Aldous Asterion

The Forest of Symbols

Society EN ↓ 47 episodes

Learn to Decode

Author

Aldous Asterion

Episodes

[PREVIEW] Northrop Frye, "The Archetypes of Literature": Reading and Commentary (Part 3 of 3) 09.05.2026 22:20

The third and final section elaborates the "deductive" method of myth criticism, and gets into the details of the fourfold cycle of the myth of the hero, which Frye believes underlies all of literature. Some references to Frazer and Jung, and discussion of Blade Runner/Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep as a case study. To support the show, and get early access to episodes and bonus content (writ...

Northrop Frye, "The Archetypes of Literature": Reading and Commentary (Part 2 of 3) 09.05.2026 37:21

The Inductive Method, and Frye's "spatial" conception of literature.

The Archetypes of Literature by Northrop Frye: Reading & Commentary (Part 1 of3) 09.05.2026 48:44

On the idea that literary criticism is, or could be, a science. To support the show, and get early access to episodes and bonus content (written and audio), please visit https://www.patreon.com/symbolpod.--AA

In the Stacks: Theodore & the Talking Mushroom 24.02.2026 51:37

I analyze another children's tale, using Nietzsche, JG Frazer, and others. To support the show, and get early access to episodes and bonus content (written and audio), please visit https://www.patreon.com/symbolpod.--AA

[UNLOCKED] In The Stacks: Borges' A Universal History of Iniquity 24.01.2026 1:10:09

Delving into one of Borges' lesser-known works. To support the show, and get early access to episodes and bonus content (written and audio), please visit https://www.patreon.com/symbolpod.--AA

Frog and Toad: A Symbolic Analysis (Essay Preview) 03.01.2026 6:39

Happy New Year, listeners! To read the essay and access other bonus content (written and audio), or to support the show, please visit Patreon.com/symbolpod. --AA

[UNLOCKED] Groundhog Day of the Dead: A Forest of Symbols Holiday Special 18.12.2025 1:31:27

Please join me as I ramble about my two favorite holiday stories: (after a brief prelude on Dickens' A Christmas Carol ) the 1993 film Groundhog Day , and James Joyce's 1914 (long) short story, "The Dead." To support the show, and get early access to episodes and bonus content (written and audio), please visit https://www.patreon.com/symbolpod.--AA

Vol. XIV: Eggs [Preview] 01.12.2025 9:41

Can I offer you a nice egg in this trying time? For the full episode and other bonus content (written and audio), or to support the show, please visit Patreon.com/symbolpod. --AA

Vol. VI: Frog Gods, Frog Men Pt. 1 (VERSION 2) (feat. The Huxleys) 31.10.2025 2:00:03

Are we all amphibians? To support the show, and get early access to episodes and bonus content (written and audio), please visit https://www.patreon.com/symbolpod.

[UNLOCKED] Vol. XIII: Mirrors Pt. 2- Narcissus (Version 2) 24.10.2025 4:31:26

Spiegel Im Spiegel Im Spiegel It has been said that it is a symbol of the imagination--or of consciousness--in its capacity to reflect the formal reality of the visible world. It has also been related to thought, in so far as thought--for Scheler and other philosophers--is the instrument of self-contemplation as well as the reflection of the universe. This links mirror-symbolism with water as a re...

[UNLOCKED] Vol. IV: Fool Me Twice 19.10.2025 1:10:06

More foolishness. Mere foolishness. To support the show, and get early access to episodes and bonus content (written and audio), please visit https://www.patreon.com/symbolpod.--AA

[UNLOCKED] In the Stacks: The Crying of Lot 49 Pt. 2 12.10.2025 1:28:26

With a new Pynchon novel and a new PT Anderson movie based on Pynchon's Vineland out, it's probably a good time to let this one out of the vault.

In the Stacks: The Crying of Lot 49 Pt. 1 14.09.2024 49:51

Entropy, Codes, Information Theory, Threads, Towers, Pentacost, Networks, Signs and Wonders.

[Unlocked] Vol: VII- Frog Gods, Frog Men, Pt. 2 07.06.2024 2:24:19

A B R A C A D A B R A A B R A C A D A B R A B R A C A D A B A B R A C A D A A B R A C A D A B R A C A A B R A C A B R A A B R A B A

"Autumnal Spring" 31.03.2024 6:37

This is a little PhaseGoht/Forest of Symbols collab intended for the Mirrors series that I wasn't able to fit in. Enjoy!

Vol. XII: Mirrors Pt. 1- The Aleph 10.09.2023 1:48:17

As Above, so Below For the rest of this series and other bonus content, or to support the show, please visit https://www.patreon.com/symbolpod.

Against Interpretation: Reading and Commentary 05.08.2023 1:25:17

To interpret or not to interpret? Susan Sontag, 1966

[UNLOCKED] Redemption Through Sin: Reading & Commentary Pt. 7 of 8 20.05.2023 58:08

In the penultimate episode, we step into the abyss. For the conclusion to this series and other bonus content, or to support the show, please visit https://www.patreon.com/symbolpod.

[UNLOCKED] Redemption Through Sin: Reading & Commentary Pt. 6 of 8 07.05.2023 1:03:24

The continuing story of the false messiah as recounted by Gershom Scholem. For the rest of this series and other bonus content, or to support the show, please visit https://www.patreon.com/symbolpod.

[UNLOCKED] Redemption Through Sin: Reading and Commentary Pt. 4 of 8 22.04.2023 47:49

Scholem deals with moderate Sabbateanism, its revival/inversion of gnostic ideas, and I try to stay on point. For the rest of this series and other bonus content, or to support the show, please visit https://www.patreon.com/symbolpod.

The Chariot and the Passenger: Brad Kelly on Cormac McCarthy & Others 13.02.2023 2:34:00

Author & podcaster Brad Kelly (https://twitter.com/bradkelly) returns to talk Art of Darkness (https://artofdarkpod.com/), the new McCarthy novels, the tarot in Blood Meridian, the Bung-Plug of the Void, and more. To support the show, and get early access to episodes and bonus content, go to https://www.patreon.com/symbolpod.

Vol. XI: Ice 27.01.2023 1:09:44

For destruction, ice is great. To support the show, and get early access to episodes and bonus content, go to https://www.patreon.com/symbolpod.

The Book Scorpion 15.01.2023 2:22

To support the show, and get early access to episodes and bonus content, go to https://www.patreon.com/symbolpod.

[UNLOCKED] A Grab Bag of Dick 29.12.2022 1:23:47

A survey of most of the PKD reading and rereading done in preparation to guest on the Art of Darkness Podcast.   To support the show, and get early access to episodes and bonus content, go to https://www.patreon.com/symbolpod. 

"Snow" by Lous MacNeice 26.12.2022 2:39

The room was suddenly rich and the great bay-window was Spawning snow and pink roses against it Soundlessly collateral and incompatible: World is suddener than we fancy it. World is crazier and more of it than we think, Incorrigibly plural. I peel and portion A tangerine and spit the pips and feel The drunkenness of things being various. And the fire flames with a bubbling sound for world Is more...