Deborah Levitt is Assistant Professor of Culture and Media Studies at Eugene Lang College, The New School. Her publications include an essay on media and biopolitics in The Work of Giorgio Agamben: Law, Literature, Life (Edinburgh University Press 2008) and the Animatic Apparatus which is out now from Zero Books. In this interview, we discuss Porn Envy, gender dysmorphia, CGI celebrities, and Ghost in the Shell.

Turning to Zero Books I should point out that Jason Barker, author of the Zero Books title Marx Returns, celebrated May Day by publishing an early birthday greeting for Karl Marx in the New York Times. His lauding of Marx in the Times brought down angry tweets from Jordan B Peterson and James Woods and inspired Glenn Beck to write an angry blog post denouncing Barker and Marx both. Good job, Jason!

And speaking of far right hacks like Beck and Peterson, the newest Zero Books youtube video takes a look at how the far right disingenuously embraces free speech rhetoric in order to propagate their ideas. If you like this podcast you should check out the Zero Books youtube channel.

Finally, if you aren’t supporting this podcast through the Inside Zero Books patreon page you’re missing out on a second podcast every week. I’d urge you to go ahead and take the plunge. For five dollars a month you’ll receive a second Zero Books podcast every weekend.

The music you’re listening to right now is an 8bit cover of Take on Me by Ah-Ha, but in just a moment you’ll be listening to Deborah Levitte and I discuss CGI Animation and the Death of the Real.