Full size book cover of Night Vision: Seeing Ourselves Through Dark Moods}

Night Vision: Seeing Ourselves Through Dark Moods

Mariana Alessandri

3.93(433 readers)
A philosopher’s personal meditation on how painful emotions can reveal truths about what it means to be truly human

Under the light of ancient Western philosophies, our darker moods like grief, anguish, and depression can seem irrational. When viewed through the lens of modern psychology, they can even look like mental disorders. The self-help industry, determined to sell us the promise of a brighter future, can sometimes leave us feeling ashamed that we are not more grateful, happy, or optimistic. Night Vision invites us to consider a different approach to life, one in which we stop feeling bad about feeling bad.

In this powerful and disarmingly intimate book, Existentialist philosopher Mariana Alessandri draws on the stories of a diverse group of nineteenth- and twentieth-century philosophers and writers to help us see that our suffering is a sign not that we are broken but that we are tender, perceptive, and intelligent. Thinkers such as Audre Lorde, María Lugones, Miguel de Unamuno, C. S. Lewis, Gloria Anzaldúa, and Søren Kierkegaard sat in their anger, sadness, and anxiety until their eyes adjusted to the dark. Alessandri explains how readers can cultivate “night vision” and discover new sides to their painful moods, such as wit and humor, closeness and warmth, and connection and clarity.

Night Vision shows how, when we learn to embrace the dark, we begin to see these moods―and ourselves―as honorable, dignified, and unmistakably human.

Publisher

Princeton University Press

Publication Date

5/9/2023

ISBN

9780691215457

Pages

216

Categories

Literature

About the Author

Portrait of author Mariana Alessandri
Mariana Alessandri
Dra. Alessandri is a teacher, philosopher, accidental activist, and mother, but si pudiera ser superheroe, her cape would read: “Defender of Dark Moods.” You can find her at mariana.alessandri.com and you can find her nonprofit at rgvpuede.org

Questions & Answers

The author challenges the traditional "Light Metaphor," which equates light with goodness and darkness with badness, by advocating for a deeper understanding of dark moods. By examining the origins and harmful effects of this metaphor, the author highlights its limitations in dealing with emotions like anger, sadness, grief, depression, and anxiety. The author argues that suppressing or avoiding these moods is detrimental and proposes an alternative approach. By drawing on existential philosophers and contemporary thinkers, the author encourages embracing the dark moods as part of the human experience, fostering dignity, and learning to navigate them with empathy and understanding. This shift in perspective allows for a more holistic and respectful approach to mental health.

Existential philosophers play a crucial role in understanding and embracing the complexities of dark moods by offering a perspective that differs significantly from ancient Greek and Roman philosophers. While the latter emphasized control, reason, and the suppression of negative emotions, existentialists focus on the individual's subjective experience, acknowledging the inherent unpredictability and suffering of life.

Existentialists, like Audre Lorde, María Lugones, and Søren Kierkegaard, view dark moods as integral to the human experience, not as something to be feared or suppressed. They argue that these moods can lead to personal growth, self-awareness, and a deeper understanding of one's own identity and the world. By embracing the dark, individuals can find strength, resilience, and authenticity.

This contrast with ancient philosophy lies in the existentialists' acceptance of the human condition's inherent unpredictability and the emphasis on individual freedom and responsibility. They encourage individuals to confront their fears, accept their limitations, and make meaningful choices, even in the face of uncertainty and suffering. This approach allows for a more nuanced understanding of dark moods, recognizing their value and potential for personal development.

Figures like Audre Lorde, María Lugones, and other contemporary thinkers enrich the discussion on anger by challenging traditional views and emphasizing its role in social justice and personal growth. Lorde, for instance, argues that anger is a powerful force for progress and change, distinct from hatred, and essential for justice. Lugones, on the other hand, distinguishes between various types of anger and their uses, advocating for the recognition of complex emotions and their potential for clarity and self-protection. These thinkers encourage a reevaluation of anger, moving away from its stigmatization and towards a more nuanced understanding of its functions in both personal and collective contexts. Their work fosters a culture that values emotional authenticity and empowers individuals to harness anger constructively for social change.

The "Brokenness Story" and the "Light Metaphor" pose significant dangers to our understanding of mental health and emotional well-being. The "Brokenness Story" portrays individuals with negative emotions as flawed or damaged, leading to shame and self-loathing. This narrative can exacerbate mental health issues, as individuals may suppress or avoid emotions, leading to increased suffering. The "Light Metaphor," which equates light with positivity and darkness with negativity, can stigmatize dark emotions like anger, sadness, and grief, discouraging open discussion and hindering healing.

These concepts can lead to the following dangers:

  1. Increased Stigma: The "Brokenness Story" and "Light Metaphor" contribute to the stigmatization of mental health issues, discouraging individuals from seeking help and perpetuating the cycle of silence.
  2. Suppression of Emotions: The pressure to conform to the "Light Metaphor" can lead individuals to suppress negative emotions, potentially exacerbating mental health problems.
  3. Reduced Understanding: The oversimplified view of emotions and mental health can lead to a lack of understanding and empathy, hindering the development of effective support systems.
  4. Shame and Self-Loathing: The "Brokenness Story" can foster shame and self-loathing, making individuals feel isolated and less likely to seek help.

In summary, the "Brokenness Story" and "Light Metaphor" can negatively impact mental health and emotional well-being by promoting stigma, suppressing emotions, reducing understanding, and fostering shame and self-loathing.

Practicing "night vision" encourages us to embrace and understand our dark emotions and experiences, fostering a more nuanced perspective on ourselves and others. By stepping away from the "Light Metaphor," which equates darkness with badness, we can recognize the dignity in our emotional spectrum. This approach allows us to:

  1. Acknowledge and validate our emotions: Instead of suppressing or shaming our negative feelings, we can accept them as part of our human experience, leading to healthier emotional expression and processing.

  2. Develop empathy: By understanding the pain and struggles of others, we can cultivate a more compassionate society. This empathy extends to ourselves, reducing self-judgment and fostering self-compassion.

  3. Enhance self-knowledge: Exploring our emotional depths can reveal hidden aspects of our personality and experiences, promoting personal growth and self-awareness.

  4. Encourage creativity and resilience: Dark emotions can fuel creativity and resilience, as they push us to confront challenges and find new solutions.

  5. Promote social change: By challenging societal norms that stigmatize emotional darkness, we can create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all.

In essence, practicing "night vision" leads to a more balanced and compassionate understanding of emotions, fostering personal growth and a more empathetic society.

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