Culture Wars Define Direction of Society

The cultural conflict as described by Neal Gabler in “A False Peace” (Opinion, April 9) is a “dynamic and continuous process” between the construction of conservative taboos and the transgression by popular culture of those constructed taboos. This symbiotic relationship is necessary for our society’s direction. Gabler’s analysis itself underscores the absence of any cultural ideals we are to aspire to besides a juvenile response to unthinking reaction. This desert of imagination is the root of the “wars” Gabler finds so important.

Older versions of culture wars revolved around the pursuit of truths; freedom and responsibility or, the extension, justice versus established social norms. We now have fleeting waves of emotion that drive us willy-nilly in the unthoughtful pursuit of titillation.

The thoughtful social conservatism of today, as represented by William Bennett and Charles Colson, seeks to provide direction in the search for what it means to be human, not in personal struggle for its own sake. The real conflict should lie in the articulation of ideals for which we as a society should strive. The “should” requires serious moral and ethical considerations. Gabler has no particular ideals but seems to enjoy the noise of squabbling. I hope the cultural conversation can be lifted above this “ideal” in the future.

KEVIN CALLAWAY

Carpinteria

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Gabler writes of pop culture in a context that applied to the 19th century, but not today. Then, pop culture was the home-grown voice of the common people. Today it is largely the manufactured product of five conglomerates that use sophisticated research to pinpoint trends, then package and shape them for mass consumption. PBS’s “Frontline” aptly referred to this as a never-ending “feedback loop.”

Gabler also errs by ignoring the fact that pop culture is also political. Conservative opposition to campaign finance is largely a recognition of this. That is, how many campaign ads does it take to counter the effects of “The West Wing,” Rolling Stone, Rosie O’Donnell, Rock the Vote, Barbra Streisand or DreamWorks, which released a film depicting Republicans as evil four weeks before the last election? And that’s just to name a few.

JIM BASS

Thousand Oaks