In his book Mechanical Bride, Marshall McLuhan is almost vicious in his attacks against the average person seeking status by consuming goods instead of showing sympathy that the average person wanted to at least pretend to by royalty. In one passage, he approvingly referenced Gertrude Stein, who was happy that the war protected Europe from the mass culture that swallowed up the US. It took two seconds to find out that this gay Jewish woman was a Vichy sympathizer. Influential philosopher Martin Heidegger fell into a similar hole, believing fascism under Hitler was the way to restore man as man. Ironically, it seems the various influential philosophers and intellectuals of the 20th Century noting correctly what was happening to humans because of hyper-consumerism simultaneously mocked the guard rails such as communities, nuclear families, and faith that gave humans spiritual purpose over material consumption.
7 years ago my then high schooler started prattling on about Continental philosopy and the Frankfurt School. He told me how the Neo-Marxists and post-modernists hated modern culture. I was completely bewildered. Thank goodness for YT with lots of old and new lectures on philosophy. I now understand arguments that the Enlightenment illuminated parts of humanity leading to scientific breakthroughs while darkening the human soul.
Appreciate that. It is necessary, ha. Hope you and your projects are going well. My wife and I are making a film—its weird and we are in the thick of it. Would love your feedback on some level at some point!
Sure, would love to. However, know that I left both the fight and filmmaking behind, and am focusing on securing my future through my plan B, which is something else entirely. It's still creative though.
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. The human condition of wanting shit or having shit to have shit. Even ancient humans could be found with “jewelry.”
Now it’s out of control. I have a relative in marketing and at the higher echelon firms they do more human and signal intelligence all of the 3 letter agencies combined and do it 100x better and more efficiently. It’s mind boggling.
I have nothing more to as to the conversation other than fantastic article and the comments are engaging, I’m walking away with to philosophers on my reading list.
This is an interesting and compelling premise that is mostly presented through the food we consume. Would it equally apply to our culture of sexuality? You've referenced porn here but, for example, to say no to overt sexuality expressed in a public or educational forum has become unacceptable. Saying no comes with a huge social stigma that reverts to shunning and name calling. How does one reason or cope with that and remain accepted in the wider society?
Thanks, Amusings! I have to admit, I am not exactly sure what you mean when you say
"to say no to overt sexuality expressed in a public or educational forum has become unacceptable. Saying no comes with a huge social stigma that reverts to shunning and name calling."
If you care to clarify, I will do my best.
However, in response to your last line, we may certainly find it necessary to disappoint the expectations of others, in favor of our own path. We might expect to be shunned or called names, particularly on the internet, where the bulk of this shunning is done, and every opinion, critique, hateful comment is basically expected, if one's opinions were to be widely distributed, say in the case of virality. But then again, you can also choose to reject certain cultural elements privately, and do not at all what I and others do- make their critiques/observations public, so they can be discussed, and if need be, the author can be shunned...it happens, it is expected, but over time, you build strength and resolve. Sometimes I am reminded the controversial nature of my essays in the comments section, but I have been writing them for a while now, and I feel no discomfort or hesitation in publishing them- I forget how controversial they may seem!
Best to you, Amusings! Let me know what you think and I appreciate you reading...
Thanks for your thoughtful answer. What I was referring to was the number of people influential in popular culture and, by association, the rest of the 20 and 30-something generation who believe that sexual content in schools is ok. Who believe it's ok to talk to a kindergartner about what gender they feel they are. Who believe that people can legitimately change their sex with hormones and surgery. Who think the pride parades are just a joyous form of 'self-expression' for children to witness instead of slipping close to bdsm and porn in the streets. The support for this has - to my mind - gone completely off the rails and normal, thinking people now say this is ok. And if you don't think it's ok or you object to it, the name calling and the accusations of being judgmental immediately surface. That's the issue to which I was referring. Thanks for responding.
Great piece. I've been trying to live that way since the 80's. Sometimes falling short chasing the Almighty Dollar for periods of time.
"But humans are also hungry for contentment, for solitude " is a very generous statement. Maybe humans backing away from the machine, which is a very small minority. What I see from my ivory tower is people reaching for 5 minutes of contentment time and time again. Solitude? Not sure how the herd is interested in solitude. Solitude means looking at yourself and enduring real times of struggle. The herd runs from such things.
Reject, question and trust nothing with ingredients you can't pronounce. Thanks again for writing.
Yeah, I see what you mean. Perhaps I worded it clumsily, I think what I meant by the hunger for solitude bit is that our souls need it for reflection. Of course, that IS lost today, in many cases, most cases. But we are still hungry for it, even though we may not know we need it, or we have lost touch with that virtue. Your physical body and mental health are hungry for things you may not even be aware of, something like that. It would do many people good, I would imagine, at any rate.
I wouldn't call your words clumsy. The reason I return to your articles is your optimism toward the human condition. I'm not so optimistic, but mostly agree with the article and the reply. I just don't think the herd wants their Yin with their Yang. Somehow we'll have to teach them to enjoy the discomfort between the ears.
I am optimistic at times, not so much at other times. Depends on my mood, ha. I always enjoy your responses and am grateful for your readership. Enjoying the discomfort in between your ears is a hell of a phrase, love it!
In his book Mechanical Bride, Marshall McLuhan is almost vicious in his attacks against the average person seeking status by consuming goods instead of showing sympathy that the average person wanted to at least pretend to by royalty. In one passage, he approvingly referenced Gertrude Stein, who was happy that the war protected Europe from the mass culture that swallowed up the US. It took two seconds to find out that this gay Jewish woman was a Vichy sympathizer. Influential philosopher Martin Heidegger fell into a similar hole, believing fascism under Hitler was the way to restore man as man. Ironically, it seems the various influential philosophers and intellectuals of the 20th Century noting correctly what was happening to humans because of hyper-consumerism simultaneously mocked the guard rails such as communities, nuclear families, and faith that gave humans spiritual purpose over material consumption.
Sounds like I should check it out- or everyone should. :)
7 years ago my then high schooler started prattling on about Continental philosopy and the Frankfurt School. He told me how the Neo-Marxists and post-modernists hated modern culture. I was completely bewildered. Thank goodness for YT with lots of old and new lectures on philosophy. I now understand arguments that the Enlightenment illuminated parts of humanity leading to scientific breakthroughs while darkening the human soul.
Stellar writing, as usual. Been leaving things to the side for a bit now, and it feels better than to indulge. It's freeing ✌️
Appreciate that. It is necessary, ha. Hope you and your projects are going well. My wife and I are making a film—its weird and we are in the thick of it. Would love your feedback on some level at some point!
Sure, would love to. However, know that I left both the fight and filmmaking behind, and am focusing on securing my future through my plan B, which is something else entirely. It's still creative though.
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. The human condition of wanting shit or having shit to have shit. Even ancient humans could be found with “jewelry.”
Now it’s out of control. I have a relative in marketing and at the higher echelon firms they do more human and signal intelligence all of the 3 letter agencies combined and do it 100x better and more efficiently. It’s mind boggling.
I have nothing more to as to the conversation other than fantastic article and the comments are engaging, I’m walking away with to philosophers on my reading list.
Outstanding writing and message, Judson. Food for thought I will not reject!
Appreciate that, BB!
This is an interesting and compelling premise that is mostly presented through the food we consume. Would it equally apply to our culture of sexuality? You've referenced porn here but, for example, to say no to overt sexuality expressed in a public or educational forum has become unacceptable. Saying no comes with a huge social stigma that reverts to shunning and name calling. How does one reason or cope with that and remain accepted in the wider society?
Thanks, Amusings! I have to admit, I am not exactly sure what you mean when you say
"to say no to overt sexuality expressed in a public or educational forum has become unacceptable. Saying no comes with a huge social stigma that reverts to shunning and name calling."
If you care to clarify, I will do my best.
However, in response to your last line, we may certainly find it necessary to disappoint the expectations of others, in favor of our own path. We might expect to be shunned or called names, particularly on the internet, where the bulk of this shunning is done, and every opinion, critique, hateful comment is basically expected, if one's opinions were to be widely distributed, say in the case of virality. But then again, you can also choose to reject certain cultural elements privately, and do not at all what I and others do- make their critiques/observations public, so they can be discussed, and if need be, the author can be shunned...it happens, it is expected, but over time, you build strength and resolve. Sometimes I am reminded the controversial nature of my essays in the comments section, but I have been writing them for a while now, and I feel no discomfort or hesitation in publishing them- I forget how controversial they may seem!
Best to you, Amusings! Let me know what you think and I appreciate you reading...
Thanks for your thoughtful answer. What I was referring to was the number of people influential in popular culture and, by association, the rest of the 20 and 30-something generation who believe that sexual content in schools is ok. Who believe it's ok to talk to a kindergartner about what gender they feel they are. Who believe that people can legitimately change their sex with hormones and surgery. Who think the pride parades are just a joyous form of 'self-expression' for children to witness instead of slipping close to bdsm and porn in the streets. The support for this has - to my mind - gone completely off the rails and normal, thinking people now say this is ok. And if you don't think it's ok or you object to it, the name calling and the accusations of being judgmental immediately surface. That's the issue to which I was referring. Thanks for responding.
Great piece. I've been trying to live that way since the 80's. Sometimes falling short chasing the Almighty Dollar for periods of time.
"But humans are also hungry for contentment, for solitude " is a very generous statement. Maybe humans backing away from the machine, which is a very small minority. What I see from my ivory tower is people reaching for 5 minutes of contentment time and time again. Solitude? Not sure how the herd is interested in solitude. Solitude means looking at yourself and enduring real times of struggle. The herd runs from such things.
Reject, question and trust nothing with ingredients you can't pronounce. Thanks again for writing.
Yeah, I see what you mean. Perhaps I worded it clumsily, I think what I meant by the hunger for solitude bit is that our souls need it for reflection. Of course, that IS lost today, in many cases, most cases. But we are still hungry for it, even though we may not know we need it, or we have lost touch with that virtue. Your physical body and mental health are hungry for things you may not even be aware of, something like that. It would do many people good, I would imagine, at any rate.
Thanks for the opportunity to clarify!
Hope you are well, BTB
I wouldn't call your words clumsy. The reason I return to your articles is your optimism toward the human condition. I'm not so optimistic, but mostly agree with the article and the reply. I just don't think the herd wants their Yin with their Yang. Somehow we'll have to teach them to enjoy the discomfort between the ears.
I am optimistic at times, not so much at other times. Depends on my mood, ha. I always enjoy your responses and am grateful for your readership. Enjoying the discomfort in between your ears is a hell of a phrase, love it!