CSD6: « The Psychoanalytic Act in the 21st Century »

On a typical New York winter weekend (a mix of rainy, windy and sunny days), the Lacanian Compass hosted its 6th Clinical Study Days on “The Psychoanalytic Act in the 21st Century.” The CSD was held this past February 24-26, 2012.

A Friday evening Lecture on “The Comedy of the Sexes,” held at the prestigious New School, co-sponsored by the NPAP and its Chair Program Committee, opened the three-day event. The Guest Speaker was Fabian Naparstek, Argentinean psychoanalyst from the EOL. The Lecture was attended by more than 100 people, and many questions denoted the interest in the subject.

The Clinical Study Days 6, Saturday and Sunday, held at Fordham University, Lincoln Center Campus, had a full and intense program, that included 10 papers and 2 lectures given by Fabian Naparstek: “The Act as a New Link” and Pierre-Gilles Gueguen, Special Delegate of the WAP for the USA: “The School as invented by Lacan”. Their presence, participation and their contribution in the discussions were invaluable.

There were 5 clinical case presentations: Franck Rollier (Antibes, France), Dinorah Otero (New York), Ellie Ragland (Columbia, Missouri), Jeff Erbe (New York) and Pam Jespersen (Omaha); 3 theoretical papers: Ed Pluth (Chico, California), Fabio Azeredo (Philadelphia) and Tom Ratekin (Washington D.C.) and 2 first person testimonies: Cyrus Saint Amand Poliakoff (New York) and Eugenia Varela (Paris, France). Each paper had a discussant (Juan Felipe Arango (Miami), Karina Tenenbaum (Miami), Alicia Arenas (Miami), Samya Seth (New York), Josefina Ayerza (New York), Maria Cristina Aguirre (New York), Ellyn Altman (New York) and Tom Svolos (Omaha), whose task was to extract the most salient points in each paper and to facilitate the discussion. The idea was to dedicate enough time to each presentation, to construct the case and to extract knowledge and transmit a teaching.

The CSD 6 was well attended by 45 people from different corners of the USA, Canada and Europe.

The exchanges between the audience and the presenters were lively and very enriching and continued during the coffee breaks and the reception held on Saturday evening.

Clinicians demonstrated originality and creativity in the direction of the treatment. Each case had an original way of dealing with the psychoanalytic act, as producer of transference, installing the subject supposed to know, reducing jouissance and inventing singular, unique interventions.

The enthusiasm for the next Clinical Study Days was evident. We already have our main theme: Demand and Desire in Psychoanalysis. The date and place will be determined soon.

Maria Cristina Aguirre

February 29, 2012

New York