ClandesTime

In this conversation Pearse and I took a few detours and rambled all over the place, but mostly talked about the concept of hyperreality - the condition of a consciousness that cannot distinguish between the real and the simulated. We show how Homeland does this but also consider the question of why: why would the CIA be interested in using this effect that shows like Homeland have on their audiences? What is the advantage for the CIA in hyperreality? (Read more...)

Continuing our review series of the 5th season of Homeland Pearse joined me to discuss the second episode. We dwelt on the coinciding of real news events and storylines and dialogue in Homeland, asking how the show manages to pull this off so consistently. This episode establishes that former CIA black operations officer John MacGaffin is still working on the show, and we expanded on many of the topics from episode 1 - Syria, ISIS, Laura Poitras, the Snowden affair - showing how each real life topic is an explicit inspiration for this fictional series. The conversation also touched on the concept of hyperreality which is as relevant to Homeland as it is to any other TV show out there. We wrap up by asking for more of your comments and predictions for this new season. (Read more...)

From Breaking Bad to Hell on Wheels, House of Cards to Fargo, psychopathic characters are becoming the mainstays of modern TV. In this episode I offer my opinions on all four of these shows, focusing on Fargo as an example of an antidote to the glorifying of psychopaths in pop culture. I also reflect on the differences between reptiles and mammals and how this pertains to the problem of psychopaths in our society. (Read more...)

From Jeremy Corbyn failing to sing the national anthem to the Prime Minister fucking a dead pig, it has been a fortnight to forget in British politics. In this episode I offer my reflections on the current state of affairs, in particular analysing the media campaign against Corbyn, the new leader of the Labour Party, and asking what's really behind it. Is this about creating a false rebel? Is this the establishment fighting back against a leader who refuses to occupy the centre ground? Or is it more complex than that? I round off this time by explaining what I'm up to in the coming months, and what you can expect from this show and the others I produce. (Read more...)

Marilyn Monroe's death in 1962 was ruled a 'probable suicide' but there have always been suspicions that she was murdered because of her relationship with the Kennedy brothers. In this episode I look at the various conspiracy theories about her death, from the highly plausible (she was murdered by her psychiatrist Ralph Greenson) to the ridiculous (the Mafia killed her on behalf of the CIA). From rumours in her FBI file, the much-disputed CIA memo dated the day before she died to the sexual fantasies of psychopathic mobsters, this is an epic exploration into one Hollywood's darkest mysteries. (Read more...)

The recent explosions in Tianjin, Quingdao and at a US military base in Japan have grabbed a lot of attention and inspired conspiracy theories. In this episode I offer a brief meditation on what the real story is, and how the alt media has no interest in it, and present a radical alternative theory connecting explosions in China and Japan and the recent skirmish on the Korean border. (Read more...)

In this show I examine recent events in the alternative media, with the conviction of Chris Spivey and the arrest of an 'activist' at the centre of the Hampstead Hoax. I discuss how conspiracy theorists often live up to the derogatory mainstream media stereotyping and ask how much is cause and how much is effect. I address the media fakery sect and ask whether most of them are suffering from some kind of mental disorder, before rounding off by reading a recent email exchange. (Read more...)

I reflect on my recent experiences with the media, both mainstream and alternative, and what they say about the state of both. From a Huffington Post journalist who wanted me to play the conspiracy theorist in his anniversary article to the alternative media's utter dumbwittedness in inaccurately reporting on a recent FOIA success, this is another one of those shows where I complain a lot. But on the plus side the outro song is very danceable. (Read more...)

I look back on the 2005 London bombings and explain why I think the 7/7 movement failed. From predictive programming to infiltration, from bigoted truth celebrities to propaganda, I offer my take on why the effort to bring about a proper investigation of the London bombings did not succeed. This is a cautionary tale that involves quite a lot of swearing. (Read more...)

I welcome back Pearse Redmond to talk about the sitcom Silicon Valley, which has just finished its second season. Unlike most of the media we discuss on ClandesTime, this show was not state-sponsored, but it is inspired by real people and real events. We talked about the main characters and what they represent, as well as the underlying themes including transhumanism and corporate cults. (Read more...)