Lacan in Italy: Clinic, Politics, Aesthetics

This book provides the first analysis of the reception and development of Lacanian psychoanalysis in Italy, offering a comprehensive account of the relevance and contributions of Italian Lacanians. Di Gregorio's book offers a fascinating panorama of Lacan in Italy, exploring not only Lacan's own special link to Italian culture but also the development and dissemination of his ideas in Italy. —Darian Leader, Psychoanalyst and member of the Centre for Freudian Analysis and Research, UK For Italian culture, Lacan not only elicited a renewal of psychoanalytic practice but also embodied a brilliant crossroads between the languages ​​of philosophy, politics, and art. Di Gregorio masterfully reconstructs this story, identifying key themes, moments, and contexts through which it came to life.—Roberto Esposito, Professor Emeritus, Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa, Italy Di Gregorio's book transcends the mere categorizing of Italian interpretations of Lacan. Rather, the work is fuelled by the author's passionate engagement with Lacan’s ideas, highlighting their universal significance. This is a scholarly rigorous and intellectually sophisticated journey through one of the most stimulating intellectual pursuits of modern times. —Fabio Vighi, Professor of Critical Theory, Cardiff University, UKThis book provides the first analysis of the reception and development of Lacanian psychoanalysis in Italy, offering a comprehensive account of the relevance and contributions of Italian Lacanians. It examines Italian Lacanianism through its distinctive engagement with clinical practice, sociopolitical analysis, and aesthetics, highlighting the work of influential figures such as Sergio Benvenuto and Massimo Recalcati. Lacan in Italy proposes a nuanced understanding of how Italian Lacanians reinterpret Lacan’s legacy, advancing an affirmative approach to the notion of the real – often conceptualised in negative terms as traumatic, impossible, unrepresentable, and unsymbolisable – by emphasising its generative, life-affirming potential. The book also fosters dialogue with Lacanian receptions across different countries and languages.Luca Di Gregorio is Senior Teaching Fellow in Medical Education in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Southampton, UK, and Deputy Director of the Southampton Centre for Medical and Health Humanities. This book provides the first analysis of the reception and development of Lacanian psychoanalysis in Italy, offering a comprehensive account of the relevance and contributions of Italian Lacanians. It examines Italian Lacanianism through its distinctive engagement with clinical practice, sociopolitical analysis, and aesthetics, highlighting the work of influential figures such as Sergio Benvenuto and Massimo Recalcati. Lacan in Italy proposes a nuanced understanding of how Italian Lacanians reinterpret Lacan’s legacy, advancing an affirmative approach to the notion of the real – often conceptualised in negative terms as traumatic, impossible, unrepresentable, and unsymbolisable – by emphasising its generative, life-affirming potential. The book also fosters dialogue with Lacanian receptions across different countries and languages.