Social Theory Since Freud: Self And Society After Freud

Social Theory Since Freud ‘Anthony Elliott is quickly emerging as a one-person industry, intent in all of his writings to demonstrate both the relevance and the importance of psychoanalytic theory for social analysis.’ Thesis Eleven ‘Anthony Elliott has once again provided a lucid and critical examination of the relationship between psychoanalysis and social theory. While many writers are still catching up with Lacan’s work, Elliott explains the major advances to be found in post-Lacanian theory, and shows how it offers a new view of subjectivity and the “imagination” attuned to the complexities of contemporary social life.’ Professor Stephen Frosh, Birkbeck College, London ‘Comprehensive and challenging, Social Theory Since Freud explores major developments in western thought since Freud mapped out the unconscious. It is an authoritative synopsis of the Frankfurt School, Castoriadis, Lacan, Laplanche and Kristeva. In pursuing the legacy of Freud, Anthony Elliott shows convincingly that the imagination is central to rethinking the relationship between social theory and psychoanalysis.’ Bryan Turner, Cambridge University In this compelling book, Anthony Elliott traces the rise of psychoanalysis from the Frankfurt School to postmodernism. Examining how path-breaking theorists such as Adorno, Marcuse, Lacan and Lyotard have deployed psychoanalysis to politicize issues like desire, sexuality, repression and identity, Elliott assesses the gains and losses arising from this appropriation of psychoanalysis in social theory and cultural studies. Moving from the impact of the Culture Wars and recent Freud-bashing to contemporary debates in social theory, feminism and postmodernism, Elliott argues for a new alliance between sociological and psychoanalytic perspectives. Drawing in particular from the thought of key contemporary psychoanalytic ii thinkers such as Julia Kristeva, Jean Laplanche and Cornelius Castoriadis, Social Theory Since Freud opens the way for a new approach to the creativity of action. Anthony Elliott is Professor of Sociology at the University of Kent at Canterbury. His recent books include Concepts of the Self (2001), Psychoanalytic Theory: an introduction (2002, 2nd Edition), Critical Visions (2003) and Subject to Ourselves (2004, 2nd Edition). Social Theory Since Freud Traversing social imaginaries Anthony Elliott LONDON AND NEW YORK First published 2004 by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Routledge 29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2005. “To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledge’s collection of thousands of eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk.” © 2004 Anthony Elliott All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing fro