Greetings, good readers.
At the moment, you're likely asking yourself - what is The Entertarian?
Well, the answer is at once simple and complex - with The Entertarian, I seek to challenge notions of censorship, the group mentality of identity politics residing over individual expression, and what I like to refer to as a "Cultural Authoritarianism" that is increasingly plaguing and handcuffing the arts and entertainment. I will essentially be posing arguments, theories, and rebuttals - usually of a semi-Libertarian philosophy, within the arena of art and entertainment. After all, these are the sorts of ideals I tend to feel most passionate about.
You could perhaps get the impression that this blog will naturally take on politically conservative leanings, but you would be wrong. But isn't it strange that you assumed taking an anti-Authoritarian stance implied an anti-liberal one? That should ironically bring to light an unfavorable perspective about the current state of the modern left right there...
I'm actually quite left-leaning in most of my views, but I am also very much opposed to Authoritarian-esque imposition in just about any form. I utterly reject imposing ideals, policies, behaviors, or rhetoric onto others by means of force - whether it be bullying, intimidation, vilification, or censorship (or GOD FORBID violence), and much prefer the art of open discussion and persuasion.
Short of direct threats of violence, a complete and unhindered marketplace of open expression and discourse should be allowed to flourish organically - as this will allow the best ideas to rise to the top while the wrongheaded and weaker ideas will naturally sink to the bottom. This is in much the same way as the free market naturally allows the cream to rise to the top, but applied to creative expression rather than business.
My mantra is essentially this:
Live and let live. Be a good person, and be a productive person. Express, create and inspire. At the VERY least - don't hurt or impose your way or thinking, acting, or living onto others.
This is why I have beef with Authoritarianism, even in a cultural sense, as it seeks to censor and snuff out usually harmless expression of others. It often imposes itself without welcome onto what others consume, and thus, what they think.
Authoritarianism of course, exists on both sides of the political spectrum, though its dominance tends to oscillate between both, depending on the era in which we refer to. Make no mistake - I take issue with this on BOTH sides of the aisle. Yet, I hold to the firm belief that in modern years, it is the left that has taken on these traits with the most dominance and potency. This is particularly true when it comes to dictating what our arts, entertainment, and even language is permitted to contain and characterize.
That's not to say that the right hasn't had their time in the sun as well. Hell, merely 15 years ago, we were hearing about the Jack Thompsons of the world pointing the finger at video game violence for the cause of all the world's problems, We saw protests from the religious right about the "evils" of rock and metal music a few decades ago via religious groups and the PMRC, which ironically tended to make raunchy albums MORE popular rather than less, but I digress..
But times have changed, and now Jack Thompson's authoritative voice has been replaced (or at least overrun) by that of the likes of Anita Sarkeesian. The moral panic has shifted from the right's unfounded worry of violence and sex in entertainment, to the left's often false accusations of "racism", "sexism" and any other "ism" you can imagine in entertainment of the modern era. We've seen shameless attempts to demonize massive groups of people who don't fall into their increasingly narrow value systems and ideals, no doubt as a way to intimidate them and "shut them up". We've seen laughable indictments of entertainment corrupting the apparent weak minds of men who will somehow view women as "lesser beings" merely by way of viewing scantily clad digital models of women in a video game.
As such, this blog will naturally pick on the modern left more often than the modern right, as their voices are the ones that currently dominate - at least in the social/cultural arena - and I fancy myself something of a Contrarian.
Most importantly, however, is I also consider myself a Libertarian, particularly in the cultural arena. This means that I am venomously opposed to any sort of infringement on what people are allowed to consume, say, do, create, and express, so long as they are not harming themselves or others. It's really as simple as that. People with this mindset tend to hold a dictatorial heir of superiority, and a feeling that "they know best," to which I would retort with - says who?
This blog will essentially be an ongoing attempt to shine a light on and challenge the Cultural Authoritarians of the world, whether they be on the right OR the left.
It will consist of general editorial ramblings based on topics or trends, discussions centered around a current headline that I feel fits the Cultural Authoritarian bill, or direct rebuttals of articles with these characteristics.
It will focus on encroachments on entertainment first and foremost, and gaming in particular - as this has long been a passion of mine - though it'll also extend to the wider cultural arena.
It will argue that the artist's work should be left to their own designs; unaltered and uninfluenced by the pressures of those who consume it, unless stated that the artists intends to create in this fashion.
It will debunk the notion that one must strike down the "misguided" or "corrupted" individual in service of the mythical, almighty collective, whether it be one's gender, race, or otherwise.
Finally, it will drive home the point that entertainment - and especially art - can not only be avenues for pushing buttons and making one feel uncomfortable, but they should do so. It is often their very purpose to do so. Attempts to alter, censor, or snuff it out per one's own value system not only deprives others of a wider array of ideas, it shackles human progress by limiting and sheltering from these ideas. It hinders and weakens the psyche of the human mind. It also creates the potential for an endless, unending loop of artistic alterations to please everyone that even George Lucas likely couldn't foresee..
The purpose of The Entertarian is primarily a valve to release and express my raw, undiluted thoughts and feelings about this current puritanical cultural climate. But I simultaneously aim to entertain and perhaps even help persuade some open minds who have managed to stumble upon it.
I hope you enjoy reading,
Stephen
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