The way the ECG turns measurement into intimacy—almost desire—felt central here. I’m curious whether you see this as reclaiming the body from medical abstraction, or as exposing how deeply we’ve internalized being read by machines.
I don’t know myself, but I’m obsessed with this idea! I do think there’s intimacy even in data, and that in some ways we’re taught to read and experience things in a certain way, and that’s the way we do it. A medical research paper is read for its data and big idea, but it’s a collection of very intimate forms of measurement. But data is also kind of mystical, too. We try to collect it and measure it in specific ways, but there’s always errors, things we couldn’t see or differing means of interpretation. In medicine, whether you’re a doctor, patient, or subject, there’s a certain letting go and letting God, as the saying goes, or letting nature, or letting machine, as it were. There’s no certainty—even with the machine. In short, I think i’m reclaiming the human, but also exposing how deeply we rely on forms of measurement that are flawed. Thank you for your brilliant comment!!
Reading this essay put me right back in the desire-machine that was the pre-top surgery MRI scan I had last summer. I've since wondered why it was such an unsettlingly erotic experience, and the lucidity of your piece, C.R., has given me a way to peer back into those forty-five minutes with a deepened understanding of the ways in which embodiment, both human and machine, is inherently embroiled within the framework and history of modern medicine and the power dynamics that travel with it. Thank you for this vibrant, beautiful writing.
The way the ECG turns measurement into intimacy—almost desire—felt central here. I’m curious whether you see this as reclaiming the body from medical abstraction, or as exposing how deeply we’ve internalized being read by machines.
I feel like I saw it as both interchangeably and throughout, flowing...thank you for this insight, my friend!
I don’t know myself, but I’m obsessed with this idea! I do think there’s intimacy even in data, and that in some ways we’re taught to read and experience things in a certain way, and that’s the way we do it. A medical research paper is read for its data and big idea, but it’s a collection of very intimate forms of measurement. But data is also kind of mystical, too. We try to collect it and measure it in specific ways, but there’s always errors, things we couldn’t see or differing means of interpretation. In medicine, whether you’re a doctor, patient, or subject, there’s a certain letting go and letting God, as the saying goes, or letting nature, or letting machine, as it were. There’s no certainty—even with the machine. In short, I think i’m reclaiming the human, but also exposing how deeply we rely on forms of measurement that are flawed. Thank you for your brilliant comment!!
that was a beautifully written extract out of his new book. i especially loved the interview questions and him musing about being neurodivergent :)
Thank you for your kind words ⋆｡°✩
so glad you liked the interview q's, lola!
Amazing detail about medical topics which are mostly unknown to me, yet also so personal, intimate. Redefining “essay” for me
Thanks so much for your comment: )
I love when essays (and any genre really) are redefined!
I am from New Orleans, LA., maybe, I will have an opportunity to meet with him in person.
I hope so too!
That'd be so cool!!
Reading this essay put me right back in the desire-machine that was the pre-top surgery MRI scan I had last summer. I've since wondered why it was such an unsettlingly erotic experience, and the lucidity of your piece, C.R., has given me a way to peer back into those forty-five minutes with a deepened understanding of the ways in which embodiment, both human and machine, is inherently embroiled within the framework and history of modern medicine and the power dynamics that travel with it. Thank you for this vibrant, beautiful writing.
Thank you so much for your reading and for your brilliant comment!!
That’s a perfect way of putting it. Thanks so much for reading!
Thank you for being an amazing reader my friend!