ROBIN HENIG - EMERGING ADULTHOOD
Bon Duke and iO Tillett Wright for the NYT
Earlier this year, Robin Henig published an article in the NYT magazine that proved to have viral appeal; all over the country, people in their twenties e-mailed it to their parents, parents sent it to their twenty-something kids. Henig’s previous article for the magazine was about anxiety (“Understanding the Anxious Mind”). Both pieces are highly relevant to the film, which explores the psychology of the transition to adulthood.
Yesterday I met with Henig in her apartment on the Upper West Side to ask her about the articles. The following are excerpts from the interview:
What led you to write the piece on “Twenty-Somethings”?
I was very interested in the subject because my kids are in their twenties and I was curious to see if there was a way to write about that that was different from what you usually see. I was interested in writing about parenting grown-ups. It was [while] trying to see what was out there that I encountered the concept of “Emerging Adulthood.” I had never heard of it before.
What do you think is the most important work being done on this subject?
I think that Jeff Arnett has given [academics] a way to write about it. There’s long been an interest in development and trying to figure out how people become adults, but he has a term for it (“Emerging Adulthood”) that’s very catchy and there is a lot of attention all of a sudden. [Also] The MacArther foundation has a Network for Research on Transitions to Adulthood and they’ve been working for 10 years. There wasn’t anything like that before.
Dru Donovan and Bon Duke for the NYT
In the Anxiety piece you talk about “high reactive individuals,” people who respond strongly to new stimuli and are more prone to anxiety. How do you make sense of this trait in terms of human evolution?
In our ancestral, tribal life, you needed someone to be vigilant, to always react quickly to things as though it was the worst possible thing happening because sometimes it was the worst thing… It might not be so helpful, though, for the individual who was so wired. There’s an adaptive quality to it but probably more at a group level than at an individual level. The other side of it is that his genetic setup would persist because he was the one who would live to reproduce. The amygdala, which is the hyper-reactive part of the brain, does all sorts of good things. It’s almost like in the modern world it’s set too high, but in a dangerous, more unpredictable world it might be just right.
Do you think that young peoples’ “emerging adulthoods” are a consequence of the economic crisis, or sign of social progress?
I think it’s exacerbated by a recession where there aren’t enough jobs available. The first ones to go are entry-level jobs so it does makes it harder to start your life. But I don’t think that many of the psychological traits of being young are unique to this time period or something you can blame on the economy. The thing that was most convincing to me was making the analogy to adolescence that was “discovered” a hundred years ago. We take it for granted now that adolescence is clearly a time of life when you’re behaving differently. I think that we might be moving in the direction of thinking that [“emerging adulthood”] isn’t just an artifact of what we’re going through now, that there really is something different going on with people in their twenties too.
Hylozoic Ground- Philip Beesley
Last week, John built a robotic plant and installed it on the set. Each branch was incorporated into a circuit; they quivered and swayed in startling ways in response to the electrical impulses he administered.
Philip Beesley’s Hylozoic Ground, opening this week at the Venice Biennale, takes robotic botany to amazing extents. He describes the piece as an “immersive, interactive environment that moves and breathes around its viewers… Next-generation artificial intelligence, synthetic biology, and interactive technology create an environment that is nearly alive.”
Read the post on BldgBlog here.
Polaroids from Providence
Sophie and John install the robotic plants.
Blue crab + LED.
Crab wrangler.
Technology!
Sophie T.
Just back from the shoot and dreaming of neon, blue crabs and robotic vines..
Ujino at Mori Art Museum
I saw Ujino’s kinetic and musical sculptures at the Mori Art Museum this afternoon. He uses household appliances to make complex mechanical works which he plays in live performance. In an interview, he explained his belief that popular attitudes towards “used” goods are changing. As we appreciate the limited nature of our resources (and learn that recycled parts play crucial functions in our new products), we understand that these objects are more than just “junk.”
In the news
Exciting appearance— after a somewhat stilted attempt to explain my presence at yesterday’s festivities, the film is mentioned in Too Nipo, a local newspaper of northeastern Japan. The innkeeper at my ryokan discovered the article and did the highlighting.
Ohtohki— Dazai’s Birthday
The annual celebration of Ohtohki was held yesterday in Dazai’s birthplace, Kanagi, in northeastern Japan. There were readings, speeches and performances, including those by Dazai’s eldest daughter, Sonoko Tsushima, and the mayor of Aomori.
Kamakura, Kanagawa
Dazai first attempted suicide in the beachside town of Kamakura. Today you can find picnickers, surfers and construction crews spending hazy days on the shore.
Ajisai Matsuri— Hydrangeas
Its hydrangea season in Japan and *hundreds of people are turning out to view (and to photograph) the enormous blossoms.
Zenrinji Temple, Mitaka City
Dazai spent much of his life in Tokyo living in Mitaka. His house no longer stands but its location is marked. He is buried at Zenrinji temple where fans visit leaving flowers and cigarettes ..
NIGHTNIGHT by DEDDY
