So what is the status of the law and sovereignty in Deadwood? How do we theorize its application in a geography beyond its own purview? or perhaps a geography an anticipated purview? Yes, Agamben, in what I've read of him, doesn't discuss the application of the law so that it includes corruption / economic contingencies.
Deadwood additionally requires that we discuss human compassion, which it sees, I think, as a quality beyond law and order, a "law beyond law" ("Unauthorized Cinnamon," season three).
Part of what I'm thinking about here is a comparison-contrast between Al and Cy: as much as Al claims that "numbers" are all that matters to him, he continues to participate in the civilizing stuff to an extent that he even surprises himself. Cy, on the other hand, really is all about numbers and that makes him extra ruthless. How quasi-civilized the trial at the Gem is is revealed when it's compared to the trial at the Bella Union:
Cy: Are you awake, Miles? Don’t be fuckin’ passin’ out, youngster.(Miles’ head is lolling about, his eyes shut) Next fuckin’ breath you draw, the smell of fuckin’ sulfur’s liable to be strong in your nose. (poking his chin) Where is your fuckin’ nose, anyway? Fuck it, Miles! (Flora gazes hazily at Joanie) You’re found fuckin’ guilty of bein’ a cunt. I’m hereby passin’ judgment for you lettin’ this little bitch push you around and tellin’ you what to do. When you were supposed to be a man and showin’ her the fuckin’ rules! (Slaps Miles) You hear me, Miles, and for bein’ the cunt you are now, before you could have been a man, (points gun at Miles) done your fuckin’ part, you little piece of shit. (Cy shoots Miles, Joanie tries to run away, Cy stops her…) I know you don’t want out of here, Joanie.
Compare also Al's treatment of the Rev. Smith and Cy's of Andy: in the latter case, if one is of no economic benefit, he or she doesn't matter; if one is of negative economic benefit, they deserve death and the application of that death is rather beside the point. This can all be predicted from Al's first encounter with Cy, the one wanting to work out an arraignment, human being to human being, and the latter wishing to let the market work it out. The dark and unspoken element here is the application of raw power, which Al uses with a bit of compassion and Cy with none at all that I can think of.
Re: Deadwood, or, where Agamben needs Marx
So what is the status of the law and sovereignty in Deadwood? How do we theorize its application in a geography beyond its own purview? or perhaps a geography an anticipated purview? Yes, Agamben, in what I've read of him, doesn't discuss the application of the law so that it includes corruption / economic contingencies.
Deadwood additionally requires that we discuss human compassion, which it sees, I think, as a quality beyond law and order, a "law beyond law" ("Unauthorized Cinnamon," season three).
Part of what I'm thinking about here is a comparison-contrast between Al and Cy: as much as Al claims that "numbers" are all that matters to him, he continues to participate in the civilizing stuff to an extent that he even surprises himself. Cy, on the other hand, really is all about numbers and that makes him extra ruthless. How quasi-civilized the trial at the Gem is is revealed when it's compared to the trial at the Bella Union:
Compare also Al's treatment of the Rev. Smith and Cy's of Andy: in the latter case, if one is of no economic benefit, he or she doesn't matter; if one is of negative economic benefit, they deserve death and the application of that death is rather beside the point. This can all be predicted from Al's first encounter with Cy, the one wanting to work out an arraignment, human being to human being, and the latter wishing to let the market work it out. The dark and unspoken element here is the application of raw power, which Al uses with a bit of compassion and Cy with none at all that I can think of.