This book examines the work of psychological illusionist Derren Brown to understand the significance of storytelling and ancient philosophy in our society. Reflecting on the social disconnection and political polarisation of recent times, Darren Kelsey considers how we can rebuild a sense of collective cohesion and common good, weaving together contemporary psychology with ancient Stoicism to cut through the noise of modern life. Kelsey shows that Brown is more than a stage performer: he’s an enlightened magician who offers us guidance for navigating the challenges life throws at us, using his skills and wisdom to help us better understand ourselves and enable human flourishing. In this rigorous examination of Brown’s work, Kelsey makes a compelling case for paying closer attention to our personal, cultural and political stories and beliefs to help create a better future – for ourselves, our communities, and the planet.
Tabella dei contenuti
1. Introduction: Narrative Building Machines.- Mythmaking and Popular Culture.- Private Hallucinations.- A Conjuror’s Story.- A Serendipitous Discovery.- Collective States of Mind.- The Analytical Approach of This Book.- The Structure of This Book.- Stories for a Better Future.- Bibliography.- 2. The Archetypal Magician.- Transformational Spaces.- The Stage Magician.- The Enlightened Magician.- The Shadow Magician.- Trust and Authenticity.- Stories, Memories and Experiences.- Our Chattering Selves.- Scepticism of Our Stories.- Bibliography.- 3. Street Philosophy and the Stoics.- Philosophy for Flourishing.- The Dichotomy of Control.- Purpose, Responsibility and Society.- Actions over Outcomes.- Learning and Growing.- Life Skills and Lessons.- Fate and Fortune.- Stillness, Egos and Obstacles.- Habitual Humans.- Perceptions and Stories.- Inner and Outer Worlds.- Emotions and Reactions.- Domesticate Your Emotions.- Taking Back Control.- The Unlived Lives of Our Parents.- Freedom to Flourish.- That Fraudster Feeling.- Hindsight and Reflection.- Bibliography.- 4. Self-Help and Popular Culture.- An Antidote to the Self-Help Industry.- Strategic Pessimism.- The Verb of Happiness.- Our Protestant Past.- The Law of Attraction.- Blame and Failure.- Kicking and Screaming.- Self-Help and Celebrity.- The Conor Mc Gregor Story.- Narrative, Ego and Persona.- The Outer World of Fame and Fortune.- Paradoxical Mindsets.- Trials and Tribulations.- Bibliography.- 5. Angels and Demons.- We Want Heroes, Not Gods.- Welcome to the Dark Side.- Social Compliance.- Handing over Authorship.- Conforming in Cahoots.- Can We Push Back?.- Hero Mentality.- Hero’s Journey.- If the World Ended Tomorrow.- Negative Visualisation.- Taking Responsibility.- Compassion, Empathy and Leadership.- Gratitude and Selflessness.- More Than Just a Dream.- Steven’s Homecoming.- The Wizard of Oz.- Transcendence and Individuation.- Jung, Socrates and the Stoics.- Compassion, Love and Empathy.- Bibliography.- 6. Beyond Them-And-Us.- The Rise of Tribalism.- In These Divided Times.- The Politics of Fear.- Place and Belonging.- The Overview Effect.- Connection and Empathy.- Expanding Phil’s Oikeiōsis.- A Hero’s Calling.- Dialogue Between Sides.- Fate and Perspective.- Beyond Madness and Badness.- The Human Problem.- Ethical Cosmopolitanism.- The Quest for Complexity.- Bibliography.- 7. Reflections and Transformations.- Collective Reflections.- Getting to Know Our Shadows.- Introspection and Transformation.- One Team, Many Stories.- The Changing World of Work.- A Secular Void?.- Filling the Secular Void.- Transformative Philosophy.- Communal Connections.- Transformative Mythologies.- Towards a Modern Monomyth.- The Collective Journey.- Stories to Save the World.- Collective Weaving Machines.- Bibliography.
Circa l’autore
Darren Kelsey is Reader in Media and Collective Psychology at Newcastle University’s School of Arts and Cultures. Darren’s teaching, research and previous publications have focused on storytelling, mythology and psychology in media, politics and popular culture. Darren currently lives in County Durham with his wife and daughter.
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