Zero Squared

Moishe Postone is a Western Marxist and a Professor of History at the University of Chicago and he is the author of the book Time, Labor and Social Domination a book that won the American Sociological Association’s prize in the theory. In this episode of Zero Squared, Postone discusses whether the working class is the true subject of capitalism and history, the particular particularity of today’s left, and the new Black Lives Matter visa card. Angela Nagle’s book Kill All Normies is now available for pre-order through Amazon and to let you know that there will be a link to both the UK and US editions in the show notes. I also want to remind you that, if you enjoy this podcast you should consider joining the Zero Books Club. The Zero Books Club members receive access to a Saturday podcast entitled Inside Zero Books which sometimes features the second half of conversations with Zero Squared guests, sometimes features conversations with Zero Books readers about the state of the left, and sometimes features public lectures from Zero Books authors or staff. Zero Books Club members are also invited to participate in youtube workshops with Zero Books authors and others.

Stephen Lee Naish's writing explores film, politics, and popular culture and the places where they converge. His essays have appeared in numerous journals and periodicals, including The Quietus, Empty Mirror, and 3:AM and his book Deconstructing Dirty Dancing is out now from Zero Books. Liza Palmer, Managing Editor of The Moving Image, reviewed the book this way: Dirty Dancing has quietly evolved from a film to enjoy, to one you can admire -- helped along by Stephen Lee Naish's Deconstructing Dirty Dancing. A model of detailed textual analysis, Deconstructing Dirty Dancing reveals what Dirty Dancing’s devoted fanbase has known for years: that the film tackled sophisticated, progressive themes with dignity, courage, and a catchy soundtrack. Rest assured, the political can indeed be pleasurable If you enjoy this podcast consider joining the Zero Books Club. Zero Books Club members receive access to a Saturday podcast entitled Inside Zero Books which sometimes features the second half of conversations from the Zero Squared podcast, sometimes features conversations with Zero Books readers about the state of the left, and sometimes features public lectures from Zero Books authors or staff. Zero Books Club members are also invited to participate in youtube workshops with Zero Books authors and others. Right now you’re listening to is Trot the Fox performed by the Cologne Ballroom Orchestra, but in just a moment Stephen Lee Naish and I will discuss and deconstruct Dirty Dancing.

Stephen Lee Naish's writing explores film, politics, and popular culture and the places where they converge. His essays have appeared in numerous journals and periodicals, including The Quietus, Empty Mirror, and 3:AM and his book Deconstructing Dirty Dancing is out now from Zero Books. Liza Palmer, Managing Editor of The Moving Image, reviewed the book this way: Dirty Dancing has quietly evolved from a film to enjoy, to one you can admire -- helped along by Stephen Lee Naish's Deconstructing Dirty Dancing. A model of detailed textual analysis, Deconstructing Dirty Dancing reveals what Dirty Dancing’s devoted fanbase has known for years: that the film tackled sophisticated, progressive themes with dignity, courage, and a catchy soundtrack. Rest assured, the political can indeed be pleasurable If you enjoy this podcast consider joining the Zero Books Club. Zero Books Club members receive access to a Saturday podcast entitled Inside Zero Books which sometimes features the second half of conversations from the Zero Squared podcast, sometimes features conversations with Zero Books readers about the state of the left, and sometimes features public lectures from Zero Books authors or staff. Zero Books Club members are also invited to participate in youtube workshops with Zero Books authors and others. Right now you’re listening to is Trot the Fox performed by the Cologne Ballroom Orchestra, but in just a moment Stephen Lee Naish and I will discuss and deconstruct Dirty Dancing.

Nick is also the guest on this week’s podcast. This is part one of a two part conversation. If you’d like to hear the second half think about joining the Zero Books Club. Zero Books Club members receive access to a Saturday podcast entitled Inside Zero Books which sometimes features the second half of conversations from the Zero Squared podcast, sometimes features conversations with Zero Books readers about the state of the left, and sometimes features public lectures from Zero Books authors or staff. Zero Books members are also invited to participate in youtube workshops with Zero Books authors and others. You might also stop by the Zero Books website and purchase a book on critical theory. Recommended titles include Uncertain Futures, Alfie Bown’s interview with Srecko Horvat, and the late Mark Fisher’s Capitalist Realism. In this episode you’ll hear The Struts covering David Bowie’s hit Rebel Rebel, some controversial statements on transgender politics from Slavoj Zizek, and a sped up clip of Justin Bieber’s Love Me. Right now you’re listening to an instrumental cover of the Kinks hit Lola, but in just a moment you’ll be listening to Nick and I discuss Contrary points on identity.

Nick is also the guest on this week’s podcast. This is part one of a two part conversation. If you’d like to hear the second half think about joining the Zero Books Club. Zero Books Club members receive access to a Saturday podcast entitled Inside Zero Books which sometimes features the second half of conversations from the Zero Squared podcast, sometimes features conversations with Zero Books readers about the state of the left, and sometimes features public lectures from Zero Books authors or staff. Zero Books members are also invited to participate in youtube workshops with Zero Books authors and others. You might also stop by the Zero Books website and purchase a book on critical theory. Recommended titles include Uncertain Futures, Alfie Bown’s interview with Srecko Horvat, and the late Mark Fisher’s Capitalist Realism. In this episode you’ll hear The Struts covering David Bowie’s hit Rebel Rebel, some controversial statements on transgender politics from Slavoj Zizek, and a sped up clip of Justin Bieber’s Love Me. Right now you’re listening to an instrumental cover of the Kinks hit Lola, but in just a moment you’ll be listening to Nick and I discuss Contrary points on identity.

This is part one of a two part conversation. If you’d like to hear the second half think about joining the Zero Books Club. Zero Books Club members receive access to a Saturday podcast entitled Inside Zero Books which sometimes consists of unedited or full length interviews from the Zero Squared podcast, sometimes features conversations with Zero Books readers about the state of the left, and sometimes features public lectures from Zero Books authors or staff. Zero Books members are also invited to participate in youtube workshops with Zero Books authors and others. You might also stop by the Zero Books website and purchase a book on critical theory. Recommended titles include Uncertain Futures, Alfie Bown’s interview with Srecko Horvat, and the late Mark Fisher’s Capitalist Realism.

This is part one of a two part conversation. If you’d like to hear the second half think about joining the Zero Books Club. Zero Books Club members receive access to a Saturday podcast entitled Inside Zero Books which sometimes consists of unedited or full length interviews from the Zero Squared podcast, sometimes features conversations with Zero Books readers about the state of the left, and sometimes features public lectures from Zero Books authors or staff. Zero Books members are also invited to participate in youtube workshops with Zero Books authors and others. You might also stop by the Zero Books website and purchase a book on critical theory. Recommended titles include Uncertain Futures, Alfie Bown’s interview with Srecko Horvat, and the late Mark Fisher’s Capitalist Realism.

Edmund Berger is the guest this week. Berger is an independent writer, researcher, and activist living in Louisville, Kentucky. He blogs intermittently at Deterritorial Investigations Unit and Synthetic Zero, and his first book, entitled Uncertain Futures, provides a detailed look into the economic and political conditions of our present moment from a Marxist perspective. David Winberg columnist for the Straight Dope reviewed the book this way: Berger says “Fascism is nothing less than the intensification of every regressive sentiment to be found in the whole of society, mobilized and put on the march by elements in the ruling class.” And “To reform capitalism at this stage is a revolutionary act.” That’s how far we’ve fallen. Thanks should go out to members of the Zero Books Club. Zero Books Club members receive access to the Inside Zero Books which sometimes consists of unedited or full length interviews from the Zero Squared podcast, sometimes features conversations with Zero Books readers about the state of the left, and sometimes features public lectures from Zero Books authors or staff. This week the Inside Zero Books podcast will feature the second half of this conversation with Edmund Berger on Marx and Trump. I should also take a moment to ask you to stop by the Zero Books website and purchase a book on critical theory. You might pick up Uncertain Futures or Alfie Bown’s interview with Srecko Horvat.

Edmund Berger is the guest this week. Berger is an independent writer, researcher, and activist living in Louisville, Kentucky. He blogs intermittently at Deterritorial Investigations Unit and Synthetic Zero, and his first book, entitled Uncertain Futures, provides a detailed look into the economic and political conditions of our present moment from a Marxist perspective. David Winberg columnist for the Straight Dope reviewed the book this way: Berger says “Fascism is nothing less than the intensification of every regressive sentiment to be found in the whole of society, mobilized and put on the march by elements in the ruling class.” And “To reform capitalism at this stage is a revolutionary act.” That’s how far we’ve fallen. Thanks should go out to members of the Zero Books Club. Zero Books Club members receive access to the Inside Zero Books which sometimes consists of unedited or full length interviews from the Zero Squared podcast, sometimes features conversations with Zero Books readers about the state of the left, and sometimes features public lectures from Zero Books authors or staff. This week the Inside Zero Books podcast will feature the second half of this conversation with Edmund Berger on Marx and Trump. I should also take a moment to ask you to stop by the Zero Books website and purchase a book on critical theory. You might pick up Uncertain Futures or Alfie Bown’s interview with Srecko Horvat.

The Symptomatic Redness podcast presents conversations on political economy and history. Hosted by C. Derick Varn and Amogh Sahu, the program was an independent project for several years but is now hosted by Zero Books on the Zero Squared podcast feed. This first podcast of Symptomatic Redness hosted by Zero Books features Amogh Sahu interviewing C. Derick Varn on the history and prehistory of human societies. Thanks goes out to Zero Books Club members. This week’s Inside Zero Books podcast will feature the second part of this conversation from Symptomatic Redness. If you find this podcast helpful you might subscribe to the Zero Books podcast feed and keep listening or leave a review of the podcast on iTunes.

The Symptomatic Redness podcast presents conversations on political economy and history. Hosted by C. Derick Varn and Amogh Sahu, the program was an independent project for several years but is now hosted by Zero Books on the Zero Squared podcast feed. This first podcast of Symptomatic Redness hosted by Zero Books features Amogh Sahu interviewing C. Derick Varn on the history and prehistory of human societies. Thanks goes out to Zero Books Club members. This week’s Inside Zero Books podcast will feature the second part of this conversation from Symptomatic Redness. If you find this podcast helpful you might subscribe to the Zero Books podcast feed and keep listening or leave a review of the podcast on iTunes.

Norman Finkelstein is a controversial figure on the left and he’s the guest this week. However, while Finkelstein is famous for his books about the Israel/Palestine conflict, we don’t discuss that topic, but instead discuss a book he’s working on entitled On Academic Freedom. Finkelstein has taught political theory for years. A for mer Maoist he has, perhaps surprisingly, become an admirer of John Stuart Mill and this admiration informed our conversation and informs the book he’s working on. Thanks should go out to members of the Zero Books Club. Zero Books Club members receive access to the Inside Zero Books which sometimes consists of unedited or full length interviews from the Zero Squared podcast, sometimes features conversations with Zero Books readers about the state of the left, and sometimes features public lectures from Zero Books authors or staff. This week the Inside Zero Books podcast will feature the second half of this conversation with Norman Finkelstein wherein we discuss his former Maoism, how he thinks Obama was overrated, and Bertrand Russell. I should also take a moment to ask you to stop by the Zero Books website and purchase a book on critical theory. The title I’d most recommend is Uncertain Futures by Edmund Berger. Berger explains how understanding Marx’s theory of value can help us understand the rise of the far right. Also of interest would be Alfie Bown’s interview with Srecko Horvat and Stephen Lee Naish’s Deconstruction of the 80s film Dirty Dancing in his book Deconstructing Dirty Dancing.

Norman Finkelstein is a controversial figure on the left and he’s the guest this week. However, while Finkelstein is famous for his books about the Israel/Palestine conflict, we don’t discuss that topic, but instead discuss a book he’s working on entitled On Academic Freedom. Finkelstein has taught political theory for years. A for mer Maoist he has, perhaps surprisingly, become an admirer of John Stuart Mill and this admiration informed our conversation and informs the book he’s working on. Thanks should go out to members of the Zero Books Club. Zero Books Club members receive access to the Inside Zero Books which sometimes consists of unedited or full length interviews from the Zero Squared podcast, sometimes features conversations with Zero Books readers about the state of the left, and sometimes features public lectures from Zero Books authors or staff. This week the Inside Zero Books podcast will feature the second half of this conversation with Norman Finkelstein wherein we discuss his former Maoism, how he thinks Obama was overrated, and Bertrand Russell. I should also take a moment to ask you to stop by the Zero Books website and purchase a book on critical theory. The title I’d most recommend is Uncertain Futures by Edmund Berger. Berger explains how understanding Marx’s theory of value can help us understand the rise of the far right. Also of interest would be Alfie Bown’s interview with Srecko Horvat and Stephen Lee Naish’s Deconstruction of the 80s film Dirty Dancing in his book Deconstructing Dirty Dancing.

C. Derick Varn is a reader at Zero Books, a poet, blogger and podcaster. His podcasts have included Symptomatic Redness and Former People and he is a frequent guest on Zero Squared. This week we discuss Gilles Dauve’s essay “When Insurrections Die” and discuss the relevancy of Dauve’s ideas in the Trump era. Here’s an excerpt from that essay: The essence of anti-fascism consists in resisting fascism by defending democracy: one no longer struggles against capitalism but seeks to pressure capitalism into renouncing the totalitarian option...Thus reduced to anti-fascist resistance, social critique is enlisted in dithyrambs to everything it once denounced, and gives up nothing less than that shop-worn affair, revolution, for gradualism, a variant on the “peaceful transition to socialism” once advocated by the CPs, and derided, thirty years ago, by anyone serious about changing the world. The retrogression is palpable. We won’t invite ridicule by accusing the left and far left of having discarded a communist perspective which they knew in reality only when opposing it. It is all too obvious that anti-fascism renounces revolution. But anti-fascism fails exactly where its realism claims to be effective: in preventing a possible dictatorial mutation of society. Thanks goes out to members of the Zero Books Club. Zero Books Club members receive access to the Inside Zero Books which sometimes consists of unedited or full length interviews from the Zero Squared podcast, sometimes features conversations with Zero Books readers about the state of the left, and sometimes features public lectures from Zero Books authors or staff. This week the Inside Zero Books podcast will feature the second half of this conversation with C Derrick Varn.

C. Derick Varn is a reader at Zero Books, a poet, blogger and podcaster. His podcasts have included Symptomatic Redness and Former People and he is a frequent guest on Zero Squared. This week we discuss Gilles Dauve’s essay “When Insurrections Die” and discuss the relevancy of Dauve’s ideas in the Trump era. Here’s an excerpt from that essay: The essence of anti-fascism consists in resisting fascism by defending democracy: one no longer struggles against capitalism but seeks to pressure capitalism into renouncing the totalitarian option...Thus reduced to anti-fascist resistance, social critique is enlisted in dithyrambs to everything it once denounced, and gives up nothing less than that shop-worn affair, revolution, for gradualism, a variant on the “peaceful transition to socialism” once advocated by the CPs, and derided, thirty years ago, by anyone serious about changing the world. The retrogression is palpable. We won’t invite ridicule by accusing the left and far left of having discarded a communist perspective which they knew in reality only when opposing it. It is all too obvious that anti-fascism renounces revolution. But anti-fascism fails exactly where its realism claims to be effective: in preventing a possible dictatorial mutation of society. Thanks goes out to members of the Zero Books Club. Zero Books Club members receive access to the Inside Zero Books which sometimes consists of unedited or full length interviews from the Zero Squared podcast, sometimes features conversations with Zero Books readers about the state of the left, and sometimes features public lectures from Zero Books authors or staff. This week the Inside Zero Books podcast will feature the second half of this conversation with C Derrick Varn.