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Middle Rages: Why The Battle For Medieval Studies Matters To America
Medieval Studies is the critical study of Europe's self-identity. No understanding of Western civilization is possible without it. Inevitably, Left-wing academics want to introduce gender studies and race theory to the field--and punish those who refuse to conform. When one University of Chicago professor dared to publicly celebrate the Christian identity of the Middle Ages, she was branded a 'violent fascist' and 'white supremacist' by her colleagues.
Now Medieval Studies scholars are tearing their own discipline apart with witch-hunts, name-calling, boycotts and intimidation. The damage done to academia could be incalculable. In this influential essay, originally published to widespread acclaim online, New York Times-bestselling author and award-winning journalist Milo Yiannopoulos explains why all Americans should care about the newest front in the cultural war, the academic battle for the Middle Ages.
Now Medieval Studies scholars are tearing their own discipline apart with witch-hunts, name-calling, boycotts and intimidation. The damage done to academia could be incalculable. In this influential essay, originally published to widespread acclaim online, New York Times-bestselling author and award-winning journalist Milo Yiannopoulos explains why all Americans should care about the newest front in the cultural war, the academic battle for the Middle Ages.
104 pages, Paperback
First published May 6, 2019
82 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
Milo Yiannopoulos
24 books314 followersMilo Yiannopoulos (born on 18 October 1984)is a British journalist, author, entrepreneur, public speaker, and former senior editor for Breitbart News. He wrote previously using the pseudonym Milo Andreas Wagner.
Yiannopoulos founded The Kernel, an online tabloid magazine about technology, which he sold to Daily Dot Media in 2014. He wrote about the Gamergate controversy. As a self-proclaimed "cultural libertarian" and "free speech fundamentalist", he is a vocal critic of fourth-wave feminism, Islam, social justice, political correctness, and other movements and ideologies he deems authoritarian or belonging to the "regressive left". Yiannopoulos considers himself a reporter of and "occasional fellow traveller" with the alt-right movement. He was permanently banned from Twitter in July 2016 for what the company cited as "inciting or engaging in the targeted abuse or harassment of others". He resigned from Breitbart after a video of him allegedly defending sexual relationships between boys as young as 13 and gay men in their 20s resurfaced
Yiannopoulos founded The Kernel, an online tabloid magazine about technology, which he sold to Daily Dot Media in 2014. He wrote about the Gamergate controversy. As a self-proclaimed "cultural libertarian" and "free speech fundamentalist", he is a vocal critic of fourth-wave feminism, Islam, social justice, political correctness, and other movements and ideologies he deems authoritarian or belonging to the "regressive left". Yiannopoulos considers himself a reporter of and "occasional fellow traveller" with the alt-right movement. He was permanently banned from Twitter in July 2016 for what the company cited as "inciting or engaging in the targeted abuse or harassment of others". He resigned from Breitbart after a video of him allegedly defending sexual relationships between boys as young as 13 and gay men in their 20s resurfaced
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 7, 2020
7/10
Perhaps surprisingly, I've never read a Milo book before. I saw one of his debates. Based on those expectations, this was an interesting vignette of the extremes to which postmaterial leftists will go in the name of social justice, generating social injustice to settle personal vendettas and animosities and for career advancement.
Perhaps surprisingly, I've never read a Milo book before. I saw one of his debates. Based on those expectations, this was an interesting vignette of the extremes to which postmaterial leftists will go in the name of social justice, generating social injustice to settle personal vendettas and animosities and for career advancement.
May 16, 2019
Spectacular Reporting on Medieval Studies
This is a really good piece of reporting on the state of Medieval Studies in America. It takes an in-depth look at how social justice warriors are trying to take over Medieval Studies, just as they have taken over other fields in the humanities. (Classical and Medieval Studies have lasted the longest against SJWs because understanding ancient and defunct languages and dialects requires above average intelligence.) Professor Brown appears to have been the most recent lightning rod for SJW activism. One is disheartened to read about how few academics would publicly defend Brown, and how many preferred to recite the lies told against her by others. But, the Postscript at least gives us hope that it will be a long time yet before Medieval Studies becomes politicised.
Many people don't like Milo Yiannopoulos, but he is an excellent reporter. When he fills this role without attempting to be an entertainer or provocateur, he has few equals. This book shows Milo at his best, and anyone with an interest in the state of Medieval Studies in America should read it.
This is a really good piece of reporting on the state of Medieval Studies in America. It takes an in-depth look at how social justice warriors are trying to take over Medieval Studies, just as they have taken over other fields in the humanities. (Classical and Medieval Studies have lasted the longest against SJWs because understanding ancient and defunct languages and dialects requires above average intelligence.) Professor Brown appears to have been the most recent lightning rod for SJW activism. One is disheartened to read about how few academics would publicly defend Brown, and how many preferred to recite the lies told against her by others. But, the Postscript at least gives us hope that it will be a long time yet before Medieval Studies becomes politicised.
Many people don't like Milo Yiannopoulos, but he is an excellent reporter. When he fills this role without attempting to be an entertainer or provocateur, he has few equals. This book shows Milo at his best, and anyone with an interest in the state of Medieval Studies in America should read it.
June 2, 2019
Rachel Fulton Brown is a courageous woman. She teaches medieval studies at the University of Chicago. However Fulton has been the target of attacks and abuse from left-wing SJWs, for defending the traditional format of her subject. The usual barrage of false claims have ensued: racism, white supremacism and so on. As an orthodox catholic Fulton believes in the integrity of the mediaeval studies curriculum, moreover she believes that the politicisation of the curriculum will be inimical to its future good.
At the same time, you have to pinch yourself as you remind yourself who wrote this book.
At the same time, you have to pinch yourself as you remind yourself who wrote this book.
August 18, 2021
Milo Yannopoulos at his best!
May 29, 2019
Only Milo can make the Middle Ages interesting
Having always perceived the Middle Ages as full history, I would not have even considered reading this until I saw his name. Surprisingly this book was extremely easy to read and introduced me to some very interesting people in history. I vaguely remember reading about Fulton Brown's dilemma and feeling bad for her. I'm in awe of her strength and will pray that she remains strong and true to history. I better be careful in my choice of words...some Feminist SJWs will probably say I'm sexist because of the use of the word "his"tory.
Having always perceived the Middle Ages as full history, I would not have even considered reading this until I saw his name. Surprisingly this book was extremely easy to read and introduced me to some very interesting people in history. I vaguely remember reading about Fulton Brown's dilemma and feeling bad for her. I'm in awe of her strength and will pray that she remains strong and true to history. I better be careful in my choice of words...some Feminist SJWs will probably say I'm sexist because of the use of the word "his"tory.
September 18, 2019
An interesting read on the controversy surrounding Fulton Brown and the radical left and right interpretation of medieval studies.
Might explore what this critical theory of the medieval studies as Ethnocentric oppressive white superpower is all about- although it seems to me of just a re-narrative of the subject through the lens of oppressor vs oppressed.
Might explore what this critical theory of the medieval studies as Ethnocentric oppressive white superpower is all about- although it seems to me of just a re-narrative of the subject through the lens of oppressor vs oppressed.
May 30, 2019
As an amateur historian, I concur!
The far left wants to hide anything that shatters their narrative. This includes history. They deny the fact that Christianity taught us that slavery was wrong, and that in the middle ages, the ability to read the bible became more common place.
The far left wants to hide anything that shatters their narrative. This includes history. They deny the fact that Christianity taught us that slavery was wrong, and that in the middle ages, the ability to read the bible became more common place.
May 19, 2019
A must read
I have to admit, I knew little to nothing about Medieval Studies before I bought Middle Rages but I did go to Rachel Fulton Brown’s blog, Fencing Bear at Prayer to read her post Three Cheers for White Men which caused quite the maelstrom and figures prominently in this book. Still trying to figure out why the social justice warriors considered this to be racist. She makes three concise points. You can agree or disagree. But racist? No! If this wasn’t such a serious topic I would find this amusing just because of the incredulity of the outrage and smear tactics launched against Fulton Brown. I used to laugh and mock the SJWs but now it’s frightening how they have such a stronghold in almost all departments of education. They do not tolerate diversity of thought or opinions and there is no such thing as debating with them, only shouting matches and the banning of those they disagree with from the public forum.
Milo gives a sound explanation on the importance of Medieval Studies, and how it relates to the Middle Ages and western civilization. He sounds the warning that if the social justice warriors are successful in overtaking Medieval Studies which sounds like one of last bastions where they haven’t been successful, then all humanities could be doomed. Heed his words.
This is a must read book.
I have to admit, I knew little to nothing about Medieval Studies before I bought Middle Rages but I did go to Rachel Fulton Brown’s blog, Fencing Bear at Prayer to read her post Three Cheers for White Men which caused quite the maelstrom and figures prominently in this book. Still trying to figure out why the social justice warriors considered this to be racist. She makes three concise points. You can agree or disagree. But racist? No! If this wasn’t such a serious topic I would find this amusing just because of the incredulity of the outrage and smear tactics launched against Fulton Brown. I used to laugh and mock the SJWs but now it’s frightening how they have such a stronghold in almost all departments of education. They do not tolerate diversity of thought or opinions and there is no such thing as debating with them, only shouting matches and the banning of those they disagree with from the public forum.
Milo gives a sound explanation on the importance of Medieval Studies, and how it relates to the Middle Ages and western civilization. He sounds the warning that if the social justice warriors are successful in overtaking Medieval Studies which sounds like one of last bastions where they haven’t been successful, then all humanities could be doomed. Heed his words.
This is a must read book.
September 25, 2019
Despite my general aversion to Milo, I found this to be an entertaining piece of investigative journalism: a peek into a faction of academia ("Medieval Studies") and its current state of internecine warfare. ... also an altogether refreshing reminder of why I'm relieved never to have taken the academic route. Oh, hey, you can also read it online here.
May 23, 2019
Reminiscent of the notorious persecution of Napoleon Chagnon
A risible expose of the tempestuous Left’s brigade of militant academics crusade to subjugate and extirpate dissent & impose Intellectual hypocrisy.
A risible expose of the tempestuous Left’s brigade of militant academics crusade to subjugate and extirpate dissent & impose Intellectual hypocrisy.
June 25, 2019
Interesting Summary about what happened to Rachel Fulton Brown.
November 22, 2019
More of an essay than a book.
This was not exactly what I was expecting. I'm familiar with Milo Yiannopoulos from pop culture, and essentially view him as a professional troll. I've never read anything he's written before and wasn't expecting too much. This book was gifted to me, so in all honestly I probably wouldn't have selected it on my own. I am a high school history teacher, and do certainly see value in teaching the Middle Ages, so I expected this book to be about why this history is important. That was a small portion of the book, but it was mostly about Yiannopoulous's view that higher education has become too liberalized by "social justice warriors" who through their disputes among each other and with scholars who don't embrace a very liberal view are wreaking havoc on the study of the Middle Ages. I don't agree with Yiannopoulous's political views in the slightest, but he does raise some points worthy of consideration. The book mostly focuses on a specific incident between some Middle Ages scholars and not so much a defense of the studying of the Middle Ages in general.
This was not exactly what I was expecting. I'm familiar with Milo Yiannopoulos from pop culture, and essentially view him as a professional troll. I've never read anything he's written before and wasn't expecting too much. This book was gifted to me, so in all honestly I probably wouldn't have selected it on my own. I am a high school history teacher, and do certainly see value in teaching the Middle Ages, so I expected this book to be about why this history is important. That was a small portion of the book, but it was mostly about Yiannopoulous's view that higher education has become too liberalized by "social justice warriors" who through their disputes among each other and with scholars who don't embrace a very liberal view are wreaking havoc on the study of the Middle Ages. I don't agree with Yiannopoulous's political views in the slightest, but he does raise some points worthy of consideration. The book mostly focuses on a specific incident between some Middle Ages scholars and not so much a defense of the studying of the Middle Ages in general.
May 9, 2020
Milo's second book following the loss of his fame and fortune is okay, but reads more like a newspaper article. I suspect Milo may have intended to write this as a series for Breitbart but adapted it into a mini-book. It would have been much better with photos, so you could get a sense of who the main characters are. He does a good job of describing the ongoing battle between academics, dropping a lot of medieval references I don't understand, but doesn't quite manage to make me care. He gives no indication that regular college students have been affected, other than a few Medieval Studies graduate students, and I understand there is an existential threat to all academic endeavor by allowing the left to knock down this pillar of Western Civilization. I give it two stars because at least Milo is trying.
November 10, 2019
Middle Rages is on its own highly instructive of the sjw modus operandi, however it will make a greater impact on the reader if read as an appendix to SJWs Always Lie. A book which I incidentally highly recommend–a must read in today's times.
March 2, 2020
I was really surprised with how well the book was written. I originally got this book for the giggles (it was written by Milo), but he's actually a very talented writer and this was a great piece of investigative journalism. I feel like I gained a lot from reading it, even though it was quite short.
March 25, 2020
I knew there was some reason I liked Milo. He’s one of us.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews