Phoebe Kaufman joins to discuss The Wolf Man's Magic Word. They delve into holes, wounds, and openings. They explore cryptonomy and the interplay between the symbolic and imaginary. They touch on animal behavior, secrecy, recognition, and misrecognition. They also explore rhyme, numerology, and the unsayable. They discuss hidden desires, the symbolism of the nose, listening, and werewolves. They consider implications, reality, fantasy, and encryption. They share final thoughts and a podcast recommendation.
The concept of cryptonymy involves hidden and said aspects of speech, as exemplified by the Wolfman's case.
Cryptonymy introduces a fragmented form of metaphor, expanding language to encompass hidden and unsayable elements.
The crypt represents the repressed memories and desires concealed within the Wolfman's unconscious.
Freud's analysis of the Wolfman seeks to provide a cure and enable him to lead a socially integrated life.
Deep dives
The Enigma of Cryptonymy
The podcast episode dives into the concept of cryptonymy, a form of speech that involves hidden and said aspects. The hosts discuss how the Wolfman's case exemplifies this concept as he tries to conceal the truth about a murder and his personal desires. The cryptonymy operates outside regular linguistic transformations and incorporates multiple languages. The hosts explore the tension between reality and fiction, and the struggle to testify to something unspeakable. They analyze the wolf dream, exploring its symbolic and visual significance in the context of the Wolfman's psychology.
The Complexities of Testimony
The podcast delves into the challenges of testimony and the difficulty of expressing the truth when it comes to repressed memories and traumatic events. The hosts examine the Wolfman's struggle to bear witness to the alleged event without conferring any truth value upon his words. They discuss how the concept of cryptonymy introduces a fragmented form of metaphor, expanding language to encompass hidden and unsayable elements. The hosts highlight the importance of deciphering hidden symbols and how the Wolfman's case sheds light on the limitations of metaphor and metonymy.
The Inner Crypt and the Unconscious
The podcast explores the metaphorical concept of the crypt and its implications in the Wolfman's case. The hosts discuss how the crypt represents the repressed memories and desires that are concealed within the unconscious. They examine the fractured nature of cryptonymy and the challenges in unlocking the hidden meanings. The hosts also delve into the intricacies of the Wolfman's psychological symptoms, such as his obsession with his nose and the connection between the body and the crypt. They analyze how psychoanalysis aims to understand and decipher these hidden aspects of the psyche.
The Quest for Normalcy and Psychoanalysis
The podcast explores the expectation for the Wolfman to achieve a sense of normalcy through psychoanalysis. The hosts discuss how Freud's analysis of the case seeks to provide a cure and enable the Wolfman to lead a socially integrated life. They examine the significance of the Wolfman hiding his wealth and the associations with his symptoms. The hosts reflect on the broader psychoanalytic context and Freud's attempts to prove the effectiveness of psychoanalysis while grappling with the complexities of the Wolfman's case.
The significance of the open mouth and facial features
The podcast discusses the idea that the infant's open mouth represents a space of reception that needs to be filled, drawing parallels between food and language. The podcast also explores the intimate details of the different facial organs and their possible significance. The speaker mentions the connection between the open mouth and the mother's breast, as well as the potential symbolism of the nose in relation to deceit.
Language acquisition and the empty mouth
The podcast delves into the concept of the empty mouth as a transcendental matrix filled with language and relates it to the Wolfman's multi-forks tongue due to exposure to different languages growing up. The discussion highlights the idea of a community of empty mouths and emphasizes the importance of different ways of listening and language acquisition. It also mentions the Wolfman's fascination with the nose and the possible connection to secrets and woundedness.
The complexities of the Wolfman case
The podcast reflects on the complexities and nuances of the Wolfman case, expressing different opinions and interpretations. It questions the seduction theory and the involvement of various family members in the Wolfman's sexual exploration. The podcast also touches on the suicide of the Wolfman's wife and the potential significance of her act in relation to the familial dynamics and the Wolfman's own obsessions and fantasies. The discussion highlights the blurred boundaries between fiction and reality in the case and ponders the implications of cryptanalysis and its potential for personal introspection.
Phoebe Kaufman joined us for a look at The Wolf Man's Magic Word
A Cryptonymy by Nicolas Abraham and Maria Torok.
Phoebe's Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sad_porous_grad
Podcast Money Can't Buy You Class: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/money-cant-buy-you-class/id1561023184
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/muhh
Twitter: @unconscioushh
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