Notes on Nationalism (1945)
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Notes on Nationalism (1945)
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Re: Notes on Nationalism (1945)
#2Given whats going on in the World now, Orwell's "Notes on Nationalism" is a pertinent read. We must be careful that we don't get carried away by Propaganda and start demonizing "the other side" reflexively.
Summary on Wikipedia : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notes_on_Nationalism
Re: Notes on Nationalism (1945)
#3No post body was provided.
Re: Notes on Nationalism (1945)
#4No post body was provided.
Re: Notes on Nationalism (1945)
#5Given whats going on in the World now, Orwell's "Notes on Nationalism" is a pertinent read. We must be careful that we don't get carried away by Propaganda and start demonizing "the other side" reflexively. Summary on Wikipedia : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notes_on_Nationalism
Just got finished watching The Great Hack* on Netflix. Demonizing "the other side", exactly as you've said, causes the polarisation that prevents even the consideration of compromise, resulting in political unproductivity that in turn erodes trust and forces us simple humans back into the basic pigeon holes that remain as the only effective politics, primarily: fear.
The rational centre, however, is unprofitable, and will remain un-catered-to until its profitability increases.
* The 5-minute mini-rundown of the Trinidad and Tobago election strategy in 2010, at about 1hr and 1-minute into the doco, is a phenomenal eye-opener.
Re: Notes on Nationalism (1945)
#6> In the same way, there is a habit of mind which is now so widespread that it affects our thinking on nearly every subject, but which has not yet been given a name. As the nearest existing equivalent I have chosen the word ‘nationalism’, but it will be seen in a moment that I am not using it in quite the ordinary sense, if only because the emotion I am speaking about does not always attach itself to what is called a nation – that is, a single race or a geographical area. It can attach itself to a church or a class, or it may work in a merely negative sense, against something or other and without the need for any positive object of loyalty.
After reading the first few pages of the essay I think Orwell is describing what I've heard others call "tribalism", for example in https://slatestarcodex.com/2014/09/30/i-can-tolerate-anythin...
There are certainly good things that come from this, but overall it sure seems like an aspect of human nature that can do a lot of damage in what should be a positive-sum world.
Re: Notes on Nationalism (1945)
#7> In the same way, there is a habit of mind which is now so widespread that it affects our thinking on nearly every subject, but which has not yet been given a name. As the nearest existing equivalent I have chosen the word ‘nationalism’, but it will be seen in a moment that I am not using it in quite the ordinary sense, if only because the emotion I am speaking about does not always attach itself to what is called a…
But note, he distinguishes between nationalism and patriotism, and even blames the decline of patriotism for the rise of nationalism. It’s quite a subtle essay. He was also ahead of his time in knowing about – or rather, being aware of – both things like the concentration camps, and (to my surprise) the Bengal famine.
Re: Notes on Nationalism (1945)
#8Starship Troopers (1997) is an interesting movie that is basically a “war propaganda” movie seen from the viewpoint of a fascistic government. The whole point of the movie is to make the enemy seem like “the other” , and in this case these are actual alien bugs in the movie. All of the human characters in the movie are beautiful and everything on “our” side as we view it is shiny and “the good side”
Paul Verhoeven also deliberately made the first scene shot for shot similar to a german Nazi propaganda film.
The whole movie is to make you root for “our side” and demonize the other. I personally didn’t realize this fully when I watched it, which makes the process so insidious.
Re: Notes on Nationalism (1945)
#9Given whats going on in the World now, Orwell's "Notes on Nationalism" is a pertinent read. We must be careful that we don't get carried away by Propaganda and start demonizing "the other side" reflexively. Summary on Wikipedia : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notes_on_Nationalism
Just got finished watching The Great Hack* on Netflix. Demonizing "the other side", exactly as you've said, causes the polarisation that prevents even the consideration of compromise, resulting in political unproductivity that in turn erodes trust and forces us simple humans back into the basic pigeon holes that remain as the only effective politics, primarily: fear. The rational centre, however, is unprofitable, and…
OMG, that Trinidad and Tobago part is so eye opening, even for middle aged cynic who thought he saw it all.
Re: Notes on Nationalism (1945)
#10Starship Troopers (1997) is an interesting movie that is basically a “war propaganda” movie seen from the viewpoint of a fascistic government. The whole point of the movie is to make the enemy seem like “the other” , and in this case these are actual alien bugs in the movie. All of the human characters in the movie are beautiful and everything on “our” side as we view it is shiny and “the good side” Paul Verhoeven al…
Most people I've talked to who watched Starship Troopers didn't think it was satire. To be fair, the enemy is literally not human which does make it harder to pick up on.