Category Archives: Philosophy

Robert Stark talks to Jamie Curcio about Narrative Machines

1980's, aesthetics, Aleister Crowley, Alexander Dugin, Alternative Right, Anarchism, Aristocratic Individualism, Art, Beatniks, counterculture, Culture, Cyberpunk, David Bowie, David Lynch, dreams, Fascism, Film, horror, Industrial Music, J.G. Michael, Jamie Curcio, Jean Baudrillard, Laibach, Literature, Media, Memes, Milo, Mishima A Life in Four Chapters, Morality, Mulholland Drive, Music, Narrative Machines, Nietzsche, Occultism, Philosophy, Politics, Postmodernism, Psychology, Retro Futurism, Sam Kevorkian, Social Isolation, Social Media, Stranger Things, Surrealism, They Live, Thomas Ligotti, Vaporwave, Yukio Mishima

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Stark, co-host Sam Kevorkian, and J.G. Michael talk to Jamie Curcio about his new book Narrative Machines: Modern Myth, Revolution, & Propaganda. Jamie is an Artist, Writer, and Musician, and blogs at Modern Mythology.

Topics:

Intro: Nefarious from the Album EgoWhore by HoodooEngine which Jamie co-produces and does bass and rhythm guitar for
The main thrust of Narrative Machines is the way in which myths function in our lives
How the conflict with our longing to connect with the sacred leads to seeking re-connection in the form of reified ideology in the current “Meme Wars”
Jean Baudrillard’s book Simulacra and Simulation
The concept of hyper reality and how social interactions are mediated by social media
Post Modernism and Deconstructionism; skepticism towards all ultimate truths
Hobbes vs. Rousseau: the debate over human nature
Jamie’s illustrations in Narrative Machines
The Artist David Mack
Aesthetic theory and how artist can affect the world politically
Interrogation Machine – Laibach and NSK
Aleksander Dugin, Nick Land, and Neo-Reaction
The relation between myth, retro-aesthetic creative movements like vaporwave, and the current cultural climate
The 80’s Retro themed show Stranger Things
The aesthetics of Horror and horror writer Thomas Ligotti
Surrealism and connecting to the sacred or primal force
Jamie’s book Join My Cult!, occultism, and Aleister Crowley
David Bowie Inspires Jamie’s Upcoming Book, “Masks”
Yukio Mishima’s Confessions of a Mask
Jamie’s involvement in the goth industrial music scene of the 90’s and 00’s
The ways in which virtual reality, myth, and “the real world” have collided
Alternate Reality Games, the film The Game, and playing with peoples perception of reality through media

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This show is brought to you by Robert Stark’s Paintings!




Robert Stark talks to Anatoly Karlin about Transhumanism & Effective Altruism

Altruism, Anatoly Karlin, automation, demographics, Dystopia, Economics, Effective Altruism, Eugenics, Futurism, Gender, Hank Pellissier, Human Bio Diversity, Immigration, IQ, Overpopulation, Philosophy, Rationalism, Sam Kevorkian, Science, Science Fiction, technology, Transhumanism, Utopia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Stark and co-host Sam Kevorkian talk to Anatoly Karlin about Transhumanism and Effective Altruism. Anatoly blogs for The Unz Review and is on the Russian language podcast rogpr.

Topics:

The philosophical roots of Effective Altruism in rationalism and how it uses reason to determine the most effective ways to benefit others
Anatoly’s article Immigration and Effective Altruism
Steve Sailer on U.N. population projections for Africa and the Carrying Capacity of the Global Population
Hank Pellissier and his charity in Africa based on Effective Altruism
Psychometrics and Pellissier’s book Brighter Brains: 225 Ways to Elevate or Injure IQ
Positive Eugenics, IQ and fertility, and fertility preferences
The Transhumanist and Futurist movements
Paper Review: Artificial Wombs
Radical Life Extension
CRISPR gene editing and intelligence augmentation
How Transhumanism could exacerbate inequality
The Technological Singularity and the age of intelligent machines
Cybernetics and the Neural Lace
Anatoly’s essay A Short History of the Third Millennium which predicts a future based on current trends without Transhumanism
Anatoly’s upcoming book on Neo-Malthusianism

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This show is brought to you by Robert Stark’s Paintings!




Robert Stark talks to Director Richard Wolstencroft about The New Twin Peaks

 Angelo Badalamenti, 1950's, 1980's, aesthetics, Aleister Crowley, Blue Velvet, Canada, Cinema, Conspiracy Theories, Count Isidor Fosco, Crime, Culture, David Lynch, Film, Film Noire, Hollywood, horror, humor, J.G. Michael, Kyle MacLachlan, meditation, Mulholland Drive, Occultism, Philosophy, Pilleater, Psychology, Religion, Richard Wolstencroft, Sexuality, Surrealism, Twin Peaks, Vaporwave

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Stark, co-host Pilleater, J.G. Michael, and Count Isidor Fosco are joined with filmmaker Richard Wolstencroft live from the Black Lodge to talk about the new Twin Peaks series and how it compares to the original.

Topics:

Intro: The Northern Lights – Falling (feat. Lucy Black)
The Black Lodge and it’s theological and occult symbolism
The 80’s quality of the original Twin Peaks, the 50’s nostalgia theme, and David Lynch’s interest in fusing genres
Lynch’s emphasis on visual aesthetics in his films
How Twin Peaks was inspired by the Film Noire Laura (1944)
How the new series makes references to other Lynch films such as Blue Velvet
Contrasting the portrayal of the town Twin Peaks in the new series to the original; Richard’s visit to the town of North Bend, Washington where the show is filmed
Lynch’s portrayal of small towns; the idealism of small towns vs. the critique that there is a dark underbelly to small town America
Demonic possession vs. symbolism of the monster within
Cooper’s Doppelgänger, Agent Cooper becoming Dougie Jones who has lost his memory, and whether he will come back
The theme of powerful entities trying too tap into the Black Lodge and how that will become the main narrative
The theme of “Sex Magic”
The film Mulholland Drive and how it was originally intended to be a sequel to Twin Peaks about Audrey Horne
Lynch’s political views and his interest in Transcendental Meditation
How Twin Peaks touches on a variety of themes including culture, politics, the subconscious, sex, psychology, philosophy, mythology, and religion
Kyle MacLachlan and David Lynch as FBI Agents
The prediction that Cooper will return to Twin Peaks and end up in the White Lodge at the end
The role of the side characters in the new series such as Dr. Jacoby, Ben Horne, and Shelly

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Robert Stark interviews Joseph Dobrian

aesthetics, Architecture, Art, censorship, Culture, Economics, Edward Hopper, Fashion, Feminism, Film, Historic Preservation, Iowa City, Joseph Dobrian, journalism, Libertarianism, Literature, New York, Philosophy, Pilleater, Political Correctness, Politics, Sexuality, Urbanism

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Stark and co-host Pilleater talk to Joseph Dobrian. Joseph Dobrian is a novelist, essayist, poet, and financial journalist, also known as a political activist and TV talk show host. Hard-Wired is his third novel. Previous books include the novels Ambitions and Willie Wilden, and the best-selling collection of essays, Seldom Right But Never In Doubt. He ran for Mayor of New York City in 2009, and now lives in Iowa City, Iowa, with four rescue cats.

Topics:

Joseph’s experience living in New York City, his “Guys and Dolls” lifestyle in the 80’s, and how the city has changed
His run for Mayor of New York City as a Libertarian and his political views
His home town and current location Iowa City which is called “Berkeley on the Prairie,” and the city’s architecture(ex.Englert Theatre)
His custom made 1940’s inspired suits
His talk show on local cable TV the Joseph Dobrian Show
His novels including Ambitions, Willie Wilden, and Hard-Wired
Literary influences including William Makepeace Thackeray’s Vanity Fair, George Orwell, and Herman Wouk
Favorite artist including Walter Sickert, Gilbert Stuart, and Edward Hopper
Architectural interest including The Federalist Style, Albert Speer, and Hugh Ferriss
His op ed Abolish the National Endowment for the Arts – Iowa City Press-Citizen
Joseph and Robert debate funding for the arts
The cancellation of a book reading at Prairie Lights Bookstore in Iowa City due to hecklers

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Robert Stark interviews Publisher Josh Dale

aesthetics, Culture, horror, Josh Dale, Literature, Philadelphia, Philosophy, Pilleater, Poetry, Psychology, Samuel Delany, Science Fiction, Scott Laudati, Stephen King, Thom Young, Transcendentalism

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Stark and co-host Pilleater talk to publisher Josh Dale. Josh Dale runs Thirty West Publishing House and has a BA in English from Temple University.

Topics:

Josh’s background including being an associate editor and contributor to Temple’s Hyphen Literary Magazine and experience with a vanity publisher on Instagram
Temple University in Philadelphia; Science Fiction writer Samuel R. Delany
The process of setting up Thirty West Publishing
The overall themes and criteria of Thirty West
Josh’s interest in work that is introspective and inspired by the inner workings of the mind
The designs of Thirty West’s books
Authors published including Thom Young
Josh’s collection of poetry Duality Lies Beneath
The themes of the poems ranging from random imagination, observations, critiques of society, and personal idiosyncrasies
The book cover from a train station in Philadelphia
Josh’s influence from the Transcendentalist writers including Ralph Waldo Emerson
Josh’s near death experience from a car crash and how that impacted his outlook on life
Involvement in spoken word poetry readings


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This show is brought to you by Robert Stark’s Paintings!




Robert Stark and Richard Wolstencroft discuss The Film Dark City

1990's, aesthetics, Akira, Alex Proyas, alienation, Architecture, Art, Art Deco, Australia, Cinema, Cities, Count Isidor Fosco, Culture, Dark City, David Lynch, Dystopia, Edward Hopper, Film, Film Noire, Ghost in a Shell, Hollywood, horror, horror films, Jennifer Connelly, Metropolis, Mid-Century Modern, Mythology, Nihilism, Philosophy, Pilleater, Plato, Psychology, Retro Futurism, Richard Wolstencroft, Science Fiction, Steampunk, Surrealism, The Matrix, Utopia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Stark, co-host Pilleater, and Count Isidor Fosco, talk to filmmaker Richard Wolstencroft about the film Dark City(1998) directed by Alex Proyas.

Topics:

Australian director Alex Proyas, his background in Punk, and his style
Proyas’s films The Crow, Gods of Egypt, and Knowing
Proyas rebelling against the conformity of Hollywood Cinema
Comparisons to the Matrix which came out a year later and the theme of a meta reality
The setting of the City in a Space Ship disconnected from earth, the theme of parallel universes, and comparisons to the Truman Show
The role of “the Others” in the film; the metaphor for powerful people who manipulate reality from behind the scenes
How the others switch peoples memories and give them false memories; comparisons to Ghost in a Shell
The Gothic and Neo Noire Genres
The aesthetics of the film; Decopunk, Metropolis, Edward Hopper, and other influences
The irony of dystopian films is that they often succeed in creating utopian aesthetics
The films success in building upon the sense of mystery
The theme of man becoming a “God Like” figure restructuring society as a utopia
Plato’s allegory of the Cave and the Ship of Theseus
The symbolism of Shell Beach
The directors cut vs. the theatrical cut

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This show is brought to you by Robert Stark’s Paintings!




Robert Stark talks to Pilleater about Almond Eyes Baby Face

aesthetics, Almond Eyes Baby Face, Alternative Left, Alternative Right, Anime, Art, Asia, Asian Aryanism, China, counterculture, Culture, Cyberpunk, demographics, Despair, Diversity, Erotica, Ethno Nationalism, Gender, Identitarianism, Japan, Japanese Culture, Millennials, Multiculturalism, Music, Natalie Portman, Nationalism, Peter Sotos, Philadelphia, Philosophy, Pilleater, Poetry, Political Correctness, Pornography, Psychology, psychosocialism, Race Relations, Science Fiction, Sexuality, Trevor Brown, Trip, Utopia, Vaporwave, Yukio Mishima

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Stark talks to Pilleater about his new book Almond Eyes, Baby Face(available on Lulu) which is series of short stories. Pilleater blogs at Asian Aryanism and the Mineo Maya Fanclub

Topics:

The autobiographical nature of the first story
The theme of dealing with trauma from High school and College and struggling to fulfill the Psychosocial narrative
Nana’s Song inspired by Natalie Portman in Leon the Professional
The transcript of Pilleater’s Omegle chat where he pretended to be an Asian Girl
How Pilleater sees the book as his version of Yukio Mishima’s Confessions of a Mask
Pilleater’s essay he submitted to Radix “Why I’m an Identitarian”
Pilleater’s advocacy of Asian Aryanism
Pilleater’s Asian Aryanism in contrast with Asian colonization of the west and the growing rootless identity among Eurasians
The criticisms of Pilleater’s work from both the Alt-Right and SJW Left
The books cut up of the Right Stuff’s article 4 Reasons You Shouldn’t Date Asian Girls
The WMAFL phenomenon
Pilleater poem Easy Tiger dedicated to Porn Star Harriet Sugar Cookie
A hypothetical Asian Aryan ethnostate; it’s culture, politics, and aesthetics
Creating new Avant Garde sub-cultures
The Vaporwave science fiction story in the book
The cover art by Thai artist Piemboons inspired by Trevor Brown
The erotic science fiction story the “Rape of M’Khal” which was added to the new edition of Trip by Pilleater


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This show is brought to you by Robert Stark’s Paintings!




Robert Stark interviews Shaun Partridge

1960's, 1970's, 1990's, Adam Parfrey, aesthetics, Aleister Crowley, Alice in Wonderland, Anne Frank, Art, Boyd Rice, Carl Jung, comedy, Comic Books, counterculture, Culture, dreams, Enter The Void, humor, Japanese Culture, Jim Goad, John Lenon, Literature, Madmen, Music, Occultism, Peter Sotos, Philosophy, Pilleater, Political Correctness, rape, Religion, Science Fiction, Serial Killers, Shaun Partridge, Surrealism, The Partridge Family, The Partridge Family Temple, The Wizard of Oz, Trip, Trolling

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Stark and co-host Pilleater talk to Shaun Partridge. He is a musician and co-founder of The Partridge Family Temple. He blogs at shaunpartridge.com and runs Shaun TV on Youtube.

Topics:

Intro Song: B Magic
The background story of The Partridge Family Temple
The Partridge Family Show and it’s inspiration for the Temple
Troll culture; Boyd Rice wearing a rape shirt in front of a giant troll poster for Answer Me! in the 90’s
Shaun’s article “Rape is Love” for Answer Me!’s “Rape Edition,” Boyd Rice’s piece “Revolt against Penis Envy,” and Peter Sotos’s article and books
Shaun’s music for BOYD RICE’S HATESVILLE
Adam Parfrey’s Apocalypse Culture and the Temple’s work for Adam’s art show “Occult Rapture”
Vice’s review of Shaun’s work; The unpop sound
Monty Python’s The Rutles
The power of dreams and Carl Jung as an artist
Shaun’s comedic dreams, including a Seinfeld episode, and Pilleater’s dream sequence in his Novella “Trip”
Surreal humour; Tim and Eric and Sam Hyde’s Million Dollar Extreme
Occult Mysticism in the Wizard of Oz, Alice and Wonderland, Better Call Saul, and Mad Men
Josh Simmons introduces The White Rhinoceros
The power of Psychedelic drugs; out of body and other worldly experiences
Pop Art inspired by Corporate logos by Whale Song Partridge
The Temple Doctrine; “Fun is the Law”
David Cassidy’s reaction to the Partridge Family Temple


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This show is brought to you by Robert Stark’s Paintings!




Robert Stark and Pilleater discuss Psychosocialism

Alain de Botton, Andy Nowicki, Asian Aryanism, Basic Income, Class, College, Confessions of a Would-Be Wanker, conformity, Culture, Economics, education, Erik Erikson, Gender, IQ, Loserdom, Martin Heidegger, Mental illness, Millennials, Nihilism, Normies, Paul Fussell, Philosophy, Pilleater, Psychology, psychosocialism, relationships, Roger Devlin, Sexuality, social capital, Social Darwinism, Social Isolation, social status, social trust, Socialism

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Stark and co-host Pilleater discuss Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages

Topics:

Psychologist Erik Erikson’s life and philosophy
The Psychosocial Stages of development
Pilleater’s article Erik Eriksons Psychosocialism an introduction
Martin Heidegger; Who and What is Dasein?
Cultural expectations that one must achieve certain goals by stages in life
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Situational losers vs. genuine losers; “I deserve better?”
Arrested Psychological Development
How Psycho Socialism shapes our political, economic, and cultural system
How won must adapt or win at Psycho Socialism
Psycho Socialism as a political doctrine
How to restructure society to solve these problems; Smart Socialism
Does a High IQ Nearly Guarantee Riches?
Paul Fussell’s A Guide Through the American Status System
Alain de Botton: Status Anxiety
LARPing as a “ Psycho Social” coping mechanism
The Bobo doll experiment
Roger Devlin’s Sexual Utopia In Power
Andy Nowicki’s Memoir Confessions of a Would-Be Wanker


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This show is brought to you by Robert Stark’s Paintings!




Robert Stark interviews Jack Ravenwood

1980's, 1990's, aesthetics, Anime, Architecture, Art, Asia, Asian Aryanism, Beatniks, capitalism, China, Cinema, Cities, Class, College, conformity, Conservatives, Consumerism, Culture, Cyberpunk, Deconstruction, Donald Trump, Economics, education, Film, Free Trade, Ghost in a Shell, Globalization, History, Hong Kong, Immigration, Jack Kerouac, Jack Ravenwood, Japan, Japanese Culture, Jean Baudrillard, Las Vegas, Literature, Martin Heidegger, Mid-Century Modern, Neoliberalism, Neon, New York, Paradise Theater, Philosophy, Pilleater, Robert Brenner, Ross Perot, Shenzhen, Skyscrapers, SWPL, Thomas Rinaldi, Time Square, Trans-Pacific Partnership, Urbanism, Wisconsin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Stark and co-host Pilleater talk to Jack Ravenwood. He is the author of Paradise Theater, a collection of short stories centered around the theme of the post-industrial American small city. He is also the main writer at Mean Street Cinema, a website dedicated to films from New York City in the 70’s and 80’s, as well as the co-founder of little ape press. He blogs at Foreigner Thoughts

Topics:

The setting of the book Paradise Theater in Jack’s home town West Allis, Wisconsin in the 1980’s and early 90’s
The Paradise Theatre movie house which the book was named for and featured on the cover
The Fairview Motors Sign which is featured on the back of the book; Mid-Century Road Signage
The cultural, political, and economic themes in the book
Allis-Chalmers closing in West Allis and the de-industrialization of the Midwest
Ross Perot’s campaign in 1992 against NAFTA, and Trump campaigning on trade issues
Jack’s Unz Review article Trump, JFK, and the Deep State
National Review Writer: Working-Class Communities ‘Deserve To Die
How the best case scenario for the US would be to carve out a niche in high end manufacturing that caters to China’s growing middle class
Jack’s new home Shenzhen, China which is a manufacturing power house, and new mega city built from scratch
Jack’s Mean Street Cinema site, his interest in Vintage New York City, and Robert Stark’s interviews with Thomas Rinaldi about New York Neon and Robert Brenner about his Time Square Tours
Jack’s observations about Hong Kong Neon and how Hong Kong Is Slowly Dimming Its Neon Glow
Jack’s future plan to document Neon in Hong Kong in either a book or blog
The culture of Hong Kong as a bridge between the east and west and it’s “relative autonomy”
Vertical living and how it is the norm for urban China for all classes
High density living isn’t inherently bad but it is necessary to have a high quality of culture to sustain it
Jack Kerouac’s The Town and the City
Conformity in Asian culture; authentic Asian culture vs. SWPL larping
Chinese Philosophy; the Tao Te Ching
The evolution of Western Philosophy; Deconstruction and selective deconstruction
Jean Baudrillard and the simulation


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This show is brought to you by Robert Stark’s Paintings!