Psychoanalysis Culture & Religion: Times of Conspiracy Theories & Fake News

Abstract

We live in a time that is characterised by increasing political polarisation, fake news, conspiracy theories and other forms of extremism. Social media such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram are often characterised by misogyny, sexism and racism and as lacking in empathy, compassion and love.

This seminar will explore what role psychoanalysis in combination with religion can play in analysing such phenomena, as well as finding possible solutions for them. Recent political developments, such as the Trump presidency, have been credited with an increase in political paranoia and conspiracy theories have spread far and wide on the internet. Contemporary forms of conspiracy thinking, such as QAnon, have led to the establishment of communities which, to a degree, have quasi-religious characteristics.

This seminar asks how our contemporary age can be analysed through the prism of post-Freudian psychoanalysis and religious studies. Do we need a new form of spirituality? What can a psychoanalytic understanding of religion offer in analysing the phenomena described above? What can psychoanalysis and religion learn from each other in the present moment? How do religious understandings of hope, love and compassion figure in times of seeming uncertainty, mistrust and fantasies?

Speakers:

Peter Tyler (St. Mary’s University): Nietzsche and his Influence on Freud and Jung

Mark Murphy (St. Mary’s University): Freud, Lacan and their Approach to the “Mystical”

Anthony Faramelli (Goldsmiths): The Alt-Right and Religion: The Death Drive in American Evangelicalism

Registration

Please note: This session will replace the monthly Reading Group that usually happens on the las Friday of every month.

As always, these reading groups are free to attend and open to all.

All registered attendees will be sent a link to join a Zoom call the day of the event.

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APS Conference:

Registration for the APS 2021 Psychosocial Bodies Conference is now open. All information can be found here.