Author Archives: Damien Walter

The cognitive science of science fiction – an interview with John Vervaeke

John Vervaeke is one of the world’s most esteemed cognitive scientists, and a colleague of Jordan Peterson at the University of Toronto. He was born into a fundamentalist Christian family, and experienced an awakening to science after reading a science fiction novel – Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny.

I interviewed John Vervaeke in October 2020 to explore the cognitive science of science fiction. We dig into the modern mythos of Star Wars, why scifi fans like to dress as their icons, the “bleed” from RPGs into real world experience, and the relationship between science fiction and Vervaeke’s concept of the meaning crisis.

Watch the interview on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7SjhQbeS6s

Follow the full course in Advanced Scifi and Fantasy : https://damiengwalter.com

Enroll on Udemy: https://www.udemy.com/course/advanced-science-fiction-fantasy/?referralCode=B7B13C5C3D413999ED95

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What is science fiction?

Look at a list of the 20th century’s most important artistic and cultural movements and you won’t find science fiction listed. Why not? We need a better definition of science fiction to help reclaim it…from itself.

Follow the full course in Advanced Scifi and Fantasy : https://damiengwalter.com

Enroll on Udemy: https://www.udemy.com/course/advanced-science-fiction-fantasy/?referralCode=B7B13C5C3D413999ED95

Subscribe monthly via Skillshare: https://skl.sh/3pO6pPV

FOUNDATION Isaac Asimov’s prophetic vision of future humanity

Watch the full video essay on YouTube: https://youtu.be/464fJwepx1U

Follow the full course in Advanced Scifi and Fantasy : https://damiengwalter.com

Enroll on Udemy: https://www.udemy.com/course/advanced-science-fiction-fantasy/?referralCode=B7B13C5C3D413999ED95

Subscribe monthly via Skillshare: https://skl.sh/3pO6pPV

The Marvel Metanarrative: how to tell giant stories

Watch the full video essay on YouTube: https://youtu.be/uzf4kyDYF5I

Follow the full course in Advanced Scifi and Fantasy : https://damiengwalter.com

Enroll on Udemy: https://www.udemy.com/course/advanced-science-fiction-fantasy/?referralCode=B7B13C5C3D413999ED95

Subscribe monthly via Skillshare: https://skl.sh/3pO6pPV

My new collaboration with Academia.edu

YouTube recently reminded me that it will be five years (on 7th May) since I uploaded my first video and began my journey into making online courses for writers and storytellers. Since then my courses on Udemy and Skillshare have had over 35,000 enrolled students worldwide. That success has also brought new opportunities. This weekContinue reading “My new collaboration with Academia.edu”

I’ve never shouted so loud

The first clue was mud all over the floor. Then I saw the doors of my wardrobe were open. The wardrobe where I keep my camera equipment. The camera equipment which was now gone, gone, gone. I stomped around my house for the next five minutes searching for my obviously stolen camera equipment. Honestly, I’veContinue reading “I’ve never shouted so loud”

Dyson Spheres, Sam Harris and skillful free will

What do Dyson Spheres and the philosophical discussion have to do with one another? In this talk Damien has fun with a response to Sam Harris’ denial of free will, as widely debated on Clubhouse in the week of this recording.

Talk to Damien on Clubhouse : https://www.joinclubhouse.com/@damiengwalter

Follow the full course in Scifi and Fantasy : https://damiengwalter.com

The hidden meaning of Blade Runner 2049

Blade Runner 2049 is the only sequel to a science fiction masterpiece to be greater than the original. Once you understand the hidden meaning of BR2049 you will never see the movie the same again.

Follow the full course in Scifi and Fantasy : https://damiengwalter.com

You may find additional meaning in the video version of this essay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5fbQ4hf068

Terry Pratchett fans will love The Watch…eventually

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Star Wars – addiction or recovery?

My major teaching project for this year has been Advanced Scifi & Fantasy : Writing the 21st Century Myth. This new course is my journey to try and understand what myths are doing in our lives today. I’m happy that almost five thousand students have so far enrolled on the course to join that journey.

A highlight of the course – and of my year – was interviewing John Vervaeke, Professor of Cognitive Psychology at the University of Toronto (where he teaches alongside Jordan Peterson) on the meaning of myth. And of Star Wars.

A member of John’s community created a brief edited video from out 90 minute conversation. In just a few minutes, it captures the whole meaning of our discussion.

You can follow the full course for 90% off by enrolling today using course code DAYOFMYTH – https://www.udemy.com/course/advanced-science-fiction-fantasy/?couponCode=DAYOFMYTH

Follow free talks from the course by subscribing to the podcast.

Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/science-fiction-with-damien-walter/id1530666687

Or Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9kYW1pZW5nd2FsdGVyLmNvbS9jYXRlZ29yeS9wb2RjYXN0L2ZlZWQv?hl=en-ID