Hey there, I just was passing through and wanted again to highly recommend the book "The Culture of Narcissism" by Christopher Lasch. It reads like it was written yesterday but is from the 1970s (we are just at the very tail end of the capitalist cycle, so it is not ancient history, contrary to popular media pundits). Throughout these years, I have carried it around with me everywhere, as almost a totem of hope.
Why am I writing this now? I feel more angry every day that the media seem to be viciously avoiding the big issues, like the recent oil spill, the brutal shootings in Britain, and are so overwhelmed that they focus like I will, on ephemera that is emblematic of our age: "pop" music. However, unlike the mainstream media I want to explain as best as I can why this focus is taking place in my view, and in the view of other observers of society. Hopefully, the anger will foster positive transformation.
It seemed important to write something because of the number of emails I continue to get about my mild criticism of lady UMG, which I find at once baffling yet indicative of our social chaos. To set the stage, like I mentioned, I received many emails from trolls who proceeded to insult me and what I do in order to praise the innovation of Lady gaga. I am laughing as I am typing this. Wha? The only people who would do this are either literally or intellectually children, and that is exactly what our society wants. Focus on the distraction, let others take action. Our decline requires humans to stop trying to evolve past puberty.
Just the forward to Lasch's book seems like he was writing about 2010. Extreme distrust among the populace towards each other and especially those in places of political power. A lack of feeling that one has a place in the world since the media manipulators can only cling to their old ways of doing things, which is to promote extreme self absorption, a fear of age, and encouragement of wants instead of needs. We are all following the plan so well, it seems.
So, Lady Gaga fans, take heart, despite the fact that the planet is ruined, your idol appears to think she is a divinity, and she bears absolutely no resemblance whatsoever to the people she cites as influences. She was told to say she likes David Bowie, but she can't name a song. That must tell you that she is what this age exemplifies: a denial of connection to even recent history. David Bowie did indeed address history to some extent, and yeah, he many times asked the listener to think. Lady Gaga attempts to kill herself on stage in a bizarre sui generis act that relies on spectacle to distract from intellectual questions. This is your and my new age. But there is still a chance to change for the better. Doomsday nay sayers have become a cottage industry, and that is just as much a falsehood as any other media story today.
So, gaga fans, many little kids have been marketed to and have gone on to see how their "choices" were manipulated. Some have it easier than others. I know a few parents who are very forthright about mind control (see Walter Lippman, et al on manufacturing consent) and their children of their own accord refuse to wear the Cadmium laced Hannah Montana jewelry. I also am seeing organic farming and local organizations making a come back to a mild extent. But there is still work to be done, but unlike our contemporary society, that wants you to believe their negative view of the questioner, I am hopeful.
The first step, and how I will end this post for today, is what Mr Lasch discussed at the end of his foreward. A culture of Narcissism needs one thing to thrive, which we have in abundance: a lack of recognition of history, and thus a constant anxiety about the future. Only "nostalgia" is tolerated, such as discussion of past fashion trends and other innocuous things. Those Lady gaga fans sure embody the denial of history principle. Many wrote that I must like Madonna, I have to be centuries old, and Madonna is ancient as well. Madonna? Look up Josephine Baker. I said this to a kid a while ago and they actually responded with "Why would I want to? I don't need to know it for anything." This made me laugh and feel sad at the same time. These children (and adults) couldn't think further back than fifteen years if their life depended on it. Also, don't construe this as a slam against "kids today". The ones who emailed me were a very extreme group. However, they are a symptom of a disease in the body politic. Adults are doing the same thing: adulthood has become a thing to be feared. Therefore, the cycle of life is broken and there is nothing to take its place. I mean, why think about others, death and life when we can buy that great new television right now?
And yes, I see angry blogs that declare an Illuminati controls everything and this is all part of some master plan. Honestly, I can't go that far. I have seen and read about far too many political blunders to think there is this incredible uber group that picks and chooses everything, right down to the pop stars. Yes, they repress and assess, but they are not into pop culture (though I love the website Vigilantcitizen.com and anything that questions....) and even if they were, we can decide to reject their "suggestions". What if no one watched that horrid show "American Idol"? The cynics reading this would say "there is another way they would control entertainers' behavior then, you rube." But maybe, just maybe we would have real music by now made by people who love music and might get adequately compensated for it. Whoa! Anyhoo, an "Illuminati"'s main focus would not be on Beyonce, but on more powerful players in different areas that have real control. Also, as Hitler knew, the best type of control is fear induced. Beyonce doing weird pseudo occult dance moves is only a distraction.
The actual issue is we are about to go into a new type of lifestyle that does not revolve around consumption and personal transitory desires and me, me, me.....because it is impossible to continue. The wheels of our society are so corroded by blood, tears, and paper Presidents that they are no longer able to turn. But that does not signal the apocalypse. It signals the birth of a new day. Let's do this thing.
Really, I am saying this as much for myself as for anyone who reads this: there is hope, but it cannot be in a leader. The times they are a'changin', and it is because we are at the crossroads: fear or hope. I choose hope. Do you?
