"American Hologram" with Joe Bageant
Thursday, April 2, 2009

Joe Bageant is a social commentator and author. In his recent book, Deer Hunting with Jesus: Dispatches from America's Class War, Bageant discusses the lives of poor rural Whites in the United States. The book which is mainly centered on his hometown, Winchester Virginia is a wise, tender, and acerbic look at life among America's working poor.

During his presentation at the Adler School, he shared his thoughts about returning to the U.S. after his recent trip to Belize. He was very honest about the fact he was unsure as to what to say to a group of psychology students. With so many tracks he could go down, the ISE faculty focused him on sharing his thoughts on the 'American Hologram'.

He also spoke about our collective vulnerability to the messages conveyed by mainstream media and our need to be more critical in our consumption of the news. Bageant relayed his belief that our society is so focused on consumerism and capitalism that it creates an illusion of a have/have-not society. The whole illusion of individualism has us buying into the advertising and marketing web our society is firmly woven around - in the name of making yourself unique. Television, advertising, and marketting has us distracted by it that it keeps us from truly understanding our purpose. He then opened up a question and answer discussion that revolved around various social topics and problems effecting American society today.

According to Joe:  "Unarguably, your training will help many fellow human beings. But in the larger scheme of things, you are part of an institution, the American psycho-socio-medical complex, and thus authorized to manage public consciousness, one person at a time."

Click here to read his speech at the Adler School.

"I felt that this was the best ISE event that I have been to. Not only was Mr. Bageant entertaining, but he was very well informed about many controversial issues. His honesty and blunt manner of speaking was appreciated, as I think that sometimes our field punishes individuals who think outside of the box or disagree with accepted doctrine."
                    -- Tom Patterson (Adler Student)

"Mr. Bageant's immediate hands on approach is awe inspiring and gives me hope that as one individual you can change the way things are."
                    -- Molly Zale (Adler Student)

"In order to be socially just and help underserved populations, it is important that we get up and we happen to the world."
                    -- Debbie Serber (Adler Student)

Joe Bageant writes an online column that has made him a cult hero among gonzo-journalism junkies and progressives. He has been interviewed on Air America and comments on America's long history of religious fundamentalism in the BBC/Owl documentary The Vision: Americans on America. Until recently he worked as a senior editor for the Primedia History Magazine Group. Bageant and his wife recently downsized their lives in America so that Joe could spend half the year in Belize, where he writes and sponsors a small development project with the Black Carib families of Hopkins Village.

For more information on Joe Bageant, visit his website http://www.joebageant.com/ or watch his recent interview with The American News Project http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9J-Dy0OcKw. 

Joe Bageant Jam Session

On the Saturday following Joe's presentation, Dr. Janna Henning organized a "Jam Session" at The Hidden Cove, a local north side establishment in Chicago. Joe, along with Adler students, staff, and faculty, played instruments, danced and sang for hours.  It was a fun evening and we promised to repeat it for those of you who couldn't attend. Thank you Dr. Henning for a wonderful evening!! 

For more information about this event, contact TheInstitute@adler.edu.