Remembering As Reparation: Psychoanalysis And Historical Memory (studies In The Psychosocial)
by Karl Figlio /
2017 / English / PDF
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This book brings together psychoanalysis, clinical and
theoretical, with history in a study of remembering as
reparation: not compensation, but recognition of the actuality of
perpetration and the remorseful urge to rejuvenate whatever
represents this damage. Karl Figlio argues that this process,
intensively studied by Melanie Klein, is shadowed by manic
reparation, which simulates, but is antithetical, to it. Both aim
for peace of mind: the former in a guilt-induced attitude of
making better a damaged ‘good object’, internal and external; the
latter, supported by defences thoroughly studied in
psychoanalysis, in claiming liberation from an accusatory
object.
This book brings together psychoanalysis, clinical and
theoretical, with history in a study of remembering as
reparation: not compensation, but recognition of the actuality of
perpetration and the remorseful urge to rejuvenate whatever
represents this damage. Karl Figlio argues that this process,
intensively studied by Melanie Klein, is shadowed by manic
reparation, which simulates, but is antithetical, to it. Both aim
for peace of mind: the former in a guilt-induced attitude of
making better a damaged ‘good object’, internal and external; the
latter, supported by defences thoroughly studied in
psychoanalysis, in claiming liberation from an accusatory
object.
This psychoanalytic line of thinking converges with historical
scholarship on post-war German memory and memorialization.
Remembering is posited as ambivalent - it is reparative, in
‘remembering true’, with respect and self-respect. It is also
manic reparative, in ‘remembering false’, shedding bonds to the
actuality of history through acts of triumph and
liberation.
This psychoanalytic line of thinking converges with historical
scholarship on post-war German memory and memorialization.
Remembering is posited as ambivalent - it is reparative, in
‘remembering true’, with respect and self-respect. It is also
manic reparative, in ‘remembering false’, shedding bonds to the
actuality of history through acts of triumph and
liberation.
This thoughtful book highlights new features of history and
memory work, especially the importance of emotion, and will be of
great value to students, academics and practitioners across the
fields of psychoanalysis, memory studies, German studies and
modern history.
This thoughtful book highlights new features of history and
memory work, especially the importance of emotion, and will be of
great value to students, academics and practitioners across the
fields of psychoanalysis, memory studies, German studies and
modern history.