Mark Fisher, the cultural theorist who popularised the phrase 'it is easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of capitalism', has seen his influence grow significantly since his death in 2017. His 2009 book Capitalist Realism: Is There No Alternative? initially met with critical silence and was deemed unmarketable by his publisher. Yet by December 2025, over 250,000 English-language copies had been sold, with translations in numerous languages including Spanish, Arabic and Mandarin.
Fisher, who gained a following through his k-punk blog, was known for his honest and accessible writing on topics ranging from late-stage capitalism to popular culture. His work resonated particularly after the 2008 financial crisis, challenging the profit-driven economic system and reflecting widespread feelings of hopelessness. Bafta-winning writer Konrad Kay described Fisher as 'unparalleled in documenting the subconscious human drives that underpin capitalism's immortality'.
Born in 1968 to working-class parents in Loughborough, Fisher considered himself an outsider. He struggled with depression from his teens and took his own life in January 2017 at age 48. His wife Zoë told the inquest that the NHS only offered a telephone consultation, saying 'We fell foul of a lot of reforms'. Fisher never secured a permanent academic post until his 40s, when he became a lecturer at Goldsmiths, University of London.
A new experimental documentary, We Are Making a Film About Mark Fisher, aims to spread his ideas further. Self-funded by artists Sophie Mellor and Simon Poulter, the film describes itself as 'decapitalised', operating outside mainstream profit-driven production. It recruited 70 volunteers via Instagram and is distributed organically on request. The documentary explores Fisher's concept of 'hauntology'—the idea that modern society is haunted by futures that never materialised.
Fisher's friend and former editor Tariq Goddard said: 'Mark had great powers of empathy. I think his gifts were largely innate but were distorted by his social experience.' Despite his initial self-doubt, Fisher's work continues to resonate, offering a critique of capitalism that feels increasingly relevant in the 2020s.
