Gemma Corradi Fiumara Livres

Metaphor is much more than just a linguistic phenomena, argues Gemma Corradi Fiumara, it is in fact the key process by which we construct and develop our ability to understand the world and the people we share it with. Rationality as understood by philosophers has led to a disembodied view of ourselves in which interaction between life and language has been downplayed. By looking at the metaphoric process - in an interpersonal rather than a formal way - its importance in allowing us access to new worlds of experience is revealed. The metaphoric potential in us all exposes us to the world and initiates our involvement in it.

riumara seeks to redress an imbalance in our culture and our philosophy - an imbalance caused by our neglect of the 'listening' side of language in favour of the power of discourse.

The book presents an innovative perspective on mental health, emphasizing the importance of spontaneity in shaping the self. It argues that poor mental health stems from our inability to respond effectively to both internal and external stimuli, rather than solely from early care or environmental factors. By focusing on how reactions to events define our identity, the author explores themes of agency, creativity, and the role of spontaneity in psychoanalysis, raising thought-provoking questions about these critical aspects of human experience.

Focusing on the concept of a "gravitational force," the book explores the detrimental impact of an overwhelming fear of pain on personal growth and creativity. It provides insights and strategies for reframing thoughts and conversations around this fear, encouraging readers to confront and overcome the barriers it creates in their lives. Through this awareness, the author aims to empower individuals to embrace change and foster their maturation process.

Psychoanalysis and Creativity in Everyday Life: Ordinary Genius is an attempt to create a psychoanalytic space for the quest and questions of our everyday creativity. Official creativity is normally applauded to the point of obscuring all other types of creativity, with detrimental consequences for our psychic life. However, as Gemma Corradi Fiumara demonstrates, the creative force of ordinary subjects can be as vigorous as that of our acclaimed, official accomplishments. Corradi Fiumara focuses on the unsung creativity which emerges from relationships and the world at large. She explores how understanding the operation of creative impulses in an everyday setting can crucially inform psychoanalytic clinical work. There are three main themes: Donald Winnicott’s Psychoanalytic Will Melanie Klein and the Other Side of Genius Genius: Ordinary and Extraordinary. Psychoanalysis and Creativity in Everyday Life advocates an inclusionary view of human genius, and demonstrates that creativity and genius can be manifested in everyday life with the ordinary as its focus of attention. It will be key reading for psychoanalysts, psychoanalytic psychotherapists, philosophers and scholars in social studies.