Psychoanalytic Perspectives on Virtual Intimacy and Communication in Film

Psychoanalysts examine the potential and surprising transformations that human relationships, including psychoanalysis, are undergoing due to the use and abuse of new technologies. The contributors explore the idea that virtual intimacy could replace real life, strengthening imagination and fantasy and excluding the body entirely. The film "Her" (2013) offers a script for discussing this matter.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 214 pages
Publication date: 22 August 2018
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Psychoanalytic Perspectives on Virtual Intimacy and Communication in Film is a captivating exploration that brings together a diverse group of psychoanalysts to delve into the evolving landscape of communication, particularly in the context of the internet. Through the lens of film, the contributors examine the profound impact that these new forms of communication are having on individuals' affective lives, intimacy, and even the analytic room. Each contributor, an experienced psychoanalyst, delves into the potential and unexpected transformations that human relationships, including psychoanalysis, are undergoing.

At present, it becomes challenging to assess the future significance and anticipate the potential unsettling consequences of the widespread use and misuse of the new technologies. We risk being unprepared to face this revolutionary transformation in human connections and affects. Could it be that in the near future, human beings may prefer to form romantic relationships with machines equipped with persuasive voices rather than engaging in personal psychoanalytic sessions with human analysts? The contributors explore the notion that virtual intimacy could gradually replace real-life relationships, both in terms of sentiment and psychoanalytic interactions. They raise questions about the strengthening of imagination and fantasy, potentially surpassing the physical body and excluding it entirely. Can the voice of the analyst, sometimes transmitted through telephone or computer, provide an adequate analytic process akin to in-person sessions, or will it contribute to fostering an idealization process and a gradual detachment from real life and meaningful connections with others?

The film "Her" (2013), among others, serves as a remarkable platform for discussing these profound issues. Through its deep and thoughtful examination of love and relationships in the contemporary world, the film offers a rich script for psychoanalysts and psych enthusiasts to engage with. This collection of essays will undoubtedly be of immense interest to all those who seek to understand the intricacies of virtual intimacy, communication, and the evolving dynamics of human relationships in the digital age.

Weight: 382g
Dimension: 240 x 158 x 14 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781782206330