The Unspeakeasy With Meghan Daum How Foucault Led To Tumblr - Tracing the history of The Identity Trap with Yascha Mounk
Sep 25, 2023
Yascha Mounk discusses how niche views about race, sexual orientation, and gender identity went from marginal to mainstream. He explores the origins of wokeness, the impact of Tumblr on identity exploration, and the controversy surrounding the Harper's letter. Mounk also highlights the importance of free speech in empowering marginalized groups and shares his experiences navigating identity issues in the classroom.
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Foucault's skepticism of Progress
- Foucault, who died of AIDS in 1984, critiqued narratives of progress across various societal issues.
- He questioned whether modern prisons and mental health treatments were truly more humane than past practices.
Intellectual Influence
- Foucault, Said, and Spivak had a degree of public presence through books and intellectual media.
- They were not mainstream celebrities, but their work circulated among intellectuals and academics.
Critical Race Theory Origins
- Critical Race Theory (CRT) originated in American law schools, influenced by postmodernism.
- CRT critiques the civil rights movement and argues that racism is a permanent fixture in America.