1/
Leftists took over the culture so they could own and control the production and interpretation of *meaning*
They wanted to control culture in order to control meaning, and they wanted to control meaning in order to control thought...and that's the real goal: thought control.
Leftists took over the culture so they could own and control the production and interpretation of *meaning*
They wanted to control culture in order to control meaning, and they wanted to control meaning in order to control thought...and that's the real goal: thought control.
2/
The idea is a pretty simple one, people interpret the world using the concepts, ideas, and frameworks of their culture, so whoever owns the apparatus which produces a societies culture decides which ideas, concepts and frameworks people use to understand the world.
The idea is a pretty simple one, people interpret the world using the concepts, ideas, and frameworks of their culture, so whoever owns the apparatus which produces a societies culture decides which ideas, concepts and frameworks people use to understand the world.
3/
The left thought the reason people supported capitalism and hated communism and socialism was because evil capitalists controlled the culture, and used that control to embed capitalist ideology and ruling class values in the culture where they would be absorbed by the masses
The left thought the reason people supported capitalism and hated communism and socialism was because evil capitalists controlled the culture, and used that control to embed capitalist ideology and ruling class values in the culture where they would be absorbed by the masses
4/
As a result of this view, the left came to see the entire society as a system of ideology. "The System" operated by using the culture as a mechanism to brainwash the masses into adopting a capitalist ideology that privileged the values and interests of the ruling class...
As a result of this view, the left came to see the entire society as a system of ideology. "The System" operated by using the culture as a mechanism to brainwash the masses into adopting a capitalist ideology that privileged the values and interests of the ruling class...
5/
at the expense of the interests of the poor and working classes.
Leftists thought if the poor and working classes could be freed from the grip of capitalist ideology, they would see where their true interests lie, and would then overthrow that capitalist system via revolution
at the expense of the interests of the poor and working classes.
Leftists thought if the poor and working classes could be freed from the grip of capitalist ideology, they would see where their true interests lie, and would then overthrow that capitalist system via revolution
6/
The way to free the lower classes from the grip of capitalist ideology is to block the channels through which capitalist ideology and cultural products flow, and seize the means of cultural production to use them to create a culture embedded with "revolutionary consciousness"
The way to free the lower classes from the grip of capitalist ideology is to block the channels through which capitalist ideology and cultural products flow, and seize the means of cultural production to use them to create a culture embedded with "revolutionary consciousness"
7/
In essence, leftists thought/think peoples consciousness was/is constructed by the culture they were soaked in, and whoever controls the culture gets to control the consciousness of the masses.
If this sounds like a bleak, nihilistic, authoritarian view, that's because it is.
In essence, leftists thought/think peoples consciousness was/is constructed by the culture they were soaked in, and whoever controls the culture gets to control the consciousness of the masses.
If this sounds like a bleak, nihilistic, authoritarian view, that's because it is.
8/
On this view a small number of people get to control the consciousness of the whole of society.
This is, of course, wrong.
In 2024 the left controlled arts, entertainment, universities, k-12 schools, the government, journalist, and most social media...Trump still won.
On this view a small number of people get to control the consciousness of the whole of society.
This is, of course, wrong.
In 2024 the left controlled arts, entertainment, universities, k-12 schools, the government, journalist, and most social media...Trump still won.
9/
If culture had the grip on people the left says it does, Trump could never have won, but he did.
The left can't understand why people don't like their ideas, so they come up with elaborate theories to explain how people are being mind controlled into rejecting leftism...
If culture had the grip on people the left says it does, Trump could never have won, but he did.
The left can't understand why people don't like their ideas, so they come up with elaborate theories to explain how people are being mind controlled into rejecting leftism...
10/
Which is why leftists think anyone who disagrees with them is a victim of some form of subconscious influence they're unaware of; they must have "false consciousness," "internalized racism," "white fragility," "implicit bias" or some other thing that blinds them to the truth.
Which is why leftists think anyone who disagrees with them is a victim of some form of subconscious influence they're unaware of; they must have "false consciousness," "internalized racism," "white fragility," "implicit bias" or some other thing that blinds them to the truth.
11/
Of course, the leftist never think that HE has been brainwashed, or that HE has false consciousness....it's always someone else who has been brainwashed by the system.
So the left thinks that they need to free us all from the grip of evil liberal/capitalist/right-wing...
Of course, the leftist never think that HE has been brainwashed, or that HE has false consciousness....it's always someone else who has been brainwashed by the system.
So the left thinks that they need to free us all from the grip of evil liberal/capitalist/right-wing...
12/
ideologies, and that they can do this by taking over the means of cultural production and embedding "liberatory" leftist values in the culture where we will all absorb them and become good leftists.
This is why the left is so obsessed with taking over cultural institutions.
ideologies, and that they can do this by taking over the means of cultural production and embedding "liberatory" leftist values in the culture where we will all absorb them and become good leftists.
This is why the left is so obsessed with taking over cultural institutions.
13/
The problem is that the left is wrong about this.
People can't be brainwashed the way the left thinks they can. People can be influenced by culture only if they think the cultural sources that influence them are credible. Once people realize they are being lied to...
The problem is that the left is wrong about this.
People can't be brainwashed the way the left thinks they can. People can be influenced by culture only if they think the cultural sources that influence them are credible. Once people realize they are being lied to...
14/
are using their influence for political reason, or are hiding the truth, those sources lose their credibility.
This doesn't happen overnight, but it does happen and the data is clear on this: by every available measure institutions are losing their credibility.
are using their influence for political reason, or are hiding the truth, those sources lose their credibility.
This doesn't happen overnight, but it does happen and the data is clear on this: by every available measure institutions are losing their credibility.
15/
So the leftist strategy of politicizing social institutions in order to embed their values in the culture did not result in everyone becoming leftist and adopting leftist values, it resulted in the political corruption of institutions and a loss of institutional legitimacy.
So the leftist strategy of politicizing social institutions in order to embed their values in the culture did not result in everyone becoming leftist and adopting leftist values, it resulted in the political corruption of institutions and a loss of institutional legitimacy.
16/
The lefts cultural victory has been short-lived and pyrrhic. The left has become discredited, wokeness is on the run, the power of cancel culture is broken, and every institution the left used to hand themselves legitimacy is hemorrhaging credibility at an alarming rate...
The lefts cultural victory has been short-lived and pyrrhic. The left has become discredited, wokeness is on the run, the power of cancel culture is broken, and every institution the left used to hand themselves legitimacy is hemorrhaging credibility at an alarming rate...
17/
The worst mistake we can make right now is to adopt the strategy of the left that has blown up in their faces so spectacularly.
This does not mean we should ignore the culture, it means we should not make the mistake of trying to hijack culture for nakedly political ends...
The worst mistake we can make right now is to adopt the strategy of the left that has blown up in their faces so spectacularly.
This does not mean we should ignore the culture, it means we should not make the mistake of trying to hijack culture for nakedly political ends...
18/
The goal should be to ensure that institutions are orientated to the truth, and that they remain **epistemically** neutral (nobody gets to put their political fingers on the scales of truth) in the pursuit of their mission and their larger objectives.
The goal should be to ensure that institutions are orientated to the truth, and that they remain **epistemically** neutral (nobody gets to put their political fingers on the scales of truth) in the pursuit of their mission and their larger objectives.
19/
It would be a mistake to try and adopt all of the lefts tactics and worldview as though their relatively short period of dominance was proof that their worldview was correct, or that postmodern and neo-marxists leftists were in possession of some deep insight.
They were not.
It would be a mistake to try and adopt all of the lefts tactics and worldview as though their relatively short period of dominance was proof that their worldview was correct, or that postmodern and neo-marxists leftists were in possession of some deep insight.
They were not.
20/
Our best move it to learn from the mistakes of the left (don't corrupt institutions by making your politics the standard by which all else is judged) and the mistakes of liberals (don't let leftists hijack the mission of your institutions) and then exercise power carefully...
Our best move it to learn from the mistakes of the left (don't corrupt institutions by making your politics the standard by which all else is judged) and the mistakes of liberals (don't let leftists hijack the mission of your institutions) and then exercise power carefully...
21/
and avoid making things worse (which is a very easy thing to do) as we use political power to democratically enact legislation that will undo to the damage caused to our institutions and society by the woke era.
That's the path forward.
/fin
and avoid making things worse (which is a very easy thing to do) as we use political power to democratically enact legislation that will undo to the damage caused to our institutions and society by the woke era.
That's the path forward.
/fin
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