Between fascination and antipathy, Freud is alive; watch the classes

Does Freud explain? Not even Freud explains? The fact is that the Viennese psychoanalyst is no longer alive to give himself the explanations we would like. These days, reading one of his books, I found a witty footnote, more or less like this: “couples can bond through love and through violence. We must be prepared for that, because not all of us will be like that peasant woman who complains that her husband no longer loves her because he has not beaten her for two weeks.” Freudian literature is far from tedious.

The author is widely famous, from psychoanalytic communities, through the scientific academy, to individual reading projects. For some, a sincere and generous genius; for others, a “nutcase.” Anyone who has had any decent contact with psychoanalysis knows, on the preceding matter, that it makes no difference. For every great light there is its equally great corresponding darkness. And, let us agree, one should not throw the baby out with the bathwater. “And it’s all right,” psychoanalyst Áurea Moneo (in the following image) would say, smiling. She is a teacher of psychoanalysts in training, and supervisor of those who work as analysts.

Interview with Áurea

Vinícius Sgarbe: Dear Áurea, I think there is a tremendous power in psychoanalysis, as in anything else that one believes in firmly. Sometimes I find on the internet phrases attributed to Freud that he certainly never said or wrote. But it affects me little or not at all, because I am not seized by jealousy. I think that at this point in the game all help is welcome. Besides, Freud does not pay me to be his brand’s inspector — laughs. Tell me, my friend, how is your psychoanalysis doing?

Áurea Moneo: Dear Vinícius, I believe that so long afterward to still be so remembered, with various sayings attributed to him, most of them typical of our contemporary times, is a clear sign of his brilliance. Perhaps one of the few icons who deserve such reverence, both from those who hate him, because they do not allow themselves to admire, and from those who truly admire him. He remains, more alive than ever, in our memory. And, in times of narrative-building, he continues to feed the desires of the unconscious, validating the words of anonymous authors.

Training a psychoanalyst

To become a psychoanalyst one needs little more than an incurable curiosity about people. That is, what drives training is the investigation of one’s own life, where everything begins, and then of the scenarios around us, which are often, if not always, full of “others.”

In general terms, Freud is a starting point, a cartography for exploring wisdom and science. Is Freud the last word? Obviously not. Are other authors welcome? Depends on the author — laughs — but they are appreciated, of course.

Master class

This Thursday (the 11th), and next Thursday (the 18th), at 7:30 p.m., Illumen, a center for training in clinical psychoanalysis, holds master classes of its psychoanalytic training. The first is titled “Self-knowledge: views from psychoanalysis,” presented by Professor Anamaria Racy. On the 18th, Áurea Moneo speaks about “Emotions and falling ill.” Participants must register at the link below. It will be online and free. To learn more about Illumen, visit the site.

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