012112

January 21, 2011

Film, Lecture, and Discussion: The Film "Avatar"
and Borderland Consciousness: An Emergent
Myth of Our Time

JEROME BERNSTEIN, M.A.P.C. , NCPsyA

In the morning, following Introductory remarks, we will watch the full-length film "Avatar."
This will be followed in the afternoon by further comment and extended discussion.

For all of its shortcomings, "Avatar" portrays an emergent 21st century myth reflecting a
shift in the nature of consciousness itself on behalf of a dissociated ego construct that was
cleaved from Nature in the Garden of Eden, to one based on communion with Nature, i.e.
all of life; one that confronts civilization's excessive materialism, runaway power and selfconsuming
greed; a regressive male hero figure inconsistent with the new mythos endeavoring
to give birth; a seeming racism that is attached to the dying hero myth of our time and yet,
conceivably essential for the survival of species Homo sapiens; a love story imposed improperly
upon a reawakening transcendent spiritual reconnection of masculine and feminine; a suicidal
power complex that does indeed succeed in its goal, however unconscious and compulsive;
and a telescoping into the future of the fruits of global warming as we know it, and a new
spirituality that while holding promise of permitting the continuation of our species in
transmuted form, mistakes "worship" for "reverence," and "power" for "reciprocity" and
"communion."

Although science and technology are essential for curbing the long term effects of global
warming and thus the survival of our species, they are not sufficient. A new kind of coevolving
consciousness which Bernstein calls Borderland consciousness is indispensable to
survival of our species. These themes are well depicted in the film "Avatar."

In the afternoon, film clips will be used to amplify our
discussions about these archetypal themes portrayed
in "Avatar." The film will be discussed as a collective
dream of our culture and from the standpoint
of the collective unconscious dreaming us. Your
contributions to that discussion will be part of that
myth-making.

This program is limited to 50 people.