The article critiques America's cultural obsession with 'Great Man' narratives, particularly in tech and politics, arguing that this focus on individual genius obscures systemic inequality and enables problematic figures like Adam Neumann, Elon Musk, and Donald Trump. It examines how these myths are perpetuated through media (e.g., The Social Network, Hamilton) and lead to a lack of accountability and a distorted view of progress, ultimately endangering society.
America’s infatuation with boy geniuses and ‘Great Men’ is ruining us
United StatesTechnologyDonald TrumpAaron SorkinMark ZuckerbergThe Social NetworkHamiltonLin-Manuel MirandaQAnonElon MuskCultureSteve Jobs
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️The article critiques America's cultural obsession with 'Great Man' narratives, particularly in tech and politics, arguing that this focus on individual genius obscures systemic inequality and enables problematic figures like Adam Neumann, Elon Musk, and Donald Trump. It examines how these myths are perpetuated through media (e.g., The Social Network, Hamilton) and lead to a lack of accountability and a distorted view of progress, ultimately endangering society.
Trending- 1 2001: Enron collapse
- 2 2002: Billy McFarland released from prison
- 3 2008: Financial crisis
- 4 2010: The Social Network released; Zadie Smith's essay 'Generation Why?' published
- 5 2016: Michelle Obama's 'When they go low, we go high' campaign phrase
- 6 2017: QAnon posts begin (Ron Watkins suspected)
- 7 2018: Obamas' Higher Ground Productions signs Netflix deal
- 8 Spring 2021: Author receives first Covid-19 vaccine dose; watches WeWork: Or the Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn and The Social Network; Q: Into the Storm released
- 9 Fall 2024: Trump's rambling speeches before election
- 10 2025-06-08: Article published
- Perpetuation of inequality
- Concentration of wealth and political power
- Lack of accountability for powerful figures
- Distorted understanding of history and progress
- Endangerment of human lives and civilization
- Impoverishment of narratives
- Decline in public image of tech billionaires and politicians like Trump
What: A critical analysis of the American cultural obsession with 'boy geniuses' and 'Great Men' narratives, particularly in the tech industry and politics, and how this obsession contributes to inequality, lack of accountability, and a distorted understanding of societal issues. It uses examples like WeWork, Fyre Festival, Facebook, Apple, and the musical Hamilton.
When: Published June 8, 2025. Discusses events from 2001 (Enron collapse), 2002 (McFarland's release), 2008 (financial crisis), 2010 (The Social Network release, Zadie Smith's essay), 2016 (Michelle Obama's campaign), 2017 (QAnon's start), 2018 (Obamas' Netflix deal), 2021 (Covid-19 vaccine, WeWork documentary, Q: Into the Storm), and references future events (Trump's second term, 2024 election).
Where: United States (general cultural critique), Silicon Valley, New York (WeWork, Fyre Festival), Bahamas (Fyre Festival), Texas, California (Enron), Russia (Musk's space travel), Philippines (Jim and Ron Watkins/8chan), Puerto Rico (Miranda's parents).
Why: The author argues this obsession is rooted in American DNA, exploited for centuries to rope people into wars, cults, and scams, obscuring an ideology of inequality. It serves to justify concentrated wealth and power, and to maintain the status quo by presenting powerful figures as visionary geniuses despite their flaws or destructive actions.
How: Through cultural narratives, media portrayals (films, musicals, documentaries), marketing, and self-promotion by powerful figures. The article details how these narratives simplify complex realities, romanticize problematic figures, and distract from systemic issues.