Robert, you are familiar with America's current ethos of “let it all hang out.” At age 73, I remember very clearly the transition from the conformist 1950s to the uninhibited 1960s. That's when the expression “let it all hang out” became popular. Back in the 50s, we used to be very proper types with lots of social norms.
Western culture went through a quite a buttoned down period, from the Victorian era through the 1950s. This is when Freud developed his theory of the human personality. He said that each person undergoes a struggle between the super ego (Cultural norms) and the rebellious Id.
Yet, he thought that social discipline was absolutely necessary for society even though it created rebellious misery. One of his most famous books os “Civilization and its Discontents.” Social discipline and conformity are absolutely necessary for collective action, but they necessarily create discontents.
These days, I do wonder whether the peoples of the West have enough "social discipline" for the collective action we need. I guess right now we are at the Discontent phase, perhaps as is needed for now. And yet...how will we manage to organize around solving the huge problems that we face? Can we? Will we?
Living in the U.S. and experiencing the destruction of law, order, and human decency, I have been struggling to understand the timidity of the response against Trump's bombastic bullying.
"Moreover, in many societies and cultures, great theological efforts are made to turn people’s attention to the afterlife so that they can feel less pain in the present life.
But China is different. We do not have a coherent imagination of the afterlife. The problems we face today must be dealt with now and here."
I sense you are spot on in your analysis and it explains why the "religious right" and many "Christians" support Trump's blatant impersonation of the "Anti-Christ". The ends justify the means and he is "doing God's work" by smiting the wicked in preparation for the grand real estate development of Heaven On Earth.
I rather prefer the pragmatism of the Chinese "mandate from heaven" where the people are 'mandated' to keep the leadership focused on the sacred task of 'public good' rather than selfish personal gains. Without this focus, power quickly corrupts.
Thank you for bringing this cultural dynamic to consciousness.
Thanks for this essay. This is something that those not familiar with Chinese culture don't understand. But I think there is an important socio-economic explanation that needs to be added to this as to the relative lack of revolts in the West in addition to the religious/cultural aspect.
The West has, for centuries, had a natural safety valve for its discontents: since the 1500s (that's five centuries now), the poor and dispossessed could always run away to the colonies. There, they would either succeed and send extracted resources back to the motherland or die trying. Either way, they did not remain in the motherland to revolt and overthrow the government. We shall see what happens now that everywhere is too crowded for people to run to and people are no longer distracted by religion. If the Western countries start seeing the levels of misery, starvation and political chaos that the Chinese have seen before in their long history, and there is no longer any way to export their miserables, the other way reliable way that they have used to cull the population has been war. Only time will tell whether this old habit has died.
So, so interesting Robert. Popular culture reveals the necssary balance between freedom and control and I suspect is also driving a massive redefinition of the outlooks of young Chinese people. Great insights, thank you.
Robert, you are familiar with America's current ethos of “let it all hang out.” At age 73, I remember very clearly the transition from the conformist 1950s to the uninhibited 1960s. That's when the expression “let it all hang out” became popular. Back in the 50s, we used to be very proper types with lots of social norms.
Western culture went through a quite a buttoned down period, from the Victorian era through the 1950s. This is when Freud developed his theory of the human personality. He said that each person undergoes a struggle between the super ego (Cultural norms) and the rebellious Id.
Yet, he thought that social discipline was absolutely necessary for society even though it created rebellious misery. One of his most famous books os “Civilization and its Discontents.” Social discipline and conformity are absolutely necessary for collective action, but they necessarily create discontents.
These days, I do wonder whether the peoples of the West have enough "social discipline" for the collective action we need. I guess right now we are at the Discontent phase, perhaps as is needed for now. And yet...how will we manage to organize around solving the huge problems that we face? Can we? Will we?
And so they should. We should fight against enslavement, though it will be at first a friendless pursuit.
Living in the U.S. and experiencing the destruction of law, order, and human decency, I have been struggling to understand the timidity of the response against Trump's bombastic bullying.
"Moreover, in many societies and cultures, great theological efforts are made to turn people’s attention to the afterlife so that they can feel less pain in the present life.
But China is different. We do not have a coherent imagination of the afterlife. The problems we face today must be dealt with now and here."
I sense you are spot on in your analysis and it explains why the "religious right" and many "Christians" support Trump's blatant impersonation of the "Anti-Christ". The ends justify the means and he is "doing God's work" by smiting the wicked in preparation for the grand real estate development of Heaven On Earth.
I rather prefer the pragmatism of the Chinese "mandate from heaven" where the people are 'mandated' to keep the leadership focused on the sacred task of 'public good' rather than selfish personal gains. Without this focus, power quickly corrupts.
Thank you for bringing this cultural dynamic to consciousness.
Great column!
However, I think if you dig a bit deeper into European feudal history, you will find it full of rebellions.
Also, Peter Farb in 'Man's Rise to Civilization' suggests that the fun loving rebel provided an outlet for tensions in a highly hierarchical society.
Thanks for this essay. This is something that those not familiar with Chinese culture don't understand. But I think there is an important socio-economic explanation that needs to be added to this as to the relative lack of revolts in the West in addition to the religious/cultural aspect.
The West has, for centuries, had a natural safety valve for its discontents: since the 1500s (that's five centuries now), the poor and dispossessed could always run away to the colonies. There, they would either succeed and send extracted resources back to the motherland or die trying. Either way, they did not remain in the motherland to revolt and overthrow the government. We shall see what happens now that everywhere is too crowded for people to run to and people are no longer distracted by religion. If the Western countries start seeing the levels of misery, starvation and political chaos that the Chinese have seen before in their long history, and there is no longer any way to export their miserables, the other way reliable way that they have used to cull the population has been war. Only time will tell whether this old habit has died.
interesting point!
Let's have more of this: "inspiring generation of people to say no to destiny".
Can’t wait to read ur next part!
So, so interesting Robert. Popular culture reveals the necssary balance between freedom and control and I suspect is also driving a massive redefinition of the outlooks of young Chinese people. Great insights, thank you.
Could someone pls use that sense of rebellion and replace the current man in charge?
Impossible for now. But the likelihood is certainly taken into account by all stakeholders https://open.substack.com/pub/robertwoo/p/what-chinas-most-successful-film-d96?r=1fe6hf&selection=53b983ef-90e5-4e35-ab91-0dbdf17936b6&utm_campaign=post-share-selection&utm_medium=web
:)
"In Japan, it’s the many shoguns who held real power in their respective fiefdoms."
Shogun? Don't you mean the "Daimyos"
And that too. Very distributed When I say “shoguns” I am referring to shogun in relation to the emperor