/538/ Muskism ft. Quinn Slobodian & Ben Tarnoff

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-s9s5h-1a67eb8

On the operating system of the 21st century.

Historian Quinn Slobodian and tech writer Ben Tarnoff talk to Alex Hochuli and Alex Gourevitch about their new book, Muskism: A Guide for the Perplexed, and why we should ask “what is Musk a symptom of?”

  • If Fordism characterised the mid-20th century, are our times those of Muskism?

  • What are the touchstones of Muskism that the authors identify: fortress futurism, financial fabulism, state symbiosis?

  • Who is the real Musk, that of vehicles, energy, infrastructure, or that of the post-industrial stuff of social media, finance, AI?

  • What does Muskism promise people? How does it legitimise itself – if at all?

  • Is the state actually dependent on Musk, or is Musk dependent on the state?

  • How much of Musk’s right-wing turn is necessary to Muskism, and how much is contingent? Is the racial component central?

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