Great essay. Comparing it to Leni Riefenstahl’s film was spot on.
By contrast, Trump’s coterie see themselves as elite in the power and $$ spheres, but they lack any interest in artistic mastery. It’s all, as you say, gaudy and commonplace, which suits Trump fine.
Powerful argument and an impressive interpretation pushing against so manny assumptions. I particularly appreciate your take on apocalyptic visions. Considering that empowerment and agency are necessary to fight fascism, not the embrace of apocalypse—wouldn’t this call into question the seeming hopelessness of the name of this Substack: “Everything is Horrible”? Surely there is something less horrible—and we ought to be grasping for it—all of us—if we are to build in the place of fascism a new world.
Bravo! The first stanza describes the very kind of world to which fascism is designed to restore order, a harsh order which has its appeal to people who are facing the described chaos. They are lost and looking for a "savior," although a beast, and to be part of a collective that makes thinking for oneself irrelevant. The early fascist slogan of Mussolini of "me ne frego"--"I don't give a damn." encapsulates the attitude (whether she intended it or not, it is interesting that in Trump's first presidency Melanie wore a jacket saying this.) as does "Il Duce is always right" and "Believe, obey, fight."
The poem certainly shows Yeats' influence on a subsequent generation of authors- I counted no less than four books that took their titles from this work.
Great essay, thank you! As I was reading it, the notion of the Second Coming as a reset came to me: Christ 2.0, a stone monster and no more woke shit! So great for christofascism.
my best level of contemplating Yeats's amazing poem is to understand the titanic and mysterious forces of our species wrestling with the death wish, Thanatos. Life is obviously something to be fought for, as Langston Hughes points out. This contemplation seems obvious if one looks around and sees what is happening around us and in us.
Life over Death right now is what Bad Bunny themed on Sunday as only love can overcome hate.
Great essay. Comparing it to Leni Riefenstahl’s film was spot on.
By contrast, Trump’s coterie see themselves as elite in the power and $$ spheres, but they lack any interest in artistic mastery. It’s all, as you say, gaudy and commonplace, which suits Trump fine.
Powerful argument and an impressive interpretation pushing against so manny assumptions. I particularly appreciate your take on apocalyptic visions. Considering that empowerment and agency are necessary to fight fascism, not the embrace of apocalypse—wouldn’t this call into question the seeming hopelessness of the name of this Substack: “Everything is Horrible”? Surely there is something less horrible—and we ought to be grasping for it—all of us—if we are to build in the place of fascism a new world.
Bravo! The first stanza describes the very kind of world to which fascism is designed to restore order, a harsh order which has its appeal to people who are facing the described chaos. They are lost and looking for a "savior," although a beast, and to be part of a collective that makes thinking for oneself irrelevant. The early fascist slogan of Mussolini of "me ne frego"--"I don't give a damn." encapsulates the attitude (whether she intended it or not, it is interesting that in Trump's first presidency Melanie wore a jacket saying this.) as does "Il Duce is always right" and "Believe, obey, fight."
The poem certainly shows Yeats' influence on a subsequent generation of authors- I counted no less than four books that took their titles from this work.
This was great. Thank you.
Great essay, thank you! As I was reading it, the notion of the Second Coming as a reset came to me: Christ 2.0, a stone monster and no more woke shit! So great for christofascism.
PS. You have a copy error where you quote, "the best lack all intensity" vs "conviction," I believe.
my best level of contemplating Yeats's amazing poem is to understand the titanic and mysterious forces of our species wrestling with the death wish, Thanatos. Life is obviously something to be fought for, as Langston Hughes points out. This contemplation seems obvious if one looks around and sees what is happening around us and in us.
Life over Death right now is what Bad Bunny themed on Sunday as only love can overcome hate.