[lbo-talk] media birdbrains

[Carl Remick]

>From: Jon Johanning <jjohanning at igc.org>
>
>Because the myth of the cowboy (see Anne Deavere Smith's Op-Ed piece in 
>today's NY Times), so perfectly acted out by Reagan and George II (not his 
>dad), the lone defender of the truth and right on the perilous frontier, 
>touches such a deep chord in the national soul that it practically renders 
>all discussion of "issues" on an intellectual level irrelevant.

Does the (deeply tedious) myth of the cowboy really have that much of a 
death grip on the national consciousness?  Back in the fifties and sixties 
TV and the movies were crammed full of horse operas -- no more.  HBO's new 
expletive-intensive Western (which I haven't seen) is the first major 
Western in years, and it doesn't seem to have attracted much attention.

I think (hope) that cultural archetypes burn out after awhile.  If they 
didn't, Scandinavians would still dream about launching Viking raids instead 
of being preoccupied with keeping the welfare state alive.

Carl