Journalist Clay Risen on McCarthyism Parallels to Modern 'Cancel Culture'

The Red Scare and McCarthyism

• 🎯 McCarthyism and the Red Scare were used as a culture war to target progressives, the left, and the New Deal.
• 💡 The ultimate propaganda driving force was to use the onset of the Cold War to question societal and political advances.
• ✊ The labor movement was significantly impacted, split by internal and external Red Scare conflicts.
• 🎬 Hollywood, including the Hollywood Ten and HUAC hearings, faced vicious attacks as part of this era.
• 🏠 The Red Scare's impact extended to local levels, leading to job losses and loan rejections based on suspected communist ties.

Parallels to Contemporary Society

• 🔍 Modern parallels to the McCarthy era are frequently observed, with similar tactics being employed today.
• 🏛️ The use of deportation powers against perceived suspects and attacks on academia, such as those against Harvard, echo 1950s methods.
• 🗣️ The concept of 'cancel culture' is not new, having roots in the McCarthy era, where both conservatives and progressives felt silenced.
• ⚖️ This dynamic of people feeling unable to express certain views due to social or political pressure is a recurring theme in American culture, exacerbated by social media.

Broadway and Playbills

• 🎭 The broadcast of the Broadway play 'Good Night and Good Luck,' starring George Clooney as Edward R. Murrow, highlights the historical context.
• 📜 Playbills serve as a memento and time capsule for theatergoers, preserving the memory of a live performance.
• 🖨️ The Playbill company uses a Heidelberg press to print weekly editions, combining show covers with articles about Broadway, binding them into a finished product.
• 🌟 Over 300 different Playbill editions can be produced monthly, with fans cherishing them as souvenirs and frozen moments in time.