How Dolly Parton led me to an epiphany

In my talk, I take this idea of "the third" and interpret it quite liberally. And I just barely skim the surface. If you want to experience the original idea, in all it's thorny complexity, this book is the place to go. Jessica Benjamin is a giant in the field of psychoanalysis. She articulated the theory of "mutual recognition" which includes the idea of The Third. This book compiles a series of essays where she lays out her ideas (cliff notes version: there are many, many kinds of "thirds.")

I sometimes refer to Helen Morales as the original Dollyologist. She's the first academic, to my knowledge, to really take Dolly Parton seriously as someone worthy of study (although, to be fair, her book is way more than academic text. It's part memoir, part fan travelogue). I know her book is partially what inspired professor Lynn Sacco at the University of Tennessee to create a college class called Dolly Parton's America … which of course is what inspired our podcast series. So I would have never done the series were it not for Helen. Pilgrimage is a super smart, deeply moving book.

To hear more from the episode I mention in the talk, where I delve into the connections between Lebanon and East Tennessee, check out episode 5, "Neon Moss".

To hear a whole lot more about Dolly's relationship to Porter, check out episode 2, "I Will Always Leave You".