John Vervaeke | Science Fiction & Philosophy: Star Trek's Deep Commentary with Damien Walter #2 @johnvervaeke | Uploaded September 2023 | Updated October 2024, 1 hour ago.
Dr. John Vervaeke reunites with guest Damien Walter in an engaging second episode to unpack the fascinating theory of Star Trek as a potent contemporary mythos. They dissect storytelling as a "psycho-technology" that mirrors human cognition and immerses us in collective human experiences. The episode focuses on how Star Trek bridges the gap between traditional, modern, and postmodern narratives, with discussions on metamodernism and its relevance in narrative reconstruction. Vervaeke and Walter delve into Plato's influence on narrative crafting, modern myth-making, and the cultivation of new ways to access the sacred. Walter elucidates the unique structure of Star Trek, explaining its appeal to society's conservative aspects and its subversion of the military-industrial complex. Vervaeke aligns Star Trek's philosophy with the Enlightenment's mythos, further establishing its significance in our modern narrative.
Timecodes
00:00 - Introduction: Dr. John Vervaeke introduces Damien Walter and the discussion on Star Trek as a contemporary mythos.
01:03 - Damien Walter's Video Essay: Exploring the postmodern deconstruction of Star Trek.
03:16 - Persona Creation through Storytelling: Understanding the impact of narratives on personas.
07:00 - Challenging Metanarratives: Dr. Vervaeke introduces metamodernism and questions the authority of metanarratives.
11:07 - Integrating Different Stages: Damien Walter discusses the need to integrate various stages of civilization into narratives.
13:06 - Appreciating Past Narratives: Emphasizing the importance of appreciating past narratives while fostering evolution.
18:15 - Desire for Dismissed Narratives: Exploring societal desires for narratives thought to be dismissed.
20:35 - Liminal Spaces: Dr. Vervaeke discusses narrative reinvention and liminal spaces.
25:24 - Plato's Influence on Myth-Making: Damien Walter delves into Plato's innovative approach to philosophy through dialogues.
30:38 - Philosophical Ideas of Heraclitus and Parmenides: A discussion on their interplay in Plato's thinking and the organic growth of myths.
35:44 - Gene Roddenberry as a Myth-Maker: Transitioning to Star Trek's narrative analysis.
39:05 - Idealized Order in Star Trek: Comparing it to Plato's Republic.
43:01 - Star Trek's Progressive Elements: Dr. Vervaeke commends Damien Walter's thesis and discusses the series' appeal to both conservative and progressive aspects.
47:14 - Critique of the Military-Industrial Complex: Walter discusses Star Trek's critique and subversion.
50:15 - Progressive Aspects Rooted in Enlightenment: Dr. Vervaeke explores Star Trek's progressive elements rooted in Enlightenment's mythos.
52:47 - Star Trek's Federation as a Utopian Vision: Delving into the concept of the Federation as a utopian space.
57:00 - Conclusion: Reflections on Star Trek as a modern mythos and its perspective on society and the future.
Resources
Voices with Vervaeke
Part 1: Science Fiction & Philosophy: Star Trek's Deep Commentary with Damien Walter: youtu.be/JBuSgdEwFqs
The Transformational Impact of Story Telling with Shawn Coyne: youtu.be/Bxciy-GLhMI
Why Do Movies Feel So Different Now?: youtu.be/5xEi8qg266g
Culture Series by Iain M. Banks: goodreads.com/series/49118-culture
Dr. John Vervaeke reunites with guest Damien Walter in an engaging second episode to unpack the fascinating theory of Star Trek as a potent contemporary mythos. They dissect storytelling as a "psycho-technology" that mirrors human cognition and immerses us in collective human experiences. The episode focuses on how Star Trek bridges the gap between traditional, modern, and postmodern narratives, with discussions on metamodernism and its relevance in narrative reconstruction. Vervaeke and Walter delve into Plato's influence on narrative crafting, modern myth-making, and the cultivation of new ways to access the sacred. Walter elucidates the unique structure of Star Trek, explaining its appeal to society's conservative aspects and its subversion of the military-industrial complex. Vervaeke aligns Star Trek's philosophy with the Enlightenment's mythos, further establishing its significance in our modern narrative.
Timecodes
00:00 - Introduction: Dr. John Vervaeke introduces Damien Walter and the discussion on Star Trek as a contemporary mythos.
01:03 - Damien Walter's Video Essay: Exploring the postmodern deconstruction of Star Trek.
03:16 - Persona Creation through Storytelling: Understanding the impact of narratives on personas.
07:00 - Challenging Metanarratives: Dr. Vervaeke introduces metamodernism and questions the authority of metanarratives.
11:07 - Integrating Different Stages: Damien Walter discusses the need to integrate various stages of civilization into narratives.
13:06 - Appreciating Past Narratives: Emphasizing the importance of appreciating past narratives while fostering evolution.
18:15 - Desire for Dismissed Narratives: Exploring societal desires for narratives thought to be dismissed.
20:35 - Liminal Spaces: Dr. Vervaeke discusses narrative reinvention and liminal spaces.
25:24 - Plato's Influence on Myth-Making: Damien Walter delves into Plato's innovative approach to philosophy through dialogues.
30:38 - Philosophical Ideas of Heraclitus and Parmenides: A discussion on their interplay in Plato's thinking and the organic growth of myths.
35:44 - Gene Roddenberry as a Myth-Maker: Transitioning to Star Trek's narrative analysis.
39:05 - Idealized Order in Star Trek: Comparing it to Plato's Republic.
43:01 - Star Trek's Progressive Elements: Dr. Vervaeke commends Damien Walter's thesis and discusses the series' appeal to both conservative and progressive aspects.
47:14 - Critique of the Military-Industrial Complex: Walter discusses Star Trek's critique and subversion.
50:15 - Progressive Aspects Rooted in Enlightenment: Dr. Vervaeke explores Star Trek's progressive elements rooted in Enlightenment's mythos.
52:47 - Star Trek's Federation as a Utopian Vision: Delving into the concept of the Federation as a utopian space.
57:00 - Conclusion: Reflections on Star Trek as a modern mythos and its perspective on society and the future.
Resources
Voices with Vervaeke
Part 1: Science Fiction & Philosophy: Star Trek's Deep Commentary with Damien Walter: youtu.be/JBuSgdEwFqs
The Transformational Impact of Story Telling with Shawn Coyne: youtu.be/Bxciy-GLhMI
Why Do Movies Feel So Different Now?: youtu.be/5xEi8qg266g
Culture Series by Iain M. Banks: goodreads.com/series/49118-culture
