Camille Paglia - Free Speech & The Modern Campus

15/11/2016 FreeSpeech&theModernCampus|TheSmartSet
SCHOOLED 05/09/2016
FREE SPEECH & THE MODERN CAMPUS

BY CAMILLE PAGLIA
IDEAS JOURNEYS INTERVIEWS COLUMNS BLOG
SHARE
ThispaperisamodiedversionofatalkthatwasgivenatthemartetForum:
FreepeechontheCollegeCampusonApril21,2016atDrexelUniversit.The
ForumwassponsoredthePennoniHonorsCollege.
O
urcurrentcontroversiesoverfreespeechoncampusactuallrepresentthesecondsetofattlesina
culturewarthateruptedintheU..duringthelate1980sandthatsusidedthemid-1990sits
cessationproalduetotheemergenceoftheWorldWideWeasavast,newforumfordissenting
ideas.Theopennessofthewescatteredandpartldissipatedthehostileenergiesthathadeen
uildingandraginginthemainstreammediaaoutpoliticalcorrectnessfornearladecade.However,thoseprolems
havestuornlreturned,ecausethewereneverfullorhonestladdresseduniversitadministrationsorfacultthe
rsttimearound.Nowanewgenerationofcollegestudents,orninthe1990sandneverexposedtoopenpulicdeate
overfreespeech,hasroughtitsownassumptionsandexpectationstotheconict.
Asaveteranofmorethanfourdecadesofcollegeteaching,almostentirelatartschools,mprimardisappointmentis
withAmericanfacult,theoverwhelmingmajoritofwhomfailedfromthestarttoacknowledgetheseriousnessofpolitical
correctnessasanacademicissueandwhopassivelpermittedaswollencampusureaucrac,empoweredintrusive
federalregulation,tousurpthefacultshistoricresponsiilitandprerogativetoshapetheeducationalmissionandto
protectthefreeowofideas.Theendresult,Ielieve,isaviolationofthefreespeechrightsofstudentsaswellasfacult.
Whatispoliticalcorrectness?AsIseeit,itisapredictalefeatureofthelifeccleofmodernrevolutions,eginningwith
theFrenchRevolutionof1789,whichwasinspiredtheAmericanRevolutionofthepriordecadeutturnedfarmore
violent.Arstgenerationofdaringreelsoverthrowsafossilizedestalishmentandleavesthelandscapelitteredwith
ruins.Inthepost-revolutionarera,thereelsegintoghtamongthemselves,whichmaleadtopersecutionsand
assassinations.Thevictorioussurvivorthenruleslikethetrantswhoweretoppledintherstplace.Thisisthephaseof
politicalcorrectnesswhenthevitalitofthefoundingrevolutionisgoneandwhenrevolutionarprincipleshaveecome
merelslogans,veralformulasenforcedapparatchiks,thatis,partfunctionariesoradministratorswhokillgreatideas
http://thesmartset.com/freespeechthemoderncampus/ 1/12
merelslogans,veralformulasenforcedapparatchiks,thatis,partfunctionariesoradministratorswhokillgreatideas
institutionalizingthem.
WhatIhavejustsketchedisthepoliticalpschoiographofthepast45earsofAmericanuniversitlife.Mpremises,
asedonmowncollegeexperienceatthedawnofthecounterculture,arethoseoftheradicalFreepeechMovement
thateruptedattheUniversitofCaliforniaaterkeleintheFallof1964,mrstsemesteratthetateUniversitofNew
Yorkatinghamton.TheerkeleprotestswereledaNewYork-ornItalian-American,Marioavio,whohadworked
thepriorsummerinavoter-registrationdrivefordisenfranchisedAfrican-AmericansinMississippi,whereheandtwo
colleagueswerephsicallattackedfortheiractivities.Whenaviotriedtoraisemoneaterkeleforaprominentunitof
theCivilRightsMovement,thetudentNonviolentCoordinatingCommittee,hewasstoppedtheuniversitecauseof
itsocialanonpoliticalactivitoncampus.
TheuprisingaterkeleclimaxedinavioserspeechfromthestepsofproulHall,wherehedenouncedtheuniversit
administration.Ofthe4000protestorsinproulPlaza,800werearrested.Thatdemonstrationemodiedtheessenceof
1960sactivism:itchallenged,reuked,andcurtailedauthoritinthepursuitoffreedomandequalit;itdidnotdemand,as
happenstoooftentoda,thatauthoriteexpandedtocreatespecialprotectionsforgroupsreductiveldenedasweak
orvulneraleortocreateuerstosparesensitiveoungfeelingsfromoense.Theprogressive1960s,predicatedon
assertiveindividualismandthelierationofnaturalenergfromsocialcontrols,wantedlesssurveillanceandpaternalism,
notmore.

Mario Savio on the operation of the machine
TheentirepoliticalandculturaltrajectorofthedecadesfollowingWorldWarIIintheU..wasamovementawafromthe
repressionsoftheColdWarstandowiththeovietUnion,whentheHouseUn-AmericanActivitiesCommitteeoftheU..
HouseofRepresentativessearchedforsignsofCommunistsuversionineverareaofAmericanlife.Aconspicuous
targetwastheHollwoodlmindustr,wheremanlieralshadindeedeendrawntotheCommunistPartinthe1930s,
eforetheatrocitiesofthetalinistregimewereknown.Tofendofurtherfederalinvestigation,themajorstudios
lacklistedmanactors,screenwriters,anddirectors,someofwhom,likeafavoritedirectorofmine,JosephLose,edthe
countrtondworkinurope.Peteeeger,theleaderofthepoliticizedfolkmusicmovementwhoserootswereinthe
socialactivismofAppalachiancoal-minersinthe1930s,wasannedfromperformingonnetworkTVintheU..inthe
1950sand60s.
Thereweresporadiclandmarkvictoriesforfreespeechintheliterarrealm.In1957,localpoliceraidedtheCitLights
ookshopinanFranciscoandarrestedthemanagerandowner,eatpoetLawrenceFerlinghetti,forsellinganoscene
ook,AllenGinsergsepicprotestpoem,Howl.Afteralong,highlpulicizedtrial,Howlwasdeclarednotoscene,and
thechargesweredropped.TheGrovePresspulishinghouse,ownedarneRosset,plaedaheroicroleintheattle
againstcensorshipintheU..In1953,GrovePresseganpulishingaordale,accessilepaperacksofthevoluminous
annedworksoftheMarquisdeade,amajorthinkeraoutsexandsocietatthecloseofthenlightenment.In1959,the
GrovePresseditionofD.H.Lawrences1928novel,LadChatterlsLover,thenannedintheU..,wasconscatedas
oscenetheU..Postalervice.Rossetsuedandwonthecaseonfederalappeal.In1961,thepulicationGrove
Pressofanotherannedook,HenrMillers1934novel,TropicofCancer,ledto60oscenittrialsintheU..untilin
1964itwasdeclarednotosceneanditspulicationpermitted.
OneofthesupremesmolsofnewlmilitantfreespeechwasLennruce,whowithMortahltransformedstand-up
comedfromitsinnocuousvaudevillianrootsintoamediumofitingsocialandpoliticalcommentar.rucesauntingof
profanitandscatologinhisimprovisationalonstageactledtohisarrestforoscenitinanFranciscoin1961,inChicago
in1962,andinNewYorkin1964,whereheandHowardolomon,owneroftheCafAuGoGoinGreenwichVillage,were
foundguiltofoscenitandsentencedtojail.Twoearslater,whilehisconvictionwasstillunderappeal,rucediedofa
drugoverdoseatage40.
Thissteadlieralizingtrendwasgivenhugeimpetusthesexualrevolution,whichwaslaunchedin1959the
marketingoftherstirthcontrolpill.InHollwood,thepuritanicalstudioproductioncode,whichhadeenadoptedinthe
earl1930sunderpressurefromconservativegroupsliketheLegionofDecencandtheUnitedtatesConferenceof

Catholicishops,wasgraduallreakingdownandwasnallaandonedthelate1960s.Thenewstandardofsexual
expressionwasdeneduropeanartlms,withtheirsophisticatedscriptsandfranknudit.Popmusicpushedagainst
communitnorms:in1956,lvisPresleship-swivelinggrationswerecutotheTVcameraastoosexualforthed
ullivanhow,whichwasthenanationalinstitution.Aslateas1967,thedullivanhowwastringtocensorthesong
lricsofmajorandsliketheDoorsandtheRollingtones,whowereimitatingthesexualexplicitnessofruralanduran
African-Americanlues.(Thetonescapitulatedtoullivan,uttheDoorsfoughtackandwereneverinvitedonhis
showagain.)Middle-classcollegestudentsinthe1960s,includingwomen,eganfreelusingfour-letterwordsthathad
rareleenheardinpolitecompan,exceptrieduringtheapperfadofthe1920s.Intheearl1970s,womenforthe
rsttimeoldlenteredtheatersshowingpornographandhelpedmakehugehitsoutofX-ratedlmslikeDeepThroat,
ehindtheGreenDoor,andTheDevilinMissJones.
Inshort,freespeechandfreeexpression,nomatterhowoensiveorshocking,wereattheheartofthe1960scultural
revolution.FreespeechwasaprimarweaponoftheLeftagainstthemoralismandconformismoftheRight.Howthen,we
mustask,hascampusLeftismintheU..eensotransformedthatitnowencourage,endorses,andceleratesthe
suppressionofideas,includingthosethatquestionitsowncurrentagendaandorthodox?
Mconclusionsareasedonmpersonaloservationasacareeracademic.Despitethelongstandingclaim
conservativesthattenuredradicalsinvadedtheuniversitiesinthe1970s,Imaintainthatnoauthentic1960sradicals,
exceptforToddGitlin,thepresidentofD(tudentsforaDemocraticociet),enteredtheprofessionandattained
success.Iftheenteredgraduateschool,mostofthemdroppedout.Toentergradschoolatallwasinfactviewedasa
sell-out.Forexample,duringmlastsemesterincollegein1968,Iwasconfrontednearthefountainonthequadthe
leaderofthecampusradicals,whodenouncedmeformplantoattendtheYaleGraduatechool.Gradschoolisnt
whereitshappening!hecontemptuouslinformedme.Andifougoanwhere,ougotoualo!Asithappens,Ihad
indeedappliedtoandeenacceptedatthetateUniversitofNewYorkatualo,whereIwouldhavehappilworked
withthepschoanalticcriticNormanHollandandthenotoriousLeftistcritic,LeslieFiedler,whosecontroversial1960
masterwork,LoveandDeathintheAmericanNovel,hadhadahugeinuenceonme.Indeed,Fiedlerhadjustecomea
folkheroofthecounterculturetheearefore,whenpoliceraidedhisualohouseandarrestedhimfordrug
possession,adisastrousincidentthathewouldchronicleinhis1969ook,eingusted.Atanrate,IhadchosenYale
ecauseofitsgreatlirar,whichIsorelneededformresearch,utmfellowstudentswarningstungandshookme.
TherecanenodoutthateliteuniversitiesliketheIvLeagueatthatperiodwereindrasticneedofreform.Their
prevailingWAP(WhiteAnglo-axonProtestant)stlewasnotahospitaleclimateforracialorethnicminorities,including
JewsandItalian-Americans.MedievalAnglo-axonwasactuallstillarequiredrst-earcourseforgraduatestudentsin
nglishliteraturewhenIarrivedatYalein1968.Therehadevidentljusteenapurgeofgamaleprofessorsfromthe
nglishdepartmentitwasrumoredthehadmigratedup-countrtoall-femalemithCollegeinWesternMassachusetts.
Thenglishdepartmenthadonlonewomanfacultmemer,aratherconservativemedievalist.Whilewomenhadeen
admittedtothegraduateschoolforacentur,undergraduateYaleCollegewasstillall-maleandturnedcoeducational
whileIwastherewhichwasahugerelief,ecauseIwastiredofeingstaredatlikeanexotictrespasserinthe
cavernousmainreferenceroomofterlingLirar.InmAnglo-axonclassoneda,theotherwiseveraaleoung
WAPprofessordidacrasssexiststunt,alsoinvolvinganethnicsluragainstworking-classItalian-Americans,thatstill
shocksanddisgustsmeafteralltheseears.Werst-earstudentssaidnothingtherewasnoframeworketforcritique
orcomplaint.
TounderstandhowpoliticalcorrectnesswaslateraletosweeplikeaplaguethroughU..
READ IT humanitiesdepartments,itmustestressedthattheprevalentapproachtoliteraturein

GreatritainandtheU..sincethe1940shadeentheNewCriticism,whichinitsfocuson
textualexplicationminimizedortotallexcludedhistorandpscholog.Whenualos
LeslieFiedler,whogroundedliteratureinothhistorandpscholog,includingsex,gave
alectureatYalewhileIwasthere,notoneprofessorfromthenglishdepartment
attended.Fiedlersinsultingostracismcouldnothaveeenmoreovious.Hardasitisto
elievenow,mdoctoraldissertation,exualPersonae,wastheonldissertationonsexin
theYaleGraduatechoolatthetime.Askingquestionsaoutsexandgenderwas
consideredadform.That,aswellasmferventinterestinmassmediaandpopular
culture(whichwereregardedasfrivolous),certainlcomplicatedandnearlderailedm
rstsearchforateachingjo. IDEAS JOURNEYS INTERVIEWS COLUMNS BLOG
Afterthe1960sculturalrevolution,itwasclearthatthehumanitieshadecometooinsular
exualPersonaeCamille andremovedfromsocialconcernsandthatthehadtoreincorporateamorehistorical
Paglia perspective.Thereweremannewsujectareasofcontemporarinterestthatneededto
eaddedtothecurriculumsexandgender,lm,African-AmericanandNativeAmerican
studiesamongthem.uttheentirehumanitiescurriculumurgentldemandedrethinking.Thetrulradicalsolutionwould
haveeentoreakdownthedepartmentalstructurethatarticiallseparated,forexample,nglishdepartmentsfrom
FrenchdepartmentsandGermandepartments.ringingallliteraturetogetherasoneeldwouldhavecreatedamuch
moreopen,exileformattoencourageinterdisciplinarexploration,suchascross-fertilizationsofliteraturewiththevisual
artsandmusic.Furthermore,Iwantedanauthenticmulticulturalism,acurriculumthatarmedthevalueandachievements
ofWesterncivilizationutexpandedgloalltoincludeothermajorcivilizations,allofwhichwouldestudiedintheir
chronologicalunfolding.venthoughIamanatheist,Ihavealwasfeltthatcomparativereligion,astudofthegreatworld
religionsovertime,includingallaspectsoftheirart,architecture,rituals,andsacredtexts,wastheestwatoteach
authenticmulticulturalismandachieveworldunderstanding.Zenuddhismwasintheairinthe1960saspartofthelegac
ofthepost-wareatmovement,andHinduismenteredthecounterculturethroughtheLondonscene,partlecauseof
Ravihankar,amasterofthesitarwhoperformedatCaliforniasMonterePopFestivalin1967.
However,theseoundar-dissolvingexpansionswereunfortunatelnottheroutetakenAmericanacademeinthe
1970s.Instead,newhighlpoliticizeddepartmentsandprogramswerecreatedvirtuallovernightwithoutthe
incrementalconstructionoffoundationandsuperstructurethathadgone,forexample,intothelongdevelopmentofthe
modernnglishdepartment.Theendresultwasafurtheralkanizationinuniversitstructure,witheachareagovernedas
anautonomousefdomandwithitsideologicaldiscoursefrozenatthemomentofthatunitscreation.Administrators
wantedtheseprogramsandfasttodemonstratetheinstitutionsrelevanceandtoheadooutsidecriticismorprotest
thatcouldhampercollegeapplicationsandtheinuxofdesiraletuitiondollars.asicall,administratorsthrewmoneat
theseprogramsandletthemndtheirownwa.WhenPrincetonUniversit,perhapsthemostcloisteredandovertlsexist
oftheIvLeagueschools,wentcoeducationalafter200earsin1969,itneededsomewomenfaculttosoftenthelookof
theplace.oithastilshoppedaroundforwhateverwomenfacultcoulderustledup,locatedthemmostlinnglish
departmentsatsecond-tierschools,roughtthemonoard,andasicallletthemdowhateverthewanted,withno
particulardesign.(He,therewomenthecandowomensstudies!)
Imaintain,frommdismaedoservationatthetime,thatthesenewadd-onprogramswererarelifeverfoundedon
authenticscholarlprinciples;thewerepulicrelationsgesturesmeanttostiecriticismofaigotedpast.Indesigning
anwomensstudiesprogram,forexample,surelaasicrequirementforstudentsshouldeatleastonecourseinasic
iolog,sothattheroleofhormonesinhumandevelopmentcouldeinvestigatedandrejected,ifnecessar.utno,
othwomensstudiesandlatergenderstudiesevolvedwithoutreferencetoscienceandhavethusensuredthattheir
ideologremainspartisanandone-dimensional,stressingthesocialconstructionofgender.Anotherviewisregardedas
heresandvirtuallneverpresentedtostudentsevenasanalternativehpothesis.
Todascampuspoliticalcorrectnesscanultimateletracedtothewathosenewprograms,includingAfrican-American
Todascampuspoliticalcorrectnesscanultimateletracedtothewathosenewprograms,includingAfrican-American
andNativeAmericanstudies,weresohastilconstructedinthe1970s,aprocessthatnotonlcompromisedprofessional
traininginthoseeldsovertimeutalsoisolatedthemintheirownworldsandthusultimatellessenedtheirwidercultural
impact.Ielievethataetterchoiceforacademicreformwouldhaveeenthedecentralizedritishsstemtraditionall
followedatOxfordandCamridgeUniversities,whichoeredlargesujectareaswhereastudentcouldindependentl
pursuehisorherspecialinterest.Inancase,forevernewdepartmentorprogramaddedtotheU..curriculum,there
shouldhaveeenacentralsharedtrainingtrack,introducingstudentstothemethodologofresearchandhistoriograph,
asedinlogicandreasoningandtherigoroustestingofconclusionsasedonevidence.Neglectofthatcrucialtraining
hasmeantthattoomancollegeteachers,thenandnow,lackeventhemostsupercialawarenessoftheirown
assumptionsandiases.Workingoncampusonlwiththelike-minded,thetreatdissentasamortaloensethatmuste
suppressed,ecauseitthreatenstheirentirecareerhistorandworld-view.Theideologofthosenewprogramsand
departments,predicatedonvictimolog,hasscarceludgedsincethe1970s.Thisisaclassiccaseofthedeadening
institutionalizationandfossilizationofoncegenuinelrevolutionarideas.
LetmegivejustoneexampleofpoliticalcorrectnessrunamokincampuswomensstudiesintheU..In1991,aveteran
instructorinnglishandwomensstudiesatthechulkillcampusofPennslvaniatateUniversitraisedojectionstothe
presenceinherclassroomofaprintofFranciscoGoasfamouslate-18th-centurpainting,NakedMaja.Thetraditional
associationofthisworkwiththeDuchessofAla,plaedAvaGardnerina1958moviecalledTheNakedMaja,has
eenquestioned,utthereisnodoutthatthepainting,nowownedthePradoinMadrid,isalandmarkinthehistorof

thenudeinartandthatitanticipatedmajor19th-centurworkslikeManetsOlmpia.
TheinstructorroughthercasetoacommitteecalledtheUniversitWomensCommission,whichsupportedher,andshe
wasoeredfurtherassistancefromacommitteememer,thecampusArmativeActionocer,whoconveedherelief
thatthereweregroundsforacomplaintofsexualharassment,asedonthehostileworkplaceclauseinfederal
regulations.Theuniversit,respondingtothecomplaint,oeredtochangetheteachersclassroom,whichsherefused.
healsorefusedanoertomovethepaintingtoalessvisileplaceintheclassroomortocoveritwhileshewasteaching.
No,shewasinsistentthatimagesofnudewomenmustneveredisplaedinaclassroomwhichwouldofcoursegut
quiteaitofmajorWesternartsinceancientGreece.
Finall,theNakedMajawasmoved,alongwithfourotherclassicartprintsintheclassroom,totheTVroomofthestudent
communitcenter,whereasignwaspostedtoalertunwarpasserthatartwaspresentakindofenter-at-our-own-
riskwarning.Thisactiontheuniversitseemstohaveeenwidelregardedasaprudentcompromiseinsteadofthe
shamefulcapitulationtopoliticalcorrectnessthatitwas.Therewasaspateofamusedpulicitaouttheincidentinthe
mainstreampress,withcriticismpassinglvoicedprominentjournalistslikeNatHento(afreespeechwarrior)and
RoertHughes,thelongtimeartcriticofTIMmagazine.uttheresponsefromwithintheteachingprofessionwas
strikinglweakandlimited.ThiswasamomentforindependentthinkerseverwhereinAmericanacademetocondemn
thatpuritanicalexercisealiteratureinstructorwhohadmadeherselfadictatorinthevisualarts,aeldaoutwhichshe
wasconspicuousluninformed.Allthatshehadwasaroteideologasoredfromanti-pornfanaticslikethecrusading
feministAndreaDworkin,whoseattempttoanthesaleofpornograph(includingmainstreammensmagazines)in
MinneapolisandIndianapolishadeenstruckdowninfederaldistrictcourtin1984asanunconstitutionalinfringementof
MinneapolisandIndianapolishadeenstruckdowninfederaldistrictcourtin1984asanunconstitutionalinfringementof
freespeechrights.Theinstructorclaimedthatshewasprotectingfuturewomenstudentsfromthechillclimatecreated
theNakedMaja.utinalaterpulishedarticleaoutthecontrovers,sherevealedthatsheherselfwasuncomfortale
inthepresenceofthepainting.hewrote,IfeltasthoughIwerestandingtherenaked,exposedandvulnerale.Im
sorr,utwesimplcannotpermituncultivatedneuroticstosettheagendaforartseducationinAmerica.
HerewecometooneofthemostperniciousaspectsofidentitpoliticsasitreshapedtheAmericanuniversitthe
confusionofteachingwithsocialwork.Theissueofimproperadvocacintheclassroomhasnevereenadequatel
addressedtheprofession.Teachingandresearchmuststrivetoremainojectiveanddetached.Theteacherasan
individualcitizenmaandshouldhavestrongpoliticalconvictionsandactivitiesoutsidetheclassroom,utinthe
classroom,heorsheshouldnevertakeideologicalpositionswithoutatthesametimefranklacknowledgingthemas
opiniontothestudentsandemphasizingthatallstudentsarecompletelfreetoholdandexpresstheirownopinionson
anissue,nomatterhowcontested,fromaortion,homosexualit,andgloalwarmingtotheexistenceofGodorthe
veracitofDarwinstheorofevolution.Unfortunatel,ecauseofthefailureofAmericancollegesanduniversitiestoseek
andsupportideologicaldiversitontheircampuses,thehumanitiesfacultieshavetrendedsofartowardlieralDemocrats
(amongwhomInumermself)thattheoftenseemnaivelunawarethatanothereliefsarepossileorcredile.
Theold-guardprofessorsattheYaleGraduatechoolinthelate1960smahaveeenstuandgenteel,utthewere
genuinescholars,passionateldevotedtostudandlearning.Theelievedthehadamoraloligationtoseekthetruth
andtoexpressitasaccuratelasthecould.Irememeriteingsaidatthetimethatascholarscareercoulderuined

fudgingafootnote.Atragicresultoftheeraofidentitpoliticsinthehumanitieshaseenthecollapseofrigorousscholarl
standards,aswellasanendtothehighvalueonceaccordedtoerudition,whichnolongerexistsasadesiraleoreven
possileattriuteinjosearchesfornewfacult.
Anotherprolemin1970sacademewasajorecessioninthehumanitiesthatarosejustasdeconstructionandpost-
structuralismarrivedfromurope.ThedeconstructionisttrendstartedwhenJ.HillisMillermovedfromJohnsHopkins
UniversittoYaleandeganringingJacquesDerridaoverfromFranceforregularvisits.TheDerridaandLacanfadwas
followedthecultofMichelFoucault,whoremainsadeitinthehumanitiesutwhomIregardasaderivativegame-
plaerwhosetheoriesmakenosensewhateveraoutanperiodprecedingthenlightenment.ThersttimeIwitnessed
acontinentaltheoristdiscoursingwithprofessorsataYaleevent,Isaidinexasperationtoafellowstudent,Therelike
highpriestsmurmuringtoeachother.Itisasurdthatthatelitisttheoreticalstle,withitsopaqueandcontortedjargon,
waseverconsideredLeftist,asitstillis.AuthenticLeftismispopulist,witharutaldirectnessofspeech.
Post-structuralism,inassertingthatlanguageformsrealit,isareactionarreversaloftheauthenticrevolutionarspiritof
the1960s,whentheartshadturnedtowardaradicallierationoftheodandareengagementwiththesensorrealm.
treatinglanguageasthedenitiveforceintheworldafoolishthesisthatcouldeasilerefutedthedance,music,or
visualartsmajorsinmclassespost-structuralismsetthegroundworkforthepresentcampusimpassewhereoensive
languageisconatedwithmaterialinjurandallegedtohaveamagicalpowertocreaterealit.Furthermore,post-
structuralismtreatshistorasafalsenarrativeandencouragesarandom,fragmented,impressionisticapproachthathas
givenstudentsafanctechniqueutlittleactualknowledgeofhistoritself.
ThewoefuldeclineinqualitofhumanitiesscholarshipwasquiteoviousduringtheveearsofresearchIdidformart
ook,GlitteringImages,whichwasreleasedfourearsago.Ichose29imagesextendingover3000earssinceancient
gptandreadthroughthemajorscholarlliteratureoneachworkofpainting,sculpture,architecture,orlm,eginningin
the19thcenturandcontinuingtothepresent.InthegreatperiodofGermanphilolog,writingaoutarthadatremendous
rangeofothconceptionanddetail.Theimpactofphilologcouldefeltwellintothe20thcentur,asintheworkofthe
greatMarxistarthistorian,ArnoldHauser,whosemagisterialTheocialHistorofArt,pulishedin1951,hadahugeimpact
onmeingraduateschool.Writingonartremainedstrongthroughthe1960sutegantoweakenwiththeimpactof
postmodernismandpost-structuralisminthe1970sand80s.Fromthe1980son,Iwasshockedthedrop-o.Yes,there
wastheoccasionalspecialistwhoseworkwasrigorousandreliale,uttherewasnoneoftheroadlearningand
expansivevisionofearl20th-centurarthistorianslikeAWarurg,HeinrichWlin,andrwinPanofsk.venworse,
humanitiesooksofthepasttwodecadesaresueringfromshrinkingiliographies,whereoungacademicsare
revealingthatthehavesstematicallconsultednoookspulishedeforethe1980s.
Theprolemofpoliticalcorrectnessisintensiedtheincreasingxationofhumanitiesandevenhistordepartmentson
presentism,thatis,apreoccupationwithourownmodernperiod.ventheRenaissanceiseingredened:itisnow
clumsilandinmviewinaccuratelcalledarlModern.Presentismisevenaictingmajormuseums,whentherepair
clumsilandinmviewinaccuratelcalledarlModern.Presentismisevenaictingmajormuseums,whentherepair
andover-restoreancientojectssothatthelookrand-new.Aearago,forexample,inconjunctionwithmcurrent
researchprojectintoNativeAmericancultureofthelateIceAge,IvisitedtheNationalMuseumoftheAmericanIndian,a
eautifulmodernisticuildingontheMallinWashington,D.C.Ihadverhighexpectationshencemsurpriseandhorror
athowvapidandunscholarltheexhiitswere.Theentiremuseumlookslikeagloriedgiftshop,stockedwithgloss
farications,poster-oarddisplas,lightshows,andannoingrecordingsofvacuoushapptalk.Afteralongsearch,I
nallfoundsomethingoldandauthenticasmall,sadpicture-framedisplaofahandfulofgenuinearrowheadsand
unremarkalestonetoolsfromtheWashingtonarea.Ihavefoundfaretterartifactsrighthereintheplowedeldsof
outheasternPennslvania!Theworstcrimeofpoliticalcorrectnessisthatithasallowedcurrentideologiestostuntour
senseofthepastandtoreducehistortoalitanofinammatorgrievances.
Toreakthroughthestalemateandreestalishfreespeechoncampus,educatorsmustrstturnawafromthesprawling
cafeteriamenuofover-specializedelectivesandreturntoroadsurvecoursesasedinworldhistorandculture,
proceedingchronologicallfromantiquittomodernism.tudentsdesperatelneedahistoricalframeworktounderstand
othpastandpresent.
econd,universitiesshouldsponsorregularpuliccolloquiaonmajortopicswhereothsidesofsensitive,hot-utton
controversiesarefulldiscussed.Andisruptionsoffreespeechatsuchforumsmustemetwithacademicsanctions.
Third,itismposition,stemmingfromthe1960ssexualrevolutionthatendedcampusparietalrules,thatcollegesand

universitiesmuststatotalloutoftheprivatesociallivesofstudents.TheintrusivepaternalismofAmericancollegesin
thisareaisanunacceptaleinfringementofstudentrights.Ifacrimeiscommittedoncampus,itmustereportedtothe
police.Thereisnosuchthingasaperfectlsafespaceinreallife.Riskanddangerareintrinsictohumanexistence.
Astuitioncostsrosestratosphericalloverthepastquartercentur,Americancollegesanduniversitiesshiftedintoa
consumeristmodeandhavenowecomemorelikeshoppingmallsthaneducationalinstitutionsthedontwantto
upsetthepaingcustomers!uttheentirecollegeexperienceshouldeasedonconfrontingnewanddisruptiveideas.
tudentsmustacceptpersonalresponsiilitfortheirownchoicesandehavior,anduniversitadministratorsmuststop
ehavinglikesustituteparentsandhoveringtherapists.Theultimatevaluesatanuniversitshouldefreethoughtand
freespeech.
CAMILLE PAGLIA istheUniversitProfessorofHumanitiesandMediatudiesattheUniversitoftheArtsinPhiladelphia,whereshehas

taughtsince1984.hereceivedher.A.fromthetateUniversitofNewYorkatinghamtonin1968andherM.Phil.andPh.D.degrees
fromYaleUniversitin1971and1974respectivel.Hersixooksare:exualPersonae:ArtandDecadencefromNefertititomil
Dickinson(1990);ex,Art,andAmericanCulture(1992);Vamps&Tramps:Newssas(1994);Theirds,astudofAlfredHitchcock
pulishedin1998theritishFilmInstituteinitsFilmClassicseries;reak,low,urn:CamillePagliaReadsFort-ThreeoftheWorlds
estPoems(2005),andGlitteringImages:AJournethroughArtfromgpttotarWars(2012).Herthirdessacollectionisunder
contracttoPantheonooks.
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ponderedthequestionever
Atlantic[] ofatalkthatwasgivenatthe
since1989,when,withman
martetForum:Freepeech
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StephenPierson 5months12daysago
Justfoundthisout:AprofessoratapulicuniversitinNYrecentlcalledthepolicetohaveanitinerantacademicookuerremovedfromcampus.His
crime?HisdisagreementwiththeprofessoroverLMactivism.Thepolicecameandeventuallgottheproftocalmdown,whilethecalm,kind,and
unprepossessingookuerwasaletogoaouthisusiness.Whatinheavensnamehascomeofleftistsintheacadem?
0 |Share
RichRostrom 5months17daysago
noauthentic1960sradicals,exceptforToddGitlinenteredtheprofession
WhataoutillAers,ProfessorofducationatUniversitofIllinois-Chicago,andernardineDohrn,AssociateProfessorofLawatNorthwestern
Universit?AngelaDavis,ProfessorofFeministtudiesatUCLA?WardChurchill,ProfessorofthnictudiesattheUniversitofColorado?(OK,Churchills
claimofDactivitinthe60swasproalasphonashisclaimofIndianancestr.)
IfIcanthinkoffour(orthree,notcountingChurchill)othetopofmhead,Imcertaintherearemanmore.
0 |Share
WatchfulReader 5months20daysago
ThisisanothergreatpieceCamillePaglia.Inmownview,whatsheisdescriingisreallasmptomofsomethingelse.Thechangesshesawrst-
handcoincidedwithwomenenteringtheworkforcewithintheUinlargernumersthaneverefore.Itwasthersttimetheeconomcouldprovide
manjoswhichwomenwanted,makingiteasiertogettothosejos(carfromtheirnewsuuranhome).uddenlwomenstartedtothinkthat
menhadoppressedthemforallofhumanhistor,whenthetruthisthatmostwomenwantedsomethingdierentthanthedoReadmore
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RobertJones 5months27daysago
Mdoctorateisinmoleculariolog,soIfeelthatIamtreadingrazenlintothehumanitieswiththiscomment.eingfromaconservativeRepulican
ackground,IndmselfsmilingatthethoughtthatIagreewithsomanofthequalitativeassertionsofthisarticle.WhileIcannotveriffactsand
opinionsfromoutsidemareaofspecialization,Icansathatmuchofwhattheauthorhasdescrieddovetailswithmownexperienceinacademia.I
teachatasmallwomenscollegeandhaveoservedsomeofthesesametrends,sometimesonourowncampus,sometimesonothers.Readmore
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GeorgeFMohn 5months24daysago
GeorgeFMohn
IattendedthetateUniversitofNewYorkatinghamtonatthesametimethatCamillePagliadid.IdontknowwhatpoliticalreellionMs.Paglia
encountered;Inevermether.IhadeenintheNav,somacquaintanceswereinitiallseniors,whoecamegraduatestudents.Iwasmarried
anddidnotliveoncampus.IsawtheundergradsinmPhilosophandLit.coursesasthroughthewrongendofatelescope.Thehadno
politicalreellion.Theironlinterestinthewarwasinevadingthedraft.Theirsingle-mindedpassionsinPhilosophcourseswerepersonal,not
political.Readmore
0 |Share
PaoloPagliaro 5months29daysago
Furthermore,asanItalian,IamalwasastonishedwhenIreadagainlamentationsaouttherepressioninictedoncommunistsduringthe50sand
60s:thesewerepeoplesupportingregimesatthetimeholdingasslavesandkillingmillionsofmenandwomen.Itisnottruethattalinscrimeswere
notknownatthetime:thewere,andthepoliticsagainstcommunismatthetimewasexactlfollowedecausethewereknownonlthatwasnot
elievedthefellow-travelers,asitisnottaughtnowinouruniversities.Notonlthat:thegulagswerealiveandworkingatReadmore
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StephenPierson 5months12daysago
xcellentpoints.uchpeopleasoudescrieneedtovisitasternuropetoseethetrainsthatsenthundredsofthousandsofpeopletotheir
deathsinieriaorelsewhereowingtomiddleclassstatusorthefactthattheweredoctors,lawersoreducatorswho,assuch,were
perceivedasathreattothecreationoftheWorkersParadisethatneverwas.Andifthecantgotheshouldreadaoutontheirown.Goodluck
inthegettingtheLefttoacknowledgethethingsthatoumentionandthatwasthenightmareforamillionsofvictimsofReadmore
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CAMILLE PAGLIA istheUniversitProfessorofHumanitiesandMediatudiesattheUniversitoftheArtsinPhiladelphia,whereshehas

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