Don Curren 🇨🇦🇺🇦The coarsening of #popularculture (perhaps more accurately thought of as the products of the #cultureindustry) in the #US in recent decades has played a major role in corrupting and degrading the public life of that republic.
Neovagina EvangelionWhat does coarsening means in this context?
*mean, not means
Off the top: Continually increasing emphasis on (and celebration of) violence and its perpetrators, objectification and dehumanization of women and other “minority” groups, corruption and impoverishment of language, emphasis on extremes of sensation over narrativity and coherence … 🧵
… all mostly driven by commercial and economic considerations at the expense of the artistic and genuinely human.
I don't think impoverishment of language itself would be much of a factor here as we have plenty of eloquent monsters and saints with a sharp tongue. In fact, polite cruelty paved the roads the coarsely cruel skate on.
I mostly agree with most of your other points though.
(I mean, not that you need to care what I think, just musing, feel free to ignore)
But I would say the dominant factor here is more a culture of individual greed and entitlement. "Greed is good" neoconservatism and "trust the marketplace" neoliberalism, the latter having absolutely attacked...
...the "crudeness" of early affected activist voices who didn't speak politely enough when warning about the encroachments of fascism.
It's what made me initially inquire about your comment(again, not saying you have or do, nor that you have to read all this :P ).
oof I totally mixed that metaphor HORRIBLY
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Thanks. I appreciate your interest & your taking time to explain your perspective. I agree the culture of individual greed & entitlement has played a central role in the erosion of the public life in the US. I believe the trends in popular culture I’ve referred to are both an expression of that … 🧵
… and a driver of further erosion. The relationship between culture and the broader values of a society are complex and dynamic, but they often tend to reinforce each other. (Although culture can sometimes provide critique, as well). Thanks again for engaging.