Opportunity

is knocking

Hello Substack (and TU subs!),

What follows is a slightly polished version of something I sent subscribers at Theory Underground a few days ago. Anyone can become a subscriber at the Theory Underground website, but this Substack is caters to people who are a little different: patrons of the Fine, Liberal, Performing, Agricultural, and Culinary Arts.

The rest of this email will focus on some of the special perks being developed for TU subscribers, but before I launch into that, a quick moment to say, if you have been looking for something different to really help, the time is now.

We need $15,000 to build our new studio.

I was going to just take out a loan, but the interest rates are awful—now we are looking for another way. Anyone who donates to the studio in the next 48 hours will have their name added to the studio on a special plaque, and have access to a special dinner that we will host.

There is no better way to support the Fine, Liberal, Performing, Agricultural, and Culinary Arts, and at the same time—you even get to push the medium and technology to a whole new level. Just wire us via Zelle (contact via hello.theoryunderground@gmail.com).

Ann Snelgrove-McKerracher

,

Nance

, and I talked about this a bit on stream earlier today. You can watch here (timestamped so you skip straight to the part).

The email about new subscriber perks at the TU site:

We’ve added a few things:

Benjamin added his reverse seminar. This means instead of him talking about whatever he wants, YOU can get him to talk about whatever YOU want.¹

I have added a reverse seminar. Same premise, only difference being “the whiteboard.”² The idea of that is that I have a whiteboard and if you are a part of the reverse seminar you can add to the whiteboard topics and threads that we are talking about and weaving.

I've also, over the last couple of months, added what is now called SAARUTU (Socioanalysis and Alien Anthropology Research Unit at Theory Underground). We are currently developing a desearch instrument that will be used across campus at my university and then across the country on our tour.

Once the Agora is operational that's going to become a really special one. (Its theoretical and practical sides have been in constant development at TU since the first tour, but it is really coming together fast over the last two months! Shout out to Rebecca, Will, Ruiz, and Kerem for doing the first mission of my seminar, which was to write up a piece about the Agora seminar session!)

There are several other Gold or Platinum perks in the works.

Some of the coolest ones will not be on the sheet and won't be routine.

For instance, you might get an opportunity to meet someone like Žižek, Land, Zupančič, Moeller, McGowan, et al. However, such events are RARELY scheduled.

EMSTUs usually come together the week-of, after months of planning on my part, where I set it up with someone in particular and then build the day around them and/or the theme.

Part of what I do is always working way ahead, but then from your side it will seem like things happen with virtually no advance notice. These are impossible to put on the schedule. It's like scheduling when you will catch a fish. I can only tell you that I'm always fishing.

Once I catch one, and it feels right, you'll be invited to meet some of the rockstars.

With that said, personally, I think you'll get way more memorable moments with lesser known figures I want to introduce you to.

Celebrity is stupid and I hate that shit. Treating them like they are so important is how you fuck up an opportunity to meet them. They're normal people on a certain level, they just have to deal with a whole helluva lot more bullshit. They tune things out. To me it's relatable somewhat. When I first got a taste of it back in the day I realized I reeeallly didn't want it. I did a lot to lose traction with the algorithm.

Why Left is a deliberate attempt to hit the gas pedal and it has certainly sped things up. To some extent this is necessary for project #FreeMikey. I just ease off the gas pedal and coast a lot because it cannot grow too fast.

As is, I simply cannot keep up with messages. So I duck out for a while. Nance too. And we're not even famous. Just imagine how it is for someone like Žižek or Land. Totally overwhelming unless you sorta stick your head in the sand or something.

To me, I imagine guys like Zizek and Land are just trying to stay sane most of the time so they build pretty big walls. Solitude is so important.

I say all this because treating the higher tiers like you're paying to meet famous people is the wrong way to think about it. You'll meet them if it feels right, but also, I'm setting up special events with underground LEGENDS who are not well known at all—like Daniel Garner, Brian Becker, or Dr. Laurie Johnson!

Beyond one-off meetings there will also be special classes, workshops, exegeticals, film discussions, and even game nights.

Think special meal when we're in town.

The trick is to NOT make me feel obligated to host or organize such things. Everyone is always welcome to do as they will, but I do what I do when it feels right. I follow the uptoitiveness principle, i.e. when I feel up to it, I do it.

That's why we're here. Others, like Sean, Nance, Rebecca, and Jacob have organized exegeticals recently on their own. Those were awesome. I love to see it. I don't want to ever discourage others taking action, as Jack has recently done with a TU clips channel, or as Will is doing with the screenplay and doc.

We're all learning how to organize in the PCFM—or at least some of us are! If you are not, no worries! I don't think less of you. Just keep your suggestions to yourself. If you want something to happen, go make it happen!

As for me, there's a million things I COULD be doing rn that would be good for me, us, or specific ends, but I am actively neglecting those things while working on what is absolutely most essential.

Most of what is absolutely essential will spontaneously come into existence for you one day like everything else at TU. Just keep up with the daily events and stop trying to live like the heart of this operation can be stretched out onto a schedule.

While I, of course, want to put as much on the schedule as possible for people who cannot participate without lots of advance notice, I nevertheless won't be bound by one. Harnessing spontaneity is a huge part of what works here.

I'm going to begin scheduling a lot of events that start “in the afternoon” as opposed to a specific time. Think skatepark. Think show. You get there when you get there. Snooze you lose. Tune out for a week or two and you might miss something important, but no worries, we’ll probably bring you back aboard the wavelength no problem.

We'll get there when we get there. I'm too busy to rush. I'm doing this because I love it. I think you're here because you love it too. I know most of you are really excited about what's to come—without the need for anything to change in any particular way. You're here for it because you trust the chef. That's awesome.

I love to have you here.

Thanks for reading.

If you want to get more involved with the courses and seminars, discussions, and research happening at TU, then subscribe at the TU website. But if you just want to support the Fine, Liberal, Performing, Agricultural, and Culinary Arts, become a founding member at this Substack, or wire us the money through Zelle.

The paid content below includes Studebaker’s and McKerracher’s (my own) first reverse seminars. They were fire!!!!