Rossella Biscotti : 168 Sections of a Human

Beschrijving

The book displays a close up of a human brain with layers of memory and dreams visualized through a method of psychoanalysis and pharmacological propaganda. It is composed of two scientific researches that investigated the theme of memory and psychoanalysis. The first photos ever realized of sections of the human brain by psychiatric G. Jelgersma at the University of Leiden (1908-1911) are paired with the transcript of narcoanalytic sessions conducted by the controversial psychiatrist Prof. Jan Bastiaans at the end of the 1980’s. He used LSD as well as Pentothal, also known as the “truth serum” in the therapy of patients traumatized from the Second World War. The book covers also the interest of the pharmaceutical industry in Pentothal, which was cleverly promoted using a rather playful strategy of exotic postcards to approach potential buyers.