In Marvel Studios' Loki series, a love letter to the science fiction genre, we are introduced to the Time Variance Authority (TVA), an organization that oversees and maintains "order" in the "sacred" timeline. As the story progresses, the TVA begins to resemble fascism, with extensive bureaucracy, blind loyalty among its members, and the complete destruction of people and realities deemed subversive. All of this in the name of a "greater good."
The question thus arises: Do you know what Fascism is?
Fascism is an extreme right-wing ideological movement, marked by ultra-nationalism and authoritarianism. Umberto Eco (2018, p. 51), in his book Eternal Fascism, describes 14 characteristics to identify Fascism, the result of an in-depth study of various fascist experiences around the world:
✅1. Cult of tradition – Traditionalism above all, there can be no advancement of knowledge.
✅2. The Refusal of Modernity – The Enlightenment and the Age of Reason seen as the beginning of modern depravity.
✅3. Cult of Action for Action's Sake – The action is beautiful in itself, and should be carried out beforehand and without any reflection.
✅4. Disagreement is Treason – In science, disagreement is seen as a tool for advancing knowledge. In Fascism, disagreement is treason. Its members cannot disagree, under penalty of being seen as enemies.
✅5. Fear of Differences – Fascism fears differences and opposes outsiders. Fascism is racist by definition.
✅6. Appeal to Social Frustration – Fascism exploits social and economic frustrations. It appeals to the frustrated middle classes, devalued by some economic crisis or political humiliation, and frightened by pressure from lower social groups.
✅7. Obsession with a plot or conspiracy – For those deprived of any social identity, Fascism claims their only privilege is the most common of all: being born in the same country. This is the origin of "nationalism." It offers a common "enemy" to awaken this nationalism in people. They make extensive use of conspiracies, possibly international ones. Followers must feel besieged and afraid. The easiest way to spark a conspiracy is to appeal to xenophobia.
✅8. The Enemies are at once too strong and too weak – Through a continuous shift in fascist rhetoric, the enemies are at once too strong and too weak.
✅9. Pacifism is fraternization with the Enemy – Pacifism is bad because life is a permanent war.
✅10. Contempt for the Weak – Elitism is a typical aspect of any reactionary ideology, while fundamentally aristocratic.
✅11. Everyone is Educated to Become a Hero – In Fascist ideology, heroism is the norm. The cult of heroism is closely linked to the cult of death.
✅12. Machismo and Weapons – Since both permanent war and heroism are difficult games to play, Fascism transfers its will to power to sexual matters. This is the origin of its machismo, which implies disdain for women and an intolerant condemnation of sexual habits outside the norm defined by them, appealing to chastity over homosexuality.
✅13. Selective Populism – Fascism would only be interested in the opinions of a small portion of the population. This selective opinion, from just a few groups, would be considered the voice of the people.
✅14. Eternal Fascism speaks Orwell’s Newspeak – All Nazi and fascist school texts were based on poor language and elementary syntax, with the aim of limiting knowledge and complex and critical reasoning.
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES
ECO, Umberto. The Eternal Fascism. 1st ed. Rio de Janeiro: Editora Record, 2018. ISBN 978-85-01-40506-7.
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