Depth Psychology of Art

by Shaun McNiff

In the tradition of early psychoanalytic dream explorations, the author, herein, investigates art through self-inquiry. Depth Psychology of Art furthers the concept and craft of self-portraiture through its focus on the inner life of the psyche as manifested through varied images. Psychology and psychotherapy have always relied upon images in dreams, art, and dialogue in order to contact emotional depth. Shaun McNiff joins all three in a research technique where-by 'the interplay of hand and psyche in this experience of artistic dream work engages the most evocative elements from both.' Fifty-six paintings and drawings are presented as resources for a sustained interpretive dialog offering new insights into the practice of the arts and psychotherapy. 'Nomenclature' examines the psychological language and ideas upon which Dr. McNiff's Depth Psychology of Art is established (soul, art as unconscious religion, manifestation, interplay, recurrence, imagination, destruction, genius, organic thought, emotional reversal, multiplicity, spontaneity, etc.). 'Interpretation' revisions the interpretative process and consolidates the author's many essays on image abuse and the problems of psychological literalism suggesting imaginative, sympathetic and clinically accurate ways to respond to images. 'Re-imagining the Artist as a Therapist' challenges the art therapy profession to utilize its unique resources and takes a leadership role in the worlds of depth psychology and art. This contribution by Shaun McNiff should prove to be of interest to creative arts therapists, psychotherapists/psychologists, artists and art educators and layman alike.

258 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1989

Reviews

[Rhiannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Repetitive - abstract