Weird Studies
Professor Phil Ford and writer J. F. Martel host a series of conversations on art and philosophy, dwelling on ideas that are hard to think and art that opens up rifts in what we are pleased to call "reality."
SpectreVision Radio is a bespoke podcast network at the intersection between the arts and the uncanny, featuring a tapestry of shows exploring creativity, the esoteric, and the unknown. We’re a community for creators and fans vibrating around common curiosities, shared interests and persistent passions.
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Episode 20: The Trash Stratum - Part 1
Phil and JF muse on Philip K. Dick's line, "the symbols of the divine initially show up at the trash stratum."
75 min
202
Episode 19: Intermezzo
A discussion on the past and future of the podcast, and the nature of the conversation unfolding therein.
68 min
203
Episode 18: Does 'Consciousness' Exist? - Part Two
Phil and JF continue (begin?) their discussion of William James's essay "Does Consciousness Exist"?
61 min
204
Episode 17: Does 'Consciousness' Exist? - Part One
JF and Phil do everything in their power to delay the moment where they will actually discuss William James' essay, "Does 'Consciousness' Exist?".
47 min
205
Episode 16: On Dogen Zenji's 'Genjokoan'
Phil and JF discuss a classic work of Zen metaphysics.
71 min
206
Episode 15: On Tarkovsky's 'Stalker' - Part Two
The second part of Phil and JF's conversation about Andrei Tarkovsky's masterpiece, "Stalker."
64 min
207
Episode 14: On Tarkovsky's 'Stalker' - Part One
The first part of JF and Phil's conversation on Tarkovsky's 1979 masterpiece, "Stalker."
41 min
208
Episode 13: The Obscure: On the Philosophy of H...
Phil and JF riff on randomly generated fragments from the work of a truly weird philosopher, Heraclitus of Ephesus.
81 min
209
Episode 12: The Dark Eye: On the Films of Rodne...
Phil and JF discuss the work of American filmmaker Rodney Ascher, contemporary master of the weird documentary.
88 min
210
Episode 11: Art is a Haunting Spirit
A discussion of M. R. James' ghost story "The Mezzotint" turns into a disquisition on the nature of art in the modern age.
75 min
211
Weird Stories: M. R. James' "The Mezzotint"
An unabridged reading of M. R. James' classic ghost story, "The Mezzotint," read by Weird Studies co-host, Phil Ford.
27 min
212
Episode 10: Philip K. Dick: Adrift in the Multi...
JF and Phil discuss Philip K. Dick's seminal essay, "If You Find this World Bad, You Should See Some of the Others."
83 min
213
Episode 9: On Aleister Crowley and the Idea of ...
JF and Phil talk about Aleister Crowley's 1924 work, _Magick in Theory and Practice_.
76 min
214
Episode 8: On Graham Harman's "The Third Table"
JF and Phil discuss Graham Harman's essay "The Third Table" and discover that even the most commonplace objects, seen in the right light, are strange to the core.
72 min
215
Episode 7: The Unspeakable Mystery at the Heart...
JF and Phil wrestle with philosophical issues surrounding violent sports.
65 min
216
Episode 6: Dungeons & Dragons, or the Reality o...
Phil and JF use D&D as a lens to locate the vanishing point where fantasy converges with the real.
78 min
217
Episode 5: Reading Lisa Ruddick's "When Nothing...
Phil and JF do their best to weird the cultural politics of the postmodern academy.
68 min
218
Episode 4: Exploring the Weird with Erik Davis
Scholar, author and journalist Erik Davis joins Phil and JF to talk about Weird Sh*t.
81 min
219
Episode 3: Ecstasy, Sin, and "The White People"
JF and Phil discuss key themes and ideas from Arthur Machen's weird story, "The White People."
79 min
220
Weird Stories: Arthur Machen's "The White People"
A complete reading of Arthur Machen's 1904 novella, "The White People," by co-host Phil Ford. This reading accompanies the upcoming episode of the Weird Studies podcast where J.F. and Phil plumb the imaginal depths of the classic weird tale.
96 min
221
Episode 2: Garmonbozia
Phil and JF use Twin Peaks mythos to try to understand what it was that the detonation of atomic bomb brought into the world. Our answer: garmonbozia and plenty of it.
86 min
222
Episode 1: Introduction to Weird Studies
Phil and J.F. attempt to explain the non-existent field of Weird Studies.
32 min