Late Capitalist Freud in Literary, Cultural and Political Theory

Dick, MD; McLaughlan, R

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-47194-1

Late Capitalist Freud in Literary, Cultural and Political Theory

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Robbie McLaughlan

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Abstract

This book proposes that Freudian theory has had an historical influence on the configuration of contemporary life – group psychology in an age of mass democracy, the charismatic figure of the leader, and in governmental/financial institution – and also on the broader realization of certain concepts within the late Freudian corpus as they have become manifest within late capitalist culture. This book investigates how we continue to live in the Freudian century, turning its attentions to specific crisis points within neoliberalism – the rise of figures like Trump, the development of social media as a new superego force, the economics that underpin the wellness and self-care industries, as well as the contemporary consumption of popular culture – to maintain the continued historical importance of Freudian thought in all its dimensions. We assess the contribution that an historical and theoretical consideration of the late Freud can make to analyzing certain aspects of late capital.