Modernity in Dreams and Myths

Authors

  • Paolo Scopelliti Rome, I

Keywords:

Psychoanalysis , Dream , Myth , Surrealism , Modernity

Abstract

The very presence of myths in psychoanalysis raises questions about their scientific status: that leads to reconsider the whole issue of Freudian mythology in a non-medical manner, by envisaging it in the more general context of modern myths, both political and artistic. Special attention is then paid to Surrealism, as the only avant-garde movement at the same time focused on psychoanalysis and politics: the role played by dreams in foundering myths is examined in both Surrealism and psychoanalysis. Surrealistic myths, such as Dalí’s Grand Paranoïaque Comestible, finally prove to be so non-oedipian as the Nazi Übermensch myth; nevertheless, their comparison with Freudian mythology points out their common origin, as they all fulfilled the need of the mass society for a modern myth, able to express his deeply renewed self-awareness.    

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Published

2009-06-01

Issue

Section

Articles