Hi from a cephalopod-philosopher

[DHF8]

Hi all,

Delighted to join a community of ceph-heads in TONMO. To get us off on the right foot-pod let me introduce myself. I'm half of an eight-limbed writing duo that, drawing inspiration from the philosopher Vilem Flusser (who wrote a book of philosophy from the perspective of Vampyroteuthis Infernalis), has been producing media-philosophy works that explore digital art, media and technology which appear to channel the 'soft intelligence' of cephalopod creatures. Among other things, our research uncovered how cephalpod brains were used as an early template for computational research after WWII. We argue that this can help explain many aspects of modern digital culture and media, as well as the 'soft' nature of digital software (ok, Flusser made this last point first). From the ubiquity of tentacles in modern films, to volumetric navigation techniques, to deep-fake disguise and cgi skins, we believe the cephalopod is the totem animal of the modern networked digital world. I'm already loving the abundance of art, images and articles shared in this community space and can't wait to grope around the site a bit more. If you fancy checking out our inky expulsions you can always check out The Squid Cinema From Hell: Kinoteuthis Infernalis and the emergence of Chthulumedia (or a free introduction to the book here https://euppublishingblog.com/2020/08/13/squid-cinema-from-hell/)- or if you would like Weird film and media recommendations from across time and space, check out this recent list Centre for Screen Cultures | Themed Playlist: A Chthululist

 

[TheSeeker]

Hi and welcome to Tonmo! Maybe a bit irrelevant but I recently watched a very weird French thriller called The perfect nanny which included a vety unheimlich scene with the protagonist seeing octopuses all over her house...The movie itself was not worth it but this scene was superb

 

[DHF8]

Hi TheSeeker, and thanks! That one is new to me! Thanks for the heads up, I'll defo check it out. More lockdown viewing with octopuses.

 

[DHF8]

Hi all,

Delighted to join a community of ceph-heads in TONMO. To get us off on the right foot-pod let me introduce myself. I'm half of an eight-limbed writing duo that, drawing inspiration from the philosopher Vilem Flusser (who wrote a book of philosophy from the perspective of Vampyroteuthis Infernalis), has been producing media-philosophy works that explore digital art, media and technology which appear to channel the 'soft intelligence' of cephalopod creatures. Among other things, our research uncovered how cephalpod brains were used as an early template for computational research after WWII. We argue that this can help explain many aspects of modern digital culture and media, as well as the 'soft' nature of digital software (ok, Flusser made this last point first). From the ubiquity of tentacles in modern films, to volumetric navigation techniques, to deep-fake disguise and cgi skins, we believe the cephalopod is the totem animal of the modern networked digital world. I'm already loving the abundance of art, images and articles shared in this community space and can't wait to grope around the site a bit more. If you fancy checking out our inky expulsions you can always check out The Squid Cinema From Hell: Kinoteuthis Infernalis and the emergence of Chthulumedia (or a free introduction to the book here https://euppublishingblog.com/2020/08/13/squid-cinema-from-hell/)- or if you would like Weird film and media recommendations from across time and space, check out this recent list Centre for Screen Cultures | Themed Playlist: A Chthululist

For the first time, after introducing my work to youall, I suddenly see the possibility of the portmanteau 'cephilosopher' as a possibility!

 

[tonmo]

Awesome, thanks for joining TONMO, @DHF8!

Among other things, our research uncovered how cephalpod brains were used as an early template for computational research after WWII.

Definitely interested in that research; is that to be found in the links you provided? Looking forward to your contributions.

 

[DHF8]

Awesome, thanks for joining TONMO, @DHF8!



Definitely interested in that research; is that to be found in the links you provided? Looking forward to your contributions.

Hi Cthulhu, thanks for the interest, the links I gave are to free introductions to it, as such. There are a few other spaces where there are open access links to works in this grain too if you are interested, like the Film-Philosophy journal (on the film Arrival, and also The Call of Cthulhu on passing, with tentacular aliens etc.). See here if you like: https://www.euppublishing.com/doi/abs/10.3366/film.2018.0084
I'm really loving this site and community.

 

[tonmo]

Hi Cthulhu

I am @tonmo, the "Cthulhu" reference is my community ranking; at the time of response, yours is "hatchling" - more detail on this esoteric feature and system can be found here.

See here if you like: https://www.euppublishing.com/doi/abs/10.3366/film.2018.0084

Will do - thank you!

I'm really loving this site and community.

I appreciate your feedback, and I appreciate that you've joined our community!

 

[DHF8]

I am @tonmo, the "Cthulhu" reference is my community ranking; at the time of response, yours is "hatchling" - more detail on this esoteric feature and system can be found here.

Will do - thank you!

I appreciate your feedback, and I appreciate that you've joined our community!

Ah ha, I actually read up about the rankings, and understood them, but didn't think TONMO himself would be messaging me, so got muddled up. Cheers! Well done on building such a bustling community, especially after reverse-engineering the name. Haha. I wonder where it's be now if you stuck with ontology? Octo-ontology aint a bad. I highly recommend Vilem Flusser's short book on Vampire Squid philosophy - it is more fable than science fact, as when he wrote it so little was known about Vampyroteuthis Infernalis...but some of the speculations and insights into cephalopod thought and being are so startling and insightful that I rank it as a thought (if not life) changing book. I'm sure you would appreciate it very much, if you havent encountered it before (I did a site search oin his name but turned up nought). I just met another group of ceph-heads at a conference I attended last week, so it has been a real time of meeting like-minded people. Thanks again for messaging.

 

[tonmo]

Well done on building such a bustling community, especially after reverse-engineering the name. Haha.

I'd probably do it differently if I had known where it would go!

I'm sure you would appreciate it very much, if you havent encountered it before (I did a site search oin his name but turned up nought).

I'll seek it out

 

[DHF8]

Hi and welcome to Tonmo! Maybe a bit irrelevant but I recently watched a very weird French thriller called The perfect nanny which included a vety unheimlich scene with the protagonist seeing octopuses all over her house...The movie itself was not worth it but this scene was superb

I just got round to watching The Perfect Nanny/Lullaby tonight. Thanks for the recommendation! I thought it was really interesting, and very French, and just the right amount of unheimlich and disturbing. I noticed there were octopuses peppered throughout, like a plastic one on the bathroom wall early doors, and the 'EDO-porn' (another 'Art' film with an octopus in it, on an aside) Japanese printwork 'Dream of the Fisherman's Wife,' as well as the drying ceph bodies in the South of France. the hallucination scene in the flat was really intriguing. I think this film with stay with me for a while, and I want to puzzle through what the octopus means in this text. What was your take on it? Is there any relevance to using these animal here? I haven't read the source novel.... maybe there is a clue in there?? But thanks again for recommending. Let me return the favour. I just caught Episode 6 of series 2 of the Jordan Peele Twilight Zone zone this week. It's entitled '8.' It is about a new species of Antarctic intelligent octopus - with a dash of The Thing and Alien... a bit of silly fun if nothing else, but worth half an hour of leisure time. Wishing you all the best for the new year.

 

[TheSeeker]

I just got round to watching The Perfect Nanny/Lullaby tonight. Thanks for the recommendation! I thought it was really interesting, and very French, and just the right amount of unheimlich and disturbing. I noticed there were octopuses peppered throughout, like a plastic one on the bathroom wall early doors, and the 'EDO-porn' (another 'Art' film with an octopus in it, on an aside) Japanese printwork 'Dream of the Fisherman's Wife,' as well as the drying ceph bodies in the South of France. the hallucination scene in the flat was really intriguing. I think this film with stay with me for a while, and I want to puzzle through what the octopus means in this text. What was your take on it? Is there any relevance to using these animal here? I haven't read the source novel.... maybe there is a clue in there?? But thanks again for recommending. Let me return the favour. I just caught Episode 6 of series 2 of the Jordan Peele Twilight Zone zone this week. It's entitled '8.' It is about a new species of Antarctic intelligent octopus - with a dash of The Thing and Alien... a bit of silly fun if nothing else, but worth half an hour of leisure time. Wishing you all the best for the new year.

You are welcome! It seems we share an interest in the cultural representations of our eight-arm friends...I also enjoy pondering on their meaning. Unfortunately I haven't read the source novel as well, I came across the film by pure coincidence...I think the octopus in this film was supposed to strengthen the mysterious presence of the nanny. Also, her course is a bit parallel to an octopus life...She, as well, becomes senescent as soon as her motherhood role is coming to an end...I expect it also has something to do with the particular culture, France is also a Mediterranean country and hence the octopus is an animal so present to the point of becoming a symbol...It is definitely related to sexuality somehow but it's been a long time now since I watched the film and I can not express a specific analysis.
I will surely watch 8 as soon as I get my hands on it. Thanks!
Also, I look forward to reading your article...
Happy New Year!

 

[DHF8]

You are welcome! It seems we share an interest in the cultural representations of our eight-arm friends...I also enjoy pondering on their meaning. Unfortunately I haven't read the source novel as well, I came across the film by pure coincidence...I think the octopus in this film was supposed to strengthen the mysterious presence of the nanny. Also, her course is a bit parallel to an octopus life...She, as well, becomes senescent as soon as her motherhood role is coming to an end...I expect it also has something to do with the particular culture, France is also a Mediterranean country and hence the octopus is an animal so present to the point of becoming a symbol...It is definitely related to sexuality somehow but it's been a long time now since I watched the film and I can not express a specific analysis.
I will surely watch 8 as soon as I get my hands on it. Thanks!
Also, I look forward to reading your article...
Happy New Year!

Cheers.
I think you are right. The octopus has a kind of monstrous framing, which aligns with the nanny. The old octopus as creepy monster trope. To such end, the first plastic one we catch a glimpse of in the couple's bathroom foreshadows where the nanny will commit the foul deeds at the end. And the ones during the holiday in the South of France anticipate her first monstrous outbreak with the children on the beach. She is certainly erotically obsessed with the couple too, hence the focus on the Edo porn print too. She is the monster hiding in plain sight, as such. Interesting you link her sudden ageing to the end of the nurturing role, a detail I had'nt picked up on fully. Saying that, the notion of youth as 'cultural capital' is evident all the way through, and she is excluded from this. If you recall, she gives the kids food that has passed its 'best before' date, which the mum outright forbids. The more I think about it, the more I enjoyed it.

best for now

D