Jefferson Pooley, a professor of media and communication at Muhlenberg College, dives into the fascinating 1959 Kitsch debate during the Cold War. He illuminates the clash between Nixon and Khrushchev over cultural values, revealing the nuances of mass culture and its critics. Pooley discusses the implications of mid-cult versus high culture, highlighting Dwight Macdonald's controversial views and his unproduced essay 'America, America.' The conversation also explores the tension between consumerism, kitsch awareness, and the evolving role of media in shaping public perception.

Kenneth Tynan, a renowned drama critic from the London Observer and The New Yorker, digs into the dynamic clash of art and politics. He recounts his fiery exchange with Hollywood's Samuel Goldwyn on socially engaged theater. The conversation highlights the 'London Controversy' over political themes in plays and touches on the provocative evolution of Hollywood in 1958. Tynan also reflects on the cultural tensions faced by Richard Wright, revealing how frustrations fueled his innovative radio play, merging comedy with profound societal critique.

Delve into the rich cultural tapestry of the 1956 Congress of Black Writers and Artists in Paris. Richard Wright and James Baldwin navigate complex discussions on race, identity, and post-colonial futures. Explore the provocative critiques of negritude and the influence of Encounter magazine on Black intellectual history. Unearth French psychological warfare tactics that intertwined ideology and colonial conflicts. Finally, witness how oppression fuels creativity through Wright's poignant reflections in his storytelling.

Kenneth Tynan, a pivotal British theater critic and key player in the Angry Young Men movement, dives into 1950s London's cultural revolution. He discusses the movement's impact on theater and literature, particularly through John Osborne's 'Look Back in Anger.' Tynan reflects on the frustrations of young artists confronting social issues and the clash between art and authority. The conversation also touches on the complexities of modern liberties versus social critique, illuminating the evolving role of writers during this transformative period.

New Yorker writer Dwight Macdonald investigated covert propaganda while joining Encounter magazine in 1956. Colin Wilson, an Existentialist, became England's answer to Jean-Paul Sartre. Discover the covert propaganda behind Operation Free Youth Action and Operation Anti-Sartre, as well as its influence on Macdonald's critique of Mass and Middlebrow Culture.

Guests Richard Wright, Kenneth Tynan, and Dwight Macdonald discuss their involvement in the CIA's cultural battle in the 1950s. They explore topics such as the CIA's cinematic version of 1984, creating "books that don't smack of propaganda," and the experiences of African-American artists in France.

The new ToE series Propaganda is Art has a companion podcast called Propaganda Notes & Sources, think audio footnotes! Each episode in Not All Propaganda is Art gets its own corresponding episode of Propaganda Notes & Sources. Your host goes through the script for each episode and cites all the corresponding original sources he consulted, and the archives he visited while reporting this series. Like all great footnotes, these go deep and contain many digressions and new stories. This is a teaser of episode one. Support the Theory of Everything  and get access to the exclusive companion series by subscribing at https://theoryofeverything.supercast.com/, or subscribe directly in Apple Podcasts by hitting “Subscribe” right on the show page.

One of my favorite technology critics has just published a novel about Self Driving Cars (or fake Self Driving Cars). We talk about her new book, and the hidden human worker nestled in our technological revolution. I can’t recommend Wrong Way enough!

Today we live inside data systems that contain, surveil, and judge us. In his new book, the Hank Show, author and journalist McKenzie Funk provides us with a totally unique origin story of our world: A guy named Hank Asher. We talk with McKenzie Funk about the  former Florida conto painter, drug-running pilot, alleged CIA asset, and  pioneering computer programmer known as the father of data fusion. McKenzie Funk has written many stories about the dangers of computer systems that can get us wrong, but the story of Hank Asher has turned him on to a danger even more alarming. What chance do we have when the computers know everything about us? Note: The TOE limited series “Not all Art is Propaganda” will be debuting January 2024! I know its been a long wait, but we are nearing the finish line and I can’t wait to share it with you.

Author Sylvia Press shares her revenge novel after being fired during the McCarthy purges. Jefferson Morley reveals CIA director Richard Helms' attempt to create an American James Bond with E Howard Hunt. Explore the implications of these stories on the CIA and their connection to Watergate.