ANTH 540 Lecture Notes - Lecture 17: Frida Kahlo, Marcel Proust, Stuffed Toy
22 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Sam
Stable conceptual framework for objectification
Baseline neglect - is there even a baseline beyond what we conceptualize/categorize?
Meme-itization
oCategorizing/labeling according to easy digestible shorthand characterizations
Solitude
Aloneness as subjective negative experience
Togetherness - evolutionarily advantageous
Attachment theory (Winnicott)
oDevelopmental importance of solitude
oSelf-actualization & positive associations with solitude
oIndividuals have varying optimal balance of time alone & with others
oCapacity to be alone as state of mind
oAloneness can be conditioned as positive or negative
oSecure attachment in infants permits play & exploration of 'true self'
Connotations surrounding the idea of the hermit
o4th century Christian monks
oStoicism & epicurieanism
Finding the essential self - personal commitment, spirituality
o18th cent - pejorative connotations start to develop
Wealthy individuals keep hermits on their property for entertainment
Urbanization & decline of religiousness
oPrivilege & solitude
oDoes suspicion arise when the ascetic aspect is removed?
oModern hermits
Recluse vs hermit
Unibomber - sinister man in a shack
Hardcore primitivist - can trace tradition back to transcendentalism &
beyond
Gender differences?
Deficit-based solitude
oShock vs time alone study
oCultural variance in concept of boredom
oPathologizing solitude, comorbidities with other health issues
oMeditation retreats
Suggestibility of goals achieved through meditation
Cross-cultural differences
oJapan: solitude as something to be combatted
Moomin café: people come alone, encouraged to interact with Moomin stuffed
animal
oAmsterdam: solitude celebrated
Encourage destigmitization of eating alone
Cubicles to facilitate being alone
oIn some religions, seen as necessary condition to achieve proximity to divinity
Solitude online
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Categorizing/labeling according to easy digestible shorthand characterizations o. Attachment theory (winnicott: developmental importance of solitude o o o. Individuals have varying optimal balance of time alone & with others. Capacity to be alone as state of mind: aloneness can be conditioned as positive or negative o. Secure attachment in infants permits play & exploration of "true self" Connotations surrounding the idea of the hermit o o o. Finding the essential self - personal commitment, spirituality. 18th cent - pejorative connotations start to develop. Wealthy individuals keep hermits on their property for entertainment. Privilege & solitude: does suspicion arise when the ascetic aspect is removed, modern hermits. Hardcore primitivist - can trace tradition back to transcendentalism & beyond. Pathologizing solitude, comorbidities with other health issues: meditation retreats. Moomin caf : people come alone, encouraged to interact with moomin stuffed animal: amsterdam: solitude celebrated. In some religions, seen as necessary condition to achieve proximity to divinity.
