Salon sez: "Duck Dynasty" beards convey a "secret conservative message"

[Occam's Banana]

More cutting-edge insight and socio-political commentary from Salon ...

h/t Lew Rockwell @ LRC: http://www.lewrockwell.com/lrc-blog/be-suspicious/

Be Suspicious

Salon warns us: be suspicious of those beards on Duck Dynasty. They indicate maleness, and we can’t have that.

FTA: hxxp://www.salon.com/2013/10/20/the_secret_conservative_message_of_the_duck_dynast y_beards/

The secret conservative message of the "Duck Dynasty" beards
The bushy beards on "Duck Dynasty" are part of a long history of using facial hair to signify "traditional" values.

http://media.salon.com/2013/10/duck_dynasty_beards-620x412.jpg

[...] There’s lots to write about regarding “Duck Dynasty” as a cultural phenomenon, but I’m going to focus on the history behind American beards and why that history is essential to the show’s success. [...]

So what does the rise of beards in the 19th century have to do with “Duck Dynasty’s” popularity in 2013? Much of the show’s popularity stems from its carefully controlled depiction of very generic, supposedly “down home” southern American values like family, Christian religious observance, traditional gender roles, patriotism, humility, good manners, reverence for the outdoors and general redneck-ness. Thrown together in a pot, these values create a simmering, clichéd stew of good ol’ folk Southern identity that harks all the way back to the antebellum South. At that time, divisions over slavery led Southerners to double down on cultural distinctions between themselves and the North in an effort to mark out Southern values as superior.

[...]

The beards in “Duck Dynasty” symbolize this general, supposedly authentic, but actually mass-produced, Southern cultural conservatism. As Gold McBride noted, 19th century beards symbolized masculinity and an affirmation of gender distinctions in an age when gender roles were shifting. Contemporary America is witnessing many of the trends that shaped the 19th century, including growing income inequality and movements by various minority groups to claim their human rights.

“Duck Dynasty’s” bearded male stars offer a symbolic reaffirmation of traditional values onto which many Americans threatened by social change can latch. The Robertson men’s bushy beards, like beards in the 19th century, distinguish them from the Robertson women and symbolize Southern masculinity. Just look at the hirsute Robertsons’ favorite things: they do manly activities like hunting, fishing, shooting guns and praising God. Hell, their entire business is built around the idea that men hunt to bring home food and take care of the family.

[...]

“Duck Dynasty’s” bearded display of warm, cornpone, conservative but non-threatening, down-home, Southern cultural values resonates with a portion of the American population. Conservatives have taken to declaring that the show’s popularity drives liberals crazy, while Christians praise the show as an antidote to the ills of modern culture via its depiction of warm, simple, family values. The Robertson men’s beards alone do not a successful show make. But their beards do symbolize and invoke a long history of cultural construction based around generic Southern American values served up hot and ready to many Americans. These folks want a little something simpler in their lives to combat what they see as a host of uncomfortable modern social changes. For better or for worse, this is the power of beards.

[MRK]

I'm growing a beard so people stop mistaking me for a ladyboy when I go out to the club.

True story.

[Occam's Banana]

I'm growing a beard so people stop mistaking me for a ladyboy when I go out to the club.

True story.

Makes more sense than the one Salon is telling ...

[liberalnurse]

Just look at the hirsute Robertsons’ favorite things: they do manly activities like hunting, fishing, shooting guns and praising God. Hell, their entire business is built around the idea that men hunt to bring home food and take care of the family.


I kinda like that idea.:)


These folks want a little something simpler in their lives to combat what they see as a host of uncomfortable modern social changes.

:rolleyes: And that would be, the NSA, N.D.A.A., ACA, Drones, Debt and on and on. I'm more then a little uncomfortable with these "modern social changes."

[tod evans]

Gray beard here...

[jkr]

salon can go fuk it self with a rake

fuggn raci$t$

[Todd]

Gosh.....ZZ Top must be the most conservative rock band evah'.

http://metaltalk.net/images3/zztop.jpg

[Anti Federalist]

Sooo...I'm confused...

Beards are racist now: is that about the long and short of this article?

[FloralScent]

Sooo...I'm confused...

Beards are racist now: is that about the long and short of this article?

Robert E. Lee had a beard, so yes.

[ghengis86]

Are we sure this isn't an onion article cross posted to Salon? WTF

"If your dad doesn't have a beard, you've got two mums"
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RmFnarFSj_U

[specsaregood]

Sooo...I'm confused...
Beards are racist now: is that about the long and short of this article?

No surprise here that a rag named "salon" would be against facial hair.

I grow a beard because, screw shaving everyday. It gets trimmed when I get the clippers out to trim the top of my head. Roughly quarterly, plus weddings or funerals.

[luctor-et-emergo]

Right, and there are no shows with a liberal message ?

[torchbearer]

Sooo...I'm confused...

Beards are racist now: is that about the long and short of this article?


yup.

[Todd]

http://www.labspaces.net/pictures/blog/4d8fc8ba8c1321301268666_blog.jpg

[tod evans]

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/05/28/article-1022521-006C8DA400000258-424_468x597.jpg

[torchbearer]

No surprise here that a rag named "salon" would be against facial hair.

I grow a beard because, screw shaving everyday. It gets trimmed when I get the clippers out to trim the top of my head. Roughly quarterly, plus weddings or funerals.


lol. same here.

[jkr]

http://www.labspaces.net/pictures/blog/4d8fc8ba8c1321301268666_blog.jpg


oops!

[tod evans]

No surprise here that a rag named "salon" would be against facial hair.

I grow a beard because, screw shaving everyday. It gets trimmed when I get the clippers out to trim the top of my head. Roughly quarterly, plus weddings or funerals.

"Marrians-n-burians" is how I phrase trimmin' time.

[ghengis86]

lol. same here.

Lol. And here too. The DD or Grizzly Adams look isn't for me personally; I prefer to keep it trimmed. More importantly, the old lady prefers it to be manageable and groomed.

[cajuncocoa]

http://www.labspaces.net/pictures/blog/4d8fc8ba8c1321301268666_blog.jpg

http://www.raptitude.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/bw-beatles.jpg

Who knew that Paul was the only politically correct Beatle? :)

http://www.midnightcompany.com/images/paul_mccartney_beard.jpg

Never mind.

[Todd]

http://www.raptitude.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/bw-beatles.jpg



My how things change don't they? John Lennon is basically the poster child for Liberals. And the Hippy movement is still the iconic look of the counterculture of the 60's. And Salon is trying to have it both ways.

[brushfire]

Sounds like someone feels threatened.

[cajuncocoa]

November is coming. (http://www.no-shavenovember.com/)

[shane77m]

Agenda 21 and the war on men.

http://habitat.igc.org/agenda21/a21-24.htm




Chapter 24:
Global Action For Women Towards Sustainable And Equitable Development


Programme Area


Basis for action


1. The international community has endorsed several plans of action and conventions for the full, equal and beneficial integration of women in all development activities, in particular the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women, 1 which emphasize women's participation in national and international ecosystem management and control of environment degradation. Several conventions, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (General Assembly resolution 34/180, annex) and conventions of ILO and UNESCO have also been adopted to end gender-based discrimination and ensure women access to land and other resources, education and safe and equal employment. Also relevant are the 1990 World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children and the Plan of Action for implementing the Declaration (A/45/625, annex). Effective implementation of these programmes will depend on the active involvement of women in economic and political decision-making and will be critical to the successful implementation of Agenda 21.


Objectives


2. The following objectives are proposed for national Governments:


a. To implement the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women, particularly with regard to women's participation in national ecosystem management and control of environment degradation;


b. To increase the proportion of women decision makers, planners, technical advisers, managers and extension workers in environment and development fields;


c. To consider developing and issuing by the year 2000 a strategy of changes necessary to eliminate constitutional, legal, administrative, cultural, behavioural, social and economic obstacles to women's full participation in sustainable development and in public life;


d. To establish by the year 1995 mechanisms at the national, regional and international levels to assess the implementation and impact of development and environment policies and programmes on women and to ensure their contributions and benefits;


e. To assess, review, revise and implement, where appropriate, curricula and other educational material, with a view to promoting the dissemination to both men and women of gender-relevant knowledge and valuation of women's roles through formal and non-formal education, as well as through training institutions, in collaboration with non-governmental organizations;


f. To formulate and implement clear governmental policies and national guidelines, strategies and plans for the achievement of equality in all aspects of society, including the promotion of women's literacy, education, training, nutrition and health and their participation in key decision-making positions and in management of the environment, particularly as it pertains to their access to resources, by facilitating better access to all forms of credit, particularly in the informal sector, taking measures towards ensuring women's access to property rights as well as agricultural inputs and implements;


g. To implement, as a matter of urgency, in accordance with country-specific conditions, measures to ensure that women and men have the same right to decide freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children and have access to information, education and means, as appropriate, to enable them to exercise this right in keeping with their freedom, dignity and personally held values;


h. To consider adopting, strengthening and enforcing legislation prohibiting violence against women and to take all necessary administrative, social and educational measures to eliminate violence against women in all its forms.

[Cap]

Gray beard here...Really gray beard here and not going to participate in their label game, just more wedge issues being tested out.

Boy, Salon sure is trying to pimp and keep alive this left/right paradigm thingy.

[Matthew5]

Sooo...I'm confused...

Beards are racist now: is that about the long and short of this article?

Beards are racist, sexist (hey, womyn can't grow them!), and bigoted.

[specsaregood]

I finally read the article.

1. This sounds like some metrosexual that is just butthurt that he can't grow a beard.
2. He doesn't have cable, but feels the need to write about a cable tv show.
3. This appears to be his first and only article on salon.com. It makes sense he would write about such a dumb topic that is sure to get linked from all over the web and go "viral". He's just trolling for hits, dont' enable him.

[cajuncocoa]

Beards are racist, sexist (hey, womyn can't grow them!), and bigoted.

Racist??? (http://beardedandblack.tumblr.com/)

Sexist??? (http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/real-life-stories/siobhain-fletcher-woman-growing-movember-1460056) (Hell, yeah, some women can grow them!!)

[cajuncocoa]

I finally read the article.

1. This sounds like some metrosexual that is just butthurt that he can't grow a beard.
2. He doesn't have cable, but feels the need to write about a cable tv show.
3. This appears to be his first and only article on salon.com. It makes sense he would write about such a dumb topic that is sure to get linked from all over the web and go "viral". He's just trolling for hits, dont' enable him.

That's probably it. He'll have to wait until he grows up a little. :D

[tod evans]

(Hell, yeah, some women can grow them!!)

:eek:

Seems I remember Sister Judith from the Catholic school up the street....

[pcosmar]

I'm growing a beard so people stop mistaking me for a ladyboy when I go out to the club.

True story.

I'm growing a beard as a defense against the elements..

First snow today.

True Story.

[cajuncocoa]

I'm growing a beard as a defense against the elements..

First snow today.

True Story.
Jealous. We never get snow. :(

[specsaregood]

I'm growing a beard as a defense against the elements..
First snow today.
True Story.

The author of the article is Canadian too, you'd think he would know about such things.

[pcosmar]

November is coming. (http://www.no-shavenovember.com/)

I generally start my Winter Face in October.

I has a start on it now. (not a full fuzzy yet)

[Matthew5]

Racist??? (http://beardedandblack.tumblr.com/)

Sexist??? (http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/real-life-stories/siobhain-fletcher-woman-growing-movember-1460056) (Hell, yeah, some women can grow them!!)

Everyone knows that the Union were all clean-shaven, enlightened thinkers while the Rebel forces were bearded Luddites. Lincoln's beard is clearly a case of 19th century photo manipulation!

haha not real womyn! Real womyn embrace their goddess status and enhance their feminine features...not to please some man mind you! No! To empower them with their fellow sisters. In fact, any man that admires this is a worthless pig. Beards are an attack on this sister-bonding process.

:D

[Matthew5]

I generally start my Winter Face in October.

I has a start on it now. (not a full fuzzy yet)

I started my deer season beard last month. I may keep it out of season though...the wife seems to really like it. ;)

[fr33]

Going to a tea party rally:

http://i43.tinypic.com/fdcyv5.jpg

[jbauer]

November is coming. (http://www.no-shavenovember.com/)

Here I thought you talking about the 5th.

[brushfire]

Going to a tea party rally:

http://i43.tinypic.com/fdcyv5.jpg

One of the most conservative looking women I've seen in a long time.

[mad cow]

Yer overthinkin' it Jarret,I've had a beard for 30+ years cuz I'm too lazy to shave.

[specsaregood]

Yer overthinkin' it Jarret,I've had a beard for 30+ years cuz I'm too lazy to shave.

But are you "qualified" enough to make that assessment?
http://thatdevilhistory.wordpress.com/about/


My name is Jarret Ruminski. I have a PhD in nineteenth century American history from the University of Calgary, which in theory qualifies me to make educated rants about various historical subjects on a somewhat regular basis. I specialize in the American Civil War and the American South, but I’m interested in all elements of the American past, including how the past continues to inform the present in ways both exhilarating and infuriating.

[aGameOfThrones]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XJHB6bRQ4Cg/STiLj9gun2I/AAAAAAAAAKM/2gWwXvgaaqY/s400/al%20gore.png

[NIU Students for Liberty]

I guess hipsters better shave their beards and go clean cut.

[mad cow]

But are you "qualified" enough to make that assessment?
http://thatdevilhistory.wordpress.com/about/

My name is Jarret Ruminski. I have a PhD in nineteenth century American history from the University of Calgary, which in theory qualifies me to make educated rants about various historical subjects on a somewhat regular basis. I specialize in the American Civil War and the American South, but I’m interested in all elements of the American past, including how the past continues to inform the present in ways both exhilarating and infuriating.

I'm looking forward to his treatise tying the twerking trend to the Siege of Vicksburg.

[georgiaboy]

university professors will not stand for this.

[James Madison]

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/05/28/article-1022521-006C8DA400000258-424_468x597.jpg

Who knew the Discovery Channel had a secret conservative message.

[oyarde]

I bet they like Castro's beard just fine.

[Elias Graves]

The lefties are pissed because their women won't give them permission to have a beard.

[James Madison]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/Karl_Marx_001.jpg

He's ok, though, right?

[pcosmar]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhPVZbINR0w

[bunklocoempire]

Secret message:
http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y442/bunklocoempirehi/redsox_zpse15227dc.jpg

.............


I'm growing a beard as a defense against the elements..
First snow today.

True Story.

It's that time of the year again. Referred to on the Ron Paul Forums as the Petesbeard-umnal-time of the year. Often celebrated by donning colorful snow tires and going house to house installing storm windows. Stay warm and safe! :)

[Athan]

Sooo...I'm confused...

Beards are racist now: is that about the long and short of this article?
But not neatly trimmed.

[jkr]

http://voiceofdetroit.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Frederick-Douglass1.jpg

[bunklocoempire]

Behold the "Power Of The Beard".

http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y442/bunklocoempirehi/babybeard_zps39a1ba93.jpg

[Ender]

Beards are racist, sexist (hey, womyn can't grow them!), and bigoted.

My kind of bigot:


http://allcaptainjacksparrow.com/PiratesOfTheCaribbean.html

I wear a little hair on my face or I can't get into R rated films without an ID check.

[Dr.3D]

They are right.... it conserves on razor blades.

[Feeding the Abscess]

As opposed to the conservative message actually presented as the core of the show?

[Working Poor]

harlem shake (http://youtu.be/5vC09tWH0Ng)


http://youtu.be/5vC09tWH0Ng

[Elias Graves]

As opposed to the conservative message actually presented as the core of the show?

Um, well, you know.
CODE WORDS! Yeah, that's it. CODE WORDS!

[jllundqu]

Glad I have my man-beard. Wife loves it.

http://slashware.co.uk/image/cache/data/funny/beards%20they%20grow%20on%20you%20green%20box-500x500.png

[tod evans]

http://www.theadvocates.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/lysander-spooner-2.jpg

[QuickZ06]

Always rock a beard, feel weird without one. No shave November is more like no shave forever for me!

[RJB]

A lot of people assume that I'm a hippie. Who knew? I'm an authentic conservative. LOL @ metros.

[tod evans]

1977 last time I was clean shaved.

[axiomata]

I'm growing a beard so people stop mistaking me for a ladyboy when I go out to the club.

True story.

I'm growing a beard so that the Cardinals win the World Series.

True story.

[Snew]

I'm growing a beard so that the Cardinals win the World Series.

True story.
Hey now, you know the Sox are the beard team ;)

[axiomata]

Hey now, you know the Sox are the beard team ;)

They certainly have the civil war general beards going this year, but they stopped shaving before the playoffs began to get them to that point.

But they playoff beard thing is nothing new. Here's a piece about Cardinal playoff beards in 2006. (http://weekendamerica.publicradio.org/programs/2006/10/28/st_louis_beards.html) I did one in 2006, 2011, 2012 and now 2013. Two out of three ain't bad. I suspect a lot of Giants fans followed Brain Wilson's lead in 2012 and outgrew Cardinals fans. Since the result of the world series is entirely dependent on aggregate fan/player beard growth I suspect this year's series will be a very close battle.

[heavenlyboy34]

Robert E. Lee had a beard, so yes.
So did Lincoln! :eek:

I'm a proud beard owner. :cool: I just rock teh goatee because the full beard is too itchy for my taste. :o

[cajuncocoa]

http://lavistachurchofchrist.org/Pictures/Standard%20Bible%20Story%20Readers,%20Book%20One/images/scan0001.jpg

[Anti Federalist]

http://pastblues.com/elf/files/April/Jerry%20Garcia1.jpg

[Henry Rogue]

Jealous. We never get snow. :(Jealous? You're lucky. Shoveling snow gets old real fast.

[presence]

After the 2nd time my beard got caught in my milwaukee drill I'm die hard no more than 4" on the chin.

[heavenlyboy34]

We need our resident neckbeard (JFK3) to chime in here...

[cajuncocoa]

Jealous? You're lucky. Shoveling snow gets old real fast.

I don't need that much...LOL!

[Paulbot99]

Everyone, the tolerance of the Left. You can have whatever lifestyle you want, but Obama forbid your ways are a little old-fashioned or nostalgic. And Obama help you if you praise God.

[bolil]

They have not made a razor yet that my beard cannot beat. It is like I push red steel wool out of my face. I've cut men with my beard.

The best part is it pushes forth or recedes with the moon. When it is full my beard wool connects with my chest fur.

[tod evans]

After the 2nd time my beard got caught in my milwaukee drill I'm die hard no more than 4" on the chin.

Why would you put your face within 4" of spinning steel?

[presence]

Why would you put your face within 4" of spinning steel?


My clean living workshop joiner friend, rehab plumber/electrician often = tight quarters and crawlspace yoga.

[tod evans]

My clean living workshop joiner friend, rehab plumber/electrician often = tight quarters and crawlspace yoga.

I've had a hole-hawg spin me and my ladder at 300+ rpm more than once:eek:

[presence]

I've had a hole-hawg spin me and my ladder at 300+ rpm more than once:eek:

Don't you love that? Even better is using an old ungrounded aluminum 350rpm and hitting a 220v wire. BLAAGAAgatttagatchatgat B AAA bagat Blaa

[tod evans]

Don't you love that? Even better is using an old ungrounded aluminum 350rpm and hitting a 220v wire. BLAAGAAgatttagatchatgat B AAA bagat Blaa

I'm shaking my head, smiling, and thinking "yup, I know that feeling"...

[Mani]

I've had a beard since 1995, and I was clean shaven only once, in dec 2010 was visiting Beijing, china for a business trip decided to get a trim. Lost in translation moment and the guy took out my whole beard! became clean shaved for the first time in 15 years.

Came back from my trip and my daughter said, "you don't look like my daddy anymore.". :(

Within 10 days things were back to normal. No intention of going clean shaven again. True story.

[69360]

I'm a mostly graybeard and a not so secret conservative.

[specsaregood]

Came back from my trip and my daughter said, "you don't look like my daddy anymore.". :(


I shave my head, so when my kid rides on my shoulders he reaches down and takes a firm grasp of my beard in order to hold on. I think he was maybe 6months old when he figured out it was a great way to hold on to daddy. I wouldn't have it any other way.

[James Madison]

http://lavistachurchofchrist.org/Pictures/Standard%20Bible%20Story%20Readers,%20Book%20One/images/scan0001.jpg

Chilling.

[Todd]

We are all forgetting the Ultimate (Uber) Libtard.

http://numerocinqmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Karl-Marx1.jpg

[Paulbot99]

Ladies and Gentlemen, the tolerance of the Left. You can celebrate whatever lifestyle you want, but Obama help you if you have values different than theirs or grow a beard. And Obama forbid you praise God openly in direct violation of their Freedom From Religion. (Don't worry, praising Che Guevara, Stalin, or Lenin is still okay). Oh, and women who choose to stay at home are clearly oppressed.

[James Madison]

We are all forgetting the Ultimate (Uber) Libtard.

http://numerocinqmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Karl-Marx1.jpg

See post #49. :p

[Todd]

See post #49. :p


Missed that....

He deserves being posted twice. Should get and account at Salon and post him on the stories comments page too.

[fr33]

There's a new iPhone game available

http://a1.mzstatic.com/us/r30/Purple4/v4/b6/26/ef/b626efcc-32aa-8f5e-0bc8-3f931fd6176e/screen568x568.jpeg

[TaftFan]

http://fullymyelinated.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/beard.jpg?w=630

[phill4paul]

Fake bleeps and praying in Jesus' name....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_0XS1vaX-M

Everyone knows that I make a point to stay out of the Religion Forum. I don't have a problem with how this show approaches the family religion. I think it is comical how they get hate mail for not being "Christian enough." Sure, it is a contrived show. I do find it entertaining though.

[presence]

Fake bleeps and praying in Jesus' name....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_0XS1vaX-M

Everyone knows that I make a point to stay out of the Religion Forum. I don't have a problem with how this show approaches the family religion. I think it is comical how they get hate mail for not being "Christian enough." Sure, it is a contrived show. I do find it entertaining though.




http://www.aetv.com/duck-dynasty/pictures/john-luke-after-dentist/4-church-dumpster.jpg


http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/videos/duck-dynasty-clip-find-a-dumpster/

[Occam's Banana]

h/t Lew Rockwell: http://www.lewrockwell.com/lrc-blog/always-fear-the-beards/
h/t Robert Wenzel: http://www.economicpolicyjournal.com/2013/10/always-fear-beards.html

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WdhUGTS560w/UmhSY0ZCZBI/AAAAAAAANqM/6ZIRcC30k8Y/s640/images+(10).jpg http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dLDLWjAq0TQ/UmhRo0hhbqI/AAAAAAAANp8/eH1JaL9rWjE/s200/Menger.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l4G1p_TwsGc/UmhRv2mCIlI/AAAAAAAANqE/8yMQLkgJdDE/s200/bohmbawerk.jpghttp://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NT8TvmmbljU/UmhT5XsYFxI/AAAAAAAANqU/DHa-79clhUQ/s200/rockwell.jpghttp://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xNUNMkAwos8/UmhUC7cTn8I/AAAAAAAANqc/VMfuH9d5iI8/s200/Block.jpg

[GregSarnowski]

oops!

John Lennon was a libertarian or at least close to one.

http://www.quebecoislibre.org/09/090815-4.htm

Oh and the Boston Red Sox must be really right-wing since they look like they're straight out of the Civil War.