Interviews Books

In Martha Sheridan's earlier book, Inner Lives of Deaf Children: Interviews and Analysis, the author and Gallaudet University professor examined the inner life of young deaf children. In her new book, she returns to interview those same seven children to see how their lives have changed. Now they are teenagers.

Sheridan examines the similiarities and the differences between deaf and hearing adolescents, how each views themselves and their world at identical life points. Research into disability at different life stages is a fairly new area in the fields of child development, psychology and sociology, as prior generations of researchers, educators and medical professionals didn't contemplate the deaf child as a teenager, or as a young adult. There is no doubt that as the Generation Xers graduate from college and begin their own careers, there will probably be more written on the subject of deafness at every life stage, from birth to the end of life.

240 pages, with tables, reference and an index.

This work is a highly interesting exploration of the subject of how the contemplation of Death effects the creative work of artists and scientists. The heart of the book is a set of interviews with artists and scientists on this basic question.
In her introduction Goodman points out to two different approaches one can have to Death. One can think to make the most of one's life by ignoring death, by giving it as little time and attention as possible, by supposing that somehow it will never happen. In the words of William Saroyan," I thought in my case they would make an exception".
Or you can confront it, and in the confronting it strive to give the time of life- Meaning. Here Goodman points out that what bothers many is not that they will die , so much as that they might die before they have accomplished what they could . The idea is that those who do feel that they have done what they could have done are ready for their death. I think here of the writer Agnon who a few months before his death, said that he had finished, and simply waited to die.
There is of course no right, no simple, no easy answer here. There is also the question after all of the world- to- come, and how religious artists and scientists see this question differently from those who suppose the end here is the final end.
There are a great many interesting ideas and directions for thought in this most valuable work.
I would only add one thought of my own. One strives for immortality in one's work. One strives for 'continuity' beyond one 's own life through one's children and generations to come. One dreams of an afterlife. And yet with all this the abyss of the abyss , there is the everpresent thought and fear that one will go down to nothing forever, whether one is remembered or not. And even more despairingly that all one knows and loves will go down in the end,that even the very earth, and even our very universe will come to nothing. And this thought leads to such great great despair.
God, and only God, God and only God, if there is an answer, is that Answer.

As with the DVD, this book is entertaining on its own, but is, however, probably best appreciated by those with a degree of familiarity with Derrida. The book itself is lavishly made and the introduction be Geoffry Hartmann makes for interesting reading.
There is one minor disappointment. Derrida, though obviously possessing an incredible command of the English language was very careful to use French in many of his responses to questions and he makes this act very clear. There are, of course, a wealth of issues relating to the very act of translation and the translations in the movie istelf are an overt component of the the making/appropriation of the story that Derrida himself is "allowed" to comment upon in the DVD. It would have been wonderful to have Derrida's and the questioners French appear in parallel with the filmaker's translations -- dare I say it? a la Spurs/Eperons. I would be interested in purchasing a French version of the book for this very reason.
I do really like this book.

I must say this is exactly the kind of book i've been looking for, since I entered architecture school I have been trying to find literature for a good design process applied to architecture. The book covers the architectural design process from start to finish with many helpfull insights into the various stages of the complex design process involved in building. In my opinion, it is a vaery complete book, not just talking about building aspects, but client relationships, cost concerns, while at the same time realizing the diference of the academic and work reality. A must buy in my opinion.

Here, Deleuze and Parnet give very illuminating and interesting form to many of the ideas that will later be expressed w/Guattari in A Thousand Plateaus. Excellently translated and insightful-- as though one were listening to Deleuze with an acquaintance speaking of the direction of his theory in the 80's. Highly recommended.

Dialogues On Cultural Studies: Interviews With Contemporary Critics is an essential dialogue which poses a set of questions to a panel of North America' leading cultural critics, resulting in interviews which survey a range of modern issues, from gender and political conflicts to sources of modernity and globalization issues. Virtually anything having to do with modern cultural issues and studies is debated by scholars who know their stuff. Highly recommended for a college-level readership.

Written in the form of an interview with Mark Matousek, Andrew Harvey brings his knowledge of eastern religions, the Christian mystic tradition, and modern scholarship to bear on virtually every issue pertinent to bringing a mystic perspective to contemporary Christian life. Harvey makes it clear that mysticism is not the private domain of monastics but actually an imperative for the "ordinary" Christian wishing to make a real difference in his or her world.

Although quite slim,this set of interviews is modest in proportions,yet it's always fascinating to read Maitre Boulez and his thoughts on composition. His "Jalons"a series of lectures he gave at the College de France from 1980 to 1990 available only in French, still reamins the definitive place for Boulez's thoughts on creativity. But here he talks of his recent works, 'Sur Incises', 'Anthemes' in some detail,as well as his conducting experiences in Chicago, doing Mahler. Also references to early thoughts, indeterminacy,aleatoric gesturing,and John Cage. And Di Pietro is quite versed in fashionable intellectual trajectories as the pessimism of Jean Baudrillard who Boulez comments on. The only disappointment here is there wasn't more. I read this in one sitting,one single train ride,you may as well.

As a non-labor Caesarian born myself, I completely resonated with Jane Butterfield English's experiences. I've read the book three times so far. (The first time when I purchased the book in the early 90's and twice this summer.) I find the words she uses in the journal section that describes her journey of discovery to be supportive, enlightening and helpful in providing a map of the issues that have haunted me throughout my life.

Since we live in a world where most of those around us were born vaginally, it's really helpful to hear a different view. Just becoming aware of this Different Doorway has helped me reframe some of my experiences around boundaries, difficult relationships, my craving for touch, the pain I experience when separating from others, my determination.

If you are non-labor Cesarian born, I think you'll learn alot about yourself through this book. I've also found in talking about the book that a number of my friends are also Cesarian born and they fully understand the issues I've been dealing with.

How often does one get to have inside information behind the films of some really great film directors? I loved the honest and searching answers given as well as the personalities revealed with each interview.