Can you make art if you looking over your shoulder? What does a society obsessed with looks count as art? What has Political Transvestitism done to artistic expression?
Thank God for you Dennis. These are the thoughts I have spent the last few years struggling with, as an arts professional. And in the final analysis... I agree with you! but I think we need a wider discussion. Let those who disagree speak out, let them present their (flimsy) position.
This was great, Mr Dennis. When people go on about “the culture war” they a) don’t acknowledge they bloody started it and b) assume culture is some marginal, frivolous concern when, in fact, it goes to the very heart of being human. Cultural artefacts are what remain of us once we’re beyond living memory. Art, music, literature - they’re the very essence of our humanity, not some trivial disposable concern.
What will future historians conclude about the 2020s in 100 years time? I dread to think but fortunately, I’ll be otherwise engaged
These arguments/ essays are wonderful, I'm enjoying them so much.
One aspect of creativity I'm missing so much is the youth rebellion in music and associated fashion etc. This is partly to do with the music industry and the huge changes therein. BUT a huge amount of energy is being wasted navel gazing at gender identity 🙄, which would have been so much better spent doing music, terrible poetry, zines, dodgy clothes... Oh well, they have got the last one.
They do all of it, but theyre middle class bores imagining theyre fighting the establishment when they are the establishment. Punk, metal, anarchist spaces, paganism, atheism, sceptics, standup, fringe theatre, zines etc - all troond out. Funny they never noticed their teachers, parents, institutions, and even the bloody police all fly the progress pride flag.
That is true, I guess that they've always been MC young people wanting to be rebellious, but I've seen a bit of what passes for art more recently and it's 🙄. It WAS different a few years ago, I'm sure it was! I know goth for eg is totally captured, which is sad for me as it's a sub culture I've always liked. Metalheads (my chosen genre now) are a bit more free thinking, and loads of them think gender bollocks is a ridiculous as we do.
Thanks for another fascinating piece Mr. Kavanagh. I can only add, in my dumbed down, simplistic way; of course they can’t do art, they're too busy thinking about themselves. They like flags though.
Thanks so much Dennis for doing these posts. Brilliant as usual. Please reconsider, eventually, having them transcribed and then tweaking them into a book!
Very thought provoking, thanks. This is where I think it's useful to consider transgenderism as a subset of a transhumanism that is an assault on our humanity. There's something very deep going on in what its advocates want to impose on humans, but I think there are signs that a growing number of people are starting to rebel against all aspects of this transhumanism.
I believe that art will be key to the fightback, especially embodied art that is harder to consume via a screen or to fake by machines / AI: dance, sculpture showing the finger prints of the creator in the clay, performance poetry, live music, impasto in painting. Examples just off the top of my head, but humans (being the infinitely creative creatures that we are) will find many more.
The body will be redeemed, this art will stand as a rebuke to the 'meat lego' approach of the Genderborg. Limits will reassert themselves -- no bad thing for the artist, given the stimulus to invention this causes.
I often think of a time when I and my husband attended an exhibition of medieval altar pieces. We were both reduced to near tears by the beauty and the devotion on display. Will anything produced in this time have the same emotional impact on the people of the future? I doubt it.
Not while we're under the sway of this antihuman spirit, but that doesn't mean it can't happen again. We're still people like they were. We just need something richer to feel and think about. I felt the same looking at Raphael's drawing of two apostles in a gallery, truly poignant and beautiful!
Yes, very much in my mind listening to both of Dennis's episodes! And, again, the traditional forms are more embodied - incense, the eucharist, and prostrations. The more I think about this the more hopeful I feel. It can't go on forever, it's just too nutty.
I'm readingThe Great Return by Rev Jamie Franklin - highly recommend it. He believes the only way the West can drag itself out of this era of self-indulgence and moral confusion is through a return to Christianity.
It's as religious as any other transubstantiation centered mystery cult it seems. It's not really new in any important substantive way---it's only "new" in the way the web sells it, or converts the "unholy". The big thing it sells us ( as does all self help/born again religion) is the idea that we're no good, or at least not good enough, and we'll only be good enough when we become someone else--- even if that means that someone else is us dead, and transformed ( as close to finished and perfected as we can become, given our fallen natures... westerners, modernists, doubting enlightenment creatures, etc. etc. etc.... ).
OK, I've now listened to the whole piece. I agree with you about the widescale capture of the arts, and the censorship (both top down and bottom up) that is taking place. However, I do feel as though you may have neglected to examine the indie space. The rebels. Those quietly getting on with doing art their own way. You might be surprised. There's the occasional glimmer. For instance, the rather entertaining satirical novel, The End of the World is Flat by Simon Edge. In romance, there has been a rise of "queer" fiction (I hate that term) but the vast majority of romance books remain squarely rooted in biological reality (in both straight and gay romance). People don't necessarily talk about it openly, because of the self-censorship, but it certainly seems to me that most readers know what they like and will just keep reading that, thank you very much. The "queer" element is fairly insular and hasn't really broken out of certain narrow niches. You don't get psychosocial or political thrillers about trans-identifying people, for example. Certainly not popular ones.
I feel like there is enormous hope for the arts, especially with stand-up comedy leading the charge on being outspoken, like Ricky Gervais, like Dave Chappelle. Legends like John Cleese refusing to bow to activists.
I have hope. Especially given he recent move in schools to prohibit the use of phones and the rising numbers of young people who recognise the harmful effects of these devices. I think we'll see a shift away from some tech elements and with it, a creative resurgence.
Fascinating Analysis ,Dennis. I'm not artistic and don't know much about the arts really ,but it's been so obvious for years that these ideologies have had a very negative effect ,on comedy and publishing especially !! Thanks ,Dennis. Roll on the next episode x
I work in the visual arts and it's horrendous, so many of us are so fearful of expressing what are in fact relatively moderate views. Identitarian politics has the whole sector in a stranglehold.
I'm only a couple of minutes in and wanted to say that I'm a professional fiction author, I also play music and sing and can say with a resounding YES that you can be creative in this day and age. It takes a certain amount of courage to go against the grain, but there is also huge scope for creativity outside of any one political ideology. It's also a fun creative challenge to poke the bear without being obvious ;)
Such a horrible cultural moment, I’m so glad I’m old and I got to experience the arts as a creator and reader/viewer/audience before the great awokening. I’m so disappointed in the current state of things.
Thank God for you Dennis. These are the thoughts I have spent the last few years struggling with, as an arts professional. And in the final analysis... I agree with you! but I think we need a wider discussion. Let those who disagree speak out, let them present their (flimsy) position.
Ah cheers Martin, let's see if we hear any alternative positions, flimsy or otherwise :)
This was great, Mr Dennis. When people go on about “the culture war” they a) don’t acknowledge they bloody started it and b) assume culture is some marginal, frivolous concern when, in fact, it goes to the very heart of being human. Cultural artefacts are what remain of us once we’re beyond living memory. Art, music, literature - they’re the very essence of our humanity, not some trivial disposable concern.
What will future historians conclude about the 2020s in 100 years time? I dread to think but fortunately, I’ll be otherwise engaged
These arguments/ essays are wonderful, I'm enjoying them so much.
One aspect of creativity I'm missing so much is the youth rebellion in music and associated fashion etc. This is partly to do with the music industry and the huge changes therein. BUT a huge amount of energy is being wasted navel gazing at gender identity 🙄, which would have been so much better spent doing music, terrible poetry, zines, dodgy clothes... Oh well, they have got the last one.
They do all of it, but theyre middle class bores imagining theyre fighting the establishment when they are the establishment. Punk, metal, anarchist spaces, paganism, atheism, sceptics, standup, fringe theatre, zines etc - all troond out. Funny they never noticed their teachers, parents, institutions, and even the bloody police all fly the progress pride flag.
That is true, I guess that they've always been MC young people wanting to be rebellious, but I've seen a bit of what passes for art more recently and it's 🙄. It WAS different a few years ago, I'm sure it was! I know goth for eg is totally captured, which is sad for me as it's a sub culture I've always liked. Metalheads (my chosen genre now) are a bit more free thinking, and loads of them think gender bollocks is a ridiculous as we do.
I find the pagan one to be extraordinary, the male/ female dyad is crucial to so many aspects of paganism🤷
There can be no art within transgender ideology, there is no revelation; it’s all based on a lie.
Thanks for another fascinating piece Mr. Kavanagh. I can only add, in my dumbed down, simplistic way; of course they can’t do art, they're too busy thinking about themselves. They like flags though.
That's basically the whole thing summed up in a sentence!
I've seen some of their dreadful books (Jessica Kingsley publish a lot) and their illustrators are effin awful 🤢
Agreed
Thanks so much Dennis for doing these posts. Brilliant as usual. Please reconsider, eventually, having them transcribed and then tweaking them into a book!
Very thought provoking, thanks. This is where I think it's useful to consider transgenderism as a subset of a transhumanism that is an assault on our humanity. There's something very deep going on in what its advocates want to impose on humans, but I think there are signs that a growing number of people are starting to rebel against all aspects of this transhumanism.
I believe that art will be key to the fightback, especially embodied art that is harder to consume via a screen or to fake by machines / AI: dance, sculpture showing the finger prints of the creator in the clay, performance poetry, live music, impasto in painting. Examples just off the top of my head, but humans (being the infinitely creative creatures that we are) will find many more.
The body will be redeemed, this art will stand as a rebuke to the 'meat lego' approach of the Genderborg. Limits will reassert themselves -- no bad thing for the artist, given the stimulus to invention this causes.
I often think of a time when I and my husband attended an exhibition of medieval altar pieces. We were both reduced to near tears by the beauty and the devotion on display. Will anything produced in this time have the same emotional impact on the people of the future? I doubt it.
Not while we're under the sway of this antihuman spirit, but that doesn't mean it can't happen again. We're still people like they were. We just need something richer to feel and think about. I felt the same looking at Raphael's drawing of two apostles in a gallery, truly poignant and beautiful!
Apparently there's a bit of an upturn in church attendance among younger people, especially the more traditional kind. I find this rather encouraging.
Yes, very much in my mind listening to both of Dennis's episodes! And, again, the traditional forms are more embodied - incense, the eucharist, and prostrations. The more I think about this the more hopeful I feel. It can't go on forever, it's just too nutty.
I'm readingThe Great Return by Rev Jamie Franklin - highly recommend it. He believes the only way the West can drag itself out of this era of self-indulgence and moral confusion is through a return to Christianity.
Thanks for the recommendation, I wasn't aware of this example of the genre.
It's as religious as any other transubstantiation centered mystery cult it seems. It's not really new in any important substantive way---it's only "new" in the way the web sells it, or converts the "unholy". The big thing it sells us ( as does all self help/born again religion) is the idea that we're no good, or at least not good enough, and we'll only be good enough when we become someone else--- even if that means that someone else is us dead, and transformed ( as close to finished and perfected as we can become, given our fallen natures... westerners, modernists, doubting enlightenment creatures, etc. etc. etc.... ).
This is beautifully put together Dennis, thank you.
I’m saving this entire series!
OK, I've now listened to the whole piece. I agree with you about the widescale capture of the arts, and the censorship (both top down and bottom up) that is taking place. However, I do feel as though you may have neglected to examine the indie space. The rebels. Those quietly getting on with doing art their own way. You might be surprised. There's the occasional glimmer. For instance, the rather entertaining satirical novel, The End of the World is Flat by Simon Edge. In romance, there has been a rise of "queer" fiction (I hate that term) but the vast majority of romance books remain squarely rooted in biological reality (in both straight and gay romance). People don't necessarily talk about it openly, because of the self-censorship, but it certainly seems to me that most readers know what they like and will just keep reading that, thank you very much. The "queer" element is fairly insular and hasn't really broken out of certain narrow niches. You don't get psychosocial or political thrillers about trans-identifying people, for example. Certainly not popular ones.
I feel like there is enormous hope for the arts, especially with stand-up comedy leading the charge on being outspoken, like Ricky Gervais, like Dave Chappelle. Legends like John Cleese refusing to bow to activists.
I have hope. Especially given he recent move in schools to prohibit the use of phones and the rising numbers of young people who recognise the harmful effects of these devices. I think we'll see a shift away from some tech elements and with it, a creative resurgence.
Gobsmackingly good!
Fascinating Analysis ,Dennis. I'm not artistic and don't know much about the arts really ,but it's been so obvious for years that these ideologies have had a very negative effect ,on comedy and publishing especially !! Thanks ,Dennis. Roll on the next episode x
I work in the visual arts and it's horrendous, so many of us are so fearful of expressing what are in fact relatively moderate views. Identitarian politics has the whole sector in a stranglehold.
This is typical of the sort of events that are promoted by Arts Council Wales ... a female creatives networking event (trans inclusive) led by a them/they. https://arts.wales/news-jobs-opportunities/female-line-networking-event-1?mc_cid=eaf31739b7&mc_eid=3b4f605023
I'm only a couple of minutes in and wanted to say that I'm a professional fiction author, I also play music and sing and can say with a resounding YES that you can be creative in this day and age. It takes a certain amount of courage to go against the grain, but there is also huge scope for creativity outside of any one political ideology. It's also a fun creative challenge to poke the bear without being obvious ;)
From opposing war in Vietnam to marching into the Ladies toilets. Brilliant! Just brilliant!
Such a horrible cultural moment, I’m so glad I’m old and I got to experience the arts as a creator and reader/viewer/audience before the great awokening. I’m so disappointed in the current state of things.
Thanks, Dennis another great piece of analysis.
I would add to your short list of great artists who, in a sense, rose from the gay rights movement, my favourite artist, Francis Bacon.
Looking forward to Part 3 😊
Have cross posted
https://dustymasterson.substack.com/p/i-have-as-much-soul-as-you
Dusty