136: Insanity in Call of Cthulhu
Added 2018-08-08 11:09:21 +0000 UTCWe’re back and we’re building on last episode‘s discussion of the theme of mental illness in Lovecraft’s work. This time, we turn our attention to the role of insanity in Call of Cthulhu. Obviously, Call of Cthulhu is based upon Lovecraft’s writings, but how much does the sanity system actually reflect the source material? Moreover, does it in any way model real-world mental illness and trauma? And should it even try to?
We each come to this topic with different perspectives, which leads to some lively debate. While it never becomes heated, it is one of the more intense discussions we’ve had. There has been some criticism of Call of Cthulhu for trivialising mental health problems and we tackle this head-on. We hope the result is nuanced and doesn’t come across as dismissive of such concerns.
Cults are another huge part of Call of Cthulhu. Paul suggests some inspiration in the form of Wild Wild Country. This recent Netflix documentary tells the story of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, an Indian guru who created a religious community in Oregon in the 1980s.
Paul also mentions his recent visit to the Tolkien: Maker of Middle Earth exhibition at the Bodleian Libraries in Oxford. If you want to try to work out what was really in Tolkien’s pipe, the exhibition will run until the 28th of October 2018.
There was some confusion in our last set of show notes. We warned you of singing when there was none. This may have caused unnecessary tension and puckering of orifices. We apologise. The confusion came about after some last-minute editing and reordering to synchronise our Masks of Nyarlathotep episodes with the release of the PDF. Let us reassure you that there is no singing in this episode. We do have some new $5 Patreon backers to thank, but the disruptions of summer prevented Paul from mixing our idiosyncratic vocal stylings. Next time, however…
Comments
Thanks Tom - it was a challenging topic. I hope we did it justice. Glad you appreciated it. - Paul
The Good Friends of Jackson Elias
2018-08-08 23:15:56 +0000 UTCThat was one of the best, meatiest podcasts I've listened to. You didn't shy away from the darker aspects of the topic, or the more troubling ones, and the discussion was all the better for it. I identified with Scott's mention of his discomfort at the table at some portrayals of mental illness; I do agree with Paul, though, that this is something people bring to the table, rather than a product of the game itself (which Scott didn't deny, of course). I myself prefer a creepy, disquieting descent into (fictional) mental illness. Hilarious, crazy high-jinks don't seem to me to be in genre. Or as funny as many seem to believe. Paul's story at the end was a poignant and, I think, appropriate recognition of the realities of mental illness. Well done! This is the first time I have ever finished a podcast and immediately jumped into the internet to reply. +2d6% to Podcasting skill, all round.
Tom Bagatelle
2018-08-08 23:10:28 +0000 UTC
