Jonathan Ames and Mental Health

It was my first week on the newspaper. I was assigned to report for the Arts section. The Arts in Mind series was having an event that night. I saw the advertisement on the bulletin board in the computer lounge. It had a picture of the authorJonathan Ames surrounded by stacks of books, wearing his iconic newsboy cap of course. He was going to speak about the relationship between mental health and creativity.

It essentially said “come see this neurotic writer reminiscent of Woody Allen and Lenny Bruce.” I had seen him do stand up before; he was hosting a benefit show with comedians John Oliver and Eugene Mirman for 826NYC, a nonprofit writing organization for children and teens.

I arrived at the event at the Lang Cafe. It was completely filled with a variety of people. There were middle aged bearded men in sweater vests, older wealthy women in fur coats, young caucasian men in long sleeve jean shirts and dreadlocks, my roommate, and I. Loud jazz music was blaring in the background and the room was filled with conversation and laughter.

Joshua Wolf Shenk, the host, introduced the two guests. In addition Jonathan Ames, Dr. M. Gerard Fromm, a psychotherapist, was going to be speaking. The audience was told that “they’re going to have a public therapy session.” Ames and Fromm both stepped out to the front of the crowd. Ames had a brown corduroy jacket and blue beanie on as faced the the crowd with a cockeyed smile on his long and thin face, while Fromm wore a plain brown suit. The two gave a short introduction to the evening. There was a screen set up in the corner for a screening of “Bored to Death”, Ames’ HBO show about a depressed writer who offers unlicensed detective work via Craigslist.

The episode featured a psychotherapist dubbed the “Carl Jung of Brooklyn” and Jim Jarmusch riding in circles on a bicycle. After the episode, the audience was invited to ask the guests questions.

One woman approached the microphone set up in front of Ames and Fromm. The redheaded older woman wore blue sweatpants, a blue top, and a blue cardigan. She asked “Um, uh, do you, uh, ever feel like you’re, uh, sacrificing your creativity for your, ehm, sanity? Or uh, vice versa?”

Ames answered “Yeah, well, uh, I don’t worry about it too much.” Fromm then interjected, “I remember hearing a story about David Lynch. He went to visit a therapist. He asked the therapist if medication or therapy would alter his mind, and the therapist said he couldn’t guarantee anything. David Lynch never visited a therapist again”.

Another person went up to the microphone. An overly-eager middle aged man with glasses giggled and asked a relaxed Ames a question.

“HI! Ha ha ha! I notice that sex is very present in all of your work! Is there a reason for this? Are you trying to say something with all this sex in your work? HA!”

“..........uh, well, uh ,I guess. It’s a good place to examine where human beings are. I like to encourage confusion.”