One of Ong’s observations in Orality and Literacy is about heavy and light characters in oral societies.
—
Derek Thompson,
The Atlantic,
22 Feb. 2026
The concept shared by these two works is the idea that colonial and authoritarian societies are held together through the presence of a scapegoat (The Barbarians) whose existence justifies the need for all the tools a society uses to build and maintain control.
Standing under a starry sky, gazing up at the wonder of the cosmos, is a foundational human experience and one that has shaped our storytelling and cultures for millennia.
National and international publics relate directly to these leaders, who set the tone for international relations with their actions, their statements, and their preferences.
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