An Update (What's Next)
Now that our Yeehaw season has concluded, I've been mulling-over what to do next. There are a few options. I'd like to return to Spanish expeditions, but those projects are very large and require serious commitment. In particular: a project on Columbus has been long overdue, and Mathew Restall wrote a book about him last October which I've STILL yet to get to.
Another project I've wanted to tackle for some time was inspired by: The Discovery of Mankind by David Abulafia. The book discusses the Canary Islands and their conquest by the Spanish. The subject would have many ramifications on later Spanish ones, setting certain precedents.
Furthermore: the Canary Islands have an interesting implied history. Who peopled them, and when? This is a subject of much debate, and the peoples present on the Canaries once Europeans began exploring East Africa were fascinating.
A video on human sacrifice, the various rituals across countless cultures, and its implications on human nature has been another project I've wanted to tackle for awhile. This is, by far, the most intimidating of all these projects. It would, necessarily, require a lot of study of a lot of different cultures and times. Furthermore: much smarter men than I have explored this subject, it's academic catnip. Most importantly: Freud, Jung, and Girard. All three of their arguments are incredibly dense and esoteric.
But I just keep discussing possibilities and eventual projects. What will you see in October?
I didn't like Christopher Nolan's Odyssey very much, the dialogue was woeful. Nonetheless: I found his treating Odysseus' journey as a metaphorical one back from the horrors of war to be an interesting take. Were the Mycenaeans who sacked Troy truly haunted? The actual text can be read that way, certainly there seems to be some powerful sense of loss, that a golden age has ended which they'll always have to live in the shadow of, that the glory promised was never truly found.
In October I'm going to explore the question: Did ancient soldiers get PTSD? I'm still in the research/writing/outlining stage right now though. It'll most-likely open with a discussion of All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Remarque and heavily pull from From Melos to My Lai by Lawrence Tritle.
Current title: Haunted Hoplites and Lost Legionaries: PTSD in the Ancient World
Thanks for your patience and support. I was overjoyed to see the reaction to both my Apache Wars videos, and incredibly pleased by how the Blood Meridian video turned out. The PTSD video will, naturally, be something of an extension on the ideas I discussed there. War is never as fun as it's supposed to be! What a shame.
Slaughterhouse Five will be as avoided as I can manage. Don't worry: I won't successfully avoid it.
DJ PC
Comments (35)
might be late to the party here, but on the human sacrifice note... one interesting perspective i once read on human sacrifice came from italian anti-stalinist communist amadeo bordiga, advocating an arguably pro (at least sympathetic to) human sacrifice position, seeing it as a positive expression of human communities. https://www.marxists.org/archive/bordiga/works/1961/janitzio.htm its analysis of the history might seem rather limited with 60 years of advancement, and i know you don't want to use the words "communism" or "fascism" in any of your videos, but i feel the perspective is at least worth remarking on.
Sounds like an interesting perspective to incorporate! I’ll try and check it out, but I now have the rest of this year mapped out, so don’t expect a response soon!
human sacrifice sounds awesome. After watching your Aztec series I tried searching for videos about their 'human sacrifices". I was surprised to see only a handful of videos and one of them was an interview with Mathew Riiiii i dont remeber his last name.
I say this without a hint of irony- do an video essay on the new oddysey. you have a unique background, mind and voice; to add a weighted repose to what our modern western culture isn't seeing. yes, christopher nolan DID use the story as a mechanism for a politcal message, just not the one the cons and libs think it is. I think you can understand that message. And i hope you'd want to show everyone else what you found.
It’s difficult to do a video essay on a film still in theaters! Obviously many have made a video on it still, but I’m really not comfortable making a video on a film that I can neither re-watch over and over again, nor use footage from freely. I may still do one later!
Really excited to see any of these! Especially a general history on sacrifice rituals. Also (you’re probably aware, but) academics LOVE being interviewed, and most any historian would probably be delighted to be on/sourced for the show.
oh boy! old world ptsd! finally a chance to scare the women by reciting ambrose bierce's many short stories of man made horrors.
Always happy for some more "how did these men sleep at night" vibes. I wanted to ask if you have more native American history planned in the future. I live in Minnesota in an area that was central to the Souix uprising and Dakota wars of the mid to late 1800s. Your apache videos are inspiring me to look more into this, and im trying to search for flawed and bias primary sources. I actually currently live along the route of the Dakota memorial ride, and see them pass right by my house every year around Christmas time. The memorial is for the Dakota 38 that we're executed in Mankato in the largest mass execution in U.S. history. I feel like that could be in a Cobbler video one day. Plus there's not much on YouTube about the Dakota wars. And you could do a whole series on red cloud, crazy horse, black elk, custer, and wounded knee. Just the thoughts of a long time listener, first time caller. Thanks for the countless hours of entertainment!
haunted hoplites sounds great
I used to watch the History channel about 20 years ago. Richard A. Gabriel was on at least one of those shows and he interpreted Numbers 31:19 as the Isrealites' way of saying "OK, you guys just wiped out the hill people. Sit outside of town for a week, do some religious rituals to absolve yourselves, and please process this shit before you come back to us. A week ought to be enough." I know the History Channel often "writes about war wrong" but I'm not sure he does. I haven't read his stuff. I might read his book "No More Heroes" for my own edification here but "America, América" is already sitting on my shelf, and "The American West and the Nazi East" beckons too.
The Odyssey... I am looking forward to Nolan returning to sexless high concept sci fi.
LindyBiege did a very elucidating video about PTSD in ancient warfare. Worth a look. Good old lindy
Human sacrifice!!! YES. What the hell is even that?! I honestly have no idea how to begin understanding it.
I am half way through Restalls book about Columbus, and the conquest of the Canary Islands seemed an important reason on why Colombus was able to make his expedition. I think that a videos about the conquest of the Canaries can be an important in describing the culture that led to the expedition
I think an arc based on the origins of European colonization, culminating in Columbus finding the new world, would be sick. After all, exploration and colonization were the result of the reconquista, the ottomans, the Portuguese/Spanish rivalry, etc.
These are all awesome topics! Can't wait to see which one you pick!
Please hate read Gone with the Wind. Speaking of Tecumseh, what about the Tecumseh's Confederacy, and the War of 1812 ? Also maybe something on Sequoyah, the Cherokees, the Trail of Tears
All sound like fascinating videos. Though I belive you mentioned doing a Control (from Remedy) video?
Descendants of Los Canarios are still the reigning kings and queens of San Antonio's heritage societies. I've read a fair amount about the Canary Islands but am down for more. 'Til then, I await swimming in the deep dark waters of historical PTSD.
Hey Cobbler, I have a question: Is there a chance of your Pie-People returning? I think they were always wonderful at expressing the insanity of your History videos :)
Hell yeah. An exploration of PTSD and the horrors of war that isn’t made to appeal exclusively to the weird elite. Just recently got my hands on Slaughterhouse 5 so this is probably a sign to pick it up. Honestly never heard of the Canary Islands so that will be wholly uncharted territory for me. Another topic I believe you might find interesting would be the lasting consequences of the Viking Age, and the myriad attempts by the men who lived in it to reject the call of the barbarian’s retort. (Also gives me an excuse to recommend Vinland Saga)
Vinland Saga might be an anime but holly cow no other work showed me man trapped in history and history trapped in them.
I know there were some Middle Ages writings of men-at-arms who were haunted by their experiences, although I can’t recall the titles. Either way, ancient PTSD and how that reflected in the spirituality lens of ancient cultures sounds fascinating. Almost how lightning was viewed through the lens of the gods and religion, was PTSD incorporated into religious understanding?
First, I’ll enjoy whatever you choose. Second, a perhaps "easier" topic is U.S. intervention in Latin America.
I think that any of these topics would make an amazing video especially the human sacrifice one. I agree with your take with Nolan’s Odyssey. I honestly thought the casting was atrocious along side some of the acting. I find the theme of restablishing the sacred really interesting. Think this theme lightly ties into your work and how you persistently try to portray the whole of a person instead of the character history makes them. This idea of seeing the human in history is also a theme throughout Nolan’s Odyssey. Keep up the great work Mr. Cobbler!
I loved Dunkirk and Oppenheimer for just that reason! Wild airball from Nolan, I’m usually a pretty big fan
Would you ever make like a metal gear video someday? I would like to hear your thoughts on the story and themes of the franchise.
Sounds grand; always happy to hear you’re aiming upwards! PTSD is a fascinating subject to study in history, because it seems to be influenced in part by culture and cultural mechanisms of dealing with certain thoughts and emotions, so I’ll be excited to watch your take on it!
Looking forward to it man! Your videos are always a treat to watch!
can’t wait. always a treat getting a new video.
Thanks for the update, can't wait to see what you release next.
Inject the ancient PTSD into my blood. Fuck yes. Side bar: That idea makes me wonder about ancient mythology generally. Were the authors haunted by things they couldn't understand? Edit: All mythology effectively was written by like, not as insane versions of Willem Dafoe in the Northman suffering from PTSD and getting high on Ayahuasca.
Thank you internet essay man (affectionate)
better question, did pre written history societies utilize tactile femboy warfare
One can speculate. If they don't belive in dreams, as man such as me do.