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hello, anyone still here?
Anyway, I decided to do some more research on the subject of 60’s radicals and their relation to academia because it was an interesting discussion Slopefarm, Arkady and I were having and it seemed worth exploring further.
I decided to look into articles discussing the critical theorists like Focault and Derrida to support my original contention that much of today’s hard left was informed by the radical activism of the 60’s which in turn was rooted in the dissatisfaction with “standard” college courses of study in service of a capitalist society.
I think the following paragraph summarizes what I was getting at very well:
“… Critical theory has had its ups and downs. Critical theory from the 1930s through the 1960s was arguably on the cutting edge of social theory. [1] The critical theorists were among the first to analyze the new configurations of state and economy in the social formations of state capitalism. They were among the first to see the importance of mass communications and culture in the constitution of advanced capitalist societies. The critical theorists developed some of the first critiques of the consumer society and saw the important role of needs, commodities, and consumption in the contemporary organization of society. They saw science and technology as forces and relations of production and as providing legitimating ideologies for contemporary capitalist societies. Critical theory distinguished itself through its critique of positivism, noting that the positivist sciences were instrumental in reproducing existing social relations and obstructing social change.”
There is no doubt that critical theorists had a large influence on 60’s radicals as they formed the most potent counter-arguments(building on established Marxist principles)to an emerging American/Capitalist domination from the 30’s onward. For those seeking a structured theoretical approach to protesting the status quo, it seems a course of college study along those lines would not only ensure an intellectual reinforcement of those leanings but an environment in which other like-minded individuals and professors could be found.
In that sense, I believe that slopefarm is right in stating that they “…opted out before ever trying to opt in.”
At the same time however, they probably understood that following courses of study in areas underpinned by Critical Theory presented a viable long term strategy to advance their greater interest in political change. Over the decades they have moved into positions of influence and
leadership in academia and continue to influence the growing divide between the ideological Left and the practical Right through policy making, research, writings and instruction in the nation’s academic centers.
just read your yak story. cant you do bother? ugh sometimes office secret santas are like the only and best gift i get some years hahahahha. last year i got a Hooters dish set! yay! spending money to buy some third world family a yak? fuck that.
Donatella, stick to your guns. Maybe find the other folks in the office who agree with you, do a Kris Kringle amongst yourselves and let the other nimrods buy the damn yak. If she really wants to give to the poor, find a local family in need (see the NYT needy cases) and give them a donation of toys, household necessities, etc.
I agree. I was complaining about it. I don’t want to buy a Yak. Last week I was writing about charity and we were all talking about giving to an organization which would give an animal to a poor family (in our case in lieu of an office Kris Kringle.)
Here was my update earlier.
YAK Update:
This is interesting follow up to my comments about the Yak that some people collectively were discussing as a gift to a “poor” person in Arizona in lieu of the little Kris Kringle trinket exchange.
I decided to be honest with the person who asked.
“Hey, we have had a tough year here this year and been through a lot and I think it would be nice that we take the time to do the silly little gift exchange, so that we can make one another laugh and feel good about things and the new year to come. I really want to do that and not buy a Yak.”
“She said, if we decide to do that, I am not doing anything because I am not buying anything for any of these fucking people.”
Back to the basic principle: Charity begins at home.
(From a person who was stupid enough to lose her temper with the top person here…..)
what’s wrong with rudd, hoffman, et al? They were pretty much right, imo. i like when hoffman threw a bunch of dollar bills on the floor of the NYSE, and all the traders went scrambling. did you know that’s when they fenced off the visitors gallery?
Donatella, that yak idea sucks. What’s wrong with her? Office Kris Kringle is a much better idea. Tell her to go kick rocks and buy her own damned yak.
hello, anyone still here?
Anyway, I decided to do some more research on the subject of 60’s radicals and their relation to academia because it was an interesting discussion Slopefarm, Arkady and I were having and it seemed worth exploring further.
I decided to look into articles discussing the critical theorists like Focault and Derrida to support my original contention that much of today’s hard left was informed by the radical activism of the 60’s which in turn was rooted in the dissatisfaction with “standard” college courses of study in service of a capitalist society.
I think the following paragraph summarizes what I was getting at very well:
“… Critical theory has had its ups and downs. Critical theory from the 1930s through the 1960s was arguably on the cutting edge of social theory. [1] The critical theorists were among the first to analyze the new configurations of state and economy in the social formations of state capitalism. They were among the first to see the importance of mass communications and culture in the constitution of advanced capitalist societies. The critical theorists developed some of the first critiques of the consumer society and saw the important role of needs, commodities, and consumption in the contemporary organization of society. They saw science and technology as forces and relations of production and as providing legitimating ideologies for contemporary capitalist societies. Critical theory distinguished itself through its critique of positivism, noting that the positivist sciences were instrumental in reproducing existing social relations and obstructing social change.”
There is no doubt that critical theorists had a large influence on 60’s radicals as they formed the most potent counter-arguments(building on established Marxist principles)to an emerging American/Capitalist domination from the 30’s onward. For those seeking a structured theoretical approach to protesting the status quo, it seems a course of college study along those lines would not only ensure an intellectual reinforcement of those leanings but an environment in which other like-minded individuals and professors could be found.
In that sense, I believe that slopefarm is right in stating that they “…opted out before ever trying to opt in.”
At the same time however, they probably understood that following courses of study in areas underpinned by Critical Theory presented a viable long term strategy to advance their greater interest in political change. Over the decades they have moved into positions of influence and
leadership in academia and continue to influence the growing divide between the ideological Left and the practical Right through policy making, research, writings and instruction in the nation’s academic centers.
Interesting Article:
http://homepage.newschool.edu/~quigleyt/vcs/kellner.html
just read your yak story. cant you do bother? ugh sometimes office secret santas are like the only and best gift i get some years hahahahha. last year i got a Hooters dish set! yay! spending money to buy some third world family a yak? fuck that.
*rob*
So Lechacal, say it!
BAH HUMBUG!
To hell with the damn yak. Buy a homeless guy a hamburger if you want to do something. Or buy him vodka, he’ll appreciate that more.
I hate Christmas sooooo much. Everything get so retarded this time of year.
That is EXACTLY how I feel, Snappy. I feel better about life now. Thank you!!
Donatella, stick to your guns. Maybe find the other folks in the office who agree with you, do a Kris Kringle amongst yourselves and let the other nimrods buy the damn yak. If she really wants to give to the poor, find a local family in need (see the NYT needy cases) and give them a donation of toys, household necessities, etc.
Snappy,
I agree. I was complaining about it. I don’t want to buy a Yak. Last week I was writing about charity and we were all talking about giving to an organization which would give an animal to a poor family (in our case in lieu of an office Kris Kringle.)
Here was my update earlier.
YAK Update:
This is interesting follow up to my comments about the Yak that some people collectively were discussing as a gift to a “poor” person in Arizona in lieu of the little Kris Kringle trinket exchange.
I decided to be honest with the person who asked.
“Hey, we have had a tough year here this year and been through a lot and I think it would be nice that we take the time to do the silly little gift exchange, so that we can make one another laugh and feel good about things and the new year to come. I really want to do that and not buy a Yak.”
“She said, if we decide to do that, I am not doing anything because I am not buying anything for any of these fucking people.”
Back to the basic principle: Charity begins at home.
(From a person who was stupid enough to lose her temper with the top person here…..)
I’m not buying a YAK. I’m having a YAK ATTACK.
what’s wrong with rudd, hoffman, et al? They were pretty much right, imo. i like when hoffman threw a bunch of dollar bills on the floor of the NYSE, and all the traders went scrambling. did you know that’s when they fenced off the visitors gallery?
Donatella, that yak idea sucks. What’s wrong with her? Office Kris Kringle is a much better idea. Tell her to go kick rocks and buy her own damned yak.