Omar
The secret power of nostalgia
What is nostalgia? How is nostalgia used as a political tool? Academic work on nostalgia reveals that it is both a resource and a persuasive tool. I argue that nostalgia is not just a sad reflection of the past; it is a powerful tool that gives people a sense of self, belonging, and who gets to belong. An immigrant's nostalgia is tied to their country of origin, usually tied to different aspects of their culture, such as food or tradition, which helps them cope with displacement. For MAGA supporters, nostalgia is a selective reflection of the past that idealizes a period of time in America’s history that both idealizes prosperity and lacks cultural change. Comparing these two forms of nostalgia reveals how central memories are to different communities and how those memories are acted upon.
WATCH HERE
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What is nostalgia? How is nostalgia used as a political tool? Academic work on nostalgia reveals that it is both a resource and a persuasive tool. I argue that nostalgia is not just a sad reflection of the past; it is a powerful tool that gives people a sense of self, belonging, and who gets to belong. An immigrant's nostalgia is tied to their country of origin, usually tied to different aspects of their culture, such as food or tradition, which helps them cope with displacement. For MAGA supporters, nostalgia is a selective reflection of the past that idealizes a period of time in America’s history that both idealizes prosperity and lacks cultural change. Comparing these two forms of nostalgia reveals how central memories are to different communities and how those memories are acted upon.
WATCH HERE
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