This reminds me of Foucault's essay, "Of other spaces", which if you haven't read yet, you should. He makes the point that certain places, church graveyards are his example if I remember correctly, heterotopias, are structured differently: our duties, responsibilities, and temporalities are so different in these places as to allow us to imagine different possibilities for existence there.
In a hard to find essay (in the journal Raritan, I believe), Patrick Murphy argues that universities could and should be one of these places. They disrupt the normal rhythms of life and might help us imagine life outside of capitalism.
I love this idea though: cathedral-thinking as a way to reorganize the collective imagination.
I've been trying to find the Patrick Murphy essay since you mentioned it! Have you read Nicolas Mirzoeff's Anarchy in the Ruins: Dreaming the Experimental University? It had a big impact on me when I read it
I haven't read it in a long while, and I'm prejudiced because the author was my undergraduate mentor. I googled around though, and it seems like there are a LOT of people making the same connection.
I haven't read that, but judging the from the title, Mirzeoff is alluding to Bill Reading's "The University in Ruins"? Perhaps one of the smartest books on the decline of the American university - written in the early 90s before the author's tragic death in an airplane crash in 94. I was always dismayed that more academics don't know it. If you haven't read it, it's absolutely worth your time. I'll try to get a hold of the Mirzeoff essay. Thanks for the suggestion!
New subscriber thanks to Alexander Chee! Thank you for so brilliantly articulating the kind of helpful thinking to keep despondent folks feeling like they can - and must - do something, Sarah. I’ll be sharing this with my local Dems community here in a very red county of upstate NY.
I first heard the term "political depression" at an artistic activism convening in Atlanta last summer. I'm so happy someone - you - are writing about it. xo
This piece stirred something deep. “Cathedral thinking” feels like the antidote to the hyper-speed doom cycle we’re all stuck in—like a quiet form of rebellion. The image of holding bricks, cutting glass, even if we don’t live to see the dome complete… it’s honest, it’s humbling, and it’s hopeful. Also, thank you for drawing the distinction between eutopos and outopos. That simple linguistic shift changes everything—it’s not about chasing perfection, but about committing, brick by brick, to the good.
This kickstarted some big thoughts. Will definitely bring the idea of “cathedral thinking” into future community discussions here
Claire! so nice to hear from you. and hell yes 💓
This reminds me of Foucault's essay, "Of other spaces", which if you haven't read yet, you should. He makes the point that certain places, church graveyards are his example if I remember correctly, heterotopias, are structured differently: our duties, responsibilities, and temporalities are so different in these places as to allow us to imagine different possibilities for existence there.
In a hard to find essay (in the journal Raritan, I believe), Patrick Murphy argues that universities could and should be one of these places. They disrupt the normal rhythms of life and might help us imagine life outside of capitalism.
I love this idea though: cathedral-thinking as a way to reorganize the collective imagination.
I've been trying to find the Patrick Murphy essay since you mentioned it! Have you read Nicolas Mirzoeff's Anarchy in the Ruins: Dreaming the Experimental University? It had a big impact on me when I read it
It took me a little while to find a copy: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1G2cBTujHMiCygIAEPb38BS8JWj6lfo_h/view?usp=sharing
I haven't read it in a long while, and I'm prejudiced because the author was my undergraduate mentor. I googled around though, and it seems like there are a LOT of people making the same connection.
I haven't read that, but judging the from the title, Mirzeoff is alluding to Bill Reading's "The University in Ruins"? Perhaps one of the smartest books on the decline of the American university - written in the early 90s before the author's tragic death in an airplane crash in 94. I was always dismayed that more academics don't know it. If you haven't read it, it's absolutely worth your time. I'll try to get a hold of the Mirzeoff essay. Thanks for the suggestion!
New subscriber thanks to Alexander Chee! Thank you for so brilliantly articulating the kind of helpful thinking to keep despondent folks feeling like they can - and must - do something, Sarah. I’ll be sharing this with my local Dems community here in a very red county of upstate NY.
Beautifully crafted contemplation, thank you Sarah
Thank you for reading + saying 🩵
You’re a wordsmith. I loved reading this and will definitely bring the cathedral thinking idea forward. New subscriber!
Moving in the truest sense :’)
🩵🩵🩵
I first heard the term "political depression" at an artistic activism convening in Atlanta last summer. I'm so happy someone - you - are writing about it. xo
<3 <3 <3 thank you for reading it J! working on part 2 and 3 now
This piece stirred something deep. “Cathedral thinking” feels like the antidote to the hyper-speed doom cycle we’re all stuck in—like a quiet form of rebellion. The image of holding bricks, cutting glass, even if we don’t live to see the dome complete… it’s honest, it’s humbling, and it’s hopeful. Also, thank you for drawing the distinction between eutopos and outopos. That simple linguistic shift changes everything—it’s not about chasing perfection, but about committing, brick by brick, to the good.
I’m sending this to everyone I know 💛💛💛