EPISODE · Aug 22, 2025 · 1H 8M
SHAMANISM or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Mystery
from Lost the Plot · host SpectreVision Radio
Are you in a creative rut? Struggling with writer's block? Feeling hopeless, aimless, and out of sorts? This video essay about the history of human creativity might be just the thing to inspire you. Whenever I feel stuck, these are the ideas I play around with to get back in the fight. I am many things, but I am not a historian, an anthropologist, or an academic of any stripe. I do not recommend quoting me when it comes to the nitty gritty. I'm a big picture ideas guy. Some notes: 1. I believe "Tungus" is the language-family, rather than a name for the people themselves. 2. There is certainly some oversimplification going on in the deep history. I don't mention how the Neanderthals and early homo sapiens co-mingled after being separated for who knows how long, and that the Neanderthals were likely the first cave artists. This may complicate the historical trajectory I put forward here, or it may not. I'm not sure. 3. For a more secular discussion of "proper" vs "improper" art, I highly suggest reading R.G. Collingwood's "The Principles of Art." 4. A comprehensive "Reading List" for this video is on my patreon, available for free members. No need to pay me anything to see it: https://www.patreon.com/c/Josh_from_xbolive CHAPTERS: 0:00 A Niche Topic? 2:58 Are you Experienced? 12:52 On the Origins of Culture 20:48 Pet Friendly 29:04 22nd Century Medicine Men 38:55 The Work of Art in the Age of Aquarius 49:40 To the Shaman of Tomorrow... Music: https://youtu.be/erpCTV_gGos?si=VjPAJHalgAlnHZBI https://youtu.be/TqgoPhQ2rCA?si=nI-2qJLE4r2XiUfd https://youtu.be/zIXjWIHcFk0?si=Nfn1kh_30KcO3Ikc https://youtu.be/oMG0qAG8aDo?si=KGKpGUUVF6_RIFs7 https://youtu.be/8ONivM0ij90?si=vd7KY2j9Wx6foG03 https://youtu.be/bPelyxgvTv8?si=ZCKcwEncA2728fF3 https://youtu.be/Uz7wcL1VbX0?si=IvGKOdLb9z_hzmeH The Terence McKenna lecture can be found here: https://youtu.be/JzIUNQ9HxzU?si=-ORWIN6W1kMwW76e Videos like this take a long time to research and edit. Consider supporting me on patreon to help me make videos more often. Thanks so much to everyone supporting me on there! I hope to make more exclusive content for you guys soon! https://www.patreon.com/c/Josh_from_xbolive ▶️Find me on youtube 🌐Request story notes ✍️Check out my writing 📹Bonus videos here 🎙️My podcast ᯤ Spotify feed for my videos 📸 My Instagram 🟠🟢🔵 My Letterboxd #videoessay #shaman #history #art Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What this episode covers
Are you in a creative rut? Struggling with writer's block? Feeling hopeless, aimless, and out of sorts? This video essay about the history of human creativity might be just the thing to inspire you. Whenever I feel stuck, these are the ideas I play around with to get back in the fight. I am many things, but I am not a historian, an anthropologist, or an academic of any stripe. I do not recommend quoting me when it comes to the nitty gritty. I'm a big picture ideas guy. Some notes: 1. I believe "Tungus" is the language-family, rather than a name for the people themselves. 2. There is certainly some oversimplification going on in the deep history. I don't mention how the Neanderthals and early homo sapiens co-mingled after being separated for who knows how long, and that the Neanderthals were likely the first cave artists. This may complicate the historical trajectory I put forward here, or it may not. I'm not sure. 3. For a more secular discussion of "proper" vs "improper" art, I highly suggest reading R.G. Collingwood's "The Principles of Art." 4. A comprehensive "Reading List" for this video is on my patreon, available for free members. No need to pay me anything to see it: https://www.patreon.com/c/Josh_from_xbolive CHAPTERS: 0:00 A Niche Topic? 2:58 Are you Experienced? 12:52 On the Origins of Culture 20:48 Pet Friendly 29:04 22nd Century Medicine Men 38:55 The Work of Art in the Age of Aquarius 49:40 To the Shaman of Tomorrow... Music: https://youtu.be/erpCTV_gGos?si=VjPAJHalgAlnHZBI https://youtu.be/TqgoPhQ2rCA?si=nI-2qJLE4r2XiUfd https://youtu.be/zIXjWIHcFk0?si=Nfn1kh_30KcO3Ikc https://youtu.be/oMG0qAG8aDo?si=KGKpGUUVF6_RIFs7 https://youtu.be/8ONivM0ij90?si=vd7KY2j9Wx6foG03 https://youtu.be/bPelyxgvTv8?si=ZCKcwEncA2728fF3 https://youtu.be/Uz7wcL1VbX0?si=IvGKOdLb9z_hzmeH The Terence McKenna lecture can be found here: https://youtu.be/JzIUNQ9HxzU?si=-ORWIN6W1kMwW76e Videos like this take a long time to research and edit. Consider supporting me on patreon to help me make videos more often. Thanks so much to everyone supporting me on there! I hope to make more exclusive content for you guys soon! https://www.patreon.com/c/Josh_from_xbolive ▶️Find me on youtube 🌐Request story notes ✍️Check out my writing 📹Bonus videos here 🎙️My podcast ᯤ Spotify feed for my videos 📸 My Instagram 🟠🟢🔵 My Letterboxd #videoessay #shaman #history #art Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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SHAMANISM or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Mystery
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