Theory & Philosophy

Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/theoryandphilosophy In this episode, I explore the the lesser known Roberto Calasso and his "The Ruin of Kasch." Calasso is a thinker of sacrifice and ceremony, and proposes what these components of the 'old order' mean in the age of modernity. To do this, Calasso traverses from the tale of the ancient kingdom of Kasch to the Napoleonic politician Talleyrand to th...

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theoryandphilosophy In this episode, I continue my exploration of "Fatal Strategies" to present something of a Baudrillardian pragmatics that accounts for the acceleration of this oppressive system.

Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/theoryandphilosophy In this episode, I begin my exploration of Baudrillard's "Fatal Strategies." This is the text that Baudrillard becomes extremely critical against the obscenity machine that forces everything into appearance. Against this, he proposes his own theory--that we are to drive these systems to their radical conclusion. This takes the form of a fatal s...

Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/theoryandphilosophy In my last episode of this text, I focus on the stories and films that Ahmed analyzes as being fundamentally "postmodern," but that rely on classical constructions of women and (not so) subtly maintain oppressive imagery against women.

Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/theoryandphilosophy In this episode, I continue my exploration of Ahmed's "Differences that Matter" and turn my attention to ethics, and the construction of women in Western Philosophy. Ahmed presents some tough criticisms here, but is equally proficient at constructing her own theoretical approach that stands opposed to the hegemony-laden approaches indicative of...

Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/theoryandphilosophy In this episode, I shift gears to explore Sara Ahmed's first book, "Differences that Matter." In this book, Ahmed points to the limitations of postmodern thought to account for those marginalized groups most often affected by structural inequalities.

Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/theoryandphilosophy   In this episode, Curtis and I continue our exploration of Plateau 13 from A Thousand Plateaus, "Apparatus of Capture." Specifically, we locate the implications of this chapter alongside the advent of algorithms, big data, and technological surveillance.

Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/theoryandphilosophy In this episode, I'm joined by Curtis Allen, PhD candidate in Theory and Criticism, whose work focuses on the work of Deleuze and Wittgenstein. We discuss the implications of this complicated plateau by expounding upon Deleuze & Guattari's theorization of the relationship between the war machine and the state.

Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/theoryandphilosophy In this episode, Andrew and I continue to explore the implications of Arendt's seminal text, The Human Condition. In this episode we take aim at the questioning concerning technology, and the role of science in crystallizing a contemporary (oppressive) manifestation of truthfulness.

Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/theoryandphilosophy In this episode, I'm joined by Andrew Woods, PhD candidate in Theory & Criticism, to explore the implications of Arendt's seminal text, The Human Condition. We gloss over a number of key ideas pertaining to the development of the social; the end of excellence; and the alienating effects of mass society

Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/theoryandphilosophy Please note: I mistakenly said that this book follows Simulacra & Simulation when, in fact, it precedes it. I got mixed up with the translation date and original date. Please keep this in mind when I speak about the relationship between the two texts. In this episode, I tackle Baudrillard's "Silent Majorities" to present his primary ideas conce...

Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/theoryandphilosophy In this episode, I continue my exploration of "The Location of Culture." In this part, I expound upon Bhabha's bifurcation of post-colonial and post-modern thought to propose an urgency behind recognizing the impact of colonialism on power and governmentality.

Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/theoryandphilosophy In this episode, I explore Homi Bhabha's "The Location of Culture," a seminal text in the field of post-colonial studies. In this enigmatic text, Bhabha sketches his conception of hybridity that stands opposed to contemporary forms of colonialism.

Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/theoryandphilosophy In this episode, I continue my analysis of "Simulacra & Simulation" to expound upon Baudrillard's thoughts of political action, the "code," science fiction, and nihilism.

Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/theoryandphilosophy In this episode, I delve into Baudrillard's most famous work, "Simulacra & Simulation." In this episode, I do my best to clarify some misconceptions that I often encounter regarding what Baudrillard is doing in this text. Some of these include the explicit relationship between simulation and the media, the divide between reality and simulation,...

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theoryandphilosophy In this episode, I conclude Symbolic Exchange & Death to highlight his challenge to critical theory. 

Patreon (For those who can afford it):  https://www.patreon.com/theoryandphilosophy In this episode, I begin my exploration of Baudrillard's Symbolic Exchange & Death, a key text in the Baudrillard canon. In it he unravels some key terms that guide much of his later work such as symbolic exchange, death, simulation, and sacrifice.

Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/theoryandphilosophy In this episode, I continue my discussion of Baudrillard's "Seduction" by presenting his thoughts of the rule v. the law, and the role of the ritual in seduction.

Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/theoryandphilosophy In this episode, I begin my exploration of Baudrillard's elusive and enigmatic "Seduction." There are some tricky ideas in this text that demand a critical re-evaluation of many assumptions often held about Baudrillard's work, and about the role of theory more generally.

Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/theoryandphilosophy In this episode, I dissect Baudrillard's "Forget Foucault." I try to trace Baudrillard's criticism in his own terms, while simultaneously supplementing his analysis with my own understanding in an effort to fill in some of the blanks

Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/theoryandphilosophy In this episode, I'm joined by Alex once again to take a stab at Foucault's "The Order of Things." In these two parts, we try to locate the significance of Foucault's work today with a specific emphasis on his theory of the episteme and much more.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theoryandphilosophy In this episode, I'm joined by Alex once again to take a stab at Foucault's "The Order of Things." In these two parts, we try to locate the significance of Foucault's work today with a specific emphasis on his theory of the episteme and much more.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theoryandphilosophy In this episode, I continue my presentation of Symbolic Exchange & Death. 

Patreon (For those who can afford it):  https://www.patreon.com/theoryandphilosophy In this episode, I finish off my presentation of Jean Baudrillard's The Mirror of Production.

Patreon (For those whom can afford it):  https://www.patreon.com/theoryandphilosophy In this episode, I present Jean Baudrillard's The Mirror of Production, a decisive turn in Baudrillard's work from a 'Marxist' approach to a 'post-structuralist' one.