Everyday Anarchism

John McGowan joins me to discuss Liberty as Independence, Quentin Skinner's new book about the way that our ideals of liberty were formed in in 17th and 18th century debates. The book covers legendary figures, such as Hobbes, Milton, Locke, Swift, Paine, and Jefferson, as well as many lesser-known figures that they engaged with.For more from John McGowan, here's the link to his blog: https://jzmcgowan.com/public-intelligence-blog/ Finally, I'd like to apologize to Badger from The Wind in the Willows. In this episode, I repeatedly refer to him as "Mr. Badger." He is simply, as befits his status, Badger or The Badger. I regret the error.

Nathan Gelgud joins me to discuss Reel Politik, a comics collection about a group of Brechtian revolutionaries who take over the movie theatre they work in.Nathan and I discuss our shared love for movies, the radical nature of paying attention to a movie screen, and The Chelsea Theater, a local movie theatre in Chapel Hill that Nathan and I both love (I even worked there!). Many thanks to Bruce Stone, who ran The Chelsea for decades!You can find the book here: https://drawnandquarterly.com/books/reel-politik/

Pastor Micah joins me to share a radical reading of the Book of Genesis in which wealth isn't a blessing on God's people, but a curse!I recently appeared on Micah's podcast, The Word in Black and Red, to discuss the 10 Commandments with Micah. That link is here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s-2-20-exodus-19-20-arrival-at-mt-sanai-the-ten-commandments/id1682991552?i=1000730399185I also recently appeared on The Skeptical Leftist podcast! That link is here: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/skepticalleftist/episodes/The-Anti-Influencers-Case-For-Anarchism-with-Graham-Culbertson-e3a0a4jAnd the YouTube video of that conversation is here (I didn't watch): https://youtu.be/YXYH1ngF30A?si=4DMONaFxIUGRuCNc

Alfie Kohn returns to the show to discuss his new podcast, the role of teachers in social progress, and why someone's view on chatbots in the classroom tells you eveything you need to know about their view of education.You can listen to Kohn's Zone wherever you get your podcasts, or get it straight from his website: https://www.alfiekohn.org/podcasts/

Cory Doctorow, an influential author and tech activist, dives deep into the concept of 'enshittification'—the decline of digital platforms. He describes a three-stage decay process where platforms first gain user trust, then prioritize profit from businesses over user experience, and finally extract value until little remains. Doctorow discusses the power dynamics at play, the need for restoring competition, and how tech workers can reclaim rights. He also shares insights on using digital activism and regulatory coalitions to combat these trends.

The film Henry Fonda for President is showing this Thursday, October 2 at Duke University. Please join us if you are in the area!https://cinematicarts.duke.edu/screensociety/screenings/henry-fonda-president-alexander-horwath-2024More than any other individual, Henry Fonda was a symbol for better, more leftist, more social democratic America, from The Grapes of Wrath to 12 Angry Men. He even played an English professor who faced cancellation for teaching anarchist literature!Then in the 1960s, he was the literal father figure that New Left Hollywood figures Jane and Peter Fonda were rebelling against. And Henry let himself be used as a villain in Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in the West, playing the embodiment of rapacious American capitalism.Alexander Horwath weaves together all these threads into his essay film Henry Fonda for President. As we live in a world haunted by 50 years of neoliberal decay, the America Fonda represented seems further away than ever, even as his films still crackle with righteous rage against injustice. Alex and I talk about all these issues and more - I hope you enjoy the conversation, and see the film when you have a chance!

Luke Kemp, author and scholar of societal collapse, delves into his book, Goliath's Curse, offering a provocative take on human civilization. He critiques the narrative of progress, revealing that what we call civilization often stems from domination and coercion. Kemp discusses insights from the Paleolithic era, emphasizing cooperation over violence. He highlights how societal structures emerged through resource monopolization, challenging the myth of continuous progress and advocating for mutual aid as humanity’s hallmark. His views invite a rethinking of authority and history.

Celebrate the anniversary while diving into the political depths of Hollywood Westerns like *Fort Apache* and *Rancho Notorious*. Discover the moral complexities surrounding justice and colonization, and the nuanced portrayals of figures like John Wayne and Henry Fonda. Discuss the often overlooked roles of Indian agents and the representation of Indigenous struggles. Uncover the darker themes of vengeance and gender dynamics, and challenge the romanticized cowboy myth, revealing the societal values these films reflect.

In normal cinema, the goal of the director is to control the audience, to direct their gaze, to dictate their emotions.What does it mean when directors make movies where the audience is allowed to decide what the film means to them?Legendary filmmaker Paul Schrader (screenwriter of Taxi Driver and Raging Bull; director of Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters and First Reformed) , joins me to discuss his book Transcendental Style in Film: Ozu, Bresson, Dreyer and the democratic nature of slow cinema.

Alyssa Battistoni, a political theorist and professor at Barnard College, dives into her book *Free Gifts: Capitalism and the Politics of Nature*. She critiques capitalism's portrayal of nature as a 'free gift' and questions why it needs to claim such value while ignoring ecological costs. The discussion tackles the tension between individual choices and systemic issues in environmental discourse, and emphasizes the absurdity of commodifying nature. Alyssa also explores the need for a more intrinsic understanding of nature and labor within a post-capitalist framework.