Weird Studies
Society & Culture
About
Professor Phil Ford and writer J. F. Martel host a series of conversations on art and philosophy, dwelling on ideas that are hard to think and art that opens up rifts in what we are pleased to call "reality." SpectreVision Radio is a bespoke podcast network at the intersection between the arts and the uncanny, featuring a tapestry of shows exploring the anomalous, the luminous, and the numinous. We’re a community for creators and fans vibrating around common curiosities, shared interests and persistent passions. spectrevisionradio.com linktr.ee/spectrevision
Episodes
- Episode 211 – You've Always Been the Caretaker: On Kubrick's 'The Shining'
In this episode, Phil and JF discuss Stanley Kubrick's film adaptation of Stephen King's novel, 'The Shining.' They examine the film's fundamental role in modern weird culture and its relevance to their specific interests.
- Special Episode: M.C. Richards's "Wrestling with the Daimonic," read by Phil Ford
Weird Studies presents a special episode featuring Phil Ford’s reading of M.C. Richards’ essay “Wrestling with the Daimonic.” This essay was previously discussed and is now available to all listeners. The next regular episode will discuss…
- Episode 210 – Angels & Daimons, with Cristina Campo and M.C. Richards
In this episode, JF and Phil discuss two essays: Cristina Campo’s “On Fairy Tales” and M.C. Richards’s “Wrestling with the Daimonic.” The conversation explores imagination, personhood, and a world imbued with meaning.
- Episode 209 – At Home in the Labyrinth, with Murakami and Borges
In this episode, Phil and JF discuss Haruki Murakami’s “Cream” and Jorge Luis Borges’s “The Garden of Forking Paths.” They meditate on time, perplexity, and the idea that meaning is found in the journey, not the destination.
- Episode 208 – Unbridled Creation: On Kenneth Batcheldor's Theory of the Paranormal
This episode of Weird Studies discusses Kenneth Batcheldor's theory of the paranormal, drawing from his research in table-turning and his essay "Notes on the Elusiveness Problem in Relation to a Radical View of Paranormality." The hosts ex…
- Episode 207 – Magic Mirror: On J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Fellowship of the Ring'
This episode of Weird Studies discusses J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Fellowship of the Ring,' analyzing Frodo's journey, Tolkien's prose style, modernism, magical realism, and his focus on the weird and tragic. It is the first in a three-part ser…
- Episode 206 – On Ken Russell's 'Altered States': Live at Indiana University Bloomington
This episode of Weird Studies, recorded live at Indiana University Bloomington, features a discussion of Ken Russell's film 'Altered States.' The hosts explore the intersection of mysticism, psychedelics, and institutional science, followe…
- Episode 205 – Discipline and Delight: On the Hierophant Card in the Tarot
This episode of Weird Studies explores the Hierophant card of the Tarot. The discussion focuses on the relationship between tradition, spiritual practice, and inner growth, referencing various intellectual and cultural works.
- Episode 204 – The Perilous Realm: J.R.R. Tolkien's 'On Fairy Stories'
Phil and JF discuss J.R.R. Tolkien's essay 'On Fairy Stories,' exploring his views on the nature of Faerie, storytelling, and its relationship to reality. The episode examines Tolkien’s argument that fairy stories are disclosures of a real…
- Holiday Bonus: Scavengers in the Ruins of Heaven
In this bonus episode of Weird Studies, the hosts discuss imposter syndrome, the limitations of the intellect, the dangers of playing with swords, and the importance of trust in creativity. This audio extra was originally produced for Patr…
- Episode 203 – Distant Early Warnings: A Return to Marshall McLuhan's 'Book of Probes'
In this episode, Phil and JF return to Marshall McLuhan's 'The Book of Probes' to discuss a variety of topics, including advertising, technology, and the influence of orality and literacy. The conversation revisits a format used in episode…
- Episode 202 – The Human is Two: On 'The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde'
Hosts JF and Phil explore the themes of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. They discuss the novella's influence on literature, psychology, and the concept of the fragmented psyche.
- Episode 201 – On James Whale's 'Frankenstein' and 'Bride of Frankenstein,' with Peter Bebergal
Phil and JF join independent scholar Peter Bebergal to discuss James Whale’s Frankenstein and The Bride of Frankenstein. The conversation explores themes including Gnosticism, alchemy, and techno-hubris in the context of these classic film…
- Halloween Special: A Reading of Arthur Machen's "The White People"
In this remixed Halloween special, Phil reads Arthur Machen's classic weird tale, "The White People." The episode also notes a previous discussion of the story in episode 3 and a recent appearance by the hosts on Conner Habib's podcast.
- Episode 200 – On 'The Call of Cthulhu'
In their 200th episode, the hosts of Weird Studies discuss H. P. Lovecraft’s short story “The Call of Cthulhu.” They explore its significance to the horror genre and the concept of the Weird, comparing their podcast's approach to knowledge…
- Episode 199 – On Michael Jackson, with Shannon Taggart
Photographer and paranormal researcher Shannon Taggart joins the hosts of Weird Studies to discuss the life and persona of Michael Jackson, exploring his status as a transformative and liminal figure.
- Episode 198 – Breaking the Frame: On the High Priestess in the Tarot
Phil and JF continue their series on the major arcana of the tarot by discussing the second card, the High Priestess. The conversation explores the symbolism of this card, including its associations with duality, contemplation, and manifes…
- Episode 197 - Sounding the Otherworld: On Bryn Chainey's 'Rabbit Trap'
JF and Phil discuss Bryn Chainey's psychological horror film Rabbit Trap, exploring its metaphysical themes, the mystery of sound, and the Otherworld of Faerie. They also relate the film to the traditions of authors such as Arthur Machen a…
- Weird Studies Trailer
This is the trailer for the podcast Weird Studies. It includes information regarding ad choices.
- Mid-Break Bonus: On Trust
This bonus episode of Weird Studies includes an audio extra originally for Patreon supporters and an essay on the philosophy of Henri Bergson. The hosts provide updates on the show's hiatus and upcoming course offerings.
- Episode 196 – Lost and Never Found: On 'The Blair Witch Project'
JF and Phil discuss the 1999 found-footage film The Blair Witch Project. They analyze how the movie portrays disorientation and the wilderness, framing it as a work of cosmic horror where the landscape itself serves as the primary threat.
- Episode 195 – On John Keel: Live at the Lily Dale Symposium, with Erik Davis
Erik Davis and Phil join forces at the Lily Dale Symposium to discuss the life, work, and legacy of author and investigator John Keel. They are joined by Doug Skinner for an exploration of Keel's influence and style.
- Episode 194: Animal Songs, with Meredith Michael
Hosts Phil and JF speak with musicologist Meredith Michael about animal songs, exploring both human compositions featuring animals and actual animal vocalizations. The discussion covers music theory, mythology, and the boundaries between h…
- Episode 193: On Conversion, or Arousing the Bodhi-Mind
JF and Phil explore the nature of religious conversion and the fundamental purpose of religion. They discuss these topics from their respective perspectives as a Catholic and a Zennist.
- Episode 192 - A Dream of Landscape: On Walking
In this episode, Phil and JF revisit the theme of walking, building upon their previous discussion in episode 59. The conversation covers topics such as meditative walking, psychogeography, wilderness mysticism, and walking as adventure.
- Special Episode: Theory, Philosophy, and Uranus
In this special episode of Weird Studies, Phil Ford and his co-host discuss cultural theory, the philosophical concept of death, and the nature of Uranus. This conversation was originally recorded in August 2024 for Patreon supporters.
- Special Episode: Myth, History, and Form
In this special release from Weird Studies, the hosts discuss how art transforms experience by bridging the gap between the mundane and the mythic. This episode explores the ways in which art shapes our thoughts, feelings, and existence.
- Episode 191 — The Acid Queen, with Susannah Cahalan
Journalist Susannah Cahalan joins hosts Phil and JF to discuss her new biography of Rosemary Woodruff Leary. The conversation explores Woodruff Leary's influential role in the 1960s psychedelic movement, her life as a fugitive, and the bro…
- Episode 190 – Here Be Shrubs: On Algernon Blackwood's 'The Willows'
JF and Phil discuss Algernon Blackwood's 1907 short story 'The Willows,' examining how the narrative evokes cosmic dread through its depiction of the landscape. They analyze themes including the limits of human reason and the experience of…
- Episode 189: Care of the Dead, with Jacob G. Foster
In this episode, hosts JF and Phil discuss their collaboration on the essay “Care of the Dead” with sociologist and researcher Jacob G. Foster. They explore how the dead continue to influence culture, language, and the lives of the living.
- Episode 188: Pioneers of the Untimely: On the Hermit Card in the Tarot
Phil and JF explore the ninth Arcanum of the tarot, the Hermit. They discuss the card's themes of solitude and seeking the Real, connecting it to subjects including Jung's Red Book, the Desert Fathers, and the I Ching.
- Episode 187: The Affirmation of Imagination: On John Crowley's 'Little, Big,' with Erik Davis
Hosts JF and Phil are joined by writer and scholar Erik Davis to discuss John Crowley's novel 'Little, Big', examining its themes of myth, memory, and imagination.
- Episode 186: Meeting at the Center: The Wedge, Part Two
JF and Phil continue their discussion on the concept of the wedge, exploring it as an epistemic spectrum between the heart and the mind. They investigate whether thinking involves navigating this gradient to connect the self with the world.
- Episode 185: Intuition and Reality: The Wedge, Part One
In this episode, Phil and JF discuss the concept of "The Wedge" to explore how subjective experience and objective facts relate to understanding strange phenomena. They examine the implications of this framework for interpreting reality.
- Special Release: Poltergeists, Fairies, Skeptics, and the Managerial Class
Due to scheduling delays, the hosts of Weird Studies are releasing a bonus episode originally for Patreon supporters. This episode leads into the upcoming release of Episode 184 on February 26, 2025.
- Episode 184: On David Lynch
JF and Phil honor the legacy of filmmaker David Lynch following his passing. This episode examines Lynch's body of work, with a specific focus on his debut film Eraserhead and its exploration of dread and the uncanny.
- Episode 183: On Hermann Hesse's 'Siddhartha'
In this episode, Phil and JF discuss Hermann Hesse's novel Siddhartha, using it as a starting point to explore themes of spiritual journeys, the nature of enlightenment, and living in an ensouled universe.
- Episode 182: Providence of Evil: On Robert Eggers' 'Nosferatu'
In this episode, JF and Phil discuss the vampire myth through Robert Eggers' film Nosferatu. They explore themes including the symbolism of evil, theology in vampire cinema, the importance of shadow work, and concepts of self-sacrifice.
- Holiday Bonus: Waiting for the Next Sentence
In this bonus episode, the hosts discuss the craft of writing as a bridge until the next flagship episode arrives in January 2025. This conversation originally appeared on the Weird Studies Patreon.
- Episode 181: On 'The X Files,' with Meredith Michael
Meredith Michael joins hosts Phil and JF to discuss the television series The X-Files. They explore the show's approach to the paranormal and its status as a hyperstitious work of fiction.
- Episode 180: The Player: On the Magician Card in the Tarot
JF and Phil discuss the Magician card from the Tarot, examining its symbolism as both a master of reality and a potential trickster figure. The episode explores the card's dual nature and its significance as the Major Arcana's Number One.
- Episode 179: The Final Frontier, with Lionel Snell
Guests Lionel Snell, also known as Ramsey Dukes, discusses his approach to magical theory and the idea that boredom is a failure to perceive the strangeness of the world. He explores finding magic in everyday experiences throughout his lon…
- Episode 178: Edge of Reality: On John Carpenter's 'In the Mouth of Madness'
In this live episode, Phil and JF discuss John Carpenter's film In the Mouth of Madness. The hosts explore the movie's Lovecraftian themes, the blurring lines between reality and fiction, and the role of art as a conduit for truth.
- Episode 177: Riddles in the Dark: On Fairy Tales, Interpretation, and 'Rapunzel'
In this episode of Weird Studies, JF and Phil explore the mysterious nature of fairy tales, using the story of Rapunzel as a case study. They discuss how these narratives demand interpretation while remaining resistant to definitive explan…
- Episode 176: On Charles Burns' 'Black Hole' and the Medium of Comics
Phil and JF analyze Charles Burns' comic masterpiece Black Hole, discussing the unique qualities of the medium of comics and its evolution. The hosts also share updates on upcoming live events and course offerings associated with the Weird…
- Mid-Break Bonus: The Quiet Earth
In this bonus episode of Weird Studies, hosts Phil and JF discuss cultural works from their childhood that they only vaguely remember. This conversation was recorded following their first Weirdosphere course.
- Episode 175: Don't Look Now: Live at Lily Dale
In a live recording at the Lily Dale Symposium, hosts JF and Phil analyze Daphne du Maurier's short story "Don't Look Now" and its 1973 film adaptation by Nicholas Roeg. The discussion covers themes of grief, derealization, and the percept…
- Episode 174: Magick and Enlightenment, with Alan Chapman and Duncan Barford
Phil and JF discuss magic, mysticism, and religion with guests Alan Chapman and Duncan Barford. The conversation covers themes such as form, truth, devotion, and the quest to converse with one's Holy Guardian Angel.
- Episode 173: By Heart: On Memory, Poetry, and Form
In this episode of Weird Studies, Phil and JF discuss the concept of memory and its relationship to poetry and form. They perform recitations of poems they have learned by heart as a starting point for exploring the idea of knowing somethi…
- Episode 172: Head Over Heels: On the Hanged Man of the Tarot
In this episode, hosts JF and Phil explore the Hanged Man card of the tarot deck, discussing its enigmatic nature and its depiction in the Rider-Waite edition. The conversation references various literary and cultural perspectives on the a…