Arendt's book is on my booklist as well for the same reasons. I do have a hard time just seeing it as "banal" though. Yes, for some it is just sensible, and therefor banal, however for others there seems be almost a certain glee in inflicting cruelty, whether owning the libs or deporting kids. - ThreadSky

mattfahrner.bsky.social • 100 days ago

Arendt's book is on my booklist as well for the same reasons.

I do have a hard time just seeing it as "banal" though. Yes, for some it is just sensible, and therefor banal, however for others there seems be almost a certain glee in inflicting cruelty, whether owning the libs or deporting kids.

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analogfusion.bsky.social•100 days ago

I tried reading her book on totalitarianism, but it was full of historical references I didn't know. That's on me, of course, but it was too difficult to follow.

mattfahrner.bsky.social•99 days ago

Good to know as I really want to read it and it sounds like it may be more difficult than I thought.

BTW "Der Untergang" ("Downfall") is an amazing movie on the last days of Hitler, also showing some of the same "banality", based on the memoirs of his secretary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dzKgq4zl4E

mattfahrner.bsky.social•99 days ago

Albeit, watch it with subtitles on! 😜

mattfahrner.bsky.social•100 days ago

Which I guess is to say, there is a certain feeling of being a "power trip" for many right now. They don't think it is just sensible, they are absolutely loving being able to shove it down "their enemy's" throats. A literal glee to it.

analogfusion.bsky.social•100 days ago

No argument there. "Owning the libs" overrides any sense of empathy for those suffering under these policies.

I was pondering this AM what a Nazi did after a day of killing Jews. Maybe read the paper, play with their kids, listen to music? I'd bet many of them lived normal lives after work.

mattfahrner.bsky.social•99 days ago

"Zone of Interest" which can be found for streaming is an excellent movie on just that subject, and pretty much shows the "banality" as exactly as you describe.

"Eichmann in Jerusalem" by Arendt also treads similar territory, but more centered on how the psychology.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-vfg3KkV54

analogfusion.bsky.social•99 days ago

I'll probably never get around to watching it, but I think I read a review about that a while back.

mattfahrner.bsky.social•98 days ago

I rarely have time to read/watch recommendations, so I empathize.

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