Digital Occultism

Description

In a post-vibe shift era where technology and esotericism converge, Digital Occultism explores the ways occult traditions permeate our understanding of the mediated technological present. The histories of both the occult and technology have long been intertwined, meddling with our political imaginaries and peddling knowledge from beyond. From the algorithmic depths of social media to the viral logic of memes, the language of the occult has become an unspoken grammar for interpreting technologies, politics, and culture in an era marked as post-truth. This class investigates how esoteric ideas and language—long rooted in mystical traditions—resurface as both content and tools to navigate the contradictions of contemporary digital environments/eco-systems. By weaving together philosophies of Deleuze & Guattari and contemporary theory, fundamental esoteric practices (sigils, Kabbalah, tarot, astrology etc.), and emergent phenomena like meme magick and schizoposting, this course offers a framework for understanding the occult forces animating the digital age. A key concept in this course to describe how media decodes, mutates, and reassemble meaning is the Deleuzoguattarian idea of de/reterritorialization. In this framework, we will explore memes as digital sigils; interrogate the algorithm as an autonomous entity; delve into the entangled histories of occultism and modern technologies; examine hyperstition and manifestation as forces shaping reality; illuminate the multilayered relation between esotericism and conspiracies; and trace how cultural artifacts (from CCRU’s Numogram theories to Dead Internet Theory) influence the collective imagination. The course’s goal is to critically engage with contemporary reinterpretations of esoteric knowledge and how these reshape our approach to technology, identity, and the politics of the future.

Lecturers