Critical Media Studies

Dive into a thought-provoking discussion on the implications of digital technology as a 'pharmakon.' Explore critiques of social media, particularly Facebook, and its impact on authentic relationships. Unpack the dangers of passive consumption shaped by hidden algorithms. Discover the importance of learning to engage with technology thoughtfully. Reflect on the internet's dual potential and the toxicity of digital spaces today. The conversation wraps on hopeful practices like walking and daydreaming to reclaim our attention.

This week on Critical Media Studies, Barry and Michael discuss Bernard Stiegler's "Elements of Pharmacology," a transcription of an interview with the French philosopher from June 2020, just two months prior to Stiegler's passing.  This episode focuses on Stiegler's exposition of his key term "the pharmakon" and the defining role it plays in his media theory.  

In this episode Barry and Mike discuss “The Eye of God”, chapter 2 of Juan Fontcuberta’s book, Pandora’s Camera. They reflect upon the impacts that the shift from analogue to digital photography and consider whether the digital image “kills us just as much as it gives us life

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