POP CULTURE MYTHOLOGY: DONALD TRUMP
Our culture has by and large lost a conventional sense of mythology, though we have not lost our hunger for it. We fill the void with a warped preoccupation of celebrities; we raise them to demigod status then eagerly watch as their Greek-like tragedies unfold in headlines.
Contrary to my initial prediction, Trump’s popularity keeps soaring. I assumed Trump only had entertainment value, and that it would eventually wear thin. Now I see my miscalculation. Trump is much more than entertainment. Trump is a Golem.
Golems are clumps of clay brought to life by mystical words. Whoever creates it, commands it. Though golems take human form, they don’t have all the traits of a human. Americans aren’t confused about Trump’s true character; Trump’s lack of conscience makes him perfect golem material. This isn’t to say that Americans don’t care about morality or even approve of Trump’s ethics and ideas-it’s more complicated than that. In order to understand Trump’s appeal, one must understand the origin of golems.
Golems come from Hebrew mythology. Historically, Jewish people have been greatly outnumbered by their hostile neighbors, and the golem typically serves as a protector. It’s a myth of compensation, born out of a deficiency of security and control. Americans want a Golem because they feel there is a threat they are powerless against.
We don’t like what Trump says, just that he says it. Unlike us, Trump is impervious, unable to be shamed into an apology, into self-doubt, or into submission. No matter who tries to take him down, he trucks on with a force beyond our imagination. Our conscience hampers us from taking action, but not Trump. Trump-with his name denoting his purpose-is summoned to do the bidding we feel impotent to do ourselves.
The magical incantation for our Golem is “Make America Great Again” and the command is to destroy. His opponents fail to overcome him because they are so distracted by his absurdity that they overlook his symbolic significance. The American people are writhing in anguish and angst. Our cries have gone unanswered for too long. A Golem is the natural result.
The skepticism of government (even built into the government by the Founding Fathers), the conflict of social factions, and a wide range of diversity have always been the defining features of America. They were what made America great. But things have changed. Our greatest strengths have become our greatest weaknesses.
Human beings are meaning craving creatures; we need to feel we’re active participants in something greater than ourselves. The overarching American mythology has been washed out by create-your-own-reality tidal waves. Our shared soul has been lost. This isolation stirs up anxiety, anger, and paranoia. Disconnected with everything and everyone around us, we tread lightly and vigilantly.
Our government and society no longer provide us with a purpose worth enduring their restrictions. They may not be serving us, but a Golem will. We hope to destroy because we hope to rebuild. We want our destiny back.
Though we feel empowered by unleashing a Golem on the forces that be, the Golem comes with its price. When humans create a golem they are assuming a power not meant for them. The golem usually becomes too powerful and lashes out against its master. Trump’s narcissistic injury over protests has given us a taste of the danger lurking in our Golem. At some point we are bound to lose control, and we will have to bear the consequences.
If his opponents are smart, they’ll realize the unmet need of Americans today, and start addressing it. Without that, we can only come to expect more golems to enter the political scene.
Contrary to my initial prediction, Trump’s popularity keeps soaring. I assumed Trump only had entertainment value, and that it would eventually wear thin. Now I see my miscalculation. Trump is much more than entertainment. Trump is a Golem.
Golems are clumps of clay brought to life by mystical words. Whoever creates it, commands it. Though golems take human form, they don’t have all the traits of a human. Americans aren’t confused about Trump’s true character; Trump’s lack of conscience makes him perfect golem material. This isn’t to say that Americans don’t care about morality or even approve of Trump’s ethics and ideas-it’s more complicated than that. In order to understand Trump’s appeal, one must understand the origin of golems.
Golems come from Hebrew mythology. Historically, Jewish people have been greatly outnumbered by their hostile neighbors, and the golem typically serves as a protector. It’s a myth of compensation, born out of a deficiency of security and control. Americans want a Golem because they feel there is a threat they are powerless against.
We don’t like what Trump says, just that he says it. Unlike us, Trump is impervious, unable to be shamed into an apology, into self-doubt, or into submission. No matter who tries to take him down, he trucks on with a force beyond our imagination. Our conscience hampers us from taking action, but not Trump. Trump-with his name denoting his purpose-is summoned to do the bidding we feel impotent to do ourselves.
The magical incantation for our Golem is “Make America Great Again” and the command is to destroy. His opponents fail to overcome him because they are so distracted by his absurdity that they overlook his symbolic significance. The American people are writhing in anguish and angst. Our cries have gone unanswered for too long. A Golem is the natural result.
The skepticism of government (even built into the government by the Founding Fathers), the conflict of social factions, and a wide range of diversity have always been the defining features of America. They were what made America great. But things have changed. Our greatest strengths have become our greatest weaknesses.
Human beings are meaning craving creatures; we need to feel we’re active participants in something greater than ourselves. The overarching American mythology has been washed out by create-your-own-reality tidal waves. Our shared soul has been lost. This isolation stirs up anxiety, anger, and paranoia. Disconnected with everything and everyone around us, we tread lightly and vigilantly.
Our government and society no longer provide us with a purpose worth enduring their restrictions. They may not be serving us, but a Golem will. We hope to destroy because we hope to rebuild. We want our destiny back.
Though we feel empowered by unleashing a Golem on the forces that be, the Golem comes with its price. When humans create a golem they are assuming a power not meant for them. The golem usually becomes too powerful and lashes out against its master. Trump’s narcissistic injury over protests has given us a taste of the danger lurking in our Golem. At some point we are bound to lose control, and we will have to bear the consequences.
If his opponents are smart, they’ll realize the unmet need of Americans today, and start addressing it. Without that, we can only come to expect more golems to enter the political scene.