Academic background of Maynard Solomon

[Lindegard]

Hi, I can't seem to find any information about the academic background of Maynard Solomon, whom I am beginning to warm toward. Does anyone know where he went to college, what degrees he has and in what subjects? I figure his background must be impressive given that he has taught at Juilliard, Yale, etc. I read somewhere that he may be a psychologist, which would explain his analyses of LvB's psyche. Thanks for any information! Lindegard

[Peter]

I'm a little wary of retrospective psychoanalysis - the latest theory I've heard is that Beethoven was bi-polar. Personally I think it quite unprofessional to imagine we can impose such diagnosis on someone who died nearly 200 years ago. Much of Maynard Solomon's analysis works along the lines of inventing a theory to fit his desired conclusions - the Immortal beloved is a famous example.

[Lindegard]

That is so true, Peter! I can't imagine the APA or some other group condoning any form of analysis "in absentia." When I first read Solomon (three of his books) a month or two ago, I was really annoyed! I had that famous "Beethoven scowl" on my face, for sure!

But I am trying to be objective, especially if the biographer in question is in fact educated in psychoanalysis or psychology, not merely a practitioner of "pop psych."

And how can you analyze someone with any degree of fairness two hundred years later! :-) Still, I can see the point that we have tools and understanding today that did not exist in the past, and perhaps they can shed light "in a very general way" on some of the issues facing great individuals in history.

(I think it was unfair, though, in "Beethoven Essays," for Solomon to take apart the four dreams LvB mentioned to friends. I mean, seriously! How many times have we told parts of dreams to friends in all innocence! There's no proof that those really were the dreams LvB had, or a complete recital of their content. The letters, memoirs, etc. of LvB & Friends are filled with oversights, wrong dates, etc.)

I would really like to know whether Solomon makes his analyses, which he does in a very confident manner, from the position of a psychologist or simply from the position of an interested layman, much as you or I would (I actually did take a course in Literary Criticism, focusing on Freudian analysis, in college: maybe I should psychoanalyze some biographers! :-) ). I always tell my students to dig into the background of so-called "experts," they may find that there is a lot of smoke and mirrors.

Other than his background as a record producer, I can't seem to find any information about the sources of Solomon's expertise. Is this being hidden, or am I simply going to the wrong sources? And yet Solomon writes beautifully, seems to have the imprimatur of the Ivy League & Julliard, and at times, I think he touches the heart of the Master

Thanks for your comments, Peter! Lindegard