Todd Gitlin Quotes

A collection of quotes by Todd Gitlin.

Todd Gitlin is an acclaimed American writer, sociologist, and public intellectual. He was born on January 6, 1943, in New York City, and grew up in the Bronx. Gitlin obtained his Bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University before pursuing a doctorate in sociology from the University of California, Berkeley.

Known for his insightful views on media, politics, and culture, Gitlin has authored numerous influential works. In the early 1960s, he emerged as an activist during the civil rights and antiwar movements, becoming a prominent figure in the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). His experiences within the SDS informed his notable book "The Sixties: Years of Hope, Days of Rage," which offers a comprehensive analysis of the era.

Throughout his career, Gitlin has taught at various universities, including the University of California, Berkeley, and Columbia University, where he served as the chair of the Ph.D. program in communications. In addition to his academic contributions, he has written for multiple publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Nation.

Gitlin is admired for his nuanced critique of mainstream media and his exploration of the impact of technology on society and politics. He continues to be a respected commentator and a committed advocate for progressive causes.

My position is not that John Kerry is either Jesus Christ or

My position is not that John Kerry is either Jesus Christ or the prophet Mohammad. My position is that John Kerry is the possibility of restarting politics.

The mobilisation which Bush has been able to perform since 1

The mobilisation which Bush has been able to perform since 11 September 2001 has to be fought - at least by Americans - in the name of a wise, honourable and democratic patriotism.

I don't think anyone in the media thinks strategically about

I don't think anyone in the media thinks strategically about society.

American movies and music deliver themes of freedom, innocen

American movies and music deliver themes of freedom, innocence, and power that appeal to others - partly because America itself was put together out of a multiplicity of national traditions.

I am concerned about how to reverse the process by which a f

I am concerned about how to reverse the process by which a fundamentalist right and a corporate elite were able to seize power in the United States.

There is a fuzzy but real distinction that can and I believe

There is a fuzzy but real distinction that can and I believe should be made, between patriotism, which is attachment to a way of life, and nationalism, which is the insistence that your way of life deserves to rule over other ways of life.

I don't for the life of me understand how anybody could cont

I don't for the life of me understand how anybody could contemplate the results of the 2000 election in the US and say that electoral politics doesn't matter any more, and that Ralph Nader was right when he said there is no difference between the two parties.

Some versions of patriotism come close to the tribal, which

Some versions of patriotism come close to the tribal, which we all want to surpass, and some don't.

Right now, we have no possibility of politics because we hav

Right now, we have no possibility of politics because we have a one-party state.

I first came to think about media and politics in the late 1

I first came to think about media and politics in the late 1960s, having observed some distortions up close, but since then I wouldn't say that my personal experience has remained an important motive for my writing about media.