Back in the 20th century, I watched in horror as the first Republican crusade began its onslaught against our democracy. Feeding on a craven media and the absence of oppositional voices, the juggernaut gathered power in a relentless drive to dismantle the institutions and consensus that had guided us through depression, world war, civil rights, and the spectre of mutually assured destruction.
Like others who sought to speak out, my efforts were thwarted by the depth of the subversion being perpetrated. The means of political discourse were overtaken by a corporate media whose frame of reference legitimized the new order and marginalized dissent. Those who refused this framework were confined to the isolated subcultures of leftist politics or alternative culture, without the possibility of engaging the multitude, let alone building a community of opposition.
Throughout the Reagan-Bush years, I attempted to contest the media in its own terms. Not simply to respond to the latest Republican atrocity, but to scramble the words and phrases in which such outrages were imbued with legitimacy. Using satire, sarcasm and rank derision, I pushed the absurdity of the prevailing narratives to the point of collapse, revealing a world run by photo opp and simulation, where democratic values had surrendered to production values.
Today, in our 3rd or 4th iteration of the Republican revolution, these things are well known. At the time, however, the point was somewhat harder to get across. The outlets were few and far between and the language was novel -- further complicated by the fact that in those preGenX, preDaily Show days, comedy venues eschewed politics and political publications had no sense of humor.
Looking back, it's obvious that these outbursts of political passion, snark, and ad hoc analysis were stranded blog posts waiting for the blogosphere to happen. The familiar playlist is all here: bloodthirsty neocons, sanctimonious pundits, presidential imbecility, Sadam, and a media intent on insinuating its artifice into the skein of reality.
I offer them now in the format and to the communtiy for which they were unconsciously intended: A retroblog of the origins of our current catastrophe, which hopefully will add historical resonance to the critique rising like a beacon of hope from the progressive blogosphere.
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Like others who sought to speak out, my efforts were thwarted by the depth of the subversion being perpetrated. The means of political discourse were overtaken by a corporate media whose frame of reference legitimized the new order and marginalized dissent. Those who refused this framework were confined to the isolated subcultures of leftist politics or alternative culture, without the possibility of engaging the multitude, let alone building a community of opposition.
Throughout the Reagan-Bush years, I attempted to contest the media in its own terms. Not simply to respond to the latest Republican atrocity, but to scramble the words and phrases in which such outrages were imbued with legitimacy. Using satire, sarcasm and rank derision, I pushed the absurdity of the prevailing narratives to the point of collapse, revealing a world run by photo opp and simulation, where democratic values had surrendered to production values.
Today, in our 3rd or 4th iteration of the Republican revolution, these things are well known. At the time, however, the point was somewhat harder to get across. The outlets were few and far between and the language was novel -- further complicated by the fact that in those preGenX, preDaily Show days, comedy venues eschewed politics and political publications had no sense of humor.
Looking back, it's obvious that these outbursts of political passion, snark, and ad hoc analysis were stranded blog posts waiting for the blogosphere to happen. The familiar playlist is all here: bloodthirsty neocons, sanctimonious pundits, presidential imbecility, Sadam, and a media intent on insinuating its artifice into the skein of reality.
I offer them now in the format and to the communtiy for which they were unconsciously intended: A retroblog of the origins of our current catastrophe, which hopefully will add historical resonance to the critique rising like a beacon of hope from the progressive blogosphere.
