There is a perspective from psychoanalysis regarding the attack in thinking that comes from Wilfred Bion who conceived of “attacks on linking” and minus K (K standing for Knowledge). Also Melanie Klein’s idea of “manic defense” against anxiety fear of annihilation death. This supports the idea that domination and “staying for the fascism” ie the thrill of it all is a great motivator. Or you could find similar themes in Zizek. Thrill and enjoyment in being able to offload (project) the pain and fear into the other and thus out of self (the cruelty is the point) is a more specific way of understanding the stupidity you speak of —the inability to process any painful aspects of our mortal existence through reason or human connection. This is why those who have this capability (despite their other views—like Brooks) are becoming our unusual bedfellows.
John, I always enjoy (and learn something) from your pieces that contextualize current events in terms of 19th and 20th century thinkers (Arendt, Gramsci, even Hegel) that many of us don’t have time to read. I hope you’ll continue to write your unique takes on our moment. And I also hope you have a great vacation.
Second this, and adding that the dives into the 1848 revolutions are also always a treat. My dissertation was on how common people used popular songs to process the events of the French Revolution, so I have a strong bias towards the historical posts, but it's validating to see people with the time to think and write (which I sadly don't have anymore) exploring those connections. Especially when they're as eloquent as John.
Just enjoy your vacation. we and all the problems and idiocies from the current administration and the current global tendency to inane fascism and fascist-adjacent politics will still be here, all dirty and smelly, for when you return.
Yep. I don't know if this is good or bad, but I think that Trump's (and/or RFK's) supporters among the electorate come for the stupidity and stay for the fascism more than the other way around (although I guess the opposite may be the case for his entourage). One downside is that there's only so much analysis through the prism of the history of ideas ideas that one can write or, indeed, read (on the other hand, there might be something truly novel and significant here). Oh, well.
There is a perspective from psychoanalysis regarding the attack in thinking that comes from Wilfred Bion who conceived of “attacks on linking” and minus K (K standing for Knowledge). Also Melanie Klein’s idea of “manic defense” against anxiety fear of annihilation death. This supports the idea that domination and “staying for the fascism” ie the thrill of it all is a great motivator. Or you could find similar themes in Zizek. Thrill and enjoyment in being able to offload (project) the pain and fear into the other and thus out of self (the cruelty is the point) is a more specific way of understanding the stupidity you speak of —the inability to process any painful aspects of our mortal existence through reason or human connection. This is why those who have this capability (despite their other views—like Brooks) are becoming our unusual bedfellows.
John, I always enjoy (and learn something) from your pieces that contextualize current events in terms of 19th and 20th century thinkers (Arendt, Gramsci, even Hegel) that many of us don’t have time to read. I hope you’ll continue to write your unique takes on our moment. And I also hope you have a great vacation.
Second this, and adding that the dives into the 1848 revolutions are also always a treat. My dissertation was on how common people used popular songs to process the events of the French Revolution, so I have a strong bias towards the historical posts, but it's validating to see people with the time to think and write (which I sadly don't have anymore) exploring those connections. Especially when they're as eloquent as John.
Just enjoy your vacation. we and all the problems and idiocies from the current administration and the current global tendency to inane fascism and fascist-adjacent politics will still be here, all dirty and smelly, for when you return.
Enjoy! Crossing my fingers nothing bad enough happens that you feel compelled to comment.
Have a good break - the apocalypse is always running late, so you can pick up where you left off.
Enjoy your time, we will all be here when you get back.
Perhaps helpful for background research, Kanan Makiya’s, The Monument: Art and Vulgarity in Saddam Hussein’s Iraq. https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/monument-9781860649660/
Yep. I don't know if this is good or bad, but I think that Trump's (and/or RFK's) supporters among the electorate come for the stupidity and stay for the fascism more than the other way around (although I guess the opposite may be the case for his entourage). One downside is that there's only so much analysis through the prism of the history of ideas ideas that one can write or, indeed, read (on the other hand, there might be something truly novel and significant here). Oh, well.