ArtiFact #13: NFTs, Kitsch, 90s Culture, Rap Music, R.W. Fassbinder | Alex Sheremet, Ethan Pinch automachination 2026-09-17 | ArtiFact #13: NFTs, Kitsch, 90s Culture, Rap Music, R.W. Fassbinder | Alex Sheremet, Ethan Pinch
Before Palestine, There Was Liberia (Hidden History) automachination 2025-04-23 | The Israel-Palestine conflict has many analogues in history, yet it is Liberia which provides the best and most under-discussed parallels. Liberia is a country in Africa which was established as a refuge for slaves fleeing violence and discrimination in America. As with Israel, however, the settlers first had to ethnically cleanse the native population, leading to racism, conflict, and eventually, civil war. This video essay examines the history of both Palestine and Liberia, highlighting their connections.Transcript for the video essay: automachination.com/before-palestine-liberia-hidden-historyLearn about and contribute to our film, "From There To There: Bruce Ario, the Minneapolis Poet": automachination.com/minneapolis-poet-bruce-ario-selected-poemsSupport our work on Patreon and get patron-only content: patreon.com/automachinationSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex Sheremet’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTags: #africa #palestine #history
The Murder and Resurrection of Paul Klebnikov automachination 2025-02-03 | Russian-American journalist Paul Klebnikov warned us about looming oligarchy. Twenty years after his unsolved murder in Moscow, oligarchy has come to America, while his own story languishes.Transcript of video essay: automachination.com/murder-resurrection-paul-klebnikovIn this retrospective on the life, work, and death of Russian-American journalist Paul Klebnikov (Forbes Magazine), we hear the journalist's reporting on gang warfare, the shifting roles of oligarchs such as Boris Berezovsky, and the popularity of heroes (and antiheroes) such as Chechnya's Khozh-Ahmed Noukhayev and Boris Yeltsin. We speculate on the motives behind Paul Klebnikov's murder, and why it still matters two decades on.Russia figures prominently here, but partly as a mirror to the United States of America, which is going through its own crisis of oligarchy. It should be remembered that historical events are patterns meant to be studied as they happen in real time.Learn about and contribute to our film, "From There To There: Bruce Ario, the Minneapolis Poet": automachination.com/minneapolis-poet-bruce-ario-selected-poemsSupport our work on Patreon and get patron-only content: patreon.com/automachinationSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex Sheremet’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachination
How I Predicted Donald Trump Winning One Year Ago automachination 2024-12-20 | Donald Trump's 2016 election might have surprised some, but as author and filmmaker Alex Sheremet argues in this video essay, his victory over Kamala Harris was predictable. Building on his an earlier essay on why Trump had a great shot of winning, this essay covers developments such as the Trump/Harris debate, a late spending blitz in October (mirroring that of 2016), the underrating of JD Vance, the use and misuse of Haitian migrants in Springield, Ohio, and Kamala's refusal to make concessions to her Democratic Party base.Read the transcript for this video essay: automachination.com/why-expected-donald-trump-win-2024Watch Alex Sheremet's video essay on 1990s Russia through the life and work of murdered American journalist, Paul Klebnikov: youtube.com/watch?v=Av6WBg0ii3URead Alex Sheremet's original prediction for 2024: automachination.com/joy-kamala-harris-lose-2024Support our work on Patreon and watch our first film: patreon.com/automachinationLearn about and contribute to our film, "From There To There: Bruce Ario, the Minneapolis Poet": filmfreeway.com/FromTheretoThereBruceAriotheMinneapolisPoetSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex Sheremet’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationBackground image elements: b0red from Pixabay, Gordon Johnson from Pixabay, Clker-Free-Vector-Images from PixabayTags: #politics #trump #videoessay
Microstrategy: A Short Story automachination 2024-12-03 | Thoughts on Michael Saylor, bitcoin, Microstrategy, and what society values, as part of a voice note I left with a fund manager.Read my essay on why Donald Trump was poised to win: automachination.com/joy-kamala-harris-lose-2024Patrons can now watch our first film, "From There To There: Bruce Ario, the Minneapolis Poet": patreon.com/automachinationGoFundMe to cover film, production, and the publication of Bruce Ario's poetry: gofundme.com/f/new-film-the-minneapolis-poet-bruce-arioSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex Sheremet’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTags: #bitcoin #microstrategy #crypto
Allan Lichtman FAILED His Own System | Benjamin Studebaker automachination 2024-11-26 | Allan Lichtman famously predicted the 2016 election, but failed to predict a far more obvious Trump blowout in 2024. Benjamin Studebaker and Alex Sheremet discuss Allan Lichtman's "Keys to the White House", noting that its chief weakness is not the fundamentals that the keys describe, but Allan Lichtman himself, who refused to turn the keys appropriately.Clipped from ArtiFact 64: Donald Trump & The Liberal Hydra -- youtu.be/j1nENjZNwu0Read Alex Sheremet's essay on why Donald Trump was poised to win: automachination.com/joy-kamala-harris-lose-2024Buy Benjamin Studebaker's "Legitimacy in Liberal Democracies": amazon.com/Legitimacy-Liberal-Democracies-Benjamin-Studebaker/dp/1399534688Get the B Side to this conversation: patreon.com/automachinationB Side Topics: Why Allan Lichtman's "Keys to the White House" failed; pollsters had no courage; modeling presidential elections on fundamentals; the psychology of modeling; how blame is shifted on to the electorate; assessing a very mixed economy; did white collar workers punish Kamala Harris for 2023-24 layoffs; the housing market as independent of inflation metrics; why voters assess incumbents on a purely relative basis; politics of memory; inflation-adjusted median family income has not returned to Trump-era benchmarks; are liberals dropping out of politics after Trump's win; why MSNBC and other outlets are losing subscribers; why the fear narratives failed; the story of 2024 is a racial shift towards the GOP; Benjamin Studebaker on what sort of disagreement nation-states tolerate; the nature of political polarization; how political leadership has ceased to lead; folk legitimation vs. official legitimation; expanding notions of inequalityLearn about and contribute to our film, "From There To There: Bruce Ario, the Minneapolis Poet": gofundme.com/f/new-film-the-minneapolis-poet-bruce-arioSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex Sheremet’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTags: #election2024 #politics #lichtman #kamalaharris #donaldtrump
Donald Trump & The Liberal Hydra | ArtiFact 64: Benjamin Studebaker automachination 2024-11-22 | Donald Trump's 2024 win surprised many pundits, but not Benjamin Studebaker, who had assumed the worldwide incumbency crisis in 2024 would ultimately come for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.His newest book, "Legitimacy in Liberal Democracies", builds on his previous work on the chronic crisis of liberal democracy. In ArtiFact 64, Benjamin Studebaker and author/filmmaker Alex Sheremet discuss their reasons for expecting a Trump victory, the question of political polarization, and where liberal democracy goes from here.Read Alex Sheremet's essay on why Donald Trump was poised to win: automachination.com/joy-kamala-harris-lose-2024Buy Benjamin Studebaker's "Legitimacy in Liberal Democracies": amazon.com/Legitimacy-Liberal-Democracies-Benjamin-Studebaker/dp/1399534688Get the B Side to this conversation: patreon.com/automachinationB Side Topics: Why Allan Lichtman's "Keys to the White House" failed; pollsters had no courage; modeling presidential elections on fundamentals; the psychology of modeling; how blame is shifted on to the electorate; assessing a very mixed economy; did white collar workers punish Kamala Harris for 2023-24 layoffs; the housing market as independent of inflation metrics; why voters assess incumbents on a purely relative basis; politics of memory; inflation-adjusted median family income has not returned to Trump-era benchmarks; are liberals dropping out of politics after Trump's win; why MSNBC and other outlets are losing subscribers; why the fear narratives failed; the story of 2024 is a racial shift towards the GOP; Benjamin Studebaker on what sort of disagreement nation-states tolerate; the nature of political polarization; how political leadership has ceased to lead; folk legitimation vs. official legitimation; expanding notions of inequalityLearn about and contribute to our film, "From There To There: Bruce Ario, the Minneapolis Poet": gofundme.com/f/new-film-the-minneapolis-poet-bruce-arioSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex Sheremet’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTimestamps0:00 - Alex Sheremet's new film is out; introducing Benjamin Studebaker and his new book; why we expected Donald Trump to win4:39 - Benjamin Studebaker on Democrats' headwinds; COVID & inflation; Democrats destroyed their chances years ago8:13 - Alex: Democrats who sound/act like Kamala Harris NEVER get elected; there are no Liz Cheney/Alberto Gonzalez voters; polling was stable and consistent in favor of Trump15:52 - sexism & the Kamala Harris campaign; many voters saw Kamala Harris as a weak woman, whereas few voters would dare think of Hillary Clinton as weak; why Kamala Harris was seen as a "DEI candidate"20:45 - the global anti-incumbent bias in 2024; Mexico's AMLO and Claudia Sheinbaum as exceptions to this backlash25:20 - Trump's racism surrounding Haitian migrants vs. Kamala's racism in using, then ignoring migrants; Kamala's identitarian failures; Democrats are behaving like mob bosses, and voters don't want it34:22 - Democrats assume voters accept their racial narratives about the GOP; why Democrats dehumanize non-party voters; previewing Allan Lichtman's Keys to the White House36:36 - Benjamin Studebaker's thesis on the legitimation strategies of liberal democracies; the nature of escalating disagreements in embedded democracies; Trump and Obama as the aesthetic trappings of change; Studebaker's conception of a legitimation hydra in deep pluralism48:25 - Kamala Harris taps the legitimation hydra with her contradictory promises; Trump has power as a non-incumbent, but loses as an incumbent; incumbency is increasingly a disadvantage for politicians53:37 - defining deep pluralism; does it necessarily lead to polarization; deep pluralism creates issues for state capacities; embedded democracies imply no living memory of previous systems; the limits of an electorate's imagination01:03:05 - legitimation in illiberal, authoritarian states01:08:30 - amoral political theories leading to emergent morality; John J. Mearsheimer and state survival; survival is yet another key human value; how Israel partisans can come to exactly opposite conclusions with identical values; although everyone is watching Iran, Egypt and Jordan can just as easily collapse01:18:20 - the role of art in politics, politics in art; art and infantilization; corporatist art; genuine art vs. fandom; fandom in politics; art as needling the status quo; Alex: art is a NECESSARY retreat; how great art is a service; Bruce Ario as a service-oriented artistTags: #election2024 #politics #trump
Bruce Ario: The Minneapolis Poet | Official Trailer automachination 2024-11-20 | "From There To There: Bruce Ario, The Minneapolis Poet" is now available for streaming in 4K quality on our Patreon: patreon.com/posts/full-film-from-115923848An icon of perseverance and creativity, Bruce Ario (1955 - 2022) overcame addiction, homelessness, and traumatic brain injury to become a great American poet.Filmmakers Alex Sheremet and Joel Parrish (Automachination Media) traced Bruce Ario's footsteps throughout Minneapolis, capturing interviews with Bruce's friends, colleagues, and poetic images of the city that he loved.Bruce Ario's "Selected Poems" is now available for purchase, complete with a major, 150-page critical essay on Bruce's life and work: amazon.com/dp/B0DMW4BMKLOur GoFundMe helps cover some costs associated with the project: video equipment, travel expenses, advertising, and production. Any additional money raised will be used to fund the publication of Bruce Ario's books: gofundme.com/f/new-film-the-minneapolis-poet-bruce-arioAbout the filmmakers:Alex Sheremet is an author and filmmaker from New York City. He runs the automachination YouTube channel and literary magazine, for which Bruce Ario wrote: automachination.comJoel Parrish is a poet and photographer from Michigan. He also provides voice work for the film: poeticimport.com#trailer #documentary #art #minneapolis #poetry
The WORST Writing In Thomas Pynchons Gravitys Rainbow automachination 2024-10-03 | Thomas Pynchon has a massive reputation, and it's massively overrated!Clipped from ArtiFact 27: Thomas Pynchon vs. Kurt Vonnegut -- youtu.be/DN2QvbzqgD8Learn about and contribute to our first film, "From There To There: Bruce Ario, the Minneapolis Poet": automachination.com/trailer-from-there-to-there-bruce-ario-minneapolis-poet-2024If you found this video useful, support us on Patreon and get patron-only content: patreon.com/automachinationDan Schneider’s comprehensive review of Gravity’s Rainbow: http://www.cosmoetica.com/B1277-DES888.htmSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex Sheremet’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTags: #books #literature #bookreview
Benjamin Studebaker: Why Wages Are Getting Destroyed automachination 2024-09-30 | Many Americans have not recovered from NAFTA, Bush's and Obama's Great Recession, and the last two administrations' mishandling of COVID. Wages have been stagnant for some time, and housing inflation (among many other types of inflation) are eating into wage growth despite historic levels of worker productivity. Political scientist Benjamin Studebaker describes why this is happening, and how the two parties are culpable in America's inequality.Clipped from "ArtiFact 42: Benjamin Studebaker On The Crisis Of Democracy" -- youtu.be/OobuZB1BLX4Alex Sheremet on why Donald Trump has a great shot of winning in 2024: automachination.com/joy-kamala-harris-lose-2024Buy Benjamin Studebaker’s "The Chronic Crisis of American Democracy: The Way Is Shut": amazon.com/Chronic-Crisis-American-Democracy-Shut-ebook/dp/B0BVZ7V4T6Benjamin Studebaker’s essays: benjaminstudebaker.comSupport us on Patreon and get the patron-only B Side to this conversation: patreon.com/automachinationB Side topics: Aristotle’s “Vulgar Craftsman”; how the lack of writing hurts podcasters & other speakers; the peak message board era; the current Ph.D. landscape; how Raul Hilberg’s Holocaust research stymied his career; how the 2008 crisis shaped Benjamin Studebaker’s political awakening; the (illegal) Libya intervention & death of Gaddafi; comparing the 2008 and post-2020 austerity regimes; Trump vs. Hillary voter naivete; more on conspiracy theories; why Benjamin Studebaker is skeptical of affirmative action; Alex’s high school experiences in the hood; is meritocracy possible; how Benjamin Studebaker turned Alex on to Kwame Brown; black girl magic vs. black boy magic; Clarence Thomas is insulted so hard that Alex fears losing his YouTube channel; political theory in the academy; the dream-eating democracy; if the Left secures its goals, wouldn’t citizens drop out of politics altogether; assessing the 2024 presidential race; is Cornel West a serious candidateSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex Sheremet’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationThumbnail background by João Geraldo Borges Júnior for PixabayTags: #politics #election2024 #income
GAME OVER: Kamala Harris Pulls The Plug | ArtiFact 63: Alex Sheremet, Keith Jackewicz automachination 2024-07-25 | As soon as Joe Biden dropped out, Kamala Harris cinched the Democratic Party nomination. We assess Kamala Harris's uphill battle, and the extent to which Joe Biden condemned her to it. For example, why did Democrats hide Joe Biden's condition, even from themselves? What role will Biden's support for Israel's war crimes in Gaza play in 2024? We also assess Donald Trump's unique disadvantages, such as his horrible pick of the doughy and goofy JD Vance as Vice President.Get the B Side to this conversation: patreon.com/automachinationB Side topics: the role of Polymarket & other prediction websites; Kamala Harris's VP picks; why Josh Shapiro is a bad choice; the role of the Trump assassination attempt; Trumpian 'genius' does not generalize in any way; erosion of democracy; Hillary Clinton's "basket of deplorables"; Russia vs. China in racial stereotyping; the oddly dispassionate reporting on China; ethnic cleansing in Gaza; don't assume Donald Trump's psychology is your psychology; how quietness and false peace breed violence; the Lancet editorial on Gaza deaths; 'genocide' as a political football; is there a Democrat you would currently vote for; energy prices and climate change; assessing the Kamala Harris poll numbers; why Joe Biden's polling numbers never improved; Kamala Harris's silence on Joe Biden's senility; the Mercer cash injection in 2016 was just as important as the Comey letter; politics are so silly; Trump's strange popularity on Tik Tok; Alex talks about wrapping up his upcoming filmLearn about and contribute to our film, "From There To There: Bruce Ario, the Minneapolis Poet": gofundme.com/f/new-film-the-minneapolis-poet-bruce-arioSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex Sheremet’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTimestamps:0:00 - the "Joe Biden Dementia" conspiracies turned out to be correct; how Democrats lied to themselves and others over Joe Biden's electoral risks; Joe Biden's slow and sudden decline; Joe Biden and Israel's genocide in Gaza6:20 - the "secret competence" of Joe Biden vs. entrenched trajectories; why the 2020 debate was even more depressing; how Ezra Klein & Pod Save America created this whole mess; the prospects of a 2nd Trump presidency; Donald Trump's "dark vision" of America vs. Joe Biden's "no vision" for America; Project 202516:45 - lobbyists & the Judicial Branch are in control of America; the trajectory of privatization; Kamala Harris's extremely high staff turnover; Kamala Harris as "goofy girl-boss"; Donald Trump now sounds like a LOSER; is Kamala Harris sufficiently self-confident; 24:35 - Donald Trump's hubris forced him to select JD Vance; Elon Musk backs out of his $50 million a month promise to Trump; how public cryptocurrency bribes reveal the true role of money in politics; there is no "crypto vote"30:10 - the tech class is the new freak class; Curtis Yarvin / Mencius Moldbug is an idiot & poor writer; Silicon Valley, Elon Musk, & pro-natalism; why Trump was booed at the Libertarian convention; why IQ does not transfer into actual competence & ability; JD Vance can't even win the Rust Belt; the tension between short & long-term thinking destroyed Roe v. Wade42:00 - everything is getting much more competitive; Vice President picks used to matter a lot less; why are elections getting crazier & crazier; social media makes background "noise" much more meaningful; America's transition from hegemon to regional power; healthcare costs under Joe Biden & the erosion of Medicaid53:33 - dissecting assumptions behind "Kamala Harris, DEI candidate"; political correctness on the Right, political correctness on the Left; "DEI thinking" is inherent to ALL political thinking; steelmanning DEI as an insult; why Joe Biden treated Kamala Harris as a token; did Joe Biden try to sabotage Kamala Harris; the leaks from Harris over the last few years are revealingTags: #politics #kamalaharris #2024elections
Why America Loves Conspiracy Theories | Benjamin Studebaker automachination 2024-07-03 | Discourse surrounding "conspiracy theories" tends to focus on the most crass examples of poor critical thinking, such as "Joe Biden stole the 2020 election from Donald Trump".But what do conspiracy theories REALLY say about society, fracturing trust, and perceptions of unfairness? Moreover, what can we say of "educated", liberal conspiracy theories which now seem to be accelerating? Political theorist Benjamin Studebaker joins Alex Sheremet to discuss these questions.Clipped from "ArtiFact 42: Benjamin Studebaker On The Crisis Of Democracy" -- youtu.be/OobuZB1BLX4Read Alex Sheremet's essay on Israel propagandist and literary fraudster Maxim D. Shrayer: automachination.com/maxim-d-shrayer-post-soviet-fraudSupport us on Patreon and get the patron-only B Side to this conversation: patreon.com/automachinationB Side topics: Aristotle’s “Vulgar Craftsman”; how the lack of writing hurts podcasters & other speakers; the peak message board era; the current Ph.D. landscape; how Raul Hilberg’s Holocaust research stymied his career; how the 2008 crisis shaped Benjamin Studebaker’s political awakening; the (illegal) Libya intervention & death of Gaddafi; comparing the 2008 and post-2020 austerity regimes; Trump vs. Hillary voter naivete; more on conspiracy theories; why Benjamin Studebaker is skeptical of affirmative action; Alex’s high school experiences in the hood; is meritocracy possible; how Benjamin Studebaker turned Alex on to Kwame Brown; black girl magic vs. black boy magic; Clarence Thomas is insulted so hard that Alex fears losing his YouTube channel; political theory in the academy; the dream-eating democracy; if the Left secures its goals, wouldn’t citizens drop out of politics altogether; assessing the 2024 presidential race; is Cornel West a serious candidateSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LBuy Benjamin Studebaker’s "The Chronic Crisis of American Democracy: The Way Is Shut": amazon.com/Chronic-Crisis-American-Democracy-Shut-ebook/dp/B0BVZ7V4T6Benjamin Studebaker’s essays: benjaminstudebaker.comRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex Sheremet’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTags: #politics #truth #election2024
Kurt Vonnegut DESTROYS Thomas Pynchon automachination 2024-07-01 | Kurt Vonnegut's "Slaughterhouse Five" was published 4 years before Thomas Pynchon's "Gravity's Rainbow", yet Pynchon was unable to take the greatness of Vonnegut's classic novel and replicate it. This is probably due to the fact that Thomas Pynchon had almost no writing talent. In this video, poets and filmmakers Alex Sheremet and Joel Parrish dissect the beautiful, terse prose of Kurt Vonnegut and contrast it with the ugly, bloated, stupid prose of Thomas Pynchon.Clipped from ArtiFact 27: Thomas Pynchon vs. Kurt Vonnegut -- youtu.be/DN2QvbzqgD8Dan Schneider’s review of Gravity’s Rainbow: http://www.cosmoetica.com/B1277-DES888.htmIf you found this video useful, support us on Patreon and get patron-only content: patreon.com/automachinationLearn about and contribute to our first film, "From There To There: Bruce Ario, the Minneapolis Poet": gofundme.com/f/new-film-the-minneapolis-poet-bruce-arioSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex Sheremet’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTags: #books #literature #bookreview #art #theory #kurtvonnegut
Norman Finkelstein: Did Arab Leaders Abandon Palestine? automachination 2024-06-21 | Arab leaders often posture as being pro-Palestine to placate the opinion of their citizenry, but actions speak louder than words. According to Holocaust and Israel/Palestine scholar Norman Finkelstein, Palestinians have often been excluded from normalization agreements going as far back as the Jordanian-Israeli agreement of the 1990s, and the Abraham Accords more recently. What can we say of Gulf State leaders and emerging players such as Morocco in the face of Israel's Gaza War [sic] and beyond?Clipped from "Norman Finkelstein: Palestinian Refugees on Apartheid, Collective Punishment, & Intifada" -- youtube.com/watch?v=38LsbQeKK5QRead Alex Sheremet's essay on Israel propagandist & literary fraudster Maxim D. Shrayer: automachination.com/maxim-d-shrayer-post-soviet-fraudBuy Norman Finkelstein’s book: amazon.com/Heretical-Thoughts-Identity-Politics-Academic/dp/B0BSJXB7WNIf you found this video useful, support us on Patreon and get patron-only content: patreon.com/automachinationLearn about and contribute to our first film, "From There To There: Bruce Ario, the Minneapolis Poet": gofundme.com/f/new-film-the-minneapolis-poet-bruce-arioSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex Sheremet’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationBackground image by mijung Park for Pixabay.Tags: #normanfinkelstein #politics #palestine #mouinrabbani #israel
Higher Education As Exploitation | Benjamin Studebaker automachination 2024-06-17 | College education and academic careers have long been pushed on Americans, but a college degree is worth less and less these days, while university tuition has skyrocketed. Political theorist Benjamin Studebaker discusses the nature of rump professionals, fallen professionals, career resentment, and much more in neoliberal America.Clipped from "ArtiFact 42: Benjamin Studebaker On The Crisis Of Democracy" -- youtu.be/OobuZB1BLX4Read Alex Sheremet's essay on Israel propagandist and literary fraudster Maxim D. Shrayer: automachination.com/maxim-d-shrayer-post-soviet-fraudSupport us on Patreon and get the patron-only B Side to this conversation: patreon.com/automachinationB Side topics: Aristotle’s “Vulgar Craftsman”; how the lack of writing hurts podcasters & other speakers; the peak message board era; the current Ph.D. landscape; how Raul Hilberg’s Holocaust research stymied his career; how the 2008 crisis shaped Benjamin Studebaker’s political awakening; the (illegal) Libya intervention & death of Gaddafi; comparing the 2008 and post-2020 austerity regimes; Trump vs. Hillary voter naivete; more on conspiracy theories; why Benjamin Studebaker is skeptical of affirmative action; Alex’s high school experiences in the hood; is meritocracy possible; how Benjamin Studebaker turned Alex on to Kwame Brown; black girl magic vs. black boy magic; Clarence Thomas is insulted so hard that Alex fears losing his YouTube channel; political theory in the academy; the dream-eating democracy; if the Left secures its goals, wouldn’t citizens drop out of politics altogether; assessing the 2024 presidential race; is Cornel West a serious candidateSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LBuy Benjamin Studebaker’s "The Chronic Crisis of American Democracy: The Way Is Shut": amazon.com/Chronic-Crisis-American-Democracy-Shut-ebook/dp/B0BVZ7V4T6Benjamin Studebaker’s essays: benjaminstudebaker.comRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex Sheremet’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTags: #politics #election2024 #highereducation
Thomas Pynchon Never Learned To Actually WRITE automachination 2024-06-15 | Thomas Pynchon's overrated "Gravity’s Rainbow" uses many of Kurt Vonnegut’s postmodern literary techniques, but fails to deliver anything of substance. In this video, authors and filmmakers Alex Sheremet and Joel Parrish review Thomas Pynchon's "Gravity's Rainbow" by going through its bloated, ugly, stupid prose.Clipped from ArtiFact 27: Thomas Pynchon vs. Kurt Vonnegut -- youtu.be/DN2QvbzqgD8Dan Schneider’s review of Gravity’s Rainbow: http://www.cosmoetica.com/B1277-DES888.htmIf you found this video useful, support us on Patreon and get patron-only content: patreon.com/automachinationLearn about and contribute to our first film, "From There To There: Bruce Ario, the Minneapolis Poet": gofundme.com/f/new-film-the-minneapolis-poet-bruce-arioSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex Sheremet’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTags: #books #literature #bookreview #art #theory
Norman Finkelstein: How Israel Criminalized Education automachination 2024-06-13 | According to Middle East analyst Mouin Rabbani and Israel/Palestine scholar Norman Finkelstein, Palestinians faced new hardships at the start of the First Intifada in December 1987. Besides Israel's exploitation of Palestinian labor, there was also the question of education and long-term school closures as a means of collectively punishing Palestinian activists. Mouin Rabbani recounts his own experiences as a young instructor in the Occupied Territories.Read Alex Sheremet's essay on Israel propagandist & literary fraudster Maxim D. Shrayer: automachination.com/maxim-d-shrayer-post-soviet-fraudClipped from "Norman Finkelstein: Palestinian Refugees on Apartheid, Collective Punishment, & Intifada" -- youtube.com/watch?v=38LsbQeKK5QBuy Norman Finkelstein’s book: amazon.com/Heretical-Thoughts-Identity-Politics-Academic/dp/B0BSJXB7WNIf you found this video useful, support us on Patreon and get patron-only content: patreon.com/automachinationLearn about and contribute to our first film, "From There To There: Bruce Ario, the Minneapolis Poet": gofundme.com/f/new-film-the-minneapolis-poet-bruce-arioSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex Sheremet’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationBackground image by mijung Park for Pixabay.Tags: #normanfinkelstein #politics #palestine #mouinrabbani #israel
The Rise of Americas Most Unsolvable Problem | Benjamin Studebaker automachination 2024-06-10 | Although Americans are busy discussing politics as usual, there has been a multi-decade push to normalize a growing and unsolvable problem. Political theorist Benjamin Studebaker tackles capital mobility, the growth of corporations, and contradictions between electoral politics and a fractured economy.Clipped from "ArtiFact 42: Benjamin Studebaker On The Crisis Of Democracy" -- youtu.be/OobuZB1BLX4Support us on Patreon and get the patron-only B Side to this conversation: patreon.com/automachinationB Side topics: Aristotle’s “Vulgar Craftsman”; how the lack of writing hurts podcasters & other speakers; the peak message board era; the current Ph.D. landscape; how Raul Hilberg’s Holocaust research stymied his career; how the 2008 crisis shaped Benjamin Studebaker’s political awakening; the (illegal) Libya intervention & death of Gaddafi; comparing the 2008 and post-2020 austerity regimes; Trump vs. Hillary voter naivete; more on conspiracy theories; why Benjamin Studebaker is skeptical of affirmative action; Alex’s high school experiences in the hood; is meritocracy possible; how Benjamin Studebaker turned Alex on to Kwame Brown; black girl magic vs. black boy magic; Clarence Thomas is insulted so hard that Alex fears losing his YouTube channel; political theory in the academy; the dream-eating democracy; if the Left secures its goals, wouldn’t citizens drop out of politics altogether; assessing the 2024 presidential race; is Cornel West a serious candidateSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LBuy Benjamin Studebaker’s "The Chronic Crisis of American Democracy: The Way Is Shut": amazon.com/Chronic-Crisis-American-Democracy-Shut-ebook/dp/B0BVZ7V4T6Benjamin Studebaker’s essays: benjaminstudebaker.comRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex Sheremet’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTags: #politics #election #economy
Norman Finkelstein: What The Palestinians Did Wrong automachination 2024-05-29 | According to Holocaust and Israel/Palestine scholar Norman Finkelstein, Palestinians were not always unified on questions of resistance and intifada. In this video, West Bank activist Musa au Hashhash describes the First Intifada, his time and prison, and continued targeting of his family into the 2020s on a panel with Norman Finkelstein and Palestinian refugees.Clipped from "Norman Finkelstein: Palestinian Refugees on Apartheid, Collective Punishment, & Intifada" -- youtube.com/watch?v=38LsbQeKK5QBuy Norman Finkelstein’s book: amazon.com/Heretical-Thoughts-Identity-Politics-Academic/dp/B0BSJXB7WNIf you found this video useful, support us on Patreon and get patron-only content: patreon.com/automachinationLearn about and contribute to our first film, "From There To There: Bruce Ario, the Minneapolis Poet": gofundme.com/f/new-film-the-minneapolis-poet-bruce-arioSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex Sheremet’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTags: #normanfinkelstein #politics #palestine
Art Up Close & Naked | ArtiFact 61: Erik Hill, Alex Sheremet automachination 2024-05-22 | Author and filmmaker Alex Sheremet sits down with Erik Hill of Erik Hill Reviews @erikhillreviews to discuss all things art: the relationship between filmmaking and poetry, how the Harlem Renaissance and rap music changed Alex's life, the perils of Steven Pinker, and fresh insights into Alex Sheremet's and Joel Parrish's new film, "From There to There: Bruce Ario, the Minneapolis Poet".This interview first appeared on Erik Hill's channel: youtube.com/watch?v=FBE0DeormUQDonate to "From There to There: Bruce Ario, the Minneapolis Poet": gofundme.com/f/new-film-the-minneapolis-poet-bruce-arioSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex Sheremet’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTimestamps:1:35 -- Alex Sheremet's background; from the USSR to Brooklyn, NY; Eldridge Cleaver's Soul on Ice; the Harlem Renaissance & artistic hierarchies; how Alex's book of film criticism, "Woody Allen: Reel to Real", helped shape his own filmmaking5:53 -- what makes a poem great; Countee Cullen's "Heritage"; Alex's atheism doesn't interfere with appreciating theological poetry; art should omit ideology in questions of craft; the artist's manipulation tactics10:46 -- art's trajectory over time; one needs to do sufficient reading to recognize quality or flaws; why Alex abandoned Vladimir Nabokov14:45 -- the role of politics in Alex Sheremet's artistic life; how rap music shaped Alex's artistic views; hip-hop & the stakes of masculinity; the destruction of attention span; being a 20th century man in the 21st century; many elements of human culture can disappear, but books totally shape human civilization21:45 -- discussing Steven Pinker's "Better Angels of our Nature" & "Enlightenment Now"; human violence over time; bad neighborhoods vs. hunter-gatherer societies; those who believe in progress are incentivized to ignore stagnation26:30 -- our film on Bruce Ario; Erik Hill reviews the film's first 8 minutes; Erik's experience with classical music set against visuals; how Alex Sheremet and Joel Parrish use visuals to "explain" Bruce Ario's poetry; why most poetry documentaries fail; using footage in arresting ways; choosing a film title35:05 -- Bruce Ario's novel, "Cityboy"; Alex: it is a great, short novel but a difficult read; why Bruce Ario allowed his book to get destroyed; "Cityboy" captures mental illness very well; an example of great, unconventional writing in "Cityboy"40:45 -- defining Bruce Ario's disabilities and mental ills; memoir vs. veiled autobiography vs. a "mere" novel; the "morality" of Bruce Ario's novel; art requires order, discipline, and consistency from the artist; Bruce Ario's interactions with homeless people; Robert Grudin: Time and the Art of Living 47:56 -- Bruce Ario's "innocence"; all cityboys must learn that all cities are the same51:00 -- poetry recommendations for beginners; poetry is like learning a new language; how Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky changed Alex's life; Alex learned to read books by summarizing every paragraph on index cardsThumbnail image by Roy Clarke from Pixabay.Tags: #filmmaking #politics #books #poetry #cinema
Norman Finkelstein: This Is When I Realized Peace Would Fail automachination 2024-05-20 | According to Holocaust and Israel/Palestine scholar Norman Finkelstein, the Oslo Accords were flawed from the beginning. If Yasser Arafat wanted peace, he says, the demand should have been for a true Palestinian state, and not the cut-up, militarized districts which Edward Said denounced in his critique of the Oslo Peace Process.In this video, Norman Finkelstein is joined by Palestinian refugees to discuss memories of peace and war.Read Alex Sheremet's essay on Israel propagandist & literary fraudster Maxim D. Shrayer: automachination.com/maxim-d-shrayer-post-soviet-fraudClipped from "Norman Finkelstein: Palestinian Refugees on Apartheid, Collective Punishment, & Intifada" -- youtube.com/watch?v=38LsbQeKK5QBuy Norman Finkelstein’s book: amazon.com/Heretical-Thoughts-Identity-Politics-Academic/dp/B0BSJXB7WNIf you found this video useful, support us on Patreon and get patron-only content: patreon.com/automachinationLearn about and contribute to our first film, "From There To There: Bruce Ario, the Minneapolis Poet": gofundme.com/f/new-film-the-minneapolis-poet-bruce-arioSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex Sheremet’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTags: #normanfinkelstein #politics #palestine
Norman Finkelstein: Death of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion? automachination 2024-04-30 | According to Holocaust and Israel/Palestine scholar Norman Finkelstein, there had been rumblings of a scandal over Ibram X. Kendi's Center for Antiracist Research. Finkelstein picks through the specifics before turning to the assumptions of modern-day "antiracism", corporate consultants such as Robin DiAngelo, and the politically correct, dismissive attitudes towards flawed historical figures.Read Alex Sheremet's essay on Israel propagandist & literary fraudster Maxim D. Shrayer: automachination.com/maxim-d-shrayer-post-soviet-fraudWatch Alex Sheremet's video essay on Robin DiAngelo's "White Fragility": youtube.com/watch?v=0bRqzSjJlu4Clipped from "ArtiFact 46: Norman Finkelstein on the IMPLOSION of Ibram X Kendi" -- youtube.com/watch?v=ieU2HCGpCSYBuy Norman Finkelstein’s book: amazon.com/Heretical-Thoughts-Identity-Politics-Academic/dp/B0BSJXB7WNIf you found this video useful, support us on Patreon and get patron-only content: patreon.com/automachinationLearn about and contribute to our first film, "From There To There: Bruce Ario, the Minneapolis Poet": gofundme.com/f/new-film-the-minneapolis-poet-bruce-arioSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex Sheremet’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTags: #normanfinkelstein #politics #debate
I Made The Film Nobody Else Would | ArtiFact 60: Destin Davis, Joel Parrish, Alex Sheremet automachination 2024-04-28 | Filmmaking can be highly technical, or not. As first-time director Alex Sheremet argues, finding the right topic and having an artistic blueprint in mind are far more important to master, as no amount of technical training will overcome bad ideas and artistic choices.Alex Sheremet and Joel Parrish sit down with Destin Davis of the Benton Courier to discuss their upcoming film, “From There to There: Bruce Ario, the Minneapolis Poet”.Watch the film’s first 8 minutes on Patreon: patreon.com/automachinationDonate to "From There To There: Bruce Ario, the Minneapolis Poet": gofundme.com/f/new-film-the-minneapolis-poet-bruce-arioDestin Davis’s article: “Upcoming documentary chronicles the life and legacy of Minneapolis poet Bruce Ario” – bentoncourier.com/news/upcoming-documentary-chronicles-the-life-and-legacy-of-minneapolis-poet-bruce-ario/article_d4da549e-fe6e-11ee-8200-37b686dd31bf.htmlSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex Sheremet’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachination1:18 – Joel Parrish discusses his art; transitioning into film work3:01 – why Alex Sheremet wants to get back to writing; creating a film vs. executing on the page; writing must always stand on its own4:32 – Destin Davis on newspaper writing; for film, the editing experience is quite different from shooting5:50 – Alex on their DaVinci Resolve workflow; splitting up tasks; color grading vs. audio; Destin: the only way to shoot a film is to go out and do it; Joel: how photography is different from videography; Alex caught the photography bug9:58 – Destin reviews the film’s first 8 minutes; Joel’s and Alex’s film equipment; Alex: you can make a great film under $10,000; pick a film-friend and split shooting duties16:15 – how to take advantage of cheap equipment; technical deficiencies should be turned into strengths; the importance of having an overarching artistic blueprint; how the opening credits were designed; using composite and biographical material19:05 – how Alex & Joel knew Bruce Ario; Bruce’s art and person; why we decided to do a film on Bruce Ario; even a non-reader of poetry can quickly ‘get’ Bruce’s poems25:35 – how Alex used Bruce Ario’s poetry as the film’s framing device28:00 – Minneapolis as the film’s center; Alex on how his book, “Woody Allen: Reel to Real”, prepared him to make a movie; Alex and Joel’s cinematic influences; Terrence Malick’s cinematography35:20 –Terrence Malick’s “Badlands”; lo-fi aesthetics in film; preparing for a 30 minute rough cut; Destin Davis on the sameness of film festivals; people don’t talk about or read poetry anymore; poetry has the phantom of “uselessness”; Alex on an audience’s artistic discrimination; Joel: there is no Bruce Ario juvenilia, only the fully formed adult Bruce; how the brevity of Bruce’s poems helps the film44:30 – understanding film vs. prose, poetry vs. prosaic scene-making; how to keep a film from being too prosaic51:00 – timelines & practical considerations; film festivals; how filmmaking changes one’s film viewing habits; the faux documentaries of Werner Herzog; the lo-fi qualities of “Harlan County, USA”; influences from “Mr. Untouchable” and “Finding Vivian Maier”; Joel on “Searching for Sugarman”; the difficulty of reviewing John Cassavetes’s “The Killing of a Chinese Bookie”; Ingmar Bergman’s “Scenes from a Marriage”; how Woody Allen’s films changed Alex’s life; distinguishing a character’s likability vs. goodness; drawing the wrong lessons from the right filmTags: #filmmaking #cinematography #artist
Norman Finkelstein: Ibram X. Kendi is a Caricature automachination 2024-04-22 | Ibram X. Kendi's "How To Be An Antiracist" is full of contradictions which should alarm readers. According to Holocaust and Israel/Palestine scholar Norman Finkelstein, "there are no arguments in the book", but author and filmmaker Alex Sheremet still insists on picking apart its claims. In one revealing chapter, Ibram X Kendi complains that poor black neigborhoods are perfectly livable and fine, yet he invokes a teenaged thug he once knew named "Smurf" who threatened Kendi and other children with guns. Kendi discusses gangs which "ran [his] high school", random fights, and other chaos, but goes on to deny these facts as expressions of structural racism.Watch Alex Sheremet's video essay on Robin DiAngelo's "White Fragility": youtube.com/watch?v=0bRqzSjJlu4Clipped from "ArtiFact 46: Norman Finkelstein on the IMPLOSION of Ibram X Kendi" -- youtube.com/watch?v=ieU2HCGpCSYBuy Norman Finkelstein’s book: amazon.com/Heretical-Thoughts-Identity-Politics-Academic/dp/B0BSJXB7WNIf you found this video useful, support us on Patreon and get patron-only content: patreon.com/automachinationLearn about and contribute to our first film, "From There To There: Bruce Ario, the Minneapolis Poet": gofundme.com/f/new-film-the-minneapolis-poet-bruce-arioSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex Sheremet’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTags: #normanfinkelstein #politics #debate
The Accidental Genius of Travis Bickle (TAXI DRIVER) automachination 2024-04-10 | Travis Bickle might be one of film's original incels, but he also has the ability to accidentally stumble upon truth. His charisma is there, even if it dissipates quickly, and his passion demands others' attention, no matter how seemingly undeserved.In this video, poets Alex Sheremet, Laura Woods, and Jessica Schneider discuss some underappreciated elements of Martin Scorsese's TAXI DRIVER, a classic that combines psychology and cinematic innovation to create a portrait of loneliness.Read Jessica Schneider's essay on Taxi Driver: automachination.com/mindful-loneliness-martin-scorseses-taxi-driver-1976Clipped from ArtiFact 45: Dreamscapes In Scorsese's "Taxi Driver" -- youtu.be/T8u7n9uTexsTo get the B Side to this conversation, support us on Patreon and get Patron-only content: patreon.com/automachinationB Side topics: Jessica on Mel Gibson’s “Passion of the Christ”; Jessica physically acts out “demon children”; Laura on Gerard Manley Hopkins; guilt and art; reading John Donne; social services & abortion politics in Ireland; Tanizaki’s “Some Prefer Nettles”; Laura on COVID politics in Ireland; on modern Russian music & the Soviet bard tradition; American meddling in Russia’s elections; translating Russian poetry; & much moreSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LDan Schneider's essay on Taxi Driver and Travis Bickle: http://www.cosmoetica.com/B928-DES721.htmRead Alex Sheremet’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTags: #psychology #taxidriver #film
Norman Finkelstein: Why My Parents LOVED Stalin automachination 2024-04-09 | According to Holocaust and Israel/Palestine scholar Norman Finkelstein, moral relativism should be avoided, even in the name of "historical context". And yet, he must also square with the fact that his parents, who were Holocaust survivors, understood that the Soviet Union had saved them from the Nazis. Alex Sheremet, born in Belarus and whose own family survived World War II, likewise had a family of Stalinists for similar reason. This is contrasted against Ibram X Kendi's arguments for absolute ethical standards across time.Clipped from "ArtiFact 46: Norman Finkelstein on the IMPLOSION of Ibram X Kendi" -- youtube.com/watch?v=ieU2HCGpCSY"Before Palestine, There Was Liberia" -- Alex Sheremet's video essay on how former American slaves colonized West Africa: youtube.com/watch?v=fUwdbPxRFYcWatch Alex Sheremet's video essay on the fraud of Robin DiAngelo: youtube.com/watch?v=0bRqzSjJlu4Buy Norman Finkelstein’s book: amazon.com/Heretical-Thoughts-Identity-Politics-Academic/dp/B0BSJXB7WNIf you found this video useful, support us on Patreon and get patron-only content: patreon.com/automachinationLearn about and contribute to our first film, "From There To There: Bruce Ario, the Minneapolis Poet": gofundme.com/f/new-film-the-minneapolis-poet-bruce-arioSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex Sheremet’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTags: #normanfinkelstein #politics #stalin #ussr #palestine
Norman Finkelstein: I Wasted Time On Girls, TV, & Clothes automachination 2024-04-04 | Norman Finkelstein's assessment of race, class, and human achievement leaves room for wasted youth and mis-education. Topics include: criminal justice reform, Robin DiAngelo's grift in "White Fragility", life advice, Frederick Douglass, and anti-Semitism.Read Alex Sheremet's essay on Israel propagandist & literary fraudster Maxim D. Shrayer: automachination.com/maxim-d-shrayer-post-soviet-fraudWatch Alex Sheremet's video essay on Robin DiAngelo's "White Fragility": youtube.com/watch?v=0bRqzSjJlu4Clipped from ArtiFact #44: Norman Finkelstein On Race, Class, & Robin DiAngelo's Fraud -- youtube.com/watch?v=csWQhC40DDMBuy Norman Finkelstein’s book: amazon.com/Heretical-Thoughts-Identity-Politics-Academic/dp/B0BSJXB7WNIf you found this video useful, support us on Patreon and get patron-only content: patreon.com/automachinationLearn about and contribute to our first film, "From There To There: Bruce Ario, the Minneapolis Poet": gofundme.com/f/new-film-the-minneapolis-poet-bruce-arioSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex Sheremet’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationThumbnail background by Asep Mulyana for Pexels.Tags: #normanfinkelstein #politics #debate
THE TEMPEST: William Shakespeares Most Enigmatic Play automachination 2024-04-03 | "The Tempest" is both William Shakespeare's shortest play, as well as the most intriguing. Even if we put aside some of its flaws, it is quite different from Shakespeare's other works, with Prospero arguably his richest and most "human" creation. In this video, authors and critics Alex Sheremet and Keith Jackewicz discuss the context of Shakespeare's time and some of the play's philosophical thrusts.Clipped from ArtiFact 53: Decolonizing Shakespeare in "The Tempest" -- youtube.com/watch?v=-Dx5zhCMEtsRead Alex Sheremet's essay on the literary fraud of Maxim D. Shrayer: automachination.com/maxim-d-shrayer-post-soviet-fraudTo get the B Side to this conversation, support us on our Patreon page for patron-only content: patreon.com/automachinationB Side topics: more connections between Shylock and Caliban; how Shakespeare plays with audience expectations; how Shakespeare signals he’s about to write something bad; Alex's falafel over rice; the Daniel Defoe / Robinson Crusoe connection; William Shakespeare vs. Mark Twain; Leo Strauss; how politics had to be occluded in Shakespeare's day; Caliban's god vs. Prospero; the meaning of magic; why didn't Prospero cast the "reason" spell on Caliban; the meaning of reason & logic in the play; why lesser characters are poorly sketched; disappointments with The Tempest; the Harold Bloom problem; how Shakespeare's reach exceeded his grasp; why the Beatles were necessarily overrated; how Shakespeare critics do a disservice to Shakespeare; Joseph Conrad's Henry James phase; Frank Herbert's Dune vs. the Dune 2 videogame universe; how voice acting destroyed game writing; does Israeli society crave images of war crimes; is Israel targeting journalists; the university hearings on anti-Semitism; Alex goes to a POC-only Palestinian protest; how the Joe Biden coalition is fracturing; the Right is better positioned for 2024-28 than in 2016; Keith boasts of getting Trump's presidency correctSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex's (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationThumbnail background via Gianluca from Pixabay.Tags: #shakespeare #books #literature #poetry #art
Norman Finkelstein: This Is The Worst Book Ever Written automachination 2024-04-02 | Robin DiAngelo has become a superstar in corporate circles, but "White Fragility" is derided by scholars and laypeople alike as untestable, unworkable, racially fetishistic, and amplifying of white racial consciousness. In this video, Holocaust and Israel-Palestine scholar Norman Finkelstein discusses his critique of Robin DiAngelo's writing.Clipped from ArtiFact #44: Norman Finkelstein On Race, Class, & Robin DiAngelo's Fraud -- youtube.com/watch?v=csWQhC40DDMRead Alex Sheremet's essay on Israel propagandist & literary fraudster Maxim D. Shrayer: automachination.com/maxim-d-shrayer-post-soviet-fraudWatch Alex Sheremet's video essay on Robin DiAngelo's "White Fragility": youtube.com/watch?v=0bRqzSjJlu4Buy Norman Finkelstein’s book: amazon.com/Heretical-Thoughts-Identity-Politics-Academic/dp/B0BSJXB7WNIf you found this video useful, support us on Patreon and get patron-only content: patreon.com/automachinationLearn about and contribute to our first film, "From There To There: Bruce Ario, the Minneapolis Poet": gofundme.com/f/new-film-the-minneapolis-poet-bruce-arioSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex Sheremet’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTags: #normanfinkelstein #politics #debate
Dr. Ivan Katchanovski: How Israel Sabotaged Ukraine automachination 2024-04-01 | After a purported Israeli genocide in Gaza, Palestine has taken center stage, with the Middle East once again a core American interest. What does this mean for Ukraine, Zelensky, and Putin's Russia? Dr. Ivan Katchanovski of the University of Ottawa explains the newest front of the Russia-Ukraine War.Clipped from "Ivan Katchanovski on the Future of Ukraine | ArtiFact 51: Alex Sheremet, Ivan Katchanovski" -- youtu.be/9GXxQGZ5-YUIf you found this video useful, support us on Patreon and get patron-only content: patreon.com/automachinationLearn about and contribute to our first film, "From There To There: Bruce Ario, the Minneapolis Poet": gofundme.com/f/new-film-the-minneapolis-poet-bruce-arioSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex Sheremet’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTags: #politics #palestine #debate
Norman Finkelstein on Race, IQ, and Robin DiAngelo automachination 2024-03-31 | Watch Alex Sheremet's video essay on Robin DiAngelo's "White Fragility": youtube.com/watch?v=0bRqzSjJlu4Even if there is no real connection between race, IQ, and achievement, is it too much to say that biology and race are separate categories? Why doesn't Robin DiAngelo discuss segregation, except in the most basic, token sense? Holocaust and Israel/Palestine scholar joins Alex Sheremet to discuss Robin DiAngelo's politically correct and self-aggrandizing book, "White Fragility".Clipped from ArtiFact #44: Norman Finkelstein On Race, Class, & Robin DiAngelo's Fraud -- youtube.com/watch?v=csWQhC40DDMBuy Norman Finkelstein’s book: amazon.com/Heretical-Thoughts-Identity-Politics-Academic/dp/B0BSJXB7WNIf you found this video useful, support us on Patreon and get patron-only content: patreon.com/automachinationLearn about and contribute to our first film, "From There To There: Bruce Ario, the Minneapolis Poet": gofundme.com/f/new-film-the-minneapolis-poet-bruce-arioSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex Sheremet’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTags: #normanfinkelstein #politics #debate
How Ancient Rome Created The Future (William Shakespeare) automachination 2024-03-28 | Clipped from “ArtiFact 57: Lust for Survival in Shakespeare's ANTONY & CLEOPATRA” – youtu.be/igBzg1B9WroSupport our first film, "From There To There: Bruce Ario, the Minneapolis Poet": gofundme.com/f/new-film-the-minneapolis-poet-bruce-arioReading William Shakespeare's ANTONY & CLEOPATRA, one gets the sense that Julius Caesar, Octavius, and other Roman leaders were fixated on their legacy. This marks a deep difference from today's leaders and artists, but why? In this video, authors Alex Sheremet, Laura Woods, and Keith Jackewicz assess the meta-fictional and historical elements of his classic yet underrated play.To get the B Side to this conversation, support us on Patreon: patreon.com/automachinationB Side topics: Cleopatra’s ambivalence over love; Cleopatra through time; sex, politics, psychology; Keith: love and power’s maintenance can be similar; power as mutual agreement on common myths; Enobarbus is underrated; Antony & Cleopatra as Shakespeare’s most cynical play; Roman propaganda during the time of civil war; the facile comparisons between America and Rome; comparing American and Israeli politics; how liberal/conservative politics get coded, weaponized; Laura: social media has Americanized political discourse in Ireland; Apple vs. Android vs. Microsoft products; Alex: the best, most stable phone I’ve ever owned was an off-brand Chinese product; America, Russia, China; assessing Chinese cultural exports; the lack of penetration of “closed” cultures; why there has been no English-language documentary on Vladimir Vysotsky; Laura on the Irish language, Alex on the Latin Vulgate Bible; Laura on nursing politics in Ireland; Keith: I have little respect for psychiatry as a discipline; mental health is too de-contextualized from everyday reality; the South African genocide against in the ICJ; Ireland’s Palestinian experience, Palestine’s Irish experience; Iran’s Bobby Sands virtue-signal; Michael Hoffman is useless for Palestinian activism; anti-Talmud theories are similar to Islamophobia; Israel & genetic ancestrySubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTags: #shakespeare #history #books
Norman Finkelstein: Race & The Glenn Loury Problem automachination 2024-03-27 | Political correctness exists on all sides: right, left, and center. Holocaust and Israel/Palestine scholar Norman Finkelstein joins Alex Sheremet to discuss Robin DiAngelo's politically correct grift in "White Fragility" and opine on what Alex terms The Glenn Loury Problem: a rejection of one's past coupled with an inability to actually learn from it.Clipped from ArtiFact #44: Norman Finkelstein On Race, Class, & Robin DiAngelo's Fraud -- youtube.com/watch?v=csWQhC40DDMBuy Norman Finkelstein’s book: amazon.com/Heretical-Thoughts-Identity-Politics-Academic/dp/B0BSJXB7WNIf you found this video useful, support us on Patreon and get patron-only content: patreon.com/automachinationLearn about and contribute to our first film, "From There To There: Bruce Ario, the Minneapolis Poet": gofundme.com/f/new-film-the-minneapolis-poet-bruce-arioSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex Sheremet’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTags: #normanfinkelstein #politics #podcast
Two Narcissists: Jordan B. Peterson vs. Julius Caesar automachination 2024-03-26 | Jordan B. Peterson and the Caesars have little in common, except for their narcissism. In this video, we discuss concepts such as "feminine chaos", the ways in which William Shakespeare's "Antony & Cleopatra" turn Roman myths on their head, and the effeminate perspective of "modern men" such as Jordan Peterson.Clipped from “ArtiFact 57: Lust for Survival in Shakespeare's ANTONY & CLEOPATRA” – youtu.be/igBzg1B9WroSupport our first film, "From There To There: Bruce Ario, the Minneapolis Poet": gofundme.com/f/new-film-the-minneapolis-poet-bruce-arioTo get the B Side to this conversation, support us on Patreon: patreon.com/automachinationB Side topics: Cleopatra’s ambivalence over love; Cleopatra through time; sex, politics, psychology; Keith: love and power’s maintenance can be similar; power as mutual agreement on common myths; Enobarbus is underrated; Antony & Cleopatra as Shakespeare’s most cynical play; Roman propaganda during the time of civil war; the facile comparisons between America and Rome; comparing American and Israeli politics; how liberal/conservative politics get coded, weaponized; Laura: social media has Americanized political discourse in Ireland; Apple vs. Android vs. Microsoft products; Alex: the best, most stable phone I’ve ever owned was an off-brand Chinese product; America, Russia, China; assessing Chinese cultural exports; the lack of penetration of “closed” cultures; why there has been no English-language documentary on Vladimir Vysotsky; Laura on the Irish language, Alex on the Latin Vulgate Bible; Laura on nursing politics in Ireland; Keith: I have little respect for psychiatry as a discipline; mental health is too de-contextualized from everyday reality; the South African genocide against in the ICJ; Ireland’s Palestinian experience, Palestine’s Irish experience; Iran’s Bobby Sands virtue-signal; Michael Hoffman is useless for Palestinian activism; anti-Talmud theories are similar to Islamophobia; Israel & genetic ancestrySubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTags: #jordanpeterson #narcissist #psychology #history #politics
Norman Finkelstein: Why White Liberals Hate Cornel West automachination 2024-03-25 | Cornel West has gone from a much-loved public intellectual when he first came on the scene in support of Bill Clinton and the Democratic Party, to a much-hated figure due to his criticism of Barack Obama and his Green Party (then Independent) 2024 presidential run. Holocaust and Israel/Palestine scholar Norman Finkelstein and Alex Sheremet discuss Cornel West's as a figure, white liberal meltdowns over his public role, and more.Clipped from ArtiFact #43: Norman Finkelstein Exposes The Cult Of Barack Obama -- youtube.com/watch?v=aEZCalY_gcg"Before Palestine, There Was Liberia" -- Alex Sheremet's video essay on how former American slaves colonized West Africa: youtube.com/watch?v=fUwdbPxRFYcBuy Norman Finkelstein’s book: amazon.com/Heretical-Thoughts-Identity-Politics-Academic/dp/B0BSJXB7WNWatch Norman Finkelstein discuss Israel and Gaza with Palestinian refugees: youtube.com/watch?v=S4OP7B9jKaoIf you found this video useful, support us on Patreon and get patron-only content: patreon.com/automachinationLearn about and contribute to our first film, "From There To There: Bruce Ario, the Minneapolis Poet": gofundme.com/f/new-film-the-minneapolis-poet-bruce-arioSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex Sheremet’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTags: #normanfinkelstein #politics #2024
Does Dmitry Medvedev Want ALL of Ukraine? | Dr. Ivan Katchanovski automachination 2024-03-24 | Although Putin, NATO, and Zelensky are at the center of the Russia-Ukraine War, Dmitry Medvedev plays an underappreciated role in Russian politics. As his recent Telegram posts suggest, Medvedev often voices Russia's unhealthy "id" -- giving words to things that Vladimir Putin, himself, would not say.In ArtiFact 51, Alex Sheremet is joined by University of Ottawa professor and Ukrainian-Canadian scholar Ivan Katchanovski to discuss the Russia-Ukraine War, the costs to Ukraine, the impact of the war in Gaza, and recent developments in the Maidan massacre.Clipped from ArtiFact 51: Ivan Katchanovski on the Future of Ukraine -- youtu.be/9GXxQGZ5-YUTo get the B Side to this conversation, support us on Patreon and get patron-only content: patreon.com/automachinationB Side topics: how Russian state media presents Palestine & Palestinians; Russia’s policy in the Middle East; the role of Dmitry Medvedev in Russian politics, propaganda; Medvedev’s Telegram posts; Russia’s might seek more territory; Belarus as a client state; the case of Ivan Bubenchik in Maidan; a Ukrainian law which allows murder?; more Maidan details come to light after the trial; the most common objections to Ivan Katchanovski’s claims; what if Maidan protesters were not in control of every building; how the Svoboda Party provided muscle; Ivan has been to Hotel Ukraina many times; the testimony of hotel staff; the future of Ukraine; de-population, poverty, & the refugee problem; Ukrainian dependence on Western aid; Ukraine should join the European Union; the EU acts like a political/military rather than economic union; can Russia and the United States cultivate an alliance; observing right-wing Russian nationalistsSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex Sheremet's (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comLearn about and contribute to our first film, "From There To There: Bruce Ario, the Minneapolis Poet": gofundme.com/f/new-film-the-minneapolis-poet-bruce-arioFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTags: #russia #putin #politics #ukraine #moscow
Norman Finkelstein: Obama Threw His Friend Under The Bus automachination 2024-03-20 | When it came time for Barack Obama's birthday bash, he had a choice between inviting his long-time friend and political engineer, David Axelrod, and Beyonce. According to Holocaust and Israel/Palestine scholar Norman Finkelstein, Barack Obama had "no political bone in his body", and his love of celebrity made the choice obvious.Clipped from ArtiFact 43: Norman Finkelstein Exposes The Cult Of Barack Obama -- youtube.com/watch?v=aEZCalY_gcgBuy Norman Finkelstein’s book: amazon.com/Heretical-Thoughts-Identity-Politics-Academic/dp/B0BSJXB7WNNorman Finkelstein’s website: normanfinkelstein.comIf you found this video useful, support us on Patreon and get patron-only content: patreon.com/automachinationSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex Sheremet’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTags: #politics #normanfinkelstein #obama
Norman Finkelstein: Barack Obama Was A Blank Slate automachination 2024-03-19 | In Norman Finkelstein's "I'll Burn That Bridge When I Get To It", the Holocaust and Israel/Palestine scholar tackles wokeness, academia, and the cultural history of Barack Obama. According to Finkelstein, Barack Obama was vetted by a political machine that sized him up, and decided he was fit to continue the same policies . Even as the 2008 primary seemed to pit Hillary Clinton against Barack Obama, their policies were similar, and Clinton ultimately ended up as Secretary of State.Clipped from ArtiFact 43: Norman Finkelstein Exposes The Cult Of Barack Obama -- youtube.com/watch?v=aEZCalY_gcgBuy Norman Finkelstein’s book: amazon.com/Heretical-Thoughts-Identity-Politics-Academic/dp/B0BSJXB7WNNorman Finkelstein’s website: normanfinkelstein.comIf you found this video useful, support us on Patreon and get patron-only content: patreon.com/automachinationSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex Sheremet’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTags: #politics #normanfinkelstein #obama
Norman Finkelstein: Hillary Clinton LOVED Donald Trump automachination 2024-03-18 | According to Holocaust and Israel/Palestine scholar Norman Finkelstein, the liberal elite use to include Donald Trump, which explains why Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, and even the Obamas used to exist in the same milieu. From attending each other's weddings and cocktail parties, to parties at Martha's Vineyard, to being on the same page about the future of America, Trump's falling out of the Hillary Clinton camp is by pure happenstance.Clipped from ArtiFact 43: Norman Finkelstein Exposes The Cult Of Barack Obama -- youtube.com/watch?v=aEZCalY_gcgBuy Norman Finkelstein’s book: amazon.com/Heretical-Thoughts-Identity-Politics-Academic/dp/B0BSJXB7WNNorman Finkelstein’s website: normanfinkelstein.comIf you found this video useful, support us on Patreon and get patron-only content: patreon.com/automachinationSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex Sheremet’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTags: #politics #normanfinkelstein #trump
Norman Finkelstein on the Oprahfication of Barack Obama automachination 2024-03-17 | According to Holocaust and Israel/Palestine scholar Norman Finkelstein, Barack Obama had an opportunity to make lasting changes, but squandered it for the sake of a narcissistic pursuit of celebrity. As Obama engaged in a policy of Oprahfication, substituting platitudes for depth, he can be contrasted with both Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, who were far more interested in questions of policy even as they failed in other respects.Clipped from ArtiFact 43: Norman Finkelstein Exposes The Cult Of Barack Obama -- youtube.com/watch?v=aEZCalY_gcgBuy Norman Finkelstein’s book: amazon.com/Heretical-Thoughts-Identity-Politics-Academic/dp/B0BSJXB7WNNorman Finkelstein’s website: normanfinkelstein.comIf you found this video useful, support us on Patreon and get patron-only content: patreon.com/automachinationSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex Sheremet’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTags: #politics #normanfinkelstein #obama
Exposing The Stupidest People In Crypto | NETWORK STATE automachination 2024-03-15 | Bitcoin and cryptocurrency are considered right-wing, libertarian inventions, though they don't have to be. Whether it's Balaji Srinivasan (The Network State) making dumb bets about bitcoin hitting $1 million in a matter of months, or Roger Ver staking his "libertarianism" on illegal activity, or NFT sellers replicating the problems of academic art, crypto is full of grifters, idiots, and radical right-wingers who must be dismissed from the conversation.CORRECTION: Roger Ver was not convicted of sending pipe bombs through the mail, but the judge alluded to pipe bombs that were not charged, nor entered into evidence in Roger Ver's criminal case: web.archive.org/web/20190316040729/lesperanceassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Mr.-Vers-Sentencing.pdfClipped from “ArtiFact 56: Bitcoin For Socialists?” -- youtube.com/watch?v=un8jqcrQ70kBuy Joshua Davila’s “Blockchain Radicals: How Capitalism Ruined Crypto and How to Fix It” – amazon.com/Blockchain-Radicals-Building-Beyond-Capitalism/dp/1914420853Joshua’s Twitter page: twitter.com/TBSocialistTo get the B Side to this conversation, support us on Patreon: patreon.com/automachinationB Side topics: left vs. right-wing conceptions of personal responsibility; every crypto Twitter ad is a scam; account abstraction for added security; froth vs. fundamental value; how crypto adds a premium; investment vs. utility; Alex: most of my crypto acquaintances are sociopaths; why Alex hesitates to release his art as NFTs; bitcoin ordinals encourage spam art; the art world has been scamming for centuries; NFTs place anti-art expectations upon artists; Solana’s Degen Poet is like a 10 year old; art as money laundering; hypocrisy in the art world; Josh: most art does not have value; why Alex is annoyed by DCInvestor.eth; how NFTs work and why they will NOT go away; NFTs add inalienable rights on top of authentication; why Josh rejects digital scarcity; crypto idiots: Balaji Srinivasan makes a $1 million bitcoin bet; debunking the Network State; Roger Ver gets imprisoned over illegal activity; bitcoin and energy consumption; crypto “walking” apps and greenwashing; Bill Ackman won’t be getting laid for monthsSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTags: #bitcoin #cryptocurrency #politics
Zone of Interest Got Claps, Michael Moore Got Booed. Why? automachination 2024-03-11 | Jonathan Glazer critiqued Israel's aggression in Gaza during his Academy Award speech for "The Zone of Interest". He complained of the exploitation of "Jewishness" and of the Holocaust by Israel. This was a political move not unlike Michael Moore's critique of George W. Bush and the Iraq War in 2003, while Moore accepted his own Academy Award for "Bowling for Columbine". This indicates that expectations have changed, and the fact that the narrative surrounding Palestine has changed forever.Read our review of Jonathan Glazer's "The Zone of Interest": automachination.com/another-side-jonathan-glazer-zone-of-interestMore on our film, "From There To There: Bruce Ario, The Minneapolis Poet": gofundme.com/f/new-film-the-minneapolis-poet-bruce-arioIf you enjoyed this video, support us on Patreon and get patron-only content: patreon.com/automachinationSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationThumbnail image of Jonathan Glazer via Raph_PH - ZoneIntrestBFILFF121023 (7 of 31), CC BY 2.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=145089633Tags: #oscars #gaza #film
Why Atheists Should Fast For Ramadan (My Experience) automachination 2024-03-10 | Ramadan is known for its strict fast -- much stricter than Lent, which is longer but with fewer restrictions. Alex Sheremet is an author and filmmaker who decided to fast for Ramadan as a challenge, to help finish his film, and to express solidarity with Palestine and Gaza. In this video, the difficulties and benefits of the Ramadan fast are explained, as Alex goes through his fasting experience.More on our film, "From There To There: Bruce Ario, The Minneapolis Poet": gofundme.com/f/new-film-the-minneapolis-poet-bruce-arioIf you enjoyed this video, support us on Patreon and get patron-only content: patreon.com/automachinationSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationThumbnail background by john peter from Pixabay.Tags: #ramadan #motivation #freepalestine
Ancient Romes Most Infamous Woman automachination 2024-03-06 | Marc Antony’s wife, Fulvia, was an aristocratic woman who played an influential role in Roman politics, helping Antony engineer civil wars and make difficult choices. In Shakespeare’s ANTONY & CLEOPATRA, Fulvia is already dead, and some of the grimmer stories (such as Fulvia sticking pins into Cicero’s severed head) are absent. But her presence is felt throughout the play, as is the fact that she is being used as a stepping stone and bargaining chip.In this video, authors Alex Sheremet, Laura Woods, and Keith Jackewicz examine Fulvia as both a historical figure and character, comparing her to Cleopatra’s role in Egypt and abroad.Clipped from “ArtiFact 57: Lust for Survival in Shakespeare's ANTONY & CLEOPATRA” – youtu.be/igBzg1B9WroTo get the B Side to this conversation, support us on Patreon: patreon.com/automachinationB Side topics: Cleopatra’s ambivalence over love; Cleopatra through time; sex, politics, psychology; Keith: love and power’s maintenance can be similar; power as mutual agreement on common myths; Enobarbus is underrated; Antony & Cleopatra as Shakespeare’s most cynical play; Roman propaganda during the time of civil war; the facile comparisons between America and Rome; comparing American and Israeli politics; how liberal/conservative politics get coded, weaponized; Laura: social media has Americanized political discourse in Ireland; Apple vs. Android vs. Microsoft products; Alex: the best, most stable phone I’ve ever owned was an off-brand Chinese product; America, Russia, China; assessing Chinese cultural exports; the lack of penetration of “closed” cultures; why there has been no English-language documentary on Vladimir Vysotsky; Laura on the Irish language, Alex on the Latin Vulgate Bible; Laura on nursing politics in Ireland; Keith: I have little respect for psychiatry as a discipline; mental health is too de-contextualized from everyday reality; the South African genocide against in the ICJ; Ireland’s Palestinian experience, Palestine’s Irish experience; Iran’s Bobby Sands virtue-signal; Michael Hoffman is useless for Palestinian activism; anti-Talmud theories are similar to Islamophobia; Israel & genetic ancestrySubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTags: #rome #ancienthistory #history
Is Bitcoin Money? The Case of WikiLeaks. automachination 2024-03-04 | Although bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are often thought of as money, Joshua Davila believes they only have some money-like properties, and that this is in fact a good thing. But bitcoin fails as an inflation hedge, what are some other use cases? We assess the role of bitcoin in funding WikiLeaks, SciHub, and Satoshi Nakamoto's warning about using a nascent bitcoin for political ends at a time when Julian Assange was first being targeted.Clipped from “ArtiFact 56: Bitcoin For Socialists?” -- youtube.com/watch?v=un8jqcrQ70kBuy Joshua Davila’s “Blockchain Radicals: How Capitalism Ruined Crypto and How to Fix It” – amazon.com/Blockchain-Radicals-Building-Beyond-Capitalism/dp/1914420853Joshua’s Twitter page: twitter.com/TBSocialistTo get the B Side to this conversation, support us on Patreon: patreon.com/automachinationB Side topics: left vs. right-wing conceptions of personal responsibility; every crypto Twitter ad is a scam; account abstraction for added security; froth vs. fundamental value; how crypto adds a premium; investment vs. utility; Alex: most of my crypto acquaintances are sociopaths; why Alex hesitates to release his art as NFTs; bitcoin ordinals encourage spam art; the art world has been scamming for centuries; NFTs place anti-art expectations upon artists; Solana’s Degen Poet is like a 10 year old; art as money laundering; hypocrisy in the art world; Josh: most art does not have value; why Alex is annoyed by DCInvestor.eth; how NFTs work and why they will NOT go away; NFTs add inalienable rights on top of authentication; why Josh rejects digital scarcity; crypto idiots: Balaji Srinivasan makes a $1 million bitcoin bet; debunking the Network State; Roger Ver gets imprisoned over pipe bombs; bitcoin and energy consumption; crypto “walking” apps and greenwashing; Bill Ackman won’t be getting laid for monthsSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTags: #bitcoin #cryptocurrency #politics
How Thomas Sowell Became A Cartoon automachination 2024-03-01 | In a hilarious turn, Thomas Sowell fans have turned him into a cartoon in order to break down his simplistic POV even further. It was already apparent he could not properly define "freedom", but as Thomas Sowell's cartoon reveals, he also doesn't quite get "justice", "inequality", the implications of a public education, and how he benefited from a kind of Affirmative Action before it became law.In this video, authors Alex Sheremet and Dan Schneider debunk common libertarian talking points pushed by Thomas Sowell, Milton Friedman, and others.Clipped from "ArtiFact 59 -- Why White People LOVE Thomas Sowell": youtube.com/watch?v=d3LUO8mXbcgTo get the B Side to this conversation, support us on Patreon: patreon.com/automachinationB Side topics: Quora as a hotbed for bigotry; Quora sciolism; who were the original inhabitants of Palestine; international vs. American coverage of Israel; the disappearance of Palestinian women; bad reporting on Hamas rape allegations; if an Alabama town was cordoned off like Gaza, there would be rebellion; distinguishing Jews, Israelis, and the government of Israel; anti-Semitism is the wrong term; the IDF has likely abused more Jewish women than Hamas; the Ottoman Empire had no right to sell Palestinian land; World War 3 vs. a regional conflagration; after Ukraine + Gaza, will China invade Taiwan; Alex is getting nervous about North Korea; John Fetterman wraps himself in an Israeli flag, members of Congress wear IDF uniforms on the floor; China, Vietnam, Ukraine; Dan: China has much smarter leaders than Russia & the USSR; China & the microchip wars; why America wants civil wars; why Heartland Theory seems to have won out; Zbigniew Brezinski’s conundrum; the Monroe Doctrine should be dissolved; Russia as the sick man of Europe; political legitimacy in America & abroad; the US needs drastic change; global warming proves democracy cannot respond to crisis; an even worse pandemic is coming; JN.1 variant & long COVID; the travails of blue collar labor; Alex: all pain can be solved with (unknown) physical movements; age & memoryDan Schneider’s YT channel: youtube.com/@cosmoeticaDan Schneider’s Cosmoetica: http://cosmoetica.comSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTags: #politics #debate #roast
Thomas Sowell Doesnt Understand Freedom automachination 2024-02-27 | Although Thomas Sowell has cultivated a reputation for intellectual chops, basic concepts such as "freedom" seem to elude him. He also misrepresents polling on Affirmative Action and the politics of America's best-known black leaders.In this video, authors Alex Sheremet and Dan Schneider debunk common libertarian talking points pushed by Thomas Sowell, Milton Friedman, and others.Clipped from "ArtiFact 59 -- Why White People LOVE Thomas Sowell": youtube.com/watch?v=d3LUO8mXbcgTo get the B Side to this conversation, support us on Patreon: patreon.com/automachinationB Side topics: Quora as a hotbed for bigotry; Quora sciolism; who were the original inhabitants of Palestine; international vs. American coverage of Israel; the disappearance of Palestinian women; bad reporting on Hamas rape allegations; if an Alabama town was cordoned off like Gaza, there would be rebellion; distinguishing Jews, Israelis, and the government of Israel; anti-Semitism is the wrong term; the IDF has likely abused more Jewish women than Hamas; the Ottoman Empire had no right to sell Palestinian land; World War 3 vs. a regional conflagration; after Ukraine + Gaza, will China invade Taiwan; Alex is getting nervous about North Korea; John Fetterman wraps himself in an Israeli flag, members of Congress wear IDF uniforms on the floor; China, Vietnam, Ukraine; Dan: China has much smarter leaders than Russia & the USSR; China & the microchip wars; why America wants civil wars; why Heartland Theory seems to have won out; Zbigniew Brezinski’s conundrum; the Monroe Doctrine should be dissolved; Russia as the sick man of Europe; political legitimacy in America & abroad; the US needs drastic change; global warming proves democracy cannot respond to crisis; an even worse pandemic is coming; JN.1 variant & long COVID; the travails of blue collar labor; Alex: all pain can be solved with (unknown) physical movements; age & memoryDan Schneider’s YT channel: youtube.com/@cosmoeticaDan Schneider’s Cosmoetica: http://cosmoetica.comSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationBackground photo by David Peterson via Pixabay.
FRAUD ALERT: Jared Taylor LIES To Phil Donahues Face automachination 2024-02-25 | Jared Taylor's appearance on Phil Donahue (2003) exposed Taylor as a politically correct grifter who is willing to lie about past words and actions. Notice how he goes from saying that he only wants to be around "wealthy", "good-looking" whites at "cocktail parties" to Trumpist language about impoverished and forgotten American whites. Elitist, smug, and willing to sacrifice everything he has been given for a little attention, Jared Taylor does not value his gifts, nor his audience.Clipped from "ArtiFact 58: How Jared Taylor WASTED His Life" -- youtube.com/watch?v=TA1UWUI5A-0To get the B Side to this conversation, support us on Patreon: patreon.com/automachinationDan Schneider’s YT channel: youtube.com/@cosmoeticaDan Schneider’s Cosmoetica: http://cosmoetica.comSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTimestamps:0:00 – Jared Taylor on Phil Donahue; Jared Taylor puts a slick corporate face on the Ku Klux Klan; Jared Taylor's political correctness; why Jared Taylor is not an anti-Semite5:05 – are immigrants taking over America; is Texas a Spanish state; the Mexico-Texas conundrum; the US creates refugees; Jared Taylor doesn’t know what he doesn’t know; Jared Taylor sneaks his way around 9/11 & questions of terrorism13:24 – immigration & GDP; Jared Taylor lies about the 1965 Immigration Act; prior immigration systematically excluded ‘undesirable’ Europeans such as Russians; Jared Taylor calls Arabs “shifty eyed”; Jared Taylor flip-flops on overpopulation; “if diversity was so great, the Indians should be happy”27:24 – Jared Taylors fails to say WHY “New York looks like Afghanistan”; Robert Moses demolished black neighborhoods; Alex goes OFF on “white comradery”, “white consciousness”, & “white culture”; Alex: only other Russians have put me in dangerous situations; Jared Taylor has little curiosity about the world37:30 – Jared Taylor has WASTED his life & squandered every opportunity; Jared Taylor reveals his condescension & hatred of white people; Russians, Uzbeks, and Koreans vs. ethnicity; Native American solidarity01:03:26 – Jared Taylor & anti-Semitism; shtetls, ghettos, & European identity; South Africans & Zimbabwe whites as “persecuted minorities”; Jared Taylor is inconsistent on the role of homosexuals in his white ethnostateTags: #politics #race #tv
Why White People LOVE Thomas Sowell | ArtiFact 59: Alex Sheremet, Dan Schneider automachination 2024-02-21 | Thomas Sowell has a reputation for unorthodox positions and intellectual chops, but does he deserve it? His comments on slavery, equality, freedom, and philosophical concepts are rather thin, while his claims about the public commons are hypocritical. In this video, authors and cultural critics Alex Sheremet and Dan Schneider go through some of Thomas Sowell's core beliefs, breaking down his logical fallacies, double standards, inconsistencies, and more.To get the B Side to this conversation, support us on Patreon: patreon.com/automachinationB Side topics: Quora as a hotbed for bigotry; Quora sciolism; who were the original inhabitants of Palestine; international vs. American coverage of Israel; the disappearance of Palestinian women; bad reporting on Hamas rape allegations; if an Alabama town was cordoned off like Gaza, there would be rebellion; distinguishing Jews, Israelis, and the government of Israel; anti-Semitism is the wrong term; the IDF has likely abused more Jewish women than Hamas; the Ottoman Empire had no right to sell Palestinian land; World War 3 vs. a regional conflagration; after Ukraine + Gaza, will China invade Taiwan; Alex is getting nervous about North Korea; John Fetterman wraps himself in an Israeli flag, members of Congress wear IDF uniforms on the floor; China, Vietnam, Ukraine; Dan: China has much smarter leaders than Russia & the USSR; China & the microchip wars; why America wants civil wars; why Heartland Theory seems to have won out; Zbigniew Brezinski’s conundrum; the Monroe Doctrine should be dissolved; Russia as the sick man of Europe; political legitimacy in America & abroad; the US needs drastic change; global warming proves democracy cannot respond to crisis; an even worse pandemic is coming; JN.1 variant & long COVID; the travails of blue collar labor; Alex: all pain can be solved with (unknown) physical movements; age & memoryDan Schneider’s YT channel: youtube.com/@cosmoeticaDan Schneider’s Cosmoetica: http://cosmoetica.comSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationBackground photo by Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels.Timestamps:0:00 – Thomas Sowell in the grand scheme of things1:46 – Thomas Sowell talks freedom, egalitarianism; notions of equality; growing up in poverty; the word “processes” as a scare-tactic; re-defining freedom; the “states’ rights” argument around the Civil War; does Thomas Sowell have any original ideas?7:35 – “people have an ascribed status”; Thomas Sowell on affirmative action; Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, WEB Du Bois were all socialists; crafting polling questions; equality of outcome vs. equality of opportunity; special privileges granted by government; slavery in a zero-sum game; how the rich exploit the public commons; Bill Gates depended on government services; welfare hypocrisy; libertarian arguments exempt themselves from pre-existing privileges18:48 – a cartoon of Thomas Sowell saying cartoonish things; Thomas Sowell mislabels “cosmic justice”; Thomas Sowell’s Freudian slip; Thomas Sowell makes the worst possible boxing analogy31:55 – Thomas Sowell vs. John Rawls; Thomas Sowell describes his great public school education; did a white teacher save Thomas Sowell’s life; Thomas Sowell’s hypocrisy; the role of teachers vs. other public servants; Thomas Sowell is not meeting his purported intellectual standards; Thomas Sowell likely benefited from de facto Affirmative Action46:50 – is Thomas Sowell now “the mascot”?; why white people LOVE Thomas Sowell; do men lie for their ideals; Thomas Sowell’s mistakes on Vladimir Lenin; why does Thomas Sowell think he himself is not an “idealist”?Tags: #politics #blackhistorymonth #sowell
Does Jared Taylor Secretly LOVE Black Women? (A Theory) automachination 2024-02-18 | After white supremacist Jared Taylor called Haitians and Mexicans "ugly", we decided to investigate some of Jared Taylor's deeper hang-ups. Trigger warning: interracial marriage, interracial sex, and good old race-mixing.The women shown are Danielle Romero, Lil Kim, Foxy Brown, Beyonce, Dorothy Dandridge, Bernadette Stanis, Diahann Carroll, Dona Drake, Halle Berry, Nicole Meyer, Ida Ljungquvist, and Kylie Johnson.For our much longer video on Jared Taylor's claims, check out "ArtiFact 58: How Jared Taylor WASTED His Life" -- youtu.be/TA1UWUI5A-0To get the B Side to this conversation, support us on Patreon: patreon.com/automachinationDan Schneider’s YT channel: youtube.com/@cosmoeticaDan Schneider’s Cosmoetica: http://cosmoetica.comJared Taylor on Danielle Romero’s NYTN: youtube.com/watch?v=4QWz5uwyFQcSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTags: #politics #philosophy #love
Jared Taylor Doesnt Get Slavery, Race, & Reparations automachination 2024-02-14 | Jared Taylor is a white supremacist who is often presented as a great debater and communicator. In this clip, cultural critics Alex Sheremet and Dan Schneider go through Jared Taylor's poorly-argued video in which he spreads myths about slavery, the slave trade, questions of reparations, and more.For our much longer video on Jared Taylor's lies and omissions, check out "ArtiFact 58: How Jared Taylor WASTED His Life" -- youtu.be/TA1UWUI5A-0To get the B Side to this conversation, support us on Patreon: patreon.com/automachinationDan Schneider’s YT channel: youtube.com/@cosmoeticaDan Schneider’s Cosmoetica: http://cosmoetica.comJared Taylor on Danielle Romero's NYTN: youtube.com/watch?v=4QWz5uwyFQcSubscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xw2M4DApple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEVGoogle Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJAmazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxBPodbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUoiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942LRead more from the automachination universe: automachination.comRead Alex’s (archived) essays: alexsheremet.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachinationTags: #politics #slavery #reparations
