At the Altar

An interesting excerpt from an important article discussing the tendency of lefties to worship at the altar of fame, celebrity and conformity and how it is clear to see what those on the left oppose, but less clear to see what they encourage:

Our criticism of Butler was quite independent of the merits or lack thereof of Derrida - but perhaps a criticism of his defender amounts to a criticism of him and is therefore not allowed. At any rate, Butler's open letter to the Times is a classic example of precisely this evasive non-substantive suggestion of impropriety that you mention. It's basically an argument from celebrity. 'How dare you publish such a snide obituary, Derrida was hugely influential, he was celebrated, he was a big deal.' Well - an impartial observer might think, reading her letter, that if she is an example of his influence, it wasn't much to boast about. It's a shocking thing to read, in a way - the combination of evasiveness, empty rhetoric, in-groupy outrage, and gormless awe at fame is not what one wants to read in someone who is routinely described as 'an academic star' (and to her shame she doesn't repudiate the description).

This perhaps seems like a side path, but I think it isn't. I think the whole subject is mixed up with celebrity-worship, fandom, star-hugging, fashion, trendiness, attention-seeking, in a truly depressing and distasteful (albeit morbidly fascinating) way. I think there wouldn't be those bizarre reactions of affront and indignation otherwise.

But what on earth is 'left' about that? Nothing, I would say. The only connection I've been able to come up with is that the left is generally a fan of reform and change and improvement and therefore drawn to the new, the best latest thing, thus susceptible to being over impressed by the trendy. But that doesn't really satisfy - it's not as respectable as that. It seems more like just plain childish fandom and star-worship. I have no idea what is 'left' about that.

DT:  Well, as to what’s ‘left’ about the worship of dubious figures, I’m inclined to cough and mutter “Marx”, “Castro”, “Chavez” and “Che Guevara T-shirts.” Communist societies are surprisingly big on idolatry, aren’t they? It seems to be a practical consequence of egalitarian philosophy applied in the real world. Keeping everyone equally miserable requires some kind of deity, usually one with a firm hand. How many times have we seen Mao depicted as a god, complete with radiation beaming from his head, like some Communist Godzilla?

As a teenager I remember seeing CCCP badges and the people wearing them didn’t seem too concerned with the connotations of that project. Likewise, those on the left who seem smitten by Castro or Guevara don’t seem unduly bothered by the Cuban concentration camps for roqueros and other “bohemian elements.”

I suppose it’s not too much of a leap from identifying with Castro or Chavez because of their opposition to capitalism or American “hegemony” and identifying with the contortions of Derrida and Foucault for not dissimilar reasons. Both are postures of rebellion with no obvious moral foundation or practical usefulness. Ditto the white middle-class lefties who wave placards announcing “We are all Hizballah now.” I guess it’s something to do with “giving it to the man” or not liking one’s parents or something. It all seems a tad narcissistic to me, and just a little depraved.
 

....... I’ve some sympathy with Stephen Hicks, whose Explaining Postmodernism I read alongside Why Truth Matters. Crudely summarised, Hicks sees the rise of relativism, obscurantism and censoriousness on the left as marking a crisis of faith and a retreat from reality. As a practical blueprint, Socialism has been refuted. The question is what’s been left in the space it used to occupy, other than confusion, narcissism and a state of denial.
 

http://davidthompson.typepad.com/davidthompson/2007/02/pomo_terry_eagl_1.html