Nietzsche and the Literary

I take the German Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche to be one of the true early literary Philosophers. His ideas have sparked considerable controversy, and have indeed been associated with many unsavory moments in political history. But his thought is very much intended, I believe, to spark debate. He was familiar with the writings of Baudelaire, who also courted the controversial. Nietzsche's work in texts such as The Birth of Tragedy simply swim in the passionate execution of language in a very poetic and stylistic fashion. His distinction between the Dionysian and the Apollonian (a distinction, at heart between desire and restraint) has didactic resonances, but should rather be read as a poem might be read - for enjoyment and aesthetic appreciation. Nietzsche was also aware of Holderlin's work, and importantly struck up a correspondence with August Strindberg. These two writers have been covered below in this blog, and are important for understanding madness as it expresses itself in literature. Nietzsche's own madness, reputedly cause by a syphilitic condition, was to mark the end of an amazing and indeed controversial career as a thinker. And this is how we should take Nietzsche, as one to spark debate and controversy, not one to take didactically.

Dante Alighieri - Inferno

Dante has always captivated me. His most profound text, I believe, is his Inferno. Part of a trilogy (Inferno, Purgatorio and Paradiso), the work is a literary exploration of hell as it is conceived in the Christian tradition. The poem, written in the terza rima form, is a powerful evocation of the torments that humans are prone to encounter. Its power, I believe, lies in the poem's depiction of suffering, and the many forms it can take. Dante, accompanied by his guide Virgil, enters hell to find a sprawling labyrinth of sin, decrepitude, and ultimately suffering. The poem is not simply, however a bleak exploration of the darker side of humanity. It has a dignity and sense of ultimate redemption which guides the reader through the torments they are reading of, and takes them on a journey to a certain appeasement of their own suffering. In this, Dante has constructed a sort of map you might call it - a map of (dis)ease, that has, at its heart, an ultimate salvation.

Interview on Radio National's 'All in the Mind'

In September I was interviewed on Radio National for the show 'All in the Mind' hosted by Natasha Mitchell. The interview itself was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. We covered my book, Diary of a Schizophrenic, my PhD and my life with schizophrenia. It felt such a relief to finally have my battle with schizophrenia contribute in a substantial way to the public debate regarding the condition. One of the reasons I chose to pursue schizophrenia as a topic for my PhD was to help change public perceptions about the condition, and to help loosen the stigma that surrounds it.

I thought the show was very professionally put together. I had some music I selected (some Phillip Glass and Arvo Part) played to accompany some of the readings. I read from my diary, read a few poems, and delved into the philosophical intricacies of my PhD research.

It makes the long journey of the PhD seem utterly worth it, to have it enter the public domain, and hopefully make a difference.

You can download the interview, and see a few posted comments from listeners, on the ABC Radio National website:

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/allinthemind/stories/2010/3011065.htm

I believe the interview may also be available as free download on itunes.

I hope now to turn this public exposure into the potential to help effect real change in perceptions of psychosis.

Victorian Premiers Literary Awards Dinner

Last week my wife and I attended the Victorian Premiers Literary Awards Dinner. My wife was convening judge for the Young Adult Fiction Prize. This is the second year we have attended, and a very enjoyable evening was had. The food was exquisite, the company very personable, and the presentations themselves were a real hoot. Each short list was performed as a musical comedy piece, which entertained the crowd no end. The speeches themselves by the winning authors were on the whole short, amusing, moving and at times inspiring. To see awards going to unpublished manuscripts, and seeing the look of utmost excitement on the winning authors face was quite a treat, and well worth being in attendance.

There were some real poignant, clever and biting speeches which gave a real insight into the minds of the winning authors. Awards such as these real change lives. One sentiment stuck in my mind. It went something like, 'its not the money or the fame which are important for awards such as these, but the opportunity to write one more book'.

Congratulations to all the winners, and looking forward to reading about those next books.

Writers Festival Wrap Up

The launch of my book, Diary of a Schizophrenic, at the Melbourne Writers Festival, couldn't have gone any better. Everything came together on the day. We started with a speech prepared for the occasion by Dr Matthew Sharpe. The speech was brilliantly read by Stu Hatton. Dr Sharpe's speech was eloquent and indeed moving, and I am grateful to him for spending the time to write such considered words. I then gave my speech, which went as smoothly as could be expected. I spoke of my life since the writing of the diary and some of the successes I have enjoyed. I then read a few selections from the diary, and finished with a few poems.

We estimated there to be about 70 people in attendance, which was great. After the readings I signed some books and answered a few questions. Its was great chatting to people and hearing their interests and concerns about schizophrenia.

The venue (Feddish at Federation Square) was the perfect back drop to really have an enjoyable day. My family was there, as were many of my friends, and I am delighted I could contribute some small thing to the cultural milieu of Melbourne during that important week of the festival.

And yes, if you weren't there, you can easily buy a copy of the book on Amazon.

Launch at the Melbourne Writers Festival

On Friday the 3rd of September I launch my book, Diary of a Schizophrenic, at the Melbourne Writers Festival. This has been a long held dream of mine, to participate in this festival, which I have attended over many years. The book itself is very close to my heart, and to see it gain a wider audience gives me a great sense of satisfaction. You can read blog entries below about the book, but in essence it is a dairy I kept in 1998 during a schizophrenic episode. A lot has happened in the meantime. I have passed a PhD, become married, become a father and had a rich working life. But most of all, I believe, I have lived, and in doing so given the book an added vitality which hopefully will serve it well.

At any rate, here are the details of the launch:

Date: Friday, the 3rd of September, 2010

Time: 11.30am - 12.30pm

Venue: Feddish, a bar at Federation Square, Melbourne , Australia

Attendance is free. You can buy the book, and I'll even sign it for you! Feel free to read below more about the book, how it came about, and its context in my life.

Hope to see you there.

Schizophrenia and Creativity

There is a strong and well documented link between the vicissitudes of schizophrenia and creative and cultural production. While all instances of schizophrenic psychosis do not inevitably lead to creative outcomes, there have been some important and famous examples. My last post detailed the work of Karl Jaspers, and his examination of the two highly influential artists - Holderlin and Strindberg. Holderlin's fragmentation in poetry, and his disconnected images have influenced whole generations of poets, most notably (I believe) the modernists. Heidegger's interest in Holderlin has given his poetry a cultural significance that is of great importance for understanding the intersection of creativity and schizophrenia.

What is it about schizophrenia that lends itself to creativity? One important aspect of the condition is what is diagnostically known as 'loosening of association'. Words and concepts can combine in the speech and writing of schizophrenics in ways of association that are highly unusual. In refractory schizophrenics, these associations lead to word-salad type expressions that run counter to meaning. In some schizophrenics however, this unusual and loosened conceptual play can lead to quite successful creative outcomes. Writing, especially in mediums such as poetry, associations of words and concepts has to be loosened via an imaginary obfuscation which gives a pleasant unusualness. With the right vocabulary, this unusualness can lead to expression of beauty which are at the heart of poetry. Schizophrenics are in a perfect position to capitalise on this linguistic gymnastics, due to the above mentioned symptom - loosening of association.

There may be other aspects of schizophrenia that lend the condition to acts of creativity. I will leave these to further blog posts in the future.