Acid Horizon

This podcast explores the concepts of instincts, institutions, and laws. It discusses how individuals develop artificial means for satisfaction, the relationship between tendency, institution, and instinct, and the advantages of instinct to a species. It also examines the synthesis of tendencies, the role of intelligence in instinct, and the relationship between instinct and institutions in animal-human interactions.

Explore the applications of Nietzsche's philosophy in political theory and leftist programs. Discuss Nietzsche's influence on political thinking, his concepts of ressentiment and eternal return, and debunk the caricature of Nietzsche as a fascist. Delve into Deleuze's reinterpretation of ressentiment, genealogy as a methodology, and Nietzsche's concept of ressentiment as the motor of history. Discover the person of Rezontemann and the political implications of Nietzsche's philosophy.

This podcast explores the Hegelian dialectic, debunking misconceptions and highlighting its differences from Marx's views. They use examples from popular culture, like Fallout: New Vegas, to explain the three-step process of the dialectic. They also discuss the interdependence of opposing poles using a magnet as an analogy, and how this understanding relates to Marx's analysis of class identities within capitalism.

Guest Andrew Culp discusses his book 'Dark Deleuze' and challenges to Deleuze's philosophy. Topics include negativity/positivity in Deleuze and Foucault's philosophy, politics of blame and ressentiment, radical groups and actions, conspiracy and imperceptibility, and tactical media and resistance.

Shelley Tremain, an expert in feminist philosophy of disability, discusses her essay on a historicist and relativist feminist philosophy of disability, exploring the work of Foucault and the struggles of disabled voices in academia. They address the naturalization of disability, Foucault's analytical approach, subjectivation and self-subjectivity, and the emergence of diagnostic reasoning. They also analyze the interplay of medicine, social forces, and the pandemic crisis.

Anthony Gavin, host of Out of Left Field, joins the hosts to discuss Althusser's concept of ideology. They explore the functioning of the prison system and its impact on education, compare Althusser's ideas with those of Foucault and Deleuze and Guattari, and delve into the encoding of ideology on the body. They also touch on Althusser's shift in philosophy after a mental health crisis and discuss teaching in prisons.

Karen Houle, an expert in critical vegetal studies, discusses the notion of becoming-plant to challenge the traditional image of thought. Topics include the ethical implications of becoming-plant, its potential uses in addressing climate crisis and racial oppression, the pleasure of writing poetry that incorporates philosophical concepts, exploring the complex aspects of the abortion debate, the importance of considering plants in ethical thinking, delving into the question of being, and the power of attunement and participating in the world.

Benjamin Noys discusses aesthetics and politics in relation to techno, black metal, and communization. Topics include the correlation of techno with capitalism and urban decay, the evolution of techno in the 2000s, the appropriation and effectiveness of subcultures in political communication, decelerated forms of electronica, Bataille's ideas on art and politics, the changing political context and role of nostalgia, and exploring alternatives for a sustainable future.

Taylor Adkins of Theory Talk joins the show to explicate a seminar by Felix Guattari entitled “The Four Unconsciouses”. Taylor recently translated this seminar into English, which is available on his blog, Fractal Ontology. He has also recently translated a two-volume set of works by Gilbert Simondon. Individuation in Light of Notions of Form and Information I & II are available for purchase on University of Minnesota Press’ website.  In the episode, we discuss the concepts of faciality, white walls, black holes, diagrams, tensors, and a host of other terms familiar to Guattari’s schizoanalysis. Simondon and Laruelle also appear variously throughout our discussion.Support the showSupport the podcast:AHRCCurrent classes at Acid Horizon Research Commons (AHRC): acidhorizonresearchcommons.comAHRC Course Archive: https://www.acidhorizonpodcast.com/ahrc-course-archivesSubmit your course proposal: acidhorizonresearchcommons@gmail.comMore LinksWebsite: https://www.acidhorizonpodcast.com/Linktree: https://linktr.ee/acidhorizonAcid Horizon on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/acidhorizonpodcastBoycott Watkins Media: https://xenogothic.com/2025/03/17/boycott-watkins-statement/Subscribe to us on your favorite podcast: https://pod.link/1512615438Merch: http://www.crit-drip.comSubscribe to us on your favorite podcast platform: https://pod.link/1512615438LEPHT HAND: https://www.patreon.com/LEPHTHANDHappy Hour at Hippel's (Adam’s blog): https://happyhourathippels.wordpress.com​Split Infinities (Craig’s Substack): https://splitinfinities.substack.com/​Music: https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/ and https://thecominginsurrection.bandcamp.com/

In this pre-episode content, the hosts discuss their plans to explore Deleuze and Guattari's work on the unconscious and highlight key aspects such as its materiality and social connection. They also introduce upcoming seminar discussion with Taylor. The speakers present a typology of different unconsciouses and contrast systems of representation in Freudian, Jungian, and Laconian unconscious with Guattari's approach based on semiotic redundancy. They explore Deleuze and Guattari's concept of black holes as traps for subjectivity and discuss how subjectification can be repurposed for escape. They delve into the impact of German language on Kafka's world and explore tensors as a means of surpassing normative tendencies in language. They discuss the concept of delirium, its connection to social investment, and the idea of the social unconscious as a matrix of investments.