MarxSchmarx
2nd December 2009, 06:26
A culture can be seen as a shared set of rituals and symbols among a people. I'm wondering, to what extent does the left have such a "culture". Consider the red flag - whether you are anarchist or bolshevik this seems to have some appeal.
Apart from being curious anthropological phenomena, cultural traits also help unify a group of people. But the problem is that many of our united cultural accomplishments are restricted to the late 19th and early 20th century. For instance, May 1st. We all celebrate this as the worker's holiday. And we sing the Internationale on may 1st (don't you?). But these are about it, and even these token rituals tare considered borderline by many.
And perhaps it is no accident that our agreement about political or economic questions largely stop at the early 20th century as well.
I wonder, to what extent can the development of a common cultural ameliorate some of our secterian tendencies? This wouldn't ameliorate legitimate and concrete philosophical disagreements, but wouldn't it facilitate collaboration with other groups, if, e.g., we all knew what and what not to bring to a joint planning committee? And while we share a lot about what we don't like in culture (e.g., racism in film), we don't seem to share much affirmative things. What are some other examples of our shared culture, and how can we develop a common culture between our many sectarian divisions?
Apart from being curious anthropological phenomena, cultural traits also help unify a group of people. But the problem is that many of our united cultural accomplishments are restricted to the late 19th and early 20th century. For instance, May 1st. We all celebrate this as the worker's holiday. And we sing the Internationale on may 1st (don't you?). But these are about it, and even these token rituals tare considered borderline by many.
And perhaps it is no accident that our agreement about political or economic questions largely stop at the early 20th century as well.
I wonder, to what extent can the development of a common cultural ameliorate some of our secterian tendencies? This wouldn't ameliorate legitimate and concrete philosophical disagreements, but wouldn't it facilitate collaboration with other groups, if, e.g., we all knew what and what not to bring to a joint planning committee? And while we share a lot about what we don't like in culture (e.g., racism in film), we don't seem to share much affirmative things. What are some other examples of our shared culture, and how can we develop a common culture between our many sectarian divisions?