Welcome to my personal reading room. I started these groups several years ago as a place to go deeper into reading about theory and psychoanalysis. This group is open to people who are just starting out or who have been studying for awhile. It is sometimes technical, sometimes personal, and always lighthearted and full of jokes. You may start out feeling intimidated but we all felt out of our depth in the beginning. There really isn’t another way in - but you are in a safe space for that.
There are no professors here, just readers. My training is in textiles and design. We have artists, mothers, students, teachers, dog walkers, and everything in between in our group.
I recently met Mari Ruti and heard a lecture she gave on creativity. It was deeply moving to me and I can’t wait to dive into this text that explores the role of art and creativity in our lives and society.
The Singularity of Being: Mari Ruti promises the thing I didn't realize I needed till I encountered this book: a Lacanian framework for understanding creativity. This book is the third reading group this year in my series on creativity, art, and aesthetics. Ruti speaks beautifully and accessibly. I hope this lays out a perspective on the role of the artist as well as the role of creativity in the lives of artist and non-artists alike.
Who is Lacan? If you come to my reading groups you will frequently hear me mention a series of psychoanalytic thinkers like Freud, Lacan and Zizek. Freud is known as the father of psychoanalysis working in the late 19th and early 20th century, Lacan was an incredible psychoanalyst and thinker who developed Freud’s ideas further. He was from France and worked in the mid-20th century. Zizek is more of a philosopher -a kind of public intellectual. His work in bringing together philosophy and psychoanalysis is also really interesting to me. These thinkers are amazing, but also at times controversial. It’s not always easy to think deeply about their ideas and decide what I think. These groups have been helpful. They have been a space to work those ideas out in a way that the quick back and forth on social media doesn’t allow. It takes time to think - just like making a quilt.
I want to always create gentle and reflective spaces to go deep. I3 don’t think reading theory is for everyone so if you come and find out this isn’t for you I totally get it.
This discussion group is open to new participants. We typically hold closely to the text in our discussion, but if you don't complete the reading, you are welcome to join for the conversation. This discussion group will be great for folks who are newer to theory or wanting to go deeper. Those who are more familiar with Lacan will enjoy Mari Ruti's writing style and perspective as well as our in-depth discussion of the text.
There is an audiobook is available on YouTube. You can find it along with other resources in the link below.
Dates
8:00-9:30PM CT
We meet at 8pm CT because we have folks from the East coast in the US all the way to Australia. This time generally doesn’t work for people from Europe. If I get enough interest, I am open to hosting some Saturday sessions.
Reading Schedule
May 11 - Introduction and Chapter 1
May 18 - Chapter 2
May 25 - Chapter 3
June 1 - Chapter 4
June 8 - Chapter 5
June 15 - Chapter 6
June 22 (tentative) Chapter 7
June 29 - Chapter 8 and conclusion
Zoom Room
https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/94858613907?pwd=Zy9hY0JuTk9WN1o3NURGcVhieWVHZz09