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🐦‍⬛🐙🖤 230 - Jamie Curcio on Living in Mythpunk, Eldritch Complexity, and Finding The Bright Side of Dark Ages

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Nov 14, 2024

Guest

Jamie Curcio

In this conversation, Jamie Curcio, a prolific writer and game world-builder, tackles the intricate interplay of power, narrative, and climate action. He delves into the revival of animistic traditions and how contemporary storytelling shapes identity and community. Jamie explores the shift from Gnostic idealism to materialism through systems thinking, emphasizing the role of art in personal transformation. The discussion also reflects on technology's impact on sustainability, the ethical complexities of AI in creativity, and the optimistic potentials of a post-civilizational future.

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INSIGHT

Prometheus and the Value of Mystery

Prometheus's refusal to fully explain its mysteries is seen as a strength, prompting deeper questions.
Answering questions often leads to more profound mysteries.

insights

INSIGHT

Balancing Fiction and Nonfiction

Jamie Curcio alternates between fiction and nonfiction projects, finding a dialectic between them.
Fiction allows for expansive exploration, while nonfiction grounds ideas in material reality.

insights

INSIGHT

Climate Change and Societal Inertia

Climate change solutions must consider societal inertia and systemic issues.
So-called solutions from corporations often have hidden downsides.

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Exploring Power, Narrative, and Mythpunk in a Changing World

02:02 • 5min

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The Power of Narrative in Shaping Identity

07:00 • 3min

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Navigating Myth and Materialism

10:20 • 23min

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Navigating the Disconnect: Technology, Society, and Climate Action

33:09 • 6min

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Echoes of a Forgotten Future

39:04 • 6min

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Navigating Ethics and Creativity: The Role of AI in Independent Projects

45:01 • 2min

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The Art of Collaborative Creation

47:18 • 13min

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#2551

• Mentioned in 18 episodes

American Gods

Neil Gaiman

American Gods is a kaleidoscopic journey deep into myth and across an American landscape that is both eerily familiar and utterly alien. The story follows Shadow Moon, an ex-con who, upon his release from prison, finds his world turned upside down. His wife has been killed, and he is offered a job by the mysterious Mr. Wednesday, who is actually the Norse god Odin. Shadow becomes entangled in a battle between the old gods of myth and folklore and the new gods of technology, media, and money. The novel is a blend of mystery, satire, sex, horror, and poetic prose, taking the reader on a road trip across America to encounter a variety of unusual characters and roadside attractions. It explores themes of cultural identity, the power of myths, and the changing values of American society.

#4744

• Mentioned in 10 episodes

Unweaving the Rainbow

Science, Delusion and the Appetite for Wonder

Richard Dawkins

In 'Unweaving the Rainbow', Richard Dawkins addresses the notion that scientific explanations destroy the beauty and wonder of natural phenomena. He counters this idea, particularly the criticism by John Keats that Newton's explanation of the rainbow diminished its poetry. Dawkins demonstrates how scientific understanding can actually increase our appreciation and wonder for the world. The book covers a wide range of scientific topics, including astronomy, genetics, and the perception of light and sound, showing how these explanations are more beautiful and inspiring than the myths and legends they replace.

#7688

• Mentioned in 6 episodes

Jitterbug perfume

Tom Robbins

In 'Jitterbug Perfume,' Tom Robbins crafts a narrative that spans centuries, intertwining the lives of various characters across different time periods. The story follows King Alobar, a medieval king seeking immortality, and his journey with his beloved Kudra, as well as modern characters like Priscilla, a waitress and amateur perfumer in Seattle, and Madame Devalier, who runs a perfume shop in New Orleans. The novel explores themes of immortality, humor, individuality, and love, using the scent of perfume as a metaphor for deeper life philosophies and connections to the past. The narrative is characterized by Robbins' unique blend of humor, philosophy, and vivid descriptions, making it a wild and intellectually challenging read.

#1612

• Mentioned in 26 episodes

The Demon-Haunted World

Carl Sagan

In 'The Demon-Haunted World,' Carl Sagan warns about the dangers of a scientifically illiterate society. He argues that the rise of pseudoscience and superstition threatens our ability to make informed decisions and undermines the foundations of democracy. The book advocates for the use of critical and skeptical thinking, presenting a 'baloney detection kit' to help readers distinguish between scientific evidence and pseudoscientific claims. Sagan discusses various forms of pseudoscience, including UFO sightings, astrology, and faith healing, and emphasizes the importance of science education and literacy in navigating the complexities of the modern world.

#38762

Tales from When I Had a Face

Jamie Curcio

#29752

• Mentioned in 2 episodes

Hell: In Search of A Christian Ecology

Timothy Morton

#90787

A Thousand Years of Non-Linear History

Manuel DeLanda

Manuel DeLanda's "A Thousand Years of Non-Linear History" offers a unique perspective on historical processes, moving away from traditional linear narratives. DeLanda emphasizes the role of complex systems and emergent properties in shaping historical events. He argues that history is not a series of predetermined events but rather a dynamic interplay of various factors. The book challenges conventional historical interpretations by incorporating concepts from systems theory and complexity science. DeLanda's work has been influential in fields such as history, philosophy, and social sciences, prompting a re-evaluation of how we understand historical change. His approach encourages a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of the past.

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This week I talk with Jamie Curcio to ask, whom do we serve? Who gives us power, and to whom do we give ours? Where does that power come from? To whom do we sell our stories?

We explore the world behind the world, linking Jamie’s writing and game world-building in the domain he calls myth punk, and the equally Eldritch complex systems wicked problem of climate action.

Studying that link, we can trace the outlines of emergent 21st Century religions — the reinterpretation of axial traditions suited to the digital era, the metamodern revival of land-based animistic traditions, and even weirder novel forms that arise at the end of one world and the effloresence of many others.

✨ Jamie's Links

Fallen Cycle Podcast modernmythology.net“Investing In The Unknown”“The Cascade” Part 1, 2, 3 Tales From When I Had A Face: B&W Edition Tales From When I Had A Face info page

✨ Offer Support + Join The Scene

• Become a patron on Substack or Patreon• Make a tax-deductible donation to Humans On The Loop• Invite me to work with you as an hourly consultant or advisor on retainer• Join the Holistic Technology & Wise Innovation and Future Fossils Discord servers• Join the Future Fossils Facebook group• Buy the books we discuss from my Bookshop.org reading list• Buy original paintings and prints or commission new work• Tip me with @futurefossils on Venmo, $manfredmacx on CashApp, or @michaelgarfield on PayPal• Buy the show’s music on Bandcamp — intro “Olympus Mons” from the Martian Arts EP & outro “Sonnet A” from the Double-Edged Sword EP

✨ Chapters

1. Jamie's Background (0:05:46)2. Embracing the Unknown and the Role of Artifice (0:11:14) 3. Prometheus, Intentional Mystery, and the Nature of Agency (0:16:21)4. Introducing the Fallen Cycle and its Mythological Framework (0:21:57)5. Exploring Thematic Elements: Gods, Myths, and Consumerism (0:27:32)6. Climate Change, Hyperobjects, and Societal Inertia (0:33:36)7. Festivals, Dionysus, and the Value of Liminal Spaces (0:40:26)8. AI as a Creative Tool and Collaborator (0:46:05)9. Mythology, Role-Playing, and Enacting Change (0:52:16)10. Engaging with Jamie's Work and Final Thoughts (0:56:03)

✨ Other Mentions

FF 195 — A.I. Art: An Emergency Panel with Julian Picaza, Evo Heyning, Micah Daigle, Jamie Curcio, & Topher Sipes A Thousand Years of Nonlinear History by Manuel DeLandaJoseph CampbellFriedrich NietzscheArthur SchopenhauerBuddhismWestern EsotericismEvolving Media NetworkWeird Studies Podcast (with Jamie, with Michael)Tom MorganGilles Deleuze“The Soldier and The Hunchback” by Aleister CrowleyPrometheus (Movie)Alien Romulus (Movie)Eric WargoJohn KeatsUnweaving The Rainbow by Richard DawkinsFF 53 — A Very Xeno Christmas with Evan SnyderStephen BatchelorSamurai Jack (TV show)Fern Gully (Movie)Jitterbug Perfume by Tom RobbinsAmerican Gods by Neil GaimanSandman by Neil GaimanJosh Schrei Hell by Timothy MortonThe Book of ExodusThe Demon-Haunted World by Carl SaganCyndi CoonDavid Bowie

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