Bob and Ben wrestle with the assertion that “Finnegans Wake” by James Joyce provides insight into the flaws of Marxism. It posits that the Soviet Union’s betrayal of Marxism began with its opposition to modernism and its critique of Joyce, highlighting the interplay between art and political ideology.
Bob Dobbs is a McLuhan Scholar and Zappa researcher.
Ben Watson is the author of Frank Zappa: The Negative Dialectics of Poodle Play.
0:00 – Intro
1:23 – Perception, Literature, and Revolution
Delving into “Finnegans Wake,” human senses, and the world’s perception, they touch on revolutionary ideas, and the role of the queen in shaping narratives.
2:56 – Media, Senses, and Communication
Continuation on how media influences human interpretation of sensory information, the essence of communication, and its historical context.
5:22 – Consciousness, Sleep, and Social Media
Exploration of the nature of sleep, dreams, and the subconscious. The impact of modern tech, especially Facebook, on human behavior is discussed.
8:12 – Changing Communication Dynamics
How Facebook and other platforms serve as extensions of human senses, reflecting on past technologies and the core essence of communication.
10:05 – Imagination, Reality, and Tech Influence
The role of imagination in shaping experiences, the reality versus perception debate, and how literature like “Finnegans Wake” addresses it.
12:01 – Personal Tech Perspectives & Politics
Concluding thoughts on media, tech, and communication, touching on technological influence on politics and McLuhan’s neutral stance.
14:12 – Vanity, Technology, and Society
Comparing Facebook to a vanity table, exploring technology’s societal impact, and discussing societal evolution due to technological advancements.
17:50 – McLuhan, Money, and Reality
McLuhan’s views on tech, the changing nature of currency, societal perceptions of reality, and the overwhelming influx of information.
20:13 – American Dreams and Communication
The pursuit of the American dream, new communication methods, and society as a medium shaped by technologies.
27:28 – Literary Interpretations and Academia
“Finnegan’s Wake” in tech context, James Joyce’s training, modern education, and the revolution in academia with alternate learning methods.
40:00 – Sex, Literature, and Perception
Interplay of sex, repression, and literature, perception of color, tactile literature, and the blending of artistry and mainstream in the modern age.
50:05 – Nature and Knowledge
The digital age’s impact on nature, respecting brain complexity, the illusion of vast knowledge, and concluding reflections with feather symbolism.
Recorded December 16, 2009
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