I developed this BLOG to encourage discussion of the conjunction between the work of Swiss Psychiatrist Carl G. Jung and American Nobel Prize winning writer John Steinbeck. While I have no record of the two intellectual giants of the twentieth century meeting, I believe that a better understanding of the conjunction would contribute to the common good of mankind for many reasons.
Background: I have studied Jung since 1965 and since I had no desire to become an analyst or counseling psychologist I studied his work from a very practical perspective. I became an instructional designer in 1968. At that point I realized that my knowledge of Jung's concepts had a practical non-clinical use. With this understanding I could create training programs that were valuable not only for their effective and economical transfer of technical knowledge but also include a more complete simulated work environment including those employing interpersonal and teaming challenges.
I have written permission from Princeton University Press to include quotatio
ns from the Collected Works of C. G. Jung.I first read John Steinbeck (I think it was Grapes of Wrath) in high school, and was immediately captured by the writer's story and style. I continued reading and re-reading his work as I matured. I say re-reading because I find the impact and influence of a story changes with one's maturity. For me there are times when one needs a tonic by reading good literature just as they would by seeing a good motion picture even if it is something I've enjoyed before.
I first read John Steinbeck (I think it was Grapes of Wrath) in high school and was immediately captured by the writer's story and style. I continued reading and re-reading his work as I matured. I say re-reading because I find the impact and influence of a story changes with one's maturity. For me, there are times when I need an emotional tonic and I do this by reading favorite books or by seeing a good motion picture, even if it is something I previously enjoyed.
In reading and re-reading Steinbeck I began to perceive the possibility of a linking between his fiction and non-fiction and Jung's concepts. At that time I had no evidence that he ever studied Jung. It wasn't until Steinbeck's biographies that I learned of the connection and was able to unite elements and dynamics in his stories to Jung's terms and concepts. I was particularly interested in Steinbeck's concept of the Phalanx and I tied that to Jung's concept of the Collective Unconscious.
I hope this blog concentrates on the conjunction between Steinbeck and Jung and does not deteriorate to judgments on either personalities or even worse a platform to heal emotional ills of participants. In any case I hope that this blog becomes informative and fun for participants, especially those who enjoy John Steinbeck and/or Carl Jung.
