Narrative Machines
Claim This Podcastby James Curcio: Artist / Author
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Podcast Overview
<p>A podcast on memetics, myth and propaganda: how our narratives define the limits of our political and personal identity, how any era of civilization may be consigned to myth just as it was defined by it. Drawing on over a decade of interdisciplinary research, this podcast examines how ideas spread through the internet, shaping perceptions, reshaping societal norms, and constructing identities and politics—often without conscious awareness. </p> <p>By analyzing the narratives we create, consume, and reinterpret, Narrative Machines offers a timely exploration of the influence of narratives, encouraging listeners to reflect on how myths shape their lives, both consciously and unconsciously.</p> <p>Previous drafts of many of these ideas were published in 2017 in Narrative Machines (Mythos Media), in 2020 in Masks: Bowie & Artists of Artifice (Intellect/ University of Chicago), and various web publications. It is presented here in audio format for the first time with additional reflections and editorial. </p> <p>For more of the author’s work in various mediums and formats, visit JamesCurcio.com</p> <p>You can also find more podcasts and articles about RPGs and collective storytelling at ModernMythology.net</p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
12/12/2024
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Recent Episodes
March 24, 2025
Episode 7: Remembered and Remembered Again
In Episode 7 of Narrative Machines, "Remembered and Remembered Again," we interrogate the tension between the popular belief in linear societal progress and the inherently cyclical nature of revolution. Using the fall of the Berlin Wall as a symbolic entry point, we explore recurring patterns of upheaval, shifting power dynamics, and enduring social inequalities within revolutionary movements. By examining examples such as Egypt’s Arab Spring and China's Long March, it illustrates how revolutions often ultimately produce outcomes that contradict their original ideals.
March 9, 2025
Episode 6: Literally Literary Suicide
Narrative Machines Episode 6, "Literally Literary Suicide," explores the extraordinary life and dramatic death of Japanese literary icon Yukio Mishima. Renowned for intertwining artistry, identity, and nationalist fervor, Mishima's final act—his ritual suicide (Seppuku)—was as performative as it was political. This episode investigates how Mishima's meticulously cultivated persona, intense dedication to aesthetic ideals, and public spectacle blurred reality and fiction, leaving behind unsettling questions about authenticity, fanaticism, and the lethal power of narrative. Examining Mishima's acclaimed works, such as the film Patriotism, and key historical moments, including his failed 1970 coup attempt, this episode offers a critical reflection on the intersection of aesthetics, ideology, and self-sacrifice. "Literally Literary Suicide" challenges listeners to confront uncomfortable questions about commitment to ideas, the allure of martyrdom, and the dangerous seduction of myth.
February 17, 2025
Episode 5: Eccentric and Quite Mad
David Bowie’s career exemplified the interplay of performance, identity, and mythmaking. Through personas like Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane, and the Thin White Duke, Bowie blurred the lines between artifice and reality, crafting an enigmatic, occult-tinged ambiguity that challenged perceptions of authenticity and selfhood. This episode delves into Bowie’s engagement with symbolism and fascist aesthetics during the mid-1970s, posing tough questions about the ethical limits of art and performance. It also examines the broader political implications of such themes, as addressed in episode four. From the glittering glam rock of the early ’70s, through the cocaine-fueled chaos of his occult fascination, to the introspective and reflective Berlin years that followed, Bowie’s shifting artistry reveals an artist grappling with the volatile forces he summoned. By comparing Bowie’s calculated use of artifice to the rise of modern performative figures like Donald Trump and phenomena like Reality TV and the kayfabe of pro wrestling, we explore how spectacle, mythmaking, and image construction shape public narratives in both art and politics.
7 total episodes available
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- What is Narrative Machines?
<p>A podcast on memetics, myth and propaganda: how our narratives define the limits of our political and personal identity, how any era of civilization may be consigned to myth just as it was defined by it. Drawing on over a decade of interdisciplinary research, this podcast examines how ideas spread through the internet, shaping perceptions, reshaping societal norms, and constructing identities and politics—often without conscious awareness. </p> <p>By analyzing the narratives we create, consume, and reinterpret, Narrative Machines offers a timely exploration of the influence of narratives, encouraging listeners to reflect on how myths shape their lives, both consciously and unconsciously.</p> <p>Previous drafts of many of these ideas were published in 2017 in Narrative Machines (Mythos Media), in 2020 in Masks: Bowie & Artists of Artifice (Intellect/ University of Chicago), and various web publications. It is presented here in audio format for the first time with additional reflections and editorial. </p> <p>For more of the author’s work in various mediums and formats, visit JamesCurcio.com</p> <p>You can also find more podcasts and articles about RPGs and collective storytelling at ModernMythology.net</p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates weekly.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 7 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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