The Gray Area with Sean Illing Freedom, and what it means to have a body
May 13, 2021
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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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.
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.
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.
