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Translating Angst: Inhibitions and Symptoms in Anglo-American Psychoanalysis By Fernando Castrillón

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Category: General Interest

• translation
• angst
• anxiety

  Very interesting essay where the author explores the  issue of the (mis)translation of Freud’s texts into English and the consequences this has had for the actual practice of psychoanalysis in the English speaking world. Specifically for the understanding of the Lacanian perspective.

He tackles the issue of the translation of Freud’s texts into English. Specifically, why is it that Freud’s Angst was translated as anxiety in English, instead of anguish or even angst itself, terms which actually exist in English.

Read it HERE

Castrillón, F. (2014). Translating Angst: Inhibitions and Symptoms in Anglo-American Psychoanalysis. European Journal of Psychoanalysis, Vol. 1, No. 2.

 

Borossa, Julia. The New Klein - Lacan Dialogues

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Category: Bibliography

• Klein-Lacan
• comparison

This book provides a timely exploration and comparison of key concepts in the theories of Melanie Klein and Jacques Lacan, two thinkers and clinicians whose influence over the development of psychoanalysis in the wake of Freud has been profound and far-reaching. Whilst the centrality of the unconscious is a strong conviction shared by both Klein and Lacan, there are also many differences between the two schools of thought and the clinical work that is produced in each. The purpose of this collection is to take seriously these similarities and differences.

Deeply relevant to both theoretical reflection and clinical work, the New Klein-Lacan Dialogues should make interesting reading for psychoanalysts, psychotherapists, mental health professionals, scholars and all those who wish to know more about these two leading figures in the field of psychoanalysis.

The collection centres around key concepts such as: 'symbolic function', the 'ego', the 'object', the 'body', 'trauma', 'autism', 'affect' and 'history and archives'. The authors are internationally renowned writers and clinicians and include: Eva Bahovec, Lionel Bailly, Rachel Blass, Ronald Britton, Catalina Bronstein, Bernard Burgoyne, Robert Hinshelwood, Roberto Ileyassoff, Marie-Christine Laznik, Elias Mallet da Rocha Barros, Catherine Mathelin-Vanier, Maria Rhode, Elisabeth Roudinesco, Richard Rusbridger, Michael Rustin , Paul Verhaeghe and Marcus Vieria.

Re-opening a dialogue first attempted with great success in 1995 ('The Klein-Lacan Dialogues', organised by Catalina Bronstein and Bernard Burgoyne), this book is based on a new international seminar series collaboratively organised by colleagues at UCL, Middlesex University, and the Royal College of Art and held in 2011 under the auspices of the UCL Psychoanalysis Unit.

 

Edited by
Julia Borossa, Catalina Bronstein,
and Claire Pajaczkowska

 

Read more: Borossa, Julia. The New Klein - Lacan Dialogues

Phillips, Adam

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Category: Bibliography

• Psychoanalysis
• Adam Phillips

Adam Phillips, born on 19 September 1954 in Cardiff, Wales, has emerged as one of the most influential and insightful psychoanalysts and essayists in Britain. His journey into the realm of psychoanalysis began at Oxford, where he studied English at St John's College, inspired by literary figures and the autobiography of Carl Jung. This blend of literary and psychoanalytic passion has defined Phillips' career, leading him to describe psychoanalysis as akin to "practical poetry," a realm more aligned with the nuances of literature than the empirical rigidity of medicine.

Phillips' career is marked by a significant tenure as principal child psychotherapist at Charing Cross Hospital in London from 1990 to 1997, after which he transitioned to private practice in Notting Hill. His disillusionment with the bureaucratic confines of the National Health Service did not dampen his enthusiasm for psychoanalysis but rather propelled him into a prolific writing career, contributing regularly to the London Review of Books and being described as "the Martin Amis of British psychoanalysis" by The Times for his unsettling yet brilliantly amusing work.

Phillips is a master of critiquing and expanding upon psychoanalytic theory, often challenging its dogmatic boundaries with a refreshing openness that allows for a dynamic exploration of ideas. This approach is perhaps best encapsulated in his interaction with Lacanian theory, where Phillips exhibits a selective engagement, absorbing what he finds of interest and setting aside the rest until it intersects intriguingly with his evolving intellectual journey. His work defies the traditional psychoanalytic discourse, offering a liberating perspective that values the exploration of ideas over adherence to a strict psychoanalytic orthodoxy.

His contributions to psychoanalytic literature are vast, with notable works such as "Winnicott" (1988), "On Kissing, Tickling, and Being Bored: Psychoanalytic Essays on the Unexamined Life" (1993), and "Missing Out: In Praise of the Unlived Life" (2012), among others. Phillips' writings delve into the complexities of human nature, relationships, and the quest for understanding the self in a world rife with prescribed identities and paths.

Adam Phillips' engagement with psychoanalysis and literature is a testament to his belief in the power of words and ideas to navigate the intricacies of the human psyche. His work stands as a beacon for those seeking to understand not just the malfunctions of modernist psychology but the very essence of what it means to live a life imbued with curiosity, kindness, and a willingness to explore the uncharted territories of the mind and soul.

In Phillips' view, the essence of psychoanalysis lies in its capacity to foster an environment where individuals can risk discovering their desires and appetites without the compulsion to adhere strictly to a narrative of self-knowledge. This perspective encourages a form of engagement with the self that is open to transformation and the unpredictability of human experience, much like the process of engaging with a compelling piece of literature or art. His work remains a critical and creative exploration of the possibilities that psychoanalysis and literature offer for understanding and experiencing the depths of human life.

Read more: Phillips, Adam