"O infamiliar" / "O inquietante" / "O estranho" [Das Unheimliche] - Freud (1919)

Summary

The transcript explores Freud's concept of the 'uncanny' or 'unheimlich,' delving into the unsettling feeling of something both familiar and strange. The speaker discusses how Freud examines the evolution of words and how the meaning of a term can shift based on context, especially when used in different languages like Egyptian. They highlight Freud's theory that the uncanny is tied to intellectual uncertainty and that it’s not just the unknown that causes fear, but the discomfort in recognizing something familiar that simultaneously feels alien. The translation of 'unheimlich' into 'uncanny' in English attempts to capture this complex duality.

Takeaways

• 😀 Freud's concept of the 'uncanny' (unheimlich) explores the tension between the familiar and the unfamiliar, creating a sense of unease and discomfort.
• 😀 The term 'uncanny' reflects something that is both familiar and strange at the same time, causing a paradoxical emotional response.
• 😀 Freud emphasizes that 'uncanny' is not just about the unknown; it also includes things that are known but feel unsettling when encountered in a different context.
• 😀 The concept of the uncanny is tied to intellectual uncertainty – when something is recognized, yet lacks clear understanding, it becomes unsettling.
• 😀 Freud's analysis involves studying the evolution of words and their meanings over time, especially in different languages, to understand how the uncanny operates linguistically.
• 😀 The 'antithetical meaning of words' concept shows how a single word can carry opposite meanings in different contexts, which helps in understanding how the uncanny works linguistically.
• 😀 The translation choices of 'familiar' and 'unfamiliar' in Portuguese aim to preserve the core meaning of Freud's original German terms, but the translation may not fully capture the same ambiguity.
• 😀 Freud suggests that the uncanny is linked to an emotional state of horror, often tied to something both recognized and not fully understood.
• 😀 In the clinical context, the use of the same word with different intonations (e.g., 'doctor' or 'psicanalist') can convey opposite meanings and highlight this tension.
• 😀 Freud argues that the uncanny is rooted in the gap between what is familiar and unfamiliar, creating a space of emotional discomfort or horror.
• 😀 The ultimate question is how to name or define the unsettling gap between what is familiar and what feels unfamiliar, and this difficulty in naming is central to the experience of the uncanny.

Q & A

What is the central concept discussed in the script?

The central concept is Freud's idea of the 'uncanny' or 'unheimlich,' which refers to experiences that are simultaneously familiar and unsettling, evoking a sense of horror or unease.

What does Freud's concept of 'unheimlich' mean in relation to language?

In relation to language, Freud explores how certain words or concepts can be both familiar and unfamiliar, creating a sense of discomfort or unease. He discusses how words can have dual meanings, which can evoke opposite feelings depending on the context.

How does Freud's work on the 'uncanny' relate to the idea of the familiar and unfamiliar?

Freud's work contrasts the familiar (that which we know and recognize) with the unfamiliar (that which is unknown or strange), suggesting that the uncanny exists in the gap between these two, where something feels both familiar and unsettling at the same time.

What is the significance of the term 'unheimlich' in Freud's theory?

'Unheimlich' is a German term meaning 'uncanny' or 'strange.' Freud uses it to describe something that is familiar yet strange, evoking discomfort due to its ambiguity. The term itself reflects the duality of something being both familiar and foreign at once.

What role does uncertainty play in the experience of the uncanny, according to Freud?

Uncertainty plays a critical role in the experience of the uncanny. Freud argues that it is not just the unknown that is unsettling, but the intellectual uncertainty—something that is familiar yet lacks clear understanding or meaning, creating an unsettling feeling.

How does Freud use language to explore the concept of the uncanny?

Freud uses language to show how words can have opposite meanings in different contexts, making the familiar seem unfamiliar. For example, a word like 'doctor' can evoke both positive and negative connotations depending on the tone, illustrating how the uncanny exists in language.

What example does Freud use to explain the concept of 'unheimlich'?

Freud uses the example of the story 'The Sandman,' which involves the figure of the Sandman—a character who is familiar in some ways but is also frightening and mysterious, perfectly illustrating the concept of the uncanny.

How does the ambiguity of words contribute to the experience of the uncanny?

The ambiguity of words contributes to the uncanny by allowing one word to have multiple meanings, sometimes contradictory. This ambiguity can evoke feelings of discomfort, as it challenges our understanding and recognition of what is familiar.

What is the difference between something that is 'new' and something that is 'uncanny'?

Not everything that is new is uncanny. Freud argues that the uncanny is not just about encountering something unknown but about experiencing something that is both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time, often creating intellectual uncertainty.

Why is the translation of 'unheimlich' to 'uncanny' or 'strange' considered a challenge?

The challenge in translating 'unheimlich' lies in the fact that the term has a specific cultural and psychological connotation in German that is difficult to fully capture in other languages. The translation into 'uncanny' or 'strange' does not fully convey the nuance of something that is both familiar and foreign at once.