Texas Overture

Hey everyone, and welcome back… This week, we’re happy to sit down with author and political commentator David Griscom to discuss his debut book, The Myth of Red Texas: Cowboys, Populism, and Class War in the Radical South.
There is a commonly held belief that conservatism and rugged individualism run through the veins of Texas. In an innate sort of way like the tributaries of the Guadalupe, the Frio, and the Rio Grande. Griscom's book looks closer at the stories that often sit unexamined, and finds that the reality of Texas political history is much more complicated. Being in the business of under-explored Texas history, we were all ears.
We discuss: the myth of the cowboy, the barbed wire fence-cutting wars, early Populist encampments, former rodeo clowns with left leaning convictions, Christian socialism, the state of Texas today, and more 🌠
The book contains so much interesting storytelling and analysis beyond what we were able to speak about in the episode. Consider picking up a copy if you’re interested to read more.
Link: https://orbooks.com/catalog/the-myth-of-red-texas/
And of course, thank you to @davidgriscom for talking with us!

Hi everyone… we’re back! In this episode, we take a research trip down to the Texas-Mexico border to view a portion of the 335+ fading pictographs scattered across the rocky walls of Seminole Canyon…
Through this, we discuss the work of artist Mary Virginia Carson and cognitive anthropologist and muralist Dr. Carolyn Boyd; the White Shaman mural; Mesoamerican mythology; fragrant offerings through speech-breath; John Dewey and Walter Benjamin; the art object and its aura; our boots-on-the-ground camping experience; stumbling upon a catfish fry; and more....
Thanks for listening ⭐️
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Main Sources:
The White Shaman Mural: An Enduring Creation Narrative in the Rock Art of the Lower Pecos by Dr. Carolyn Boyd
Mary Virginia Carson: Capturing Rock Art with Water Colors by Marise McDermott
Speech-Breath: Mapping the Multisensory Experience in Pecos River Style Pictography by Dr. Carolyn E. Boyd and Ashley Busby
Art as Experience by John Dewey
Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction Walter Benjamin

After a two-year hiatus, Faith and Camille are finally back with a new episode of Texas Overture!
In this installment, we go on a journey through time from 1920s San Antonio to 1950s Austin. We end up, of course, in the year of 2026, where we discuss how air conditioning has transformed both the world around us and the world inside. Our special guest for this episode is Sachin Benny, writer of Summer Lightning, a fantastic weekly newsletter focused on shifts in culture and technology. With him, we discuss Rem Koolhaas’s Junkspace, the endless interior, time and memory, H.P. Lovecraft’s Cool Air, the beauty industry, and more… <3
Be sure to follow OUR NEW SUBSTACK for more new episodes, bonus content, updates, art, and more !
Our Substack: https://texasoverture.substack.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/texasoverture
Sachin's Substack: https://substack.com/@summerlightning
Junkspace by Rem Koolhaas: https://akephale.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/rem_koolhaas_junkspace.pdf
New theme song composed by Clint Dierker!!

We explore the life of "Border Healing Woman" Jewel Babb. Babb lived for nearly 90 years in the West Texas desert as a mystical healer, mother, and goat herder.

Source: "Border Healing Woman" by Pat Littledog

Fellow Texan Sam Cummins of Nymphet Alumni fame joins us for our Valentines's Day special. Together we explore the life of a notorious Texas jeweler of legend. James Avery is known for his tinkling silver charm bracelets, sleazy love life, and vigorous Episcopalianism. We discuss the TX archetype of The James Avery Girl, sleep away camps, talismanic charms throughout the ages, charm bracelets as autobiography/protection/handcuffs, Milagros, Queen Victoria The Influencer, Texas-Euro-kitsch, what it takes to be a true romantic, and more... Thanks for listening to Texas Overture :)

Extra reading:

https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/gods-jeweler/

https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1040106/