Music Monday

Another week has come again. This time around I am in Vancouver for coursework. I have friends who live very close to downtown. Today I am enjoying the sunshine and trying to get ahead in some homework.

This the major theme was identity markers. What identity markers do you use to describe yourself and which ones have changed most over time? In my short lifetime I have identified as Caucasian, male, heterosexual, Christian, son, grandson, brother, friend, uncle, husband, child, adolescent, adult, student, employee, student again, fisherman, single, married, athlete, musician, writer, traveler... etc. etc. What is fascinating is that even if I describe myself using one of these identifies it is not very descriptive. My identity then rests in the interpretation of the individual I am describing myself to and their experiences with individuals who use similar identifiers. That, to me, means that when I identify as something I represent that group and that I am assuming the responsibility of representing that group fairly.

Another thing that stuck out to me about identity is how complex it is. There are identifiers that have changed greatly for me such as athlete, traveler, or uncle but there are identifiers that don't change about me such as Caucasian or male. However, even though these identifiers do not change about me they themselves change. Being male today is not the same as being male fifty years ago and it will not be the same fifty years from now. Identity development is a dynamic rather than static system because we cannot remain static. We are constantly changing and adapting to new situations in life. Our very thoughts can bring about change for us! I think that this is a marvelous part of life and I think without it I would get very bored.

A few weeks back I posted a full DJ set and I finally found one of the songs I was looking for. This is Bonobo with the song 'Cirrus'





Until next time, identify yourself!

EO

Music Monday

Hi.

I have been late posting these for the past two months. That means it is time for a change. I will still attempt to post on Mondays but I have no time for anything other than studying and listening to music while studying. Therefor I will be changing Music Monday to more of a weekly summary format mostly focused on what I have been learning in my school program with a musical component. You may be able to guess my moods through the music I listen to if that is what you're interested in. Feel free to respond to any of the content. Let the discussions begin!

Here is the first weekly review:

This past week has been dominated by discussions of Freud's theories. We were challenged while reading not to "do battle with Freud" but to try to understand the context in which he was writing and find the value in this. The results were very positive. Freud's theories came at a time when renaissance thought of the "higher humanity" was mixing with the natural selection theories and the "instinctual humanity". His theories merged these two streams of thought into a practical and workable theory for the time. Moreover his intensive focus on sexual repression came from the Victorian age of morality where, put simply, sexuality was repressed.

Another idea of Freud's that is possibly most significant to counselors and therapists everywhere is the idea of transference and countertransference. This is idea is significant because it identifies that both client and therapist will bring their own opinions, beliefs, values, rules, emotions, etc into the therapeutic relationship. Transference happens when a client puts their emotions onto the counselor whether that is love or hate and countertransference occurs by the therapist as a result of this. This is useful for the therapist to be aware of as it can be a valuable clue as to what is happening for the other individual. I suggest that transference and counterstransference happens in every relationship and not just in therapy.

That being said this is Sparklehorse with their song "Apple Bed"


Until next time keep your horses sparkly

EO

Music Monday

Its Monday enough people.

I don't have much time to post as school is now in full swing and I get to spend my days reading and writing other things.

So far I have been learning a lot about Freud and his world. I found that it is too easy to bash Freud for having some nutty ideas but after reading about the context he lived in I find him to be interesting. The truth of the matter is that Freud didn't really have a lot of data to back up his theories and the reason for this is that there was no data. He theorized the best he could with what he had paving the way for others to do more work in the field (although he thought his theory was definitive). His theories were also a response to the culture. His theory suggested that there must be a meeting place between the higher man from the Renaissance and the man driven by instinct from Darwin's theory of natural selection.

For music today we have a heavy hitter from Music Monday's past. In fact I posted one of these fellow's songs before it was even called Music Monday. This is Beirut with their song Nantes.



Until next time, resolve your Oedipus complex's

EDO

Music Monday

Happy new year!

Now that it is January we can move on to a new year of Music Monday. To tell you the truth I have not been listening to much music lately. I've been enjoying the quiet without any music on. Because of this I don't have anything new to present but I do have an oldie for you. One of my favorite songs.

Words (Between the lines of age) from Neil Young's Harvest album. The first time I heard this song I was hooked, I couldn't stop listening. The swinging rhythm, the raw and gritty electric guitar and raucous solos, the beautiful slide guitar, and of course Neil's signature falsetto are all features of this song that stick out to my ear. The lyrics don't really paint a clear picture of a story but are more like a reflective surface to think upon.

This is Words by Neil Young:




Until next time read between the lines.

EO