Overview
https://youtu.be/tDTpQh8l7IEAs the philosophical heirs of Cartesian mind-body dualism, we tend to believe that our minds are distinct and separate from our bodies. If that's true, then it should be possible to think or talk oneself out of emotional trauma. But for many people, it's not. Trauma is an embodied experience. It might also be not only an individual experience, but a collective experience. Has the experience of living through a global pandemic, as well as an epidemic of gun violence and multifaceted sociopolitical upheaval, traumatized Americans as a whole? If so, how should we respond?
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This week’s discussion has 6 parts:
1. Using this week's video lecture, "What Is Embodiment?," answer the below seven bullet-pointed questions. You don't need more than a sentence for each, though it's fine to write more; the point is that you start your discussion here with a clear understanding of the social scientific concept of embodiment. Please properly reference the lecture, both in-text and in your bibliography. (1/2 point, including all of the below sub-questions; be sure to include time stamps from the video lecture)
- What does embodiment mean in the social sciences?
- What is the relationship between embodiment theory and mind-body dualism?
- How does embodiment theory explain the relationship between body and culture?
- What’s an example of how culture lives through one’s body?
- How does the body reproduce one’s culture?
- What's an example of how one’s body can reproduce one's culture?
- According to embodiment theory, what is the relationship between an individual’s body and their perspective?
2. Using what you learn from van der Kolk's The Body Keeps the Score, in what ways is trauma an embodied experience? (Another way of asking this: how does trauma inhabit and impact the body?) (3/4 point, including the below sub-points)
- Include two examples of embodied experience of trauma from The Body Keeps the Score.
- Quote and properly reference van der Kolk.
- Part 2 should be about 300 words altogether (though it's OK to say more if you like).
3. Considering what Cox writes in "We Are Not Just Polarized. We Are Traumatized.," do you believe that Americans, as a whole (in general), are traumatized? Why or why not? Answer in 100 or more words. (1/2 point)
- Use examples from Cox' article.
4. Now put together what you've written above. If a) culture lives through one’s body, and the body reproduces one’s culture; b) trauma is an embodied experience; and (assuming you agree with Cox) c) Americans, as a whole, are traumatized, then how would you expect this collective embodied experience of trauma to impact Americans' perspective? (1/2 point)
5. What is an interesting question, either on this topic, or linking this topic with another in our class, to guide discussion in this week's forum?(1/4 point)
Your initial post should be at least 500 words long.
6. After finishing with your own post, also post a comment on at least two of the posts of your classmates. You are welcome to post even more than 2 comments! Thoughtful, positive, questioning, and educational comments, which help to develop the group conversation, can both help others engage the subject more deeply AND improve your own grade! (1/4 point for each comment=total 1/2 point)
Make sure you've properly cited, including page numbers, paragraph numbers, and/or time stamps for all in-text citations.