#imagined communities

[snailfriendreads]

Two books done and another begun this week!

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer: 5/5

The North American Folk Music Revival by Gillian Mitchell: 5/5

Both very well written, utilize accessible language, and are informative. Braiding Sweetgrass is a well known must-read for anyone working to decolonize themselves. NAFMR is significantly less well known but is a fantastic reference book for music and cultural theory students such as myself. I enjoyed both of these books thoroughly.

Ongoing: The House in The Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Currently working on the end of Chapter 4 and I'm enjoying it so far! The vibe is kind of A Series of Unfortunate Events meets Welcome to Night Vale. Very fluffy and cozy, I'm already recommending it to people.

Up next: Legendborn by Tracy Deonn; Imagined Communities by Benedict Anderson; The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Demaline.

Comments? Questions? Suggestions to add to the docket? Send me an ask!

[crowns-of-violets-and-roses]

In effect, by the second decade of the nineteenth century, if not earlier, a ‘model’ of ‘the’ independent national state was available for pirating.

Imagined Communities, Benedict Anderson

[xiaq]

Your first pride story was touching and all but you still married a man.

Yeah, bisexuals do that sometimes.

[articlesofnote]

SCoR - Section II, Ch. 2, Part B "Conceptual Machineries of Universe Maintenance"

I. Despite possible appearances to the contrary, a symbolic universe is (must be) a theoretical construct that strengthens social links between institutions. It originates in subjective reflection, which is then socially objectivated, driven by a recognition that a given institutional order is in some way "problematic" or incoherent. However, once established, a symbolic universe may be "naively" inhabited i.e. uncritically taken-for-granted by its participants.

II. A symbolic universe, once established, can become the subject of systematic reflection; the symbolic universe being a "first-order" legitimation, these reflections become "second-order" legitimations.

III. It is useful to try and assess the degree of sophistication of these legitimations similarly to how (and why) we analyzed this previously for institutions themselves because, though difficult, it illuminates the taken-for-grantedness of the symbolic universe.

IV. Legitimation of symbolic universes has similar motives to institutional legitimation, and is undertaken when the symbolic universe has become problematic in some way. It is inherent to the nature of symbolic universes that this is always possible and often actually occurring.

V. One intrinsic problem is with intergenerational transmission of the symbolic universe, which is never completely successful, particularly because the symbolic universe is less apprehensible as a "reality" i.e. it is entirely "theoretical"/abstract.

VI. This problem is self-reinforcing: "deviant"/discrepant "versions" of the symbolic universe can be transmitted/objectivated - heresies, both a theoretical AND a practical threat to "true order."

VII. Heresy is a key impetus to systematic elaboration of a symbolic universe, as practitioners must articulate the "true faith" in order to be able to target the deviations. "The tradition itself is pushed beyond its original form in new conceptualizations" - legitimated, but also modified, such as the introduction of the "Holy Trinity" in early Christian doctrine.

VIII. Another key impetus is the "collision of histories" - societies with different origins interacting for the first time. This can be more severe than heresy due to the potential completeness of the divergence in symbolic universes so colliding.

IX. In particular, the existence of an entirely different tradition demonstrates the contingency of one's own.

X. The "conceptual machineries of universe maintenance" must be understood as part of the society within which they are "operated;" the success of these machineries is related to the power of the operators. "The historical outcome of the clash of the gods was determined by those who wielded the better weapons, rather than those who had the better arguments… He who has a better stick has a better chance of imposing his definitions of reality."

XI. Conceptual machineries of symbolic universe maintenance always entail "the systematization of … legitimations which were already present in a more naive mode."

XII. Historically conspicuous conceptual machineries are mythology, theology, philosophy, and science. Mythology is the most archaic, "a conception of reality that posits the ongoing penetration of the world of everyday experience by sacred forces."

XIII. Mythology is naive to the extent that inconsistent mythological traditions can exist side by side without theoretical integration in many cases.

XIV. Mythology is also naive in that "specialist" knowledge is not far from general experiential knowledge. Specialists may make acquiring this knowledge and "joining the brotherhood" difficult, however.

XV. Theology is born out of a drive to systematize mythologies and identify/articulate a "canonical" mythos. Mythological thought operates in a continuous human/divine world; theological thought takes the human and divine worlds as separate, and bridges/mediates between them. Because of this gap, theological knowledge is intrinsically less apprehensible and therefore more difficult to acquire; this is in turn means a theology among elites/adepts can coexist with a "naive"/common mythology among the masses, with both serving the same symbolic universe.

XVI. Theology is paradigmatic for later philosophic/scientific structures for universe maintenance in this "elite capture"/separation from everyday experience; science is (so far) the ultimate development of this pattern, with a body of knowledge so abstract that many cannot grasp it even in part.

XVII. The structures discussed above appear in many combinations/modes and are likely not exhaustive. Two maintenance activities are worth discussing further: therapy and nihilation.

XVIII. "Therapy [represents] the application of conceptual machinery to ensure that actual or potential deviants stay 'within' the institutional definitions of reality." Because all symbolic universes face the danger of deviance, "therapy" in this sense must be universal, and therefore any symbolic universe must include a body of knowledge that comprehends a theory of deviance, a diagnostic apparatus, and a conceptual system for the "cure of souls."

XIX. [A discussion of a hypothetical example of therapeutic need: a "stubbornly heterosexual" member of an "institutionally homosexual" military.]

XX. The conceptual machinery of therapy depends on the subjective acceptance of its aims by both target/deviant AND the therapeutic practitioner(s). Successful therapy "resocializes the deviant into the objective reality of the symbolic universe of the society."

XXI. As therapy keeps the in-group in, nihilation keeps the outside out. Nihilation is an inverse of legitimation: legitimation says "what's in this symbolic universe is real", nihilation says "what is outside of this symbolic universe does not exist." That on which therapy cannot be practiced is not important.

XXII. Nihilation also involves the attempt to account for all deviant definitions of reality in terms of one's own symbolic universe, the better to liquidate them entirely. There must therefore be a translation from the "outside" conceptualization into familiar language, which in itself is an affirmation of one's own symbolic universe: "They do not understand reality; what they think is reality is not really reality, but it is something else, and we understand this and they do not."

XXIII. Therapy/nihilation are inherent in a symbolic universe and appear as soon as it is crystallized. Nothing can be allowed to remain outside the scope of the symbolic universe.

re: V - Platonic forms, in some sense? The symbolic universe is never directly perceptible, just its here-and-now shadow (the cave!)

re: VII - My concept of "bureacratic accumulation" through "crisis" is a version of this specific to an institution. Also: this is hella dialectical!

re: IX - for which a common response is the attempted annihilation of the competing symbolic universe and the people that maintain it (as I quickly realized was discussed in literally the next paragraph)

re: XI - Big idea here: implication is that response to crises cannot be truly "de novo" but rather must be drawn from some existing tendencies in a society. Thus, crisis response benefits from pluralism; uniformity of thought is an intellectual monoculture subject to the same risks as a biological one, like the Prussian planned forests referenced in "Seeing like a State", or the Cavendish banana

re: XV - see Jaynes' "Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind" for one argument about what might trigger a transition from mythology to theology. Might also be a connection here to the "axial age" argument from Karl Jaspers in "The Origin and Goal of History."

re: XVI - There are (at least) two interesting phenomena which I think are strongly related to the near-universal incomprehensibility of scientific modes of symbolic universe maintenance:

Scientific "heretics" are very hard to root out: fraudsters and hucksters can be incomprehensible as a camouflage tactic, very difficult for most folks to tell the difference between a true scientific justification and evocatively-worded bullshit

Conspiracy theorists: "since so much technocratic work is both a) mostly out of sight and b) extremely influential in how the world works, what if there were groups that were a) ENTIRELY hidden (except for we brave few who managed to find evidence of their machinations) and b) WHOLLY influential (except for we brave few who have learned their tricks and how to avoid them)?"

re: XIX - Reminded here of the end of Aldermans' "The Power" - an assumed implicit matriarchal frame at end of book

re: XX - Winston Smith loved Big Brother once O'Brien got through with him. Therapeutic success!

re: XXII - Connections here to "Imagined Communities" and "Seeing like a State" again: efface a colonized culture through definitions of what is bureaucratically "legible." Haven't finished "Tools for Conviviality" yet, but strongly feel there's another very important connection between the "language" of material goods and tools that the society makes available to its members and nihilation processes: what is available to you is what you should be consuming, and you should not be consuming what is not made to be easily acquired

[crimsonclad]

I saw a bumper sticker and thought “is that seductive Daffy Duck” and then when I looked closer I realized it was actually a fishing bumper sticker but also. also it is still very much seductive Daffy Duck???? somehow????????

[urfriendlywriter]

specific tropes in romance that always heal something in me that it never broke

like, forehead kisses, soft love confessions, peppering kisses all over the lover's face. promises that are kept, hands those are held with a gentle love, and hugs that engulf the heart too.

or when they rest their head on your chest, or lean on you for support.

"your tears kill me," kinda thing. or when a sunshine character finally cries and bawls their entire life's hurt out into their comfort grumpy character (plus point, if the grump feels guilty thinking if they had done something to trigger this emotional outburst)

communication. no matter hard the topic is, how big your differences are.

listening to the other person yap

admiring their facial features and seeing not just the outer structure but the person that they really are.

them getting angry on ur behalf

cradling each other in hugs basically

feeling emotional walls break when you're with that one person particularly

gentle communication. yearning to do more for your lover (!!!!)

affectionate smiles and eyes crinkling with a smile that's directed specially at you.

finding their laugh contagious.

the feeling of being accepted, despite flaws and all

silent domestic acts like being in the kitchen together, dressing up together, them drying ur hair while u sit between their legs

occasionally stolen kisses

or one deep kiss that just lights your world and fulfills your soul and heart.

sleepily nuzzling into each other!!

reaching for each other despite being asleep, with mumbled endearments and whispers of need!!!

laughter coming easily by their side, like happiness is just another day to day thing (this can also be about self love. when u truly love urself and prioritize your own rights and cherish the fact that you're you. happiness becomes beautiful even in solitude)

their fingers buried deep in yo- OOPS.?! :)

[deathdetermineslife]

"I don't want ppl to think I'm cringe—" NO. you go draw yourself smooching that fictional character RIGHT NOW. they LOVE YOU. be FREE. you have an entire community of ppl who support you, now shoo, go write that drabble!

[itsrlymine]

a few “crazy” things i've manifested for myself and others

nothing is actually crazy. everything is the same and nothing is impossible. I Am Possible. 

An all expenses paid trip to Dubai (twice now) with $0 in my bank account by simply deciding that my only option is to go and be sexy in Dubai (respectfully ofc). I left my wallet in the States on purpose bc I am spoiled and everyone pays for me. That’s exactly what happened. 

I revised my best friend’s pregnancy bc we don’t do baby mamaism around here. Commit to a baby when that man commits to you. Sorry not sorry. She literally took three pregnancy tests and they all told her she was pregnant. I said no, not my girl. She was no longer pregnant. No medical procedure or any pain was experienced or necessary on her end.

Accepted in to the university I wanted to go to bc I thought it was pretty. Super low acceptance rate and I definitely didn’t have the criteria. I didn’t even have to do the college essay just bc I didn’t feel like writing (but ofc I would write fan fiction in a heart beat). 

Every single job I’ve ever had bc ofc you’re gonna hire me I’m the best employee you’ve ever come across.

Becoming besties with manifestation YouTubers I used to watch bc why not?? 

My current remote job that pays me $120/hour and I barely have to do actual work. I genuinely just scroll on Pinterest and Tumblr most of the time and when i do work, it's blissful. Love my boss tho

Apartments for my friends, family members and myself that’s everything we wanted in our individual spaces and more.

My Porsche Boxster that has super low milage and given to me for free like girl byeee.

Tons of new friends and opportunities falling into my lap

I ordered new glasses and they came in fast asf. “Usually” takes at least two maybe three weeks but I said nope, I’m wearing them right now. I am wearing them right now. 

My favorite musicians releasing new music every time I decide I want new music from them. Like if you don’t get in that studio!

[reidiot]

don't fucking interrupt me when i'm reading my x reader fics it's rude

[abbyfmc]

Yandere story idea #8:

A yandere ex is dumped by his girlfriend, (Y/n), because she caught him cheating. The yandere is quick to chase her around begging for forgiveness while she's heartbroken. He basically stalks her to the point that (Y/n) had to put restraining orders on him and change her city and number. Years later, he finds her about to marry her yandere fiancé (who is secretly MUCH more yandere than him) to whom (Y/n) gave her heart. The yandere fiancé knows about the yandere ex's existence, and constantly watches him; he mocks and rubs it in his face that (Y/n) will never be his to the point of secretly inviting him to the wedding and watching him mockingly and scornfully from the audience from the altar, after kissing his beloved.

[orochiposting]

“I can fix him dw” [drill sounds] {screaming} [chainsaw revving]

[soapbbox]

consider: cogless Megatron on his throne, trying and failing to look intimidating. can’t even get a good Evil Slouch going, he’s too small to use both the armrests at the same time.

Chair is currently off limits

[shradsmanifestt]

I promise you, This is the only loa post you'll ever need.

I promised and I will deliver.

Law of assumption basically means - what you assume to be true is true in your reality. That's it. That's all there is to it. But you guys just wanna overcomplicate this so much when all you got to do is assume in your favour and move on with that. Assume that your desire is already yours and persist on that.

Manifestation is INSTANT. The minute you decided you wanted it, the minute you decided that it is yours - It was done. That was it. It's already done. That is your new assumption, that is your story. As long as you persist in this there is nothing on Earth that could stop you from having it. BUT, there is one thing that can stop you from having it.

YOU, IT'S YOU. YOU ARE THE REASON. What other answer did you expect it to be?

The only thing to know here is this : The 3D is not what we change when manifesting, we change the 4D. The 3D simply reflects it. That is all.

You guys are so obsessed with changing the 3d, "trying" to manifest something, clicking on every clickbait video that says this is the technique you need to manifest your desire in 24 hours and all sorts of shit.

GUYS, GUYS GUYS PLEASEEEEE, Stop it. You are only telling yourself how you don't have it. You have got to realise that by now atleast! I mean c'mon. This is your reality, ok? You create every single part of it. If you can create it unconsciously, you sure as hell can do it consciously. You have to realise now and now that you are the creator of your reality. Don't let anything or anyone convince you otherwise.

Ok now I understand that some of you may be struggling so I am gonna be real straight with you. You are the one going back to the old story again and again. You're the one who is just overconsuming information instead of actually applying what you know. Stop this cycle. Look every single question you ask me again and again is an affirmation. An affirmation that tells everyone how you don't have what you want.

I've been persisting for two years but I didn't manifest it - Affirmation It feels impossible - Affirmation. Why aren't my affirmations working - Affirmation. Am I even doing this right? - Affirmation.

You are doing this to yourself. You get that??!

If you want it, you have to be willing to change yourself, to change your thoughts, to stay discplined in the story that you want. There's no other magical way to it. This is it. If you want it bad enough, OWN IT. FUCKING OWN IT AND PERSIST ON WHAT YOU WANT.

You know why you don't have it yet?? CAUSE YOU'RE SO FUCKING RELIANT ON THE 3D. Stop it. You aren't trying to change the 3d. Your only job is to change your 4d - your thoughts , your attention and awareness. The 3d has no other choice but to reflect it. 3d has no power and yk why? Cause it's so malleable and all it can ever do is reflect your 4d, your imagination. But your imagination - NOW that is in your hands, You can choose to think what you want, You can choose to accept what you want as true and just let your sc mind do it's magic. Thats all you need to know.

Now I get it, circumstances may same really really bad like almost impossible for you to believe that the opposite of what is actually there is actually the real reality. But you're just gonna have to do it anyway. Imagination - IS THE REAL REALITY. And there is nothing you can do to change it. SO accept that and change your thoughts.

DO YOU KNOW WHY YOU'RE HERE RN? CAUSE YOU DID IT, YOU FOUND OUT THE ULTIMATE TRUTH OF LIFE. HOW YOU HAVE ALL THE POWER, HOW YOU ARE THE CREATOR OF YOUR REALITY.

Now if you don't believe in all this and sees this as some manifestation crap then I'm respectfully asking you to get the fuck off my blog, I don't need you here if you don't need me.

But if you know that this is it, this is true then I want you to read very carefully what I am gonna say next because THIS IS IT -

is loa real for YOU? (yes) is manifestation real for YOU? (yes) so is your imagination the real reality in your life? (yes) - so obviously what you assume has to be real too right? So it is real and it is yours. You have it and you have it now. That's it. That's all there is to it. If you believe in this, If you can know this, You have to know that this is it, what you assume is true, IS true in your reality.

All you gotta do is persist. Persist in your new story. It doesn't matter what technique you guys use. Just know that it is done. Stop treating it like a process - MANIFESTATION IS NOT A PROCESS, IT IS INSTANT, IT WAS YOURS THE MINUTE YOU DECIDED SO. CREATION IS FINISHED, IT IS YOURS.

Just know that it's done. You're not waiting for something to happen in the 3D - NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

YOU ARE THE VALIDATION. WHY ASK YOURSELF WHERE IT IS - WHEN YOU ALREADY HAVE IT.

Guys this is it, this is all you need, read it and reread it as many times you want to just get it in your head but trust me this is it.

You've got this!

Love, Shrads