The Language of Mourning and Mutiny. Hans-Joachim Maaz’s Post-dependence Psychoanalytic Discourse Cover Image

Język żałoby i buntu. Postzależnościowy dyskurs psychoanalityczny Hansa Joachima Maaza
The Language of Mourning and Mutiny. Hans-Joachim Maaz’s Post-dependence Psychoanalytic Discourse

Author(s): Brygida Helbig-Mischewski
Subject(s): Cultural Essay, Political Essay, Societal Essay
Published by: Instytut Badań Literackich Polskiej Akademii Nauk
Keywords: Hans Joachim Maaz; East-Germany; Totalitarianism; Psychoanalysis; Post-dependence.

Summary/Abstract: The author analyses the example of a German, post-DDR post-dependence discourse that manifests itself in the social psychology domain, specifically, in the works by Halle-based psychoanalyst Hans-Joachim Maaz (Der Gefühlsstau, Das gestürzte Volk, Die Entrüstung). The ways are shown in which H.-J. Maaz describes the psychological condition of the East-German community and squares the accounts with the DDR’s unlawful system founded upon authoritarian rule and repressive measures. It is also shown how he describes, using the language of psychoanalysis, the psychological and social consequences of functioning within that system (infantilisation, deformation, mutilation, pathologisation). In Maaz’s works, the author sees an important contribution to elaboration of anti-dependence awareness in post-socialist countries. Analysed are also the categories used by H.-J. Maaz describing the post-unification ‘loss syndrome’ referring to former DDR inhabitants’ country and identity, their feeling that they are still an oppressed, ‘colonised’ people.

  • Issue Year: 2010
  • Issue No: 5
  • Page Range: 129-139
  • Page Count: 11
  • Language: Polish