Philosophy
Today would be Adolf Hitler's 122nd birthday. Author of Mein Kampf and architect of genocide, his name is used to imply extreme evil, but all too often that is equivalent to "someone who doesn't agree with me." It seems as if the power is diminished by overuse.
Additionally, comics, especially Jewish comedians have made Hitler the butt of jokes. Lenny Bruce had his classic "Adolph Hitler and the M.C.A." bit, while Mel Brooks has made a career of it from The Producers, to his remake of To Be or Not To Be, a quick shot in Blazing Saddles, to "Hitler on Ice" in History of the World, Part I. Do these treatments, which are reasonable coping mechanisms for a generation still haunted by the Holocaust, have the unintended effect of minimizing the cultural meaning of Hitler?
Has Hitler become a cartoon character? Has he been made into an icon without the connotative power?
- Hank Williams, Jr.: O.k., Obama As Hitler, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah...but Netanyahu?
Everyone has surely seen the Hank Williams, Jr. rant from Fox's morning show by now. But, to remind you: So, Obama playing golf with Boehner is like Hitler playing golf with Netanyahu? I get the Obama/Hitler reference -- both are hated by conservatives...
- Henry Ford: Evil Bigot
Yes, I've read Howard Zinn. Yes, I get that history is written by those with power who in turn construct myths based upon ideals that elevate their own interests and goals. But I am still at a complete loss as to why the name Henry Ford is celebrated...
- It's Springtime For Hitler
Brothers, Sisters, and Transgendered Comedists Everywhere, Today is Hitler's birthday. A less funny man, perhaps, never walked the face of the earth, Dick Shawn, however,...Comedy has powers that few other modes of human expression can claim. We can...
- One's Private Reading Room Reveals A. Hitler's "mein Kampf" Is #1
Roll over Dickens and Asimov. What is next...quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung's Little Red Book or Karl Marx's Das Kapital? "Mein Kampf becomes an ebook bestseller" Digital editions of Adolf Hitler's fascist screed, in less public format,...
- Science Needs Philosophy...tools For A Sound Epistemology
"Philosophy: Why it matters to science" by Bruce Gorton December 6th, 2011 Time Philosophy, the study of arguments, is one of those fields that is often under-appreciated in terms of its real value, particularly if you look at the fallacies. Take for...
Philosophy
The Cultural Meaning of Hitler
Today would be Adolf Hitler's 122nd birthday. Author of Mein Kampf and architect of genocide, his name is used to imply extreme evil, but all too often that is equivalent to "someone who doesn't agree with me." It seems as if the power is diminished by overuse.
Additionally, comics, especially Jewish comedians have made Hitler the butt of jokes. Lenny Bruce had his classic "Adolph Hitler and the M.C.A." bit, while Mel Brooks has made a career of it from The Producers, to his remake of To Be or Not To Be, a quick shot in Blazing Saddles, to "Hitler on Ice" in History of the World, Part I. Do these treatments, which are reasonable coping mechanisms for a generation still haunted by the Holocaust, have the unintended effect of minimizing the cultural meaning of Hitler?
Has Hitler become a cartoon character? Has he been made into an icon without the connotative power?
- Hank Williams, Jr.: O.k., Obama As Hitler, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah...but Netanyahu?
Everyone has surely seen the Hank Williams, Jr. rant from Fox's morning show by now. But, to remind you: So, Obama playing golf with Boehner is like Hitler playing golf with Netanyahu? I get the Obama/Hitler reference -- both are hated by conservatives...
- Henry Ford: Evil Bigot
Yes, I've read Howard Zinn. Yes, I get that history is written by those with power who in turn construct myths based upon ideals that elevate their own interests and goals. But I am still at a complete loss as to why the name Henry Ford is celebrated...
- It's Springtime For Hitler
Brothers, Sisters, and Transgendered Comedists Everywhere, Today is Hitler's birthday. A less funny man, perhaps, never walked the face of the earth, Dick Shawn, however,...Comedy has powers that few other modes of human expression can claim. We can...
- One's Private Reading Room Reveals A. Hitler's "mein Kampf" Is #1
Roll over Dickens and Asimov. What is next...quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung's Little Red Book or Karl Marx's Das Kapital? "Mein Kampf becomes an ebook bestseller" Digital editions of Adolf Hitler's fascist screed, in less public format,...
- Science Needs Philosophy...tools For A Sound Epistemology
"Philosophy: Why it matters to science" by Bruce Gorton December 6th, 2011 Time Philosophy, the study of arguments, is one of those fields that is often under-appreciated in terms of its real value, particularly if you look at the fallacies. Take for...