The counterpoint to constructed complexities: the observation that powerful, appealing "simple" narratives ("Make America Great Again," "Follow the Science," "It's the Economy, Stupid") are themselves careful constructions. They are built by stripping away nuance, context, and contradiction to create a clear, mobilizing story. This simplicity is a rhetorical tool, not a reflection of a simple world, and its construction is key to its political or social power.
Example: "The slogan 'Defund the Police' is a masterclass in the Theory of Constructed Simplicities. It condensed a vast, nuanced policy argument about reallocating resources and reimagining public safety into a potent, three-word construction. Its power and its liability came from the same source: it was a simple hammer built for a complex nail, designed to shatter existing frames of thought."
by Abzu Land January 31, 2026
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