We should not give into indifference, but we cannot spend the next 1300 days giving into reactivity about every infantile provocation. Far more damaging to our society is Trump and company’s attack on the secular basis of what passes for democracy in the US.
The Catholic Church is one of the most corrupt institutions in human history. They really are not worth defending.
Carlota G. shared this video with me, in it Zizek says that Musk is the final end result of the '68 revolutions, where rebellion and disrespecting social norms are good in themselves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wce4V6adAOE
Of course that was from a position of being powerless outsiders, now that same 'rebellion' has been absorbed into the heart of the mainstream, where the beneficiaries of endless hereditary privilege and government handouts style themselves as rebels.
Zizek suggests that the Left reclaim the term 'moral majority' for itself, because the Right has utterly abandoned morality. Which is why Brand and Tate are at home there, of course.
If you kiss Trump's boots he will then demand you kiss his ass. And so on from there....
That was a great interview with Zizek. He’s an interesting character who really understands geopolitics, cultural shifts, and feminism from a unique historical perspective. A valuable voice for these times. Thank you for sharing.
I would like to create a link to your analysis of the Trump/pope image on the gallery's instagram page as it so precisely draws the line between transgressive art and this image of Trump. Would allow me to do this and to which url should I link the post.
I recall seeing the Andres Serrano, Piss Christ, 1987 piece in this little Ohio town during the summer Arts Festival. Certainly caused quite a stir. Trumps’ pope trolling just reinforces the #MuteDeMutant ! There are similarities in Roman catholic hierarchy over the millennia and the Republicanmaga minions over the last seven decades, would one say?
Trying, but I don't think I can come up with a criminal organization more evil or of greater duration than the catholic church. you want to call it or its degenerate legacy of pedophilia, genocide, etc, "sacred," well, ok. But this is true: "....an attention-seeking narcissist, he clearly enjoys taking anything considered by anyone to be sacred, solemn, or at least meaningful and valuable, and symbolically denigrating and mocking it, to attract more media coverage." So my question is: Why are you serving him the attention he's thirsting for? You've written more pieces on Trump than any writer I follow. There are a lot of reasons he occupies your white house. Love to see you apply your wit to them instead of the clownish acts he was put there to perform.
I don't think writing a piece like this is bringing more attention to Trump... It is more about understanding the structure of media communication and Fascism. I think the point of an image like this is that it increases the numb dissociative feeling people have... most of my friends tell me they don't even pay attention to what's happening politically. I feel the extreme debasement and idiocy inflicted on us is an attempt to have us avoid the train wreck and the carnage. But as we ignore it they keep amplifying the corruption and greed... so I am trying to find ways for us to respond creatively by understanding what is being done to our cognitive and attentional apparatus by this barrage.
I have made a decision not to follow Trump in the news and analysis. So you are the only reading I do on this topic. I see this as an analysis of how fascism is enveloping the West more than one personality.
Great news in Australia. They followed Canada and rejected Trumpism by returning a left wing government. Without Trump’s example of right wing nuttiness this may not have happened
It is a hard needle to thread. I have wished for so long that we as a society could starve this beast of his only real food aside from kfc and Diet Coke, but the reach has extended too far.
As for reasons he’s in the White House, I am trying to find a way to persuasively articulate an underreported angle. With the help of chat, here’s what I have so far (today—a bigger piece elsewhere):
“Many people are right to feel that the system is broken—but they’re being misled about both the cause and the cure. Trump-world taps into real grievances: rising inequality, vanishing jobs, and a sense that America’s wealth has been siphoned away. But instead of addressing the structural roots—like financialization, outsourcing, and the burden of maintaining the dollar as the world’s reserve currency—they turn that anger into spectacle and scapegoating, all while further concentrating wealth and power in elite hands.
The Democrats, meanwhile, are often seen as the rational alternative—but few in either party are willing to confront the deeper economic machinery at work. Most Americans are unaware that our global financial dominance has come at a long-term cost to domestic industry, wages, and resilience. Until we can name those forces and reimagine our role in the global economy, we risk oscillating between false choices—each promising salvation, neither willing to dismantle the system that keeps ordinary people losing ground.”
If I were to round out the economic argument with two emotional words that I think have dominated left wing culture, it would be “scold” and “shame.” As a mom and a functional human being, it has been clear to me forever that nothing good comes from those two stances. Even when you are 100% right and righteous.
I more or less disagree, now that we've seen the vicious backlash to the election of Pope Leo by Trump's mostly Protestant so-called Christian supporters. I think it might (at least also) been a preemptive sop to them, a way to distract them from the new pope's obvious moral objections to Trump's callous treatment of immigrants, marginalized people and the poor.
The political arm of the Catholic Church in the USA is not a Cardinal or a Catholic university. It is Leonard Leo, who pumped millions into the election of this unmanageable clown.
We should not give into indifference, but we cannot spend the next 1300 days giving into reactivity about every infantile provocation. Far more damaging to our society is Trump and company’s attack on the secular basis of what passes for democracy in the US.
The Catholic Church is one of the most corrupt institutions in human history. They really are not worth defending.
Definitely agree
Carlota G. shared this video with me, in it Zizek says that Musk is the final end result of the '68 revolutions, where rebellion and disrespecting social norms are good in themselves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wce4V6adAOE
Of course that was from a position of being powerless outsiders, now that same 'rebellion' has been absorbed into the heart of the mainstream, where the beneficiaries of endless hereditary privilege and government handouts style themselves as rebels.
Zizek suggests that the Left reclaim the term 'moral majority' for itself, because the Right has utterly abandoned morality. Which is why Brand and Tate are at home there, of course.
If you kiss Trump's boots he will then demand you kiss his ass. And so on from there....
That was a great interview with Zizek. He’s an interesting character who really understands geopolitics, cultural shifts, and feminism from a unique historical perspective. A valuable voice for these times. Thank you for sharing.
Another blinding obvious sign of Trump fulfilling his occult and long-preordained role of the Aeon in the ongoing ritual of history.
Another sensible title for that piece could be antichrist.
Hi Daniel,
I would like to create a link to your analysis of the Trump/pope image on the gallery's instagram page as it so precisely draws the line between transgressive art and this image of Trump. Would allow me to do this and to which url should I link the post.
Thanks for considering, Thomas
Hi Thomas, Sure... I can make the piece public tomorrow morning. I will send you the link or post it here in the comments.
I recall seeing the Andres Serrano, Piss Christ, 1987 piece in this little Ohio town during the summer Arts Festival. Certainly caused quite a stir. Trumps’ pope trolling just reinforces the #MuteDeMutant ! There are similarities in Roman catholic hierarchy over the millennia and the Republicanmaga minions over the last seven decades, would one say?
Trying, but I don't think I can come up with a criminal organization more evil or of greater duration than the catholic church. you want to call it or its degenerate legacy of pedophilia, genocide, etc, "sacred," well, ok. But this is true: "....an attention-seeking narcissist, he clearly enjoys taking anything considered by anyone to be sacred, solemn, or at least meaningful and valuable, and symbolically denigrating and mocking it, to attract more media coverage." So my question is: Why are you serving him the attention he's thirsting for? You've written more pieces on Trump than any writer I follow. There are a lot of reasons he occupies your white house. Love to see you apply your wit to them instead of the clownish acts he was put there to perform.
I don't think writing a piece like this is bringing more attention to Trump... It is more about understanding the structure of media communication and Fascism. I think the point of an image like this is that it increases the numb dissociative feeling people have... most of my friends tell me they don't even pay attention to what's happening politically. I feel the extreme debasement and idiocy inflicted on us is an attempt to have us avoid the train wreck and the carnage. But as we ignore it they keep amplifying the corruption and greed... so I am trying to find ways for us to respond creatively by understanding what is being done to our cognitive and attentional apparatus by this barrage.
I agree and am very much a fan of what you’re doing
I have made a decision not to follow Trump in the news and analysis. So you are the only reading I do on this topic. I see this as an analysis of how fascism is enveloping the West more than one personality.
Great news in Australia. They followed Canada and rejected Trumpism by returning a left wing government. Without Trump’s example of right wing nuttiness this may not have happened
It is a hard needle to thread. I have wished for so long that we as a society could starve this beast of his only real food aside from kfc and Diet Coke, but the reach has extended too far.
As for reasons he’s in the White House, I am trying to find a way to persuasively articulate an underreported angle. With the help of chat, here’s what I have so far (today—a bigger piece elsewhere):
“Many people are right to feel that the system is broken—but they’re being misled about both the cause and the cure. Trump-world taps into real grievances: rising inequality, vanishing jobs, and a sense that America’s wealth has been siphoned away. But instead of addressing the structural roots—like financialization, outsourcing, and the burden of maintaining the dollar as the world’s reserve currency—they turn that anger into spectacle and scapegoating, all while further concentrating wealth and power in elite hands.
The Democrats, meanwhile, are often seen as the rational alternative—but few in either party are willing to confront the deeper economic machinery at work. Most Americans are unaware that our global financial dominance has come at a long-term cost to domestic industry, wages, and resilience. Until we can name those forces and reimagine our role in the global economy, we risk oscillating between false choices—each promising salvation, neither willing to dismantle the system that keeps ordinary people losing ground.”
If I were to round out the economic argument with two emotional words that I think have dominated left wing culture, it would be “scold” and “shame.” As a mom and a functional human being, it has been clear to me forever that nothing good comes from those two stances. Even when you are 100% right and righteous.
I more or less disagree, now that we've seen the vicious backlash to the election of Pope Leo by Trump's mostly Protestant so-called Christian supporters. I think it might (at least also) been a preemptive sop to them, a way to distract them from the new pope's obvious moral objections to Trump's callous treatment of immigrants, marginalized people and the poor.
Excellant!
The political arm of the Catholic Church in the USA is not a Cardinal or a Catholic university. It is Leonard Leo, who pumped millions into the election of this unmanageable clown.
I thought he lost it in the end - will fix