Jan 6 Anthem
In 1777 Johann Herder sparked the movement to create a sense of German identity through the collection of folksongs. The Brothers Grimm, Goethe and later Wagner answered that call. Within 90 years, the modern German state was born — identity is wholly a function of stories.
Whether intentionally or not, replacing the US national anthem at campaign rallies with a folksy song sung by imprisoned insurrectionists is the same method. This archetype analysis traces the Herder-to-MAGA genealogy and examines why Biden’s recognition of the “Bad Fairy Tale” was not enough to break its spell.