Who would listen to a music band that called itself by that name? Definite Hate. As opposed to, what? Vague Love? The connection between music and violence. The first time you saw it-or is this just a faulty memory-was when the President of Panama was being hounded. More recently, it appears that terrorist suspects are sometimes subjected to hours of heavy metal played extremely loudly. But is there something older, something that stretches back to our time as warring bands? Music as a way of stirring the senses, of helping us find some ancient pattern of unity, fraternity, brotherhood? The most laughable thing in these Olympics has been the sight of grown men and women crying when listening to their respective national anthems. Pathetic and funny at the same time.Is there something about music that can lead to the individual finding pleasure in some sort of collective dream? And the Proms-dear Celia will hate me for this-what is all that about?
"These people haven't heard heavy metal. They can't take it."
Scholarship, inquiry, self-criticism, moral autonomy and a search for artistic and esoteric forms of expression—in short, the world of ethics, creativity and ideas—are shouted down by the drunken chants of fans in huge stadiums, the pathetic demands of rich alumni for national championships, and the elitism, racism and rigid definition of gender roles of Greek organizations. These hypermasculine s
"These people haven't heard heavy metal. They can't take it."
Scholarship, inquiry, self-criticism, moral autonomy and a search for artistic and esoteric forms of expression—in short, the world of ethics, creativity and ideas—are shouted down by the drunken chants of fans in huge stadiums, the pathetic demands of rich alumni for national championships, and the elitism, racism and rigid definition of gender roles of Greek organizations. These hypermasculine s
ystems perpetuate a culture of conformity and intolerance. They have inverted the traditional values of scholarship to turn four years of college into a mindless quest for collective euphoria and athletic dominance.
---Chris Hedges.
Gosh, and I thought my uni. was bad!
~~~
A comment in the Guardian on Michael Page:
"If he's a member of the master race, we're all fucked."
~~~
The first was that people hipped on sports can get overaddicted to victory. Sports, the corporate ethic (advertising), and the American flag had become a go-for-the-win triumvirate that had developed many psychic connections with the military.
--from Norman Mailer's intriguing NYRB article.
---Chris Hedges.
Gosh, and I thought my uni. was bad!
~~~
A comment in the Guardian on Michael Page:
"If he's a member of the master race, we're all fucked."
~~~
The first was that people hipped on sports can get overaddicted to victory. Sports, the corporate ethic (advertising), and the American flag had become a go-for-the-win triumvirate that had developed many psychic connections with the military.
--from Norman Mailer's intriguing NYRB article.
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