[Marxism] Curing schizophrenia

[Louis Proyect <lnp3@xxxxxxxxx>]

Tony Abdo wrote:
> Proimises of cures are made all the time regarding the problems of 
> depression, schizophrenia, and other psychiatric conditions.  In fact, 
> each day hundreds of thousands of individuals are given promises that 
> psychotropic medications will eliminate pretty much, what are seen as 
> troublesome behaviors of one type or another.

But this is not true. When is the last time you heard of schizophrenics 
living outside of closely supervised group homes (at best) or fending for 
themselves just because they take some medication. It is generally 
understood that medication can allow a rather modest level of functioning 
at best. In my entire time working in various NYC businesses and 
nonprofits, I can't think of a single schizophrenic who held down a job as 
a programmer or any other kind of stressful job. Tom Harrell is an 
accomplished jazz trumpeter but he has major problems keeping up with even 
this rather unstructured profession.

===

A few audience members look quizzically at this unusual figure, so unlike 
the familiar image of the hip, confident jazz musician. They whisper softly 
to each other, occasionally glancing in Harrell's direction as the players 
pick up their instruments.

There is a brief moment of silence as Harrell takes his position at the 
front, nods to the musicians. Without a word of instruction, he grunts a 
count-off.

The rhythm section digs into a slow groove, and the saxophone player nods 
in rhythm with the time. But Harrell, except for a slight trembling in one 
hand, appears oblivious, standing in a position of near immobility, 
apparently disconnected to the point of inertia.

As his time comes to play however, he slowly brings his horn to his lips 
and suddenly, without warning, fills it with a stream of music bursting 
with vitality and life. The contrast is astonishing, as he reels off a 
string of dazzling, hard swinging, improvised choruses. Then, just as 
suddenly, he finished his solo, lowers his trumpet, and his body reverts to 
its rooted posture.

Almost universally admired by his contemporaries, Harrell has been 
described by both drummer Elvin Jones and saxophonist Phil Woods as a "pure 
genius," and by tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano - a frequent musical associate 
- as a "poetic musician."

But this "pure genuis," this "poetic musician," and much admired jazzman, 
has one other quality that makes him unique. He has suffered, for more than 
25 years, from schizophrenia. And his life is one of the most remarkable 
stories in the long history of jazz.

On Tuesday night, Harrell brings his quintet to Catalina Bar & Grill for a 
six-night run in support of his new RCA album, "Labyrinth," his 11th 
recording as a leader. He arrives on the wave of growing attention for his 
playing and his composing, which have matured dramatically in the last few 
years, raising him to the top level of post-Miles Davis creative jazz 
artists. Earlier this month, in DownBeat magazine's annual jazz critics' 
poll, he was voted best trumpeter, beating out the far more visible Wynton 
Marsalis by one vote.

?  ?  ?  ?  ?

But his journey to jazz prominence has not been easy, even though it began 
with considerable promise.

A prodigal musical talent as a child, Harrell, now 50, was a highly 
regarded trumpeter in the Bay Area while he was still a teenager. Found to 
be schizophrenic when he was in his early 20s, he has functioned in the 
mainstream since th early '60s with the aid of neuroleptic medication to 
deal with the typical schizophrenic symptoms of auditory hallucinations, 
disorganized speech and behavior and flattened affect.

full: http://home.earthlink.net/~tomharrell/articles_latimes.html


Louis Proyect
Marxism list: www.marxmail.org 


_______________________________________________
Marxism mailing list
Marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism