The Inkblot Purist is an independent academic examination of the history of state institutions in the United States, delving into the architecture, politics, society, and culture of those locations designed and constructed for the purpose of addressing the residential psychiatric and developmental needs of the public. Of paramount importance is this project’s commitment to illuminating the reality of institutional life, drawing heavily upon primary source documents contemporary to the period and peer reviewed scholarship published as subsequent analysis.
This is a subject which is intensely complex and nuanced, but which is unfortunately commonly approached with an alarmingly reductionist and surprisingly generalist fervor (see the Illusion of Explanatory Depth). The pervasively folkloric and presumptive conceptualization of asylum life and culture largely shared by the public is a fascinating element of the American narrative, especially when these changing perceptions are examined as they evolve through the decades. Inexplicably, despite the profound shift in open access to information over the past few decades, tropes, fantasies, and fabrications about asylum life endure.
Asylum history is fascinating in that its approximate reality is found in a convergence of the assertions of two types of sources: the first being scientific data, academic publications, and official documents, and the second being personal accounts and journalistic publications, the latter often largely subjective and often anecdotal, and which much always be considered in light of the source and their potential motives. The notion of a “reliable historian” will likely frequently appear in future posts, as a means of considering the validity of personal accounts. This publication intentionally assumes a heavy bias toward the first category of source, for purposes of factual integrity and validity.
Any requests for specific subject matter which readers would like to see addressed or explored further are always welcomed.
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