Dara Clear

Acting Out in the Extreme, or When Private Pain becomes Public Tragedy – Episode 27

In this episode Dara is prompted by the recent violent attack in Waukesha, as well as other car and truck attacks and shooting atrocities, to reflect on how we view the individuals who perpetrate such acts. His train of thought takes in cultural stereotyping, systemic social failure, and the expression of pain in both positive and negative ways. Newton’s Cradle – the metal ball office toy – is offered as a metaphor for profound pain and alienation finding its equal and opposite expression in extreme acts.

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Love, Wellness, and Creativity, or Getting Violent with your Process – Episode 26

In this episode, before getting to the main topic, Dara observes how disconcertingly warm it is for November, and argues that things being not quite right can be extremely disruptive. He commends teachers for persevering amidst the unending Covid disruptions. The first part of the episode concludes with why his daughter felt the need to say “I hate you” to him.

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The Unloved Child, or Wielding the Blade of Creation – Episode 23

In this episode, Dara is inspired by Denis Villeneuve’s Bladerunner 2049 to go on a wide-ranging exploration of identity, consciousness and origin. He wonders if the leaders of Big Tech inspired Jared Leto’s portrayal of the designer in the Villeneuve movie before asking what level of thought and feeling is possible for AI entities.

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You Wanna Peace of Me?, or The Rocky Road to Reconciliation – Episode 22

In this episode, once he’s finished breaking down, and being revolted by, the animal dynamics at Hashtag Blessed, Dara launches into a deep dive of conflict, taking as a first reference point an article on anger by A.C. Grayling. From there he ponders the concept of dehumanisation in the context of conflict.

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Big Bad Daddies! From Tony Soprano to My Father in Several Easy Steps – Episode 20

In this episode Dara explores the American father as captured in TV sensations The Sopranos and Breaking Bad. He also looks at Arthur Miller’s theatre masterworks Death of a Salesman and All My Sons before briefly visiting old Hollywood depictions of idealised fathers, both with and without collars!

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The Thrum of the Machine, or The Beautiful Irreducibility of Character – Episode 19

In this episode Dara explores the concept of character and how its uncovering might lie at the heart of true strength, happiness and resilience. He places it in firm counterpoint to the litany of reductive names, labels and titles and other identifiers we have put on us. That prompts a reflection on the tyranny of the word ‘Mother’.

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