Date: 28 Sep 99 11:14:11 MDT
From: Chris Jerrey <chris.jerrey-AT-usa.net>
Subject: Re: [Re: [Tenure idea for publish or perish in the Baudrillard dept: ]]


I would agree with your comments about B and hyperbole. The first B I read was
"America" and whilst I enjoyed the flow and the imagery of his writing, I
found it hard to take as commentary or philosophy. I came to the conclusion
that the experience of the flow and the imagery were actually very important.
The writing is a bit like a buffet, everyone picks up something different. And
whether you are a vegetarian or a meateater colours your experience as well.
Maybe B is hedging his bets by providing something for everyone, or maybe he's
just being generous, like a good host.

The possibility of federal disintegration is indeed scary. Recently in Britain
we have seen the the transfer of some of London's power to regional assemblies
in Scotland and Wales. On the one hand, this can be seen as a good move
towards enhanced democracy, decentralised power and government coming nearer
to the people. On the other, darker hand such a move is a huge encouragement
to rabid nationalists for whom independence is the goal at whatever cost. I
have no doubt that nationalism is one of the most destructive forces at work
in the world today. The issue of nationalism is continually debated in the
better British media, prompted by the Welsh-Scots devolution, the involement
in Kosovo and the bloodshed in East Timor. A reoccuring theme is the
distinction between bloody, unthinking nationalism and what is becoming known
as "Orwellian Patriotism". The writer George Orwell (1984, Animal Farm),
inspired by his experiences during the war years, wrote about his own notion
of patriotism. He focused on pride in community, shared experiences and
recognition that these experiences should be set in the context that other
communities had diferring but equally valid experiences. His vision was of
drawing strength from your own experiences in order to reach out beyond your
community. A far cry from rabid nationalism which reaches out merely to strike
down anyone who is different. 

Chris
CathB2-AT-aol.com wrote:
I have a vague notion that Foucault, Derrida and Lacan have some arguments 
that the depts. of Knowledge have as yet not made much of a comeback to.  I 
keep waiting. On the other hand, I tend to take Baudrillard as a bit given to

hyperbole, so when events seem to confirm his diagnostics, I'm impressed.

I'm a Texan. My ancestors were some of the most famous Indian fighters.  My 
nephew (half English) is editor of one of the most scurrilous Handgun mags in

the NRA arsenal.  I much prefer Terminator to Titanic.  Nevertheless, when 
our nonentieis in Washington  voted against even modest gun control within a 
few days of Littleton, Colorado, it reminded me that it is illegal in this 
country to threaten public servants with violence.  If  someone who was 
brought up with coonskin caps for girls as well as boys is sick of the NRA 
and the use of the Bill of Rights to justify an incredible peacetime 
deathtoll, surely political action is possible.

The other alternative is scary, but not impossible, though.  I heard an SMU 
Media Studies prof in Dallas give a rundown on Baudrillard's idea that 
national gov'ts are a thing of the past.  That they have already really lost 
all power, except some Draconian last ditch efforts to reaffirm what  was 
lost in dim historical mists of the irrelevant previous quarter hour.   ATF 
shows David Koresh's children who's boss. Maybe the US is really too diverse,

 that tiny tribes of race creed and lifestyle are only kept from war of all 
against all by the illusionary religion of athletic shoes that is all that we

all share.  We'll see. 

Catherine Brown


email: chris.jerrey-AT-usa.net
phone: +44 (0)1342 893620

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