Critical Media Studies

In this episode Barry and Mike discuss Juan Fontcuberta’s “Pandora’s Camera” (2014).  They discuss his take on Barthes and Kracauer’s theories about the relations between photography, philosophy, modernity, and existence.

In the “Ontology of the Photographic Image,” Andre Bazin makes the provocative claim that the invention of photography is "clearly the most important event in the history of the plastic arts." At the same time, Bazin questions our naïve faith that the photographic image is just as real as the object that it depicts. He goes on to provide an alternative history of painting and photography, highlighting the ways we value mechanical agency over human creativity. In this episode, Barry and Mike discuss Bazin's essay and also consider how the digitization of images has further altered "the history of the plastic arts." We hope you enjoy it!

This is the second of two discussions of Martin Heideger’s essay “The Thing.”  Please see episode #100 for the first installment, which set the table (jug joke) for this discussion.  In this episode Barry and Mike focus on Heidegger’s notion of “nearness” and the “thingliness” of the jug/thing. 

In this episode Barry and Mike begin their two-part discussion of Martin Heidegger’s 1949 lecture, “The Thing.” They focus on his concept of distancenessless as a unique problem of modernity and discuss how what he calls nearness might serve as an antidote.  

In this episode Barry and Mike discuss the idea of “frictionless” relationships in the age of artificial intimacy.  ErikaHayasaki –  “What Would a Real Friendship With A.I. Look Like? Maybe Like Hers?The New York Times Magazine 7/20/2025TED Radio Hour -- How our relationships are changing in the age of “artificial intimacy"Friday, August2, 2024

The hosts dive into Karl Ove Knausgaard's reflections on the alienation caused by technology, contrasting superficial digital knowledge with genuine experiences. They explore how modernity impacts our perception of reality, using gardening as a metaphor for personal growth. The discussion also delves into the complex relationship between artificial intelligence and human consciousness, questioning whether technology enhances or threatens authentic experiences. Finally, they tackle barriers to creativity and innovation in a tech-driven world.

In this episode Barry and Mike continue their discussion of the place of AI in art. They experiment with Suno and discuss the results. You can listen to those results at the links below. Barry's Tomatoes Barry's Tomatoes as Rock and Roll

In this episode Barry and Mike discuss Rob Horning’s Substack essay, “No One’s Version” and whether the world needs an AI generated song about Barry growing tomatoes in the style of “Sympathy for the Devil” with the horns from Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” and a guitar line to be determined (we think it does).

In this episode Barry and Mike continue their discussion of Jenny Odell’s book, “How To Do Nothing,” focusing on the importance of attention in producing critical thought. They then connect these ideas to previous discussions on the Taste Economy. 

Dive into a thought-provoking discussion on the importance of 'doing nothing' in a hyper-connected world. Hear about the tensions between relentless productivity and the need for self-care. Explore the transformative power of disengaging from digital distractions and reconnecting with nature. The conversation highlights meaningful relationships and the creative pursuits often overshadowed by profit-driven motives. Unpack Jenny Odell's insights on the attention economy while advocating for a balanced, intentional approach to life.