Ordinary Unhappiness

A lively take on a hit streaming romance between rival hockey players. They explore prohibition and desire, and how rules in sport create tension and release. The conversation touches on recognition, purity of love, athletic skill and intensity. Psychoanalytic themes like fantasy, regression, and creativity weave through the discussion.

Abby Kluchin, public scholar and co-founder of the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research, joins to map romantasy as a pandemic-era craze. They unpack hit titles, TikTok fandom, and genre tropes. Conversations trace trauma, healing, age-gap dynamics, ritualized initiation, and how fantasy functions as adult play and reparative imagination.

Abby and Patrick welcome film critic A.S. Hamrah. Hamrah is a prolific writer of reviews, essays, and dispatches, and the two brand-new collections of his most recent work, Algorithm of the Night and Last Week in End Times Cinema, furnish Abby, Patrick, and Scott with the perfect opportunity to talk cinema, nostalgia, the political economy of movies, and much more. From moviegoing as an embodied experience to the nature of theaters as built environment, the three explore the overdetermined significance of going to sit in a dark room alongside strangers, simultaneously alone yet connected to one another. Unpacking the status of cinema as a quintessentially modern medium, they consider how developments like the smartphone, social media, Netflix, and the COVID-19 epidemic have reshaped both the film industry and our practices of media consumption. They also go deep into the relationship between cinema and television, addressing genre distinctions between soaps and prestige TV; the origins of reality TV in COPS, writers strikes and neoliberal austerity; and the direct line between reality TV and the Trumpian present. Along the way, Abby, Patrick, and Scott take up topics including: the social role of film criticism as a genre to popular discourses about fandom and “letting people enjoy things”; the loneliness of critics and the anomie of watching “second screen content”; and shifting norms of audience behavior (read: being rude). And it all builds to a debate over whether or not going to a movie versus binge-watching Netflix may express different fantasies, desires and anxieties about intimacy, control, and death. Silence your phones, get some popcorn, and enjoy! Texts cited:A.S. Hamrah, Last Week in End Times Cinema: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9781635902686/last-week-in-end-times-cinema/A.S. Hamrah, Algorithm of the Night: Film Writing 2019-2025: https://shop.nplusonemag.com/products/algorithm-of-the-night-by-a-s-hamrahA.S. Hamrah, The Earth Dies Stremaing: Film Writing 2002-2018: https://shop.nplusonemag.com/products/the-earth-dies-streaming-by-a-s-hamrahJean-Louis Baudry, “Ideological Effects of the Basic Cinematographic Apparatus”Walter Benjamin, “Theses on the Philosophy of History”Have you noticed that Freud is back? Got questions about psychoanalysis? Or maybe you’ve traversed the fantasy and lived to tell the tale? Leave us a voicemail! (646) 450-0847  A podcast about psychoanalysis, politics, pop culture, and the ways we suffer now. New episodes on Saturdays. Follow us on social media:  Linktree: https://linktr.ee/OrdinaryUnhappiness Twitter: @UnhappinessPod Instagram: @OrdinaryUnhappiness Patreon: patreon.com/OrdinaryUnhappiness Theme song: Formal Chicken - Gnossienne No. 1 https://open.spotify.com/album/2MIIYnbyLqriV3vrpUTxxO Provided by Fruits Music

Subscribe to get access to the full episode, the episode reading list, and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/OrdinaryUnhappinessAbby and Patrick continue their reading of Freud's case study of Elisabeth von R. With each new loss and fragmentation suffered by Elisabeth's nuclear family, they track the shifting burdens put upon Elisabeth and the successive challenges to her own hopes, desires, and self-understanding. Arriving at a pivotal moment in Elisabeth's story - another scene of bedside grief - they glimpse what appears to be her family's darkest secret, and then share in Freud's surprise when Elisabeth delivers yet another offhand revelation.Have you noticed that Freud is back? Got questions about psychoanalysis? Or maybe you’ve traversed the fantasy and lived to tell the tale? Leave us a voicemail! (646) 450-0847  A podcast about psychoanalysis, politics, pop culture, and the ways we suffer now. New episodes on Saturdays. Follow us on social media:  Linktree: https://linktr.ee/OrdinaryUnhappiness Twitter: @UnhappinessPod Instagram: @OrdinaryUnhappiness Patreon: patreon.com/OrdinaryUnhappiness Theme song: Formal Chicken - Gnossienne No. 1 https://open.spotify.com/album/2MIIYnbyLqriV3vrpUTxxO Provided by Fruits Music

Unlocked Patreon episode. Support Ordinary Unhappiness on Patreon to get access to all the exclusive episodes. patreon.com/OrdinaryUnhappinessHappy New Year! We’re off this week taking a belated holiday rest. But as a complement to our miniseries on projective identification with Brian Ngo-Smith, we’re unlocking this episode featuring another returning audience favorite: Lily Scherlis. Lily leads Abby and Dan on a deep dive into the psychoanalytic study of groups, from its history and roots in Wilfred Bion’s theories to her own personal experiences and reportage. Like our recent episodes with Brian, the conversation expands to thinking about groups more broadly, and into the arena of contemporary politics in general and the challenges of leftist solidarity specifically. -Abby and Dan sit down with writer and performance artist Lily Scherlis to talk about her new essay for n+1, “Experiences in Groups” (a title that does homage to Wilfred Bion’s influential 1961 book of the same name). They discuss Lily’s experience at the 2024 Tavistock conference, the meaning of “group relations,” and the fantasies it can generate for those committed to leftist politics, before turning to their own experiences in groups and Bion’s influence on each of their lives.  Lily Scherlis, “Experiences in Groups”: https://www.nplusonemag.com/issue-51/essays/experiences-in-groups/Wilfred Bion, Experiences in Groups: https://bookshop.org/p/books/experiences-in-groups-and-other-papers-w-r-bion/0d24f44dde25497d?ean=9780415040204&next=t&Nov 14th event of interest to NYC listeners: “Group as Form; Deep Study Session with Groups Group” (registration and fee required): https://www.poetryproject.org/events/group-as-form-deep-study-session-with-groups-group?page=1Our previous episode with Lily, “From Boundaries to Attachment: The Uses and Abuses of Pop Psychology”: https://ordinaryunhappiness.buzzsprout.com/2131830/episodes/17036523-98-from-boundaries-to-attachment-the-uses-and-abuses-of-pop-psychology-feat-lily-scherlisOur previous episode on Bion’s Experiences in Groups with Christine Smallwood: “From Parties to Projective Identification: Why Is Group Life So Hard?”: https://ordinaryunhappiness.buzzsprout.com/2131830/episodes/13002667-12-from-parties-to-projective-identification-why-is-group-life-so-hard-feat-christine-smallwood

Brian Ngo-Smith, a psychotherapist specializing in psychoanalytic perspectives, joins Abby and Patrick to explore projective identification and its impact on group dynamics. They discuss how this psychological concept manifests in group behaviors, affecting relationships in various settings like families and workplaces. Key topics include role suction, scapegoating, and the interplay of fear and leadership within groups. By transitioning from individual to collective experiences, they shed light on the real-world implications of projective identification.

In a thought-provoking discussion, Brian Ngo-Smith, a psychoanalyst and clinical social worker, delves into the complex concept of projective identification. He explores its roots in infant development and its impact on adult relationships, challenging the boundaries between self and other. The conversation navigates the historical tension between Freud and Klein, and offers practical examples from therapy and personal relationships. By unpacking archaic defense mechanisms, Brian reveals how projections can shape emotional dynamics in various facets of life.

In this mailbag reaction, the hosts tackle listener questions about the intriguing links between psychoanalysis and Buddhism. They discuss Melanie Klein's influence and the American left's need for fresh terminology. Buzzwords like 'limerence' offer insight into modern intimacy issues. The conversation touches on themes of vulnerability, precarity, and education, revealing the complexities of our emotional lives. Plus, a playful dive into what a 90s morning-show format for psychoanalysis would look like adds a humorous twist!

In this engaging conversation, Grace Byron, a talented writer and novelist known for her debut novel Herculine, dives into the complexities of trauma and identity within the trans community. She discusses the eerie blend of occult themes and emotional rivalries in her work, shedding light on how trauma shapes healing journeys. Grace critiques separatist fantasies and highlights the power dynamics that can emerge within marginalized communities. The discussion also delves into the implications of conversion therapy and the nuanced realities of therapy practices.

Dive into the fascinating world of AI and psychoanalysis! The hosts tackle the paradox of AI as a desireless conversational partner. Did you ever think about AI 'torture fantasies' or how we evaluate its sentience? They ponder Grok's absurd trolley problem answers, revealing surprising preferences. Plus, discover why a desireless AI might feel like the perfect therapist—offering a sterile yet reassuring presence. Prepare for thought-provoking discussions that bridge psychology, ethics, and pop culture!