Susan Schwartz: ‘In the Beginning is the Trauma’

‘In the beginning is the trauma’ will explore the singular subject’s originating trauma and its causal relation to the symptom, that is, his identity of jouissance. This trauma, historically specific, is to be distinguished from the generalised trauma of the encounter between the infant’s body and language, and the resulting loss of jouissance. As Freud affirms, trauma is an excessive excitation, hence it is always sexual. The originating trauma is specific to the child’s encounter with the Other’s jouissance and with the jouissance in his own body, experienced as an irruption, a breaking in, in the face of which he is helpless.

Attendance is free upon registration and detailed outlines and a bibliography for each seminar will be provided.

To register email Susan Schwartz at slschwartz5@gmail.com.

The Trans-Tasman Seminar

The Trans-Tasman seminar is the result of a collaboration between members of the Forum of Melbourne, Esther Faye and Susan Schwartz, and of the Forum of Aotearoa New Zealand, Chantal Degril, within the frame of the International of the Forums of the School of Psychoanalysis of the Forums of the Lacanian Field (IF-SPFLF). Its aim is to contribute to Lacanian discourse in our region and beyond by applying theoretical concepts to particular clinical cases. In 2024, Esther Faye and Susan Schwartz became members of the Forum of Aotearoa New Zealand.