Sigmund Freud: Analyse this

I'm a big fan of analysing things. I had a partner once who hated the fact that I was always questioning things. And asking questions that needed more than a simple: 'I don't know' as an answer. But what's the point doing things if you don't reflect upon why you do them?

Because of that interest we are liking the art of
Kristofer Paetau and Rüdiger Heinze. In their monthly news letter (that I subscribe to) they gather amateur photos and turn them into visual art with accompanying text. We likey.
The pictures here can be found in picturepeople #18 : DON'T TAKE THIS PERSONALLY.

Great stuff to have your granny teaching you how to give the finger and say 'you're a fucking motherfucker'. My interpretation is that the people here are related and these pictures were taken during their Christmas holidays. Nothing says 'Happy Christmas' better than giving the finger and have a glass of wine.

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Comments

[Dexo]

"But what's the point doing things if you don't reflect upon why you do them?"

Too many 'whys' in life is simply just boring. There are A LOT of things I like doing without 'reflecting' on them. Like dancing. Or listening to music. Or watching Frasier.

The idea that you should reflect on your pleasures, or the reason behind your pleasures (for example consumtion), I find kind of banal and tiresome. Certain things are just NOT meta (or should not be meta - becasue then the pleasure disappears). They exist in the moment and there are no other reasons for doing them than the fact that you like doing them...

Like kissing.
Or wearing your favourite shoes.

'Why' might be your attitude to life - and you might find that meaningful - it's not just dogmatically my attitude (and THAT I find meaningful!).

[GANGSTER]

Thinking of your pleasures is a brilliant thing I think. If you like 'Frasier' for instance I think you should have a serious talk with yourself.
Yuck!
Also I think kissing is a wicked thing if you know why you are kissing that particular person. Who the hell wants to be a random kisser?
And yes, consumption is a fun thing. But maybe think some before you buy that D&G bag or Gucci perfume. I know if I had thought hard enough I would never have bought that Vodafone mobile since the service is crap. Think man, think.

[Dexo]

Wow. We are so talking about different things. I'm in a meta world, you are in a rational world. You might want to find reasons for (dis)liking Frasier and simultaneously you are enjoying the process of finding reasons... I'm talking about both enjoyment and enjoyment plus (as the Spinoza fan I am). There is NO REASON for enjoyment, it is the basic drive behind us humans. Realizing that, you might indulge in consumtion and metaconsumtion - but asking yourself "why" will only lead to a dead end of destroying the pleasure it self...

As soon as you find out 'why' - the magic is gone. I guess that's why we - the affirmative nihilist and post-spinozist - enjoy certain things less...

[Dexo]

The simple rule therefore is:
#1 Things you enjoy: don't ask yourself why
#2 Things that make you sad: ask yourself why

[GANGSTER]

Yes, but we are not talking about just enjoyment.
If you read my entry again you would find that there is no mention of discussing why you like to kiss or buy things. However 'why' is a useful word if you want to live your life with your eyes open and not for instance fuck someone behind your partners back when you really want to call it quits or not live your life like you would like to. Questioning yourself and get to know yourself is a good thing. And who the fuck cares if you like a certain sitcom or consumption in general when it comes to questioning things anyway? That's just seems shallow.