New Books in Psychoanalysis Gavin Arnall, "Subterranean Fanon: An Underground Theory of Radical Change" (Columbia UP, 2020)
May 25, 2021
Gavin Arnall, an Assistant Professor in Romance Languages and Literature at the University of Michigan, discusses his book, Subterranean Fanon, revealing two contrasting interpretations of Frantz Fanon's theories of change. He examines how Fanon’s duality offers insights into radical transformation, especially in light of contemporary movements like Black Lives Matter. Arnall emphasizes the need for a nuanced understanding of Fanon's integration of psychoanalysis and social change, highlighting his method of 'social therapy' in addressing issues of colonialism and systemic injustice.
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Book's Origin
- Gavin Arnall's book explores Fanon's thinking on radical change.
- He discovered unpublished Fanon writings in a French archive.
Fanon's Relevance
- Arnall's interest in Fanon grew during the Black Lives Matter movement.
- He questioned why Fanon resonated in contemporary protests.
Fanon's Internal Tension
- Fanon's work contains an internal tension between two modes of thought.
- These are the dialectical and the non-dialectical.