Catherine Liu: Trauma, Virtue and Liberal Elites | Doomscroll

My guest is Catherine Liu, professor of film and media studies at UC Irvine. She is the author of 'Virtue Hoarders: the Case Against the Professional Managerial Class'.

We discuss the origin of trauma studies, self branding on social media and the ideology of the professional class. Liu has an unwavering commitment to historical materialism and a fierce critique of elitist academies. She explores the intense moralism of our times as it relates to the Freudian super-ego.

0:00 Intro
0:44 Trauma studies
9:30 Self branding & self help
14:45 Professional managerial class
23:15 Virtue hoarders
35:05 Rebellion & super-ego
42:26 Liberal elites
48:15 The new right
59:40 Economic decline
1:09:55 Progressive neoliberalism
1:15:15 Big donor leftism
1:23:41 Techno-feudalism

[bulldogklaus]

I love people whose speech is poetic, yet avoids being pompous: "A passkey to authenticity"... beautiful, direct, scathing

[maxmcdonald]

hey josh. not only have the guests been excellent but you as an interviewer have been incredible. making sure certain topics are being explained properly while still letting them speak freely. excellent work, really hope you continue this project.

[OKANjarrod]

Sometimes the algorithm drops a gem on the TL; she is my new favorite human.

Ruthless Critique!

[ericw.]

"The less realizable a political goal is, the more they like it." That says it all and explains a lot.

[boomgatbing]

THis woman is a national treasure. I gave 3 copies of Virtue Hoarders to friends last Christmas, and they were all floored. Brilliant speaker and writer.

[alheno]

This is literally one of most satisfying and helpful conversations I’ve ever seen on the internet! As a working class person I instinctually know all of this but have had no words and context for it. This is so powerful!

[buru]

This is one of the best interviews I have ever seen. I am so fired up and moved by Catherine Liu. I literally took notes! Her wisdom is spellbinding.

[MrFirefox]

It's also interesting how deeply ingrained the idea that physical labor and mental labor can't coexist in host is. Like it seems to me some of the times I think clearest is when I am using my body. I think the issue is the exploitation of the body. Of course we can't think clearly when we are overworked and exhausted, but then the issue isn't that those people don't deserve to think--they deserve to have rest so they can think. Very strange to me. loved this discussion and shared it widely.

[rfusd]

I would love to hear Catherine Liu speak to Gabor Matee about trauma and depoliticization. Please make it happen

[caseymckenzie]

The funny thing is only PMCs are likely to listen to this. Who is ready to be a real class traitor?

[profe]

So many seemingly disparate topics coming together so elegantly . . . WOW. Catherine Liu is AMAZING.

[jordanelizabeth]

Dang, she’s amazing. It feels visionary. Even though most of what she is saying is highly observational and common sense, the way she hits the nail on the head repeatedly is so intellectually skilled & I haven’t heard many people put these ideas as poignantly. Excited to read her book :)

[brat]

Isnt there this thing that you know something is well presented and explained when you hear it and you feel like they are talking about something you already understand. Great interviews. Thanks!

[stvenseagal]

Liu cracking up at the mention and description of monarchists is so good.

[jefferycorley]

She really hit the nail on the head, dead on. My job at a library has all of these issues, and this passive aggressive language and inability to communicate is epidemic, particularly among those around 10 years younger than myself.

[tritisan]

I am so grateful to have been introduced to this amazing woman.

[nicko]

god it is so good as a psychotherapist to have people like Cathy Liu in the world, talking about the bullshit in the industry

[nostromo]

What a great conversation. It's so good it's worth multiple viewings. I also want to highlight how good the book Virtue Hoarders: the Case Against the Professional Managerial Class is. It's short and to the point, something the vast majority of non-fiction books fail to do. Her substack is great, too.

[samezidrovibes]

I will certainly be seeking more talks from Catherine out. Grateful this was recommend.

[ErkaaJ]

She made the coolest observation about the settlers who fled European feudal society. It is almost as if the Americas has only now caught up with feudalism, and now we are trying to get back to 'craftsman worker ideals' again.