Folk Talking, Folk Listening: How Alcoholics Anonymous Works PDF
Preview Folk Talking, Folk Listening: How Alcoholics Anonymous Works
UCLA UCLA Electronic Theses and Dissertations Title Folk Talking, Folk Listening: How Alcoholics Anonymous Works Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1p3390m5 Author Michel, Maggi Publication Date 2012 Peer reviewed|Thesis/dissertation eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Los Angeles Folk Talking, Folk Listening: How Alcoholics Anonymous Works A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in Culture and Performance by Maggi Michel 2012 © Copyright by Maggi Michel 2012 ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION Folk Talking, Folk Listening: How Alcoholics Anonymous Works by Maggi Michel Doctor of Philosophy in Culture and Performance University of California, Los Angeles, 2012 Professor Michael Owen Jones, Chair This performance-centered examination of over twenty-seven years of fieldwork in the study of folk narrating practices in Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) in Los Angeles emphasizes folk listening as performative and as an important mechanism for change in recovering alcoholics. Analysis of customary performance of the A.A. folk repertoire of slogans and sayings offers a method of interpretation of these ―bullet points of recovery‖ and employs that method to answer questions about spirituality and problematic use of the term ―God.‖ A folkloristic view of the folk listening component of narrating practice examines special narrating forms called ―speaking‖ and ―sharing‖ and shows listening skills as essential to empathic connections in this mutual-help group. Neural implications of repetition, imitation, high-emotion storytelling, and identity development are explored as functions of mirror cells, hippocampal ii plasticity, and the role of the amygdala in memory. Recovery outcomes for individuals who assemble A.A. folklore and folk practices to build connections to others are presented in light of R. Georges and M.O. Jones‘ concept of folklore as a personal resource. iii The dissertation of Maggi Michel is approved. Donald J. Cosentino Stephen I. Yenser Michael Owen Jones, Committee Chair University of California, Los Angeles 2012 iv Dedication Kind Sophia, who listened until I got my heart right Michael Owen Jones, whose brilliance is rivaled only by his kindness Stephen Yenser, who sees beyond sight and knows the best words in the best order v Table of Contents Chapter One: Introduction .......................................................................................1 Chapter Two: Alcoholics Anonymous...................................................................54 Chapter Three: Lore and Its Uses .........................................................................81 Chapter Four: Talking about God .......................................................................102 Chapter Five: If I Get My Heart Right.................................................................123 Chapter Six: A Typical Meeting .........................................................................144 Chapter Seven: Workshops for Sobriety .............................................................198 Chapter Eight: Newcomers to Old-Timers ..........................................................225 Bibliography ........................................................................................................231 vi Acknowledgements Many wonderful colleagues at the University of California, Los Angeles and at California University, Northridge, have helped me along the way. I thank you all for your dedication and the excellence you bring to everything you do. I am so fortunate to have worked with you. Thank you to all the people in the American Folklore Society and Western Folklore Society who have encouraged me and set an example of outstanding professionalism and scholarship in person and in print. I know that in the next few weeks I will recall more names I should have listed here. Forgive me, please, if yours is one of them. Despite the failure of my memory at the moment of making this list, I appreciate you none the less and thank you for your generosity. Doctoral Degree Committee Michael Owen Jones, Chair Donald Cosentino Colin Quigley Stephen Yenser Master’s Degree Committee Michael Owen Jones, Chair Donald Cosentino Peter Tokofsky vii Bachelor’s Degree, Honors Program Individual Major Committee G. Jennifer Wilson, Chair Miriam Robbins Dexter Stephen Yenser Respected Colleagues Debra Buchholtz Jeanette Gilkison Joy Harjo Angelia Leung Sabina Magliocco Antone Minard Janel Munguia Kerri Noonan Patrick Polk Greg Sarris Carolyn See Peter Sellars Mona Simpson Polly Stewart Wendy Temple Christopher Waterman G. Jennifer Wilson viii
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