Description
Book SynopsisThis book traces the development of British psychoanalyst Marion Milner's (190098) autobiographical acts throughout her lifetime, proposing that Milner is a thinker to whom we can turn to explore the therapeutic potentialities of autobiographical and creative self-expression.
Milner's experimentation with aesthetic, self-expressive techniques are a means to therapeutic ends, forming what Emilia Halton-Hernandez calls her autobiographical cure. This book considers whether Milner's work champions this site for therapeutic work over that of the relationship between patient and analyst in the psychoanalytic setting. This book brings to light a theory and practice which is latent and sometimes hidden, but which is central to understanding what drives Milner's autobiographical work. It is by doing this work of elucidation and organisation that Halton-Hernandez finds Milner to be a thinker with a unique take on psychoanalysis, object relations theory, creativity, and autobiography, w
Trade Review
"Milner has historically been constructed as a subsidiary figure to D.W.Winnicott within the British Independent Group. She is however a very important figure within early- to mid-twentieth century psychoanalysis. This book provides a concerted, careful and theoretically-engaged analysis of Milner. It is an original work that stands to make a substantial contribution to the field of psychoanalytic studies, literary studies, and twentieth-century cultural history."
Jo Winning, Professor, Birkbeck, University of London, UK
Table of ContentsIntroduction Part 1: The Milner Method 1. A Life of One's Own and the birth of a diary keeping method to rival psychoanalysis 2. On Not Being Able to Paint and drawing and painting for psychoanalysis 3. Bothered by Alligators and compensating for the failures of a "couch analysis" Part 2: The Milner Tradition 4. Tracing Milner's influence in the twentieth century 5. Milner in the comic frame: Lynda Barry and Alison Bechdel's autobiographical cures 6. Conclusion: In search of legibility?
