Monday, 28 February 2011
Cultural Exchanges DMU
This is a week of events at DMU which promises much interest. Sorry to be late posting this.http://www.dmu.ac.uk/faculties/humanities/cultural-exchanges/
Sunday, 27 February 2011
From the bulletin of the Parish of St Joseph Leicester
Dear Father John,
I hope you are well. I am writing to you because I think it is the right thing to do and I would like to explain why you haven’t seen me in church for some time.
All my adult life I have struggled with my faith and I came to St Joseph’s and fell in love with my religion all over again. It got to the point where my faith and love for Christ had never been stronger. But then I started to have doubts.
I’ve always been a keen reader and my choice of books became searching for answers to the meaning of life. Why are we here? What is reality? Is there a god?
It has been a long and tough journey this past year, but I have come to the conclusion that I can no longer believe in a god and have now accepted atheism, science and reason. One man, in particular, Richard Dawkins, has influenced me. You will not see me at church any more. I must move on and embrace science and reason so I can gain a real understanding of life.
AB
My reply
Dear AB,
I have read your moving letter to Fr John. I am replying not on his behalf (I cannot claim to do that) but, as someone like you, who wants to get to the big questions. You say that you have been, and I imagine are still on, a long and tough journey. I do not believe in the god* that Richard Dawkins does not believe in either. My problem with him is that he has, in my opinion, a very simplistic grasp of what god is. He strikes me as rather like a child who believes in Father Christmas until s/he is of a certain age then feels utterly cheated by his/her parents when the real source of the gifts is made plain. As if the source of the gifts really matters. To repeat myself, I do not believe in Richard Dawkins' god either.
To claim to be an atheist requires, in my opinion, an act of faith. To say THERE IS NO GOD is of the same truth-status as saying THERE IS A GOD. It is an assertion of a belief. To say I THINK THERE IS NO GOD or I THINK THERE IS A GOD are both much more reasonable statements. Agnosticism seems to me to be a much more reasonable position than atheism.
Science is a method of verifying hypotheses. It is not something in which I believe, rather it is a method I use in my work. Reason is one of the qualities or capacities that makes us special in the animal kingdom I believe. That is why we are called homo sapiens where the second word points to our need, as a species, for knowledge. Here I declare my current assent, for the time being until a better explanation is demonstrated, in Darwin's theory of evolution which is not oppositional to Catholic teaching contrary to what some under-educated Catholics believe. When people point to the bible, for example the accounts of the beginnings of human kind in the book of Genesis we are reading not a book of science but of myth; beautifully written poetry - but myth not science.
As a Catholic Christian, I believe in the great importance of science and reason. I also think poetry and myth are important but in a different way than science and reason.If you want to read a critique of Richard Dawkin's views on religion I would draw to your attention Terry Eagleton's review of The God Delusion in the London Review of Books in 2006. This can be freely accessed on line at http://www.lrb.co.uk/v28/n20/terry-eagleton/lunging-flailing-mispunching
Eagleton was brought up a Catholic, but I do not now know how he would identify himself now and this does not bother me at all. Some said he was a Marxist. I do not know or care. What I think important are his arguments as are Dawkin's similarly important and demand our attention. His critique of Dawkins is nothing if not thoughtful, evidence-based and, to my mind, convincing. My fear about god-talk is that the words used can often reveal more about the speaker than about the god spoken about who, in my view, cannot be captured in human words. Rather like the love we feel for our partners, children and close friends can never really be put into words. That is why the best I can do is talk about god being love and love being of god. Inadequate and probably heretical to some but it helps me and, I hope, offers you something to think about. Faith + Reason = Catholic Christianity.
When I was a student at the University of York in the mid 60s I was much helped by a Dominican friar Herbert McCabe OP. He was also a friend of Terry Eagleton. We were all trying to struggle with the insights of Karl Marx and see how far they illuminated the political struggle with which were engaged. Herbert often used to say that god was not the answer but the question. Over the decades since then I have often thought that conceptualising god in this way as the question rather than the answer is a much more grown up or adult way of living one's life. It demands courage, maturity and is greatly helped by talking and even arguing with other people. Often clarifying the question is more important than getting answers. Sometimes sitting in silence, especially with others, can help greatly as we ponder these really important areas. Other times, being exposed to great art - music, painting, sculpture, literature and the rest - can bring big surprises.
Thank you for your letter to Fr John as it has helped me put into words what I think and believe, inadequately so, but as with most important things in life it is difficult to capture what one thinks and feels.
Yours sincerely,
Bernard Ratigan
I hope you are well. I am writing to you because I think it is the right thing to do and I would like to explain why you haven’t seen me in church for some time.
All my adult life I have struggled with my faith and I came to St Joseph’s and fell in love with my religion all over again. It got to the point where my faith and love for Christ had never been stronger. But then I started to have doubts.
I’ve always been a keen reader and my choice of books became searching for answers to the meaning of life. Why are we here? What is reality? Is there a god?
It has been a long and tough journey this past year, but I have come to the conclusion that I can no longer believe in a god and have now accepted atheism, science and reason. One man, in particular, Richard Dawkins, has influenced me. You will not see me at church any more. I must move on and embrace science and reason so I can gain a real understanding of life.
AB
My reply
Dear AB,
I have read your moving letter to Fr John. I am replying not on his behalf (I cannot claim to do that) but, as someone like you, who wants to get to the big questions. You say that you have been, and I imagine are still on, a long and tough journey. I do not believe in the god* that Richard Dawkins does not believe in either. My problem with him is that he has, in my opinion, a very simplistic grasp of what god is. He strikes me as rather like a child who believes in Father Christmas until s/he is of a certain age then feels utterly cheated by his/her parents when the real source of the gifts is made plain. As if the source of the gifts really matters. To repeat myself, I do not believe in Richard Dawkins' god either.
To claim to be an atheist requires, in my opinion, an act of faith. To say THERE IS NO GOD is of the same truth-status as saying THERE IS A GOD. It is an assertion of a belief. To say I THINK THERE IS NO GOD or I THINK THERE IS A GOD are both much more reasonable statements. Agnosticism seems to me to be a much more reasonable position than atheism.
Science is a method of verifying hypotheses. It is not something in which I believe, rather it is a method I use in my work. Reason is one of the qualities or capacities that makes us special in the animal kingdom I believe. That is why we are called homo sapiens where the second word points to our need, as a species, for knowledge. Here I declare my current assent, for the time being until a better explanation is demonstrated, in Darwin's theory of evolution which is not oppositional to Catholic teaching contrary to what some under-educated Catholics believe. When people point to the bible, for example the accounts of the beginnings of human kind in the book of Genesis we are reading not a book of science but of myth; beautifully written poetry - but myth not science.
As a Catholic Christian, I believe in the great importance of science and reason. I also think poetry and myth are important but in a different way than science and reason.If you want to read a critique of Richard Dawkin's views on religion I would draw to your attention Terry Eagleton's review of The God Delusion in the London Review of Books in 2006. This can be freely accessed on line at http://www.lrb.co.uk/v28/n20/terry-eagleton/lunging-flailing-mispunching
Eagleton was brought up a Catholic, but I do not now know how he would identify himself now and this does not bother me at all. Some said he was a Marxist. I do not know or care. What I think important are his arguments as are Dawkin's similarly important and demand our attention. His critique of Dawkins is nothing if not thoughtful, evidence-based and, to my mind, convincing. My fear about god-talk is that the words used can often reveal more about the speaker than about the god spoken about who, in my view, cannot be captured in human words. Rather like the love we feel for our partners, children and close friends can never really be put into words. That is why the best I can do is talk about god being love and love being of god. Inadequate and probably heretical to some but it helps me and, I hope, offers you something to think about. Faith + Reason = Catholic Christianity.
When I was a student at the University of York in the mid 60s I was much helped by a Dominican friar Herbert McCabe OP. He was also a friend of Terry Eagleton. We were all trying to struggle with the insights of Karl Marx and see how far they illuminated the political struggle with which were engaged. Herbert often used to say that god was not the answer but the question. Over the decades since then I have often thought that conceptualising god in this way as the question rather than the answer is a much more grown up or adult way of living one's life. It demands courage, maturity and is greatly helped by talking and even arguing with other people. Often clarifying the question is more important than getting answers. Sometimes sitting in silence, especially with others, can help greatly as we ponder these really important areas. Other times, being exposed to great art - music, painting, sculpture, literature and the rest - can bring big surprises.
Thank you for your letter to Fr John as it has helped me put into words what I think and believe, inadequately so, but as with most important things in life it is difficult to capture what one thinks and feels.
Yours sincerely,
Bernard Ratigan
From the heart land of LE2
Fish and chip quiz night supper Saturday 6th March. This is a real night out. See http://www.southknighton.com/
Saturday, 26 February 2011
Simon Schama in Cambridge on tolerance
At St Edmund's College first come first seated
http://www.woolf.cam.ac.uk/news-and-events/news-2.php
http://www.woolf.cam.ac.uk/news-and-events/news-2.php
Friday, 25 February 2011
Bose - a new community
The community of Bose in Italy hosts an important conference each June.
This year http://www.monasterodibose.it/content/view/3815/529/lang,en/
Not this year for me but perhaps next....
This year http://www.monasterodibose.it/content/view/3815/529/lang,en/
Not this year for me but perhaps next....
Parsifal at ENO
Michael Tanner in The Spectator on opera is always a joy to read not least because of his often jaundiced views. For example, his recent piece on Lucretia Borgia begins with a moan about ENO being in terminal decline. I disagree. http://www.spectator.co.uk/arts-and-culture/featured/6684933/deriding-donizetti-.thtml
The current production of Wagner's Parsifal, first seen in 1998 and is this is to be its last presentation. The reviews, at least the one's I have read, have been glowing. http://www.eno.org/parsifal/preview-press.php
John Tomlinson, my fellow Lancastrian, sings Gurnemanz. Nicolas Lehnhoff directs.
More after I have seen it. Anyone else going?
The current production of Wagner's Parsifal, first seen in 1998 and is this is to be its last presentation. The reviews, at least the one's I have read, have been glowing. http://www.eno.org/parsifal/preview-press.php
John Tomlinson, my fellow Lancastrian, sings Gurnemanz. Nicolas Lehnhoff directs.
More after I have seen it. Anyone else going?
Catholic bishop not keen on gay marriage
Well I am surprised (not). The Archbishop of Southwark seems to have spoken without getting the media managers on board.
The blog is back...more follows
What do you think?
For some one who has thought hard and argues from a Catholic but (US) Republican position is Andrew Sullivan. Others, do not want any entanglement between civil and religious conceptions (myself). Now it looks as if the Lib part of the ConLib whatever the coalition calls itself seems to be pushing for same sex civil partnerships to be celebrated in religious buildings by ministers of that religion. As far as I can see no one is being forced to do or have anything. For the British right wing (Telegraph and Mail especially) it is a matter of great importance. But as one Telegraph blogger said this morning of the Abp of Cardiff's outburst yesterday where were the denunciations of the clergy abusing children and vulnerable adults until very recently?
Fortunately, Britain being a largely secular society (with the exception of the occasional royal madnesses) many people can see that when two people love each other that's the end of the matter really. They do not seem to get too hung up on natural law arguments. Fortunately. As the ladies at the check out said the day we had our CP when they asked what all the smoked salmon was for? We told them it was for our CP celebration and they said "Awwww...how lovely". Ok it was Waitrose.
Jack Drescher draws attention to http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/25/us/politics/25marriage.html?_r=2&hp Right wing seems to be losing interest in gay marriage in USA.
The blog is back...more follows
What do you think?
For some one who has thought hard and argues from a Catholic but (US) Republican position is Andrew Sullivan. Others, do not want any entanglement between civil and religious conceptions (myself). Now it looks as if the Lib part of the ConLib whatever the coalition calls itself seems to be pushing for same sex civil partnerships to be celebrated in religious buildings by ministers of that religion. As far as I can see no one is being forced to do or have anything. For the British right wing (Telegraph and Mail especially) it is a matter of great importance. But as one Telegraph blogger said this morning of the Abp of Cardiff's outburst yesterday where were the denunciations of the clergy abusing children and vulnerable adults until very recently?
Fortunately, Britain being a largely secular society (with the exception of the occasional royal madnesses) many people can see that when two people love each other that's the end of the matter really. They do not seem to get too hung up on natural law arguments. Fortunately. As the ladies at the check out said the day we had our CP when they asked what all the smoked salmon was for? We told them it was for our CP celebration and they said "Awwww...how lovely". Ok it was Waitrose.
Jack Drescher draws attention to http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/25/us/politics/25marriage.html?_r=2&hp Right wing seems to be losing interest in gay marriage in USA.
Tuesday, 15 February 2011
Never Let Me Go
This film did not win any prizes at the Baftas and I doubt if it will at the upcoming Oscars. To write almost anything about it risks spoiling it for potential viewers. All I would say is go and see it.
Sunday, 13 February 2011
NYC Met Opera relays to your local cinema?
Do check if your cinema - Showcase Deluxe - is showing both live opera, currently only on radio 3, and a reprise, rather than something you currently need access to......
Nixon in China
Carmen
IPHIGENIE EN TAURIDE
Check first. Make sure management know your opinions.
Nixon in China
Carmen
IPHIGENIE EN TAURIDE
Check first. Make sure management know your opinions.
Gay church 'marriages' set to get the go-ahead
Here we go! The quotation marks around 'marriages' in the BBC news headline speaks volumes. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12442375 for more details. Comments please.
America, the influential US Jesuit periodical, calls for change in status of the laity
For the full piece read
http://www.americamagazine.org/content/article.cfm?o=38121&article_id=12707
then get back here with your comments please
http://www.americamagazine.org/content/article.cfm?o=38121&article_id=12707
then get back here with your comments please
Friday, 11 February 2011
Mental health of the non-heterosexual population of England
To add to the growing body of methodologically sound empirically grounded evidence from Michael King et al. is the following report from the BJP.
Mental health of the non-heterosexual population of England
Department of Mental Health Sciences, University College London, London
National Centre for Social Research, London
Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester
Department of Mental Health Sciences, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, UK
Correspondence: Correspondence: Apu Chakraborty, Department of Mental Health Sciences, University College London, Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF, UK. Email: rejuatc@ucl.ac.uk
Background
There has been little research into the prevalence of mental health problems in lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people in the UK with most work conducted in the USA.
Aims
To relate the prevalence of mental disorder, self-harm and suicide attempts to sexual orientation in England, and to test whether psychiatric problems were associated with discrimination on grounds of sexuality.
Method
The Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2007 (n = 7403) was representative of the population living in private UK households. Standardisedquestions provided demographic information. Neurotic symptoms, common mental disorders, probable psychosis, suicidality, alcohol and drug dependence and service utilisation were assessed. In addition, detailed information was obtained about aspects of sexual identity and perceived discrimination on these grounds.
Results
Self-reported identification as non-heterosexual (determined by both orientation and sexual partnership, separately) was associated with unhappiness, neurotic disorders overall, depressive episodes, generalised anxiety disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder, phobic disorder, probable psychosis, suicidal thoughts and acts, self-harm and alcohol and drug dependence. Mental health-related general practitioner consultations and community care service use over the previous year were also elevated. In the non-heterosexual group, discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation predicted certain neurotic disorder outcomes, even after adjustment for potentially confounding demographicvariables.
Conclusions
This study corroborates international findings that people of non-heterosexual orientation report elevated levels of mental health problems and service usage, and it lends further support to the suggestion that perceived discrimination may act as a social stressor in the genesis of mental health problems in this population.
Related articles in BJP:
- Highlights of this issue
- Kimberlie Dean BJP 2011 198: A5.
[Full Text]
eLetters:
Read all eLetters
- Eating Disorders and Sexuality
- William R Jones, et al.
- BJP Online, 9 Feb 2011 [Full text]
Wednesday, 9 February 2011
Leicester: the most conservative Islamic community in Europe?
It is interesting to read today that Leicester is being tapped as the most conservative Islamic community in Europe.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/edwest/100074751/wikileaks-americans-call-leicester-the-most-conservative-islamic-community-in-europe/
I am rather wary about such generalisations and wonder what is the evidence. I have heard it said that the Asian population in Leicester, again a generalisation, is conservative when compared with say contemporary India. But is needs to be seen in the historical context that numbers of the Asian population of Leicester came from east Africa where their parents were taken or encouraged to go by the Imperial government from India in the first place. It is quite complicated.
Blog readers might want to read Fr Leon Pereira OP Prior of Holy Cross Priory in Wellington Street where he takes up the subject in his weekly column in the Leicester Mercury. See
http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news/State-sponsored-multiculturalism-breeds-division/article-3197687-detail/article.html
as well as the comments posted by one of our blog readers.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/edwest/100074751/wikileaks-americans-call-leicester-the-most-conservative-islamic-community-in-europe/
I am rather wary about such generalisations and wonder what is the evidence. I have heard it said that the Asian population in Leicester, again a generalisation, is conservative when compared with say contemporary India. But is needs to be seen in the historical context that numbers of the Asian population of Leicester came from east Africa where their parents were taken or encouraged to go by the Imperial government from India in the first place. It is quite complicated.
Blog readers might want to read Fr Leon Pereira OP Prior of Holy Cross Priory in Wellington Street where he takes up the subject in his weekly column in the Leicester Mercury. See
http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news/State-sponsored-multiculturalism-breeds-division/article-3197687-detail/article.html
as well as the comments posted by one of our blog readers.
Local news: A mayor for Leicester?
The voters of Leicester are to be given the opportunity to vote for a mayor in May 2011. At the moment, as a member of the Labour Party, I am being sent (bombarded is too strong) material from the candidates offering themselves for the Labour ticket. I do not know if the other parties are putting up candidates.
I am uncertain about the wisdom of having an elected mayor. There are some biggish hitters standing. Sir Peter Soulsbury currently MP for Leicester South and Ross Willmott , the would-be MP for North West Leicestershire, and both with histories of leading Leicester City Council. I thought that Keith Vaz, MP for Leicester East, might consider standing. There are other candidates definitely standing including the magnificently named High Sheriff, who is a senior asian Labour councillor.
As the debates heats up Notes from LE2 will be reporting developments.....
Questions that need raising with would-be mayors include the following and are my concerns. What are yours?
the threatened cuts to voluntary sector organisations in the city. Which way did those candidates who are already city councillors vote and why?
when did the prospective candidate last visit the LGBT centre and what support have they given to the the LGBT communities in Leicester?
educational standards in the city: how can they be improved?
the proliferation of faith schools: do you support them?
does the mayoral candidate agree that the impression that some minority groups are ignored to placate certain faith groups makes a mockery of the slogan 'One Leicester' http://www.oneleicester.com/one-leicester-vision/
the lack of a modern, information-age, central public library: what is you view?
the cultural quarter: where is it going?
the future of the De Montfort Hall: what is it?
Tuesday, 8 February 2011
Having problems commenting on the blog?
Please try and make a comment and if you cannot please let me know by email. Thanks.
Monday, 7 February 2011
Where to eat out in Leicester/shire
Number 1 and 2 must be Firenze http://www.firenze.co.uk/ and Boboli http://www.bobolirestaurant.com/
Between them they cover the range from formal but never intimidating to informal but never sloppy. Presided over by Sarah Poli [What a personality?] doing front of house and Mr Poli in charge of food sourcing and standards in the kitchens.
Recommended
Kayal, south Indian vegetarian, http://www.shivallirestaurant.com/
Best value in a city with many Asian eateries.
Between them they cover the range from formal but never intimidating to informal but never sloppy. Presided over by Sarah Poli [What a personality?] doing front of house and Mr Poli in charge of food sourcing and standards in the kitchens.
Recommended
Kayal, south Indian vegetarian, http://www.shivallirestaurant.com/
Best value in a city with many Asian eateries.
John P. Meier: Jesus the Jew - But What Sort of Jew?
One of the challenges facing academic biblical scholarship and theology is translating research into material that the lay person can understand. Clergy, like other professionals, can sometimes assume that lay people should be left in ignorance of more demanding or challenging ideas. One suggestion to lay people is to stop relying on the clergy to act as conduits and get on and do it ourselves. iTunesU and YouTube are rich treasure houses of material.
John Meier here is in fine formhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxeKunPwmp4
Saturday, 5 February 2011
The National Gallery
Vienna, Berlin, Paris, Washington DC all have museums with western art but my wayout favourite is London's National Gallery in Trafalgar Square. http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/ Ever since I started attending history of art classes at Birkbeck, University of London http://www.bbk.ac.uk/ under the skilled effortless scholarship of Dr Richard Williams, the Sainsbury Wing has been a special place. The Wing covers western painting from 1200-1500 and across the link bridge into the main NG we pass into the sixteenth century and beyond. Having the NG http://www.googleartproject.com/ the V&A and other treasure houses on the doorstep was a wonderful way of actually seeing the panels we were studying. Dr Williams always insisted on the primacy of standing or sitting in front of the works we were studying over 'mechanically' reproduced images.
http://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/philosophy/works/ge/benjamin.htm
Walter Benjamin'sThe Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction'
http://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/philosophy/works/ge/benjamin.htm
Walter Benjamin'sThe Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction'
English National Opera does Donizetti
Lucrezia Borgia is not performed too often here in UK http://www.eno.org/see-whats-on/productions/production-page.php?itemid=1083 The reviews have been mixed but,who cares?, given the chance of a night with friends and the insufferable skin head intellectuals, mainly my fellow gay men, in the stalls bar at half time (as opposed to the insufferable social elite, or would-be, at the Opera House).
Multicultural Britain?
Life in Leicester, ethnically a very mixed city, provides much material for thought. For the last 6 weeks a scheme to help patients out of hospital beds and back home has brought city council care staff to our home up to three times each day, physiotherapy for an hour every day 7/7 and occupational therapy. It has been of the highest quality. Nearly all the social care workers are Hindu, Muslim, Sikh with one born again Christian (black). The conversations between myself and my care providers have usually included faith, politics, education and learning about their personal histories.
The dignity with which I have been treated has been very moving. The lack of mirrored hatred has been exemplary as carers got to know me and felt safe to speak about the hurts they endure doing their work. It was painful for us, as we thanked them, to hear how they were sometimes surprised to be thanked.
I just wish politicians could have observed what I have. Because of govt rules my care is now being sent to private providers through a brokerage scheme. I will report on its standards of care and quality next week.
Mr Cameron, in his Munich Security speech, was speaking about 'state multi-culturalism'. This seems to mean the grants given to Muslim groups who promote violence. ......
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/feb/05/david-cameron-speech-criticised-edl
The dignity with which I have been treated has been very moving. The lack of mirrored hatred has been exemplary as carers got to know me and felt safe to speak about the hurts they endure doing their work. It was painful for us, as we thanked them, to hear how they were sometimes surprised to be thanked.
I just wish politicians could have observed what I have. Because of govt rules my care is now being sent to private providers through a brokerage scheme. I will report on its standards of care and quality next week.
Mr Cameron, in his Munich Security speech, was speaking about 'state multi-culturalism'. This seems to mean the grants given to Muslim groups who promote violence. ......
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/feb/05/david-cameron-speech-criticised-edl
Thursday, 3 February 2011
Psychoanalysis in the public sphere
One of the benefits of having a satellite dish is being able to watch euro tv channels not otherwise available. Although, national stereotypes do tend to get reinforced especially if the viewer cannot understand what it is being said.
French television seems to have numbers of psychoanalysts who are quite willing to take part in discussion programmes. It all seems quite natural. The last two UK based analysts I saw speak were Adam Liementani and Elizabeth Bott Spillius. Dr Liementani, I remember spoke about homosexuality and Dr Bott Spillius did not.
Listening to Dr David Bell, current president of the British Society, last night at the scientific meeting struck me as a natural for either tv or radio. He is bright, committed, clear and articulate. It is a pity some free lance programme maker to float the idea and see if it takes off. There is still a gap unfilled since After Dark....
Given my sleeping pattern there needs to be a programme called After Tea.
It is such a pity that psychoanalysis does not see itself as part of the national conversation (yet to get going, in my view).
Even, even?, French Catholic tv has its psychoanalysts in its talking heads programmes. Hard to imagine that in the UK. http://www.ktotv.com/
what do you think?
French television seems to have numbers of psychoanalysts who are quite willing to take part in discussion programmes. It all seems quite natural. The last two UK based analysts I saw speak were Adam Liementani and Elizabeth Bott Spillius. Dr Liementani, I remember spoke about homosexuality and Dr Bott Spillius did not.
Listening to Dr David Bell, current president of the British Society, last night at the scientific meeting struck me as a natural for either tv or radio. He is bright, committed, clear and articulate. It is a pity some free lance programme maker to float the idea and see if it takes off. There is still a gap unfilled since After Dark....
Given my sleeping pattern there needs to be a programme called After Tea.
It is such a pity that psychoanalysis does not see itself as part of the national conversation (yet to get going, in my view).
Even, even?, French Catholic tv has its psychoanalysts in its talking heads programmes. Hard to imagine that in the UK. http://www.ktotv.com/
what do you think?
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