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Another particular example of #CulturalSubversion with a long multi-decade timeline that underscores, serves, and brings us to this moment of full-scale political subversion: the subculture of US Civil War reenactments.
These started at the end of the actual Civil War but /1
These started at the end of the actual Civil War but /1
...were not an actual Cultural Thing in any large-scale way. At this time, they functioned like reunions.
In 1913, there was the so-called Great Reunion on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg.
But it wasn't until the 1960s that we see the /2
In 1913, there was the so-called Great Reunion on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg.
But it wasn't until the 1960s that we see the /2
...beginnings of the modern political theater 
, with reenactments as annual festivals.
The movement picked up in the 1980s and 1990s, with a fairly significant marker in 1998 on the occasion of the 135th anniversary of Gettysburg. Twenty-thousand reenactors participated. /3
, with reenactments as annual festivals.The movement picked up in the 1980s and 1990s, with a fairly significant marker in 1998 on the occasion of the 135th anniversary of Gettysburg. Twenty-thousand reenactors participated. /3
And in the 21st century, we see a ramp up of related politicized events having to do with American monuments, memorials, and statues, particularly those commemorating Confederate military leaders.
Note how synergistically this subculture parallels the weaponized racism /4
Note how synergistically this subculture parallels the weaponized racism /4
...of the Trump years:
The modern reenactment scene is almost exclusively white (but c.f., hundreds of thousands of black Union soldiers served in the war); and
In the modern scene, there is a strong symbolic alignment between the Confederacy and neo-Nazism. Note this /5
The modern reenactment scene is almost exclusively white (but c.f., hundreds of thousands of black Union soldiers served in the war); andIn the modern scene, there is a strong symbolic alignment between the Confederacy and neo-Nazism. Note this /5
...was on full display at the 2017 Charlottesville rally when a neo-Nazi killed a counter-protester. Plus the anti-Semitic tiki torch parade.
There is even the suggestion of a Russian parallel: some reenactors here complain that their subculture has been coopted /6
There is even the suggestion of a Russian parallel: some reenactors here complain that their subculture has been coopted /6
...by neo-Nazis.
Similar accusations have been made against Igor Girkin, a self-described Russian nationalist who commanded Putin's mutineers in the February 2014 invasion of Ukraine.
Notably, Girkin is a well-known reenactor himself. And perhaps even more significant is /7
Similar accusations have been made against Igor Girkin, a self-described Russian nationalist who commanded Putin's mutineers in the February 2014 invasion of Ukraine.
Notably, Girkin is a well-known reenactor himself. And perhaps even more significant is /7
...the fact that Ukrainian authorities have referred to Girkin as a retired colonel of the GRU, Russia's military intelligence organization. <ahem>
I have looked at the cultural development of other US subcultures that seem to have been politicized if not weaponized during /8
I have looked at the cultural development of other US subcultures that seem to have been politicized if not weaponized during /8
...the 21st century -- including child beauty pageants and Evangelical Wokeism in Academia -- and there are some interesting time markers that merit further study.
There appears to be some early efforts to lay down subcultural tracks in the 1950s and 1960s, culminating /9
There appears to be some early efforts to lay down subcultural tracks in the 1950s and 1960s, culminating /9
...with the civil unrest, violent riots, and political assassinations of 1968 in particular.
Then there is another generation's playing with the same symbols and themes (especially race) in the 1980s and 1990s, culminating with the events of the last two years through /10
Then there is another generation's playing with the same symbols and themes (especially race) in the 1980s and 1990s, culminating with the events of the last two years through /10
...this week.
(Note there is a through-line from the nationwide BLM protests last June 1 ... through Trump's June 26, 2020 Executive Order on protecting American monuments, memorials, and statues in response to criminal violence ... through the October 8, 2020 plot to /11
(Note there is a through-line from the nationwide BLM protests last June 1 ... through Trump's June 26, 2020 Executive Order on protecting American monuments, memorials, and statues in response to criminal violence ... through the October 8, 2020 plot to /11
...kidnap Michigan Governor Whitmer ... to this week's events in DC.)
To my mind, there is a long-game here that involves developing new subcultural movements (or coopting/infiltrating existing ones) and then perhaps more deliberatively than we now know, these become /12
To my mind, there is a long-game here that involves developing new subcultural movements (or coopting/infiltrating existing ones) and then perhaps more deliberatively than we now know, these become /12
...used in polarized propaganda narratives that further divide an electorate already at the breaking point in the *culture* wars (though not yet at the point of another *political* civil war).
As an anthropologist, here is what I see at present (subject to future revisions): /13
As an anthropologist, here is what I see at present (subject to future revisions): /13
Enemies (both foreign and domestic) have been helping to foment the US culture wars in a large-scale project of #CulturalSubversion in many different sectors/subcultures of society over many decades.
And these many #CulturalSubversion projects have had one common goal: /14
And these many #CulturalSubversion projects have had one common goal: /14
...to assist with the *political* subversion of US liberal democracy itself.
My hope is by laying bare some of these culturally subversive processes, it will be easier for citizens to see these happening on the ground in our own communities, /15
My hope is by laying bare some of these culturally subversive processes, it will be easier for citizens to see these happening on the ground in our own communities, /15
...so that we can better protect against the *political* subversion of our democracy into an autocracy desired by a coalition of our various enemies.
#CulturalSubversion
/16X
#CulturalSubversion
/16X
