Benjamín Schultz-Figueroa

I have thoughts! But I'm headed out the door. Will reply later.

Or was that what you were already describing in your second point!

Sounds great! I haven't read it.

Absolutely! Although, to give her credit, she is clear that she's talking about an *aesthetic* the whole time, which leaves open the possibility that the reality was different.

Yeah, I guess I'm wondering if the lynch mob or posse or militia might be that precedent, but I have to think more about all this.

Yes, although I also wonder if this kind of participatory group violence wasn't already in the mix in the 20th century (especially in the US) in some form or another.

I think that might be what's happening, but I'm genuinely not sure.

On its face, it's a sort of silly claim.

Yes! Absolutely

Might also explain why I'm so opposed to her ending claim that American fascism can be seen in the nascent BDSM community/aesthetics (which she argues is akin to the desire to be dominated by a fascist leader); whereas I see it much more in kitchy forms of self expression and easy anti-authority.

Good point!

I think this is also why I'm skeptical of her general tendency to describe individualism as a defense against fascism. They may not be as incompatible as they seem.

J6 rioters

A lynch mob

In America, I believe participating in group violence has been seen as an expression of individuality. Thinking of the lynching souvenirs or the wild costumes of the J6 rioters. They seem to say "I was there and I participated!" It is a very American brand of fascist logic.

Sontag's description of fascist dramaturgy

Image from Triumph of the Will

Thinking about Sontag's description of fascist dramaturgy in "Fascinating Fascism," which is derived from Reifenstahl's work. I feel as though it gets something wrong about group violence and the crowd that makes it hard to apply to a US context, but I'm struggling to put my finger on it.

I think this is also why I'm skeptical of her general tendency to describe individualism as a defense against fascism. They may not be as incompatible as they seem.

J6 rioters

A lynch mob

In America, I believe participating in group violence has been seen as an expression of individuality. Thinking of the lynching souvenirs or the wild costumes of the J6 rioters. They seem to say "I was there and I participated!" It is a very American brand of fascist logic.

Sontag's description of fascist dramaturgy

Image from Triumph of the Will

Thinking about Sontag's description of fascist dramaturgy in "Fascinating Fascism," which is derived from Reifenstahl's work. I feel as though it gets something wrong about group violence and the crowd that makes it hard to apply to a US context, but I'm struggling to put my finger on it.

Musk: Reality is probably a simulation

Also Musk: Race is definitely real

Willfully missing the point of the “Movie Theaters Forever” meme — no, we do not want to watch LAWRENCE OF ARABIA on our phones, Ted Sarandos — but this 16mm film distribution historian supports the sentiment, underscores that nontheatrical is perennial, film history’s past, present, and future.

I feel this way about a lot of tech generally. I hate having to learn 5 to 10 new programs every year just to do normal things like going shopping, sending my kids to school, submitting grades, etc.

In these cases, AI is being used to solder together the libertarian goal of dismantling administrative capacity with the fascist goal of ever present control and enforcement. This mediating function between contrasting desires is at least as important whether it actually works.

there's a parallel between nonprofit world and academia, where there's a constant tide of idealistic, hopeful people coming in the door, and the people on top are able to lever that commitment to The Cause to extract from them in a way that's harder when everyone's just there to make a buck

Right.... I forgot how early it was in the timeline.

Why was GotG so important? Can you say more?

Get Out? If for no other reason than its impact on the industry (though it's also impeccably made)

*"feel good" not "hear good"

Horror Studies Now is a fantastic conference and with a Jan 30th deadline there is still plenty of time to get those abstracts in! Check it out #Horror scholars 👇 #HorrorSky

Screengrab from Gene Boy Came Home (2007)

Screengrab from Gene Boy Came Home (2007)

Screengrab from Gene Boy Came Home (2007)

Screengrab from Gene Boy Came Home (2007)

Gene Boy Came Home (2007). Another rich if upsetting one. It's about a 17yo who moved from the Odanak Indian Reserve to NY for work, joined the marines, and fought in Vietnam. Despite a gentle tone, the man's memories combine with documentary evidence to create a searing indictment of the US army.

Yes, that's the worry.

Yeah... I try so hard not to be "that parent" but I might need to be this time.