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In this book, Thomas Svolos tests the claim that a practicing psychoanalyst is afforded a unique perspective on issues of politics, social and cultural affairs, trained, as they are, to look out for that which is not readily transparent to a patient. This might be something opaque, something bizarre even, something that is part of the experience of the patient that they are not conscious of, what Sigmund Freud and Jacques Lacan called, at different points in their work, desire, libido, or, jouissance. It argues that by taking account, in one way or another, of desire, libido and jouissance, we might find another dimension to political, social and cultural matters, a dimension that is present, but generally opaque, to those who deal with them.
In a series of original texts and edited dialogues, brought together for the first time, this lively and accessible work offers novel insights on topics ranging from race, climate change and partisan politics, to science fiction and Bruce Springsteen. It will appeal to students, scholars and those with a general interest in psychoanalysis, politics, cultural studies and critical theory.
List of contents
Section 1 Introductory Remarks on Psychoanalytic Interpretation.- Chapter 1 Introductory Remarks on Psychoanalytic Interpretation.- Section 2 Identity.- Chapter 2 New Forms of Identity and Groups in Postmodernity.- Section 3 New Forms of Identity and Groups in Postmodernity.- Chapter 3 What Use for Civilization and Its Discontents Today.- Chapter 4 Seven Psychoanalytic Hypotheses on the Pandemic Discontent.- Section 4 The Horizon of Subjectivity of Our Time.- Chapter 5 Psychoanalysis.- Chapter 6 American Partisan Politics.- Chapter 7 Immigration.- Chapter 8 Climate Change.- Chapter 9 Race.- Chapter 10 Psychoanalysis in Culture. Section 5 Psychoanalysis in Culture.- Chapter 11 The Personal and the Political.
About the author
Thomas Svolos, MD, practices psychoanalysis in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. He is a Member of Lacanian Compass, the New Lacanian School, and the World Association of Psychoanalysis. He is also Professor of Psychiatry and Associate Dean for Strategy and Accreditation at Creighton University School of Medicine. Published in ten languages, his books include The Aims of Analysis: Miami Seminar on the Late Lacan (2020) and Twenty-First Century Psychoanalysis (2017).
Summary
In this book, Thomas Svolos tests the claim that a practicing psychoanalyst is afforded a unique perspective on issues of politics, social and cultural affairs, trained, as they are, to look out for that which is not readily transparent to a patient. This might be something opaque, something bizarre even, something that is part of the experience of the patient that they are not conscious of, what Sigmund Freud and Jacques Lacan called, at different points in their work, desire, libido, or, jouissance. It argues that by taking account, in one way or another, of desire, libido and jouissance, we might find another dimension to political, social and cultural matters, a dimension that is present, but generally opaque, to those who deal with them.
In a series of original texts and edited dialogues, brought together for the first time, this lively and accessible work offers novel insights on topics ranging from race, climate change and partisan politics, to science fiction and Bruce Springsteen. It will appeal to students, scholars and those with a general interest in psychoanalysis, politics, cultural studies and critical theory.
