The recent shooting suspect in Florida had pages of racist writings in his room to justify his crime He was apparently suffering from some mental health problems, so they’re probably not as coherent as a screed made by someone who is more stable. I’ve heard whatever he wrote called a manifesto by one talking head, but not another. What makes something a manifesto?
Two dictionary definitions:
Merriam-Webster says, “a written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, or views of its issuer.”
Cambridge defines it as “a written statement of the beliefs, aims, and policies of an organization, especially a political party,” and, in American English, “a written statement of the beliefs or aims esp. of a political party.”
It’s best established by a title with the word ‘manifesto’ in it. Otherwise it’s manifestosity is merely assumed.
Or made manifest, as it were.
I don’t think you’re going to get a better factual definition than something like “a public declaration of intentions, views, or motives”.
To me, the key is the publication (or at least intended publication) of the manifesto. I would suggest that Industrial Society and Its Future is a clear example. But, you also have examples of “manifestos” being posted online immediately prior to an attack.
But does the clarity of the declaration matter? If I send out something about how the French are going to take over the world, but it’s mostly gibberish after the first two pages of conspiracy nonsense, is that a manifesto?
I think I’m asking because I don’t want the Florida shooter to get the “credit” or infamy of having a “manifesto” if he was mentally unwell and therefore not the same as the Christchurch shooter.
Call it a screed, then. Dictionaries are your friends.
The quality of writing doesn’t fundamentally alter the character of what was written. A shitty poem is still a poem, a shitty novel is still a novel, and a shitty manifesto is still a manifesto.
I used to confuse the word manifest with manifold. It would be sad if a shooter published his manifold.
Maybe not so bad if it was only the Communist Manifold that had been seen by so many.
I don’t think it needs to be particularly clear (or persuasive). If it’s actually gibberish, however, I don’t know how you can conclude that it’s a statement of intent or motives. And if it’s a bunch of ideological writing, that was not intended to be published, then I don’t think it’s a manifesto, regardless of how lucid it is.
I’m not sure I understand the “credit” point. A lot of mentally unwell people write manifestos. I also suspect that most mass criminals are mentally unwell.
Intake or exhaust?
Exactly. To paraphrase the Bard, “the quality of manifesto is not strained. It droppeth from the internet like the load of manure it is. It stinketh those who give, and those who receive…” etc.
It depends on whether the workers control the means of combustion.
I always think of a manifesto as someone saying: This is the Way Things OBVIOUSLY Are!
Not that I’m in charge of definitions.
I agree. If you didn’t make it manifest, it’s not a manifesto.
All mass shooters are wackos. Some are a bit more erudite than others. But all have seriously confused thought processes.
A coherent statement that “I hate green-eyed people and they all must DIE!!!1!!” is a manifesto. An equally incoherent statement accusing green-eyed people of being lizards from Mars, cheating at cribbage, and preferring salmon-flavored ice cream, while still deserving to all DIE11!11!! is equally a manifesto.
Without the benefit of a dictionary, to me a manifesto is a pompous-sounding statement like “Here’s what I believe and here’s why”. And it doesn’t have to make sense. It’s exhortative, ostensibly either declaring something or trying to evangelize others. So, it can include a call to action.
I suppose there is an implicit expectation that a manifesto is intended to be more than just a random rant - that you should at least be able to gather “this is what’s upsetting him, and this is what he wants to do about it”. Even if it’s nonsensical but at least as said before, they make manifest what’s up with them.
Sure, you and I won’t see how whatever he claims justified showing up naked except for a loaded AK47 at the school board meeting, but we can read why he thought it did.
I dare say that in part this is also a matter of reporting precedent. The Unabomber got an extensive, meticulously written essay published, and it was called a manifesto by evaryone; so now when anyone posts any expression that they’re going over the edge, that is labeled “a manifesto”.
When your company wants a pithy mission statement about its goals and principles but after interminable workshops all you get is pages of explanation as to why you are doing things, inserting caveats and specific exclusions, disclaimers and start repeating yourself and losing the plot, THEN you are in manifesto country.
A good example of ranty, straw-man, one-too-many-whisky-sodas manifesto writing
that I’ve always liked, for its exuberance if nothing else, is the Futurist Manifesto. Its prime author - Filippo Marinetti - was a Fascist body part of the highest order, but I like its style.