Doomscroll with Joshua Citarella

Otherworld presents Deep Research. This week, we’re covering “Tartaria”. Tartaria is a conspiracy theory that suggests the existence of a vast, advanced civilization that supposedly existed in ancient times but has been intentionally erased from historical records. Proponents of this theory often claim that Tartaria was a highly developed and technologically advanced empire with a global influence, surpassing the conventional understanding of history. They argue that evidence of Tartaria's existence is hidden or manipulated by a secretive global elite. The conspiracy theory often incorporates a variety of historical events, architectural anomalies, and symbols to support its narrative.Research links:https://www.reddit.com/r/Tartaria/comments/wggxfa/itsmorganfr_on_tiktok_explaining_tartaria/https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp78-02771r000200090002-6https://www.youtube.com/@jonlevichannelhttps://www.youtube.com/@MindUnveiledhttps://www.reddit.com/r/tartarianarchitecture/https://www.reddit.com/r/Tartaria/https://www.tiktok.com/@watch_the_rabbit_hole/video/7197053113310661890?lang=enhttps://www.tiktok.com/@auntytateana2/video/7161746777069145350?lang=enhttps://youtu.be/4N-GDmlDMts?si=LH4ot7FLSsgzdd3Yhttps://www.tiktok.com/@zacharydenman/video/7193705054363258117?lang=enhttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-04-27/inside-architecture-s-wildest-conspiracy-theoryhttps://youtu.be/dtU_M0Sjd9Y?si=LOds3f6Nj-KXktMQ&t=332Follow:https://www.instagram.com/otherworldpod/?hl=enhttps://www.patreon.com/Otherworld This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit joshuacitarella.substack.com/subscribe

I sat down with Catherine Liu, author of Virtue Hoarders (2021) and professor of Film & Media Studies at UC Irvine, for her new series at Montez Press Radio. Catherine writes, “This series, Workers of the Culture Industry Unite! (LOL) tries to address the problems of artists' work in the age of finance capitalism… At a time when the corporations and institutions that support artists are suffering from endless crises of legitimacy, how can we have better conversations about what artistic and aesthetic freedom really look like.”Follow:https://www.instagram.com/montezpressradio This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit joshuacitarella.substack.com/subscribe

Ruby Thelot is a designer, cyber-ethnographer and artist. He is a professor of Design and Media Theory at NYU. We discuss his new book: A Cyber Archeology of Checkpoints (2024) a poignant tribute to a vanished online community.Get the book: www.irrelevantpress.com/store/pre-sal…s-ruby-thelotFollow: www.instagram.com/being_on_line/?hl=enx.com/being_on_line?lang=en This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit joshuacitarella.substack.com/subscribe

The discussion kicks off by exploring the interplay between socialite status and socialist activism post-2008 financial crisis. Vilem Flusser's insights on photography reveal the impact of digital media and technology on artistic expression. The conversation dives deep into Facebook's algorithmic shift, changing user interactions and community dynamics. It also addresses the role of advertising bots and advocates for platform cooperativism as a response to control in digital spaces. Lastly, the disconnect between rising productivity and stagnant wages sheds light on the issues plaguing the modern workforce.

Yancey Strickler, author and founder of the Metalabel platform, discusses the intriguing dark forest theory of the internet, shedding light on its implications for online identity and dangers. He reflects on the evolution of social media interactions, emphasizing the shift towards self-awareness in digital sharing. The conversation also dives into innovative models for artist compensation, urging greater visibility for producers, and exploring creative passive income opportunities. Strickler advocates for community-driven approaches to reshape the artistic economy in today's fragmented landscape.

Austin Robey, co-founder of Metalabel, joins me to discuss alternative models for the internet. We explore “Ampled”, a cooperative platform for musicians that existed from 2018-2023 and theorize about the next generation of platforms.Follow:https://twitter.com/austinrobey_https://www.instagram.com/michaelcoors/https://twitter.com/metalabel_https://www.instagram.com/metalabel__/Read:https://austinrobey.xyz/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit joshuacitarella.substack.com/subscribe

Get the game: https://joshuacitarella.metalabel.com/class-fantasyClass Fantasy is an action RPG card game that pairs fantasy character classes with political ideologies. Your goal is to defeat other players in battle and achieve utopia.Inspired by games like Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering and World of Warcraft, Class Fantasy explores the essential role playing and world building process that links the game space and the real world.Finally, a game that unites the whole political spectrum (and family) by forcing them into irreconcilable conflict. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit joshuacitarella.substack.com/subscribe

Get the books:Vincent Bevins: If We Burn, 2023Naomi Klein: Doppleganger, 2023Links:https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/mar/05/leftwing-vulkan-group-claim-responsibility-tesla-factory-pylon-arson-attack-berlinhttps://www.dissentmagazine.org/blog/the-anarcho-liberal/https://www.youtube.com/live/cI7iyo2wv18?si=ilEl4ylOge0bJ8kf This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit joshuacitarella.substack.com/subscribe

Simon Denny's Metaverse Landscapes unpack historical resonances between territory, abstraction and financialization.Links:https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/06/arts/design/simon-denny-art-computers-gaming-review-musk-grimes.htmlhttps://www.instagram.com/sden023/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/juliaxgulia/https://www.instagram.com/joshuacitarella/https://www.instagram.com/dunkunsthalle/https://www.instagram.com/petzelgallery/https://www.instagram.com/sorry_press/https://www.sorry-press.com/landscapeshttps://www.petzel.com/exhibitions/simon-denny5https://www.petzel.com/exhibitions/multi-user-dungeon-mud This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit joshuacitarella.substack.com/subscribe

Artist Paige K.B. calls into the stream to discuss three major exhibitions: “Cute” at Somerset House in London, “Poetics of Encryption” at KW Institute of Contemporary Art in Berlin, and Simon Denny’s shows in New York.Follow:https://www.instagram.com/guiltgroupe/Exhibitions:https://www.somersethouse.org.uk/whats-on/cutehttps://poeticsofencryption.kw-berlin.de/src/html/Exibition.htmlhttps://www.petzel.com/exhibitions/simon-denny5https://www.petzel.com/exhibitions/multi-user-dungeon-mud This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit joshuacitarella.substack.com/subscribe