An excellent essay, The Impossible Bronze Age Mindset, by John Ehrett in American Reformer helps explain newer conservative movements with a “burn it all down” ethos as a form of longing for unmediated, authentic Dionysian type experience(s). Further, the essay makes a strong case for what is so messed up with these movements: they obsess over impossible (to achieve) desires. Reading Ehrett reminded me of Umberto Eco writing in Travels in Hyperreality on the strong American belief that simulation and re-enactment can actually tap into the reality being emulated. Some of contemporary conservatism believes there is way into an authentic reconstituted reality, believes that burning down the present will clear the ground for better ways to be re-established anew. As such, these are beliefs in forms of creative destruction. If you are observing from outside of these movements, the overriding question you have is: just how badly will things have to go for people to realize that fantasizing about a supposed old way (say Bronze Age heroism) can’t get you there?
