ACFM

ACFM Microdose: Californian Capitalism w/ Malcolm Harris

Aug 2, 2023

Malcolm Harris, author of Kids These Days, discusses the unique political history of Palo Alto, connecting the founding of California, Stanford University's eugenicist agenda, and the emergence of Silicon Valley and the military-industrial complex. Is personal computing and the internet tainted by this history?

55:34

Creator website

Episode guests

Malcolm Harris

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Capitalism is driven by impersonal forces, with individuals playing a supportive role.

The death of Leyland Stanford Jr. had a profound impact on Stanford University and the influence of the Stanford family.

Palo Alto, as a site of class struggle and overseas colony, influenced global capitalist expansion and weapons manufacturing in Silicon Valley.

Deep dives

The Origins of the Book

The author, Malcolm Harris, discusses the motivation behind writing his book, which explores the history of Palo Alto, California, capitalism, and the world. He shares that he grew up in Palo Alto and initially resisted writing about the history of the place due to personal reasons. However, he eventually realized that this was the book he was meant to write.

Introduction

2min

Reflections on Childhoods and the Motivation for Writing

2min

Californian Capitalism, Individual Stories, and Impersonal Forces

22min

The Counterculture and Silicon Valley

12min

The Connection Between Weapons Manufacturing and Silicon Valley

13min

Exploring the Influence of Events, Personal Computing, and the Dark Side of the Internet

6min

Ahead of an ACFM Trip about the internet, Keir Milburn is joined by Malcolm Harris to talk about the unique political history of his hometown of Palo Alto, the intellectual laboratory for a century of American hegemony. The Kids These Days author tells a story that connects the founding of California, the violent removal of its […]

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