@James - doesn't that make sense though? Since the Enlightenment, academics as a whole have bent left. It's not like this is some radical new thing.

@JY i disagree (clearly); but to what i agree with you on. Yes there has been and continues to be an influence from Socialist philosophers in academia. We all know a bit about Marx, which goes to show their is some influence. Obamacare is a terrible excuse for universal healthcare, but it is the best the democrats could manage... And you are right that it wouldn't exist without academics who have, among their influences, Marx but probably more importantly more socialist leaning exampleslike the NHS.

My claim is that Cultural Marxism was a term invented in the 90s to tar people with the 'evil marxist' label. It is pure propaganda, and was invented specifically because 'Christian family values' were being weakened. The issue i take with this characterisation is simply that 'American values' and 'Christian family values' aren't necessarily the same thing.

American's ideal of 'the pursuit of happiness' doesn't say you have to be a Christian married, and only having sex with you partner in order to be happy.

By trying to paint all other approaches to the pursuit of happiness (there are feminist schools of thought which have argued against marriage for example) as somehow 'Marxist' - they Christian Right is saying they are unAmerican.

When i believe that a lot of these so called 'cultural marxists' are more heavily influenced by the American and French revolutions (and ideas of freedom from religious persecution and state influences) than by Marx himself.

I am not claiming that Socialist thinkers don't exist, and by spreading their ideas undermine some 'Christian values' - though there are those on the left who identify with Christianity, and are still heavily socialist. The whole Liberation Theology in the 50s and 60s... Basically i reject the premise that 'cultural marxism' is in any way anti-American.

@goldfinger

not all into the collectivist/marxist strain of thought though, and that's kind of my point, is agree with you. it's kind of hard to deny that it (to some extent) exists. it's certainly not a conservative conspiracy theory made up in the 90s like Ora claims


@ora

"My claim is that Cultural Marxism was a term invented in the 90s to tar people with the 'evil marxist' label. It is pure propaganda, and was invented specifically because 'Christian family values' were being weakened. The issue i take with this characterisation is simply that 'American values' and 'Christian family values' aren't necessarily the same thing."

um... well if that's the view you're taking, the REAL propaganda attack would be the 1950s mccarthyism, and the term would be "evil commie"

that was far more monumental in terms of propaganda AND lunacy from the right. we had communists living throughout the states not doing shit and keeping to themselves for decades in America during the Cold War, in fact the rise of communes was especially big during that time period. The club that should hit at the soviets and fascist communists made a massive swing at the anarchistic side of the spectrum as well.

demonizing of hippie culture went along with that.


of course hippies do fucking suck