Category Archives: Surrealism

Robert Stark talks to Jay Dyer about Jacob’s Ladder

1980's, 1990's, acting, aesthetics, Buddhism, Christianity, Cinema, Conspiracy Theories, Crime, Culture, David Lynch, death, dreams, Drugs, Film, Gnosticism, Hellraiser, History, Hollywood, horror, horror films, Jacob's Ladder, Jay Dyer, John Carpenter, KLF, Matt Pegan, Matthew Pegas, New York, Occultism, Psychology, Religion, Science, Science Fiction, Southbound, Suicide, Surrealism, Twin Peaks, Vaporwave, War

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Stark and Matt Pegan talk to author and TV presenter Jay Dyer about the psychological horror film Jacob’s Ladder (1990). Jay Dyer is the author of Esoteric Hollywood:: Sex, Cults and Symbols in Film and you can watch his show on YouTube. Also check out Robert’s interview with Jay on Stark Truth TV at the Paramount Movie Ranch which was damaged in a wildfire shortly after filming.

Topics:

Jacob’s Ladder’s cult following and its director Adrian Lyne
The film’s plot, layers revealed, and symbolism
The Phoenix Program and Project MKUltra
Pseudo Christian themes in the film with references to the Bible, Christian mystic Meister Eckhart, and Dante’s Purgatorio
The concept of the soul journey in Orthodox Christianity and Gnosticism
The Psychedelic Experience: A Manual Based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead by Timothy Leary
Studies on Near Death Experiences
Comparisons to other films including Flatliners, Silent Hill: Revelation, Hellraiser: Inferno, Southbound, Insidious, The Triangle, U Turn, Enter the Void, and The Void
The British electronic band The KLF
Jay’s upcoming lecture series on the history of the mafia

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Checkout Robert Stark’s Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram, Stark Truth TV, novel Journey to Vapor Island, and in production documentary The Gospel of Gibson.

Robert Stark interviews BLAUERGEIST! about Aesthetics

1950's, 1960's, 1970's, 1980's, 1990's, aesthetics, Archeofuturism, Architecture, arcology, Art, Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Beverly Hills, BLAUERGEIST!, Blue Velvet, Brutalism, California, Californication, capitalism, Cinema, Cities, comedy, Culture, Curb Your Enthusiasm, David Lynch, Disneyland, Film, Film Noire, Hellraiser, Historic Preservation, History, Hollywood, horror, horror films, humor, Instagram, Jacob's Ladder, John C. Portman Jr, Larry David, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Malls, Matt Pegan, Matthew Pegas, Mid-Century Modern, Mulholland Drive, Neoliberalism, Neon, New Retro Wave, New York, Oregon, Photography, Political Correctness, Portland, Retro Futurism, San Francisco, Science Fiction, South Africa, Southbound, Steampunk, Surrealism, technology, Traditionalism, Travel, Twin Peaks, Urbanism, Zoning

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Stark and Matt Pegan talk to Portland based blogger BLAUERGEIST! about architecture, interior design, art, and cinema. Check out BLAUERGEIST! on Twitter, his podcast Ellroy Boys, and new web magazine Apocalypse Confidential.

Topics:

The #BathistGang: love of 80s bathroom aesthetics
20th Century interior design genres
80s malls, Robert and Matt’s LA N O S T A L G I A  Mall series, the Breezewood meme, The Canal Walk Mall in Cape Town, and value of Interior Urbanism
Retrofuturism, trends in nostalgia, and Theme Park Urbanism
Eco Brutalism and the Interior Garden Aesthetic
Artists Patrick Nagel, Jim Buckels, and Daniel Merriam, and various sci-fi illustrators
Political symbolism in aesthetics
Aesthetics in cinema: directors Dario Argento and Peter Greenaway, and 80s films Year of the Dragon and Scarface
Horror films 3615 code Père Noël, Child’s Play, The Serpent and the Rainbow, Jacob’s Ladder, Hellraiser: Inferno, Southbound, and Silent Hill: Revelation
The work of David Lynch and the Lynchian Aesthetic
Larry David’s Curb Your Enthusiasm

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Checkout Robert Stark’s Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram, Stark Truth TV, novel Journey to Vapor Island, and in production documentary The Gospel of Gibson.

Robert Stark interviews Jack from The Perfume Nationalist

 Angelo Badalamenti, 1980's, 1990's, 80's music, aesthetics, alienation, Alternative Left, American Culture, Architecture, Art, Bernie Sanders, Camille Paglia, capitalism, censorship, Cinema, Cities, Class, Consumerism, counterculture, Culture, David Lynch, Donald Trump, Fashion, Film, Freedom of Speech, History, Hollywood, Homosexuality, income inequality, Las Vegas, Madonna, Malls, Marquis de Sade, materialism, Matt Pegan, Matthew Pegas, Music, Nationalism, Neoliberalism, Neon, Philosophy, Political Correctness, Politics, Postmodernism, Sexuality, social status, Surrealism, Texas, TFW NO GF, The Perfume Nationalist, True Stories, Twin Peaks, Wealth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Stark and Matt Pegan talk to Jack from The Perfume Nationalist podcast. Check out Jack on Twitter.

Topics:

Nationalism as an aesthetic brand, selling perfume and soap opera visions to the right
Re-appropriating “queer culture”
Camille Paglia
Trump as a performance art aesthetic brand despite his standard neoliberal policies
Beauty equality vs. an upward value of aesthetic excellence
The aspirational quality of 80s aesthetics
How 2010s neoliberal minimalism conceals wealth and power while erasing history
The elite charade of fake bohemianism
How to time travel with perfume
Las Vegas as the last frontier of scented opulent public spaces
Jack’s affinity for 80s pop icon Madonna
Jack’s defense of the artistic integrity of Lena Dunham
David Lynch’s success at synthesizing surrealist art, perfume adds, and nighttime soap
Jack’s Perfume recommendations
TFW NO GF

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Checkout Robert Stark’s Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram, Stark Truth TV, and novel Journey to Vapor Island




Robert Stark interviews Logo Daedalus

aesthetics, American Culture, Anarchism, Andrew Yang, Architecture, Aristocratic Individualism, Art, Art Deco, automation, Basic Income, Cities, Comic Books, Culture, Cyberpunk, Donald Trump, Economics, Futurism, Incels, Instagram, Italian Futurism, Logo Daedalus, Mid-Century Modern, New York, Philosophy, Poetry, Politics, Retro Futurism, Skyscrapers, Social Media, Steampunk, Suicide, Surrealism, technology, Urbanism, Wyndham Lewis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Logo Daedalus is the author of Selfie, Suicide: or Cairey Turnbull’s Blue Skiddoo and writes for Autistic Mercury. You can also check him out on Twitter.

Topics:

Logo’s novel Selfie, Suicide, a coming of age satire of a failed artist
Instagram inspired parody art museums
New York’s Staircase to Nowhere
How technology impacts politics
Wyndham Lewis
Andrew Yang
How the UBI could create a cultural renaissance
The Obama to Trump voters in the Rustbelt
Aesthetics as politics
Retro-futurist genres Steampunk, Dieselpunk, and Cyberpunk
Underground comics

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Checkout Robert Stark’s Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram, Stark Truth TV, and novel Journey to Vapor Island




Robert Stark interviews Author Shane Eide

Aesthetic Socialism, aesthetics, Alt Center, Alternative Left, Alternative Right, Andrew Yang, Aristocratic Individualism, Art, Basic Income, Brandon Adamson, capitalism, Class, Culture, Economics, Eugenics, Giovanni Dannato, Gore Vidal, horror, humor, Incels, Journey to Vapor Island, Literature, neo-tribalism, Personality Types, Philosophy, Politics, Psychology, Radical Center, Sexuality, Shane Eide, social capital, Social Darwinism, social status, Socialism, Surrealism

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shane Eide blogs at Emerging Hermit and is the author of Artists Go To Hell: Novellas and Stories

Topics:

Artists Go To Hell and theme of celebrities becoming symbols of something they are not
Kafkaesque theme of  waking up in a centralized prison/insane asylum where nobody can give you a straight answer about where you are
Shane’s upcoming book Contours of Nothing, a collection of aphorisms on politics, relationships, art, and religion
Shane’s interest in metaphysical ideas
How psychology drives politics
Shane’s Attempt at Self Description
How being politically homeless and not fitting into a slot is bad for marketing
Tracing the Lineage of a Radical Center
Radical Centrist thinker Gore Vidal
The Alt-Center, Starkianism and the Demystification of Social Capital
Emerging Alt-Center concepts such as Smart Socialism, Aristocratic Radicalism, and Neo-Tribalism
Parody book review of Incel by Corey Ruttner

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This show is brought to you by Robert Stark’s Paintings, Stark Truth TV, and his novel Journey to Vapor Island




Robert Stark interviews Author Ben Arzate

Anarchism, Art, Ben Arzate, Brandon Adamson, censorship, Cinema, Culture, Donald Trump, dreams, Film, Generation X, humor, journalism, Leftism, Literature, Marquis de Sade, Mexico, Millennials, Music, Poetry, Political Correctness, Politics, Psychology, Sexuality, Surrealism, Travel, Tulsi Gabbard

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Stark and Brandon Adamson talk to Des Moines based author Ben Arzate. Ben blogs at dripdropdripdropdripdrop.blogspot.com, writes book reviews for Cultured Vultures, and is the author of The Story of the Y and The Complete Idiot’s Guide To Saying Goodbye.

Topics:

The Story of the Y, inspired by outsider musician Y. Bhekhirst whose life remains a mystery
Road trip theme and importance of place in literature
Surreal super natural elements and dream narratives in the book
Ben’s matter of fact minimalist writing style
Comparisons to Hunter S. Thompson’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Influences from Quentin Tarantino films, and neo-Westerns El Mariachi and Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia
Fringe and transgressive literature
Ben’s review of Robert’s novel Journey to Vapor Island
How shorter attention spans influence literature
Ben’s interest in the Post-Left and critique of the Woke Left
Women’s March accuses Tulsi Gabbard-a woman of color-of not pandering to women of color
Bringing together the high and low in literature
Georges Bataille
How Ben is best known for his book reviews, least favorite books he’s reviewed, and how to write critical reviews
Ben’s review of Girl Like a Bomb by Autumn Christian 

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This show is brought to you by Robert Stark’s Paintings, Stark Truth TV, and his novel Journey to Vapor Island




Robert Stark talks about Esoteric Aesthetic Power Structures

1980's, 80's music, aesthetics, Aldous Huxley, Aleister Crowley, alienation, Alternative Right, American Culture, Archeofuturism, Architecture, Aristocratic Individualism, Art Deco, Aspergers Syndrome, California, Cinema, Cities, Class, Conspiracy Theories, counterculture, Culture, David Lynch, demographics, Donald Trump, Economics, Enlightenment, Esoteric Hollywood, Film, Futurism, History, Hollywood, Internet, Jay Dyer, John C. Portman Jr, Journey to Vapor Island, Los Angeles, Matthew Pegas, Music, Occultism, Oligarchy, Philosophy, Psychology, Retro Futurism, Science Fiction, Social Isolation, Surrealism, Urbanism, Utopia, Vaporwave

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Stark and  Matthew Pegas talk about the intersection of politics, culture, and aesthetics and power dynamics. Check out Jay’s Analysis and Jay Dyer’s Full Lecture at Mercado Sagrado Fair on Stark Truth TV.

Topics:

The Mercado Sagrado Fair at Paramount Ranch in Malibu
The Horseshoe theory and contrast between the Bobo culture and dissident right scene
Jay Dyer’s book Esoteric Hollywood and past shows on Esoteric Hollywood and David Lynch
Conspiracy theories as an attempt to understand the mechanisms of power
Deciphering the realities of power
The root of paranoia in feeling powerless and not being in control of one’s destiny
Edward Bernays’ use of psychology, advertisement, and media to subject the masses to the will of the elite
Aldous Huxley and the Fabian Socialist
The oligarchy, traits selected by global capitalism, and whether a meritocracy can address those problems
Aleister Crowley’s Aristocratic Radicalism, and how he is an icon to elites, counter-cultures, and dissidents who want to reinvent society
Robert Stark’s novel Journey to Vapor Island, esoteric occultist themes, and Roger Blackstone as a counter “illuminati”
Dyer’s view that social isolation is engineered vs. factors such as demographic change, suburban sprawl, and technology
Social isolation leading to a rise in radical non conformity, political dissidents, cultural innovation, and online communities and sub-cultures
Secretive central planning vs a lack of utopian vision
Smart cities and Agenda 21 hysteria about smart growth
Ancient occultist aesthetics in 80’s Films, New Wave, Retro Futurism, and the Alt-sphere
Occultist Art Deco Archeo-Futuristic and 80’s Post Modernist Architecture in LA
Sci Fi Architecture: John C. Portman’s Hyatt Regency in San Francisco inspired by the 1935 science fiction film Things to Come.
The necessity of social cohesion for creating grande aesthetic visions

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This show is brought to you by Robert Stark’s Paintings, Stark Truth TV, and his novel Journey to Vapor Island




The Starkian Lynch

 Angelo Badalamenti, 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, 1980's, 1990's, 80's music, aesthetics, Alt Center, American Culture, Archeofuturism, Architecture, arcology, Aristocratic Individualism, Art, Art Deco, Blue Velvet, Californication, capitalism, Cinema, Cities, Class, Country Music, Culture, David Lynch, Depravity, Disneyland, Donald Trump, Dune, Economics, Erotized Rage, Fashion, Film, Film Noire, Hollywood, Homosexuality, humor, Jasun Horsley, Journey to Vapor Island, Kyle MacLachlan, Las Vegas, Leisure Suit Larry, Los Angeles, Madeline Zima, Marquis de Sade, Matthew Pegas, meditation, Mental illness, Mid-Century Modern, Morality, Mulholland Drive, Music, Mythology, Neon, Occultism, Philosophy, Politics, Psychology, Religion, Retro Futurism, Science Fiction, Sexuality, Steampunk, Suburbia, Surrealism, Synthwave, Twin Peaks, Urbanism, Utopia, Vaporwave

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Stark and Matthew Pegas discuss the work of David Lynch and the parallels between the “Lynchian” and “Starkian.” Matthew Pegas blogs at Alt of Center | Life. Liberty. And the Pursuit of Beauty.

Topics:

Intro: The Northern Lights – Falling (feat. Lucy Black)
Lynch’s Politics: Admired Ronald Reagan and supported The Natural Law Party
Lynch Endorsed Bernie Sanders and later proclaimed that ‘Trump Could Go Down as One of the Greatest Presidents’
Lynch as an Alt Centrist
Lynch’s interest in Transcendental Meditation which taps into one’s sub-conscience
Lynch as a lone Aristocratic Radical in Hollywood
How capitalism creates faux cultural elites
Lynch’s entry to Hollywood via connections through Mel Brooks which solidified his role in Elephant Man
Lynch’s cinematographic basis as a visual artist and the theme of Neonationalism
The Lynchian aesthetic vs. the Starkian aesthetic and defining what is “Lynchian” and “Starkian”
Lynch and Stark’s self indulgences in their work
Lynch’s interest in Retro aesthetics: Film Noir, animated neon, Mid-Century Modern, and 80’s Vaporwave
Lynch’s affinity for small town Americana and the theme of a dark underbelly to small town life
How the first Twin Peaks portrays a romanticized image of the town, while the new one portrays a more realistic image
The Great Northern as a model for creating aesthetically pleasing suburbs that implement the romanticized image of the small town
Lynch should design a theme park or Las Vegas casino
The soundtrack of Twin Peaks includes a wide variety of genres ranging from 80’s Synth, Old Western, Film Noir Jazz, and 50’s Rock
How the fusion of genres makes it somewhat vague as to when it takes place
Ben Horne as an Old School capitalist who does things that are ethically wrong  yet is rooted in his community
The Black Lodge: it’s symbolism and aesthetics
The philosophy that fear is the opposite of love rather than hate
Mulholland Drive: the themes of Hollywood power and paranoia due to insecurities
Dune: the aesthetics of Dune are more important than the plot
Retro Futurism in Dune: Middle Eastern Archeofuturism, Steampunk, and 80’s aesthetics
Blue Velvet: Sadistic male figures, eroticized rage, and establishing hierarchy through sexual dominance
“Lynchian” themes and references to Twin Peaks in Robert Stark’s novel Journey to Vapor Island

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This show is brought to you by Robert Stark’s Paintings and his novel Journey to Vapor Island




Robert Stark talks to Count Fosco about the film Eyes Wide Shut

acting, aesthetics, Alice in Wonderland, Architecture, Cinema, Communism, Conspiracy Theories, Count Isidor Fosco, Culture, David Lynch, Depravity, dreams, Erotica, Eyes Wide Shut, Film, Hollywood, humor, Hungary, Journey to Vapor Island, Leelee Sobieski, Literature, Music, New York, Occultism, Prostitution, Psychology, relationships, Religion, Salò, Sexuality, Stanley Kubrick, Surrealism

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Stark talks to Count Fosco about the film Eyes Wide Shut directed by Stanley Kubrick. Count Fosco has a background in the Canadian Film Industry.

Topics:

Secret Societies; the conspiracy theory outlook vs. elite social clubs
The book  CULT AND OCCULT (THE UNEXPLAINED FILE) by FRANCIS KING
The book Dream Story by Arthur Schnitzler which the film was based upon
Kubrick’s Kaleidoscope
How there is a lot of subtle camera work in Eyes Wide Shut, that most people may not have caught
The importance of symbolism in the film
Types of Venetian masks worn at the party
The use of clues throughout the film
The theme of what is real and what is fantasy
What if David Lynch directed Eyes Wide Shut?
The Mentmore Towers Palace in England where the orgy scene was filmed
the conflict over sexual desire and libido between the married couple played by Tom and Nicole
There is a slight suggestion that perhaps Alice Harford is part of the Cult but her husband is not, when she says “You have no idea.”
Everyone have a price, notice how Bill Harford solves all his problems with money, both with the taxi man and the clerk, hence his name “bill” as in dollar bill
The man who gives him the password is a failed medical doctor which might be suggestive of something
Is it possible Ziegler has himself been lied too, despite his story not entirely adding up, despite lying?
Kubrick deliberately tries to fan the flames of Mandy’s death even after his own death, via the journalist who works on his newspaper props
Ritual in a sexual theme, the use of incense used typically only for sacred things
Leon Vitali, Kubricks personal assistant played the red cloak
The Custom store scene doesn’t make a whole lot of sense; it doesn’t fit in with the whole orgie conspiracy
Leelee Sobieski as another sacrificing anti-career heroine Hollywood mother, who put her children above a career
Leelee’s small but interesting roles in “Never Been Kissed,” “Branded,” and “Deep Impact”
Robert’s novel Journey to Vapor Island and parallels with Eyes Wide Shut

Click Here to download!

This show is brought to you by Robert Stark’s Paintings and his novel Journey to Vapor Island




Robert Stark interviews Vaporwave Artist Spear 槍

1980's, 80's music, aesthetics, animation, Anime, Art, Consumerism, Culture, dreams, Francis Nally, Internet, Japan, Japanese Culture, Journey to Vapor Island, Literature, Malls, Music, Psychology, Retro Futurism, Sam Hyde, Spear 槍, Surrealism, Vaporwave

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Stark and co-host Francis Nally talk to Vaporwave artist Spear 槍. He is a musician and DJ who attends Pennsylvania State University. Check out his music on Facebook, SoundCloud, and Bandcamp.

Topics:

Intro: 名誉
The Vaporwave genre
Slowed down compressed 80’s music
Lo-Fi Trip Hot
The revival of cassettes and VHS
Adult Swim
Vaporwave as a surreal idealized consumerism
Mallsoft
The visual art for the videos
The Vapor Room show
Saudade; a Portuguese term to describe the longing for and memories of good times
Hypnagogia; the state between being awake and being asleep where you can’t distinguish between what is real and what is not
Vaporwave Literature(Robert Stark’s Journey to Vapor Island)

Click Here to download!

This show is brought to you by Robert Stark’s Paintings and his novel Journey to Vapor Island