Why Theory

Latest Episodes:

Dialectics Oct 05, 2018

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In this episode, Todd and I discuss dialectics (as the title of the episode implies). After charting the historical development of the term, we focus on the different roles dialectics play for Kant and Hegel. Later, we finish the episode by talking about how Lacan's dialectical thinking manifests itself in his theory. This was a listener suggested episode. Shout outs to Ken in Birmingham and Sean in Dublin. Thanks so much for listening!

Desire & Drive Sep 15, 2018

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In this episode, Todd and I work through two of psychoanalytic theory's most fundamental terms: desire and drive. Despite how fundamental these terms are there exists a fair amount of disagreement. Far from being generally agreed upon first principles, desire and drive are consistent sites for some of psychoanalysis's most interesting interventions (e.g. Alenka Zupancic's What is Sex? and Lee Edelman's No Future, both discussed in this episode). As always: thanks so much for listening! We very much appreciate it.

Political Enjoyment Aug 31, 2018

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On this episode, Todd and I discuss enjoyment in contemporary politics. Working through enjoyment as a psychoanalytic idea, this episode focuses on the appeal of Trump, the lack of enjoyment in the Democratic party position, and how constricting secular morality is for the left, as opposed to the paradoxically less dogmatic religious morality of the right.

Master Signifier Aug 16, 2018

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Thanks for tuning in to Why Theory. On this episode, Todd and I discuss three interrelated terms: the master signifier, the quilting point, and the universal. Our conversation starts with a discussion of Lacan’s development of the master signifier and his curious abandonment of the quilting point. In the middle portion of the episode, we get stuck in to the different ways the master signifier has been articulated as a political term before concluding with a discussion about the universal that harkens back to our previous episode. Lots of moving parts in this episode but I think it’s our most comprehensive to date. As always, thanks for listening and we hope you enjoy the conversation.

The Universal and The Particular Jul 27, 2018

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In this episode, Todd and Ryan theorize the universal and particular as political concepts. The particular aims at aggregating an "all" and accepts the political situation or sphere for what it is. The universal confronts how the existing political sphere is even constituted. This episode urges a recalibration for the American left around universalist movements like Black Lives Matter--which confronts how constitutive racism is of both American society and capitalism in general--and against "whack-a-mole" politics (i.e. that which is typically aimed at holding individual perpetuators of inequality responsible for their actions without addressing the larger structure (capital) that keeps that inequality in tact.) Suggestions for Further Reading: Hegel, The Encyclopedia Logic (Cambridge currently refers to this by the accurate but clunky AF title: Encyclopedia of the Philosophical Sciences in Basic Outline Part I: Science of Logic) Francois Julien, On the Universal Susan Buck-Morss, Hegel, Haiti, and Universal History Alenka Zupancic, What is Sex? Alain Badiou, Theory of the Subject Todd McGowan, (Forthcoming essay. Will update this shortly.)

Where to Start 3: Heidegger, Badiou, Agamben, Butler, Derrida Jul 14, 2018

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On this episode, Todd and Ryan discuss the following thinkers: Martin Heidegger (Start to 18 minutes) Recommended: Being and Time Alain Badiou (18 min to 35) Recommended: Philosophy and Event, Saint Paul: The Foundation of Universalism, Theory of the Subject Giorgio Agamben (35 to 43:40) Recommended: Homo Sacer, Means Without Ends Judith Butler (43:55 to 55ish) Recommended: Gender Trouble, Subjects of Desire Jacques Derrida (56 to End) Recommended: Specters of Marx, Positions, "Freud and the Scene of Writing"

Sports: Ideology, Enjoyment, Contradiction Jun 17, 2018

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Just in time for the World Cup to have already started comes this episode of Why Theory on Sports, Ideology, Enjoyment, and Contradiction. Todd and I are huge sports fans and teased an episode on sports and theory all the way back in our first episode on theories of comedy. We hope this conversation is worth the wait. As always, thanks so much for listening.

Where to Start 2: Hegel, Marx, Fanon, Deleuze, Foucault May 18, 2018

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Discussed in this episode: Hegel, Marx, Fanon, Deleuze, Foucault Recommended in this episode: Hegel Preface to Phenomenology of Spirit; Lesser Logic; Introduction to History of Philosophy Marx "The Commodity" from Capital vol. 1; Grundrisse; The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte Fanon Black Skin, White Mask; The Wretched of the Earth Deleuze "The Death Instinct" from Coldness and Cruelty; Difference & Repetition; Spinoza: Practical Philosophy Foucault Discipline & Punish Listen to hear what is NOT recommended!

Where to Start 1: The Psychoanalytic Theorists May 09, 2018

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Thanks for joining us on Why Theory. In this episode, Todd and I give a few recommendations on where to start and where not start introductory readings from six psychoanalytic theorists: Freud, Lacan, Slavoj Zizek, Joan Copjec, Alenka Zupancic, and Mari Ruti. This is the first iteration of what will hopefully be a mini series on where to start and where not to start with different thinkers. We both think this is a fine start but who are we to judge. Thanks for listening, as always. We hope you enjoy the conversation. Recommended in this episode: Freud: "A Note Upon the Mystic Writing Pad," "Negation," "Fetishism," The Interpretation of Dreams Lacan: The Four Fundamental Concepts of Psychoanalysis, Anxiety Zizek: Looking Awry, The Plague of Fantasies, The Fright of Real Tears, The Parallax View, Less Than Nothing Copjec: "The Orthopsychic Subject," "Sex and the Euthanasia of Reason" Zupancic: The Odd One In, Ethics of the Real Ruti: The Call of Character: Living a Life Worth Living; Between Levinas and Lacan: Self, Other, Ethics; The Ethics of Opting Out

CGI, Anxiety, The Last Jedi Apr 19, 2018

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As Freud famously said to Jung upon their arrival in the United States for a lecture series at Clark University, “They don’t realize we are bringing them the plague.” Now, lots of people say Freud never said this, upon seeing the Statue of Liberty, referring to psychoanalysis as “the plague,” but Lacan said that Jung said that Freud said it, and who among us is going to let a possibly dodgy game of telephone get in the way of a good story? Either way, bringing the plague to your ears is this episode of Why Theory. Recorded with special guest Hugh Manon of Clark University, the only place Freud ever lectured in America, we discuss CGI, Anxiety, The Last Jedi and a whole bunch of other stuff. Get excited. Get the plague and, as always, thanks for listening.

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