Girl, Interrupted

Hi guys,

Sam and I chose an excerpt from "Girl, Interrupted," Susanna Kaysen's 1993 memoir about her stay in McLean Hospital, a psychiatric hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts, during the years 1967-68. In the chapter we selected, she discusses treating the "mind" vs. treating the "brain."



You might have seen this, but I also wanted to share this ny times essay, which touches on the mind vs. brain issue, and explores some of the ways that "mental illnesses" are conceptualized and treated in different parts of the world. The author makes a good argument that there are some dangers in exporting American ideas about mental illness to other countries.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/10/magazine/10psyche-t.html?scp=1&sq=crazy%20like%20us&st=cse

William James & Wendell Berry

Hey all, so here's what Lori and I gave out last week.

"The Varieties of Religious Experience" by William James - the book in general is an edited series of lectures that James gave in Scotland in 1901-02. I included the first lecture. James was a psychologist and philosopher (and brother of Henry James), who was interested in the psychology of religion and mysticism. He also said he that he was only able to understand Hegel under the influence of nitrous oxide.

"The Unsettling of America: Culture and Agriculture" by Wendell Berry (1977) - I included three chapters early in the book where Berry looks at the problems of our culture as problems of agriculture. Berry was born and still lives in Kentucky where he farms and writes--fiction and nonfiction.

And I'm down to read Big Red Son.

Big Red Son

I realized today that I had promised to upload a scan of David Foster Wallace's "Big Red Son" from Consider the Lobster, as suggested by Sian. As we discussed at the end of our last meeting, this essay is a bit long (50 pages) considering that there are four other pieces on the agenda. Still, it seems really interesting and well placed after Working. I think we should consider it not "required" but "highly recommended." (It's about the porn industry!)

Could everyone else who contributed an article perhaps post the author/title and a brief explanation? I think that would be worthwhile as the end was all sort of rushed.

Okay, so here's the pdf:

Big Red Son

I think a lot of people you all know probably own this book, too. Might be worth digging up a copy.

Also, we're on the calendar for Monday, February 22nd this month. Speak now or forever hold your peace.

In other news, here's a link to the "scene" in which Rip Torn (from Working) hits Norman Mailer with a hammer and then Mailer attempts to bite his ear off. Enjoy.

Not working

Fascinating/terrifying:

http://cohort11.americanobserver.net/latoyaegwuekwe/multimediafinal.html

Loving the book.

Quick Note

First of all, I couldn't find Working at Barnes & Nobles. Annoying considering I have little free time these days and I hate ordering things online.

Second, I'm not curating and not sure if I will be able to continue to participate, but you all should consider reading (if you haven't read it already) David Foster Wallace's "Big Red Son" from Consider the Lobster. Working, fucking, etc.

Details for next meeting

I just wanted to note that we've confirmed Monday 1/25 as our next date for the circle. Let's do 8pm again, unless someone suggests otherwise. It's unfortunate but understandable that Sian can't curate a reading for February. Is there anyone that would like to step in with a 10-20 page essay/reading? Something that feels like an interesting offshoot of Studs Terkel.

Working is dense but rewarding. Unlike Debord, I'm sure the library carries it.

Sincere Apologies

Hi all,

I'm feeling really overwhelmed with school starting, etc and really don't think I will have time to come up with a reading for the curated month. I hope to make it on the 25th, but it's not looking particularly promising at this point. Happy New Year everyone!!

Best,
Sian