Tag: writing

Simple Recommendations

I was recently asked by a wonderful friend, colleague, fellow intellectual, comrade, activist (did I leave anything out! 🙂 LOL): What are some recommedations you would make to help people working in the academy dealing with the profound level of ignorance found within and among our citizens. I truly don’t know if there is a ‘magic bullet’ that will solve the fierce and intense level of disinformation that is being heaped upon all of us by the various institutions within society. This entry is also impelled by my reading a book entitleed Using Gramsci: A New Approach by Michele Filippini. In this work he covers many of the themes found in the work of the Italian Marxist Antonio Gramsci. Gramsci spoke about the way in which hegemonic rule is predicated on ‘owning the means of production’ (He was a Marxist!). For Gramsci, an element of highly developed Capitalist societies is the bourgeoisie’s capacity to own the means of ‘mental’ production. This includes, but is not limited to, the media, the schools, the law etc. It is important to remember that the central (not exclusive!) feature distinguishing various perspectives within and among the various institution is found, in part, on their class perspective.

I recall having a discussion with a friend of mine talking about the differences and similarities between MSNBC, CNN, Fox, New York Times etc. While it would be naive to think that they are all the same it would be equally dangerous to think that they share nothing in common. One of the major qualities that they have in common is that they function to ‘produce profit’. They are, within the Capitalist ecological system, a Commodity. It is important to understand the implications of this reality. We frequently speak about the sad state of journalism in the United States; however, we fail to do a radical critique of the industry. What we frequently call Mainstream Media, whether conservative or liberal exist as profit business ventures. Their primary (not exclusive!) function is to create wealth, not to inform! ls this it’s only function?, of course not. But one should not be naive (or blissfully ignorant) of this reality. One’s world view is shaped by the options which we encounter in our daily lives. Marx famously said ““Men make their own history, but they do not make it as they please; they do not make it under self-selected circumstances, but under circumstances existing already, given and transmitted from the past.” we make our informed political decisions based on the information available within our information eco-system.

I read many things, this includes various genres of writing. In terms of political/social/economic discourse (also novels…etc.) what I find is most important is the purpose of production question. Why is this thing being created. I was reminded of this very abruptly once by a student of mine years ago when I was teaching a course on Mass Media. The student noticed that virtually all the magazines that I was reading had NO ADVERTISEMENTS among their pages. I didn’t even realize this until he pointed it out. It is a profound insight to realize that the function of these pages was not to get someone to ‘buy’ something! The raison d’etre for all of the mainstream magazines is as a vehicle to get their ‘sponsors’ information out to the public. It ‘uses’ news (whatever is deemed as news!) to get viewers. This now might take the form of ‘clickbait’ language. The common slang for how this was thought of in the news game was ‘if it bleeds, it leads’. Which is a way of saying that the purpose of much news is the sensationalizing of certain elements of reality. But that is merely a description of what is happening and doesn’t answer the WHY of what is happening. Now we can get a more accurate assessment of why this occurs. It functions this way precisely because it was never meant to inform. That is not its purpose when it is produced. It is produced to sell something!

This brings me to some very simple but powerful reccomendations that I will suggest to all the readers of this blog. I would also reccomend that you suggest this to anyone else who is involved in the shaping of consciousness of communities. I am going to post a list of some of the magazines that I have read, subrscribed to, or use in my general intellectual development. I will be honest, I know that I am a single person that has a lot of extra time to dedicate to this, but I also know that given the hegemonic power exercised by the ruling class in shaping mass culture, thought and sentiment we must be willing to engage in a powerful war of positionality (to use another Gramscian concept) to strive to move beyond these elements of false consciousness into a better place. This will allow our strategies (Praxis) to become much more effective. Finally, I find that to the degree that contemporary journalism in a Neo-Liberal reality is essentially commodified stupidity used to dull the senses, build despair, cultivate hate, and misdirect attention to immobilize our movements from being more effective we must fight this by supporting alternative media. To me the criteria for alternative media is that which is against Capital (I don’t just mean against Capitialism). It cannot exist for profit in any capacity. Market logic is the death of journalistic integrity. I will repeat this statement because it is so essential to understand my thesis: Market logic is the death of journalistic integrity. One of the final benefits that I have learned about supporting Alternative Media is that these communities frequently do so much good apart from their disseminating much needed information. I know one magazine The Progressive offers free subscriptions to prison inmates upon requests. I also know that In These Times offers free subscriptions to union members. It is for me incredibly gratifying that I can be a small part of supporting these efforts by my simple act of subscribing to these publications. I tried to get some of the libraries at the universities that I worked at to carry the hard copy of these publications and to subscribe to the online version. This is so important because it is absolutely an accepted position that virtually all of the major for profit magazines should be part of the litany of publications (The New York Times, The Atlantic, etc.) found in the library. For me it is of paramount importance that the ‘hidden bias’ of these publications be called into question, challenged and critiqued. It is also important to begin to break the hegemonic hold that Market logic has on virtually all aspects of our lives. Below is only a partial list. If anyone has others titles, I would be more than happy to explore them. I am deeply aware of the way in which Capitalism pretends to speak of creating conditions of neutrality all the while cloaking its non-neutral perspective in the language of an abstract (non-historical materialist) perspective. In order to explore this issue, I would very, very, very, very strongly recommend reading Passionate Declarations by Howard Zinn. It was originally titled Declarations of Independence: Cross-Examining American Ideology. The reason I bring this up is because I am very aware of how many non-profit entities now serve to buttress the Capitalist system.

Below is a list. My Simple Recommendation is that every person reading this subscribe for one year to one of these magazines or at the very least make it an intentional part of ones routine to look at this source (along with New York Times, Atlantic etc.). If there is concern around being ‘labeled’ as some type of anti-American person, be aware that this risk is a small price to pay for an act of resistance that really will have immediate impact. If nothing else tell people about these magazines/publications/perspectives etc. One of the most annoying/disturbing/frightening things is that the ruling class of the United States has been allowed too long to ‘frame’ the parameters of the discussion. This is most evident in how we speak of Bernie Sanders as a completely ‘radical-left-wing’ utopian dreamer. The reality is that in relation to much of the world Sanders’ policies are at best center-left. Two years ago, I read a book which rocked my world entitled American Exceptionalism and American Innocence: A People’s History of Fake News-From the Revolutionary War to the War on Terror by Roberto Sirvent and Danny Haiphong. I had never seen such a clear and incisive explanation of how the United States ruling elites create such a parochial and distorted view for its citizens. We as thought leaders in one form or another (educators, professor, activist etc.) have to claim some blame for the profound level of ignorance and outright stupidity of our citizens. Many of us are bereft of anything that resembles a truly global perspective. I have been witnessed to this level of ignorance on numerous occasions. I will give only one example as a point of reference.

When I was a student at Boston College we had a political discussion which included some of the faculty of Boston College. It included member from various schools within the university. One of the professors’ spoke of how Saddam Hussein was a horrible person (no denying this) and how he was evil and could not be rationally negotiated this. He failed to mention that at one point Saddam Husein was on the CIA payroll! I can assure everyone reading this that the people of Iraq knew about this! Hussein violated many international laws when he unjustly invaded Kuwait. These were some of the same laws that the U.S. violated when we invaded Panama! Again, rest assured much of the world knows about these hypocrisies. The professor also began to speak about 9/11. The day in which ‘the world changed’. He never mentioned that for people in Chile they have their own 9/11. It is the day that the United States helped overthrow a democratically elected president, Salvador Allende. Planes destroyed the presidential palace. I was at the time of this panel discussion/presentation reading a book entitled Chile 1973: The Other 9/11. Again, we live in a ‘world’ that apparently doesn’t include Chile! It was only because I was present that these two facts were introduced into the conversation. I am not saying this to somehow give myself praise, I was able to access this information, in part, because I had other sources (and perspectives) beyond the mainstream intellectual tradition allowed by the United State setting. This should cause all of us great sadness, anger, frustration among other feelings.

As I remind my students it is not our ‘fault’ (I agree with Marx we don’t make our lives from scratch but from a historical reality that we inherited) but it is our responsibility. As I said in a previous entry. It is no longer acceptable for anyone that claims to care about our various emancipatory struggles and concurrently be ignorant of the true history of radical critique and struggle found not only in the United States, but throughout the world. I am aware that I may sound like someone that knows it all…I assure you, I do not. This journey is one that is ongoing for all of us, but it might just begin with one step (and one subscription! 🙂 ) at a time.

The List (Pending further work)

  1. The Progressive
  2. In These Times
  3. Z magazine (online)
  4. Monthly Review
  5. Catalyst magazine
  6. Jacobin
  7. Sojourners
  8. Current Affairs
  9. Socialist Review
  10. Spectre Journal
  11. Dissent (kind of lightweight but good)
  12. Red Pepper

Class Logic/Class Patterns vs Class Consciousness

I have recently begun to try and find ways to speak of how the systemic and hegemonic qualities of Capital functions in our world. The most common term used to deal with questions of individual conduct and actions within Capitalism is the language of Class Consciousness. In Leftist (particularly Marxist) circles we can speak of operating from within a place of Class consciousness. This is especially true in terms of how various communities and individuals operate in their quotidian existence. We speak of how certain communities or individuals are aware or not of their class position or interests etc. While this is still an important aspect of understanding all social reality, I will suggest that it is indispensable but insufficient in fully grasping how it operates in creating the world we inhabit. In fact, I believe one cannot truly grasp reality without a large and clear vision of class consciousness. This statement is made all the more tragic in that most academics and intellectuals in the United States have what Dr. King termed a ‘moribund fear of communism’, and anything attached to it as a tool of analysis. I also find that given our highly individualistic manner of viewing reality the language of individuals becoming or bring class conscious can also serve to obscure an important element of not only Capitalist reality but all economic reality. This obscuring becomes even more pronounced because the dominant understanding of the individual is an atomized entity who chooses to engage in various communities or social realities. So, the power, authority, and function of Class is predicated on the individuals buying into this consciousness. I think it is important to highlight the ability of Class consciousness to operate autonomous of the individual or even the community’s awareness. In this sense I like the phrase of Class Logic (or Class Patterns).

In speaking of Class Logic, we can speak of how Capital as a system operates in a hegemonic manner irrespective of how people desire or choose to relate to it. There are many reasons why, for me, this has become important to address. One of the main reasons is that I have recently noticed how people speak of how part of the problem of suffering of the world is due to certain personal (read individual) qualities have become stronger within our society. “People are so much more selfish, greedy, self-centered etc.)” then in previous eras. The reality is that, as a species, these qualities within our species have probably not changed that much in our lifetime. We have not recently grown a greediness gland that has made us extra greedy, or selfish or anything else. The reality is that as a species we are pretty much the same as we have been for hundreds if not thousands of years.

It should come as no surprise that one of the reasons that I have become interested in this issue, besides what is mentioned above, is that of reading a book entitled Using Gramsci: A New Approach by Michele Fillippini. In the book he revisits many of the key themes and insights found in the corpus of Antonio Gramsci, this obviously includes the ideas of ideology and hegemony. In the text he notes ‘that there is only one definition of ideology in the Prison Notebooks, where it is described as a ‘scientific, energetic, educational hypothesis that is verified <and criticized> by the real developement of history, that is, it is turned into a science.’ After stating this he speak of some fundamental principles that are established from this definition.

There are many implications to this definition a brief but incomplete summary of these principles is found below:

  1. Ideology has a hypothetical character which suggests that ‘it does not contain any principle of truth…but is open to ‘truth procedures’.
  2. It has an element of education and is linked to the transformation of the subjects it impacts
  3. It is always linked to the ‘real development of history’ and because of this is always influx and ‘susceptible to gradual adjustments and never formalized in any doctrine’
  4. Ideology is ‘turned into a science’ where it does, in fact, contain ‘a certain degree of objectivity (always understood as historically subjective).’

One of the wonderful developments is to understand ideology as organic and not static allows us to move away from the notion that we are just subjects who are filled with certain static characteristics like greed, kindness, selfishness, generosity etc. And that we are victims to the way in which these things have changed over historical time. Ideology becomes a very real place of contestation and struggle in the emancipatory struggle for the creation of a Beloved Community. But this is done precisely by what Gramsci terms a Philosophy of Praxis. This empowers us to understand that historical conditions have to be changed not ‘merely’ the changing the hearts of individuals. This also further clarifies what, for Gramsci means by the way in which hegemony is a totalizing process. It impacts both the inner experience of individuals and the social/political/economic realities of the moment. What for Gramsci is sometimes referred to as the Historical Bloc.

I am constantly amazed at how people wish to ‘personalize’ the political. I think this is part of the problem with our current misunderstood ‘polarized’ worldview of political discourse. I frequently hear, why do you hate Elon Musk, Bill Gates Jr. etc. I have to remind the people that I don’t know these people (nor do I suspect that the people making this observation do?). The question is not what Bill Gates or Elon Musk think or feel but in fact what these peoples ideological reality has them think or feel. If ideology functions somewhat (not totally) independent of an individuals personality or choice we can speak of a transpersonal or depersonal element to ideological formation. It is not they (Musk, Gates et al) who possess these thoughts, feelings etc. but rather given their location in this Historical Bloc they are possessed by these thoughts or feelings. To that degree it is about the necessity of altering the historical conditions under which all of us live for us to become a truly Beloved Community.

What I think we have to begin to understand is that much of what we think/feel/experience is shaped based on our location within a predetermined social environment. Yes, the primary (not exclusive) element of this environment is Class position. Teaching at many institutions I have been blessed to see the effect of ‘immersion’ experiences on a person’s foundational worldview. I am always stunned when I see a ‘business major’ student finally make it to the Frontera/Border to see how the undocumented are treated within the Capitalist (Neoliberal Free Market) system. It is for them a rude awakening how little this system which claims to aspirational claims about Freedom and Choice don’t give a damn about either of these things when it comes to these communities. Virtually no amount of them being told how Capitalism ‘Looks’ different depending on your Class location will do the trick of a day in these various realities. No amount of exposure to other viewpoints will alter one’s position but it begins us to allow a fluidity which an begin to awaken us to what Gramsci called a ‘war of positionality’ that can begin to create new layers of Class consciousness. This along with a continued application of his wonderful Philosophy of Praxis may allow us to slowly steer the course of humanity away from this death dealing system and towards a more Beloved Community.

I want to end on a very practical note. I am not naive, I am very well aware that for the Beloved Community to exist individual people who currently inhabit a certain social space (the wealthy) will cease to exist as a Class. Not the individuals but the social space they inhabit. That reality will no longer exist. To the degree that they are wedded to that identity it will be a painful experience for the individual. I have a simple example that may clarify this issue. There are certain things that I could do in my 20s, 30s even 40s that I can no longer do in my 60s (soon to be mid-60s!). I am still alive (thank God!) but certain ways that I inhabited social reality are no longer available to me. To the degree that I am wedded to that identity I must ‘die’ so that my authentic (healthy) Rene Sanchez can live at my current age. We must never lose the humanity of our sisters and brothers, but we must be honest about what it will entail for us to transform this profoundly suffering world into something more closely resembling a heaven on earth. Knowing that we will always fall short, and therefore always in need of generosity and forgiveness from our fellow creatures.