The Age of Jackson
Lately, I’ve been pondering this quote from Walter Benjamin’s “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction”:
The growing proletarianization of modern man and the increasing formation of masses are two aspects of the same process. Fascism attempts to organize the newly created proletarian masses without affecting the property structure which the masses strive to eliminate. Fascism sees its salvation in giving these masses not their right, but instead a chance to express themselves.
Which has been resonating oddly with Alex Timber’s and Michael Friedman’s musical that recasts Andrew Jackson as emo mass murderer, found via The Edge of the American West.
There’s more at their myspace page, along with songs including a version of “Ten Little Indians” that is inspired by Septimus Winner’s 1868 version. If it’s the will of the people that leads to colonization and genocide, what does that say about populism in general? Populism Yea Yea.
Take a stand against the elites.
They don’t care anything for us.
And we will eat sweet democracy.
Let them eat our dust.
‘Cuz it’s the early 19th century
and we’ll take the land back from the Indians.
No Comments Yet