Genres of Listening: An Ethnography of Psychoanalysis in Buenos Aires

Xochitl Marsilli-Vargas explores the unique culture of listening and communicating in Buenos Aires, where psychoanalytic listening is a central element of social interaction and cultural production. She develops the concept of genres of listening to demonstrate that hearers listen differently, depending on where, how, and to whom they are listening. Marsilli-Vargas focuses on psychoanalytic listening as a specific genre, which emerges during conversational encounters in everyday interactions. She opens up ways to imagine other modes of listening and forms of social interaction.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 05 August 2022
Publisher: Duke University Press

Xochitl Marsilli-Vargas delves into the captivating world of listening and communication in Buenos Aires, uncovering a distinctive culture that permeates social interactions and cultural production. She traces the profound impact of psychoanalytic listening, which extends beyond the clinical realm to become a fundamental aspect of everyday life in the city renowned for its abundance of practicing psychologists and psychoanalysts. Marsilli-Vargas introduces the concept of genres of listening to emphasize that listeners engage in distinct listening practices based on their context, manner, and audience. She specifically focuses on psychoanalytic listening as a unique genre.

In the vibrant city of Buenos Aires, the citizens have honed a remarkable ability known as the "psychoanalytic ear." This auditory skill emerges during conversational encounters, where participants engage in lively interpretations of the hidden meanings concealed within the words spoken. Marsilli-Vargas approaches these interpretations not as impositions or interruptions but as fruitful exchanges. By elucidating how psychoanalytic listening functions as a genre, Marsilli-Vargas unveils new possibilities for envisioning alternative modes of listening and shaping diverse forms of social interaction.

Weight: 336g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478018551