In this episode, Ryan and Todd discuss the so-called "End of History" in Hegel's thought. Francis Fukuyama's 1989 essay "The End of History?" thrust Hegel unexpectedly into mainstream political conversation. The first half of the episode discusses the legacy of Fukuyama's essay and considers how appropriate it is to regard the End of History as a purely Hegelian notion. The second half discusses issues with extracting any lesson--political or otherwise--from the publications collected as Hegel's lectures. Finally, Ryan and Todd offer their own takes on how to think the end in Hegel.Referenced in this episode: "The End of History and the Return of History" by Philip T. Grier from The Hegel Myths and Legends edited by Jon Stewart (not that one)BONUS CONTENT:Please check out good friend Russ Sbriglia's brilliant band Misconstruity. Pre-order the record if you're into it! There are all kinds of links on the webpage but here is the lead track available to stream on YouTube. Second thing, I (Ryan) was briefly featured on NPR's Academic Minute this week. None of what I say here will be particularly revelatory for the Why Theory audience but it's a cool thing I got to do and thought I'd share it. Thank you for your support!
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1:13:42
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1:13:42
Top Ten TV Series of the 21st Century
In episode 201, Ryan and Todd work their lists of the Top 10 Television Series of the 21st Century. The hosts operated by the following rules: 1. Only completed series. No currently in production series.2. No series could be included, even if completed, if there is pre-production or production being done on a continuation to the original series. (Not a total spoiler but spoiler-adjacent comment: one of Todd's selections just about clears this on the basis of a related reboot rather than continuation being in production.)3. At least 51 percent of the series had to take place in the 21st century. (Again, Todd just about gets away with one.)4. No limited series or single seasons. (So, Todd also...)Thanks everybody for tuning in to the first episode of hopefully the next 200!
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1:51:18
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1:51:18
Top Ten Films of the 21st Century
In Why Theory's 200th episode, Todd and Ryan work through their own respective lists of the Top Ten films of the past 25 years not know what the other person's picks are. No spoilers in the episode description. Thanks to everyone who has listened over the previous 199. You mean the world to us.
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1:46:45
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1:46:45
The Musical
In this episode, Ryan and Todd return to their film genre series to discuss the musical through interlocked analyses of The Jazz Singer, Top Hat, The Wizard of Oz, Singin' in the Rain, and Carmen Jones. The hosts' theoretical intervention focuses on the musical as vehicle for technological innovation in Hollywood history, as well as how the genre operates as a site for excess becoming integrated into seeming normality.
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1:27:15
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1:27:15
Common Sense
On this episode, Ryan and Todd put the idea of common sense through the theoretical wringer. Working through examples both banal and world threateningly serious, the hosts present the argument that changes in what we often refer to as common sense fundamentally alter one's relationship to the everyday and that this is vital terrain for articulating a politics of liberation.
France