Alexei Yurchak coined the term “hypernormalization” to describe something I believe many of us here on Substack are feeling – even if we lack the words to adequately explain exactly what it is we are feeling. Yurchak coined the term in the 1980’s to describe the dominant narrative in the final stages of the Soviet Union – a country that ceased to exist on December 26, 1991. What hypernormalization described is that from the 0.01% to the very bottom of society everyone KNEW that the system was not working, everyone KNEW:
- that there was enterprise corruption;
- that each level of bosses were looting the system;
- that the politicians had no alternative vision;
- that the bosses knew that the people were well aware of this;
- that everything (EVERYTHING) was fake
However, lacking any alternative vision for a different kind of society, EVERYONE just accepted this complete and total fraudulence as “normal” – and that is just the way things kept going until they suddenly and dramatically didn’t.
The sad thing is, while this stage of hypernormalisation does appear to be upon us, the solution is simply refusing to comply with the laws/rules you reason to be arbitrary or completely unjust. If every one just did this the solution wouldn't be all out anarchy. But of course, for the masses to not comply with arbitrary laws, they would have to understand the law was arbitrary in the first place. I can help but think, that it doesn't really matter what battles we win in the short term, the war will just keep winding up until they have won. The only victory could be a 90% of the population awakening to the realities of the world and deciding they want to do something about. Even if the former happened, I don't think they have the stomach for the latter.
Alexei Yurchak coined the term “hypernormalization” to describe something I believe many of us here on Substack are feeling – even if we lack the words to adequately explain exactly what it is we are feeling. Yurchak coined the term in the 1980’s to describe the dominant narrative in the final stages of the Soviet Union – a country that ceased to exist on December 26, 1991. What hypernormalization described is that from the 0.01% to the very bottom of society everyone KNEW that the system was not working, everyone KNEW:
- that there was enterprise corruption;
- that each level of bosses were looting the system;
- that the politicians had no alternative vision;
- that the bosses knew that the people were well aware of this;
- that everything (EVERYTHING) was fake
However, lacking any alternative vision for a different kind of society, EVERYONE just accepted this complete and total fraudulence as “normal” – and that is just the way things kept going until they suddenly and dramatically didn’t.
Things fall apart; the center cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
The sad thing is, while this stage of hypernormalisation does appear to be upon us, the solution is simply refusing to comply with the laws/rules you reason to be arbitrary or completely unjust. If every one just did this the solution wouldn't be all out anarchy. But of course, for the masses to not comply with arbitrary laws, they would have to understand the law was arbitrary in the first place. I can help but think, that it doesn't really matter what battles we win in the short term, the war will just keep winding up until they have won. The only victory could be a 90% of the population awakening to the realities of the world and deciding they want to do something about. Even if the former happened, I don't think they have the stomach for the latter.
Yes I concur. So it is in the wicked world. The Messiah lies within. The heart cries freedom or death each day.