THE STARK TRUTH: BOBOS IN PARADISE

Robert Stark and Matthew Pegas talk to Joshua Zeidner about the cultural phenomenon and book by David Brooks Bobos in Paradise: The New Upper Class and How They Got There. 

Written in 2000, Brooks' book focused on how American elites were reinventing their cultural image, using bourgeois and bohemian tropes from the 19th century—hence "Bobo." This later led to the creation of modern day Hipster culture. Among the topics covered are the synergy between Bobo culture and the Neoliberal restructuring of the US economy, virtue signaling, Trustafarians, urban gentrification, and sartorial slumification.

Listen to other Stark Truth podcasts here.

ALTERNATIVE (WHITE)

Someone doesn't quite fit into Nazi Barbie's gang.

by Ryan Andrews

Unlike people, culture is never entirely black or white, but it does move around a lot between these theoretical poles. As the Obama administration has progressed (by happy coincidence), the aesthetic of youth pop culture has increasingly turned towards the “black.” Judging by the recent lifespan of these swings, we may be at “Peak Black;” but this is not an exact science. I do however think—and I base this opinion on historical precedent and what I think is commonsense—that these things go in cycles. Eventually, one or several of the various reactions against the “black aesthetic” will develop into a mass phenomenon—an alternative pop cultural aesthetic will emerge, and my hope is that the Alternative Right will play some role in creating it (as opposed to merely latching on to it).

ELECTILE DYSFUNCTION

by Colin Liddell

In recent days Alternative Right has been working hard to highlight the deficiencies of our modern democracy.

Siryako Akda's ARE MASS MOVEMENTS OBSOLETE? contends that politics is going the way of warfare – i.e. something fought by special ops or guerrilla forces rather than the mass armies of the past. Mike Newland's MANCUR OLSON AND THE DECLINE OF NATIONS makes similar points, referring in particular to the way that strongly motivated minorities skew the system in their favour while the majority allows itself to be sidelined. William Solniger's IS ETHNIC REPLACEMENT 'UNDEMOCRATIC'? identifies the way that our nebulous egalitarianism works to disempower the majority – effectively rendering it silent – and thus allows its domination by these potent minorities