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June 2, 2023 - 4:31pm
When asked to comment on several controversial jokes he made earlier this year on The Adam Friedland Show podcast, The 1975 frontman Matty Healy (and Taylor Swift’s latest boyfriend) told the New Yorker that it didn’t bother him. “It doesn’t actually matter,” he said. “Nobody is sitting there at night slumped at their computer, and their boyfriend comes over and goes, ‘What’s wrong, darling?’ and they go, ‘It’s just this thing with Matty Healy.’ That doesn’t happen.” Addressing those who claimed they were hurt by his views, he insisted, “You’re either lying that you are hurt, or you’re a bit mental for being hurt.”
Reactions have ranged from Twitter users expressing their “depthless horror” and “demanding” that Taylor Swift dump “that thing”, to rapper Azealia Banks warning Swift about catching various diseases from him.
The debacle over Healy’s provocations is emblematic of the continuous tension between what in the ever-ironical internet jargon is known as the “based vs. cringe” paradigm, which at its core involves conflicting modes of sincerity.
Someone who is overly earnest or sentimental is “cringe”, as is someone who is trying too hard or is ostentatious about their politically correct moral convictions. Someone who is “based”, on the other hand, isn’t afraid to “call a spade a spade”, and coolly defies moral and artistic conventions. This is not to be confused with neoconservatives and reactionaries like Fox News and Daily Wire commentators, Andrew Tate, and Elon Musk, whose overly earnest attempt to “own the libs” renders them painfully cringe. Rather, someone is only “based” when they make politically incorrect statements from a position of apathy, giving off the air that nothing actually matters.
The popular touchstones for this attitude range from high culture to the grungier artforms: philosopher Camille Paglia’s take on middle-class white girls, singer Morrissey, Michel Houellebecq novels, “alt-literature”, The Adam Friedland Show and other podcasts associated with the “dirtbag Left” like Red Scare. This eclectic group is not fazed by opposition or insults (a la Red Scare co-host Dasha Nekrasova’s viral “Sailor Socialism” video, in which she made a mockery of her Right-wing interviewer), or of blowback when they utter ironically intended slurs like “fake and gay”.
Some have critiqued the imperative to be based for being decadent and self-indulgent. Critics such as Sylvie McNamara and Andrew Marantz have dismissed the hosts of dirtbag Leftist podcasts in particular for sowing the seeds of nihilism. Others like Joshua Citarella maintain that based culture’s ironic, contrarian posturing is simply a means of coping with the dread that comes with living in a pessimistic, atomised age. In a recent Rolling Stone op-ed, Taylor Lorenz declares that she takes pride in the sincerity of being cringe as an antidote to said apathy. Yet, to my mind, she appears to misdiagnose the nature of both the illness and the cure.
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SubscribeI admit to knowing next to nothing about Taylor Swift’s boyfriends, including this one, but based on the reported remarks the young man has my approval.
It warms my heart seeing young people rebelling against the cultural establishment.
There is an underlying problem with this matter of our “cultural establishment”: The assumption that all opinions expressed by its self-appointed members are worthy of note. They are not. My first tutor recommended a few texts, warning me that most of what I would be exposed too would be of little or no value. She was right, and that was before the invention of the internet, and the Great Cacophony.
There is an underlying problem with this matter of our “cultural establishment”: The assumption that all opinions expressed by its self-appointed members are worthy of note. They are not. My first tutor recommended a few texts, warning me that most of what I would be exposed too would be of little or no value. She was right, and that was before the invention of the internet, and the Great Cacophony.
and who is Taylor Swift?
And who are The Beatles?
A modern beat combo m’ Lord
Indeed, Mr Rodenydo
Indeed, Mr Rodenydo
A modern beat combo m’ Lord
And who are The Beatles?
It warms my heart seeing young people rebelling against the cultural establishment.
and who is Taylor Swift?
I admit to knowing next to nothing about Taylor Swift’s boyfriends, including this one, but based on the reported remarks the young man has my approval.
I’m not sure the article fully captures what ‘based’ actually means, at least in Right Wing usage. In effect it is being used as a synonym for ‘cool’, but where ‘cool’ used to mean being cool to ‘the man/authority’ in the 1950s and then transformed into meaning whatever consumer product or practice was becoming popular in the 1990s, it has now done a 180 degree turn and means, in its based iteration, recognising an objective hierarchical moral order beyond the shadowplay of left progressive wokism – hence Catholics and other traditional religious positions are often described as based.
I’m not sure the article fully captures what ‘based’ actually means, at least in Right Wing usage. In effect it is being used as a synonym for ‘cool’, but where ‘cool’ used to mean being cool to ‘the man/authority’ in the 1950s and then transformed into meaning whatever consumer product or practice was becoming popular in the 1990s, it has now done a 180 degree turn and means, in its based iteration, recognising an objective hierarchical moral order beyond the shadowplay of left progressive wokism – hence Catholics and other traditional religious positions are often described as based.
“The ironic detachment associated with basedness requires humility and a form of self-abnegation — I must reach a point when I realise that I’m not the source of meaning in the universe and that my sincerity will not, in fact, solve the world’s problems.”
This article made me laugh with relief and get very alert and serious every other paragraph. I totally agree with the statement above. You just can’t be at peak earnestness and sensitivity the whole time. Not in these dark and frightening times. It drives you crazy. And believe me I know people who are being driven crazy right now because they can’t take a breather from caring. I care. But I need to keep my feet on the ground. I need that humililty because it gives me space to take stock. Then I can act – contribute whatever I can to the common good.
By the way I know nothing about Matty Healy and these terms ‘based and cringe’ are not in my active vocabulary. Even the idea of a ‘left and right’ seems seems meaningless to me these days.
That’s fine. Can i hazard a guess that you’re in your 20s or 30s? Relating to an article that invokes Swift/Healy as its baseline is probably far more relatable; also the “peak earnestness and sensitivity” you refer to is something which someone into later decades has already “been there/done that”. You’re right to disagree though – that shows you have your own perspective.
No actually, much older. And those super anxious people I was referring to are older still. Perhaps they are still willing to accept the word of ‘experts’ whereas I am much more sceptical these days.
That’s the “hazard” with hazarding a guess… i guess.
It gets worse. I agree with Solar.
I had a gut feeling you’d be part of the Solar plexus.
Always follow your gut feelings!
Always follow your gut feelings!
I had a gut feeling you’d be part of the Solar plexus.
It gets worse. I agree with Solar.
That’s the “hazard” with hazarding a guess… i guess.
No actually, much older. And those super anxious people I was referring to are older still. Perhaps they are still willing to accept the word of ‘experts’ whereas I am much more sceptical these days.
That’s fine. Can i hazard a guess that you’re in your 20s or 30s? Relating to an article that invokes Swift/Healy as its baseline is probably far more relatable; also the “peak earnestness and sensitivity” you refer to is something which someone into later decades has already “been there/done that”. You’re right to disagree though – that shows you have your own perspective.
“The ironic detachment associated with basedness requires humility and a form of self-abnegation — I must reach a point when I realise that I’m not the source of meaning in the universe and that my sincerity will not, in fact, solve the world’s problems.”
This article made me laugh with relief and get very alert and serious every other paragraph. I totally agree with the statement above. You just can’t be at peak earnestness and sensitivity the whole time. Not in these dark and frightening times. It drives you crazy. And believe me I know people who are being driven crazy right now because they can’t take a breather from caring. I care. But I need to keep my feet on the ground. I need that humililty because it gives me space to take stock. Then I can act – contribute whatever I can to the common good.
By the way I know nothing about Matty Healy and these terms ‘based and cringe’ are not in my active vocabulary. Even the idea of a ‘left and right’ seems seems meaningless to me these days.
None of this is either definitive or important. It’s just the author trying to make himself sound relevant by using the latest jargon (e.g. “based”)
Cringe.
…I would’ve thought you’d be relieved Steve, that some amongst the 30 somethings and below, are expressing attachment to reality rather than fantasy. Their ‘dialect’ is obviously not yours or mine, but I would suggest we ignore what they have to say, and how they communicate it, at our personal peril.
Each new generation, or possibly more frequently than that, finds ways of distinguishing itself from its predecessors by new buzzwords, or memes. Are you seriously suggesting that failure of each successive generation to keep up to date with subsequent memes puts them “at personal peril”? If you are, you’ve simply identified the shallow preciosity which pervades our culture, and which really shouldn’t be pandered to. To do so would be unnecessarily exhausting, exclusionary (against those failing to “keep up”) sad and the opposite of wisdom.
Apart from that, it’s probably a good article.
…indeed, shallow preciosity it may be, but with ‘youth-in-asia’ now an expanding thing in some countries, best we cotton on early about any queue for the oldtimers’ voluntary early exit programme.
…indeed, shallow preciosity it may be, but with ‘youth-in-asia’ now an expanding thing in some countries, best we cotton on early about any queue for the oldtimers’ voluntary early exit programme.
Each new generation, or possibly more frequently than that, finds ways of distinguishing itself from its predecessors by new buzzwords, or memes. Are you seriously suggesting that failure of each successive generation to keep up to date with subsequent memes puts them “at personal peril”? If you are, you’ve simply identified the shallow preciosity which pervades our culture, and which really shouldn’t be pandered to. To do so would be unnecessarily exhausting, exclusionary (against those failing to “keep up”) sad and the opposite of wisdom.
Apart from that, it’s probably a good article.
…I would’ve thought you’d be relieved Steve, that some amongst the 30 somethings and below, are expressing attachment to reality rather than fantasy. Their ‘dialect’ is obviously not yours or mine, but I would suggest we ignore what they have to say, and how they communicate it, at our personal peril.
None of this is either definitive or important. It’s just the author trying to make himself sound relevant by using the latest jargon (e.g. “based”)
Cringe.
“”Fox News and Daily Wire commentators, Andrew Tate, and Elon Musk”
Those of us who appreciate “based” viewpoints don’t see these entities as being of the same group…. certainly not Tate who is only trying to grow his brand through controversy.
The DW and Musk might be earnest but not overly so, as their analyses are not nearly as hysterical as the progressive nonsense to which they are reacting.
“”Fox News and Daily Wire commentators, Andrew Tate, and Elon Musk”
Those of us who appreciate “based” viewpoints don’t see these entities as being of the same group…. certainly not Tate who is only trying to grow his brand through controversy.
The DW and Musk might be earnest but not overly so, as their analyses are not nearly as hysterical as the progressive nonsense to which they are reacting.
Based isn’t really more to do with being coolly detached, ironic or snarky, than it is about being plain anti-establishment.
Caring about being perceived as apathetic and cool is the kind of cringe thinking that props up status quo social control.
The most important takeaway is that left wingers can never be truly based (only ironically based via some cringey reversal) because you can’t be based if you’re addicted to social approval/being spiritually homosexual/etc, etc.
Based isn’t really more to do with being coolly detached, ironic or snarky, than it is about being plain anti-establishment.
Caring about being perceived as apathetic and cool is the kind of cringe thinking that props up status quo social control.
The most important takeaway is that left wingers can never be truly based (only ironically based via some cringey reversal) because you can’t be based if you’re addicted to social approval/being spiritually homosexual/etc, etc.
Compared to this article, Jean Paul Sartre was simple to understand. Sorry I wasted five minutes trying to make enough sense of it to accord it any value.
…this is how the audio-visual cohorts are communicating Gerald, and Mr. Adubato is doing those oldies who are written-word “based” a favour with this ‘baptism’ article. Generative AI is going to quicken the pace of the demise of writing and reading, even their late 20th century iterations. It takes a lot of effort to fully comprehend the new signaling, but the consequences of failing to discern friend from enemy could be dire.
Quoting the name of the writer to whom you’re responding online as a matter of course is not only unnecessary, but usually a sign of condescension. It achieves nothing. You have a great deal to learn about communication, despite your attempts to “educate” others with dire warnings should they fail to take your missives on board.
….just being polite actually Steven.
….just being polite actually Steven.
Quoting the name of the writer to whom you’re responding online as a matter of course is not only unnecessary, but usually a sign of condescension. It achieves nothing. You have a great deal to learn about communication, despite your attempts to “educate” others with dire warnings should they fail to take your missives on board.
…this is how the audio-visual cohorts are communicating Gerald, and Mr. Adubato is doing those oldies who are written-word “based” a favour with this ‘baptism’ article. Generative AI is going to quicken the pace of the demise of writing and reading, even their late 20th century iterations. It takes a lot of effort to fully comprehend the new signaling, but the consequences of failing to discern friend from enemy could be dire.
Compared to this article, Jean Paul Sartre was simple to understand. Sorry I wasted five minutes trying to make enough sense of it to accord it any value.
Fantastic article.
For those of you who didn’t click on the Sailor Socialism link, do yourself a favour and watch. It’s just over a minute of the most exquisite interaction on all of youtube.
Nekrasova might be stoned out of her mind, but her takedown of the earnest Inforwars intern who had just ambushed her with a microphone was epic.
The rude child being interview (not bothering to stop sipping her drink) needs a spanking and a real education. God help America. Free health care!!! Where is health care free? Nowhere. Someone has to pay for it either directly or via taxes. Ask the Canadians what they think of their healthcare. Not much if they have to come to a 3rd world country like South Africa to have a knee replaced as the person would have had to wait 18 month to have one in Victoria. Came to Cape Town and we saw her just before she left for BC – after vising our exquisite Drakensburg (Gods Window).
And now our corrupt little kleptomaniacs (the ANC) want to introduce National Health compulsory for all. Madness. They cannot cope with the existing people who they promised free healthcare.
They will they only realise that socialism doesn’t work, when they run out of other peoples money.
The rude child being interview (not bothering to stop sipping her drink) needs a spanking and a real education. God help America. Free health care!!! Where is health care free? Nowhere. Someone has to pay for it either directly or via taxes. Ask the Canadians what they think of their healthcare. Not much if they have to come to a 3rd world country like South Africa to have a knee replaced as the person would have had to wait 18 month to have one in Victoria. Came to Cape Town and we saw her just before she left for BC – after vising our exquisite Drakensburg (Gods Window).
And now our corrupt little kleptomaniacs (the ANC) want to introduce National Health compulsory for all. Madness. They cannot cope with the existing people who they promised free healthcare.
They will they only realise that socialism doesn’t work, when they run out of other peoples money.
Fantastic article.
For those of you who didn’t click on the Sailor Socialism link, do yourself a favour and watch. It’s just over a minute of the most exquisite interaction on all of youtube.
Nekrasova might be stoned out of her mind, but her takedown of the earnest Inforwars intern who had just ambushed her with a microphone was epic.
EDITOR : The Joshua Citarella link takes you to the Taylor Lorenz article.
EDITOR : The Joshua Citarella link takes you to the Taylor Lorenz article.
So the point of this tedious non-entity and this piece is?
So the point of this tedious non-entity and this piece is?