Jan Haaken's "Hard Knocks" examines the profound impact of domestic violence through the lens of storytelling. The book explores how survivors use narrative to make sense of their experiences, process trauma, and find pathways to healing. It delves into the psychological mechanisms involved in both perpetrating and surviving abuse, highlighting the complex dynamics of power and control. Haaken's work emphasizes the importance of listening to survivors' voices and creating spaces for them to share their stories. The book offers valuable insights for clinicians, researchers, and anyone seeking to understand the complexities of domestic violence. It underscores the resilience of survivors and the power of narrative in the healing process.
Jan Haaken's "Psychiatry, Politics, and PTSD" examines the intricate relationship between psychiatric practices, political contexts, and the diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The book explores how political events and social structures influence the prevalence and understanding of PTSD. It critically analyzes the diagnostic criteria and treatment approaches, highlighting potential biases and limitations. Haaken's work sheds light on the experiences of individuals affected by trauma in various political and social settings. The book challenges readers to consider the broader social and political factors that contribute to mental health issues. It advocates for a more holistic and nuanced approach to understanding and treating PTSD.
Jan Haaken's "Pillar of Salt" delves into the complex interplay of gender, memory, and the challenges of confronting the past. The book explores how personal narratives are shaped by societal forces and examines the psychological impact of traumatic experiences. It offers a nuanced perspective on the process of remembering and forgetting, highlighting the ways in which memory can be both a source of healing and a source of pain. Haaken's work challenges traditional notions of memory and identity, urging readers to consider the broader social and political contexts that shape our individual experiences. The book's interdisciplinary approach draws on psychology, history, and gender studies to provide a rich and insightful analysis of memory's complexities.
The Palestine Exception opens as campus encampments increase across the US in protest against Israel’s war in Gaza. In the largest anti-war movement since the 1970s, students, faculty and staff make demands on their institutions to divest from companies that do business with Israel. The film unfolds as a character-driven story featuring academics whose lives and scholarship bring into sharp relief historical dynamics behind the censoring of criticisms of Israel and Zionism.
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Jan Haaken is professor emeritus of psychology at Portland State University, a clinical psychologist, and documentary filmmaker. From refugee camps, war zones, abortion clinics, mental hospitals and jury trials to drag bars, dairy farms and hip-hop clubs, her documentary films focus on stressful work carried out on the social margins and in liminal spaces. Haaken has directed nine feature films, including Our Bodies Our Doctors (2018), the two-part Necessity series (2022), Atomic Bamboozle (2023) and The Palestine Exception (currently in production).. Her books include Pillar of Salt: Gender, Memory and the Perils of Looking Back (1998), Hard Knocks: Domestic Violence and the Psychology of Storytelling (2011), and Psychiatry, Politics and PTSD (2021). Haaken also is a programmer on KBOO Community Radio in Portland, OR where she produces interviews and reviews for the Old Mole Variety Hour.
Jennifer Ruth is a professor of film studies at Portland State University. She writes extensively about academic freedom and higher education in outlets such as The New Republic, Truthout, Academe, Academe blog, Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside Higher Ed, LA Review of Books and Ms. She is the author of one book and the co-author, with Michael Bérubé, of two – The Humanities, Higher Education, and Academic Freedom: Three Necessary Arguments and It’s Not Free Speech: Race, Democracy, and the Future of Academic Freedom. She is the co-editor, with Valerie Johnson and Ellen Schrecker, of The Right to Learn; Resisting the Right-Wing War on Academic Freedom (Beacon Press).
Speaking Out of Place 