162 episodes

Why Theory brings continental philosophy and psychoanalytic theory together to examine cultural phenomena.

Why Theory Todd McGowan & Ryan Engley

    • TV & Film
    • 4.8 • 490 Ratings

Why Theory brings continental philosophy and psychoanalytic theory together to examine cultural phenomena.

    Critique Of Pure Reason -- Introduction

    Critique Of Pure Reason -- Introduction

    Ryan and Todd continue their exploration of Immanuel Kant's Critique of Pure Reason with the Introduction. They discuss the importance of his critique of dogmatic metaphysics and the incredible discovery of the synthetic a priori judgment.

    Ryan's sports article: https://link.springer.com/journal/41282/online-first

    • 1 hr 18 min
    Blue Velvet

    Blue Velvet

    Ryan and Todd interpret David Lynch's Blue Velvet by paying special attention to the Kantian dimension of the film. They consider the film in terms of the thing-in-itself and the sublime.

    • 1 hr 19 min
    Critique Of Pure Reason -- Preface

    Critique Of Pure Reason -- Preface

    Ryan and Todd begin their analysis of Immanuel Kant's Critique of Pure Reason by working through the prefaces to the first and second edition of the work. They focus on the radicality of Kant's breakthrough and the role that the limit plays in his philosophy.

    • 1 hr 20 min
    Symbolic Castration

    Symbolic Castration

    Ryan and Todd consider the concept of symbolic castration as it develops in psychoanalysis and as it bears on both politics and culture. They relate symbolic castration to some of the key concepts in psychoanalytic theory, including fetishistic disavowal and the phallus.

    • 1 hr 31 min
    Dialectical Reversal

    Dialectical Reversal

    Ryan and Todd explore the working of the dialectical reversal, how weaknesses can turn into strengths, how successes can turn into failures. They look at this through a variety of everyday examples and a few choice filmic ones.

    • 1 hr 15 min
    Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations

    Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations

    Ryan and Todd think through Ludwig Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations, focusing especially on the parallels with psychoanalysis and the work's political significance. They also address the ramifications of the private language argument that Wittgenstein formulates.

    • 1 hr 10 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
490 Ratings

490 Ratings

Uber Goy ,

Todd McGowan

Todd was a fantastic professor of mine at Southwest Texas State University…now Texas State Umiversity. So happy I found him here…happy to hear him again, etc.
BRIAN W

Sgagnon ,

Helped me in my own reading

I started with this pod when it first came out and over the last several years I’ve been able to read more and more theory. Thanks to these guys who are also generous in their responses when I’ve asked.

Swann R ,

Interesting

But can we stop saying “like” twice in every sentence? Makes everything sound, like, American juvenile.

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