Lived Experience

03/28/23 • 58 min

3 Listeners

What kind of authority do we appeal to when we invoke lived experience? Isn't all experience "lived"? Why does the *discourse* today so frequently refer to this concept, and what are its philosophical origins? In episode 74 of Overthink, Ellie and David discuss the phenomenology of lived experience, including its roots in Dilthey, who considered lived experience to be historical. They incorporate Fanon’s work into the conversation to answer the question of if our lived experience of the world is something that varies along identity lines such as race.

Works Discussed

Wilhelm Dilthey, Poetry and Experience

Franz Fanon, Black Skin, White Masks

Martin Jay, Songs of Experience

Becca Longtin, “From Factical Life to Art: Reconsidering Heidegger's Appropriation of Dilthey”

Pamela Paul, “The Limits of ‘Lived Experience’”

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Works Discussed

Wilhelm Dilthey, Poetry and Experience

Franz Fanon, Black Skin, White Masks

Martin Jay, Songs of Experience

Becca Longtin, “From Factical Life to Art: Reconsidering Heidegger's Appropriation of Dilthey”

Pamela Paul, “The Limits of ‘Lived Experience’”

Support the show

Previous Episode

Cultural Appropriation

What do Gwen Stefani, Iggy Azalea, and Camille Monet have in common? They are all blonde women who are probably guilty of cultural appropriation. In episode 73 of Overthink, Ellie and David tackle cultural appropriation, starting with the kerfuffle over Claude Monet’s painting La Japonaise at The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Pulling from their own experiences of cultural appropriation and from academic explorations of the topic, they consider whether individuals should even be called out for cultural appropriation. They talk about Nguyen and Strohl’s concept of “group intimacy” and debate whether we can ever draw a clear line between insiders and outsiders in a particular cultural group.

Works Discussed

Homi Bhabha, The Location of Culture

Jesa Marie Calaor, “Gwen Stefani: “I Said, ‘My God, I’m Japanese’”

Clifford Geertz, The Interpretation of Cultures

Erich Hatala Matthes, “Cultural Appropriation Without Cultural Essentialism?”

C. Thi Nguyen and Matthew Strohl, “Cultural Appropriation and the Intimacy of Groups”

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Next Episode

Silence

*cricket noises* In episode 75 of Overthink, Ellie and David discuss silence and its connection with awe, ecstasy, and the experience of the divine. They talk about David’s experience staying silent during a collegiate debate and Ellie’s practice of meditation as it relates to silence. How does being silent reveal the inner and outer noise that so often surrounds us? They talk about Christian mysticism, Dauenhauer's deep silence, and Heidegger’s call of conscience and explore the various forms of silence that shape our everyday lives.

Works Discussed

St. Thomas Aquinas, The Summa Theologica

John Cage, 4’33”

Bernard Dauenhauer, Silence: The Phenomenon and its Ontological Significance

Rupert Gethin, The Foundations of Buddhism

Martin Heidegger, Being and Time

Richard Kostelanetz, Conversing with John Cage

Louis Pelletier, “Silence please! A brief history of silence at the theater”

Ludwig Wittgenstein, The Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus

Dōgen Zenji, Shōbōgenzō

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Overthink - Lived Experience

Transcript

00:00:11.339

Welcome to Overthink. The podcast where two friends who are also professors think about the connection between ideas and, in this case, lived experience. I am Dr. David Peña-Guzmán. And I'm Dr. Ellie Anderson. There's been so much discourse in recent years about who is entitled to tell which stories. Should Steven Spielberg have directed West Side Story, and how about that one movie in which Scarlet Johansen played an Asian woman. Or do you remember that white woman

Lived Experience Top Questions Answered

What is lived experience?

Lived experience refers to an individual's personal and subjective encounters, perceptions, and understanding of the world.

How do lived experiences vary among individuals?

Lived experiences can differ greatly among individuals, even within identity categories, due to factors such as personal history, cultural background, and social context.

What is the relationship between identity categories and lived experience?

The relationship between identity categories and lived experience is complex and contested. Identity categories can sometimes commodify individuals rather than recognizing them as unique individuals.

When did the term "lived experience" gain popularity?

The term "lived experience" gained popularity post-World War II, coinciding with the rise of phenomenology as a philosophical discipline.

What are the origins of the term "lived experience"?

The term "lived experience" is a translation of the German word "Erlebnis" and the French phrase "l'expérience vécue." Its exact origin is still being discussed among phenomenologists.

What are some criticisms regarding the use of lived experiences in storytelling?

There are debates on whether one's identity affects their ability to write certain stories or characters and discussions on cultural appropriation that question who is entitled to tell particular stories.

Why is lived experience associated with epistemic privilege and authority?

Lived experience is associated with epistemic privilege and authority because it reflects personal knowledge and understanding of one's own experiences.

How does lived experience relate to power, discrimination, and oppression?

Appeals to lived experience often play a crucial role in discussions of power, discrimination, and oppression, highlighting the impact of social structures and stereotypes on individuals.

How did Frantz Fanon contribute to the understanding of lived experience?

Frantz Fanon, a Martinican philosopher, discussed the lived experience of black individuals and critiqued the psychological effects of French colonialism on black people in his works.

Is lived experience considered a fact or opinion?

The categorization of lived experience as a fact or opinion is a matter of debate. However, Frantz Fanon's work suggests that it provides access to social critique and reveals the extent of domination in colonial relations.

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