[Bernard Marx]

I agree with your cult classification but I have in mind the practical political effects of Americans buying into the totalitarian precepts of the Frankfurt group. Unless an unforseen miracle occurs, this country is headed toward totalitarianism. It's most apparent in what we used to consider free speech. Some ideas simply are not "acceptable" these days and "suitable" punishments now exist, backed up with the full power of the government.

I read 1984 back in the 1950s and thought "Thank Heavens that can never happen here." Now, Newspeak is the norm in the U.S. and "hate crimes" add extra punishment for what perps were presumably thinking when they committed them. Universities are veritable intellectual Gulags.

Paglia is always interesting -- for a Gaia-worshiping atheistic lesbian liberal. She combines a nimble mind with an impressive body of personal knowledge. But I think she often draws inaccurate parallels and sometimes baffles with BS instead of dazzling with brilliance in order to achieve her desired conclusions.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

Paglia is always interesting -- for a Gaia-worshiping atheistic lesbian liberal. She combines a nimble mind with an impressive body of personal knowledge. But I think she often draws inaccurate parallels and sometimes baffles with BS instead of dazzling with brilliance in order to achieve her desired conclusions.

You noticed that as well. She has such an impressive mind, too bad she can't use it to think honestly. I like using her observations and ignore her opinions...