A mind-bending, reality-warping conversation with John Higgs
Aug 29, 2019
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Join John Higgs, a British journalist and author known for his thought-provoking explorations of history and culture, as he bends reality in fascinating ways. He dives into the perplexing legacy of the KLF, questioning the nature of value and authenticity in art. The discussion also touches on Timothy Leary's groundbreaking experiences with psychedelics, reshaping perceptions of consciousness. Expect wild turns through the intersections of tech, creativity, and human connection, all while challenging your understanding of the world.
The KLF's actions, such as burning money and challenging the music industry, can be seen as manifestations of ideas that transcend conventional norms, highlighting the concept of idea space.
The transition from postmodernism to metamodernism encourages embracing complexity and engaging with extremes to navigate the complexities of contemporary society, exemplified by movements like climate strikes and youth activism.
The limitations of models and perspectives in understanding the world are highlighted, emphasizing the need to question established norms and remain open to new perspectives, recognizing that one's own model is not synonymous with reality itself.
The podcast explores the connections between artistic expression and the influence of ideas, highlighting the power of ideas to shape culture, challenge norms, and inspire new perspectives.
Deep dives
The KLF: Exploring the Concept of Idea Space and Artistic Expression
The podcast episode delves into the story of the KLF, a successful music duo that burned a million pounds and the reasons behind their unconventional actions. One key idea discussed is the concept of idea space, as explored by writer Alan Moore. Idea space refers to the realm of ideas, where concepts and creativity intersect. The KLF's actions, such as burning money and challenging the music industry, can be seen as manifestations of ideas that transcend conventional norms. The podcast highlights the importance of embracing diverse perspectives and recognizing how ideas can shape our individual and collective realities.
Metamodernism: Moving Beyond Postmodernism
The podcast touches on the transition from postmodernism to metamodernism as a cultural and generational shift. Postmodernism emphasized multiple perspectives and rejected absolute truths, while metamodernism acknowledges the flaws in all models but focuses on finding what is useful. It encourages embracing complexity and engaging with extremes to navigate the complexities of contemporary society. The discussion highlights movements like climate strikes and youth activism that exemplify the metamodern approach of taking action and making a meaningful impact. Furthermore, it explores the values and attitudes of Generation Z, which reflect an increased emphasis on empathy and interconnectedness.
Recognizing the Limitations of Models and Perspectives
The podcast explores the limitations of models and perspectives in understanding the world. It emphasizes the need to recognize that all models are flawed but can still be useful tools. The KLF's actions, such as challenging authority figures and burning money, demonstrate the limitations of conventional models and highlight the importance of questioning established norms. The discussion also touches on the concept of reality tunnels and the dangers of clinging to a singular worldview. It encourages openness to new perspectives and the recognition that one's own model is not synonymous with reality itself.
Artistic Expression and the Influence of Ideas
The podcast episode delves into the connections between artistic expression and the influence of ideas. It explores how artists, such as the KLF and writer Alan Moore, tap into idea space to generate creative concepts. The discussion highlights the power of ideas to shape culture, challenge norms, and generate change. Through examples like the KLF's provocative performances and Moore's influential works, the episode underscores the role of artists as mediators of ideas, bringing them to the forefront of public consciousness and inspiring new perspectives.
Moving beyond individualism
The podcast explores the limitations of individualism, emphasizing that it does not provide a comprehensive understanding of how things work in various aspects of life. Instead, it promotes the importance of adopting a network group understanding, which takes into account biological, sociological, psychological, emotional, and cultural factors.
Leary's impact and adaptability
The podcast discusses the life and influence of Timothy Leary, the renowned philosopher and psychologist. It highlights his ability to adapt to different situations and personas, ranging from his time with the Black Panthers to his embrace of Silicon Valley culture. Despite controversies, Leary's ideas on reality tunnels and the importance of set and setting in psychedelic experiences continue to resonate.
Navigating online realities
The podcast delves into the challenges of navigating online spaces and platforms. It explores how individuals are often reduced to one-dimensional versions of themselves in the digital realm and the difficulty of expressing multi-dimensionality online. It also highlights the importance of recognizing different perspectives and promoting many-model thinking to better understand the complexities of the world.
I don’t usually begin interviews with the question “who the hell are you?” But, then again, not every guest is John Higgs.
I fell into Higgs’s work by accident. An offhand recommendation of his book on the KLF, a British band that burnt a million pounds but couldn’t explain why they did it. What’s unusual is that I’ve not quite been able to climb back out of it. Higgs’s work is reality-warping. Once you put on his lenses, it’s hard to take them back off.
This conversation takes some wild turns, but trying to describe it would do it a disservice. Just trust me on this one. It’s good to mess with your reality every once in awhile.
