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Quote by Lauren Berlant

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The Affect Theory Reader

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Author

Lauren Berlant
Lauren Berlant

Lauren Berlant is a renowned cultural theorist and critic, known for her profound analyses of emotion, gender, and culture. Her research spans across various fields, including film, literature, popular culture, and social theory. more

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“Maddy.” My hand goes over his head, pushing the door closed so he can’t escape, and he turns to face me. This close, we share the same breath, and we’re both breathing hard. His eyes are either hooded or narrowed; I can’t tell if he’s angry or turned on, but I don’t give him a chance to let me know which, because I move in and fuse my mouth to his. He accepts it willingly—eagerly.”

“We actually respond to one another's energy more than to people's exact words or actions. In any situation, your taking or giving of energy is what you are actually doing. Everybody can feel, suffer, or enjoy the difference, but few can exactly say what it is that is happening. Why do I feel drawn or repelled? What we all desire and need from one another, of course, is that life energy called eros! It always draws, creates, and connects things.”

“A craving is the sense that something is missing. It is a desire to change your internal state. This gap between your current state and your desired state provides a reason to act. Desire is the difference between where you are now and where you want to be in the future. Even the tiniest action is tinged with the motivation to feel differently than you do in the moment. When you binge eat or browse social media, what you really want is not a potato chip or a bunch of likes. What you really want is to feel different.”