The Memory Hole Podcast

Nicholas Dames, a Columbia University humanities professor and author of *Amnestic Selves*, joins Dan Chaon, renowned for his novel *Ill Will*, to delve into the intricate dance of memory in fiction. They discuss how nostalgia has evolved from a clinical condition to a tool for personal growth, highlighting literary portrayals, especially by Jane Austen. The duo explores memory's fallibility, particularly in the face of trauma and identity, and emphasizes how storytelling shapes our emotional narratives and perceptions of the past.

Katie Roiphe, an esteemed author and journalist, delves into the intricate connections between trauma and storytelling. She discusses the haunting narratives of childhood sexual abuse in fiction, particularly through 'Twin Peaks' and 'The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer.' Roiphe critiques how societal clichés around victimhood can overshadow genuine psychological insights. Additionally, she explores how the zeitgeist influences storytelling, shaping our cultural memory and identity in profound ways. This thought-provoking conversation challenges listeners to rethink the complexities of trauma narratives.

In this engaging discussion, Kate St. Vincent Vogl, a memoirist and writing instructor, teams up with Patrick Bray, a French literature professor at University College London. They tackle the intricate art of memoir writing, exploring how personal memories shape narratives and the challenges of portraying trauma. The conversation dives into Proust's insights on involuntary memory and the powerful connection between sensory experiences and identity. Their insights reveal the emotional depths tied to memory, offering a fresh perspective on personal storytelling.

Andromeda Romano-Lax, an author and educator known for her suspense novels and insights on writing, dives into the intriguing connections between memory and mystery. She discusses how the genre reflects psychological theories, highlighting early works like Wilkie Collins' 'The Moonstone.' The conversation also explores unreliable narrators in modern thrillers and their role in shaping reader perceptions. Additionally, Andromeda examines the cultural impact of media on memory and how literary representations influence our understanding of trauma and dementia.

Reflecting on how fiction often conveys deeper empathy than self-help books, the discussion uncovers memory's complex role in narratives. It critiques the inaccuracies of amnesia in psychological thrillers and explores iconic films like The Bourne Identity and Memento, showcasing how memory loss enriches stories. The podcast challenges perceptions of repression, pondering its cultural significance and the influence of Freud's theories. Join a fascinating journey into the narrative power of memory and our understanding of storytelling.

In this intriguing trailer, authors Andromeda Romano-Lax and Kat Rosenfield dive into the fascinating interplay of memory and storytelling. They explore the emotional depths of forgotten moments, using the metaphor of missing hours to illustrate how narratives are shaped and manipulated. Prepare for a season filled with thought-provoking insights on the nature of memory within fiction.

Show notes for Episode 6: Carrie Poppy https://maximumfun.org/about/team/carrie-poppy/ Historian Edward Shorter From Paralysis to Fatigue; a history of psychosomatic illness in the modern era Idioms of distress https://www.brightfutures.org/concerns/culture/cultural-concepts.html Article in The Cut: The Memory War; Jennifer Freyd accused her father of sexual abuse. Her parents’ attempt to discredit her created a defense for countless sex offenders. Carrie’s response: The Letters New York Magazine Hasn’t Printed.  Meredith Maran Interview 5/23/2023 My Lie; A True Story of False Memory Forward to the second edition Diana Russell’s book, The Secret Trauma, published in 1999.  https://www.dianarussell.com/the_great_incest_war.html Cover art collage by Jena Martin, using Solitude by Frederick Leighton 1890

Opening: The Confessions of St. Augustine, AD 401 https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3296/3296-h/3296-h.htm Interviews: Dr. Henry Otgaar Personal Website Maastricht University  Interview 9/21/2023 Dr. Sophie Scott The Brain: 10 things you should know X/Twitter Interview 9/22/2023 Mentions: Bart Simpson: Oh boy, time to repress another memory ⁠Season 14, Episode 17⁠ Dr. Scott mentions the 'Lost in the Mall' study Context: https://wellcomecollection.org/articles/XQze2hIAAGYP8ckl Beyond Lost in the Mall: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOpMhYGPajU Explaining memories in the movie Inside Out - where they went wrong: https://theconversation.com/does-pixars-inside-out-show-how-memory-actually-works-43311 Cover art collage featuring Mnemosyne, also titled Lamp of Memory and Ricordanza. Dante Gabriel Rossetti, 1881. “We look at the world once,  in childhood. The rest is memory.” Louise Gluck Any and all background music from the free YouTube Audio Library The Memory Hole Podcast theme is: A Great Darkness Approaches, Can You Feel It? by  ELPHNT  

This is a bonus episode, to bring you more from my interview conducted on June 28 2023 with Dr. Frederick Crews, Professor Emeritus of English at the University of California at Berkeley. If you listened to Episode 4 you heard a lot from him about Freud. But he had lots more to say during our interview and I don’t want to condemn those words to a file on my computer. Plus he doesn’t have a lot of accessible interviews on the internet. I believe his voice needs to be heard. About the guest: Frederick Crews is a professor emeritus of English at the University of California at Berkeley. His many books include The Critics Bear It Away: American Fiction and the Academy, The Random House Handbook (currently in its sixth edition), and Postmodern Pooh. Interview, 6/28/2023 Freud: The Making of an Illision Episode cover art featuring Amalia Freud, Sigmund's mother.

From Freud to Geraldo Show Notes: Frederick Crews is a professor emeritus of English at the University of California at Berkeley. His many books include The Critics Bear It Away: American Fiction and the Academy, The Random House Handbook (currently in its sixth edition), and Postmodern Pooh. Interview, 6/28/2023 Freud: The Making of an Illision  The Freudian Cover Up  https://en-academic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/10040046 ---- Mark Pendergrast Interview 6/14/2023 Quotes from Prodigy, early internet chat room, taken from his book Victims of Memory. His more recent and comprehensive book on this subject is Mind Warp:  https://www.amazon.com/Memory-Warp-Repressed-Arose-Refuses/dp/0942679415 ---- Ms. Magazine Cover Story - Believe it. Cult ritual abuse exists https://www.loc.gov/exhibitions/drawn-to-purpose/about-this-exhibition/magazine-covers-and-cartoons/disturbing-content/ The article is unavailable on the Ms. Magazine website archives; a PDF copy can be accessed on the Memory Hole Podcast website, www.memoryholepodcast.com  Reaction to the article: https://www.thefreelibrary.com/All+the+babies+you+can+eat.-a013566129  ---- Melody Gavigan’s story of retraction appears in Time Magazine, in an article Lias of the Mind from 1993 https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,979691,00.html ---- Statements from professional organizations disavowing recovered memory therapies:Americal Medical Association https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00207149508409955 American Psychiatric Association  https://www.psychiatry.org/getattachment/930fb215-2147-40e9-9d44-f06d84fc64de/Position-2013-Memories-Child-Abuse.pdf ---- Decision in the Holly Ramona legal case:  https://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/14/us/father-who-fought-memory-therapy-wins-damage-suit.html ---- Geraldo Rivera, as quoted in The Day Care Ritual Abuse Moral Panic, 2004  -from CNBC 12/12/1995 ---- The False Memory Syndrome Foundation http://www.fmsfonline.org/ War of Remembrance, Philadelphia Magazine, January 1994 Pam Freyd Interview with David Calof in Treating Abuse Today 1994 Clips from the Documentary Making Memories used with permission of Patrick Clancy Access it here:  False Memories: Remembering What Never Occurred? (TW: Child Sexual Abuse) Pam Freyd’s article, published anonymously: How Could This Happen?  Coping with A False Accusation of Incest and Rape, Jane Doe http://www.ipt-forensics.com/journal/volume3/j3_3_3.htm The Cut chooses Jennifer Freyd https://www.thecut.com/article/false-memory-syndrome-controversy.html Rebuttals https://carriepoppyyes.medium.com/four-letters-new-york-magazine-hasnt-printed-88e08e94db5f Beware the Incest Survivor Machine, New York Times, Carol Tavris 1993 https://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/03/books/beware-the-incest-survivor-machine.html Cover image collage by Jena Martin featuring the Sphinx from the painting Oedipus and the Sphinx Francois-Xavier Fabre, 1808 The tragic story of Oedipus  https://www.thecollector.com/oedipus-rex-artworks/ Any and all background music from the free YouTube Audio Library The Memory Hole Podcast theme is: A Great Darkness Approaches, Can You Feel It? by  ELPHNT