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rinueThe tone of the twentieth century was set by three things: Sigmund Freud, Jack the Ripper, and the Russian Revolution. Almost any definitive historical event can be traced to one of them, or more often to all three. From Jack comes the sexualization of violence, sensationalist news as entertainment, the idea that the rich should care for the unfortunate, conspiracy theories as common trade, and the notion that the bad guys get away with it. From the revolution, you get class struggle on a large scale, the end of aristocracy, equality among all classes, war conducted on and by civilians, Josef Stalin, and the Cold War. The two combined birthed Hitler, nationalism, and paranoia. Freud rounded us out with sexual liberation, psychotherapy, blaming our parents, and the preeminence of the brain.
I'm not saying that none of these concepts existed before, but that these three factors drove them home and influenced everyone so profoundly -- whether directly or indirectly -- that they can be given almost full credit for the last century. They were definitive.
I strongly suspect that September 11th set the tone for the twenty first century. Much as I'm tired of hearing about it and talking about it, the fact that it is still so present throughout the world speaks to its effect. I think this will be a century of uncertainty and fear, but with a sense of unity that I hope will prove more powerful.
Fuck, I'm not saying this right and I sound like a high school philsopher. Stop listening to me explain it and just think. Speculate.
I'm not saying that none of these concepts existed before, but that these three factors drove them home and influenced everyone so profoundly -- whether directly or indirectly -- that they can be given almost full credit for the last century. They were definitive.
I strongly suspect that September 11th set the tone for the twenty first century. Much as I'm tired of hearing about it and talking about it, the fact that it is still so present throughout the world speaks to its effect. I think this will be a century of uncertainty and fear, but with a sense of unity that I hope will prove more powerful.
Fuck, I'm not saying this right and I sound like a high school philsopher. Stop listening to me explain it and just think. Speculate.
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(no subject)
Date: 2001-10-23 01:02 pm (UTC)I think perhaps we need honourable mentions.
(no subject)
Date: 2001-10-23 02:23 pm (UTC)I suppose I'm not thinking as much about cause and effect as . . . millieu. In which case . . . yes, reading some Freud, studying the revolution, and watching From Hell does give you a pretty good primer on the 20th century.
(no subject)
Date: 2001-10-23 03:33 pm (UTC)If you've been having problems with sleeplessness and nightmares, you might want to go to an herbalist and track down some dried valerian. Brew it into a tea (ie pour hot water over it and let it steep) just before bedtime. It's both a sedative and an anti-depressant, so it works fairly well for stressful sleep. (You may also want to sleep next to something that smells like lavender, but I find that a bit excessive.)
--Romie
Re:
Date: 2001-10-23 10:01 pm (UTC)For example, last night, the fact that I had slept for two hours and then awoken was the death of me. Daylight, loud noise, quiet conversations and anything other than the lying down position also do me in as well.
I am a moody sleeper.
Thank you though. :)
I will find some dried valerian though... I keep hearing wonderful things about it. But somehow I think that my whiskey shooters will go badly with it...
Hahah. That's funny.
Well, I hope it is anyway.