Culture
21st Century Western Elites View Christianity Just as They Did in the Second-Century Roman Empire
This will perhaps come as a shock to them, but the doggedly secularist elites of 21st century America and Europe view Christianity, especially in its Evangelical and traditional Catholic assemblies, in much the same way as the Roman elites of the second-century empire viewed a movement that was then but a minor irritant.
The culture war over the Middle Ages
The left thinks it was too white while the Catholic New Right sees much to admire
There is a war afoot, here in late civilization, over the meaning and legacy of the Middle Ages. Two distinct fronts have emerged from either side of our political spectrum. On the left, in the academy, medievalism is being diversified out of existence, its defining Western characteristics relegating it to a smaller place in a global mosaic. On the right, a certain breed of new conservative is reclaiming the Middle Ages as a keystone period in which order and reason ruled, instead of the swivel-headed “scientism” of pure observation brought on by the Enlightenment.
How we forgot Elvis
It’s easy to dismiss his transformative musical force
The most telling line in Baz Luhrmann’s new movie Elvis comes at the very end, in the form of a title card: “His influence on music and culture lives on.” As I left the cinema, exhausted and annoyed, I wondered whether that was true, and whether it would need to be said if it were obvious.
Kathy and I took Mum to the old Sears warehouse in Rexdale not long before it closed for good.
Kathy spied a pair of men’s boxers. They were black satin and liberally sprinkled with a variety of colourful almost neon profiles of the King.
I bought her a pair and they were so comfortable she had me return to hunt down any that remained.
I think she ended up with 4 pairs.
It always brings a smile when I remember how much she enjoyed wearing them.
She liked Elvis.
Full disclosure, I kept a pair to store in Kathy’s trunk.
In Going Mainstream, ’60s Counterculture Has Lost Its Edge
There’s nothing left to rebel against and no one left to shock.
It’s been a strange time to be a freethinking rock fan. Counterculture legends Joni Mitchell and Neil Young — the very man who once taught us to “keep on rockin’ in the free world” — led the charge to deplatform comedian and podcaster Joe Rogan from Spotify for the capital crime of dissent. The two rockers made a decidedly unhip ultimatum: it’s either Rogan or us. Then — without a hint of irony — Young directed his fans to the streaming service of Amazon. Yes, that Amazon. The multinational company owned by the richest man on the planet that forces its drivers to urinate into plastic bottles.
‘EVERYONE IS FORGIVEN’: Taliban holds first official press conference in Afghanistan
The Taliban has given its first official news conference in Kabul since the shock seizure of the city, declaring it wants peaceful relations with other countries and would respect the rights of women within the framework of Islamic law.
“We don’t want any internal or external enemies,” the movement’s main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said.
The insurgents seek no revenge and “everyone is forgiven” he said.
Mujahid said women would be allowed to work and study and “will be very active in society but within the framework of Islam”.
The Taliban would not seek retribution against former soldiers and members of the Western-backed government, he said, saying the movement was granting an amnesty for former Afghan government soldiers as well as contractors and translators who worked for international forces.
“Nobody is going to harm you, nobody is going to knock on your doors,” he said.
He said private media could continue to be free and independent in Afghanistan, adding the Taliban was committed to the media within its cultural framework.
FUREY: Reclaiming our culture
The COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing lockdowns had a devastating impact on Canadians – one thing that is often forgotten is our culture. Sporting events, art galleries and street festivals were all put on pause because of COVID.
As Canada begins to reopen and various facets of the culture sector begin to operate again, let’s not understate how important culture is to Canadians.
Pop Culture Isn’t Popular Anymore
What’s causing the current retromania?
Humanity, despite the prophecies of Edward Bellamy and H. G. Wells, never mastered the technology of time travel. The art of it seems another matter. Our DeLoreans drive in one direction: reverse.
The ensuing Butterfly Effect alters the future rather than the past. We leave little in the way of cultural legacy as we continually mine our inheritance.
Do the culture wars really exist?
It’s no use pretending they’re a Right-wing fantasy
One of the most common tactics in public debate today is known as “bait and switch”: you believe you are being sold one thing, only for the deal to be changed behind your back and something else put in its place.
Your Afternoon Musical Interlude
Today is Cinco de Mayo.
It is also Children’s Day.
Today’s selections are from Chingon and Patty Griffin:
Slowing it down a bit with Elizabeth Mitchell’s, “You Are My Sunshine”: