Ruth, I just re-read this article, and it is more important now than ever. I can see that small bites of info that is factual and pertinent could be spread throughout Facebook, the Twittersphere, and the news. I am thinking Strike Pac and MediaActSquad are on the right track, and hope I can contribute.
Strongmen has a compelling description of Robin Bell's projections that notes that the images themselves don't last very long -- but gain a wide audience by photos being circulated. Can you say more about how that happens? I'm part of a tiny group that makes and hangs giant signs on freeways. [Democracy Needs All of Us; Never Forget Jan 6 Attack; Diversity is our Strength; Climate Action Now!] I photograph the signs, with traffic showing to demonstrate how many people see them. Then I post the pics on Twitter with a related hashtag [e.g. #NeverForgetJan6th], where they are retweeted as many as 25 (twenty-five :( ) times. Sometimes I urge people to do their own signs (window, yard, vacant lot, car bumper, anything) in order to publicly demonstrate resistance to fascism and buoy the spirits of people like me who feel helpless and alone. But... 25 retweets or fewer. Hearing that photo/video images of Robin's projections makes me hope I should just keep trying. But I'd love to know what people think about why it seems so hard. Thank you Ruth and community!
I really love this idea! I'm fully on board with some things already mentioned: the colors and style of the Shepard Fairy Obama prints, the BLM fist, and the fonts that reference the New Deal era. Some other ideas I'll throw out there: the script "We the people" from the Constitution. Also, the Outlaws (avid fans of the US national soccer team) are always on point with imagery and chants at the world cup. Check out the video "I Believe That We Will Win: USA Commercial WC 2014" on youtube to see an example. Lastly, both the Assassins Creed and Fallout video game series have had revolutionary war themed game releases in the last decade. Lots of good, strong images from those artists that promote fighting for democracy.
I have to confess to a certain discomfort here. I think that you are gradually morphing, on Lucid and elsewhere, from an intellectual to a more partisan approach. Trump was elected because a very substantial portion of the population believes that the “democratic system”—really a sort of interest-group republic—is not working in their interest. Indeed, when you add the Sanderistas, who have a similar critique from the left, it is probably a clear majority who feel that way. So I think that likening Trump to “fascists” or “authoritarians,” even it is superficially appealing, will do little to dent his appeal. If people want to preserve democracy, they need to reform the existing system so that it serves a majority of the people. I don’t think you disagree with that. But when you distract attention to Mussolini, Ataturk, and others who I think have relatively little relevance to the current situation, I am afraid that you become part of the problem.
I think there has been so much rhetoric over the past 20-30 years comparing political leaders to Hitler, Stalin, etc that we have come to automatically see references to authoritarianism as hyperbole. However, there *are* clear parallels between what Trump is doing in this country and the advent of authoritarian regimes around the globe. I don't believe Lucid to be using those terms in a hyperbolic sense at all. Authortarianism, facism, sociopathy all have specific meanings; it is consistent with being an intellectual to use those terms when we intend to evoke those specific meanings. At this point we should eschew discomfort with presenting one side as extreme in the context of American history. It is extreme. That doesn't mean it's not understandable or that we need to demonize those who follow it, but it is that extreme.
I will be more blunt. Ruth Ben-Ghiat is a a respected expert on Italian films and other cultural artifacts of the 1920s and 1930s. She has no particular expertise on current American politics, the Republican Party, or any similar topic. Unfortunately, she has chosen to promote her “brand” by repeatedly saying what people like you are desperate to hear: that the Republican Party, and perhaps moderate Democrats, are essentially fascists and demagogues who need to be silenced so your side can win. Put more bluntly, that we need to employ fascist tactics in order to defeat whatever we label as “fascism.” If there is a genuine historic parallel, it is to the PCI (Italian Communist Party) after 1945 and its promotion of so-called “anti-fascism” as a way of silencing opposition. Because it is now clear to me that this group is really about political strategy, and not intellectual inquiry, I would respectfully request to be removed from the mailing list.
For one who advocates “intellectual inquiry” (by which I assume you mean valorizing rational discourse and, perhaps, scientific empirical method), your post certainly seems to contain a lot of ad hominem arguments and unsupported attributions of motivation re: both the essayist & her readers.
“Desperate to hear”? Well, I am certainly saddened to hear that so many in the Republican Party are replicating patterns of behavior that have historically led to the further erosion of democratic norms & institutions, while aiding & abetting proto-authoritarian tendencies within a society.
That may sound partisan, however, I happen to also be very interested in exploring ways in which the Democratic Party has been similarly at fault, through both pro-active policies & via failures to respond effectively.
But on my view, it is demonstrably the case that one of the major political parties is exponentially more at proximal cause & agency for this presant challenge to Democracy.
Quite honestly, the only thing I'm "desperate to hear" is that the American democracy will be fine and persist throughout this period of history. (And that other countries will be able to overcome limits being placed on their civil liberties). I respect that you don't want to discuss the categorization of current politics in this forum, though.
What democracy are we preserving? We have long been a corporate based plutocratic oligarchy, using neoliberal economics. So 74 million voters preferred a man who was the epitome of the neoliberal order and expected him to change that? In classic neoliberal fashion, Trump cut taxes on the rich and corporations, shifting much of the tax burden to the general public.
If you look at the characteristics of the fascist mindset, it is clear that Trump embraces most of it. From a psychological point of view, Pinochet, Hitler and Mussolini were all sociopaths and all preferrred far right authoritarianism. It is no surprise that the sociopath Trump also embraces this concept. So it is not a distraction to connect Mussolini and Trump, it is a warning.
I’m not sure I follow your comment. Trump is the epitome of the neoliberal order, but he is also a fascist and a sociopath? Or are you saying that neoliberalism is inherently fascist/sociopathic in nature? That would be a very broad argument.
Neoliberalism is a far right concept based mostly on its economic component. It is about corporate/wealthy privilege and has feudal underpinnings. It is not inherently fascist but leans in that direction. Fascist economies used a cartel system, which many of our industrialists in the past have embraced. If you look at the characteristics of fascism, Trump has most of these. I consider him a proto-fascist. He is a sociopath and as I said above, they prefer a far right authoritarian management style that celebrates their grandiosity.
Tough to win the image war when the reality is failing to serve the masses.
And given that people are hardwired to respond to fascists, when things get bad enough long enough, they turn rightward.
In any case, we're past the point that image matters. And further exacerbating that is the fact that the mainstream media are no less propaganda outfits than Fox. What the overwhelming majority of people want, the media oppose and likewise for the people speaking on behalf of the majority.
What is it that the majority want, do you think? Asking as an honest question since you're right about people turning toward authoritarianism when they feel unheard. Do you think there is a consensus on what democracy could deliver to make it more appealing for a greater number of Americans?
As for the mainstream media, I'm not sure I agree that they are in opposition to the majority. I think there are problems inherent in 24-hour news cycles, but I don't think the media is the enemy of the people. I don't believe all media outlets are propagandists at the same level as Fox News, but am interested in how you mean that part of your comment.
When things get funky, when the state fails, they want a Mommy or Daddy to reassure them that everything will be okay. People respond to speech, promises and don't and/or can't focus on acts. If they were wired to do the latter, they'd seek leftist solutions. But seeking no solutions but tough, assertive talk is what we're wired for. Democracy dies when a democratic state starts failing to deliver. In our case, a huge minority insists on electing politicians who have been working against what's good for the nation since Reagan.
As for the media: There's virtually nothing the GOP can do wrong that would excite the media into any serious, appropriate criticism; they almost never go deep when reporting on non-whites; and their economic/fiinance reporting may as well be fiction. And the mainstream, except for a brief anomalous period in the 60s and 70s, has always been propaganda outlets for the establishment or worse. But holding the ruling class to account, keeping them honest? Not their job. We need it to be but they disagree and here we are.
As a proto-fascist charismatic demagogue, Trump has a talent to play with peoples' fears and manipulate thinking. He has polarized his clan to hate the outside enemy, using hyperbole and lies. He attracted needy followers who were obsessed with his grandiose omnipotence. They became embroiled in Trump's post-truth maelstrom. The left needs to counter this post-truth mindset with a "truth" campaign. The Lincoln Project is doing this but more is needed.
Every Trumper that I know has also embraced fascism to some degree. The problem is, they don't even realize it. They don't associate Trump with fascism, nor proto-fascism. They don't know what fascism is. Educating the public about fascism and it dangers is important. Ruth; your book Strongmen has done this and so has a PBS special with Rick Steves. But more is needed on this front as well.
I love this! Solutions! I’m extremely visual, but whether one is aware of how they accumulate information or not, visual images are truly powerful. I worked with children on September 11th, 2001 and anyone who works with children knows they express through play/art. I still have one haunting piece of art from a child who filled a piece of paper with planes going in every direction. The horror of that day, regrettably led to huge mistakes of over and again showing images of the planes crashing into the building. (I often wonder if researchers identified adults who were children back then to see if that event was to traumatizing for them to fly).
One other effective and brutal regime is North Korea. My husband always points out the images of military parades and ‘might’ with middles on display to terrorize the citizenry and the international community.
Another great piece Ruth, thanks. This is an insightful reminder that the battle for ideas and liberal democracy must include the (visual realm) in all its manifestations to communicate with voters and citizenry. As you point out, liberal democratic groups are stepping up their game in order to compete with their often more aggressive illiberal opponents.
As we celebrate Memorial day and look towards the 4th of July, I'm reminded of Trump just a couple of years ago when he tried to order a military parade for himself on the 4th of July. Like other strongmen, he instinctively understands the power and strength that such a spectacle conveys about one leader sitting before the marching throngs of soldiers and armaments as the jets fly over in formation.
But the generals to their great credit who rejected his request, (was it Mark Milley at the time) also understood that power in this country does not reside in one man alone like it does in a dictatorship. They understood that an (image) of an autocrat surrounded by a military style parade is not only a danger to freedom but an abhorrence to our democratic values and must never be allowed to happen in America.
Great observation Ruth, the left is often too distracted with it’s internal differences to provide a clear united message, and a strong image/images that capture our core values would certainly help!
Thank you for this great essay Ruth. I have this image in my mind of millions & millions of us marching across the country — all in black — in mourning for our democracy (sort of like The Women in Black who held vigils on Fri nights during the Iraq war) — Black Lives Matter has their logo/fist in the air, but that might be too incendiary. I can imagine celebrities, musicians, caravans touring the county, holding concerts, stopping, picking up people, educating people. Black Voters Matter does bus tours. As you say, we need a Democracy Movement — maybe black is too depressing, but that’s what comes to my mind. I’ve been thinking about this problem too. Thank you again!
This is fascinating, Ruth. As I examined the images you provided, I was checking in on my own emotional reaction to the photo, colors and symbols.
Classes on Media Literacy should be taught in all schools - (and there should be lots of opportunities for adults to learn why and how they react to visual messaging, and, propaganda). All of us are vulnerable to the pull on our emotions - as information is flashing at us all day long in all kinds of ways.
As a designer myself, I certainly agree with you. Though I would extend the idea: the classic static image of a logo/logotype is perhaps obsolete, and the pro-democracy movement would be best served by widening dimensions into video and audio as well. Get the motion-graphics people involved!
Ruth, I just re-read this article, and it is more important now than ever. I can see that small bites of info that is factual and pertinent could be spread throughout Facebook, the Twittersphere, and the news. I am thinking Strike Pac and MediaActSquad are on the right track, and hope I can contribute.
Strongmen has a compelling description of Robin Bell's projections that notes that the images themselves don't last very long -- but gain a wide audience by photos being circulated. Can you say more about how that happens? I'm part of a tiny group that makes and hangs giant signs on freeways. [Democracy Needs All of Us; Never Forget Jan 6 Attack; Diversity is our Strength; Climate Action Now!] I photograph the signs, with traffic showing to demonstrate how many people see them. Then I post the pics on Twitter with a related hashtag [e.g. #NeverForgetJan6th], where they are retweeted as many as 25 (twenty-five :( ) times. Sometimes I urge people to do their own signs (window, yard, vacant lot, car bumper, anything) in order to publicly demonstrate resistance to fascism and buoy the spirits of people like me who feel helpless and alone. But... 25 retweets or fewer. Hearing that photo/video images of Robin's projections makes me hope I should just keep trying. But I'd love to know what people think about why it seems so hard. Thank you Ruth and community!
I really love this idea! I'm fully on board with some things already mentioned: the colors and style of the Shepard Fairy Obama prints, the BLM fist, and the fonts that reference the New Deal era. Some other ideas I'll throw out there: the script "We the people" from the Constitution. Also, the Outlaws (avid fans of the US national soccer team) are always on point with imagery and chants at the world cup. Check out the video "I Believe That We Will Win: USA Commercial WC 2014" on youtube to see an example. Lastly, both the Assassins Creed and Fallout video game series have had revolutionary war themed game releases in the last decade. Lots of good, strong images from those artists that promote fighting for democracy.
Great article and right on point, thank you!
Thanks for the recommendations. I hope the DNC is listening.
I have to confess to a certain discomfort here. I think that you are gradually morphing, on Lucid and elsewhere, from an intellectual to a more partisan approach. Trump was elected because a very substantial portion of the population believes that the “democratic system”—really a sort of interest-group republic—is not working in their interest. Indeed, when you add the Sanderistas, who have a similar critique from the left, it is probably a clear majority who feel that way. So I think that likening Trump to “fascists” or “authoritarians,” even it is superficially appealing, will do little to dent his appeal. If people want to preserve democracy, they need to reform the existing system so that it serves a majority of the people. I don’t think you disagree with that. But when you distract attention to Mussolini, Ataturk, and others who I think have relatively little relevance to the current situation, I am afraid that you become part of the problem.
I think there has been so much rhetoric over the past 20-30 years comparing political leaders to Hitler, Stalin, etc that we have come to automatically see references to authoritarianism as hyperbole. However, there *are* clear parallels between what Trump is doing in this country and the advent of authoritarian regimes around the globe. I don't believe Lucid to be using those terms in a hyperbolic sense at all. Authortarianism, facism, sociopathy all have specific meanings; it is consistent with being an intellectual to use those terms when we intend to evoke those specific meanings. At this point we should eschew discomfort with presenting one side as extreme in the context of American history. It is extreme. That doesn't mean it's not understandable or that we need to demonize those who follow it, but it is that extreme.
I will be more blunt. Ruth Ben-Ghiat is a a respected expert on Italian films and other cultural artifacts of the 1920s and 1930s. She has no particular expertise on current American politics, the Republican Party, or any similar topic. Unfortunately, she has chosen to promote her “brand” by repeatedly saying what people like you are desperate to hear: that the Republican Party, and perhaps moderate Democrats, are essentially fascists and demagogues who need to be silenced so your side can win. Put more bluntly, that we need to employ fascist tactics in order to defeat whatever we label as “fascism.” If there is a genuine historic parallel, it is to the PCI (Italian Communist Party) after 1945 and its promotion of so-called “anti-fascism” as a way of silencing opposition. Because it is now clear to me that this group is really about political strategy, and not intellectual inquiry, I would respectfully request to be removed from the mailing list.
Michael:
For one who advocates “intellectual inquiry” (by which I assume you mean valorizing rational discourse and, perhaps, scientific empirical method), your post certainly seems to contain a lot of ad hominem arguments and unsupported attributions of motivation re: both the essayist & her readers.
“Desperate to hear”? Well, I am certainly saddened to hear that so many in the Republican Party are replicating patterns of behavior that have historically led to the further erosion of democratic norms & institutions, while aiding & abetting proto-authoritarian tendencies within a society.
That may sound partisan, however, I happen to also be very interested in exploring ways in which the Democratic Party has been similarly at fault, through both pro-active policies & via failures to respond effectively.
But on my view, it is demonstrably the case that one of the major political parties is exponentially more at proximal cause & agency for this presant challenge to Democracy.
Done and removed!
Quite honestly, the only thing I'm "desperate to hear" is that the American democracy will be fine and persist throughout this period of history. (And that other countries will be able to overcome limits being placed on their civil liberties). I respect that you don't want to discuss the categorization of current politics in this forum, though.
"If people want to preserve democracy..."
What democracy are we preserving? We have long been a corporate based plutocratic oligarchy, using neoliberal economics. So 74 million voters preferred a man who was the epitome of the neoliberal order and expected him to change that? In classic neoliberal fashion, Trump cut taxes on the rich and corporations, shifting much of the tax burden to the general public.
If you look at the characteristics of the fascist mindset, it is clear that Trump embraces most of it. From a psychological point of view, Pinochet, Hitler and Mussolini were all sociopaths and all preferrred far right authoritarianism. It is no surprise that the sociopath Trump also embraces this concept. So it is not a distraction to connect Mussolini and Trump, it is a warning.
Steve,
I’m not sure I follow your comment. Trump is the epitome of the neoliberal order, but he is also a fascist and a sociopath? Or are you saying that neoliberalism is inherently fascist/sociopathic in nature? That would be a very broad argument.
Mike Livingston
Neoliberalism is a far right concept based mostly on its economic component. It is about corporate/wealthy privilege and has feudal underpinnings. It is not inherently fascist but leans in that direction. Fascist economies used a cartel system, which many of our industrialists in the past have embraced. If you look at the characteristics of fascism, Trump has most of these. I consider him a proto-fascist. He is a sociopath and as I said above, they prefer a far right authoritarian management style that celebrates their grandiosity.
Tough to win the image war when the reality is failing to serve the masses.
And given that people are hardwired to respond to fascists, when things get bad enough long enough, they turn rightward.
In any case, we're past the point that image matters. And further exacerbating that is the fact that the mainstream media are no less propaganda outfits than Fox. What the overwhelming majority of people want, the media oppose and likewise for the people speaking on behalf of the majority.
What is it that the majority want, do you think? Asking as an honest question since you're right about people turning toward authoritarianism when they feel unheard. Do you think there is a consensus on what democracy could deliver to make it more appealing for a greater number of Americans?
As for the mainstream media, I'm not sure I agree that they are in opposition to the majority. I think there are problems inherent in 24-hour news cycles, but I don't think the media is the enemy of the people. I don't believe all media outlets are propagandists at the same level as Fox News, but am interested in how you mean that part of your comment.
When things get funky, when the state fails, they want a Mommy or Daddy to reassure them that everything will be okay. People respond to speech, promises and don't and/or can't focus on acts. If they were wired to do the latter, they'd seek leftist solutions. But seeking no solutions but tough, assertive talk is what we're wired for. Democracy dies when a democratic state starts failing to deliver. In our case, a huge minority insists on electing politicians who have been working against what's good for the nation since Reagan.
As for the media: There's virtually nothing the GOP can do wrong that would excite the media into any serious, appropriate criticism; they almost never go deep when reporting on non-whites; and their economic/fiinance reporting may as well be fiction. And the mainstream, except for a brief anomalous period in the 60s and 70s, has always been propaganda outlets for the establishment or worse. But holding the ruling class to account, keeping them honest? Not their job. We need it to be but they disagree and here we are.
As a proto-fascist charismatic demagogue, Trump has a talent to play with peoples' fears and manipulate thinking. He has polarized his clan to hate the outside enemy, using hyperbole and lies. He attracted needy followers who were obsessed with his grandiose omnipotence. They became embroiled in Trump's post-truth maelstrom. The left needs to counter this post-truth mindset with a "truth" campaign. The Lincoln Project is doing this but more is needed.
Every Trumper that I know has also embraced fascism to some degree. The problem is, they don't even realize it. They don't associate Trump with fascism, nor proto-fascism. They don't know what fascism is. Educating the public about fascism and it dangers is important. Ruth; your book Strongmen has done this and so has a PBS special with Rick Steves. But more is needed on this front as well.
I love this! Solutions! I’m extremely visual, but whether one is aware of how they accumulate information or not, visual images are truly powerful. I worked with children on September 11th, 2001 and anyone who works with children knows they express through play/art. I still have one haunting piece of art from a child who filled a piece of paper with planes going in every direction. The horror of that day, regrettably led to huge mistakes of over and again showing images of the planes crashing into the building. (I often wonder if researchers identified adults who were children back then to see if that event was to traumatizing for them to fly).
One other effective and brutal regime is North Korea. My husband always points out the images of military parades and ‘might’ with middles on display to terrorize the citizenry and the international community.
“Missles” oops
Another great piece Ruth, thanks. This is an insightful reminder that the battle for ideas and liberal democracy must include the (visual realm) in all its manifestations to communicate with voters and citizenry. As you point out, liberal democratic groups are stepping up their game in order to compete with their often more aggressive illiberal opponents.
As we celebrate Memorial day and look towards the 4th of July, I'm reminded of Trump just a couple of years ago when he tried to order a military parade for himself on the 4th of July. Like other strongmen, he instinctively understands the power and strength that such a spectacle conveys about one leader sitting before the marching throngs of soldiers and armaments as the jets fly over in formation.
But the generals to their great credit who rejected his request, (was it Mark Milley at the time) also understood that power in this country does not reside in one man alone like it does in a dictatorship. They understood that an (image) of an autocrat surrounded by a military style parade is not only a danger to freedom but an abhorrence to our democratic values and must never be allowed to happen in America.
Great observation Ruth, the left is often too distracted with it’s internal differences to provide a clear united message, and a strong image/images that capture our core values would certainly help!
Thank you for this great essay Ruth. I have this image in my mind of millions & millions of us marching across the country — all in black — in mourning for our democracy (sort of like The Women in Black who held vigils on Fri nights during the Iraq war) — Black Lives Matter has their logo/fist in the air, but that might be too incendiary. I can imagine celebrities, musicians, caravans touring the county, holding concerts, stopping, picking up people, educating people. Black Voters Matter does bus tours. As you say, we need a Democracy Movement — maybe black is too depressing, but that’s what comes to my mind. I’ve been thinking about this problem too. Thank you again!
Interesting observation. I wonder if studies have been done to see if men vs. women react differently. Just a thought.
This is fascinating, Ruth. As I examined the images you provided, I was checking in on my own emotional reaction to the photo, colors and symbols.
Classes on Media Literacy should be taught in all schools - (and there should be lots of opportunities for adults to learn why and how they react to visual messaging, and, propaganda). All of us are vulnerable to the pull on our emotions - as information is flashing at us all day long in all kinds of ways.
How to stop, pause and discern is a taught skill.
As a designer myself, I certainly agree with you. Though I would extend the idea: the classic static image of a logo/logotype is perhaps obsolete, and the pro-democracy movement would be best served by widening dimensions into video and audio as well. Get the motion-graphics people involved!
agree