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Is modern socialism merely a revenge fantasy against historical colonizers? Join Elijah Emery and C. Derick Varn as we critically examine Sam Gindin's "Socialism for Realists," tracing our journey from initial excitement to ultimate disillusionment. We argue that Gindin's vision lacks the aspiration for a classless society and falls short of traditional socialist ideals. Reflecting on the Bernie Sanders and Jeremy Corbyn movements, we discuss how their promise has fizzled, leading the left to either concede too much to mainstream parties or drift towards third-worldism.Explore the intricate challenges of socialist politics in the UK and US with us. From Jeremy Corbyn's struggle with party divisions over Brexit to Bernie Sanders' Medicare for All proposal, we dissect why these attempts at left-wing politics haven't lived up to their potential. Touching on left populist movements like Syriza and the contributions of figures like Giannis Varoufakis, we highlight the practical impediments to implementing socialism, including constitutional barriers and legislative hurdles.We then delve into the intricacies of socialist economic systems, questioning the role of markets within a socialist framework and the feasibility of central planning. From environmental standards to the historical context of Technocracy Inc, we examine the balance between centralization and decentralization in a socialist society. Finally, we tackle the contemporary landscape of socialism, critiquing its current pitfalls and stressing the need for realistic, sustainable structures that engage people from all walks of life. Join us for a comprehensive critique and a call for a pragmatic approach to building a socialist future. Support the showCrew:Host: C. Derick VarnIntro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.Intro Video Design: Jason MylesArt Design: Corn and C. Derick VarnLinks and Social Media:twitter: @varnvlogblue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.socialYou can find the additional streams on Youtube
We accidentally released the wrong episode, this one should have come before the last! This week we sat down with C. Derick Varn to talk about "decadence theory," "crisis theory" and "breakdown theory." This is a special episode, mostly because it wasn't supposed to come out until August, but Varn accidentally released it early so y'all get a bonus episode.We discussed the following materials:Morley, Neville. "Decadence as a Theory of History." New Literary History, Vol. 35, No. 4, Forms and/of Decadence (Autumn, 2004), pp.573-585 Decadence: The Theory of Decline or the Decline of Theory?https://libcom.org/library/decadence-aufheben-2 Revolution or Decadence?https://monthlyreview.org/2018/05/01/revolution-or-decadence/ Check out Varn Vlog Herehttps://www.patreon.com/varnvlogSend us a Text Message.Support the Show.
For those that don't know, Parallax Views has a monthly (sometimes bi-monthly) Patreon exclusive show known as the Parallax Vlog, a crossover show between Parallax Views and Youtube's Varn Vlog, in which C. Derick Varn and I discuss current events and culture. As I've been under-the-weather from a case of food poisoning, I thought I'd offer a preview of the Patreon content by publishing the opening segment of the latest Parallax Vlog in which Derick and I discuss Project 2025, my interview with Adolph Reed, and the upcoming U.S. Presidential election. We'll get into Derick's thoughts on Project 2025, the failures of the Democrats when they're in power, the judicial coup we've seen take place in the U.S., and much, much more. Check out the full show (which will be released in the next day or so) at: https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews
This week we sat down with C. Derick Varn to talk about "decadence theory," "crisis theory," and "breakdown theory." This is a special episode, mostly because it wasn't supposed to come out until August, but Varn accidentally released it early so y'all get a bonus episode.We discussed the following materials:Morley, Neville. "Decadence as a Theory of History." New Literary History, Vol. 35, No. 4, Forms and/of Decadence (Autumn, 2004), pp.573-585Decadence: The Theory of Decline or the Decline of Theory?https://libcom.org/library/decadence-aufheben-2Revolution or Decadence?https://monthlyreview.org/2018/05/01/revolution-or-decadence/ Check out Varn Vlog Herehttps://www.patreon.com/varnvlogSupport the Show.
Gremlins, Terminator, Ghost busting, Freddy, Jason dies, but does he? All this happens in 1984 and we haven't even gotten to the "good stuff". We'll discuss the year in horror cinema, 1984. June 8th, Washington DC live show CLR JAMES AND THE STRUGGLE FOR SOCIALISM IN AMERICA ft. ADOLPH REED, C. DERICK VARN, DANIEL TUTT, PASCAL ROBERT AND JASON MYLES GET TIX FOR THE EVENT AND THE VIP MEET AND GREET HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/clr-james-and-the-struggle-for-socialism-in-america-tickets-876034973187 Thank you guys again for taking the time to check this out. We appreciate each and everyone of you. If you have the means, and you feel so inclined, BECOME A PATRON! We're creating patron only programing, you'll get bonus content from many of the episodes, and you get MERCH! Become a patron now https://www.patreon.com/join/BitterLakePresents? Please also like, subscribe, and follow us on these platforms as well, (specially YouTube!) THANKS Y'ALL YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG9WtLyoP9QU8sxuIfxk3eg Twitch: www.twitch.tv/thisisrevolutionpodcast www.twitch.tv/leftflankvets Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thisisrevolutionpodcast/ Twitter: @TIRShowOakland Instagram: @thisisrevolutionoakland Read Jason Myles in Sublation Magazine https://www.sublationmag.com/writers/jason-myles Read Jason Myles in Damage Magazine https://damagemag.com/2023/11/07/the-man-who-sold-the-world/ Pascal Robert's Black Agenda Report: https://www.blackagendareport.com/author/Pascal%20Robert
It's been four years since the demise of Sandersism in the United States. It's been two years since the COVID-19 crisis upended society and Russia invaded Ukraine. Socialist politics is, if anything, even more fractured and impotent than it was last decade.What do we make of the deep melancholy gripping politics today? How have the various political solutions on offer been delegitimated? And why is Sean KB seemingly immune to this melancholy? (Hint: it's the Independent Labor Club.)This is an extended preview of the full three-hour discussion. To access the whole audio file, become a patron at www.patreon.com/theantifada And for a video version of the recording become a supporter of C. Derick Varn's work at www.patreon.com/varnvlog
It's been four years since the demise of Sandersism in the United States. It's been two years since the COVID-19 crisis upended society and Russia invaded Ukraine. Socialist politics is, if anything, even more fractured and impotent than it was last decade.What do we make of the deep melancholy gripping politics today? How have the various political solutions on offer been delegitimated? And why is Sean KB seemingly immune to this melancholy? (Hint: it's the Independent Labor Club.)This is an extended preview of the full three-hour discussion. To access the whole audio file, become a patron at www.patreon.com/theantifada and for a video version of the recording become a supporter of C. Derick Varn's work at www.patreon.com/varnvlog
We are joined by historian Gabriel Raeburn to discuss the thought of Eugene Genovese, a firebrand Marxist historian who fundamentally transformed the academic study of slavery in the United States and who, with Christopher Lasch, attempted to launch Marxist Perspectives, a serious Marxist-centered journal that brought together the entirety of the global intellectual literati and leading Marxist scholars of the time. With the backing of the most prominent Marxists of the time, from E.P. Thompson, Eric Hobsbawm, Frederic Jameson and with support from young scholars such as Barbara Fields, the journal promised to usher in a new era of Marxist intellectual output that aimed to crossover to the public. But the journal soon dissolved after only two years. With C. Derick Varn of @VarnVlog we discuss the dynamics of what led to the dissolution of this journal and what these lessons can teach us today as we aim to infuse Marxist thinking and scholarship beyond the academy. We also discuss the thought of Eugene Genovese and Christopher Lasch, the two primary scholars behind Marxist Perspectives. To learn more about Gabriel Raeburn and to be in touch with him should you have access to any letters of Genovese for his ongoing research, please find his bio here.
Get Tickets to See TIR Live in DC! Beyond Black Jacobins: CLR James and the Struggle for Socialism in America ft. Adoph Reed, C. Derick Varn, Daniel Tutt, Billy Buntin and more Get Tix here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/clr-james-and-the-struggle-for-socialism-in-america-tickets-876034973187?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl The "and more" section of this show was embarassing sex stories. Also, Mac learned a new slur. Good times. Thank you guys again for taking the time to check this out. We appreciate each and everyone of you. If you have the means, and you feel so inclined, BECOME A PATRON! We're creating patron only programing, you'll get bonus content from many of the episodes, and you get MERCH! Become a patron now https://www.patreon.com/join/BitterLakePresents? Please also like, subscribe, and follow us on these platforms as well, (specially YouTube!) THANKS Y'ALL YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG9WtLyoP9QU8sxuIfxk3eg Twitch: www.twitch.tv/thisisrevolutionpodcast www.twitch.tv/leftflankvets Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thisisrevolutionpodcast/ Twitter: @TIRShowOakland Instagram: @thisisrevolutionoakland Read Jason Myles in Sublation Magazine https://www.sublationmag.com/writers/jason-myles Read Jason Myles in Damage Magazine https://damagemag.com/2023/11/07/the-man-who-sold-the-world/ Pascal Robert's Black Agenda Report: https://www.blackagendareport.com/author/Pascal%20Robert
Read Jason's article in Sublation Magazine here: https://www.sublationmag.com/.../same-as-it-ever-was-the... Appearing more liberal on immigration laws was a winning tactic for the Democratic party in the lead up to the 2020 election, but now it's having disastrous effects for the Dems. The GOP is using scare tactics of liberal city and state Democratic leaders advocating for open borders, but is this even the case? We'll discuss with C. Derick Varn. Thank you guys again for taking the time to check this out. We appreciate each and everyone of you. If you have the means, and you feel so inclined, BECOME A PATRON! We're creating patron only programing, you'll get bonus content from many of the episodes, and you get MERCH! Become a patron now https://www.patreon.com/join/BitterLakePresents? Please also like, subscribe, and follow us on these platforms as well, (specially YouTube!) THANKS Y'ALL YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG9WtLyoP9QU8sxuIfxk3eg Twitch: www.twitch.tv/thisisrevolutionpodcast www.twitch.tv/leftflankvets Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thisisrevolutionpodcast/ Twitter: @TIRShowOakland Instagram: @thisisrevolutionoakland Read Jason Myles in Sublation Magazine https://www.sublationmag.com/writers/jason-myles Read Jason Myles in Damage Magazine https://damagemag.com/2023/11/07/the-man-who-sold-the-world/ Pascal Robert's Black Agenda Report: https://www.blackagendareport.com/author/Pascal%20Robert
The arcane numbering system is gone, but Sean and Varn have (surprise!) a new miniseries. Inspired by current events - such as the Russo-Ukrainian War, Israel's ongoing atrocities in Gaza, and the turn towards post-neoliberal economic nationalism - we're going to explore all manner of Marxist and non-Marxist theories on the nation state to help get our heads around the current mess the world is in and hopefully chart a pathway out.How did the nation-state rise in the early modern world? what role has nationalism played in capitalist development? What are the historical legacies of Lenin and Stalin's nationalities policies? Rhetoric aside, what is the relationship (if any) between national liberation movements and the communist project?This is an extended preview. For access to the entire episode, become a patron today at www.patreon.com/theantifada. To see the video recording of this episode and get all of C. Derick Varn's amazing content, subscribe at www.patreon.com/varnvlogFor this first episode we mention various theorists - Harun Yilnaz, Ze'ev Sternhell, Benedict Anderson, Benjamin Studebaker, Eric Hobsbawm - and also look at this essay: https://www.marxists.org/history/etol/newspape/atc/3587.html
C. Derick Varn and I discuss Mark Fisher and David Smail's understanding of depression.
Doug and Derick discuss Lukacs in the latest episode of Pop the Left. Can we escape reificiation? Will the left recover from the latest attempt at social democracy? Where do we go from here? Support Sublation Media on Patreonhttps://patreon.com/dietsoap
We continue our conversation on the meaning of revolution with C. Derick Varn, by turning to the theoretical basis of "post" Marxist thinkers from the Althusserian school, Laclau and Mouffe, Hardt and Negri and Alain Badiou. We discuss some of the pitfalls of these contemporary Marxist theorists and the basis by which they revise core tenets from Marx. We also discuss new class theories on today's left and how they relate to Marx's class theory and different theories of the intellectual in socialist thought. To download the reading list we have created for this series please go here. To get early access and support our work please check out our Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/torsiongroups).
Is revolution dead? The left is divided over how to make revolution, and many Marxist and post-Marxist theorists have developed radically new conceptions of revolution that are often highly divergent from how Marx, Engels and Second International Marxists dealt with revolution. Our age is notoriously known as post-revolutionary, and liberal realism has set in so deep that we have seemed to have lost touch with the truths of Marxist insights into revolution. We are experiencing a resurgence of political and cultural radicalism but in the context of the absence of working-class radicalism as expressed through socialist parties, mass parties and labour unions. To help us understand the history and the meaning of revolution, both in its practical and theoretical valences, we are joined by scholar, poet and podcaster C. Derick Varn. C. Derick Varn is the host of the politics and culture podcast Varn Vlog where he probes socialist politics and offers invaluable insights for the left. Please subscribe to his show at @VarnVlog. To get access to the reading list that we have created around this two-part series, please join our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/torsiongroups.
For the full episode support the show at Patreon.com/TheAntifadaC. Derick Varn is back to discuss Sean's new article on China. What is the political economy of China? Was the 1949 revolution betrayed by capitalist roaders? What were the patterns of development that brought it into the world market? Should China be defended as a socialist project? Is it a model worth emulating? Lastly, does the working class of China, or anywhere for that matter, have a role to play still in history or will the future be market technocracy and slow growth forever?'Sean's substack article (free): https://seankb.substack.com/p/whither-chinaAudio recording of article available for patrons on patreon
C. Derick Varn is a poet, teacher, and “arm-chair theorist” (his words, not ours), but Steve called on him for his deep knowledge of history, specifically the history of revolutions.Varn takes a realistic and nuanced look at some of the popular myths about the brutality of key figures, like Stalin and Mao. He suggests placing them in the context of historical geopolitical economic conditions.I'm also just going to remind people that both the Bolshevik Revolution and the Chinese Revolution, in particular, come out of the context of world wars. They happen when they happen during the world wars for a reason. You have highly traumatized societies where the power has been broken because of the consequences of world war, even when the powers at hand are actually allied with the winners.Steve asks whether one should excuse abandoning civil liberties in order to protect the gains of a revolution against very real internal and external threats. “What civil liberties?” asks Varn. Some revolutions never even got rid of their monarchies.The episode considers Bolshevism, Trotskyism, and fascism. Varn talks about why both socialists and capitalists were attracted to fascism, looking, again, to the conditions of the time.C. Derick Varn is a poet, teacher, editor, podcaster, and broadcaster. He is the host of VarnVlog and co-host of Gaming Materialists. According to his Patreon, Varn Vlog is a podcast and YouTube channel dedicated to delivering high-quality interviews and analyses on philosophy, art, political economy, culture, geopolitics, pop culture, and history. Support his work at patreon.com/varnvlog@skepoet on Twitter
Derick Varn and Douglas Lain discuss how Aristotlean reason is sublated in Hegel's ontologized logic. This is a response to Chris Cutrone's appearance on the Diet Soap episode entitled "The Last Marxist vs. 20th Century Philosophy." Patreon Supporters will get to hear Doug and Derick apply logical rigor to Cutron'es "Why not Trump?" and Cooney's "Left-Trumpists: The Reactionary Case of Chris Cutrone."Support Us on Patreon https://patreon.com/dietsoap
Varn Vlog host C. Derick Varn & I talked about enough subjects that I won't try to summarize them here--see the chapter listing!--and took a few calls. Download the Callin app for iOS and Android to listen to this podcast live, call in, and more! Also available at callin.com
Cross over with C. Derick Varn. We talk about the misuse of 19th-century politics and the misunderstanding of American populism. The misappropriation of this history is pernicious. I have a YouTube video of this on my channel, but I suggest you check out his here: (5) Varn Vlog: Rob of the Right Podcast Discussion the Recuperation of Populism - YouTube
Derick Varn (formerly of Pop the Left) returns to the Diet Soap podcast in order to discuss what the left needs to remember and relearn. He is now the host of Varn Vlog and has his own YouTube channel.
Returning to the today is C. Derick Varn. This time he joins Danny Anderson to discuss the unique and incredible musical career of British singer-songwriter Elvis Costello. Emerging out the British pub rock, punk, and New Wave scenes, Costello forged an almost unparallelled career of musical variation and experimentation. Varn and Anderson discuss what makes him so important. Links Varn Vlog https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMuZYE1Q9yNpzn4dzsPtmcQ To follow this podcast and the writing that Danny Anderson does, go to https://authory.com/DannyAnderson and sign up for a weekly newsletter update. It's free and Danny promises not to clutter up your inbox.
Listen to the After Hours podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/OneDime This episode of the 1Dime Radio podcast is about Christopher Lasch and his famous book "The Culture of Narcissism." As I am new to Lasch's work, I decided to bring on C. Derick Varn, who has read all of Christopher Lasch's work and wrote about it. C. Derick Varn is an author, poet, veteran podcaster, educator, and host of the podcast Varn Vlog and co-host of the mortalscience podcast. Check out Varn's excellent podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/c/CDerickVarnVlog/videos Varn Vlog is on all podcast platforms: https://varnvlogvoice.buzzsprout.com/ Varn's Twitter: https://twitter.com/skepoe This podcast is primarily about The Culture of Narcissism by Christopher Lasch and why Lasch's work and legacy is relevant to society today. In particular, this book is especially relevant to new age spirituality, hippies, the counterculture, individualism, neoliberalism, identity politics, performance activism, as well as the general widespread increase in egoism and self absorption in society. In Part 2, Varn and I talk about campism on the left, anarcho-liberalism, social justice warriors, and the phenomenon of new Stalinism/“Tankies” Part 2 is a bonus episode for my patrons only. Get access to it and other exclusive 1Dime podcasts by becoming a Patron at patreon.com/OneDime Be sure to give 1Dime Radio a 5 Star Rating on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!
The gang celebrates one year of streaming on the TIR channel and discuss A Clockwork Orange with Ben Burgis, C. Derick Varn, and Doug Lain just to name a few! About TIR Thank you, guys, again for taking the time to check this out. We appreciate each and every one of you. If you have the means, and you feel so inclined, BECOME A PATRON! We're creating patron-only programming, you'll get bonus content from many of the episodes, and you get MERCH! Become a patron now: https://www.patreon.com/join/BitterLakePresents Please also like, subscribe, and follow us on these platforms as well, especially YouTube! THANKS Y'ALL YouTube: www.youtube.com/thisisrevolutionpodcast Twitch: www.twitch.tv/thisisrevolutionpodcast & www.twitch.tv/leftflankvets Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thisisrevolutionpodcast/ Twitter: @TIRShowOakland Instagram: @thisisrevolutionoakland Pascal Robert in Newsweek: https://www.newsweek.com/black-political-elite-serving-corporate-interests-misrepresenting-our-community-opinion-1652384 Jason Myles in Sublation Magazine: https://www.sublationmag.com/post/rodney-king-the-la-riots-and-the-perils-of-police-reform Get THIS IS REVOLUTION Merch here: www.thisisrevolutionpodcast.com Get the music featured on the show here: https://bitterlakeoakland.bandcamp.com/ Follow Djene Bajalan @djenebajalan Follow Kuba Wrzesniewski @DrKuba2
Scott Ferguson joins Varn Vlog to discuss his approach to critical theory, aesthetics and politics. Special thanks to C. Derick Varn for permitting Money on the Left to re-publish the interview here.You can find more Varn Vlog interviews here: https://www.youtube.com/c/CDerickVarnVlogYou can support Varn Vlog by becoming a patron:https://www.patreon.com/varnvlogYou can support the Money on the Left Editorial Collective by becoming a patron:https://www.patreon.com/MoLsuperstructure
This week we discuss Hal Draper's critique of sectarian organization and his alternative approach to promoting socialist ideas, the "political center", and reflect on the Jacobin/DSA strategy in light of this critique. - Hal Draper's "Anatomy of the Micro-Sect": https://www.marxists.org/archive/draper/1973/xx/microsect.htm - Hal Draper's "Toward a New Beginning – On Another Road: The Alternative to the Micro_Sect": https://www.marxists.org/archive/draper/1971/alt/alt.htm - Bhaskar Sunkara's interview with Doug Lain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbQTRkEGj2Q - Panel discussion with Sunkara, Mike Macnair, and Seth Ackerman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJobDfA5-9Q - Ackerman's "A Blueprint for a New Party": https://jacobin.com/2016/11/bernie-sanders-democratic-labor-party-ackerman - Monty Johnstone's "Marx and Engels and the Concept of the Party": https://www.marxists.org/archive/johnstone/1967/xx/me-party.htm Join us streaming live every Tuesday night at 5pm Eastern on the Sublation Media Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/sublationmedia You can support Sublation Media and Socialist Legacy on Patreon: Sublation Media: https://www.patreon.com/dietsoap Socialist Legacy: https://www.patreon.com/socialistlegacy These recordings are also available as a podcast: https://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:151083608/sounds.rss My interview on the Sublation Magazine Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Uk2zR5H1p0&t=1760s Interview with Derick Varn (premiering on July 1 at 7pm ET): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHnnveJXNUY
This week the News Roundup Crüe will feature one of our favorite sociologists Dr. Zine Magubane, and the Pascal's favorite alabaster leftist C. Derick Varn. Read Zine's Piece in Nonsite Here: https://nonsite.org/author/zmagubane/ Watch C. Derick Varn on Varn Vlog here: https://www.youtube.com/c/CDerickVarnVlog About TIR Thank you, guys, again for taking the time to check this out. We appreciate each and every one of you. If you have the means, and you feel so inclined, BECOME A PATRON! We're creating patron-only programming, you'll get bonus content from many of the episodes, and you get MERCH! Become a patron now: https://www.patreon.com/join/BitterLakePresents Please also like, subscribe, and follow us on these platforms as well, especially YouTube! THANKS Y'ALL YouTube: www.youtube.com/thisisrevolutionpodcast Twitch: www.twitch.tv/thisisrevolutionpodcast & www.twitch.tv/leftflankvets Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thisisrevolutionpodcast/ Twitter: @TIRShowOakland Instagram: @thisisrevolutionoakland Pascal Robert in Newsweek: https://www.newsweek.com/black-political-elite-serving... Jason Myles in Sublation Magazine: https://www.sublationmag.com/.../rodney-king-the-la-riots... Get THIS IS REVOLUTION Merch here: www.thisisrevolutionpodcast.com Get the music featured on the show here: https://bitterlakeoakland.bandcamp.com/ Follow Djene Bajalan @djenebajalan Follow Kuba Wrzesniewski @DrKuba2
Back on the show today is C. Derick Varn. Danny rescues him from having to talk politics once again. This time, Derick discusses his new book of poetry, Liberation and All the Bright Etcetera. The discussion covers such topics as psychology, poetics, identity, movies, and is punctuated by a particularly profound reflection on caregivng for someone with cancer. In addition, the poet reads a few selections from the book. You can find the book at the following link: https://mysteriosobooks.com/ols/products/liberation-and-all-the-bright-etcetera-a-poetry-chapbook-by-c-derick-varn?fbclid=IwAR30dirZpwXLwkAm4-ZPipP-HNmOIk2MlR7Xax5BiW4eQI8gowCZZiZUIoM To follow this podcast and the writing that Danny Anderson does, go to https://authory.com/DannyAnderson and sign up for a weekly newsletter update.
Forrest discusses Akira Kurosawa's 1985 epic Ran with J, Andrew World and C. Derick Varn. C Derek Varn is the host of VarnVlog and the co-host of Mortal Science and TIR's Gaming Materialists. J. Andrew World is the co-host of Movie Night Extravaganza, Bad Takes, and the artist for Give Them An Argument. Subscribe to Movie Night Extravaganza https://www.youtube.com/movienightext... https://www.twitch.tv/movienightextra... Become a Movie Night Extravaganza Patron: https://www.patreon.com/MovieNightExtra About TIR Thank you, guys, again for taking the time to check this out. We appreciate each and every one of you. If you have the means, and you feel so inclined, BECOME A PATRON! We're creating patron-only programming, you'll get bonus content from many of the episodes, and you get MERCH! Become a patron now: https://www.patreon.com/join/BitterLakePresents Please also like, subscribe, and follow us on these platforms as well, especially YouTube! THANKS Y'ALL YouTube: www.youtube.com/thisisrevolutionpodcast Twitch: www.twitch.tv/thisisrevolutionpodcast & www.twitch.tv/leftflankvets Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thisisrevolutionpodcast/ Twitter: @TIRShowOakland Instagram: @thisisrevolutionoakland Pascal Robert in Newsweek: https://www.newsweek.com/obsession-black-white-wealth-gap... Get THIS IS REVOLUTION Merch here: www.thisisrevolutionpodcast.com Get the music featured on the show here: https://bitterlakeoakland.bandcamp.com/ Follow Djene Bajalan @djenebajalan Follow Kuba Wrzesniewski @DrKuba2
Please support our patreon. For early and ad-free episodes, members-only content, and more.This bonus episode is part of our Patreon podcast. C. Derick Varn, P.H. Higgins, and Shalon Van Tine--the crew of the last few episodes of Former People--come together to talk Sidney Lumet and "Paddy" Chayefsky's 1976 classic Network. P.H. Higgins is a co-host of the Radical Thoughts Podcast and part of the Former People editorial crew. He is also a regular partner in crime with Varn. Shalon Van Tine is a Ph.D. candidate in American cultural and intellectual history at Ohio University, part of the Former People editorial crew, and a co-writer with Varn on a project about Christopher Lasch. She is also one of Varn's closest friends. You know who Varn is. Abandon all hope ye who subscribe here. We are affiliated with the Emancipation Network.Crew:Host: C. Derick VarnAudio Producer: Paul Channel Strip ( @aufhebenkultur )Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.Intro Video Design: Jason MylesLinks and Social Media:twitter: @skepoetFacebookYou can find the additional streams on Youtube Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/varnvlog)
Please support our patreon. For early and ad-free episodes, members-only content, and more.This is the first of a Patreon series of streams: we are making it free as a bonus. Nicolas Villareal and C. Derick Varn debate Althusser all the time on Twitter and messages. While Varn has had Nico on before to talk about Econophysics and Structural Marxism, Varn and Nico often talk about this antagonistically. This is the first of what is literally to be an irregular series as both their time allows where they discuss and debate the limits of anti-humanist/humanist debates. Because dialogue is better than stupid debates on Twitter and having them devolve into Marxology and left beefs, we will do this here. This is brought to you by patrons of VarnVlog. While this episode is available as a public stream, the audio will be for patrons only. You may want to check out Nicolas Villareal's recent article. You may also want to listen to this. You may want to listen to and/or read these three articles.Abandon all hope ye who subscribe here. We are affiliated with the Emancipation Network.Crew:Host: C. Derick VarnAudio Producer: Paul Channel Strip ( @aufhebenkultur )Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.Intro Video Design: Jason MylesLinks and Social Media:twitter: @skepoetFacebookYou can find the additional streams on Youtube Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/varnvlog)
Please support our patreon. For early and ad-free episodes, members-only content, and more.This is podcast regulars and former Former People squad, Shalon Van Tine, P. H. Higgins, and C. Derick Varn talking about films of memory. Former People may no longer be with us, but we still produce shows on art for Patrons and sometimes here for the many podcast. This is a bonus to make up for my haitus. Abandon all hope ye who subscribe here. We are affiliated with the Emancipation Network.Crew:Host: C. Derick VarnAudio Producer: Paul Channel Strip ( @aufhebenkultur )Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.Intro Video Design: Jason MylesLinks and Social Media:twitter: @skepoetFacebookYou can find the additional streams on Youtube Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/varnvlog)
Jamie and Sean are joined by C. Derick Varn, host of Varnblog, Pop the Left, and Mortal Science, in a wide-ranging discussion: the role of the Democratic Socialists of America and its orientation towards the Democratic Party, the ongoing slaughter in Palestine, communization theory and more. Part 2 of 2! For access to this premium content and more, become a patron at www.patreon.com/theantifada Check out our live streams at twitch.tv/theantifada Follow Derrick - https://symptomaticcommentary.wordpress.com/ @skepoet Texts discussed - Amedeo Bordiga: "Onward, Barbarians!" - https://libcom.org/library/onwards-barbarians Endnotes: "Onward Barbarians" - https://endnotes.org.uk/other_texts/en/endnotes-onward-barbarians Outro: Sheer Mag - Expect the Bayonet
Jamie and Sean are joined by C. Derick Varn, host of Varnblog, Pop the Left, and Mortal Science, in a wide-ranging discussion: the role of the Democratic Socialists of America and its orientation towards the Democratic Party, the ongoing slaughter in Palestine, communization theory and more. Part 2 for patreons out later this week! Become a patron at patreon.com/theantifada for bonus content, access to our Discord and more. Follow Derrick - https://symptomaticcommentary.wordpress.com/ @skepoet Texts discussed - Amedeo Bordiga: "Onward, Barbarians!" - https://libcom.org/library/onwards-barbarians Endnotes: "Onward Barbarians" - https://endnotes.org.uk/other_texts/en/endnotes-onward-barbarians Outro: Sheer Mag - Expect the Bayonet
Please support our patreon. For early and ad-free episodes, members-only content, and more.A.M. Gittlitz and C. Derick Varn discuss the historical development of Posadism, BLM and the summer insurrections, and the specter for communication theory. His writing focuses on counter-culture, radical politics, and the paranormal. Gittlitz's book I Want to Believe: Posadism, UFOs and Apocalypse Communism was published by Pluto Press in 2020. Other essays and journalistic pieces have appeared in The New York Times, Baffler, Vice, The New Inquiry, HTML Giant, Truthout, Protean, and the Outline. He also produces and co-hosts the Antifada podcast. His newsletter is here.Abandon all hope ye who subscribe here. We are affiliated with the Emancipation Network.Crew:Host: C. Derick VarnAudio Producer: Paul Channel Strip ( @aufhebenkultur )Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.Intro Video Design: Jason MylesLinks and Social Media:twitter: @skepoetFacebookYou can find the original stream on Youtube Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/varnvlog)
Please support our patreon. For early and ad-free episodes, members-only content, and more. Ross Wolfe and C. Derick Varn discuss the situation of the left after a year of covid-19 and the collapse of the second Bernie Sanders' campaign through two articles. Ross Wolfe is a writer, historian, and architecture critic living in New York. His work has appeared in publications such as Metropolis, Mute, e-flux, Radical Philosophy, Cambridge Literary Review, The Advocate, and Platypus Review. He used to update the blog, The Charnel House. The episode's Q and A session is available on Youtube or in audio form on our Patreon. Abandon all hope ye who subscribe here. We are affiliated with the Emancipation Network. Crew: Host: C. Derick VarnAudio Producer: Paul Channel Strip ( @aufhebenkultur )Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.Intro Video Design: Jason MylesLinks and Social Media:twitter: @skepoetFacebookYou can find the original stream on Youtube Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/varnvlog)
Please support our patreon. For early and ad-free episodes, members-only content, and more. Matt McManus discusses the division within conservatism, why a socialist should understand these intellectual divisions. We different conservative movements in the US, particularly the rise of post-liberal conservatism. Matt McManus is a visiting professor of politics at Whitman College. He is the author of The Rise of Post-Modern Conservatism and Myth and the coauthor of Mayhem: A Leftist Critique of Jordan Peterson. He is a regular columnist for Jacobin. He is a co-host of Plastic Pills.This is episode still has the Q and A. Abandon all hope ye who subscribe here. We are affiliated with the Emancipation Network. C. Derick Varn is the author, poet, educator, and editor. He is also the host of Theorizing with a Hammer (for Zero Books) on youtube, the co-host of Mortal Science (w/Ezri of Emancipation Network) and co-host of Pop the Left (with Doug Lain), and a reader for Zero books and literary editor for the Former People literary journal.Crew: Host: C. Derick Varn Audio Producer: Paul Channel Strip ( @aufhebenkultur )Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake. Intro Video Design: Jason Myles Links and Social Media: twitter: @skepoet FacebookYou can find the original stream on Youtube Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/varnvlog)
C. Derick Varn joins the show once again for another in our series about the films of Andrei Tarkovsky. This week, we discuss the Russian filmmaker's seminal Italian language film 'Nostalghia.' How does 1 plus 1 equal 1? Lots to unpack in this one.
C. Derick Varn (@skepoet) intellectual, poet, and podcaster at large and I go all out in a couple areas of non-fiction, read some poems I think you'll like, mull poetry in general, and discuss one doozy of a film. I had pretty high expectations for this and Derick shot the lights out. Varn Vlog Apropos Zer0books episode 1 Apropos Zer0books episode 2 https://soundcloud.com/mortalscience @NFNitroglycerin @Deep__Rex
C. Derick Varn joins the show once again to discuss a wide range of topics, beginning with a book review by Michael Clune in the LA Review of Books about Martin Hagglund's This Life (Socialist Freedom and Capitalist Freedom). We discuss the value of judgement and discipline and apply it to various topics in politics and religion.
C. Derick Varn joins the show to discuss the curiously relevant Cynthia Ozick story, "The Pagan Rabbi." Part of the Coronavirus "Bunker Recording" series.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing economic situation, C. Derick Varn joins the show (at his request!) to discuss not only political failures but also cultural ones as well. What is the source of our failed imaginations?
Danny Anderson is joined once again by C. Derick Varn for another discussion about a Tarkovsky film. Previously we covered Andrei Rublev and Stalker, and this week we discuss Tarkovsky's great 1972 sci-fi masterpiece, Solaris, the story of a sentient planet presents many philosophical problems and maybe even a Lenten meditative practice! Tune in for the fun.
C. Derick Varn joins the show again to discuss the classic Coen Brothers 2009 film 'A Serious Man.' What does this quirky comedy have to say about religion, Jewish Culture, and why mystery might just be more important to "facts and logic."
As May Day approaches, the Sectarian Review Podcast explores the classic pagan horror film, The Wicker Man. C. Derick Varn joins the show for a discussion about this fascinating and chilling religious horror film, pitting fundamentalist Christianity against a neo-Pagan cult off the coast of Britain. In this film, a stuffy, Christian, British cop gets called to a bizarre Pagan island off the coast to investigate the disappearance of a young girl and....blah blah blah....human sacrifice! What does this film say about religion? About secularism (is that just another form of religion?)? How does the movie connect with other Christopher Lee films, like The Devil Rides Out? A wonderful discussion of a truly great, truly disturbing film.
This week, the Sectarian Review Podcast examines our second Andrei Tarkovsky film. A while back we looked at Andrei Rublev, and this week we take a deep dive into Stalker. In what has become SR tradition, C. Derick Varn joins the show to discuss another Soviet-era cinematic masterpiece. As with Rublev, however, this film also has massive theological implications. James K.A. Smith invokes the film in his work, so it's good enough for us here at SR. What does this masterwork of World Cinema have to teach us about theology? What role do our desires play in dictating our lives? What the heck is that dog doing? Telekinesis? As always, Tarkovsky gives us a lot to talk about.
C. Derick Varn joins the show again for a discussion about a current controversy in academia. Recently, three scholars, James Lindsay, Helen Pluckrose, and Peter Boghossian wrote and submitted 20 hoax-academic papers to journals the three identify as politically-motivated “Grievance Studies” outlets. Tune in to learn about the controversy among academics and pundits about the “Sokol Squared” controversy. Learn about original Sokol hoax and what role these projects might play in correcting academic excesses. Along the way, learn about the technocratic nightmare of the academic publishing industrial complex. And what does any of this have to do with the “intellectual dark web?” All this and much more. Hey don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes or your favorite pod catcher!
In the third installment of our "Keywords" series with C. Derick Varn, we focus on a single term with a long and diabolical history: Cultural Marxism. The theory that truth-denying, postmodern Marxists are seeking to undermine society has been around for a while and most recently has been popularized by such intellectual luminaries as Jordan Peterson. What many people don't know, however, is the deeply anti-Semitic roots of this conspiracy theory. What are the historical roots of the term? How was a marginal conspiracy theory mainstreamed by people like Pat Buchanan? Why are conspiracy theories more prevalent on the right than the left? All this and more!
The inaugural episode of a new, ongoing series called "Keywords: A Vocabulary of Barbarism and Stupidity." C. Derick Varn joins Danny to discuss a series of words that have become pervasive in our political discourse, yet have been divorced from their original meanings in many ways. The series will probably offend liberals, conservatives, and leftists alike at some point, but we at the Sectarian Review think it's important to be honest about our language. In this episode, Varn dives into the history and transformations of the following Keywords: "Woke," "Gaslight," "Privilege," and "Millennial."
Fan favorite C. Derick Varn joins the show to discuss his new book of poetry, Apocalyptics, just released by Unlikely Books. Learn about how Varn's Marxist politics and unique religious background come together in this collection of poems that “reveal.” Varn's book is a fascinating adaptation of traditional religious themes and in this episode, he tells us about his process and the formal exploration of intersections between politics, history, Christianity, Judaism, and Buddhism. Links: Unlikely Books page for Apocalyptics Apocalyptics Facebook Page Symptomatic Commentary Zero Books