READ BRETT EASTON ELLIS’ Living in the Cult of Likability
“Those of us who reveal flaws and inconsistencies become terrifying to others, the ones to avoid. An “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”-like world of conformity and censorship emerges, erasing the opinionated and the contrarian, corralling people into an ideal.” Brett Easton Ellis
And yet, according to the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, nonconformity is now considered a sign of mental illness. The manual identifies a new mental illness called “oppositional defiant disorder” or ODD. Defined as an “ongoing pattern of disobedient, hostile and defiant behavior,” symptoms include questioning authority, negativity, defiance, argumentativeness, and being easily annoyed. So here come the Body Snatchers.
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Very scary. What kind of books will be written then? What kind of fun will there be without questioning authority? Isn’t that the healthiest thing to do? Crazy.
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Hi Adrienne, what’s the context?
In any case, as I read, I was reminded of this quote by George Verwer:
“Leaders who admit their vulnerabilities, and even their failures, walk with a limp. But I suppose that’s what makes it possible for hurting people to catch up with us to ask for help.”
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I like that!
The context is Brett Easton Ellis decrying the homogenization of art, culture and politics by creating a mass “like” culture where fear of being labeled racist, sexist, homophobic, insensitive etc etc for expressing contrarian viewpoints is used to silence originality, creativity and constructive problem solving. There’s a link to the article under the picture. 🙂
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Ok, thanks. I didn’t notice. 🙂
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