Ghosts of Pre-Pandemic Past
Transcript
Disclaimer:
This is not the first episode. The first episode is still being crafted and tweaked. No, this is the episode that burst into the attic in a white sheet, rattling chains and wailing in a most unseemly manner. No standing in line, no careful crafting, not even waiting for the website to be ready. So, for my own peace of mind, I am releasing this episode early, may the Goddess protect my weary soul.
Welcome to Attic Whisper. I am Djuna Blackth.. No, I’m sorry. I’m afraid this is not going to be the best of introductions. If you have ever been haunted, you know how distracting it can be. Even worse, I am not even being haunted by a presence, ghost or spirit. No playful poltergeist or mysterious hat man. I am haunted by a concept, and that concept is Hauntology.
Hauntology is a pun that became a term, and as such it is tenuously defined. It has been used to point out retro esthetics constantly returning, retrofuturism, and the iron grip of old social forms, among other things. The interpretation that stuck with me in relation to Hauntology is that we are haunted by our past, unable to let go of it because it contains the broken promise of a lost future. As we cradle the glittering shards of this lost future, we cannot reach for any other future.
Let’s walk away from that dreary image for now and talk about The Queen Mary. I was listening to Episode 17 of Euphomet, titled The Grey Ghost, where Jim Perry boards the legendary cruise ship and talks with illusionist and apparitionist Aiden Sinclair. Aiden, with respect and empathy, “uses illusion to manifest the past and more importantly, our connection to it.” This episode, like all Euphomet episodes, draws you in and gives you an intimate look at the environment, the person being interviewed, and the topic, in a way that resonates with places in the listener that were long forgotten or hiding in plain sight.
In this Episode, Aiden talks about how most tourists that board the Queen Mary today have the multiple tragedies that happened, or are supposed to have happened, present in their minds, and so they are uneasy and susceptible to any traces of suffering that will further this story. They forget the Queen Mary also had joy, families reunited, glamorous cruise days and nights. As Aiden says, the residual haunting can be created just through happiness as much as anything else. Maybe some of the ghosts of the Queen Mary are there because they were happy there. That is a much better story than the trite murder, suicide, and violent death.
You might have noticed I did not really define what Hauntolgy means. Jacques Derrida combined Haunting and Ontology (the study of being). So, if to be is to be haunted, as Derrida implied, can we choose what we are haunted by? How we are haunted? I’m not saying we forget the past and all its lessons, that is always a mistake. Our human experience is intrinsically varied and while negativity bias pulls our eyes to the dark, we can choose what we give our attention to, what we highlight in our story. Perhaps if the past that haunts us is one of laughter and love, we can finally grieve that lost future and create a new one. Ghosts and all.
This episode is being written as vaccination for the Covid 19 virus is underway. After a year where the promise of the future was firmly shattered, we are to gather our ghosts and try to build a new future. The past, well it was rather scary, to be honest, so I sincerely hope things do not go back to normal. I hope we go forth to normal, a normal of safety, health, and equality. There is a lot of work ahead of us, and we are already weary. But I am haunted by the smiles of strangers lost in thought, music, dance, and the sense of community. I am haunted by many sparkling things that wait for me. I am haunted by a bittersweet joyful past and a hopeful future worth fighting for, where every step forward is a victory. I hope to see you there. For now, gather your ghosts, and look for the cracks. That’s how the light gets in.
Thank you for listening to this episode of Attic Whisper. This podcast was inspired by many storytellers and creators that I encourage you to listen:
Euphomet is a documentary podcast about the unknown and our relationship to it, featuring real people sharing astonishing paranormal experiences. I cannot recommend this podcast highly enough.
For an in-depth look at Negativity Bias and how to deal with it, you can listen to Wait! It’s Not What You’re Thinking, Episode 2. This is a Spanish-speaking podcast with Psychologist super duo Elizabeth Pena and Gustavo Zazueta, also known as Eli and Zazu. Full disclosure, Zazu is my younger and far more intelligent brother.
Lastly, this podcast would not be possible without the support and encouragement from my partners, Erin and Paul. To listen to their own creative endeavors, please visit OpenBetaMusic.com or follow Open Beta Music on Facebook. If you like Celtic, folk, and geeky music, this is a band you will certainly enjoy.
The music in this episode was composed by Juan Sanchez. Juan Sánchez – For When It Rains” is under a Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) license. Music promoted by BreakingCopyright: https://bit.ly/bkc-it-rains
Transcripts for this and all episodes can be found at atticwhisper.com. Links to the books, podcasts, and videos mentioned will also be included in the episode notes.
Sound Engineering by Paul Schmidt. Website Assistance by Erin Lewis.
Thank you for listening.
Attic Whisper 