When I was an undergraduate, I took a comparative literature seminar where we read, among other introductory works of literary theory, T.S. Eliot’s 1944 address to the Virgil Society titled “What is a Classic?”
Thank you for this. You've really put your finger on what I have been so disgusted by on Substack and its lazy Internet politics. TMR pisses me off, Ross Barkan's "neo-Romantics" essay pisses me off, and this description of the reclamation of all space for conservative white boorishness resonates powerfully. Particularly the identification of the ways that snarky and bitter writing hides reactionary impulses. I've always disliked Jessa Crispin's work, and now I see much more clearly why.
this is such a wonderful piece. I kept nodding as I read it. as a fiction writer I’ve noticed the same is often true in terms of whose voices are amplified at the moment, particularly in the “alt-lit” scene. thank you so much for writing!
Totally agree with this especially the part about conservatives seeing their viewpoint and way of life as normal and apolitical that progressivism seems to be disruptive. You've put sentiments I've had for some time into words.
I really appreciated this essay — and it made me think of something I read recently in The Monthly Review, “Western Marxism & Imperialism” which touched on, among other things, this intentional (or just lazy) obfuscation of reality.
And I’m adding Universal Language to my watchlist!
I saw the trailer for Universal Language the other day at the cinema, thought it looked interesting but was a little skeptical as I thought it was just being promoted as it’s a Canadian film (I live in Canada.) But after reading this, and having just got into Kiarostami (saw him referenced in another review) I think I’m gonna have to see it.
Brillant. Your comments about T.S. Eliot and classicism made me think, by contrast, of Albert Camus, who always believed that artists should not separate themselves from the society in which they lived. Around the same time (in 1946), he delivered his famous lecture “The Human Crisis” (also known as “The Crisis of Man”) at Columbia University, which you probably know, but if not, I'd be happy to share it with you: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Cxhliwz3HJ8Bn1t5V15-8UWLmiUdYoYa/view
Thank you so much for writing this brilliant piece! Makes me feel less crazy about the acute feeling of dread I experienced while reading some of the aforementioned essays.
"liberal consensus has shifted slowly back rightward". Until American discourse doesn't understand that liberalism is the foundation of rightward, we can't expect anything very interesting coming out from the American "left".
"He will not tell you that American workers work longer hours under worse conditions for less money than ever before or that personal debt has skyrocketed."
This data is adjusted for cost of living (the largest adjustment is shelter, it is not ignored). It is also median, indicating the precise middle of the middle class.
Personal debt has increased after COVID. Recovering after record high COVID savings rates pushed it quite low.
Thank you for this. You've really put your finger on what I have been so disgusted by on Substack and its lazy Internet politics. TMR pisses me off, Ross Barkan's "neo-Romantics" essay pisses me off, and this description of the reclamation of all space for conservative white boorishness resonates powerfully. Particularly the identification of the ways that snarky and bitter writing hides reactionary impulses. I've always disliked Jessa Crispin's work, and now I see much more clearly why.
This was really, really good.
this is such a wonderful piece. I kept nodding as I read it. as a fiction writer I’ve noticed the same is often true in terms of whose voices are amplified at the moment, particularly in the “alt-lit” scene. thank you so much for writing!
Totally agree with this especially the part about conservatives seeing their viewpoint and way of life as normal and apolitical that progressivism seems to be disruptive. You've put sentiments I've had for some time into words.
Lovely essay — if you haven’t seen it, you may enjoy the very short film on Louis Riel about/by Guy Maddin, another influence on Rankin: https://vimeopro.com/drewchristie/kalakala-staff-picks/video/125580819
thank you for the recommendation!
A thoughtful, excellent essay Miriam (and now I’m dying to see Universal Language)
I really appreciated this essay — and it made me think of something I read recently in The Monthly Review, “Western Marxism & Imperialism” which touched on, among other things, this intentional (or just lazy) obfuscation of reality.
And I’m adding Universal Language to my watchlist!
thank you! i’m a fan of gabriel rockhill
incredible!
I saw the trailer for Universal Language the other day at the cinema, thought it looked interesting but was a little skeptical as I thought it was just being promoted as it’s a Canadian film (I live in Canada.) But after reading this, and having just got into Kiarostami (saw him referenced in another review) I think I’m gonna have to see it.
Brillant. Your comments about T.S. Eliot and classicism made me think, by contrast, of Albert Camus, who always believed that artists should not separate themselves from the society in which they lived. Around the same time (in 1946), he delivered his famous lecture “The Human Crisis” (also known as “The Crisis of Man”) at Columbia University, which you probably know, but if not, I'd be happy to share it with you: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Cxhliwz3HJ8Bn1t5V15-8UWLmiUdYoYa/view
White supremacy and plutocracy is the original cancel culture. Normalized to the Cons. Also to the establishment Libs in large degree.
Thank you so much for writing this brilliant piece! Makes me feel less crazy about the acute feeling of dread I experienced while reading some of the aforementioned essays.
"liberal consensus has shifted slowly back rightward". Until American discourse doesn't understand that liberalism is the foundation of rightward, we can't expect anything very interesting coming out from the American "left".
This isn't true:
"He will not tell you that American workers work longer hours under worse conditions for less money than ever before or that personal debt has skyrocketed."
In particular "than ever before" is a howler.
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/AWHNONAG
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/MEPAINUSA672N
This data is adjusted for cost of living (the largest adjustment is shelter, it is not ignored). It is also median, indicating the precise middle of the middle class.
Personal debt has increased after COVID. Recovering after record high COVID savings rates pushed it quite low.
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=WE1a