wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross

[sabotabby]

 The only thing worse than fascism is amateur fascism. Sloppy fascism. This isn't Leni Riefenstahl, neoclassical architecture—let alone Futurism—or Hugo Boss*. This is fumbling, belching, red-cheeked and unshaven, unsophisticated fascism. This isn't even skinheads with swastika tattoos; at least they have an aesthetic, good taste in boots. This should be repulsive to anyone with sense. I don't get it. Why does your nation aspire to this? What makes it appealing?

I have a certain affection for the noblesse oblige brand of conservatism, old money and all that. It may be hideous but it gilds opera seats and knows how to spot a well-fitted suit. Of course, they're all secretly pigfuckers, but they do it behind closed doors. Before these next four years are up, I promise you that you will see Trump's cock hanging out in all its glory, or lack thereof. 

This isn't even urban versus rural—the tangerine Nazi rapeclown** is as New York as it gets, and there's something a little dignified in broken-down trailers and opioid overdoses. This is tacky. Your fascism is tacky. It makes me want to puke.

There's my political analysis. Vomit. We need to bring back the concept of shame and squick to politics, and yesterday isn't soon enough.

* Yes, I know, I know. Not all Nazi uniforms.
** Thanks 5ever to Hal Duncan for this

Comments

[umadoshi]

This is tacky. Your fascism is tacky. It makes me want to puke.

It's like they've already added tons of insult to scads of injury and the tackiness is the faux-gold leaf Crowning Insult.

...or possibly that got away from me. I dunno.

[sabotabby]

Yes, no, that's exactly it. It's insulting to lose to people like this.

[ironed_orchid]

It's shambolic.

[sabotabby]

I can't get over just how shambolic it is.

[chickenfeet]

It's American fascism. Of course it's tacky.

[sabotabby]

But why do they like that? I don't understand how it's attractive or appealing to anyone.

[chickenfeet]

That's kind of a broader question. Why is American popular culture so tacky? I don't know but it is. And national Fascisms always reflect national culture. The Nazis weren't big on uniforms because they were fascists but rather because they were German. The same aesthetic went down like a lead balloon in the UK where people are rather leery of uniforms. A genuinely British fascism would have gone for well cut but rather worn tweeds (see Farage).

[sabotabby]

See, I find this fascinating. Did you see Savile Row tailor's analysis of Trump's fashion sense?

[chickenfeet]

I did though I don't recall all the details. Sensible chaps listen to their tailor which I very much doubt Trump does. Does he actually listen to anybody? One may not always agree with one's tailor but they will at least keep one from making really stupid mistakes and, actually, are usually right.

[sabotabby]

I think he concluded off the rack, which is weird and has to be deliberate for someone with Trump's wealth.

[chickenfeet]

Very weird because buying off the rack is tedious, frustrating and time consuming as well as producing sub optimal results.

[sabotabby]

Can you imagine him letting some guy go near his junk, though?

[lapinlunaire]

This is exactly it.

[lapinlunaire]

I think it's because it really does reflect the aesthetic and values of this particular brand. Let me try to word my thoughts.

We have some part of this that are people who are really, really rich. And they're a specific type of rich.

The "noblesse oblige brand of conservatism" is into opera seats and well-fitted suits because those things reflect certain values. It's a "show, don't tell" kind of thing. You're supposed to act tastefully on your wealth, not show off crassly because at best that's considered insecure. Even if you're not rich going back generations, you're supposed to act like you just know these sort of unspoken codes.

The Trump-style millionaire is the exact opposite. The point is to show off that you have money and openly assert that status. I recently heard someone claim that Trump's extravagance is understandable because he "came from nothing" and wants to show what he's proud of. That's obviously inaccurate but I think it speaks to that mindset -- that sort of ostentation signals "I made my way and am successful on my own terms". Even if your parents were rich, you're supposed to act like you made it on your own because it lets everyone believe that you too can be a millionaire if you want it enough.

I think it's telling which tends to be more valued in which society. E.g. in England, there's (still) a degree of preference for the former rather than the latter, probably because social class there has more traditionally been based on being from a "good" family. On the other hand, the American Dream is all about being able to make your own way, so even now it's the #aesthetic that gets more prized.

Then you have the supporters who aren't millionaires and many of which are working or middle class. I think part of why the flashy aesthetic gets prized is part of the above reason. My impression is that if you're poor (or not rich) in America, you're not just supposed to want money because of what money can get you, but also to "prove" you're not a failure. (I read a good essay along these lines recently btw). So the flashiness is something to aspire to and try to capture. Plus, I think it's also to do with the way patriotic things are marketed there specifically (like cheerleader outfits in flag colours). There's a lot to unpack there, probably.

This is different from, e.g. Nazi skinheads who grew out of a context that was very much about working class youth, so that when they brought Nazism into it, they retained the things that spoke to/of unapologetic working-class pride like working boots as non-work wear. (I also recently saw a good documentary on skinheads.)

Sorry about the ramble. I've been thinking a lot about why this is so tacky compared to other brands. I'm surprised that in a country where the military is a big thing and where the right is big on the military doesn't go for a more orderly, sweeping martial aesthetic. At least it would make for good cinematography...

[sabotabby]

Yeah, I think your analysis is spot-on. It's aspirational. Why anyone would want a gold-plated toilet is beyond me, but I've never had the desire to stick it to the neighbours.

A martial aesthetic would be better than this. Anything would be better than this.

[rinue]

I think this article in The Nation sums it up pretty well (if you just skip over the single indulgent "and your daughter might like being raped" bullshit line). Something that recurs over and over in interviews with Trump voters is that plenty of them don't actually think he's going to help them at all, or that they're going to win in the long run. They just want to hurt as many people as possible on the way down. It's terrorism of the classical "the world was supposed to automatically be my oyster no matter my own hideousness" straight white male variety.

[sabotabby]

Ah, yes. I remember enjoying that when it came out.

Every day the world gets weirder and I wish Hunter S. Thompson was still alive.