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Psychoanalysis of Sarah Palin
This article is dead on and I think I've figured out why she looks so silly to us.
She is 100% a creature of the late 80s, early 90s. Her use of language and gestures is straight out of 1990. And that's when it hit me.
Alaska is 10 maybe 15 years behind. Trends that are set here run their course and then we're on to something else. But those trends and ideas take a while to propagate to Alaska.
So along now comes Palin using words straight out of a game called "Bullshit Bingo". If you don't know what it is Google "Bullshit Bingo" or go here :
http://www.bullshitbingo.net/cards/bullshit/
You'll find not only a great game at work but also, amazingly Palin's words.
Stated simpler, there was an idea back in the early 90s that you didn't really have to know subjects very deeply. That all you really had to know was the "Lingo". So for example, you could walk into a meeting, throw out a bullshit line like, "We're going to effort mission critical issues bringing customer relations management on board to more fully monetize the objective."
People would nod their heads, you'd be put in charge, just wonderful.
Problem is that people finally realized they were promoting morons and this was costing them a lot of money. And that brought an end to the good ol' days ... in the lower 48.
But watching Palin, it's dawned on me. She's no clue that we've been there, done that. We see these folks coming a mile away so now when we run into them and they spout off some bullshit, we say, "Cool. Exactly, how do you intend to do that ?. Give me details." At which point they give you that far away, "I just got caught making a poopie" look.
That's when we find that Sarah Palin's depth is ... surprise ... not there.
But she is a Bullshit Bingo player's dream. Last night watching the debate the tension was palpable as several players had only one more square to fill before Palin finally said "quasi-cave" thus causing my neighbor to cover her final square and shout, "Bullshit !" giving her the final win of the night. This article is dead on and I think I've figured out why she looks so silly to us. ... more -
Seductive Bare-Chested Masculine Confidence
Actually, now that I've had some more time to think about it from the perspective of a quick character study, while looking more closely at the very interesting photographs of this guy, perhaps I should have described him as “alluring,” rather than “seductive.” “Alluring” suggests, I think, a less cold-hearted stance toward/with others, while “seductive” implies intentionally hard-hearted and calculated schemes to take advantage of others. But the “bare-chested masculine confidence” is certainly a fitting description of the aura he projects.
This is a very handsome, muscular fellow, who most men and women would probably find to be quite attractive. The guy recently won a national title, Mr. America, Mr. American Glamour, Mr. Fascination, or some title like that. Well, at least I know for darn sure that I'm correct about the Mister part. In almost all of the photographs of him, this manly man looks you straight in the eye. In that sense he creates an impression of invitation, with an implication of closeness.
On the other hand, his gaze has a certain vacant quality, conveying a decidedly disinterested air. In other words, there exists a paradox of social attachment or closeness, accompanied by an opposite message of social distance. I'm wondering if this social ambivalence might be somewhat characteristic of people who are celebrities, as well as of people who want or are trying to be celebrities. Anyway, at the very least my comments here have attempted to establish an underlying point that there's nothing improper about looking closely at men who are alluring and very attractive. It's more a matter of how you think about it.
Anyway, this piece presents a number of superb photographs of this stunning fellow. It also include a music video-essay comprised of additional remarkable pictures of him. I won't tell you exactly what music I chose to accompany the video, except to say that I think it's uniquely apt. But you'll just have to watch it to find out. Actually, now that I've had some more time to think about it from the perspective of a quick character study, while looking more ... more -
Empathy: the foundation for feelings of love
Given our current national climate of heated and divisive public discourse, "Empathy" is an award-winning one-minute film that offers viewers moments of thoughtful calm. "Empathy” was a Regional Winner in the 2008 British Academy Film Awards (BAFA).
It is a film of elegant simplicity, which demonstrates how people of different generations can briefly be united by even small gestures of empathic mutual recognition. "Empathy" reveals how even very young children are capable of showing their passions from an early age. In this 60-second film, the starring brilliant child actor is able to convey a deeply touching sense of truly heartfelt empathic compassion from which many of today’s adults could well learn.
This composition includes a photograph and the deeply touching short-film, "Empathy." Given our current national climate of heated and divisive public discourse, "Empathy" is an award-winning one-minute film th... more -
Forever Yours: A Sadly Haunting Tale of Love and Loss
Stephen Kellam’s short film “Forever Yours” is a visually beautiful achievement. The film was produced with no spoken dialogue. Instead, the film’s emotional message is marked by the tone of its background music, which is melancholy and burdened with sadness.
Its haunting echoes serve as a metaphoric reminder that our lives are too often vulnerable to experiences of fragmentation wrought by the undercurrents of dread and ghosts from our past.
"Forever Yours" begins as a short but deeply disquieting simple story of love and loss during wartime. Suddenly, the film about a soldier dreaming of a rendezvous with his loved one back home becomes, in part, a film about our universal wishes for and dreams about a lost world. In other words, the film makes a sharp descent into the darker realm of reminiscent melancholia.
Great photographs and this wonderful, moving short film are included. Stephen Kellam’s short film “Forever Yours” is a visually beautiful achievement. The film was produced with no spoken dialogue. Instea... more -
The century of the self
In this 4-part BBC documentary, Adam Curtis explores how Edward Bernays was employed by various governmental agencies and corporations to exploit Freud's psychoanalytical ideas on a mass scale in the form of propaganda and public relations (a term coined by Bernays).
This documentary urgently needs to be watched by as many people as possible, as the manipulative techniques cataloged in this video have only gotten better and our consumer culture will only get worse if we don't start to peel away the veils and name this beast.
Parts 2-4 posted in the comments. In this 4-part BBC documentary, Adam Curtis explores how Edward Bernays was employed by various governmental agencies and corporations... more -
Barack Obama: A Manner of Thinking
This very detailed article examines the conceptual manner in which Barack Obama presented his broad visions for America in speeches that he gave during the early phase of his presidential campaign. The evolution of Obama's thought processes since having become the Democratic presidential nominee is contrasted, from a psychological perspective, to the nature of his earlier conceptualizations.
This article includes many great, high-quality photographs. In addition to the written review detailing the evolution of Obama's thinking, five video are presented to illustrate the changes. This very detailed article examines the conceptual manner in which Barack Obama presented his broad visions for America in speeches th... more -
April 5th: “You Believe in Dreams in a Dream-Forsaken Land”
Rosanne Carter, musician and daughter of the legendary Johnny Cash, has recently written a wonderfully interesting article, in which she maintains that,"In art and music, facts are not necessarily the best indicators of the deepest human experience." To illustrate her viewpoint, Carter presents the reader with a lively personal description of her recent collaboration with Elvis Costello and Kris Kristofferson to write and record a new song (in one day) .
This detailed article includes photographs and an original music video of this not-yet-released, stunning and emotionally touching song, "April 5th."
Take a listen and enjoy yourself!! Rosanne Carter, musician and daughter of the legendary Johnny Cash, has recently written a wonderfully interesting article, in which s... more -
Reflections of a Rare Bird: At Death's Door
By now, most people have heard of Professor Randy Pausch's famous "Last Lecture" that he gave at Carnegie-Mellon University; detailed information about it and the videos of his speech can be accessed here. However, this particular article presents another very touching and eloquent work, "At Death's Door," which also speaks to the challenge that we all will face of sustaining personal meaning and value against the backdrop of imminent mortality.
Valuable links for interested readers are included. By now, most people have heard of Professor Randy Pausch's famous "Last Lecture" that he gave at Carnegie-Mellon Univer... more -
Is Britishness in the brain?
A specialist market research company has carried out an experiment which aims to go beyond what people say they like or dislike, and reveal what they really think.
With the volunteers happily strapped into their multi-coloured braincaps, they were shown a selection of images of England or Britain, which mixed "traditional patriotic images and music with news footage of everything from the royal family to cups of tea; from multicultural street scenes to far-right protesters; sporting triumphs to terrorist attacks."
As the participants watched the footage, a researcher monitored a graph which showed their emotional responses by spiking up and down.
The experiment showed some interesting results about people's emotional responses and their thoughts that were more deeply rooted in the brain. For example, after being shown a clip with 'stirring music and regal scenes of the Queen and her family' none of the group spoke positively about Britain's monarchy, with some saying how much they disliked it. But when their emotional responses were correlated to their brain scans, it revealed more mixed findings.
"Their brain scans, however, revealed more mixed findings. The Queen got a warmer reaction if she was smiling and in a more informal setting; reaction to Charles and Camilla was cool. But the winners were Princes William and Harry, with a scene showing Harry serving in Afghanistan producing a particularly positive response."
The article continues with the experiment's findings, looking specifically at how the participants reacted to a 'multicutural Britain' and scenes of tragedy. A specialist market research company has carried out an experiment which aims to go beyond what people say they like or dislike, and r... more -
The Place of Agency and Norms in Psychoanalysis
"The Place of Agency and Norms in Psychoanalysis." The present role of agency, free will, norms and values in psychoanalysis is the topic of this Philoctetes Center Roundtable Discussion, with Jorge Ahumada, Akeel Bilgrami, Arnold M. Cooper, Garrett Deckel, Peter Kramer, and Bernard Reginster.
The video of the roundtable discussion is included. "The Place of Agency and Norms in Psychoanalysis." The present role of agency, free will, norms and values in psychoanalysi... more -
Life Passes By: 100 Drums
100 Drums is a bittersweet, nostalgic film that includes 100 persons, ages one to 100 years-old, banging or tapping on a drum. The final segments of the film serve to remind us that the greater the extent to which we are able to embrace a sense of our mortality, the more plentiful are our resources for deciding how to live in the present.
Includes the video of the documentary. 100 Drums is a bittersweet, nostalgic film that includes 100 persons, ages one to 100 years-old, banging or tapping on a drum. The fi... more -
There's Just No Place Like Home
On holidays, many people travel sometimes large distances to re-connect and celebrate with relatives at their families' homes. Remember that home is where all of us started from. I deeply hope that going back provided you with strong feelings of warmth and affection.
A Beautiful photograph, photo-gallery and Michael Buble music video are included. On holidays, many people travel sometimes large distances to re-connect and celebrate with relatives at their families' homes. Re... more -
The Painful Silence of Words Left Unspoken
The acute desire to express oneself rests upon a wish that others pay attention to our need so we can know it and understand what really matters to us. But attention rests upon mutual recognition, the real foundation for loving relations. The painful silence of unspoken words thwarts the possibility of loving relationships and condemns one to a prison of solitude and loneliness. Beautiful photos and a gripping video are included. The acute desire to express oneself rests upon a wish that others pay attention to our need so we can know it and understand what real... more
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Psychoanalysis
