by Zoë Pollock An amazing pop song + archival footage from Jonestown = morbid swoon: Go Outside, by Cults from Boing Boing on Vimeo. Almost on the same subject, Mark Vernon has a nice summary of Judith Hemming idea of group conscience:
‘Most of what counts as identity is actually to do with the relational dynamics that hold us and summon us and push us and drive us,’ she explains. ‘It is more relevant and interesting to study the forces around us and the nature of the forces around us than it is to home in, as individualism has encouraged us to do, to home in on the individual.’
For many, the most powerful group that we belong to is the family, though a country, belief or organisation can similarly shape a life. ‘The group is much more influential on us than the strong emphasis on the individual has allowed us to see,’ Hemming continues. Her therapeutic practice, called constellations, aims in part to help people see how the groups they belong to impact them. It can be a painful process as well as a challenging one as it conflicts with the freedom we tend to think we enjoy as individuals. However, acknowledging what is, is ultimately a liberating experience as it means we can draw from our belonging, rather than struggling to bear it.
The Dish 