"Duck and Cover" - circa 1951

"Symptoms of Schizophrenia" - circa 1940

 

 

one day in the spring of 2003, a trade was worked out, with one of the professors of a class is was in, that I would interrupt and teach class for a day. I had no idea actually how to do this so I had to come to terms with it. Get over my own fears of doing it as well.

early in the semester after telling the class that my semester long project and what I was studying was how to become 'schizophrenic' (as if it were a form to fill out) but realizing that this perhaps brought to much with it was much more than a semester project.

Two films were shown to the class which were accessed through the 'prelinger archives' (www.archive.org). they were: 'Duck and Cover'and 'Symptoms of Schizophrenia' the latter being a very disturbing film in which schizophrenics were subject to the dictates of a few doctors and in a very odd, almost surreal way the patients are all wearing masks crudly cut from canvas with small eye holes in order to conceal their identity.

a discussion followed.
 

The publication below was given in a lecture as reflections upon the day that I taught class.

The book was self published in a series of five.
 

a momentary migration
 

a student becomes a teacher


one day this semester, I, a student taught class. the teacher became a student.
 

a creation of a space that is simultaneously a new space and the same space


affecting not only the rigidity of the exterior, but the rigidity of the interior.
 
In today's high stress world it is even more important to slow down every once and a while. If you do not severe consequences may occur, as a doctor once told me, such as mental fatigue or high blood pressure. A good diet may also be needed. To help ease daily stress levels, I am going to help out. Hopefully, allowing some to have a break. But you will have to trust me the same way that you have trusted others. I will do my best, it is what you deserve. Even teachers need breaks, it can be tough work. Especially when the students do not respond, the silence creates a tension. Public speaking, in general, is one of the most feared things, even I fear it. I break into a sweat just thinking about it.
 
This fear has the possibility to take over your life. A blockage of the self. When I spoke, I had a responsibility to the student; just as I have a responsibility to you now. To inform you, to feel as though what I have to say is of importance. To seek out the false information and destroy it, to see if it can stand next to others. "and we will stage history as others stage plays."
 

event and book publication, spring 2003