Simulacra and Simulation: Baudrillard, Techno-Fascism, and the Tyranny of Advertising
Cameron Carsten is back with us to enjoy an exploration of Jean Baudrillard’s concept of “absolute advertising” and its transformation of communication, desire, and the public sphere. This discussion addresses the rise of techno-fascism and the symbolic saturation of everyday life in view of Baudrillard's 'Simulacra and Simulation'. What happens when advertising becomes the default mode of mediation, indistinguishable from culture itself? Together, we unravel how content collapses into ...
13 Apr 1h 13min
Melanie Klein, Symbol Formation, and Autism: A Psychoanalytic Conversation with Dr. Ben Morsa
What happens when the ego fails to form a symbol? In this episode of Acid Horizon, we're joined by Dr. Ben Morsa, a clinical psychologist and psychoanalytic thinker working at the intersection of queer theory, neurodiversity, and mental health. Together, we dive into Melanie Klein’s pivotal essay The Importance of Symbol Formation, examining how sadism, fantasy, and ego development shape our early psychic life. We explore Klein’s controversial case of “Dick” and how her analysis anticipates m...
6 Apr 1h 18min
Ketamine King: Tech Bros, AI Delusions, and the Politics of Dissociation
CW: Includes references to drug use and racialized violence discourse. King Ketamine: https://www.parapraxismagazine.com/articles/king-ketamine Acid Horizon welcomes back Taija Mars McDougall to discuss her latest essay “King Ketamine,” published in Parapraxis Magazine. Together, we examine how ketamine—favored by Silicon Valley elites like Elon Musk—has become the drug of the techno-fascist sacrament, fueling disassociation and delusions of divine-like Promethean capitalism. Drawing ...
30 Mar 1h 4min
Save CRMEP: The Assault on Humanities in the UK
Follow the Campaign over at: https://www.instagram.com/crmepers/ Eflux Open letter: https://www.e-flux.com/notes/658933/open-letter-from-crmep-students-researchers-on-kingston-university-s-proposed-closure-of-the-department-of-humanities Verso Open Letter: https://www.versobooks.com/en-gb/blogs/news/open-letter-from-crmep-students-researchers-on-kingston-university-s-proposed-closure-of-the-department-of-humanities Support the show Support the podcast: https://www.acidhoriz...
26 Mar 20min
The Anarchist Imaginary: Nicolas de Warren on Glissant, Levinas, and a New Radical Ethics
Craig's designs: https://www.etsy.com/shop/critdrip The Ordeal: https://splitinfinities.substack.com/p/crossing-the-line-the-repeater-books Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/acidhorizonpodcast We are joined by philosopher Nicolas de Warren to explore his concept of the anarchist imaginary, drawn from his essay "Anarchism, the Shock from Elsewhere: Glissant and Levinas". Together, we unpack how anarchism operates not merely as a political program, but as an ethical and temporal force—a heter...
25 Mar 1h 15min
AI: The New Aesthetics of Fascism with Gareth Watkins
CW: explicit mentions of pornography and revenge porn Is AI a cruelty machine? In what ways do the aesthetics of fascism intersect with techno-futurism and reactionary fantasies—and how should we respond? Acid Horizon welcomes Gareth Watkins (Death Sentence Podcast, New Socialist) to discuss his article on how the far-right embraces AI—not for innovation, but for domination, aesthetics, and control. From Tommy Robinson’s fake D-Day fantasy to deepfake misogyny and the mutual aid ecosystem of...
21 Mar 1h 13min
Peter Thiel Unmasked: From Lapsed Libertarian to Architect of the New Right
Boycott Watkins Media: https://xenogothic.com/2025/03/17/boycott-watkins-statement/ Craig's blog: https://splitinfinities.substack.com/publish/post/158302947 Dr. Sadler's links: Substack: https://substack.com/@gregorybsadler Class on Plato's dialogues: https://reasonio.teachable.com/p/six-key-platonic-dialogues-2025 Peter Thiel began his career as a libertarian idealist, championing free markets and techno-utopian escape from politics, but his trajectory has led him into the heart of reac...
16 Mar 1h 16min
Bataille, Eroticism, and the Future of Porn with Vex Ashley (aka @vextape)
Read this: https://splitinfinities.substack.com/p/crossing-the-line-the-repeater-books CW: explicit discussions of sex and pornography In this episode, we explore the intersections of eroticism, pornography, and theory with special guest Vex Ashley of Four Chambers. We discuss the influence of Georges Bataille on erotic art, the political stakes of sex work in an increasingly censorious cultural climate, and the boundaries between pornography and artistic expression. Vex shares insights int...
10 Mar 1h 1min
