Unmasking Civilization: Self, Society and the Struggle Within

Name of the Activity: “Unmasking Civilization: Self, Society and the Struggle Within”

Type of Activity:

Film Screening-A Documentary by Yair Qedar (“Outsider. Freud”,2025)

A Talk on “Civilization and its Discontents”

Date/Duration of Activity (from – to): On 6^th May 2025

Time: 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Details of Resource Person(s): Bharti Jain (Secretary and Treasurer, Indian Psychoanalytical Society)

No. of Participants: 32

 

Objective of the Event: Commemorating the 169^th Birth Anniversary of Dr. Sigmund Freud, the Father of Psychoanalysis. Introduction to Dr. Feud’s Life, Work and his Inspirations through the Documentary and also to understand the relevance of his writings and viewpoints on current aspects of Civilization with its complexities.

 

Brief Description of the Event:

Sigmund Freud, a neurologist whose ideas have undoubtedly shaped the landscape of modern thought about mind and inner psyche. Born on May 6th, 1856, in Freiberg, currently Czech Republic, Freud emerged as a towering presence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, fundamentally altering our understanding of human consciousness, behaviour, and subjectivity.

As the founder of psychoanalysis, Freud did not merely offer a new psychological technique; he inaugurated an entire paradigm shift in how we think about the self. His exploration of the unconscious mind—marked by the identification of psychic structures such as the id, ego, and superego—challenged prevailing rationalist models of human nature and opened up vast new avenues of inquiry into the drives, desires, and internal conflicts that govern our actions.

The afternoon started with an introduction by Prof. Pooja Sengupta of the Department of Psychology followed by the felicitation of Bharti Jain by Prof. Debjani Ganguly, Vice Principal (Arts). The program started with the documentary, which portrayed as a person for the first time and emphasized how his past and historical context helped him to be the person. The documentary also portrayed the sufferings of minorities and humanity in itself.

Later half of the event started with the talk on Civilization and its discontents. She discussed Sigmund Freud’s view of civilization remains a powerful lens through which to examine contemporary global issues. Freud saw civilization as both a necessary structure for human coexistence and a source of profound psychological conflict. His thesis was simple yet unsettling: the very process of building civilization—through law, morality, and cultural norms—requires the repression of basic human instincts, particularly those related to aggression and sexuality. This repression, though essential for social order, inevitably breeds discontent. Our speaker’s discussion has rightly reflected that in our current world; Freud’s insights resonate in striking ways:

1. Rising Authoritarianism and Repressed Aggression
2. Mental Health Crises and the Superego’s Burden
3. Digital Civilization and Displacement of Drives
4. Crisis of Meaning and the Erosion of Shared Values

Freud’s view of civilization’s discontents remains as psychologically profound as it is culturally prophetic. His view challenges us to consider whether progress always comes at the cost of individual happiness, and whether the inner turmoil of modern life is an unavoidable consequence of civilization itself. Yet an inner balance can be achieved through the journey of tolerance and acceptance.

Both the events were attended by our college teachers and students along with students of P.G Diploma Course of Indian Psychoanalytical Society.

Outcome of the Event:

The celebration of the Birth Anniversary of Dr. Sigmund Freud serves two essential purposes: one is to acknowledge the contribution of Freud in the understanding the psychic mechanism in a novel way. And secondly, the current sociopolitical world scenario has brought upon a crisis of meaning in humanity and in order to find the meaning it is important for us to understand the inevitability of conflict and its purpose- be in the inner psyche or in the outer reality.