PerformWorld & psychodrama?

[Edward Schreiber]

Hi Adam,
I think your take on the group associated with Fred Newman is  
accurate from my direct encounter with the group.  Lois Holzman is a  
major theorist and writer and yes, much of the social therapeutic  
approach is guided by Vygotsky, postmodernist thought. They are  
unique in the sense that they are practitioners of a social  
therapeutic approach within late-stage capitalism.  About the cult:   
that's what Moreno was called too, let's not forget.  At this point I  
would say one of us extending our method to their October conference  
might be a good idea.  Their work draws activists, revolutionaries,  
thinkers, artists, creative people from around the world.  What I  
have found MOST IMPRESSIVE about Fred and Lois and their work is  
their dedication to practice and research and who is drawn to their  
work.  In all of their work, the poor, working class, internationally  
are the focus, or to whom the work is most given, and valued.   So  
yes, I have had a change of heart, from feeling it to be a cult to  
realizing that Fred and Lois (and a former colleague Raphael Mendez,  
PHD with whom I've worked) are in fact making a very significant  
contribution to the world that is a changing.

Ed


On Mar 28, 2008, at 9:46 PM, Adam Blatner wrote:

> Very interesting feedback. I've been struck with Newman's writings  
> and the writings of Lois Holzman, a major part of that group. I  
> didn't know about the Marxist angle. What struck me was that he  
> calls upon some in-group intellectual appeals -- Vygotsky, a  
> Russian psychologist who is alluded to by several people in  
> different circles in education; -- and postmodernist thought.
>       I have tried to find out from people involved exactly what  
> they do, but have gotten a lot of postmodernis rationale. Actually,  
> I am somewhat sympathetic with a moderate postmodernist approach  
> and have written about it---but also postmodernism and other -ism's  
> can get extreme and foolish---
>    The problem was that there was all this rationale but an almost  
> evasive avoidance in describing just what they do.
>
>       From what I can gather, they deal with alll interactions as  
> if it were a performance. Great, if that's so, because that's kind  
> of what i'm suggesting in, say, my chapter in Gershoni's 2003 book  
> about using psychodrama in everyday life.
>
>       The problem with this approach---now that Bud has suggested  
> that some folks find Newman's activities to be cult-like----a kind  
> of name-calling I take with a grain of salt---but I do remember a  
> lot of negative stuff arising out of noble ideology in the  
> encounter group flare of the 1970s (and continuing, as I gather, in  
> the work of these other pseudo-gurus in the UK and California....
>
>         ,,, it's this mixture of possibly good stuff mixed with  
> stuff that makes me wary--- very interesting, and we'll see how it  
> plays out.
>
>       Anyway, if y'all know anyone who'll be presenting or  
> attending their early October conference, we'd sure like to hear  
> about anyone who presents or attends the conference, or if you know  
> anyone who can be articulate in responding to questions.  Warmly, adam
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: BARNETT WEISS
> To: Edward Schreiber ; Adam Blatner
> Cc: list at grouptalkweb.org ; LipmanNYC1 at aol.com ; roberto cancel
> Sent: Friday, March 28, 2008 3:09 PM
> Subject: Re: PerformWorld & psychodrama?
>
> I note that Fred Newman is involved with these folks. I really  
> don't trust Fred or his New Alliance Party at all. Here is an  
> article that may seem a bit over the top and at the same time is  
> consistent with my experience of Fred and those who work in  
> association with him. I have known people who left the New Alliance  
> Party and their Social Therapy groups who have some very grusome  
> stories to tell. It is all about having been a victim or slave of  
> the social culture in the capitalist world and now forming a  
> revolution to turn it around
> Nearly everyone I know in the African Diaspora group do not want to  
> have anything to do with him or his group. http://www.cultnews.com/? 
> cat=129
> That having been said, are you sure you want to have psychodrama  
> associated with him in any way. This group allowing him to be a  
> presenter has to know his politics and what goes on with his group.  
> If they don't and are simply ignorantly giving him a venue to spew  
> his often devisive messages, I for one do not want to be a part of it.
>
> A discussion was just had on this list about how some people abuse  
> psychodrama and give it a bad name. If half of what I have been  
> told by others coming out of the social therapy groups and New  
> Alliance Party are true, they make the stories we have been  
> processing seem like playing in a sand box.
> Be well all, Bud
>
>
>
> Edward Schreiber <edwschreiber at earthlink.net> wrote:
> Hi Colleagues,
> I do know this group of people. Â In fact I once had an association.
> Some time ago, this Performing the World, came to our web site and  
> I suggested no connection.
>
> But I think differently now.
> These are a talented, dedicated, creative group of people.
> Dedicated to transformation of the world, and represent a working  
> class perspective in it all.
> These are good people with an extraordinary degree of dedication.
>
> I have had a change of heart: Â Moreno's work belongs there.
>
> Ed Schreiber
>
>
> On Mar 28, 2008, at 9:13 AM, Adam Blatner wrote:
>
>> Dear Colleagues,
>> Â Â Â  Do any of you folks know about this group? Apparently they  
>> overlap with our interests --- from what I can gather-- but it's  
>> hard to know what exactly they do or what they're about.
>> Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  I've seen some of their books---heavy into the  
>> postmodernist rationale, light on description---
>> Â Â  But one is about drama in education and that feels closer to  
>> spontaneity training in schools---I feel good about that---
>> Â
>> Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  So though I can't afford to attend, perhaps  
>> someone in the New York area knows someone who knows these people?
>> Â

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