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Hello friends!

Presented here (again) is my anti-work episode, a repost of AEWCH 3, which is over two years old now, back from when not many people were listening to the series. After talking with Franco "Bifo" Berardi on AEWCH 83, I was reminded how important the abolition of work is. And I also remembered that I mentioned him, somewhat starry-eyed, in this episode. What a difference 2 years can make!

In any case, the episode was originally called Work And Die, not "work or die," and focuses on the crushing fact of work in our lives. But it is an alterable fact, and the first step towards altering it is seeing that. 

In the words of Bob Black, workers of the world, relax!

In this episode:

• How having a job is deadening and deadly.
• Why work is state-supported blackmail.
• How work has fundamentally changed and changed us into computers.
• Why we're not automating work anytime soon.
• Why both Marxist and capitalist models are challenged by wanting to be versus needing to gain.
• Why labor isn't the best sphere to locate political struggle in.
• Seeking employment as infantilization.

SHOW NOTES

Aside from Bifo, I mention one of my other favorite living philosophers, Michel Serres. Serres is a great philosopher for occultists, by the way. If you can find a copy of his conversations with Bruno Latour or his work Hermes, pick them up. In this episode, I touch on his very accessible, very short, and very profound work, Thumbelina: The Culture and Technology of Millenials.

I urge you to read both Russell Means (pictured below) and Bob Black - particularly the two essays mentioned in the episode.

Here's "The Same Old Song" by Russell Means. Means's essay is not actually an essay, for, as he states at the outset, "The only possible opening for a statement of this kind is that I detest writing. The process itself epitomizes the European concept of 'legitimate' thinking; what is written has an importance that is denied the spoken." 

And here's Bob Black's excellent essay, "The Abolition of Work".

Work statistics come from The International Labour Organization and the American Federation of Labor.

The best introduction to Frithjof Bergmann's inspiring efforts and thoughtful philosophies is his appearance on The Partially Examined Life podcast. You'll also find plenty of links to his stuff there.

Oh, and let's not forget Zack of All Trades, who brainwashed my childhood with his adults-trying-to-be-cool-kids funky advice. Tap your foot to the vocal stylings of Luther Vandross and be indoctrinated.

• A little anti-work bonus: Dr. Heather Berg (who appeared on AEWCH 69 with Sovereign Syre) and I discuss the distinction between the content of work and the non-consensual nature of the wage-labor relationship in our article, "The Problem with Sex Work Is Work".

Until next time, chill out folks,

CH