Episode 133: On Weirding, and the Virtues of Unknowing Everything

With the term "weird studies" gaining currency inside and outside academia, Phil and JF thought it was time to discuss the philosophical method they've been developing on the podcast since 2018. Borrowing a term from Erik Davis, they call it weirding, and here set about trying to understand what it is, and what it means. David Lynch's fondness for crying, the practice of queering in cultural theory, the all-too-real phenomenon of "global weirding,"the spooky agency of artworks, and the tragic death of E.T. at the hands of Damien Hirst are just a few of the subjects touched on in the conversation. "Weirding" also happens to be the working title of the book your hosts are writing for Strange Attractor Press, as well as an eight-week series of lectures and discussions starting October 25th, 2022, on the Nura Learning platform.

Header image: David Lynch, Mulholland Drive

Link to the upcoming course: Weirding: An 8-Week Course With the Hosts of the Weird Studies Podcast

SHOW NOTES

Ludwig van Beethoven, 9th Symphony

James Elkins, Pictures and Tears

Eugenie Brinkema, The Form of the Affects

David Lynch (dir.), Mulholland Drive

Gilkes Deleuze and Felix Guattari, What is Philosophy?

Weird Studies, Episode 121 on “Mandy”

Erik Davis and Timothy Morton, “Uncanny Objects” episode of Expanding Minds

Coen brothers (dir.), Hail Caesar

Esther Williams, American swimmer

Weird Studies, Episode 120 on Radical Mystery

Douglas Rushkoff, Survival of the Richest

William Shakespeare, Macbeth

Erik Davis, “Weird Shit”

Pete Docter and Bob Peterson (dir.), Up

Steven Spielberg (dir.), E.T.

Alejandro Jodorowsky, Psychomagic

Martin Buber, I and Thou

Gilbert Simondon, Imagination and Invention

Weird Studies, Episode 106 the Wanderer

Charles Ludlam, “On Camp” in Ridiculous Theater

Weird Studies, Episodes 14 and 15 on “Stalker

Weird Studies, Episode 35 on M. C. Richards’ “Centering”