Back in 1971 Stanley Kubrick’s film, A Clockwork Orange, startled American audiences with its graphic violence and disturbing, anti-authoritarian message. Kubrick’s film version of the Anthony Burgess book was, in short, a popular scandal.
But the story of Clockwork Orange appears to be coming true. Burgess and Kubrick seem to have accurately predicted the future of Great Britain. Read this:
Britain might not make steel anymore, or cars, or pop music worth listening to, but, boy, are we world-beaters when it comes to tyranny. And now classical music, which was once taught to young people as a way of elevating their minds and tingling their souls, is being mined for its potential as a deterrent against bad behavior.
In January it was revealed that West Park School, in Derby in the midlands of England, was “subjecting” (its words) badly behaved children to Mozart and others. In “special detentions,” the children are forced to endure two hours of classical music both as a relaxant (the headmaster claims it calms them down) and as a deterrent against future bad behavior (apparently the number of disruptive pupils has fallen by 60 per cent since the detentions were introduced.)
In A Clockwork Orange, Alex is subjected to just such brutality. It’s called the “Ludivico Treatment.” Part of that treatment included the use of Beethoven’s music, which Alex loved, to turn him into a hollow, passive robot of a person.
Back in high school, my European History teacher once said that the U.S. seemed to follow England through history. Watch what happens in England, and soon it will happen to us. Our home-grown empire builders should have had Mr. Dillman as a teacher.
I’m going to write more about the breathtaking new book, The Spirit Level, by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett, which argues that economic inequality — the gap between the rich and poor — destablizes countries and wrecks the health and welfare of both rich and poor. It also leads the rich, anxious to protect their wealth and status, to engage in tyrannical, authoritarian enforcement practices. Witness: the clockwork orange grove that is Great Britain.
This is just the thing about inequality. It takes more and more resources to enforce the inequality, and because of that, inevitably fails, either sooner or later. There’s a reason human seem to be biologically wired to cooperate in toppling bully leaders: everyone’s survivability probably depends upon it.
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About Glenn W. Smith
Glenn W. Smith has spent the past 30 years in journalism and politics, where he’s made a name for himself as a writer, campaign manager, activist, think tank analyst and, as Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas says, a “legendary political consultant and all-around good guy.” “There’s no one like him,” says author George Lakoff. CNN commentator Paul Begala says, “He has unmatched experience, a graceful pen (or pixel nowadays) and deep insight into the best and worst of us.” Novelist Sarah Bird speaks of his “lucid and lyrical” prose. And, she says, he’s fun. Huffington Post founder Arianna Huffington says Glenn writes with “grace and abundant humor” and “uses his colorful experiences in Texas to enlighten us all.”
Smith led Ann Richards’ successful 1990 campaign for Governor of Texas. He worked for former Texas Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby and U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen. Earlier, Smith was a political reporter for the Houston Chronicle and the Houston Post. He’s coordinated national campaigns for groups such as MoveOn.org. In 2004, he authored the highly acclaimed book, The Politics of Deceit: Saving Freedom and Democracy from Extinction. He also wrote Unfit Commander, a book that detailed George W. Bush’s mysterious disappearance from military service.
In 2004, Smith was featured in the film, Bush’s Brain, a documentary about Karl Rove. Smith provided commentary on Rove’s role as then-President Bush’s senior advisor. He has made numerous media appearances with Chris Mathews on Hardball, Joe Scarborough, Brit Hume, and many others. He writes a regularly for top national web sites, including FireDogLake and Huffington Post.
As a senior fellow at George Lakoff’s prestigious Rockridge Institute in Berkeley he studied, wrote and taught on the power of metaphor and narrative in political communications. He also lectured on religion and politics at the Starr King School for Ministry in Berkeley. As a sponsor and organizer, he has pulled together numerous national events with progressive religious leaders. He also organized a celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King at Riverside Church in New York City as well as “Freedom and Faith” bus tours, which was a nationwide campaign for social justice and progressive values.
Smith’s play, Double Play, which explored American Western myths and legends, was held over to sold-out audiences. He’s even written and performed songs in the Americana tradition, such as his best-known song, “Helping Marty Robbins,” a tribute to his hometown, Houston.
Most recently, Smith is the creator of DogCanyon, a political and cultural web site covering state, national and global issues from a Texas perspective. DogCanyon is an exhilarating and unique site that gets the connections between politics and culture and explores both the personal side of politics and the ups, down, craziness and beauty of “life its ownself,” as humorist Dan Jenkins would say. DogCanyon offers heartfelt personal essays, hard-hitting political analysis, and, most importantly, laughs.
As Paul Begala said, Smith writes in “the finest, firmest, fearless tradition of Texas essayists like Molly Ivins.”
Listening to Mozart bestows order on a chaotic mind. This is not a bad thing, and it may be highly beneficial for some kids.
Perhaps all that is needed here is some balance. Select students showing a tendency toward closed-mindedness and authoritarianism, and subject them to, oh, two hours of Captain Beefheart’s *Trout Mask Replica*.
Aah… a better school environment all around!
God save the Queen Dog Canyon.
I look forward to reading more about your thoughts on The Spirit of Level book. My perspective on the world of politics has always been rooted in concerns about economic inequality. Historical materialism, who has what and why.
Please continue sharing your thoughts about why such great economic inequality exists in our society. I would especially like to examine why so many are trapped in the detention of debt for basic necessities like healthcare, housing, and education. What political song has successfully played the role of “Ludivico Treatment” in our society?
“God save the Queen…a fascist regime…they made you a moron…a potential H-bomb” (Sex Pistols)