Romanticizing the Fight, Revealing the System

We Do Not Apologize. We Do Not Die.

"We have art in order not to die of the truth." - Nietzsche A meandering commentary on 90's period pieces, art, (R)romanticism, contradictions, realism, imagination, and the last unoccupied place - our souls. ~ Note: this is an episode based on my recent Substack so if you'd like a written accompaniment, check out eleanorgoldfield.substack.com [https://eleanorgoldfield.substack.com/] For more Radical Nuance content, go to Patreon.com/ArtKillingApathy

A Seat at the Table

The removal of DEI programs, of histories and people from government sites and policies is fucked. It's also not the catastrophe liberal media and pearl-clutchers make it out to be because these "gains" weren't the wins they were dressed up as. Diversity in the name of capitalist and colonialist violence doesn't serve the marginalized and oppressed - it really only serves the state by suggesting a progressive and inclusive facade. In short, do we want a seat at the table if all they're serving is more oppression?? In this episode, I pull from this rad piece in Prism Reports [https://prismreports.org/2025/02/18/dei-policies-consumerism/], as well as my latest Substack! [https://eleanorgoldfield.substack.com/p/tell-my-story] For more Radical Nuance content, go to Patreon.com/ArtKillingApathy

Can Rage Take the Form of Gentleness?

I imagine many of you are feeling how I feel today - heartbreak was a while ago, we're beyond soul break now. And the horrors of this world can push us to be violent - as we are programmed to be, violent towards each other, towards ourselves. But what if instead we were gentle - with one another, with ourselves, and destructive towards those who would destroy us? Artist Dorgham Qreaiqea who was murdered last night by Israel inspired me to ask this of myself, of you all: Can rage take the form of gentleness? And here recognize that gentleness towards people, towards nature might sometimes require destructive action towards the architects of our oppression - that that IS in fact a form of gentleness. A gentleness if not practiced could lead us to perpetuate the violence of the system against each other… In this sense, to be gentle is a radical refusal to perpetuate that violence, to participate in the destruction of humanity and nature. It is likewise a promise, a dedication to dismantle the architecture of our oppression. To be gentle and dangerous. * More podcasts like this along with access to more of my art at Patreon.com/ArtKillingApathy

Refusing Happiness

In a system that creates so much pain, the demand for happiness is insidious at best. It is a cover for violence - like fresh snowfall on a toxic waste dump. Refusing this imposed demand for happiness is also then a path towards refusing the imposed structures of pain and suffering, recognizing that life must always include pain. Our goal should not be to avoid all pain but to know the difference between a pain that is a natural outgrowth of life and one that is forced upon us. I'll also dig into how the demand for happiness dehumanizes us, and those we demand it of, the importance of engaging with our pain and the pain of others, a few musings on kids, and more! Lemme know how y'all feel about the refusal of happiness. * There are oodles more of these episodes plus great deals on art, music and movies at Patreon.com/ArtKillingApathy

Romanticizing the Fight, Revealing the System

So how's everyone holding up in this final season of America? N*zi salutes and all... Well, I've got some thoughts on that to start. In short, don't fear the theatrics of the system. This isn't a changing of the status quo, merely a revealing of it. There is much work to do, and it's ok to be scared, to be depressed -- but let's also be wary of over-romanticizing the struggle, of turning this fight into a Hollywood movie. We risk normalizing atrocities and burdening ourselves and others with the weight of the resilient hero. Let's be real about the world in which we live, which also means recognizing the beauty and the beautiful people in it...am I over-romanticizing? ;) * Get more episodes at Patreon.com/ArtKillingApathy