10.2190/EE7V-870H-KWN4-06HH EE7V870HKWN406HH 329 EXPERIENCING MY MID-LIFE CRISES AND AFTERWARD: VARIOUS HERMENEUTICAL ANALYSES OF LIVED EXPERIENCES<P></P>Part 1 329 338 20060201 20060201 20060201 20060201 EE7V870HKWN406HH.pdf http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=EE7V870HKWN406HH 4 EDWARD READ BARTON E. Lansing, Michigan This is the first of a series of experience reports exploring the interpretations of men at midlife from various hermeneutical perspectives. Part 1 is the first interpretation of what might be called "typical U.S. professionalism," which is mostly concerned with "written in stone" laws, rules, procedures that are overly deterministic, constrictive, cultural deployments, and the resulting mid-life crises that occurred in my life. The second aspect of Part 1 is an interpretation of mythopoetic men's work, which is more fluid, imaginative, creative, interpretative, and has been and continues to be emotionally healing for me. Part 2 to follow in a subsequent issue describes my experience with triple by-pass surgery and the emotional support I received from my men's support group. Part 3, also to follow, though less poignant, considers several theoretical frameworks, including autoethnography, personal narrative, and images. Finally, the summary calls for an enlivened hermeneutics for men-- interpretations that include feelings, connectedness, lived experiences . . . moistened by the power of the heart. Barton, E. R. (Ed.). (2000). Mythopoetic perspectives of men's healing work: An anthology for therapists and others. Westport, CT: Bergin and Garvey. Pentz, M. (2000). Heuristic and ethnographic study of the ManKind Project: Initiating men into a "New Masculinity" or a repackaging of dominant controlling patriarchy? In E. R. Barton (Ed.), Mythopoetic perspectives of men's healing work: An anthology for therapists and others (pp. 204-225). Westport, CT: Bergin and Garvey. Real, T. (1997). I don't want to talk about it: Overcoming the secret legacy of male depression. New York: Scribner. Sapiens, H. (1995). Gays and men's work. M.E.N. Magazine: Publication of Seattle Men's Evolvement Network, 6(3), 5, 20. Lee, J. H. (1993). Facing the fire: Experiencing and expressing anger appropriately. New York: Bantam Books. Mankowski, E. S., Maton, K. I., Burke, C. K., Hoover, S. A., & Anderson, C. W. (2000). Collaborative research with a men's organization: Psychological, impact, functioning, and organizational growth. In E. R. Barton (Ed.), Mythopoetic perspectives of men's healing work: An anthology for therapists and others (pp. 184-203). Westport, CT: Bergin and Garvey. Lee, J. (1991a). At my father's wedding: Reclaiming our true masculinity. New York: Bantam Books. Lee, J. H. (1991b). I don't want to be alone: The flying boy; Book II: The journey continues. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications. Korte, J., & Hall, E. (1990). Seasons of life: Our dramatic journey from birth to death. Boston, MA: Little Brown. Lee, J. H. (1989). The flying boy: Healing the wounded man. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc. Lee, J. H. (1990). I don't want to be alone: For men and women who want to heal addictive relationships. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications. Keen, S. (1991). Fire in the belly: On being a man. New York: Bantam Books. Johnson, R. A. (1977). She: Understanding feminine psychology: An interpretation based on the myth of Amor and Psyche and using Jungian psychological concepts. New York: Harper & Row. Jones, T. (2001). The elder within: The source of mature masculinity. Wilsonville, OR: BookPartners, Inc. Kauth, B. (1992). A circle of men: The original manual for men's support groups. New York: St. Martin's Press. Bly, R. (1990). Iron John: A book about men. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley. Erikson, E. H. (1968). Identity, youth and crisis. New York: W. W. Norton. Snarey, J. (1993). How fathers care for the next generation: A four-decade study. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Johnson, R. A. (1986). He: Understanding masculine psychology. New York: Harper. Moore, R., & Gillette, D. (1990). King, warrior, magician, lover. San Francisco, CA: Harper-San Francisco.