In this episode, Dara has historical wrongs on his mind. He went to see In Plain Sight at the weekend, a striking and confronting piece of site-specific documentary theatre that addressed the history and legacy of the Mother and Baby homes in 20th century Ireland. He watched it with his wife and with his sister, who was born in one of the homes featured in the work. To say it was a powerful experience would be a gross understatement.

Having recently watched a couple of 80s comedies with his young daughter, Dara is alarmed by a particular term of abuse set aside for women that cropped up a bit too liberally in the name of humour. Not for the first time, he finds himself observing that there is no equivalent slight for men and recognises how political and gendered the word is. To his great relief, he did not have to try and explain it to his watching companion.

Finally, Dara shares his thoughts on the utterly brilliant American poet Andrea Gibson, who passed away earlier this week after a 4-year battle with cancer. Gibson, who identified as non-binary, was a truly singular voice whose work radiated a fierce intelligence nestled alongside a beautifully compassionate engagement with human frailty and vulnerability. As a small attempt at paying tribute, Dara reads their poem 'The Tears That Got Me Here - in praise of crying'.

Andrea Gibson documentary, coming to Apple TV+: https://andreagibson.org/come-see-me-in-the-good-light

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In this episode, Dara picks up a point from last week and wonders if we can simultaneously be and not be our thoughts and emotions. He asks of what use our emotions are to others. Are we just being self-indulgent when we unload on others or is there room for more self-regulation? He also offers a way into better understanding relational estrangements and resentments.

The shocking death of footballer Diogo Jota last week brought expressions of sympathy well beyond the clubs and country he played for. A Liverpool-supporting friend of Dara's shared the response of one fan who posted his own reaction online. Dara was struck by how the young man epitomised the best aspects of football fandom and its peculiar parasocial norms of behaviour.

The actor Michael Madsen's death may have been less shocking but Dara reflects on his distinctive screen presence and some of his career highs, including his infamous scene that many couldn't stomach in Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs, and the role he played in the remake of Sam Peckinpah's The Getaway.

Finally Dara shares thoughts on 1958's Bonjour Tristesse, which itself has recently been remade. A story of sex, desire, independence, and betrayal, it featured a stunning Jean Seberg in only her second film role as the mischievous teenage daughter of David Niven's scarcely believable playboy who is all too easily led away from Deborah Kerr's virtuous old flame.

You Must Remember This season on Jean Seberg and Jane Fonda: https://www.youmustrememberthispodcast.com/episodes/2017/8/22/jeanandjanearchive

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In this episode Dara is trying to disembed some of his thinking in an attempt to do better. The well-worn pathways in his brain contribute to narratives that he can't stop regurgitating and which are no longer serving him. Time for change - but that's easier said than done.

He explains why understanding is so central to his concept of wellness. He argues that it is a counter to anxiety and opens the door to greater calm. He also believes that it encourages more successful alignment between the internal and external worlds that we dwell in. The idea of rightness and being justified - in a geometric sense - are part of this existential alignment.

Dara proffers that we instinctively recognise what is right and natural in the world and that recognition consequently produces greater joy and ease in our lives. He talks also about 'craving the absent' which is a simple way of understanding areas of incompleteness in our lives.

Reflecting on the dangers of dichotomous thinking, Dara holds up Robert Frost's The Road Not Taken as Exhibit A for the prosecution, indicting it for oversimplifying the myriad choices and encounters that we never make or have. As a counterpoint, he recites the poem My Father Speaks of His Father by Bro. Yao (Hoke S. Glover III).

Also, thoughts on actors Willem Dafoe and Kevin Kline.

My Father Speaks of His Father - https://rattle.com/my-father-speaks-of-his-father-by-bro-yao-hoke-s-glover-iii/

Website: https://theclearout.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theclearoutpodcast/

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Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theclearout

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.