Episode 82: 'Western Civilization' and White Supremacy: The Right-Wing Co-option of Antiquity
Citations Needed10 Heinä 2019

Episode 82: 'Western Civilization' and White Supremacy: The Right-Wing Co-option of Antiquity

The term "Western civilization" has long been a staple of the American Right, but with the recent resurgence of white nationalism, it is having something of a comeback. Glenn Beck and Bill O'Reilly are hosting a two-week Mediterranean "cruise thru history" to "explore the roots of Western civilization." The Intellectual Dark Web's Jordan Peterson tells us "The West is Right," while The Daily Caller and Fox News are busy "celebrating the West." Neo-Nazi Matthew Heimbach hails "Youth for Western Civilization." Both the traditional and so-called alt-right ground their worldviews in a fictional moral arc of "The West" that bares little resemblance to reality. Learning from the past and applying those lessons to the present is a good thing. But in pop political discourse, the Classics have been misused and abused to promote an origin story that never was - a white Greco-Roman world birthing our noble, so-called "Judeo-Christian" American empire to gloss over a history of exploitation, imperialism, slavery and conquest. On this episode, we'll explore the right-wing obsession with the ancient world, it's influence on neoconservative empire-building and alt-right white nationalism alike, and how our common cultural understanding of the ancient world has been perpetually white-washed to promote a clash of civilizations narrative and racist pseudo-science. We are joined by Dr. Sarah E. Bond, Associate Professor at the University of Iowa, and Dr. Cord Whitaker, Associate Professor at Wellesley College.

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Episode 25: The Banality of CIA-Curated Definitions of 'Democracy'

Episode 25: The Banality of CIA-Curated Definitions of 'Democracy'

Few words elicit such warm feelings as the term "Democracy." Wars are supposedly fought for it, foreign policies are built around it, protecting and advancing it is considered the United States' highe...

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Episode 24: Highlighting Alternative Media - The Moral Limits of Dunking on Thomas Friedman

Episode 24: Highlighting Alternative Media - The Moral Limits of Dunking on Thomas Friedman

Here at Citations Needed we enjoy nothing more than ragging on corporate media - indeed, it's our primary job. But can constant snark and negativity breed cynicism? Recent feedback from some of our li...

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News Brief: Why the Media Should Stop Calling it a "Government Shutdown"

News Brief: Why the Media Should Stop Calling it a "Government Shutdown"

It's not a "government shutdown", it's a liberal government shutdown––or, more precisely, a backdoor rightwing coup. Our words should reflect that. Relevant article: It's Not a Government Shutdown. It...

24 Tammi 201812min

Episode 23: The Media's Grim Addiction to Perseverance Porn

Episode 23: The Media's Grim Addiction to Perseverance Porn

We've all seen these feel good segments on the local news. The adorable and resourceful seven-year-old in California who's been recycling cans since he was three and now has $10,000 saved up for colle...

17 Tammi 201850min

Episode 22: Trumpwashing -- How the Media Uses Trump to Launder Our Criminal Past

Episode 22: Trumpwashing -- How the Media Uses Trump to Launder Our Criminal Past

The unique threat and vileness of Donald Trump's presidency can't be overstated. Since he took office a year ago, he's increased civilian deaths in Afghanistan by 50%, increased civilian deaths in Syr...

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Episode 21: Quantifying Negative Media Portrayals of People of Color

Episode 21: Quantifying Negative Media Portrayals of People of Color

According to one 2014 study, 75% of white Americans don't have any non-white friends. Put another way, white people's perception of African Americans and other people of color comes primarily from med...

3 Tammi 20181h 5min

Episode 20: Lotteryism, Part II -- A Most Dangerous Game: How Sports Are Used to Fleece Public Trusts

Episode 20: Lotteryism, Part II -- A Most Dangerous Game: How Sports Are Used to Fleece Public Trusts

Previously on Citations Needed, we discussed the notion of "Lotteryism," that is, the use of the media by large corporations to obscure solidarity in favor of morality tales of "making it." It's a sc...

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Episode 19: Lotteryism Part I -- How a Compliant Press Fuels the Spectacle of 'Winning'

Episode 19: Lotteryism Part I -- How a Compliant Press Fuels the Spectacle of 'Winning'

"Lotteryism" is the use of the media by large corporations to obscure solidarity in favor of morality tales of "making it". It's the atomization of parties of mutual interest by lording over them the ...

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