The Age of Extremity

Student’s Name
Professor’s Name
Course
Date
The Age of Extremity
The age of extremity comprises two equally fearful extremes; unremitting banality and inconceivable terror. According to the theory of Sontag, as introduced by Nelson, people on the banality extreme spend their time paying undue attention to things of little or no value. For instance, after the 9/11 attacks, commentators lamented how Americans failed to focus on the more critical issue of Al Qaeda by focusing on unimportant issues. Nelson writes, “Americans spent the summer of 2001 unforgivably obsessing over the latest incarnation of Britney Spears “(Nelson 304). The commentators explicitly contended that having an obsession with Britney Spears, instead of focusing on the real threat from Al Qaeda, was banal. On the other hand, the extreme of inconceivable terror constrains people to live their lives worrying about looming terror. Nelson believes that the fundamental driver of these extremes is the coercion to choose one extreme instead of being in the middle ground. Her hypothesis may be valid, but several other factors, including art and history, play a pivotal role in influencing extremity, as can be examined from cultural, economic, and political standpoints.
Cultural Perspective
The manifestation of arts and other intellectual achievements by different individuals has significantly influenced whether people are banal or worried about impending terror. As indicated before, many commentators, after the worst terrorist attack in the United States, felt Americans were banal. They spend an inordinate amount of time and resources following artists like Britney spears. They are fascinated by things that add absolutely no value to their lives. For example, many attend concerts for different reasons than listening to music. Noe intimates, “They'll tell about the excitement, the thrill, the person or people on the stage, his or her sex appeal, how it felt to be there, in the presence of greatness, part of a crowd, a sense of connection to the star or the audience” (Noe 170). All those epitomize banality. In addition, some people may want to dress or eat like the artists they adore. From the perspective of many, losing one’s personality in the name of emulating someone else is the height of vanity.
On the flip side, culture makes some individuals and societies live in constant fear of terror. This is because terror and violence, especially in America, have become a cultural phenomenon (Nelson 297). Several social forces conspire to perpetuate the culture of fear in individuals and society. The media plays a massive role in this respect, and they nurture fear to prompt a craving for more information. Conventionally, when people are afraid, they incline to seek more information to help them alleviate the fear. The media realizes that creating content that excites fear and anxiety has a special appeal to people (Nelson 300). The other force that cultivates fear is the political force. Politicians nurture fear among people for several reasons, most of which are self-centered. For instance, they might create fear and tension to drive unwanted people from given places, especially if the people pose a threat to their politi...