Got Commie Culture?

[suffianr]

So, ladies and gentlemen, what is your individual definition of Leftist culture? How would you explain our behavioural traits to outsiders? How you dress, where you shop, what you look like and who you chill with...

Additionally, what determines the leftist mindset, and how does is this represented through thoughts, words and action?

Thank you. :)

[RedAnarchist]

Maybe there is no certain, defined "leftist" culture

[ComradeRobertRiley]

just being a nice person, selfless, generous, standing up for people etc etc

[redstar2000]

I'm not sure that there are specifically "leftist cultures" either.

You might think that avant garde cultural trends would appeal to lefties in higher than normal numbers...perhaps that is the case.

Or you might think certain aspects of "pop culture" might have a special appeal to lefties...and I suppose that happens sometimes.

But my impression is that lefties are very individual in their cultural tastes...their likes and dislikes don't really seem to follow a clear pattern.

And that goes for how they live as well...they are not cops or bosses, but otherwise they seem do be spread widely across the working class and, in a few cases, up into the lower levels of the middle class. (The latter are usually the more conservative type of leftie.)

I recall a funny story from my days in Leninland (long ago). There was a meeting in which we were told that real communists "don't drive foreign cars"...they drive Chevys or Fords.(!)

It's sometimes amusing and sometimes sad that folks will use cultural artifacts as a "badge" of leftism.

It's the ideas and what you do with them that makes "a real leftist"...not the cultural trivia of the era.

http://anarchist-action.org/forums/images/smiles/redstar.gif

The RedStar2000 Papers (http://www.anarchist-action.org/marxists/redstar2000/)
A site about communist ideas

[The Feral Underclass]

I agree, there is no defined 'leftist culture' per se. However I socialize with Anarchists and Communists granted most of them are armchair revolutionaries [im working on it] and we all enjoy the same books, the same bars, the same clubs, the same people, the same music and art...I think when you reach a level of consciousness your attitudes towards certain things bcome more loose. Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsburg are common authors which occupy conversations, alternative music like Rival Schools and Smashing Pumpkins are widly listened too...I suppose if you had to define leftist culture you could define it as the alternative to mainstream culture. Whether it is a conscious or unconcsious decision you make I dont know.

My friendship group where 'united' by our love for the same music. Because we where always the rejects at school you form a common understaning and your mind becomes more open to certain human frailties. You can accept people from minorities and other diseffected people simply by nature, which leads to more advanced philosophy of existance and a better understanding of society, which leads to anarchism etc etc...

You could call 'leftist culture' alternativism

[crazy comie]

Originally posted by [email protected] 14 2003, 01:12 PM
just being a nice person, selfless, generous, standing up for people etc etc
i think that is true

[RedAnarchist]

If a Leftist Culture did exist, it would probably be like the following -

Music - Mainly underground bands, and openly left-wing major bands

Clothes - only ones without logos (adidas, nike etc)

Religion - most likely either atheism or none.

Appearance - no logos, hair not cut too short (unless someone was bald)

i dunno whether these things would be considered as a leftist culture

[Ian]

I wouldn't really say that I am that different from mainstream culture, sure I listen to obscure bands and artists and read obscure books, but it's not like one look at me will alert everyone to my 'commie-ness'. I wear clothes that don't look alternative, that's how I like it, although I don't wear brands I do 'fit' in with my age group. Just works for me that way.

[UnionofSovietSocialistRepublics]

XPhile2868 Posted on Oct 14 2003, 03:22 PM
If a Leftist Culture did exist, it would probably be like the following -

Music - Mainly underground bands, and openly left-wing major bands

Clothes - only ones without logos (adidas, nike etc)

Religion - most likely either atheism or none.

Appearance - no logos, hair not cut too short (unless someone was bald)

i dunno whether these things would be considered as a leftist culture

i agree with clothes, religion, even the music to a degree, but not the appearance, 'hair cut not too short'? LOL

[crazy comie]

what is wrong with short hair ?

[Iepilei]

Leftist culture is how you define yourself. It's an expression of your individuality and blend of culture.

Personally, I wear what some may consider 'designer' - however no labels and made mostly in the US. Black, grey, sliver, blue... mostly neutral colors. Hemp/Bead/Shell necklaces, little jewelry outside of that. Knit shirts sweaters, blue jeans, black slacks, some band shirts, etc etc. Just whatever really.

As far as music goes: alternative rock with a bit of variation. big fan of 'no-name' bands. instrumental, opera, and industrial all fit in there somewhere. not really devoted to ONE particular genre.

Uh... hair is short. I really think that's just a personal preference, but I could be wrong. Facial hair depends.

The beauty about leftist culture is the ability to be all-encompassing of EVERYTHING and ANYTHING. Because it's a expression of your culture, your life, your personal style, and your opinions.

...kinda funny such concepts arise from a political theory which "wants to turn everyone into ants for the better good of the collective" ;)

[RedAnarchist]

Re short hair

Usually nazis are known as skinheads - so we shouldnt cut it too short or else people might think we're nazis

[truthaddict11]

how the fuck does hair have to do with your political idealogy? Joon is a skinhead and a communist. and many Nazis have long hair.

anyways screw this whole "leftist culture" thing i like what i like wear what i wear listen to music i want because its my choice not a fucking "cultural" one. i bet some people would deny the "leftism" of someone because they listen to Metallica or dont like political music 24/7. Or that they wear a Tommy Hilfiger shirt.
screw fucking labels!

[synthesis]

I don't think there's any kind of leftist culture. Everything from Haight-Ashbury to Leningrad can be defined as such, and therefore it would be best to refer to different leftist "subcultures" such as the hippies, the college leftists, the skinheads, the NOFX punk rock crowd, et cetera.

[synthesis]

i bet some people would deny the "leftism" of someone because they listen to Metallica or dont like political music 24/7. Or that they wear a Tommy Hilfiger shirt.
screw fucking labels!

I wouldn't really take a leftist seriously if he or she wore something like Hilfiger or Abercrombie.

[Iepilei]

*nod* I'd probably just throw something at them for being stupid...

[truthaddict11]

for fucks sake! i got 2 tommy hilfiger shirts that were given to me as gifts! are you going to question my politics for that!

[suffianr]

What I meant by "leftist culture" was the definitive aspects, the physical representation of being a left-winger. We are, whether you like it or not, a sub-culture;

[n] a social group within a national culture that has distinctive patterns of behavior and beliefs

We're like Cyber-Punks, Goths, Hip-Hoppers, etc. in the sense that we are unified by several key issues or beliefs that we are collectively concerned about...But we're in no way like them because, unlike other types of subcultures, we have a utopian focus, a utilitarian purpose, to "revolutionize" politics, the economy, and society at large.

Our goals are different, as are our methods of attaining them. We are of the fringe, considering the global outlook of the masses, and yet, we are not, considering our notions of uniting people in a global resistance against capitalism. We are a political group, a multi-ethnic, cross-border counter-culture that resides in almost every major city on the planet, and yet we are worlds apart.

So, what are we?

[synthesis]

Originally posted by [email protected] 16 2003, 02:27 AM
for fucks sake! i got 2 tommy hilfiger shirts that were given to me as gifts! are you going to question my politics for that!
Don't burst a capillary, chum. I'm referring to people who actually buy those clothes.

But,as a sidenote, I think wearing those kinds of clothes is like borrowing a Mercedes, even if they aren't yours, you'll still probably end up looking like a rich asshole. (Don't take that personally.) Better to not use them period.

[crazy comie]

did any of you guys see a program on globalisation on channel 4 with a long haird swedish guy it was heavly pro capitalist.

[marxstudent]

Are communists supposed to not be sentimental?

[crazy comie]

what do you mean by centimeantl

[Iepilei]

Communists are supposed to be the utmost in sentimental... because a true revolutionary is guided by love, you see.

[YKTMX]

Originally posted by [email protected] 20 2003, 05:52 PM
Communists are supposed to be the utmost in sentimental... because a true revolutionary is guided by love, you see.
I don't know if sentimental is the word but I would say we are say somewhat 'romantic' out of neccessity, as the idea of communism has some very romantic notions about the nature of human beings.

[crazy comie]

Originally posted by YouKnowTheyMurderedX+Oct 20 2003, 06:00 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (YouKnowTheyMurderedX @ Oct 20 2003, 06:00 PM)
[email protected] 20 2003, 05:52 PM
Communists are supposed to be the utmost in sentimental... because a true revolutionary is guided by love, you see.
I don&#39;t know if sentimental is the word but I would say we are say somewhat &#39;romantic&#39; out of neccessity, as the idea of communism has some very romantic notions about the nature of human beings. [/b]
that is true

[suffianr]

But is it justified?

I&#39;m sure most post-Soviet leftists go through a phase where they get hooked on anything that has to do with the Soviet era, from propaganda posters to T-52&#39;s. Oh, come on, I&#39;m pretty much sure that everyone gets that Oktoberist romanticism streak once in a while and hoards communist paraphernalia and scrawls sickles and hammers on tables and toilet walls. Or something to that effect.

Is there a pattern here?

[crazy comie]

i youst to do thati draw a hammer and sickle on a micky mouse menu in disney world

[MiDnIgHtMaRaUdEr]

LOL, thats rich. I still find myself scrawling hammer and sickles on desks and stuff subconsciously. Well, I think that leftists should wear jewelry or be superficial, because it is a tradition of the bourgoise, and has no use to the proletariat. I don&#39;t think we should be too trendy either, because trends are a result of capitalist media, (even if it claims to be leftist, the whole idea is to get you to buy something). Well, I&#39;d feel like pretty hot shit running around everyday in a black Mao suit with the hat and a red armband with the international communist logo on it, but thats just little old extremist me (if i could get my hands on a Mao suit and the rest of that stuff that is), even though everyone would prolly point and laugh at me, but I would laugh instead, because they are only brainwashed by the capitalist media.

[crazy comie]

we should just wear che stuf

[Guest1]

I just wear political shirts, really cheap ones, and camouflage or cargo pants. I got longish hair, a goatee, and sideburns that cut horizontally like an L. I listen to all sorts of rock, some underground rap too.

Now, as for saying we are a different subculture cause we have a purpose. You do realize that the Hippy movement, the Rap movement and the Punk movement were all major Leftist political movements with our goals that were bought out because they were defined. Once a movement becomes like a herd, you can start selling the sheep&#39;s clothing at gap&#39;s stores. Once that happens, no one really thinks of the political movement behind it. That&#39;s when it turns from a movement, to a mainstream hijacking. Look at the yuppies. Look at rap now. Look at punk.

What makes OUR movement different, is that it has no specific culture. I don&#39;t dress like everyone on this site does. Same for everyone else, we dress as we want. The moment that we start developing our own culture, we&#39;re screwed. Our strength and unity comes from diversity. We are successfully uniting people of all tastes, Hippies who have seen environmetal and social activism reduced to driving an SUV while supporting the kyoto protocol, underground Rappers who have seen black activism reduced to videos with ho&#39;s and gold necklaces of Africa, Punks who have seen the rage of their generation and the one before against exploitation and capitalism reduced to Avril Lavigne and Sum 41.

We have united everyone sick of the bullshit of the superficial expectations of the movement. We have none, we can&#39;t be bought. No one can buy their way in and destroy us. No one can buy us out of this movement by making us sick of how it&#39;s turned into nothing but superficiality. That is the advantage we have.

[crazy comie]

avril lavigne is no where near punk
there are still some good bands around like anti-flag

[Guest1]

I was talking about the rape of the punk genre. I know she&#39;s not, but neither is Good Charlotte or New Found Glory, and they&#39;re leadingt he pack in raping punk too.

[crazy comie]

okay

[Tiki Man]

in response to XPhile&#39;s thoughts...

The more modern musics I would agree to be mainly underground non-sellouts. However the other genres would be classical, opera, and instrumental. There would probably be oldies songs depending on the area. Such as The Beatles. The main style of moderns would depend on area as well.The goal is to have popular bands not be sell-outs such as N-Sync and the untalented Ms. Spears, doing their Pepsi commercials and all of that crap. I can guess "Capitalism Stole My Virginity" would be popular. Kind of like saying Capitalism raped me.

Appearance: Agreed with Not Many Logos. The only real logos would be "I SURVIVED <randomrollercoastername>&#33;&#33;&#33;" But I do not agree with hair length, people&#39;s hair would be whatever they wish.

Religion: Agreed, none. Unless Atheism counts as a religion.

[Le Libérer]

When tenents moved out,, they left a bunch of designer clothes behind. Mostly they were all new. Micah and I were going thru them, Some of these clothes were &#036;150 a piece off the rack&#33; I asked my son if he wanted a few hoodies with Hilfinger, FUBU, and he said absolutely not&#33; He says he refuses to promote corporations or globalization, even when its handed to him free.

I was so proud of him. They all went in garbage bags, and in the trash cubicles.

I would think embracing ones culture would lead to a keener sense of loyality to state.

[suffianr]

I was so proud of him. They all went in garbage bags, and in the trash cubicles.

Why didn&#39;t you give them to poor people instead? They&#39;re still clothes, eh?

[crazy comie]

Originally posted by [email protected] 9 2003, 10:00 AM

I was so proud of him. They all went in garbage bags, and in the trash cubicles.

Why didn&#39;t you give them to poor people instead? They&#39;re still clothes, eh?
good point

[Le Libérer]

3 huge bags did go to the poor, just not those that advertized big biz.

[MiDnIgHtMaRaUdEr]

You know, I&#39;ve got a couple of stores on cafepress.com that has communist logos/pictures and so on.
They are http://www.cafeshops.com/athieststore and http://www.cafeshops.com/red_army

[Tiki Man]

That animated GIF, I used that years ago as an avatar&#33; That thing is pretty widespread. And small.

Come on, isn&#39;t there something a little less pixellated when stretched? :P