Rage filled resistance

Shout, shout, let it all out

One of the skills you can learn at a state university is how to write rage-filled manifestos. I want to focus on the rage-filled part here. It might surprise parents to know that this is an actual offering. The idea of an angry, manifesto-writing radical doesn’t conjure up good news stories. Why would a parent want this for their children? Why would a university think it is a good look or worth supporting with tax money?

Let’s look at a few of the ideas involved.

First, find a grievance. The easiest one is to be upset about what other people think of you. If someone else concludes that you are overweight, for instance, you’re all set. It is time to be angry.

Second, avoid peace and understanding. More traditional approaches to life’s problems encourage you not to worry about what others think of you. They say that the goal of examining your life is to come to understanding and even personal responsibility. Don’t do that, say these rage experts. Instead, fill your life with anger. Spend your days in anger and direct that anger at life itself. Don’t let a moment go by in which you are not an angry person.

Third, some advise learning to write your thoughts down in a journal. This can be a useful exercise to get your thoughts on paper and examine them objectively. The idea is something like, “Life is often unfair and out of our control, but I am learning what things I do have control over, such as knowing what is good and how to pursue wisdom. By doing that I can be a virtuous person.” That’s no good, says this rage approach. What you need to do is write a rage-filled manifesto. A manifesto rightly brings to mind radical revolutionary objectives. Journal time is too passive and focused on knowledge. A manifesto is about rage resistance.

Finally, in the meantime, with all that rage, you can follow the advice of Arthur Janov, who taught the primal scream method. This was popularized by Tears for Fears, who encouraged ’80s teenagers to “shout, shout, let it all out.” Don’t grow out of that teenage angst; funnel it into adult hatred. Lead a life of inner misery as revenge on those who dared to hold a negative thought about you. Stay in high school forever.

The advice is to descend into the non-cognitive, let go of wisdom and understanding, and instead release an inarticulate scream.

You’d be right to ask, “But isn’t a university education about, well, an education? Aren’t we supposed to become more wise and virtuous?” If you thought so, be sure to search carefully so you end up in a class that promotes those things, rather than one that trains you to live a life of anger and rage.

Studies show anger is not good for you. But that assumes an objective reality about health. Take these sorts of classes to unlearn that kind of patriarchal thinking.