewhilemaintainingacertainstability
AA:Anaestheticexperiencenotjustofart,butofeverything.
SM:Yes,theaestheticizationofexperience,orexperienceasanaesthetic.Thatisalsoageneralization
ofethicstoo:theappreciationofdifferenceswithoutpoliticaldemand,akindofsuperliberal
AA:Depoliticization

SM:Adepoliticizationbecauseitsadesystematization.Suchanaesthetic/ethicalappreciationisa
repudiationindirectlymade,asakindofbackgroundconditionagainstmakingsystemic
determinations.Thelatterareheldtobetoocomplextobeapprehendedorreworked,impossibleorjust
wrongheadedbecausetotalitarian.Whatweareobligedtoberestrictedtoareinsteadonlythe
singularitiesofwhatisandofexperiences.Thatiscertainlytheinjunctionofcontemporaryart,operating
viaeachartworkanditssocialnorms.Andtothatextentitisaminorbutparadigmaticmodelfora
neoliberalsociality,asIvanovaremarks.
Thewayinwhichcontemporaryartbecomesaplaythingforbigpowerinneoliberalism,despitemanyof
artscriticalcontentclaimsagainstthatmodelofdomination,thisconvergencemakescoherentsenseon
thisbasis.Butwhatneedstobeemphasizedhereisthatratherthanjustremainingatthelevelofthe
conflationofvarietiesofanarcholeftismincontemporaryartscriticalclaimswiththerightistinterestsof
increasinglyconcentratedcapitalandpower,thetwocanbeseentohavecommoninterestsinflattening
outorsimplifyingthespeculativetimecomplex,asreactivedetemporalizationsofthespeculative
present.
Whatisnecessaryagainsttheseandothersuchreactionsistohavestrategiesandpraxesandthat
meanstheoriestogaintractioninthespeculativepresent.Andthatiswhatbothrightwing
conservativestrategiesandleftcriticaloraestheticapproachesareutterlyincapableofdoing.Asweve
said,botharecombinedincontemporaryartwhichisthenalsoincapableofdoinganythingbut
consolidatingthiscondition,nomatterwhatitclaimstodo,whatitpretendstodo,orwhatitscontent
claimsare.
AA:Weagreethatwehavetothinkandactwithinapostcontemporaryspeculativetimecomplex.But
nowthequestionis:howtodifferfromthecapitalistorfinancialfeudalisticversionofit?Howdoesa

speculativetheoryintroduceadifferenceintothespeculativepresentfromitsexploitativeformationby
neoliberalism,howeverelsewemightcharacterizethatformofdomination?Whatwouldbea
speculativepoliticscapableofacceleratingthetimecomplex,inthesenseofintroducingadifferenceto
it?
SM:Thatisthefundamentalpoliticalquestion,forsure.Onefurthertheoreticalpointmighthelpus
understandthedifficultieshere.Namely,whyisourwishtogetpastcontemporaneitynotjustJacques
Derridascriticismofthemetaphysicsofpresence?ForDerrida,presenceistheprimarycategoryof
westernmetaphysics,circumscribingnotjustthemainphilosophicaldoctrinesintheWesterntradition
butalsocorrelativeprevailingsocial,politicalandlanguageformations.AndDerridaproposesthatthe
presentheldtobeadequatetoitselfneedstobedismantledandreconstituted.Forhim,thetaskisto
deconstructpresenceontologically,intime,space,andsoon.Wearecontendingthatthat
contemporaneityisnolessanextendedsocialhistoricalpresent,presentification.So,inaway,arentwe
justdoingDerridaagain,eventhoughheisakeyfigureinthecriticallineagethatneedstobe
surpassed?

AA:ItsnottheworstthingtoberepeatingDerridatosomeextent.Butwithhisdeconstruction,itsa
necessarilyongoingprocessoftheideologyoreffectofpresentnessestablishingitselfandalsobeing
deconstructed:Metaphysicsneedstobedeconstructedanditdeconstructsitselfallthetime,soitsan
unendingprocedure.Unfortunately,thisgoesdownalltoowellwithatediousmodernistaestheticofthe
negative,notsofarawayfromthefetishesofFrankfurtSchool,ofthenonidentical,orofadiffrance
thatplayswiththeoppositionbetweenmeaningorcontent,traditionallythebadthing,andsubtraction,
whichisthegoodthing,asareemptinessandnonreadability.AndIthinkthatsaverymodernist,
twentiethcenturylogic,andalsothelogicofthecontemporary.Contrarytoallsuchattempts,the
reworkingofthespeculativepresentmustadmitthatmeaningisalwaysthereanyway,andtheconstant
procedureofchangingandsubtractingitendorsedbyDerridaandthelineageofcritiquehebelongsto
isnotnecessarilysomethingpositive.
So,withdeconstructionandmostotherstrandsoflastcenturysaestheticphilosophy,whateveritsother
meritsare,youendupinanaestheticsthatisanongoingcelebrationofthegestureofinterruption,of
emptyingout,andsoon(justthinkofsomeofBadioustediousdisciples).Butwiththespeculativetime

complexwearenolongerinthatlogicofinterruption.Idonthaveaproblemwithanontologyoftime,as
longasitgivesusanotherpossibilityofunderstandingtimethanviathepresent.
SM:YouarerighttosayDerridaendsupinanaesthetics.Butitisalsoanethics,withitsemphasisofan
alwayssingularandirreconcilableexperienceofvulnerability.Herailsagainstestablishedmeaning.
AA:Weshouldnotbeafraidofestablishingmeaning.Onthecontrary.
SM:Certainly.Idontknowifmyadditionalobservationiscompatiblewithyourresponse,butitsthatthe
constructionofthespeculativetimecomplexisthesocietalmeaningmainlytechnicalandeconomic
operationofthedeconstructionofpresence.Thatis,thewaythatsemanticsorinstrumental
operationsareoccasionedintimecomplexsocietiesispreciselythedeconstructionofpresenceand
meaninginthewaythatDerridaaffirmed.Wearethennolongerinametaphysicsofpresencebecause
ofthespeculativetimecomplex.Derridaspeakstothissomewhatinhisdiscussionofteletechnologies
andthedisplacementsofspace,locality,andontologythatareinvolved.8Butthepoliticallydifficultand
mostlyevadedpointinthesediscussionsisthatthesoughtafterdeconstructionoftime,meaningandso
onareactuallytakingplacethoughprocessesofcapitalization.Thetheyofthestatebusinessnexus
effectuatedthatdeconstruction,andtheydiditbetterthanDerrida.Inthislight,whatthecontemporary
enforcesistheretrenchmentofpresenceagainstitsdeconstructionbythespeculativetimecomplex.
Contemporaneityhereincludesalltheproceduresofinterruption,subtraction,delayandnonidentityyou
mention,aswellasmanyothersincludingsemanticdeconstruction.
GrammaroftheSpeculativePresent

SM:Toreturntoyourquestion:incontrasttothesorrycomplexofrightandleftreactionstothe
speculativepresentthatiscontemporaneityinartandelsewhere,whatisneededisawaytoengage
withthetimecomplexthatisnotjustaboutdrawingprofitsandexacerbatingexploitationonthisrevised
basis,asneoliberalismhassosuccessfullydone.Thatcapitalizedformationofthetimecomplexisa
kindoflimitedandrestrictedorganizationofthespeculativepresentonethatforallofitscomplexity
revertstopresentificationbecausetheprofitshavetobeaccumulatednowaspertheshorttermismof
neoliberalcapitalism.
AA:Theproblemisthatonehastoadmitthatthesocial,technological,politicalandeconomicformation
ofneoliberalismhasanadvantagebecauseitactswithinthespeculativetemporality,inpartasithas
establishedinstitutionsfunctioninginaccordancewiththisspeculativelogic.Buttheneoliberalformation
alsoreducesthespeculativedimensionofthetimecomplexbecauseitrepudiatestheopennessor
contingencyofthefutureaswellasthepresent.
SM:No,Idisagree.Ithinktheproblempreciselyisthatitopensupmoresocietalandsemantic
contingency.ThatiswhatUlrichBeckandothersinvolvedinthenotionofrisksocietiesdiagnosedin
the1990sinotherterms.9Whattheycallriskistheacknowledgementinthepresentofhowthe
speculativetimecomplexopensupthefutureastheconditionforasocietalorder(moreaccurately,a
quasiorder).
AA:No,no.Thecontemporaryisaconstantproductionofinnovationsanddifferences,butitdoesnt
introduceadifferencetotherecursivemovementoftime.TheGermanallowsfordistinctionbetween
Beschleunigung,whichisaccelerationasaspeedingup,andAkzeleration.Thelatterreallymeans
somethinglike,intheolddays,whenaclockwastoofast.Adeviationaheadnotacircularmovement,
butarecursiveone.Akzelerationintroducedakindofdifferencetothefunctionalityoftheclock.Andits
thisdifferencethattheneoliberalorneofeudaleconomicsystemhardlyallowsfor,becauseitproduces
anautomatizedfuture.Whilethekindofcriticismtypicalofthecontemporary(left)artisnotwrong,it
doesntseethepossibilitiesofspeculativetimeandreducesittothepresent.Itjustseesthecapitalist
effectsofit.Contemporarycriticalartmostlyproducesdifferentessentially,decorativeobjectsor
meaningsthatmaintainthereducedformofthespeculativetimecomplex.AndIamarguingnotonthe

levelofjustsemanticmeaning,butreallyonthelevelofthematerialityoflanguageandthematerialityof
time,whicharenotseparable.
SM:Sothetaskofthepostcontemporaryagainstcontemporaneityistochangetime?

AA:Thepostcontemporaryworkswithinthespeculativepresent.Itunderstandsit,itpracticesit,andit
shapesourtemporality.Aretherealternativeactualizationsofthespeculativeorasynchronouspresent,
aretheredifferentreadingsofit?Inhercontribution,AihwaOnghighlightssomeoftheseconstructions
inheranthropologyofwhatshecallscosmopolitanscience.Sheoutlineshowtheuniversalismsand
abstractionsintrinsictoscientificentrepreneurialismsupportandaresupportedinAsiabyspecific
historicalcultureformationsofmeaning,scramblinganysimpleoppositionbetweenlocalanduniversals,
orbetweenpast(culture)andfuture(entrepreneurialtechnoscience).Withspeculativepoetics,totake
anotherexample,theissueishowdoweunderstandthefutureinanopenwayandnotjustasakindof
indicativefuture.
SM:Whatdoyoumeanbyindicative?
AA:Therearethreemodesingrammar:theimperative(Go!),theindicative(Shegoes.),andthe
conjunctive(Icouldgo.).Inlanguagephilosophybutalsopoliticallyitsimportanttounderstand
thatalltensesaremodal.Thepastandthepresenthavetobeunderstoodinamodalwayprimarily
asindicative.Butthefuturetenseandtheconjunctivemodeareprettycloseinthattheybothdeploythe
grammarofpossibility.Itisthiscontingencythatisreducedbythelogicofthecontemporarylogicandis
oftenmisunderstoodbytheclosureofspeculativetimetothepresent(Iwillhavegone.).But,ifImay
getabitmoreintothetechnicalanalysis,theconjunctiveisconstructedbeforeyouareactuallygoing,so
whetheryouareusingtheconjunctivemodeorthefuturetenseinthepresentyouarenotyetgoing.
Maybethatstootechnicalforhere,butthemainpointisthatmodeishowafuturetenseistransformed
intoapresenttenseandsubsequentlyintoapasttense.
SM:Istheconjunctivetheformofcontemporaneity?Whatitsetsupisasensethatactionscouldhave
happened,butdidnothappen:theywouldorcouldgo,buttheydidnt.Andthisisasensewherethe
subjectofthesentenceisleftwithapotentiality,whichisunrealized.

Thatmakessenseofthecelebrationofpotentialityeverywhereacrossthecriticallefttoday,andalso,
again,thelimitationofthespeculativetimecomplexbythedominationofthepresent.Claimsin
contemporaryartandcontemporaneityareemphaticallylimitedonlytosettingupoptionswithpotentials,
withoutactuallydoinganythingormobilizingthespeculativepresenttoconstructafuture.Thefutureis
onlyandjustasetofpotentialsthatmustneverbeactualizedforfearofinstrumentalizationand,
paradoxicallyandselfdestructively,realizinginanypresentafutureradicallydistinctfromthepresent.
AA:Thereductionofthetimecomplextocontemporaneitydoesnotunderstandthefuturetobe
contingentbuttheonlypossiblefuturepresentthatbecomesrealingrammaticalterms,thefutureor
thepresenthereareunderstoodonlyviatheindicative.Butthepresentisnotjustanis,justastenses
dontrepresenttime.Wehavetogetridofanamodalunderstandingoftime.
SM:Thecontemporaryisamodal?
AA:Yes,andwhatisneededinsteadforathinkingandpraxisadequatetothespeculativetemporality
weliveinaZukunftsgenossenschaftasIcalleditearlieraremeansfortransformingafuturetense
intoapresenttense.Thatswhyformegrammarisawayofunderstandingspeculativetimeinits
openness,insteadofsubjectingitexclusivelytotheindicativemode.Afuturehappensinthepresent
onlyifaconjunctiveissuccessfullyrealized,whichhappensbywayofanimperative.InbetweenIcould
go(presenttenseconjunctive)andIgo(futuretenseindicative)isthehiddencommandGo!
(imperative).
Forme,itsexactlythisgrammaticallyorganizeddifferencethatopensupnotjustadifferentfutureand
thepossibilitytodoandactdifferentlyinthepresentinsteadofbeingsubjectedtoanautomatized
future,whetheritsbypreemptivepolicingorderivatives.Moregenerally,wehavetounderstandthat
languagechangesmeaningandtimeandonamaterialandontologicallevel,notjustonalinguistic
orconceptuallevel.Thesecomplexescanbetackledviagrammaticalanalyses.

SM:OK,butasnearlyallthecontributionstothisissuedemonstrate,wealsoneedtogeneralizethe
constructionofthetimecomplexbeyondlanguageanditsgrammar.Theconditionswearetalkingabout
aremadeofthebroadinfrastructuresandsystemicsofthespeculativepresentinlargescaleintegrated
societies.Espositoidentifiesascramblingofthetimelineagainstitsreceivedandmodernistlogicsthat
suggestsanewopennesstothefuture,whichistotheadvantageofarelativelynewkindofcapital
accumulationbutcanbemobilizedotherwise.Ivanovamakesthecaseforhowanewglobaljuridico

politicalquasiorderisconstructedviaunstablerestagingsoftherelationsbetweenparticularsand
universals,whileSrnicekandWilliamslooktothesystemictechnosocialadvanceofroboticsand
automationtotransformthefundamentofthecapitalistrenderingofhumanactivity.BenjaminBratton
extendsthesepossibilitiesundertherubricofSpeculativeDesigntomorespecificscenariosand,
simultaneously,alonglongertimelinesOngalsotakesupthejurisdictionalandoperationalissuesinthe
specificcaseofthefabricationofascientificenterprisethatmakessenseinethnoculturaltermsinAsia,
transformingthepracticalmanifestationsofwhereandhowidentityformationtakesplace.Laboria
Cubonikswrestlewiththelegaciesoffeminismgivenjustsuchfuturalandtechnoscientificreorganization
ofbodies,identities,andconceptsofselfhoodandRodenscramblesbody,affect,languageinlightofa
DisconnectionThesisaccordingtowhichthekindsofintelligenceinauguratedbyArtificialGeneral
Intelligencecompletelychangethespaceofcodingatanyandeveryorder.
Ingeneral,andsimilarlytotheinsufficiencyofexperienceasabasisforapprehendingthespeculative
present,theconstructionsof(presumablyonlysome)humanlanguagesisonlypartofthisintegrated
complexbutnotwideenoughasamechanismtomeetthebroadmaterialandsemioticcondition.
AA:Weneedmorethanalanguagetheory,forsure,butinanycaseweneedwhatIcallapoetic
understandingwhich,forme,isinformedbylanguagetheoryinsteadofanaestheticone.
SM:Mydivergenceisthat,first,eventakingpoeticsasanameforproductioningeneral,itstillseemsto
metobetootiedintothestructuresandaffordancesofmoreorlessordinaryhumanlanguageandtheir
ordering.Thatsofcourseafundamentalconditionofthesystemic,social,technological,economic
structuringandmediationnecessaryforlargescaleorganization.So,whilepoeticsasyoupresentit
givesusashumanlinguisticactorsawayofreorderingthespeculativetimecomplexinotherformats
thanthekindofrepressivemechanismsofcontemporaneityandwhatyouidentifyastheindicative,its
alsonecessarythattherestructuringareoperationalizedalsoinnonlinguisticterms.Wehavetoopen
upthetimecomplexinitsinfrastructureswhicharemorestructuredintermsotherthanthoseofhuman
languages.ThisiswhatBrattonsproposalofSpeculativeDesigninthisissueputsforwardinconcrete
waysandwithspecificsituationsandtimelines,notleastwithhisidentificationofTheStack,which
rearrangessovereignpoweraccordingtothematerialandinfrastructuralconditionsofcomputationthat
isinterconnectedataplanetaryscale.Evenmoregenerally,however,weneedagrammaradequateto
theexpansiveinfrastructureofthetimecomplexinitswidestformation.

RevisedtranscriptofaconversationheldinBerlin,29January2016.