An important neologism: Perseverance Porn
Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) always has an insightful take on what passes for reporting in today's corporate propaganda system. I think the following article deserves a Pulitzer Prize for pulling back the curtain on the perversity of the neoliberal narrative.
The homeless 8-year-old chess champion is a prime example of a fast-growing sub-genre of unintentionally horrifying stories that are meant to uplift the reader, but instead highlight the hellish nightmare much of the country lives in...
Some parts of these stories — the protagonists’ determination or generosity, for instance — are certainly admirable. But the accounts as a whole can only be seen as uplifting if we unquestioningly accept the brutal logic of neoliberalism, where a person’s worth, standard of living and even their continued existence are determined completely by their wealth and what they can earn on the market. Neoliberal ideology that promotes individualism and “free enterprise” does not see the rights to housing, healthcare or an adequate standard of living (enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights) as inalienable, but rather as commodities to be bought, sold and bargained for on the market.
Thus, the story of an Alabama man who walked 20 miles to a blue-collar job (ABC, 7/17/18; Washington Post, 7/18/18; CNN, 7/17/18) is not an example of a broken public transport system, but of the media’s grim addiction to what Adam Johnson has dubbed “perseverance porn” (FAIR.org, 8/3/17)...
Any of these stories could have been used as a gateway to discuss many of the crippling economic and social problems the US is facing. But under neoliberalism, every problem is understood through an individualist lens, and not a result of systemic forces that dominate society. To be clear, there are elements of triumph over adversity or impressive and admirable feats in these stories, but they occur in a neoliberal framework that forces them into these actions, and that framework is never questioned. The fact that the media, unable to look past their own ideological biases, do not explore these most basic issues, instead presenting these stories as human interest pieces, goes to show how engulfed in ideology they really are.
The Homeless 8-Year-Old Chess Champion and Other Horrific ‘Uplifting’ Stories
The bulk of the article recites one uplifting horror story after another. It is a scathing indictment of the ideological bias of the whores who are paid to write this celebratory crapola, and well worth the read - just to disabuse oneself of the whole genre.
The phrase "perseverance porn" is exactly the kind of shorthand needed to knock back the propagandists before they get started. We don't want to hear about how people survived with a leg bitten off by an alligator. We want to know how come they were forced to swim in alligator infested waters in the first place.
One thing is for sure. You will only read about this stuff in alt-media outfits like FAIR. Any day now, I expect FAIR to be censored for daring to tell the truth. The justification will be that they are Russian agents daring to tear down America.
Comments
The only perseverance porn...
I'm interested in right now is this.
Although CNN, NYT, WaPo, et al. probably don't intend it that way.
The current working assumption appears to be that our Shroedinger's Cat system is still alive. But what if we all suspect it's not, and the real problem is we just can't bring ourselves to open the box?
Thanks for keeping us updated
"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott
I find these “rosy” tales of perseverance objectionable. I’m
grateful that FAIR is bringing attention to this and has coined such an effective term for it. “Perseverance porn” says it all. I’m sorry that few people will have the benefit of such excellent journalism as this is beyond the pale for the hacks of the MSM.
"The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?" ~Orwell, "1984"
Not just our journalism, but the way Neoliberals interact
with others. I’ll never forget the sickened rage I felt during the Bush/Kerry debate when Shrub fielded an audience question from a woman working three jobs, and Shrub rolls it off with a sociopathic chuckle. “Three jobs!?! That’s uniquely American, ain’t it?”
Dickens, Horatio Alger, Steinbeck
An American Tragedy - I can live without such great art.
On to Biden since 1973
I'm having a Poe's Law moment here
Are you really comparing these hacks to Dickens and Steinbeck? Or did you forget the sarcasm tag?
I'm making a comment
on the idea that one needs to have great suffering to become capable of great art. An American Tragedy is not a great book, but it is a great expose of the Horatio Alger myth.
On to Biden since 1973
I see. Thank you. n/t
The funny thing is when you're living one...
It isn't nearly as impressive. I know I'll never get rich and famous through my actions, and I'm perfectly fine with that. I've beat harder odds than the ones they promote, and continue to fight, but you'll never hear my story on the news.
I mean, let's take stock.
How many fathers get their kids back after they're unfairly taken by CPS?
The answer is less than .01%. It's so rare for single fathers to be awarded custody that it's nearly unheard of. Especially after they're taken by the system. To the point where the MRA's feel fine speaking for us, because to them, like unicorns, we don't exist and therefore would theoretically support their entire agenda!
I've BEEN on the street, and I know how unlikely it is to get off it. I beat the odds, and it was because I got HELP. I didn't do it myself and I wouldn't have been able to because I had no breathing room.
I wrote a Novel while homeless. It was CRAP. I was miserable and the main character had no volition. Everything happened TO him. Currently revising, and DAMN I feel better, and the work is better. The ART is better, so don't give me any of that shit about suffering creating great work. Suffering KILLS great work. Memory of suffering provides material. That's the fucking difference that the MSM doesn't get. Will I get a J.K. Rowling? Fuck no.
I also loathe the glorification of suffering because it's fucking "Beggar of the Month" club. Thanks to stuff like Patreon, everyone is convinced that they just have to be MORE appealing and one day they too will be showered with cash from the great magic internet in the sky. I may or may not be stealing this stupid bullshit for my novel and potential future cults. As I said, it ain't the suffering that causes the art...
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11CKOAQDsbg]
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
Yes, its the internet version of "Queen for a Day"
We have decided to make the unfortunate perform for us, like a bunch of seals, or a bunch of wannabees on "Let's Make a Deal".
And of course, there is always a profit to be made. If by no other means, then by monetizing the clickstream for perseverance porn.
Extra points for Alestorm
The lyrics were unintelligable, but the video was disturbing (as intended). Singer taking a crap. Gay looking prison guards in short shorts. Mass murder and suicide. Plus the usual demented screaming and posing.
But they sure can play a tune!
I adore the band. They sell out every time they play Portland
And they always show up right around my birthday, so that gets frustrating. Maybe my 43rd, I'll catch them.
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
Individuals vs status quo
"When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why they are poor, they call me a communist." - Dom Hélder Pessoa Câmara (1909 – 1999) Brazilian Roman Catholic Archbishop
The uplifting stories contribute to the entertainment of the status quo. The positive attitude lessons train unquestioning sheep.
Preserverance porn
is like a regular closing feature on the nightly news program.
It's like they think after 25 minutes of bad news, a 5 minute PP feature story will let us down easy and go away feeling good.
Not.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
Yes, yes
It is far easier for sheeples to fall sleep counting happy perseverers than the shabby poor on the streets of Everywhere U.S.A.
I hate that crap
it's kin to the go fund me page for cancer treatments, health care. So, who is more appealing, thus more deserving? Smile! Act humble! Will anyone notice you? Maybe in the future there will be coaches on how to set up your profile to max out your beg-a-thon. Then go for the brass ring, set up your own non profit and pay yourself a nice 6 figure salary. Next mingle with the politicians and the elite.
I don't know. A few deserving winners and the rest, well, losers who just aren't pulling on those bootstraps hard enough. This used to be republican dogma. Don't even get me started on the "press". Do you know Cokie Roberts still gets paid to open her mouth and spout neolibrish?
Thanks arendt,
I stumbled on FAIR and Adam Johnson only in the last year or so. I think he is one of the good ones. And for those of you who listen to podcasts, Citations Needed is really good. I've learned a lot from them or their guests that I likely would not have found otherwise. Sometimes it is something like the media and perseverance porn, other times it is our recent history in Korea.
Since you made a recommendation about sources
may I suggest the Duran on Youtube, an excellent, unemotional discussion of what's going in UK, US, EU, etc. The regulars are Alexander Mercouris, London lawyer (solicitor?), Peter LaVelle (of RT) and Alex Christoforou. AC's politics and mine closely align.