Adolescent Symbolism - Basic considerations on the use of aesthetic forms of expression in therapy

Journal/Book: Musiktherapeutische Umschau. 1981; 2: STUTTGART. 107-126.

Abstract: A breakdown in communication is apparent (1.): linguistic, symbolic-artisticand symbolic-formative modes of expression observable among the young suggest that the discursive allusions of youth culture reveal experiences and symbolic associations (2.) that depart from normative social context. A linguistic key to the understanding of this newly developing youth culture is its aesthetic and formal means of expression (3.) and its symbolism, whose range is defined within the framework of depth-analytic symbolism theory (4.). The "coded and substituted form" of adolescent symbolic expression is traced to the appropriation of symbols in childhood and adolescence; this appropriation however obeys the rules of an initiation based on commodity aesthetics, as can be demonstrated in the "self-presentation" of the young. More explicit insight into adolescent symbolism in terms of depth-structure and psycho-structure development is only possible in the light of the instinctive-libidinous and narcissistic-libidinous aspects of current adolescent development (5.). ABSTRACT TRUNCATED

Keyword(s): Self-presentation, youth-culture, symbolic-pseudosymbolic, psychological-diagnosis, appropriation-of-symbols.

Zurück | Weiter