Abstract. Portrayals of the Jewish and of the anti-Semite in Jewish humor. Freud attributed to “Wizt” and humor an important role for understanding Jewish cultural life and ethos. Many scholars and psychoanalysts studied Jewish humor, its technique and vibrant sources. Within clinical practice, the meaning of humorous communication was studied in its many defensive and creative aspects aimed at banishing anxiety and creating new meanings. The analogy with artistic and literary creation has encouraged some authors to discuss the presence of a “tertiary” process, distinct from primary and secondary processes. Through the analysis of some Jewish jokes, humor’s strategies are seen as a way of dealing with the challenges posed to Jewish life. Jewish humor’s strategy is complex and articulated: it does not “censor” accusations, it appears to “embrace” the accusation, making it less powerful with new meanings that make the accusa- tion ridiculous and increase the range of knowledge, with cathartic and liberating effects. The analysis of jokes becomes a journey through Jewish history and culture. [KEY WORDS: Jewish humor, Witz, anti-Semitism, Judaism, Psychoanalysis]
Abstract. Freud attribuiva all’umorismo (Wizt) un ruolo rilevante per la comprensione della vita culturale ebraica e del suo ethos. Nella pratica clinica ci si è interrogati sul significato dell’umorismo nei suoi aspetti difensivi e creativi, di allontanamento dell’ansia e di creazione di significati nuovi. L’analogia con i processi di creazione artistica e letteraria ha spinto in mol- ti a parlare, nel caso dell’umorismo, della presenza di un processo terziario, distinto da quello primario e secondario. Attraverso l’analisi di alcune storielle ebraiche, viene proposta una ri- flessione sulle strategie dell’umorismo in risposta alle sfide poste all’esistenza ebraica. L’umorismo ebraico è articolato: non “censura” l’accusa, sembra “far sua” l’accusa. In realtà la depotenzia facendo scaturire significati nuovi che rendono l’accusa ridicola e aumentano la gamma delle conoscenze, invitando al pensiero complesso con effetti catartici e liberatori. L’analisi delle storielle diventa un viaggio nella storia e nella cultura ebraica. [PAROLE CHIAVE: umorismo ebraico, Witz, antisemitismo, ebraismo, psicoanalisi]
Meghnagi, D. (2014). IMMAGINI DELL'EBREO E DELL'ANTISEMITA NELL'UMORISMO EBRAICO. PSICOTERAPIA E SCIENZE UMANE, XLVIII(3), 453-465 [10.3280/PU2014-003005].
IMMAGINI DELL'EBREO E DELL'ANTISEMITA NELL'UMORISMO EBRAICO
MEGHNAGI, David
2014-01-01
Abstract
Abstract. Portrayals of the Jewish and of the anti-Semite in Jewish humor. Freud attributed to “Wizt” and humor an important role for understanding Jewish cultural life and ethos. Many scholars and psychoanalysts studied Jewish humor, its technique and vibrant sources. Within clinical practice, the meaning of humorous communication was studied in its many defensive and creative aspects aimed at banishing anxiety and creating new meanings. The analogy with artistic and literary creation has encouraged some authors to discuss the presence of a “tertiary” process, distinct from primary and secondary processes. Through the analysis of some Jewish jokes, humor’s strategies are seen as a way of dealing with the challenges posed to Jewish life. Jewish humor’s strategy is complex and articulated: it does not “censor” accusations, it appears to “embrace” the accusation, making it less powerful with new meanings that make the accusa- tion ridiculous and increase the range of knowledge, with cathartic and liberating effects. The analysis of jokes becomes a journey through Jewish history and culture. [KEY WORDS: Jewish humor, Witz, anti-Semitism, Judaism, Psychoanalysis]I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.