The Long Haul

Documents from the time of Covid-19 and beyond. Readings, discussions, field recordings, and music from hosts Jason P. Grisell and William G. Lockwood reporting from New York City and San Francisco Bay Area. Episode 004 The Long Haul is a space of reflection in a time of social upheaval and plague. Sound environments and music from NYC and Oakland, California- with a nod to Cage, Fuller, and McLuhan. As a political condition, anarchy normally means the absence or rejection of government and institutions. For Cage, this is too simplistic: he openly disliked government and institutions, and was convinced of their limitations and potential for harm. Yet his breed of anarchism allowed for both to exist so long as they grew from and supported individual freedom. In this way Cage's anarchism was influenced by Thoreau; a key touchstone was Thoreau's famous contention in his 'Essay on the Duty of Civil Disobedience' (1849), 'That government is best which governs not at all; and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which they will have.' Cage believed, much like Fuller and McLuhan, that governments should not enforce laws to restrict freedom or create false hierarchies and national antagonisms. Instead they should simply provide 'utilities', the basics needed for human life, but also communications technologies. He wanted a utopia with 'general use and availability of utilities' where individuals could organize themselves into organic social groupings, be creative and 'enjoy life'. Technology, used properly, enables this by breaking down social divisions and allowing the free circulation of 'intelligence'. Cage's utopia was not a perfect society; it would 'have its horrors...but they [would] be the result of individual acts rather than organized group actions'. Cage did not express his anarchism through any direct political action, but rather made it intrinsic to his personal philosophy, writing and artistic practice. Lauren A. Wright, from 'Everyday Is A Good Day- The Visual Art of John Cage'