Senior Class Series
by Abigail St. Clair Thomas
Profile 3
Jason Wright
Major: Philosophy
ASCT
What did you dream about last night?
JW
I don’t often hold onto a dream for more than a few minutes. After that, it’s pretty much lost. The last dream that managed to stick around involved a seemingly random assortment of people from my past all coming together for a party in a big old house near an awful, noisy beltway. Many of the guests were much older than they should have been. For some reason I wasn’t wearing any pants and was hell-bent on stealing some inane collection of VHS tapes. I was sure I was going to get caught when I left the house, but everyone was distracted by these birds dancing in the mist of a fountain. There were a few cardinals peppered around this exceptionally large bird that I’m sure doesn’t really exist. All the birds were moving impossibly slow. I mean almost imperceptibly slow. Everyone forgot why they were there in the first place. I didn’t care about the VHS tapes anymore. After that I woke up.
ASCT
What are you the most afraid of?
JW
Hard-fought mediocrity. The very real possibility of going mad. Being in open water.
ASCT
What are you secretly obsessed with?
JW
My obsessions have come and gone over the years. For a long time it was the procession of simulacra. It deeply disturbed me for a long time. Currently? I spend far too much time thinking about how I’m trapped in my imperfect body, and how long its going to last, and how I can make it work better.
ASCT
What do you see here?
JW
I see a human pelvis with two whimsically shitting chickens in the upper right and left corners. Whimsical like you’d see it in someone’s kitchen. Non-ironically. Can’t stress enough how non-ironic the shitting chickens are.
ASCT
What got you into the most trouble as a kid?
JW
Porn.
ASCT
Have you done anything recently you want to remember?
JW
Just a few days ago I ended up in a forest from my childhood with someone very important to me. The light was perfect. Just absolutely perfect. Unreal. It was warm. There was this gentle breeze that brushed out these dreamy yellow autumn leaves. It all felt so purposeful and complete, and yet I knew that it wasn’t. I was just that damn lucky to be alive, present and sharing in that moment. The whole world slipped away and I was really there, only there, for that time. I know i’ll never give that away.
ASCT
Name an activity that makes you loose track of time.
JW
There have been a few times, out alone riding my bike, where it all opens up before me. I’m no athlete. I’m not out training. These days I’m mostly just getting around town… But even then. There are still those moments.
ASCT
What do you look at first when you wake up?
JW
The nearest window.
ASCT
Most memorable time a person motivated you to do something?
JW
So much inertia…