Join Olivia Laing, acclaimed author of 'Everybody' and 'The Lonely City,' as she delves into the intersection of bodily freedom and societal constraints. Together with host Anna North, they discuss the chilling realities of how bodies are policed, touching on the work of controversial figures like Wilhelm Reich. The conversation expands into the impact of the pandemic on identity and the longing for connection, while exploring the powerful narratives of artists confronting systemic oppression today. It's a thought-provoking exploration of freedom and connectedness in our lives.
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insights INSIGHT
Wilhelm Reich's Diverse Life
Wilhelm Reich's life explored diverse bodily experiences, from Freudian psychoanalysis to political activism.
His later descent into pseudoscience obscures his earlier radical ideas about trauma, politics, and sexuality.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Cloudbuster and Early Psychoanalysis
Reich's cloudbuster, a device meant to induce rain, reflects his later pseudoscientific pursuits.
His early work focused on psychoanalysis and the impact of trauma on the body.
insights INSIGHT
Reich's Trauma Theory
Reich connected physical and emotional trauma, noting how unexpressed experiences manifest in the body.
He also linked individual trauma to social and political factors, integrating Freudian and Marxist ideas.
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In this work, Wilhelm Reich provides a unique insight into the phenomenon of fascism, refuting the notion that it is the ideology or action of a single individual, nationality, or ethnic group. Instead, he understands fascism as the organized political expression of the average man's character, resulting from the suppression of primary biological needs and impulses over thousands of years. The book analyzes the social function of this suppression and the crucial roles played by the authoritarian family and the church. Reich also highlights how every form of organized mysticism, including fascism, relies on the unsatisfied orgastic longing of the masses. The importance of this work is underscored by its relevance to current social conflicts, emphasizing the need to understand the mass psychology of fascism to address contemporary societal issues.
Everybody
Olivia Laing
In *Everybody: A Book About Freedom*, Olivia Laing delves into the long struggle for bodily freedom, using the life of Wilhelm Reich to explore gay rights, sexual liberation, feminism, and the civil rights movement. The book draws on her own experiences in protest and alternative medicine, examining significant figures like Nina Simone, Andrea Dworkin, and Malcolm X. It celebrates how ordinary bodies can resist oppression and reshape the world.
Illness As Metaphor
Susan Sontag
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].
The lonely city
Olivia Laing
In 'The Lonely City', Olivia Laing delves into the concept of loneliness, using her personal experiences in New York City as a backdrop. She explores the works of artists like Edward Hopper, Andy Warhol, and David Wojnarowicz, examining how they expressed loneliness in their art. The book is a blend of memoir, art appreciation, and cultural critique, offering a profound exploration of what it means to be alone in a crowded city.
Vox's Anna North talks with author Olivia Laing about her book Everybody: A Book About Freedom. Through the surprisingly connected lives of artists, activists, psychoanalysts, and sexologists, they discuss the different ways our bodies are persecuted, imprisoned, and policed — and the ways our physical selves can be liberated.
The Gray Area with Sean Illing 
