Why Theory

Unpacking Lacan's Seminar 11, focusing on exclusion as a starting point and delving into subjectivity and objet a. Exploring student protests, authority in psychoanalysis, self-realization, the complexities of the gaze, satisfaction in a song, desire vs. drive, reflections in the mirror, sacrifice in historical narratives, and film recommendations.

Ryan and Todd analyze Lacan's Seminar VII, diving into concepts like das Ding, sublimation, and the ethics of desire. They explore the intersections of Kantian philosophy, debate Lacan's enigmatic nature, discuss the reality principle, and its relation to Dostin. The podcast also delves into the value of collecting objects, the Death Drive's creative connection, Antigone's act of sublimation, and ethics in society. The conversation is rich, diverse, and thought-provoking.

Hosts delve into Kant's critique of dogmatic metaphysics, explore analytic and synthetic judgments in philosophy, discuss Freud's perspective on extension, analyze truth and morality through film, and examine Kant's influence on modern philosophy. They also explore the interplay between black holes, Kant, and Hegel, and engage in a film critique and ranking discussion.

Exploring the Kantian dimension in David Lynch's 'Blue Velvet', the hosts discuss the complexities of Dorothy Valens as a character and Lynch's use of aesthetics to create profound moments. They compare the father figure in classic and neo-noir films, analyze the uncanny and sublimation in the film, and dissect Lynch's intriguing use of appearance to represent the tangible and unreachable beyond.

Ryan and Todd dissect Immanuel Kant's philosophy, exploring its influence on psychoanalytic thought and filmmakers like David Lynch. They discuss Kant's approach to metaphysical freedom, Lacan's Quilting Point concept, and the distinction between 'thinking' and 'cognizing'. The conversation touches on Kant's radical ideas, the challenges of interpreting his works, and the application of Kantian concepts in real-life scenarios.

The hosts explore the concept of symbolic castration in psychoanalysis, relating it to politics and culture. They discuss Lacan's perspective on castration, its implications for femininity and masculinity, and its prevalence in political figures. They also delve into the concept's connection to democracy, analyze its symbolism in films, and have a light-hearted discussion about favorite songs by Journey.

The hosts explore dialectical reversal and its relevance to daily life and knowledge. They discuss examples of how weaknesses can turn into strengths and successes into failures. The podcast also examines the influence of capitalism on subjectivity and explores the allure of film noir. The hosts discuss specific examples from the film 'When Harry Met Sally' and the video game 'Final Fantasy 7', focusing on manipulation and remakes. The podcast concludes with a discussion on the potential drawbacks and emancipatory qualities of dialectical reversal in relation to capitalism.

Ryan and Todd discuss the parallels between Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations and psychoanalysis, as well as its political significance. They also explore the importance of language games and the chess analogy, the invention of sound in film, the concept of symbolic exchange and the unconscious, the connection between Wittgenstein and Freud, the ending of a Charlie Chaplin film, and capitalism in 'The Kid'.

The hosts explore Wittgenstein's Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus and its intersection with psychoanalysis and dialectics. They discuss Wittgenstein's emphasis on what is not said and the limits of language. They also explore the idea of creating a sitcom based on Wittgenstein's life, discuss the implications of the film Joker on the audience, and delve into desire, subjectivity, and belonging in relation to the Tractatus. They also discuss perception of images, different perspectives, and touch on ethics, aesthetics, and a movie called 'Naked Spur'.

The hosts delve into popular 1980s Christmas films like Christmas Story, Trading Places, Scrooged, Christmas Vacation, and Home Alone. They discuss the nostalgia prevalent in these movies and the limitations it imposes. They also explore the evolution of Christmas films over time, analyze the concept of nostalgia, and discuss the themes of capitalism and immorality in Scrooge. Additionally, they examine the themes of greed and conversion in Christmas Vacation and reflect on the limitations of money during Christmas.