this post was submitted on 28 Aug 2024
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askchapo

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I was wondering if anyone has any Marxist literature related to this topic, if it exists at all. Talking about "treats" is very much a part of the site's culture, so I'm wondering if this part of hexbear has any grounding in the Marxist understanding of the world in the 21st century.

This is not a shitpost, I'm genuinely curious. Thanks! stalin-approval

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[–] WayeeCool@hexbear.net 30 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (7 children)

Honestly it's just a modern take on the "bread & circus" concept that goes back to city-states of the ancient world. It's not unique to the US and is even something socialist governments must account for, but with the US it sure seems like an entire cultural identity has been built around consumption of treats. Just look at what happened in the US when COVID caused mass media entertainment (television, movies, novels) to be delayed indefinitely along with restaurants, bars, and themeparks closing down.

Other than treats citizens of the US often have nothing, living lives that can be quite hollow. Atomization. Freedom where to others they owe nothing and are owed nothing. No community, protestant religion centered around the individual, family is extremely shallow due to being limited to the so-called nuclear family that often abandons relationships when children turn 18, and suburban living where people often don't even know their immediate neighbors.

[–] PKMKII@hexbear.net 27 points 1 month ago (4 children)

Yeah that seems right. Most countries have some level of commodity fetishization, but Amerikkka elevates it to the level of core national identity.

[–] SkingradGuard@hexbear.net 21 points 1 month ago (2 children)

elevates it to the level of core national identity.

So much so that it invades the political discourse a lot. The nonsense "culture war" focuses heavily on treats most of the time.

[–] TheModerateTankie@hexbear.net 11 points 1 month ago

frothingfash you commiefornians will never ban my cheeseburger!

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