Liquid Culture

Solid culture called for the separation of religion and state, placing the state/nation at the center of existence, emphasizing the centrality of humankind in shaping this existence, and believing that civilization is the product of matter and spirit, action, thought, and production. It is an alternative religion that believes in human sacrifice “for the sake of scientific advancement and the extension of the rule of reason over the unruly elements of nature.”
This firm belief in the project of cultural enlightenment has undergone significant transformations over the past decades, which have witnessed the emergence of globalization, market-centricity and consumerism, the spread of individualism, and the withdrawal of the state from its economic, social, cultural, and political roles. This has paved the way for culture’s transition from a solid state to a liquid one, and has also shifted to the world of consumer goods. The state has withdrawn its support for culture and national guidance, and instead of providing support, it has become an obstacle to authentic culture, limited to employing culture and the media to distort awareness, justify its monopoly on means of oppression and violence, and demonize protest movements, both progressive and conservative.