Tag Archives: sadism

Wicked, a Parable for Our Time

By Robin Bates | Published: December 5, 2024

“Wicked” (the movie) shows us Trump-type scapegoating while “Wicked” (the book) also provides insight into how and why people are drawn to his sadism.

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Ukraine: What Would Leo and Fyodor Do?

By Robin Bates | Published: June 21, 2023

Dostoevsky and Tolstoy’s novels work as indictments of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

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Baldwin, Cop Sadism, and MAGA

By Robin Bates | Published: May 18, 2023

In “If Beale Street Could Talk,” Baldwin captures cop sadism of the sort we also seen in Trump supporters.

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Boredom + Sadism Drove Trumpists

By Robin Bates | Published: January 20, 2021

Boredom + sadism characterized Trumpism. The dynamic shows up in Samuel Richardson’s “Clarissa.” The country will hopefully flee back to maturity.

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Trump as Sadist

By Robin Bates | Published: December 9, 2019

Thinking of Trump as a sadist helps us better understand some of his initiatives. It’s therefore worth looking at Sade’s novels.

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Does Sade Explain Trumpism?

By Robin Bates | Published: June 19, 2019

Thursday A recent reflection about Trump and Trumpism by Editorial Board’s John Stoehr has me thinking of the Marquis de Sade and Fyodor Dostoevsky. To understand the president and his devoted followers, Stoehr says, try sadism. Stoehr is initially puzzled that people like Trump don’t want power in order to enact policy. He comes to […]

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