The Precipice: How the End of Nature Might be the Beginning of Something New

The questions posed below are based on readings from Coming to Age at the End of Nature, a book that offers a diverse range of essays from the youth of my generation, and Joyful Militancy, a book focusing on building resistance using positive affect (Cite books here)

Do you feel like you’re coming of age at the end of nature? Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

 

I can still recall the gut-wrenching feeling of driving through the central valley(CV) of California on my way West from my family home in the foothills of the central Sierra. I had learned in a community college course that the CV was once a giant floodplain that stretched for miles in all directions. Its open, flat floor teamed with Elk, Bear, Wolves, dozens of species of fish, and was in the middle of a major migratory bird route. Seeing it then, I was appalled by the acres of almond orchards, condominiums, tract-homes, concrete neighborhoods, and strip malls. At that time in my life, due to the social constructions of nature I was force-fed and the falsities I had built within my own mind, I was disgusted by all humans – myself included. I was guilty of the “collective we” mindset. I blamed the entire human species for this destruction. I believed we were a parasite on the earth, all of us capable of nothing but greed and environmental destruction. I was convinced we as a species were inherently, well, toxic. I would cry sometimes as I drove by, other times I’d envision this landscape prior to human impact; fertile soils, water, life pulsating all around. Often, I would become so overwhelmed with anger that I had to disconnect, numb out. I honestly had no hope in the future for any of us human beings, I envisioned the end of nature. At times I relished how pitiful humans were and how much damaged we had cause one another and our environment because I felt like we deserved to be smitten. Like the Smashing Pumpkins song, "The Beginning is the End is the Beginning", my mind was shrouded in darkness, despair, and negativity. I thought we were "The Sinner Breed", as the lyrics said. Yet, somewhere deep inside, I knew the entirety of the reality I accepted was part of a greater cycle where things do not simply end or begin, nay, but are constantly in flux.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59g5R8rwqpY - Smashing Pumpkins, "The Beginning Is the End Is the Beginning"

 

               Thankfully, I don’t feel that way anymore. Due to the many revelations I’ve had while attending Humboldt State University as an Environmental Studies student, I’ve learned how misguided my view of nature was and how conditioned my perspective of humans was because of the dominant narrative told by mainstream environmental groups. Now, to answer the question posed above.

Coming of age. What does this mean to me? I see it many ways. I think it in its simplest interpretation, it means growing up. Transitioning from a child to an adult. That is the more literal interpretation of this term, but I believe it can also be indicative of any kind of reformation or growth that results in gaining maturity, knowledge, or a more refined perspective. I can say without a doubt that at the age of 26, within the last three years I have grown and matured in ways I never thought possible, at least for myself. So, to answer the first part of the question, yes. I am currently “Coming of Age”, and in more ways than just one.

 

 The end of nature. What does this mean to me? Does it mean that all the natural things on the earth are coming to an end? That’s not it. I think it is also metaphorical in a sense. Yes, our world is being polluted and altered at a rate that is shocking and is undoubtedly caused by certain groups humans. Yet, it is the idea of nature being separate from humans and in and of itself, pure, that idea, that social construct, is dying. Human impact is so widespread throughout our world that it is quite possible there isn’t a spec of the planet that ISN’T somehow affected by the action of humans. But that doesn’t mean “natural things” are all coming to an end, possibly just entering a new period. This isn’t inherently bad or good, it just is. It depends on the observer.

Its comical in a way to harken back to my old outlook on nature and how I viewed humanities role on this planet. I was excessively cynical, naïve enough to cast outrageous, sweeping claims against all human-kind. I was guilty of falling for the romanticized idea of nature, a nature in which humans DID NOT belong. I laugh now because I was so young then,  so sure of my stance. Little did I know, I hadn't experienced my "Coming of Age" yet, I was about to. Since then I've learned how resilient the environment is, and how we are part of this worlds -- not separate. I've learned that despite the abounding examples of human destruction we are faced with, we are also surrounded by examples of, though harder to see, resilience and hope, not only as humans but as a part of the resilience of nature. Elizabeth Cooke wrote in her essay titled "Why Haiti?", featured in Coming to Age at the End of Nature, "All I know is that the wind and the water, the fish and the frogs, the people in tents and the people in palaces -- Haiti and I -- are together witnessing this moment in time and shaping the next"(pg.23). That perspective is the one I've come to adopt, one that claims we are all together in this, not separate. A perspective that doesn't divide us from the natural world but courageously affirms our position as part of it. 

This brings me to the book Joyful Militancy. A book that beckons this generation to joyfully fight for a peaceful revolution. To me, there is no better way to ease the digestion of ideas like "The End of Nature" then to chase them down with theories of hope-filled resilience. Its message emphasizes the power of affect, claiming how sadness limits ones ability to affect and be affected. To combat this, the authors advocate for an attitude of activism and resilience founded in joy, which they urge is much different than happiness. In the book the authors quote Gustavo Esteva, believing his definition of joy truly captures the essence of their militancy. He says, "I like joy, like you, because I think joy is an active passion, its not stagnant state of being..."(pg.60-61). It is clear that fighting for change from a place of joy instead of sadness, can allow that fight to be one of passion, understanding, and togetherness.

 

I love this book because it reflects my outlook on the current world situation that you as the reader and I as the writer are experiencing, right now. We are in toxic times, on the precipice of drastic global change. Yet, don’t lose hope, people are joyfully fighting the “End of Nature”, and they encouraging you to do the same.

 

 

Jr.High Sex Ed.

Is coming to age at the end of nature like Jr.High sex education? Ya know, with the awkward moments of half truths about changes going on within us and outside of us, getting a grade and credits for being there? (Much like folks claiming to have marched on Washington back in the 1960's?). What does it mean to come of age in the end of nature? Is this a millennial moment? What does it mean to be good for Nature? Loss of innocence?

As adrienne maree brown (emphasis on her non-capitalizing initials, much like bell hooks) says, there are conversations going on only for the people in the room, but unlike sex ed., this conversation is seemingly for all if the room is Earth. The stories written about in the book Coming of Age at the End of Nature are all about climate change, human's 'development', and the natural environment in which these folks grew up in. Their idea of nature seems to be changing, or they're challenging this concept, both, somewhere in between, and all across the spectrum.

"What even is nature?"
Often said jokingly from the ENST discourse on deconstructing loaded key terms.





I imagine nature as the water streaming out of our faucets (they don't materialize upon command, although that would be awesome), the tree's climbed upon towering over moonstone beach, the hedges guarding thy holy high founders hall, or the beer homebody drinks.
I don't believe this end of nature, or coming to age, is so black and white. What really is, aside from divide and conquer tactics from Empire. I don't, and some what do, feel a loss of innocence from this coming of age.

I see innocence as the veil of a mushroom dissolving as puhpowee (Kimmerer)--the fleshy fungi sprouting from composting organic matter, shucking their baby skin away as they grow, compost, and turn into compost. This viel for privileged folks is "being sheltered from [Empire's] most extreme forms of violence and degradation, and to be enrolled in a stultifying form of life that re-creates this violence" (Montgomery and bergman 51-52). Releasing this viel, as I can only speak for myself, eyesight hones in on what bears privileges, revealing the complex relationships constituting this 'innocence'. Losing innocence is comparable to some groups coming to age, because we gain something, while also losing something--an exchange of energy, knowledge, wisdom.

The end of nature is similar to loss
because the ideology of nature can be broken down asking, whose nature is coming to an end? Is it the nostalgic nature Edward Abbey writes of?; where it's unattainable for all those who don’t have the physical ability, financial means, or be in the “right place at the right time” before tourism (while violent forced relocation of indigenous peoples are ongoing)? Much like Lauren McCrady, I believe in "an understanding and an ethic of nature that both values preservation for future generations, while also acknowledging the inevitability of change" (109 End of Nature). I hear bell hooks echo in my mind about objects, people whose identity and reality are defined for them by subjects, people with power defining others realities and identities. I believe by leaving the European defined outdated version of nature we are able to redefine this idea which affects our physical reality, our identity, place, relations, and purpose.




This isn’t to say climate change isn’t happening, and that environments aren’t changing, but if we keep comparing something static, the idea of pure pristine nature, to a fluid actuality of change, then we’re always in the wrong. 

Moving past this will keep us growing, fighting, and changing.




What each of us 'millennials' experience differs, not from the blurry generational age definition, but because of our positionalities--background, upbringing, ethnicity, religion, class, geographic location--. This conversation on climate change, power dynamics shifting, and the future belongs to all of us because this metaphorical room is the Earth. This conversation seems like it won't be as shitty as the boy sees bus and gets boner; sex = pregnancy + STD's; watch a baby get born; look at packets of paper that will be tossed into the garbage right after class kind of conversation from Jr.High sex ed....although there is still the figuring this out. Much like an angsty teen groping in the dark trying to figure themselves out in the mi(d)st of change, without any real direction. We’re bumping into shit, but at least we’re learning and working towards a collective goal of not trying to die.

Coming of Age at the End of Nature, offers a collaboration of stories from authors not much older than our cohort, detailing their experiences “coming of age at the end of nature.” What does it mean to come of age at the end of nature? This question caused me to reflect on my own experience growing up with a certain social construction of nature and the different experience of someone half my age in the same situation. I can’t be completely sure what is the world changing and what is my own understanding developing, but the nature I experienced growing up is different from the nature my parents experienced and will differ from what youth after me will experience. The world that was presented to me with distant risk and fear narratives surrounding discussions on species extinction and habitat destruction seems to me to be at a peak. I can always remember being told certain species would disappear in my lifetime and seeing it happening so rapidly is hard to wrap my mind around. The rhetoric is now or never with certain conservation efforts. We are in the midst of the sixth great extinction event, cities around the world are running out of water, and the global political economic climate is slowly but surely ticking closer to midnight on the Doomsday clock (Bulletin of Atomic Scientists). How these narratives of the disintegrating ecosystem persist will affect future approaches to environmentalism and nature. We discussed in class the idea that the present may be a pivotal moment in history and I want to believe that is true. Listening to progressive parents offering their children agency, critical thought, and an accurate, equitable approach to knowledge gives me hope that this “end to nature” will give rise to a new beginning as well.

Thoughts on coming of age at the end of nature

When I first saw the book list for our capstone class, one title jumped out at me: 
“Coming of Age at the End of Nature, a Generation Faces Living on a Changed Planet.” 
Before the book was even in my hands, I already had my environmental studies thinking 
cap on. I wondered: Nature is such a loaded word, what does the author really mean by 
“Nature”? And how can an entire generation’s conceptions and reconciliations regarding 
Nature be summarized in one book? Can something so vague really be ending? 
Furthermore, in our class discussion on thursday, someone insightfully pointed out the 
declension narrative working discretely but deliberately behind the scenes of this loaded 
yet vague title. 
I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect based on the title, but I was pleased to learn 
that the book encompasses a multitude of contributors who use a variety of angles to 
approach the topic. A similar trend emerged as we discussed this book in class. 
Specifically, we talked about how we connected with selected authors and how we perceive 
coming of age at the end of nature, and everyone approached these questions in a variety 
of ways. In both the book and our class, there are many beautiful positionalities and 
epistemologies surrounding these questions.
So, what does “coming of age at the end of nature” mean to me? If we are talking 
about socially constructed Nature, then it “ended” for me in the spring of 2016 (when I 
took ENST 295, a course within our major focused on power and privilege). Until then, I 
must admit that visions of untouched Nature and Wilderness had effectively romanticized 
me. In the spring of 2016, I was presented with materials that showed me how these visions 
are linked to oppression and perpetuate exclusion. The realization of the “end of nature” in 
this sense is irrefutably beneficial, but it definitely rocked my world. Many years prior to my 
personal paradigm shift, I fell deeply in love with the “backcountry.” Though it may have been 
easier to quit going out there all together, I was determined to continue. So, I accepted that 
my new knowledge was going to change the way I experienced my summer backpacking 
trips and I kept planning them. I decided that my experiences from that point on would be 
opportunities for coming up with something more meaningful than what is offered to us 
through dominant culture. I have spent many hours since then in the Trinity Alps perched 
on granite boulders, lying in meadows, and staring up at the stars in the night sky trying to 
re-articulate my new definition. But for reasons I don’t yet understand, the task hasn’t 
been as easy as I had originally thought that it would be. 
Because of this, I really connected with a piece titled My Present Is Not Your 
Tombstone, by Lauren McCrady. I relate to her desire to find her own “vibrant, contemporary 
form of wilderness to love” (McCrady 109). It is clear that she has invested an extensive 
amount of critical energy into her pursuit of a new definition, but hasn’t quite been able to 
articulate it either. Nevertheless, she is determined to ask questions without despair: 

“What is gained and lost by valorizing wilderness? How do markers such as class, race, gender, age, ability and other factors dictate who is privileged enough to appreciate and enjoy the supposed benefits of a communion of nature? How can I form an idea of wilderness that is inclusive of a wide array of people with conflicting backgrounds and experiences and understandings of nature and the physical environment? How can I balance my concern for these issues with my growing sense of urgency and fear regarding the global environmental crisis? I don’t know the answers to these questions, but I’m tucking them in my CamelBak and carrying them with me out into the desert, to scatter among the cacti and juniper, where I pray they’ll be picked up and carried far and wide by the lizards and ravens… if you need me I’ll be out scouring the desert, searching for answers” (109-110).

Thus far I have addressed the “the end of nature.” I still have not completely determined 
what “coming of age” means to me, but I do associate it with shedding my innocent 
regard for the world. If that is what it means then I do not want to claim that I have “come 
of age” quite yet. But I will say that learning about the constructedness of Nature in the 
spring of 2016 was a pivotal moment that completely changed the way I understand the 
world, and there is something to be said for that transition. Perhaps I will feel that I have 
“come of age” once I determine a new definition.

Are We Coming of Age at the End of Nature?

     This week, we’ve had in depth conversations about whether or not we are, “coming of age at the end of nature,” and what that means for us. “Nature,” has many definitions, and can be seen wherever we look. Nature is the very air that surrounds us, the fungi that grows on the redwoods, the rings of Saturn, and the quasars billions of lightyears away. Nature is everywhere.

     Therefore, according to my own definition of nature, I do not believe that I am “coming of age at the end of nature.” There is no end to nature. It will persist long after we’ve gone, and there isn’t anything we can do to completely annihilate it.

     However, that doesn’t negate the fact that we are wreaking havoc on the natural world here on Earth. Plant, animals and humans are all suffering due to over consumption, deforestation, and fossil fuel extraction. We live in a society that is obsessed with consumerism, and because of that, we are poisoning ourselves and other beings on the planet. Which is why I find no joy in the term, “the end of nature.”

     I think it’s very important for us to do what we can to protect both natural and human-made environments. It is vital for us to take care of fellow human beings, but none of us can survive without the complex ecosystems that create a global symbiosis. If we don’t protect the forests and the oceans, we aren’t protecting ourselves.

     I like to think that I am in no way coming of age at the end of nature. My hope is that nature on Earth will continue to thrive, and that we will do what we can to protect it. Regardless, nature will continue to exist throughout the universe for billions of years.

How I feel about, "The END OF NATURE"

       When I think of the idea of, "coming to age", I think of loss of innocence. Some could view it as a loss of hope, but others might even view it as a new beginning after a loss of something important to one's self. Coming of age could be symbolic of maturing or discovering a new sense of self during tragic times such as the idea of, "the end of nature." 

     When I think of the title of the book in its entirety, "Coming of Age at the End of Nature" my mind, in truth, goes directly to a dark place and ruthless place. My initial thoughts translate to, "I am the last generation in which nature will be as humanity in the day and age have known it to be." However, if I deconstruct that mindset and reanalyze that narrative, one could conclude that, "nature" has been ever-changing since the dawn of time and therefore, nature will always exist in one form or another. 

     Brown talks about ecology and states that is, "not a place- it is not a thing we have control over; ecology is the space between things including us" (Brown). This quote reminds me of the notion that nature would not exist without humans. I agree that as humans, we have created our own ideas as to what nature entails. Without humans, nature would still exist; However, one would have to define what that existence would involve. 

     Personally, I would like to believe that the ideal version of a healthy, natural world, is one where the most people, ecosystems and species of all kind thrive at their fullest potential. Therefore, no matter how much I deconstruct the idea of "human-defined nature", I am still cynical because, "Coming of Age at the End of Nature" still translates in my mind to, "My millennial generation is the last generation in which humans, ecosystems and species of all kinds have thrived at all, and future involves the suffering of more." However, that is simply the definition of nature that I have constructed in my own brain through my own narratives. 

nostalgia turns to ashes (through a new light)

"Dharma in a Hammock" Photo taken by Aaron Ozuna

The Tree of Life was a moment in time where my friends and I would take a simple hike in a local park located in Ventura, CA and always end up in the presence of an extraordinary tree. I'm not sure if that was an official name the community of Ventura referred to it as, but that is how we identified it amongst ourselves. This, to me, was nature amidst my "coming of age high school years." ...(Rough times, adolescent uncertainty)... While people defaced the tree by painting on it and writing things like, "Love the earth" on its branches, I still saw this tree to be nature among a suburban town. This is the sense of nature that people like Oscar Wilde and John Muir talk about (Not sure how I feel about their views of nature, but you feel me right?). The branches of this lively tree would make for a great seat for all of us to fit. As shown within the picture captioned, "Dharma in a Hammock," everyone found their place on the tree, not just in terms of placing our butts on something, but rather an entity that is among us, listening and growing with those who inhibit its space. If I were a child exploring the branches of the tree, I would acknowledge its "climb-ability" and strength. Coming of age, though, I saw this tree as something that should persist among generations (who knows how old it was to begin with) because of the intricate beauty and wonder this piece of nature showed humans. Early December, Ventura caught on flames. Houses in the hills were burning, families were rushing to safety, and the air was suffocated by a smoky haze. The Tree of Life was located within Arroyo Verde Park where huge fires sparked due to the dry vegetation. Due to the intensity of the flames and the lack of resistance this tree had to fire, the tree was burned to ashes. All of these memories planted by the tree are left within physical and mental pictures. When I think of coming of age at the end of nature, I think back to tree that gave life to us in many ways. Nostalgia turns to ashes, is this the end of the nature I knew?

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This week, we read some various chapters within "Coming of Age At the End Of Nature" (edited by Julie Dunlap and Susan A. Cohen) Dunlap and Cohen's combination of short stories written by numerous peoples is extremely refreshing. I say this because non-fiction short stories are just simply fun to read. Particular to this given book, ideas floating around "coming of age" and "the end of nature" are all interpreted differently among personal, intricate stories. One specifically reminds me of The Tree of Life, which was called, "An Orange County Almanac: Adventures in Suburban Ecology," by Jason M. Brown. The Orange County he knew when he was growing up is changing and as he is coming to age, he is noticing that the Eucalyptus trees he once knew are fading away. Through a deconstruction on the non-native species and an epiphany of the pros and cons of its presence in California, he comes to a realization that we need to restructure our perception of ecological restoration. He states, "...ecology is not a place- it is not a thing we have control over; ecology is the space between things, including us" (Brown, 74) When I think of how we need to bring back the ecology of Arroyo Verde Park post fire, specifically when I think of the beautiful trees that were there, Brown's ambiguous claim on ecology as a space between us intrigues me. It related back to my feelings toward The Tree of Life as an entity around us rather than a tree to sit on. If we seek to restore Arroyo Verde Park to the way it was before, are we creating a dominance over nature? How can we bring back the trees and grassy hills we once knew with giving it time to replenish itself? Do we need to be the holders of future ecological restoration post fire? These are questions I ask myself when thinking back to the nostalgic times the tree gave me. Ashes turn to fertile soil. A new beginning. Maybe among my coming of age as an early adult, I will see a new sense of ecological space between me at Arroyo. 

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"Cecilia and the Tree" Photo taken by Dharma Murphy

P.S. I found a video of The Tree of Life on Yelp someone took: 

https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/arroyo-verde-park-ventura?select_video=yE2MAJutCLrlJUTTVtiO6w&utm_campaign=www_video_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)

ALSO: Someone took a picture on yelp of the "Save the Earth" spray paint on the tree: 

https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/arroyo-verde-park-ventura?select=IpZ0-z-JghbiLBFhYAV4Wg&utm_campaign=www_photo_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)

Sources Cited: 

Dunlap, Julie and Cohen, Susan A. Coming of Age at the End of Nature: A Generation Faces Living on a Changed Planet. Chapter Used: "An Orange County Almanac" by Jason M. Brown. Trinity University Press: San Antonio. 2016. 

Intentional Communities

In the book, Coming of Age At the End of Nature, A Generation Faces Living on a
Changed Planet, the essay “Could Mopping Save the World?” by Emily Schosid was a worthwhile read. The subheading is “How Day-to-Day Chores Can Bring Big Changes.” In a culture that praises rapidity and instant gratification, too often the beauty in the mundane tasks of life are overlooked. In the essay, the writer talks about her experience with the Lama Spiritual Community that is also an educational facility, and retreat center in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of northern New Mexico. The reason I enjoy this piece is that Emily Schosid entered the community hoping to change

the world by bringing in new technology: rainwater catchment systems, solar heating,

and the like, but found that members of the community were not interested in solar panels, rather they are interested more in building and fostering healthy relationships. They did daily house chores: mopping, washing dishes, and keeping the area tidy, but Emily Schosid would be disappointed that Lama beans (what they referred to themselves as) were not doing actual work like her colleagues of academia. Her colleagues are doing work such as researching a master thesis, or working for big organizations both governmental and nongovernmental.

I am most interested in the way the Lama community practices silence and looks to spiritual “practice and tuning” because today’s generation is noisy with so much media, music, and even chit-chat. My generation has lost touch with the beauty and transformative power of silence and forgets that God speaks to us in the silence. Emily Schosid concludes her essay with the realization that community building is something that takes time and a lot of effort. She recognizes the importance of appreciation and gratitude when she wrote, “Even just the small gesture of thanking each other makes the chores at Lama seem better” (p. 204). Further she wrote, “In mopping a floor, I’m not just the person making the floor clean. I am giving something tangible back to the community of which I am part,” this quote brings importance to almsgiving (p. 204-205). More than appreciation, “the genuine care for one another and for the land….led to fulfilling relationships with other people, with the land, and with the divine. These relationships drive the desire for a continued existence” (p. 205). At the base of a lasting community are the efforts to create authentic relationships.

Megan, a community member, would start each day saying positive and encou-raging things like, “May we serve our community today with love and grace,” and “Today may we set the intention to serve with love and joy.” I love the word intention. Especially when one practices intentional living. To me, intentional living is when the heart and mind work together to choose the path of love. Not for the sake of self-gratification, but for the sake of authentic love of neighbor. People want love and acceptance from their community members and I get that a lot in the ENST community. Coming of age is a beautiful way of understanding the transition of a child into maturity. Many mistake the idea of coming of age as a loss of innocence, but it is more of a gain in wisdom. Maturity comes with great responsibility.

Joyful Militancy

Chapter 1: Empire, Militancy, and Joy from Joyful Militancy has really helped me to think critically about my struggles with depression and inability to adequately deal with negative emotions. I have always thought about depression as a product of the environment in which you are living in (which is why I did not want to become dependant on taking medication). My therapist stated that college students have some of the highest rates of depression.  There is also currently an epidemic of farmer suicides due to the horrible conditions in which they are living in because of capitalism and environmental degradation that does not allow for crops to grow and provide them with enough money to have an adequate life. I know that I am not a psychologist therefore I do not have a complete understanding of what causes depression and suicide but I do want to bring to attention a different way of thinking about depression based on some of the information that was provided in this chapter and some of my exprenices.

A quote that really helped me with my thought process about happiness and negative emotions is “unhappiness is pathologized along with so-called “negative” emotions like rage, despair, resentment, and fear when they get in the way of promised forms of happiness” (58). This way of viewing negative emotions has not allowed for humans to adequately deal with negative emotions and therefore they just continue to repress them instead of acknowledging them the very moment that they start to feel them. This can be seen when people are asked about their day, they will generally say that it was good knowing that that was in fact a lie.

One of the arguments presented in the book was the idea of happiness as a construct created by the Empire in order to subdue the population into complacency. Happiness was only created in order to be a goal for people to go after which can be accomplished through the accumulation of capital or through the rejection of upward mobility. It does not matter what choice you pick both of them were created by the Empire. This creates the perfect environment for consumerism to thrive. The market is now in control of our happiness because they are not selling products per say they are more interested in selling the idea of happiness. This can be done through products or through experiences like vacations. Therefore instead of viewing happiness as a temporary emotion it is a goal to go after and once you reach that goal happiness will be a constant.

Another important quote to bring up is “Unhappiness, outrage, and grief are then perceived as individual disorders, to be dealt with through pharmaceuticals, self-help, therapy, and other atomizing responses” (58). There are some mental disorders that are genetically inherited and/or there is concret scientific evidence for the cause of them but depression seems to be the exception. Through the idea of happiness that is presented in this reading it would make sense to have certain populations with higher rates of depression if they are in a place where they are not able to achieve the happiness that is constructed by the Empire. If they do seek out  help like “pharmaceuticals, self-help, therapy” this will not change the conditions in which they are living in therefore they help that is given to them will not change their state of depression. Although they can be statistically accounted for it does not mean that this is not a product for their environment and their acceptance of the culture. But even if you reject the culture in which you are living in does this allow you to have a healthier way of dealing with negative emotions?