February 6th to March 16th, 2025

JM102: IT'S ALL REAL

An Inquiry Into the Reality of the Supernatural

Six weeks of lectures and group discussions hosted on Zoom
with J.F. Martel,
co-host of the Weird Studies podcast
and author of Reclaiming Art in the Age of Artifice

"They say miracles are past, and we have our philosophical persons, to make modern and familiar, things supernatural and causeless. Hence it is that we make trifles of terrors, ensconcing ourselves into seeming knowledge, when we should submit ourselves to an unknown fear." — William Shakespeare, All's Well That Ends Well

There was a time when it seemed that scientific progress would eradicate belief in the supernatural. But the supernatural did not vanish with our decision to stop believing in it. In this six-week series of lectures and discussions, J.F. Martel will lead an inquiry into the possibility that supernatural beings—ghosts, demons, spirits, and ultraterrestrials—are not merely artifacts of human psychology or a cultural myth, but real entities with a persistent presence in our world. Alongside these creatures, the course will also delve into the phenomena often associated with the Otherworld, such as hauntings, psychic powers, and magic.

Nothing is off the table: From poltergeists to vampires, goblins to Bigfoot, levitators to telepaths, all things that go bump in the night are invited to this veritable banquet of the Weird. The goal is to give serious philosophical thought to a topic that has been almost universally shunned by philosophers. In addition to examining real-world encounters, including personal ones for those willing to share, participants will engage in an appraisal of our modern thaumatophobia—our fear of wonder—while exploring alternative metaphysical models that are better aligned with reality as human beings actually experience it.

In this exploration, the class will draw on the work of those who have spoken with courage and insight for the unseen— investigators and scholars such as Victoria Nelson, John Keel, George P. Hansen, and Colin Wilson. The ideas of Henri Bergson, William James, and other thinkers will come into play. Religious modes of belief will mingle with secular theory as we try to find the zone where the Real can be met on its own terms. Documented cases of supernatural phenomena will enliven the intellectual investigation, allowing real-world testimony to conspire with careful thought to give us the conditions of the possible and the outer limits of reality.

By the end, we may find ourselves in a new world.

Format

The course consists of six "Lecture Hall" sessions, each consisting of a 90-minute lecture, and an equal number of “Office Hours,” sessions where students are encouraged to ask questions and contribute their own ideas to the discussion. As with all Weirdosphere offerings, the course includes a dedicated feed where the instructor and students can post thoughts, share links, and exchange between lectures.

Schedule

The course begins Thursday, February 6th, 2025, and ends Sunday, March 16th. All meetings will take place over Zoom via the Weirdosphere learning platform.

• Lecture Hall sessions will take place on Thursdays at 5 pm PST / 8 pm EST. The meetings are recorded to allow students in more distant time zones to attend asynchronously.
• Office Hours sessions will take place on Sundays at 12 pm PST / 3 pm EST. This time slot is chosen to allow students from as many time zones as possible to attend live. Like the lectures, these sessions are recorded.

Recorded sessions will remain available to registered students after the course is over, in video and audio format.

Homework

From week to week, J.F. may assign essays, stories, and other works in view of upcoming discussions. Whenever possible, these will be made available on the course platform. For copyright reasons, students may need to access certain works on their own.

Why Take this Course?

Students will get to:

• Attend six lectures investigating the idea of the supernatural and the phenomena that it encompasses.
• Meet J.F. and participate directly in six weekly Office Hours discussions with him and the other students over Zoom.
• Gain permanent access to recordings of the lectures and discussions.
• Post, share, discuss, and exchange direct messages with the instructors and other students on the Weirdosphere platform.
• Become full-fledged members of a growing learning community, with a permanent discount on all future Weirdosphere classes by Phil Ford, J.F. Martel, and other thinkers of things strange and astonishing.

Cost

Registration is $220 for New Members of Weirdosphere.

If you are a paid member of the Weird Studies Patreon community, you are eligible for a discount. Please use the registration link provided on Patreon to get this benefit.

By enrolling in JM102: It’s All Real, you will automatically become a member of the Weirdosphere learning community and receive a discount on all future offerings on the platform. Existing Members should enroll from within Weirdosphere to receive this benefit.

If your circumstances are such that paying full price is an obstacle, please write us at [email protected] to arrange a reduced rate.