David Bowie’s career exemplified the interplay of performance, identity, and mythmaking. Through personas like Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane, and the Thin White Duke, Bowie blurred the lines between artifice and reality, crafting an enigmatic, occult-tinged ambiguity that challenged perceptions of authenticity and selfhood.

This episode delves into Bowie’s engagement with symbolism and fascist aesthetics during the mid-1970s, posing tough questions about the ethical limits of art and performance. It also examines the broader political implications of such themes, as addressed in episode four. From the glittering glam rock of the early ’70s, through the cocaine-fueled chaos of his occult fascination, to the introspective and reflective Berlin years that followed, Bowie’s shifting artistry reveals an artist grappling with the volatile forces he summoned.

By comparing Bowie’s calculated use of artifice to the rise of modern performative figures like Donald Trump and phenomena like Reality TV and the kayfabe of pro wrestling, we explore how spectacle, mythmaking, and image construction shape public narratives in both art and politics.

Topics Discussed

The Art of Performance and the Performance of Art:

Bowie’s personas blurred the boundary between character and self, complicating traditional notions of authenticity. His role in The Man Who Fell to Earth exemplifies this interplay, rooted in the public image depicted in Cracked Actor.

Masks as Tools of Self-Creation:

Bowie’s use of personas such as Ziggy Stardust and the Thin White Duke showcased masks as mechanisms for both self-revelation and concealment, questioning whether there was ever a "real" David Jones beneath these layers.

Occultism and Symbolism:

Inspired by figures like Aleister Crowley, Bowie used occult imagery not as spiritual doctrine but as a symbolic framework to explore creativity and transformation.

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice Analogy:

Bowie’s characters, particularly the Thin White Duke, illustrate the risks of engaging with powerful symbols without fully understanding their implications, echoing Goethe’s famous cautionary tale.

Fascist Aesthetics and Ethical Implications:

Bowie’s flirtation with fascist iconography highlights the tension between aesthetic experimentation and ethical responsibility.

Performance and Politics:

The rise of performative figures like Donald Trump underscores the ways in which spectacle and reality bleed together, drawing parallels to Bowie’s exploration of myth and public persona.

The Power of Myth and Legacy:

Bowie’s personas—archetypes co-created with his audience—illustrate how art participates in shaping collective identity and cultural mythology.

Art as a Ritual of Transformation:

Bowie’s work highlights the alchemical possibilities of art, where the act of donning masks and adopting identities opens pathways to personal and cultural change.

Ethics of Transgression in Art:

This episode examines the moral responsibilities of artists who push boundaries, focusing on how Bowie navigated the unforeseen consequences of engaging with provocative themes.

Appropriation and Innovation:

Bowie’s ability to borrow from diverse cultural sources—musical, visual, and symbolic—and recontextualize them into something uniquely his own raises enduring questions about appropriation and innovation.

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