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Jack Graham

Jack Graham writes and podcasts about culture and politics from a Gothic Marxist-Humanist perspective. He co-hosts the I Don't Speak German podcast with Daniel Harper. Support Jack on Patreon.

9 Comments

  1. David Brain
    December 31, 2015 @ 6:26 pm

    Superb thought-provoking piece, thank you.

    On one point: the comedian Jason Manford does a routine about telling his kids that whenever the red light went on in his household alarm “movement detector” system in the living room, that was Santa watching them. He said that it worked brilliantly for a couple of years, and then he came in one day to find them holding a toy catalogue up to it and saying “…and I’d like this one, and this one…”

    Reply

  2. Jane Campbell
    December 31, 2015 @ 8:35 pm

    Lest anyone forget, remember that you are always being watched by your subconscious. Yes, even your own eyes are a part of the Panoptican. And they will judge you when you face the ultimate mirror.

    Merry Christmas.

    Reply

    • Jack Graham
      January 1, 2016 @ 8:50 am

      My work here is done.

      Reply

    • Aylwin
      January 1, 2016 @ 11:52 am

      It’s a bit metaphysical, I know, but it’s the only fair way.

      Reply

  3. Citizen_Alan
    December 31, 2015 @ 10:46 pm

    I just gave myself a migraine from rolling my eyes at this.

    Reply

    • Jack Graham
      January 1, 2016 @ 8:50 am

      My work here is done.

      Reply

  4. Shannon
    January 1, 2016 @ 2:57 am

    Actually, the Elf on the Shelf is just as terrifying as it sounds. I wrote a whole essay about why there is no way in hell I am ever getting it for my kid, with the surveillance aspect only being one part of the awfulness: http://welleatyouupweloveyouso.com/2014/12/22/why-i-will-never-buy-elf-on-the-shelf/

    Most kids just seem shrug it off, but some parents have said their kids have truly started acting out-of-character and developed anxiety over the thing. Smart kids.

    Reply

  5. Shannon
    January 1, 2016 @ 2:58 am

    Actually, the Elf on the Shelf is just as terrifying as it sounds. I wrote a whole essay about why there is no way in hell I am ever getting it for my kid, with the surveillance aspect only being one part of the awfulness: http://welleatyouupweloveyouso.com/2014/12/22/why-i-will-never-buy-elf-on-the-shelf/ There are some kids that just shrug it off, but some parents have said their kids have truly started acting out-of-character and developed anxiety over the thing. Smart kids.

    Reply

  6. Anthony Herrera
    January 1, 2016 @ 3:56 pm

    A Kids In The Hall reference and a promise of a series about Lee and Herring?! Yes, I consider it a promise.

    Also, there’s another movie like the two you talk about called One Magic Christmas where Harry Dean Stanton plays an angel trying to get Mary Steenburgen in to the Christmas spirit and does this by creating a scenario where her grinchiness basically leads to the murder of her entire family which is exactly what you would expect an angel played by Harry Dean Stanton to do. Reading that back it sounds like I’m making it up but no that’s what happens in that movie.

    Reply

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