Suleika Jaouad, an author and activist known for her documentary "American Symphony," shares her journey through illness and creativity. She discusses overcoming the fear of the blank page and the transformative power of journaling as a means to explore emotions. Jaouad highlights how curiosity can inspire artistic expression, even amid adversity. She emphasizes the importance of community and storytelling in fostering resilience and connection, urging listeners to embrace all emotions on their path to healing.
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Documentary's Evolution
Suleika Jaouad's documentary, American Symphony, started as a film about her husband's music composition.
It evolved into a personal story due to Jaouad's leukemia relapse during filming.
insights INSIGHT
Creativity in Adversity
Challenging times, while disorienting, can foster creative growth.
Jaouad found watercolor painting to be a fitting medium for expressing her lack of control during treatment.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Life Interrupted Column
Jaouad's first leukemia diagnosis at 22 interrupted her life plans and led to her "Life Interrupted" column.
Confronting mortality made her brazen, leading her to pitch a column despite lacking prior publishing experience.
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In 'Illness as Metaphor,' Susan Sontag critiques the use of metaphors in describing illnesses, particularly focusing on tuberculosis and cancer. She argues that these metaphors lead to victim-blaming and stigmatization of patients, suggesting that diseases are often seen as reflections of personal psychological traits or moral failings. Sontag advocates for a more literal and medical understanding of illness, free from punitive or sentimental fantasies. The book contrasts the historical and cultural perspectives on these diseases, highlighting how they have been symbolically interpreted in different eras and societies[1][2][4].
Between Two Kingdoms
A Memoir of a Life Interrupted
Suleika Jaouad
In 'Between Two Kingdoms,' Suleika Jaouad recounts her life-altering experience with acute myeloid leukemia. Diagnosed at 22, she undergoes extensive treatment, including chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. The book is divided into two main parts: her time in the 'kingdom of the sick' and her journey back to the 'kingdom of the well.' After recovery, Jaouad embarks on a 100-day, 15,000-mile road trip across the country to meet people who supported her during her illness. The memoir explores themes of survivorship, identity, and the challenges of reentering the world after a life-threatening illness.
War and Peace
Leo Tolstoy
Set during the Napoleonic Wars, 'War and Peace' follows the lives of several Russian aristocratic families, including the Bezukhovs, the Rostovs, and the Bolkonskys. The novel spans from 1805 to 1820 and is known for its realistic detail and psychological analysis. It explores the impact of Napoleon's invasion of Russia on the characters and society, delving into themes of love, family, war, and personal growth. The novel includes historical events such as the Battle of Austerlitz, the Treaties of Tilsit, and the French invasion of Russia, intertwining historical and fictional elements[3][4][5].
How can you find strength during life's most difficult moments? Author Suleika Jaouad's experience detailed in the documentary "American Symphony," an intimate portrait of her life as she grapples with illness, is a testament to finding a pathway to healing through artistic expression. In this sweeping conversation with TED's Susan Zimmerman, Jaouad reveals how following curiosity can lead to inspiration — even when it feels like there is none to be found. (Visit ted.com/membership to join TED today and access more exclusive events like this one.)
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