Everyday Anarchism

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.

Alex comes back on the podcast and we try to separate liberalism and anarchism, with some success! (I think the problem is that what Alex and I agree on is democratic socialism - so liberal socialism and anarchist socialism end up pretty close).The business of basketball is our central example, so sorry if that part bores you to tears. Being bored by the business of basketball is more than reasonable.I also reference this episode with Iain McKay frequently: https://www.everydayanarchism.com/episode-42-kropotkins-theory-of-revolution-with-iain-mckay/Duke sucks.

Lyndal Roper joins me to discuss her book The Summer of Fire and Blood: The German Peasants' War. 500 years ago, German peasants learned that Martin Luther had declared that they should be free. They agreed - and Europe was plunged into war.

Alexandre Lefebvre, author of Liberalism as a Way of Life, joins me to discuss the many ways that anarchism and liberalism are compatible. Later this month, you'll here Alexander back on the show, as we try to divorce the two traditions.

Folk singer Willi Carlisle, known for his multi-instrumental talent and commitment to politically charged music, discusses the intertwining of folk traditions with anarchist themes. He shares insights on his new album, 'Winged Victory,' and reflects on the evolving nature of music discovery. The conversation dives into the importance of art as a community tool, the tension between spectacle and intimacy in performances, and the revival of political folk music in grassroots settings, highlighting the value of authentic connections and social activism through music.

Meredith Veldman, an author specializing in the ties between romanticism, fantasy literature, and political thought, dives deep into Tolkien's romantic anarchism. She discusses the underlying protest in The Lord of the Rings and how romanticism appeals to both anarchists and fascists. The conversation touches on the bureaucratic struggles in academia, the intersections of Tolkien’s views with critiques of industrialization, and the philosophical influences of figures like Coleridge and Ruskin on his works. They also explore the notion of a modernized Middle Ages versus technocratic society.

My colleague David Hill rejoins the show to discuss Twilight of the Idols, one of Nietzsche's last works, and one in which Nietzsche directly discusses anarchism.In addition to Nietzsche's putdowns of anarchists, David and I also discuss the ancient Greeks in Nietzsche's thoughts, the unsavory aspects of Nietzsche's philosphy, and Nietsche's attacks on liberalism.For background to this conversation, check out this episode on games and philosophy in ancient Greece: https://do-things-with-words.captivate.fm/episode/1-5-agon-and-ancient-greek-society-david-potter/

Robin Schuldenfrei joins me to discuss her new book Objects in Exile, which is about the many afterlives of the Bauhaus school and its practitioners. Robin and I particularly focus on the relationship between Bauhaus and city planning, especially focusing on Chicago and the work of Ludwig Hilberseimer. Key questions include:How can societies ensure that everyone has at least enough space to live? How can cities provide for both growth and planning, and blend different kinds of buildings and spaces into an organic whole? And how can we see the rigid grid of American cities as a tool for anarchy?Here's the information about Robin's book and an interview with her about the bookRobin Schuldenfrei, Objects in Exile: Modern Art and Design across Borders, 1930–1960https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691232669/objects-in-exileInterview, Robin Schuldenfrei on Objects in Exilehttps://press.princeton.edu/ideas/robin-schuldenfrei-on-objects-in-exile

"What is joy when everything has been monetized and optimized?" For Carson Lund, the answer is rec league baseball, and his new film Eephus is about how a meaningless, anachronistic activity like a local baseball league can actually be the most meaningful and important thing you can do. The film is an ode to baseball, a comedy, and "an argument for democracy at a more human level, people just figuring things out."You can find ways to stream Eephus or watch it in the theater here: https://www.eephusfilm.com/And here's the Hawthorne quote I got totally wrong in the episode:The novels of Anthony Trollope "just as real as if some giant had hewn a great lump out of the earth and put it under a glass case, with all its inhabitants going about their daily business, and not suspecting that they were being made a show of."