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Paul Anleitner

@PaulAnleitner • 33,573 subscribers

I write & speak on the role of culture and story in our quest for meaning. | Author of “Based on a True Story” | President/CEO of Goodmakers.

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We should have listened to David Foster Wallace’s warning back in 1997 when even Burger King was selling people burgers as an act of “rebellion”: Postmodernism would lead to a slow cultural death through endless “irony, cynicism, irreverence.” It’s time to break this spell.

We should have listened to David Foster Wallace’s warning back in 1997 when even Burger King was selling people burgers as an act of “rebellion”: Postmodernism would lead to a slow cultural death through endless “irony, cynicism, irreverence.” It’s time to break this spell.

167,719 görüntüleme

Maybe it’s just better to see yourself living inside a great myth as part of an enchanted world.

Maybe it’s just better to see yourself living inside a great myth as part of an enchanted world.

177,305 görüntüleme

The original Star Wars myth wasn’t really about “rebellion.” It’s about the restoration of righteous order. It’s the wisdom of the old Arthurian tales set in space, not Bolshevik revolutions in a galaxy far, far away. Rebellion is not inherently good.

The original Star Wars myth wasn’t really about “rebellion.” It’s about the restoration of righteous order. It’s the wisdom of the old Arthurian tales set in space, not Bolshevik revolutions in a galaxy far, far away. Rebellion is not inherently good.

168,659 görüntüleme

It was 1999, and a seismic cultural shift was happening. You could feel it in Fight Club & The Matrix. The hope and sincerity the 80s & early 90s were falling out of fashion. A spiritual “meaning crisis” was moving through culture. And it came for men first.

It was 1999, and a seismic cultural shift was happening. You could feel it in Fight Club & The Matrix. The hope and sincerity the 80s & early 90s were falling out of fashion. A spiritual “meaning crisis” was moving through culture. And it came for men first.

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The Boys represents everything alluring and ultimately unfulfilling about postmodern ideology. It tells you that “good and evil” is a lie by the powerful. The powerful are always “oppressors” and the ultimate goal is to expose them and take their power. But there’s a major problem… What do you do after exposing Homelander? Who fills the vacuum? If power is inherently oppressive, you’ll be rebelling and deconstructing again. And again…and again… David Foster Wallace called it living as “third world rebels.” You get stuck in permanent revolution mode. Always cynical. Always living in chaos. Never building something better. Never aspiring to be Superman, because Superman can’t be trusted. It’s an ultimately hopeless and nihilistic ideology that ruins lives.

The Boys represents everything alluring and ultimately unfulfilling about postmodern ideology. It tells you that “good and evil” is a lie by the powerful. The powerful are always “oppressors” and the ultimate goal is to expose them and take their power. But there’s a major problem… What do you do after exposing Homelander? Who fills the vacuum? If power is inherently oppressive, you’ll be rebelling and deconstructing again. And again…and again… David Foster Wallace called it living as “third world rebels.” You get stuck in permanent revolution mode. Always cynical. Always living in chaos. Never building something better. Never aspiring to be Superman, because Superman can’t be trusted. It’s an ultimately hopeless and nihilistic ideology that ruins lives.

127,308 görüntüleme

“Science is the only approach without an agenda…without politics. Science is truth.” Any attempt to understand what Christopher Nolan intends to say in his films should begin with this as the interpretive key to his worldview. He is not “Christianizing” Homer so much as acting as man haunted within the Secular Age with the holdover notions of a “universal” values and morals that only feel “universal” because of the Christian home that the prodigal son of secular liberalism was raised within.

“Science is the only approach without an agenda…without politics. Science is truth.” Any attempt to understand what Christopher Nolan intends to say in his films should begin with this as the interpretive key to his worldview. He is not “Christianizing” Homer so much as acting as man haunted within the Secular Age with the holdover notions of a “universal” values and morals that only feel “universal” because of the Christian home that the prodigal son of secular liberalism was raised within.

30,437 görüntüleme

Based on polls, Disclosure Day is not doing well with Gen Z. Why? Here’s one possibility: The movie presents children being deceived, abducted, experimented on… and then told as adults these things were GOOD for them. That subtext hits a little close to home for Gen Z.

Based on polls, Disclosure Day is not doing well with Gen Z. Why? Here’s one possibility: The movie presents children being deceived, abducted, experimented on… and then told as adults these things were GOOD for them. That subtext hits a little close to home for Gen Z.

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Christopher Nolan’s take on the Joker in “The Dark Knight” was really a philosophy lesson in disguise. Joker= Nietzsche’s critique of Christian morality. The first clue comes from Joker’s reveal. It’s a twist on Nietzsche’s “Whatever doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.”

Christopher Nolan’s take on the Joker in “The Dark Knight” was really a philosophy lesson in disguise. Joker= Nietzsche’s critique of Christian morality. The first clue comes from Joker’s reveal. It’s a twist on Nietzsche’s “Whatever doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.”

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Another key feature of metamodernism is the return of wholesomeness. I’ve called it “embracing the cringe.” Creed is back because people are exhausted by cynicism and constant irony. The ironic enjoyment of Creed turned into the genuine enjoyment of Creed, embracing the cringe and allowing oneself to simply enjoy the wholesome.

Another key feature of metamodernism is the return of wholesomeness. I’ve called it “embracing the cringe.” Creed is back because people are exhausted by cynicism and constant irony. The ironic enjoyment of Creed turned into the genuine enjoyment of Creed, embracing the cringe and allowing oneself to simply enjoy the wholesome.

76,021 görüntüleme

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The Sandlot has the single greatest vision of American life ever put on film. This scene is what it’s all about. 🇺🇸

The Sandlot has the single greatest vision of American life ever put on film. This scene is what it’s all about. 🇺🇸

4,439,157 görüntüleme • 1 ay önce

This moment in Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) was when I knew the postmodern deconstruction of our culture was reaching its apex. It’s hard to believe now that this was a real scene.

This moment in Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) was when I knew the postmodern deconstruction of our culture was reaching its apex. It’s hard to believe now that this was a real scene.

2,604,213 görüntüleme • 3 ay önce

The latest trend happening with Gen Z? Pretending that God is real for 30 days. Young atheists and agnostics are experimenting with some basic Christian practices, doing them every day for a month to see if it can positively impact their life. The results? See for yourself.

The latest trend happening with Gen Z? Pretending that God is real for 30 days. Young atheists and agnostics are experimenting with some basic Christian practices, doing them every day for a month to see if it can positively impact their life. The results? See for yourself.

93,186 görüntüleme • 6 gün önce

Chinese PhD student should win awards for this interview with Christopher Nolan. She was fantastic. “We turn greatness into privileges and demand apologies from it. That’s a fact of Hollywood.”

Chinese PhD student should win awards for this interview with Christopher Nolan. She was fantastic. “We turn greatness into privileges and demand apologies from it. That’s a fact of Hollywood.”

420,125 görüntüleme • 29 gün önce

The myth of George Washington is more important than the “history.” Why? Because myths are the container of a culture’s ideal values. Our founding hero could have been like the Romans— a man who murdered his own brother. But our ideal hero is a giant who “never told a lie” and kneeled to pray at Valley Forge. That our culture selected those values to revere and preserve in myth isn’t “propaganda” about our past. It is the archetype we aim toward. Mythological hero George Washington is a story we should keep telling.

The myth of George Washington is more important than the “history.” Why? Because myths are the container of a culture’s ideal values. Our founding hero could have been like the Romans— a man who murdered his own brother. But our ideal hero is a giant who “never told a lie” and kneeled to pray at Valley Forge. That our culture selected those values to revere and preserve in myth isn’t “propaganda” about our past. It is the archetype we aim toward. Mythological hero George Washington is a story we should keep telling.

471,415 görüntüleme • 1 ay önce

The online trend of young men reading classic works of literature and posting about it continues. ⁦Chris Fizer⁩ was the first I saw do it, but it is spreading. Don’t blackpill on the next generation.

The online trend of young men reading classic works of literature and posting about it continues. ⁦Chris Fizer⁩ was the first I saw do it, but it is spreading. Don’t blackpill on the next generation.

1,766,597 görüntüleme • 7 ay önce

People forget how The Mandalorian started with Werner Herzog. Yes, it was a fun space western. But there was a real philosophical struggle being explored too. This speech should have been the core of the sequel stories. Rebellion is easy. Can you build something better?

People forget how The Mandalorian started with Werner Herzog. Yes, it was a fun space western. But there was a real philosophical struggle being explored too. This speech should have been the core of the sequel stories. Rebellion is easy. Can you build something better?

854,915 görüntüleme • 3 ay önce

Nick Cave’s once wrote to a fan struggling with cynicism and losing faith. His advice was priceless. “Hopefulness is the warrior emotion that can lay waste to cynicism.”

Nick Cave’s once wrote to a fan struggling with cynicism and losing faith. His advice was priceless. “Hopefulness is the warrior emotion that can lay waste to cynicism.”

33,271 görüntüleme • 4 gün önce

Go watch "Independence Day" from 1996. Something strange will stand out to you. Yes, Will Smith punches an alien & the President gives a pre-war hype speech. But none of it is ironic. We've all been so "irony poisoned" that it's hard to believe how sincere we used to be.

Go watch "Independence Day" from 1996. Something strange will stand out to you. Yes, Will Smith punches an alien & the President gives a pre-war hype speech. But none of it is ironic. We've all been so "irony poisoned" that it's hard to believe how sincere we used to be.

695,016 görüntüleme • 3 ay önce

Christopher Nolan often uses his films to smuggle philosophy lessons. For example, The Dark Knight Rises isn’t really about Batman. It’s about Marxism. Bane is the left-wing revolutionary who promises change, but only to mask a totalitarian endgame.

Christopher Nolan often uses his films to smuggle philosophy lessons. For example, The Dark Knight Rises isn’t really about Batman. It’s about Marxism. Bane is the left-wing revolutionary who promises change, but only to mask a totalitarian endgame.

482,908 görüntüleme • 3 ay önce

Most people I know born after 1990, watched Rocky IV as an ironic joke. They couldn’t comprehend that people once felt this sincere about American culture. But that’s changed. And rather suddenly—especially with young men. Many can watch this scene & say: “I get it now.”

Most people I know born after 1990, watched Rocky IV as an ironic joke. They couldn’t comprehend that people once felt this sincere about American culture. But that’s changed. And rather suddenly—especially with young men. Many can watch this scene & say: “I get it now.”

269,855 görüntüleme • 2 ay önce

The Mandalorian and Grogu was a fun B-flick for my 11 year old. But even for him, CGI monsters can’t compare to what Star Wars was doing 40 years ago with practical FX. CGI takes work & skill. But there’s something that feels more “loved” about the labor of people’s hands.

The Mandalorian and Grogu was a fun B-flick for my 11 year old. But even for him, CGI monsters can’t compare to what Star Wars was doing 40 years ago with practical FX. CGI takes work & skill. But there’s something that feels more “loved” about the labor of people’s hands.

346,343 görüntüleme • 3 ay önce

Aristotle called it “vice.” The Apostle Paul called it “sin.” George Lucas called it “the dark side.” Star Wars was originally designed to be a modern myth to pass on timeless wisdom. There’s a lot of gold in what Lucas says here in this clip:

Aristotle called it “vice.” The Apostle Paul called it “sin.” George Lucas called it “the dark side.” Star Wars was originally designed to be a modern myth to pass on timeless wisdom. There’s a lot of gold in what Lucas says here in this clip:

326,003 görüntüleme • 3 ay önce

This young man just posts videos about the classic books he’s reading and what he loves about them. Seeing young people light up over the depth and wisdom found in great literature is the best. 🎥: IG - chriskindareads

This young man just posts videos about the classic books he’s reading and what he loves about them. Seeing young people light up over the depth and wisdom found in great literature is the best. 🎥: IG - chriskindareads

846,283 görüntüleme • 9 ay önce

Spider-Man: Brand New Day might be the most explicitly Jordan Peterson-messaged movie I’ve ever seen.

71,189 görüntüleme • 25 gün önce

Scientists used to talk about God like this regularly. Then they didn’t for most of my life. Then, suddenly in just the last few years, they did again. I could talk for hours with Andrew D. Huberman, Ph.D. about this.

Scientists used to talk about God like this regularly. Then they didn’t for most of my life. Then, suddenly in just the last few years, they did again. I could talk for hours with Andrew D. Huberman, Ph.D. about this.

609,881 görüntüleme • 7 ay önce

This is my lane of expertise so let me help you translate what AOC is saying here: It’s Marxism. She claims that the foundation of Western culture is “thin” and that culture is really nothing more than a perpetual state of evolution in response to material causes. Your primary marker of identification should not be tied to religion or the place you live but to your “class.” This is textbook philosophical Marxism.

This is my lane of expertise so let me help you translate what AOC is saying here: It’s Marxism. She claims that the foundation of Western culture is “thin” and that culture is really nothing more than a perpetual state of evolution in response to material causes. Your primary marker of identification should not be tied to religion or the place you live but to your “class.” This is textbook philosophical Marxism.

441,563 görüntüleme • 6 ay önce

The challenge with Nolan for The Odyssey wasn’t solved by “Troy” back in the mid-2000s. The problem is much deeper, and The Green Knight (2021) showed us why. The modern mind just doesn’t comprehend the true nature of “myth.” If you divide “material” and “spiritual,” you’ll miss it. If you try to make the story fit modern notions of “history” bound by scientism, you’ll miss it. If you ask “what’s ‘real’ here and what’s symbolic?” you’ll miss it. The Green Knight actually does a good job of making you feel how disorienting real myths are to the modern mind. But it’s hard to portray myth and make it a box office success.

The challenge with Nolan for The Odyssey wasn’t solved by “Troy” back in the mid-2000s. The problem is much deeper, and The Green Knight (2021) showed us why. The modern mind just doesn’t comprehend the true nature of “myth.” If you divide “material” and “spiritual,” you’ll miss it. If you try to make the story fit modern notions of “history” bound by scientism, you’ll miss it. If you ask “what’s ‘real’ here and what’s symbolic?” you’ll miss it. The Green Knight actually does a good job of making you feel how disorienting real myths are to the modern mind. But it’s hard to portray myth and make it a box office success.

238,555 görüntüleme • 3 ay önce

Gillette’s “toxic masculinity” ad is a good example of how “deconstruction” often tears down a story it misunderstands. What was their original story? Be man that a father trusts his daughter with. A husband that makes his wife swoon A father that makes his son proud.

Gillette’s “toxic masculinity” ad is a good example of how “deconstruction” often tears down a story it misunderstands. What was their original story? Be man that a father trusts his daughter with. A husband that makes his wife swoon A father that makes his son proud.

77,085 görüntüleme • 1 ay önce

If I’m advising a Hollywood executive, here’s what I’m telling them. Watch this scene. Did you feel the spell of cynicism break? Did you feel something better—something virtuous? Tell that story and you’ll make a billion dollars right now.

If I’m advising a Hollywood executive, here’s what I’m telling them. Watch this scene. Did you feel the spell of cynicism break? Did you feel something better—something virtuous? Tell that story and you’ll make a billion dollars right now.

121,246 görüntüleme • 3 ay önce