For the happy man! - Collected writings DEPRESSION: Ed Atkins

Or why not let’s look at the brain using a different
model? : Let’s look at the brain as an orchestra. Embedded in its
pit. In an orchestra, there are different musical sections. There
is a percussion section, a string section, a woodwind section, a
brass section, some others... Anyway, each has its own job to do
and must work closely with the other sections. When playing
MUSIC, each section waits for the conductor. The conductor
raises a baton (or not – perhaps a simple hand. Though never
FISTED) and all the members of the orchestra begin playing at
the same time – playing on the same note, or at least in harmony
with one another, or at least in some deliberate, contrived
relation to one another... If the drum section hasn’t been practicing
(for SHAME!), they don’t play as well as the rest of the
orchestra. The overall sound of the music seems ‘off ’ or plays
‘poorly’ at certain times. This here is a better model of how
the brain works. We certainly used to think of the brain as a
big computer, but it’s really like millions of little computers all
working together. Or a billion piccolos in tune, keeping time to
celestial movements. Or the innumerable valves on an entire
continent’s worth of saxophones... When employed as a weapon,
all of this flies out the window.
Or, to say: I’m just thinking of all of it ruined with a
blunt instrument. All over for. I suppose that, in some previous
inception, that would have been some kind of Omnicide. According
to some essential relativist conceit.
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