There was an interesting shift in his cosmetic elites were seen as compromised in the 40s or so. “Selling out” meant selling out to true-elite patrons before mass media. Now it means selling out to normie crowds. Pandering to client values rather than modeling intrinsic ones.
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Admired elites typically are seen as embodiments of specific universally admirable virtues (eg: soldiers = courage). Cosmetic elites embody derived virtues at best (eg acting or writing about courage). Pursuit of “artistic truth” itself is never admired as a virtue.
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People who think hodlers are the new elites are in a very serious bubble.
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So a very interesting possibility now is a Baudrillardian possibility: there are no true elites left because *all* elites have been revealed to be cosmetic elites. Simulations of simulations with no “virtues” at any limit points. Kardashians all the way up.
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In this view to unironically believe in an elite is to unironically believe in a virtue, and be trapped in the associated false consciousness/blue pill.
Courage theater, altruism theater, compassion theater, intellect theater, etc etc.
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This is a kind of nihilism that’s always there among a subset of elites themselves (the “it’s all fake” style of condescension), but is uncommon as a mass attitude. Non-elites tend to hold at least 1-2 elite classes/embodied virtues as actually, unironically sacred.
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Another interesting proposition. But then I’ve never seen a meme hero like “Chad” either leak out of subcultural zone or clearly map to any real group. Imaginary elites, like wizards?
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Replying to @vgr
If I wanted "generally unqualified positive societal regard," I'd be the good guy in a new meme format.
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🤔 yeah...
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Replying to @vgr
I think an important variant of c) is the history of “mass culture” being written from within the dominant but far from universal culture; it’s much clearer now that there is no coherent “mass” that covers everyone.
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I didn’t leave them out. I just don’t consider them elites by any meaningful candidate definition of elites. Historically they were often slaves (eg gladiators, harem entertainers, court jesters). At best they are like divine slaves-to-society like vestal virgins, devdasis etc.
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Replying to @vgr
Somewhere you left out athletes. And movie stars. And other populist figures.
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Replying to
Does it matter whether YOU think them elites? I thought you were measuring whether people in the population you’re examining (Western nations) were thinking it.
I must’ve misunderstood your analysis.
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It’s not about me. I’m trying to apply a consistent historical standard of “elite” and a few objective criteria like being seen as legitimate stewards of a society’s values and grand narrative.



