web01.fireside.fm Mon, 18 May 2026 04:35:35 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Weird Studies - Episodes Tagged with “Simulationism” https://www.weirdstudies.com/tags/simulationism Wed, 17 Feb 2021 10:45:00 -0500 Professor Phil Ford and writer J. F. Martel host a series of conversations on art and philosophy, dwelling on ideas that are hard to think and art that opens up rifts in what we are pleased to call "reality." en-us episodic Art and philosophy at the limits of the thinkable Phil Ford and J. F. Martel Professor Phil Ford and writer J. F. Martel host a series of conversations on art and philosophy, dwelling on ideas that are hard to think and art that opens up rifts in what we are pleased to call "reality." yes weird, art, philosophy Phil Ford and J. F. Martel admin@weirdstudies.com Episode 92: Glitch in the Matrix: A Conversation with Rodney Ascher https://www.weirdstudies.com/92 7f9685e9-82ab-4c5a-8218-b1a35c6926ee Wed, 17 Feb 2021 10:45:00 -0500 Phil Ford and J. F. Martel 92 Glitch in the Matrix: A Conversation with Rodney Ascher full Phil Ford and J. F. Martel JF and Phil are joined by American filmmaker Rodney Ascher to discuss film, music, mood, and his new documentary about people who believe we are in living in a computer simulation. 1:27:26 yes <p>With his <a href="http://www.aglitchinthematrixfilm.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">latest film</a>, a meditation on what it means to believe we live in a computer simulation, Rodney Ascher has once again placed himself among the most innovative and visionary filmmakers working in the documentary form today. While the "Simulation Hypothesis" has been a hot topic ever since <em>The Matrix</em> came out in 1997, it is Ascher's ability to suspend judgement, training his camera on the <em>experience</em> of believers rather than the value of their beliefs, that makes <em>A Glitch in the Matrix</em> such a unique and significant exploration, a strange work of "phantom phenomenology."</p> <p><em>Weird Studies</em> listeners will recall that Phil and JF devoted an episode to Ascher's films -- most notably <em>Room 237</em> and <em>The Nightmare</em> -- back in the early days of the podcast. In this episode, Rodney Ascher joins them to discuss his cinematic vision, his take on the weird, and his thoughts on what is real and why it matters.</p> <p><strong>REFERENCES</strong></p> <p>[Rodney Ascher](<a href="http://www.rodneyascher.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">www.rodneyascher.com</a>), American filmmaker<br> -- <em>[A Glitch in the Matrix](<a href="http://www.aglitchinthematrixfilm.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">www.aglitchinthematrixfilm.com</a>)</em></p> <p>Jay Weidner's <a href="http://jayweidner.com/the-kubrick-series-redrum/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">theories on Kubrick</a><br> Buddhist idea of the the <a href="https://www.dharmaoverground.org/dharma-wiki/-/wiki/Main/The+Arising+and+Passing+Away" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Arising and Passing Away</a><br> <em>[Dungeons &amp; Dragons](<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeons" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeons</a></em>%26_Dragons)<em>, tabletop roleplaying game<br> James Machin, _<a href="https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9783319905266" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Weird Fiction in Britain 1880-1939</a></em><br> <em><a href="https://eyeondesign.aiga.org/the-hidden-history-of-magic-eye-the-optical-illusion-that-briefly-took-over-the-world/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Magic Eye</a></em> pictures<br> <a href="https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/parmenides/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Parmenides</a>, Greek philosopher<br> Wachowskis, <em><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Matrix" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">The Matrix</a></em><br> Alan Moore, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_the_Man_Who_Has_Everything" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">"Superman: For the Man Who Has Everything"</a><br> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conway%27s_Game_of_Life" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Conway's Game of Life</a><br> Joshua Clover, <em><a href="https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/the-matrix-9781844570454/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">The Matrix (BFI Film Classics)</a></em> <br> <a href="http://www.jonat8han.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Jonathan Snipes</a>, American composer<br> <a href="http://www.itsclippingbitch.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Clipping</a>, experimental hip hop band<br> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmkVWuP_sO0" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">"Shining"</a> romantic comedy recut<br> Michael Curtiz (dir.), <em><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034583/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Casblanca</a></em><br> John Boorman (dir.), <em>[Point Blank](<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062138/?ref" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062138/?ref</a></em>=fn_al_tt_2)_<br> Louis Sass, <em><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Madness-Modernism-Insanity-Literature-Thought/dp/0674541375" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Madness and Modernism: Insanity in the Light of Modern Art, Literature, and Thought</a></em><br> Special Guest: Rodney Ascher.</p> Rodney Ascher, glitch in the matrix, documentary, analysis, weird studies, interview, podcast, simulation hypothesis, simulation theory With his latest film, a meditation on what it means to believe we live in a computer simulation, Rodney Ascher has once again placed himself among the most innovative and visionary filmmakers working in the documentary form today. While the "Simulation Hypothesis" has been a hot topic ever since The Matrix came out in 1997, it is Ascher's ability to suspend judgement, training his camera on the experience of believers rather than the value of their beliefs, that makes A Glitch in the Matrix such a unique and significant exploration, a strange work of "phantom phenomenology."

Weird Studies listeners will recall that Phil and JF devoted an episode to Ascher's films -- most notably Room 237 and The Nightmare -- back in the early days of the podcast. In this episode, Rodney Ascher joins them to discuss his cinematic vision, his take on the weird, and his thoughts on what is real and why it matters.

REFERENCES

[Rodney Ascher](www.rodneyascher.com), American filmmaker
-- [A Glitch in the Matrix](www.aglitchinthematrixfilm.com)

Jay Weidner's theories on Kubrick
Buddhist idea of the the Arising and Passing Away
[Dungeons & Dragons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeons%26_Dragons), tabletop roleplaying game
James Machin, _Weird Fiction in Britain 1880-1939
Magic Eye pictures
Parmenides, Greek philosopher
Wachowskis, The Matrix
Alan Moore, "Superman: For the Man Who Has Everything"
Conway's Game of Life
Joshua Clover, The Matrix (BFI Film Classics)
Jonathan Snipes, American composer
Clipping, experimental hip hop band
"Shining" romantic comedy recut
Michael Curtiz (dir.), Casblanca
John Boorman (dir.), [Point Blank](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062138/?ref=fn_al_tt_2)_
Louis Sass, Madness and Modernism: Insanity in the Light of Modern Art, Literature, and Thought

Special Guest: Rodney Ascher.

]]> With his latest film, a meditation on what it means to believe we live in a computer simulation, Rodney Ascher has once again placed himself among the most innovative and visionary filmmakers working in the documentary form today. While the "Simulation Hypothesis" has been a hot topic ever since The Matrix came out in 1997, it is Ascher's ability to suspend judgement, training his camera on the experience of believers rather than the value of their beliefs, that makes A Glitch in the Matrix such a unique and significant exploration, a strange work of "phantom phenomenology."

Weird Studies listeners will recall that Phil and JF devoted an episode to Ascher's films -- most notably Room 237 and The Nightmare -- back in the early days of the podcast. In this episode, Rodney Ascher joins them to discuss his cinematic vision, his take on the weird, and his thoughts on what is real and why it matters.

REFERENCES

[Rodney Ascher](www.rodneyascher.com), American filmmaker
-- [A Glitch in the Matrix](www.aglitchinthematrixfilm.com)

Jay Weidner's theories on Kubrick
Buddhist idea of the the Arising and Passing Away
[Dungeons & Dragons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeons%26_Dragons), tabletop roleplaying game
James Machin, _Weird Fiction in Britain 1880-1939
Magic Eye pictures
Parmenides, Greek philosopher
Wachowskis, The Matrix
Alan Moore, "Superman: For the Man Who Has Everything"
Conway's Game of Life
Joshua Clover, The Matrix (BFI Film Classics)
Jonathan Snipes, American composer
Clipping, experimental hip hop band
"Shining" romantic comedy recut
Michael Curtiz (dir.), Casblanca
John Boorman (dir.), [Point Blank](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062138/?ref=fn_al_tt_2)_
Louis Sass, Madness and Modernism: Insanity in the Light of Modern Art, Literature, and Thought

Special Guest: Rodney Ascher.

]]>