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Re: [xmca] catharsis and category

On 9 June 2011 08:24, Andy Blunden <ablunden@mira.net> wrote:

> I have been watching Nikolai Veresov's videos on vimeo. I refer to No. 2 in
> particular: http://vimeo.com/groups/chat/videos/10226589
> In this talk, Nikolai is explaining his view of the development of
> Vygotsky's theory of the development of the high mental functions through
> the appropriation of social functions, and in doing so, he appears to be
> mistaking the English word "category" for the English word "catharsis."
>

I think that there is an issue with the English (Freudian) use of
"catharsis" that refers to expression without genuine influence, which a) I
don't think is cathartic and b) not what was intended in psychology of art,
i.e. achieving, or identifying with, a genuine change (or resolution), even
if only a resolution of a staged performance (identification), or some other
art.

This notion of "real" catharsis then becomes more related to the notion of
category.

In my studies and thinking I have been happy with Nikolai's use of the term
category and it's relation to stage.  With respect to plan/plane
correspondences there are several overlapping aspects, which seem to be
quite precisely captured by this otherwise ambiguous term (joint context,
intention and topological representation).

The dramatic conflict (category) has correspondence with (distributed)
self-organisation.  The social participation of emotionally led behaviour
leads to structured forms of participation, e.g. acquiring new coordinating
structures in the process of achieving one's goals.

Huw
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