Horseshoe Theory Josh Citarella Re-radicalizes Us
Jun 14, 2024
Josh Citarella, writer, researcher, streamer, and multimedia artist who studies internet culture and memetics. He discusses treating fringe meme communities as politically important. He explores left accelerationism and techno-social policy ideas like UBI and platform planning. He imagines artful dystopias, platform power, and presents his political compass card game Class Fantasy.
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Left Accelerationism's Core Question
- Left accelerationism frames a positive technological future (e.g., universal basic income, automation) as a political program.
- It differs from right accelerationism by asking who owns automation: collective vs private ownership.
Fringe Memes Become Real Features
- Fringe jokes like Tesla's bioweapon defense mode can become serious political and product realities.
- Josh uses such fringe practices as evidence that wealthy actors can turn memes into real-world preparedness features.
Neoliberalism's Long Arc And Corporate Planning
- Josh argues neoliberalism predates Thatcher/Reagan and began with Mont Pelerin in 1947.
- He notes Walmart/Amazon act as effective planned economies, undermining simple market narratives.
