Are you afraid of Rainbows?
Or should this headline, perhaps more accurate, suggests that there might be some sort of Phasmorphobia going on? As a quasi-intellectual reference to the opening phrase of the proverbial Manifesto it would actually work pretty good as a hint of what to expect of this little incendiary pamphlett. Being not exactly about ghosts or the war of classes, but very much about the tension in our present state of confusion. So, let´s take a closer look on what seemingly everyone are enjoying these days; namely Identity politics.
What could possibly go wrong?
Claude Cahun (1894-1954)
Of course it´s easy to mock how the trend towards an increasingly tolerant society is expressed in gender identities or fashion, or to ridicule how ”the decline of western civilisation” now seems to be complete due to the ongoing transcendence of the hetero normative stigma. The purpose of this text, however, is not to dismiss today’s turbulence or to reduce your or someone else’s experiences or opinions. It´s ment to provide some background to the next article and perhaps shed some light upon a few of the questions posed to the participants of this issue. Gender trouble or identity issues are more or less pervasive in today’s climate of debate so it has in many ways felt natural to introduce this discussion here as well. And since questions connected to the concept of intersectionality are experienced differently depending on who you ask, it´s an interesting subject to examine.
Intersectionality is a theoretical framework for understanding how aspects of a person's social and political identities (e.g., gender, sex, race, class, sexuality, religion, ability, physical appearance. etc might combine to create unique modes of discrimination and privilege.
While doing research for this issue, thoughts of how much things differ today compared to previous hikes in underground culture were predestined to arise, and truth to be told; there weren´t much talk about these issues some twenty years ago. As they now has risen to the surface it´s become clear that the response to this movement is as divided amongst followers of traditional sub-cultures as anywhere else, and that the old fashioned patriarchy are alive and kicking also in traditionally ”Progressive”, or ”Anti-Establishment” communities. In some dark corners it´s even important to oppose to, or at least show a distance to, the urge to accomplish a less narrow-minded society. Here, the fear of being perceived as ”good” is as strong as the grip of a totalitarian state ever was, and yeah...I´m first and foremost thinking of fairly young to middle aged men with an acquired taste of ”evil” music here. Men just like myself actually. The structures of oppression are of course much larger than what you might see in those ”too cool for school” gangs, but it´s disturbing none the less considering what kind of consequences that this set of mind ultimately are linked to, like domestic violence, and so forth.
Where do we begin? Collage by Hinsides.
Regardless of your own preferences or position, this connection should be clear to anyone and especially be considered by those notorious ”lords of edges” who fancy to use their underground culture identity as an excuse to undermine basic human rights for whatever reasons. It´s no brainer that these games will back fire just as it has done before and will keep on doing as long as the idea of masculinity as equivalent to governing is maintained. Sad but true to everyone involved.
The inability or unwillingness to acknowledge this by certain individuals is of course the main obstacle to overcome in order to break some new ground here, and that´s why Hinsides Magazine will bring this topic to the table every now and then.
If you have a hard time to see the benefits of such a discussion, you´re probably on the privileged side of the fence and might need to know that the ghost of our time are nothing but a ghost if you acknowledge your fears instead of fighting them.
You´ve just read a text that are to be found in the first issue of Hinsides Magazine together with a lot of other exclusive content.
Orders of this limited (200ex) edition is being made here: