Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id VAA06712 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Wed, 27 Feb 2002 21:26:52 GMT Message-ID: <004601c1bfd4$e3b5d0c0$1387b2d1@teddace> From: "Dace" <edace@earthlink.net> To: <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> References: <F70idcDjoYAPNXRPmca0000982f@hotmail.com> Subject: Re: Words and memes Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2002 13:22:39 -0800 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4133.2400 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.50.4133.2400 Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
From: Scott Chase
> > > >Keith,
> > > >
> > > >I readily concede that the cattle killing involved a delusion, as did
the
> > > >Jews at Masada. But the inaccuracy of a belief doesn't necessarily
> > > >make it "mutant." Myth is universal among pre-scientific cultures
and > > > >is extremely important at binding communities. The idea that the
> > > >Xhosa would regain in paradise all that they had destroyed on earth
> > > >helped them to resist their absorption into an alien culture. It
enabled
> > > >them to control their demise, to retain their human dignity to the
end,
> > > >just like Masada. This is a healthy meme. If everyone resisted
> > > >enslavement to the death, there would be no imperialism, no
> > > >systematic injustice and inequality. We would indeed be inhabiting
> > > >paradise.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > Isn't Masada still a big component of the Israeli-Jewish cultural
> > > milieu? _The Complete Idiot's Guide to Middle East Conflict_ (by
> > > Mitchell Bard, 1999, Alpha Books, Indianapolis) refers to a "Masada
> > > complex" and says that Israeli soldiers swear an oath ("Masada shall
> > > not fall again") at the Masada site. Hopefully I'm not reliving the
> > > mosque/mosquito thing here.
> >
> >Yet another example of the degeneration of culture to cult.
> >
> >
> Can you elaborate a little?
What began as a symbol of resistance to subjugation has mutated into an
excuse to perpetuate the subjugation of another people. This kind of
transformation is especially common in capitalist society. What began as
culture, for instance the rock music of the late sixties, becomes
commodified as the same songs are played over and over again on "classic
rock" stations. Science fiction has gone through this process twice. It
got started in the 19th century as a fascinating new strand of literature
only to ossify into the pulp mags of the twenties and thirties. Then, right
around WWII, it was renewed by the inspired writings of Heinlein, Asimov,
Dick, Bayley, etc., only to sink once more into mindless muck.
Toynbee built his whole notion of history around this concept.
Civilizations are born as dynamic cultures but eventually enter into a "time
of troubles," when society breaks down into different factions vying for
control over the vast wealth unleashed by the initial period of development.
This phase ultimately yields to the "universal state," in which order is
restored at the cost of freedom. Society is cemented into place, and it's
only a matter of time before the cracks begin emerging and the weeds start
breaking through. Once the senescent civilization disintegrates altogether,
the cycle begins again. In my terminology, culture degenerates into cult,
which provides the fertilizer from which a new culture is born.
Ted
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