Bulletin of the Psychoanalytic Association of New York

Volume 58, Number 1 Spring 2020

VOL 58, NO.1 • Spring 2020 In This Issue…

Bulletin of Editorial , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ...... 3 The Psychoanalytic by David Frank Association of PANY Director’s Announcement of New Rules and New York Guidelines During the Pandemic ...... 4 Bulletin Board ...... 5 PANDEMIC ISSUE Fast Times at PANY: A Timeline ...... 6 EDITOR 425 EAST 79TH STREET, #1N NEW YORK, NY by Barry Rand 212-472-8867 Doing Analysis and Psychotherapy in the e-mail: [email protected] Pandemic ...... 7 Editor Herbert H. Stein, M.D. Film Essay by Herbert H. Stein Assistant Editor Leslie Cummins, LCSW Twin Films: Bohemian Rhapsody and Blinded by the Light ...... 9 PANY Director PANY News David Frank, M.D. News and Notes of Members ...... 15 Chair, Education Committee PANY at the Winter Meeting ...... 16 M. Carmela Perez, Ph. D. Chair, Graduate Society Committee Aneil Shirke, M. D. Vice Chair, Graduate Society Committee Monica Michel, M.D.

Councilor to the American Psychoanalytic Association Arthur Lew, M.D. Alternate Councilor Barry Rand, M.D.

Editorial

Remembrances Pandemic I must begin with a sad and overdue note on At this time, we are in the midst of perhaps the death last August of Dr. Martin Silverman. the strangest period of our lives and profes- Shortly after his death, David Frank sent out sional careers, the Covid-19 pandemic. I am the following statement: writing this editorial at home, in relative volu- “We have received the sad news that Martin nary confinement in an attempt to avoid infec- Silverman, MD, PANY Faculty, passed away in tion with the virus and as part of the general late August, 2019. Martin (Marty) was a attempt to contain the spread. Training and Supervising Analyst and a Child Most, if not all of you are treating patients by Supervising Analyst, and Child Instructor in phone or electronically. “Distance Psycho- the ‘80’s. He was also the book review editor of analysis” and “Distance Psychotherapy” are the Psychoanalytic Quarterly for a number of now no longer a choice of parameters dis- years and recruited book reviews from our cussed in institutes and psychoanalytic organ- members.” izations attempting to define best practices for Marty was one of the primary teachers in the using them. Now, it is by necessity the norm. area of child development and child psycho- In fact, I write this amidst an everchanging analysis when I began my training. I remember landscape, so that you may be receiving it him from then and more recently at society under new conditions. Right now, classes at the and institute events and discussion groups as a institute and meetings of our members are warm, thoughtful and very knowledgeable conducted on-line or phone. We know each teacher and colleague. other as faces on a screen. Social contact has As I think about him now, I remember sitting been replaced by social distancing as the ideal. with him outside in the vicinity of the old Discussions are ongoing about how we can Bellevue doing a child observation of an unsus- offer our clinic services and evaluate new pecting child from the neighborhood. patients online, things that were almost He is and will be missed. unthinkable a month ago. In the spirit of it, this issue will include some As you probably know, we lost Len Shengold of our usual items, news and notes of members in January as well and will be honoring his life and PANY at the Winter Meeting this February and work with a panel in the fall. in another era, and a now seemingly especially lighthearted psychoanalytic film commentary And, practically as I write this, I have heard for your distraction. We also are including the very sad news that Marianne Goldberger some commentary on the response of PANY died the night of March 31st at the age of 89. during the current crisis. Her death was apparently not related to the pandemic. I’ll close with the greeting that is now the norm. A sad time. Be Well,

HHS

PANY Director’s Announcement of New Rules and Guidelines During the Pandemic by David Frank

This announcement was sent online on March 15th to all the members of PANY.

As expected, the Covid 19 situation continues from PANY's Technology and Psychoanalysis to evolve rapidly. PANY leadership has been course, that was developed by several of our deeply engaged over the past day in carefully faculty members in recent years. Lena Ehrlich's thinking through our own stance as a commu- JAPA article on her work seeing patients nity and considering our roles as analysts, ther- remotely was sent out yesterday and should apists, educators, and as clinicians and citizens have been received by all members. who are thinking about the public health. PANY has purview over candidates' treat- Today we hosted a meeting of 25 faculty mem- ments of their analytic patients, as well as can- bers via Zoom. The Covid Task Force (Liz didates' own analyses and supervisions. It is Horwitz, Stephen Malach, Carmela Perez, now a PANY requirement that all of these Barry Rand, Susan Resek, Herb Stein, Jennifer encounters be done virtually. Stephenson and myself) has also conferred. In As Director, I recognize that individual mem- addition, I've been in communication with the bers’ (faculty and candidates) private practices leadership of NYPSI, the Columbia Institute, are subject to their own discretion, and there and also with Kerry Sulkowicz who is may be individual circumstances for particular President-Elect of ApsaA. patients that might alter how quickly the tran- Yesterday, in the memo we sent out, Carmela sition occurs. But the operating principle and I deferred on specific advice to our com- should be: as soon as possible. munity about whether to see any patients at all I believe we have a responsibility to our on an in-person basis. We are no longer defer- patients to model behavior that may help them ring: to do the same, and the positive ripple effect of I want to be clear and unambiguous about every therapist in our community influencing my recommendation, both personally and as each of our patients could be considerable; Director of PANY, as well as on behalf of the conversely, we need to consider the negative PANY COVID Task Force and the overwhelming ripple effect individually and to the communi- consensus of the faculty at the meeting today: ty when patients venture to and from our Effective immediately, I urge all PANY clini- offices. cians to conduct all treatment and supervision Altering our accustomed ways of engaging is by remote means, whether by HIPAA compli- not easy. As hardy New Yorkers we tend to ant video or by telephone. tough it out at our appointed posts. And as Below the signature is a list of software analysts we are accustomed to working options that work well for remote video/audio through thick and thin seeing patients in our sessions.1 Additionally, a memo will go out offices through all circumstances. Also, as ana- soon about an educational session that Dr. lysts we are probably more inclined than oth- Marina Mirkin will conduct, via Zoom, for all ers to prioritize thinking over action. But I PANY members—candidates and faculty—- believe that adapting smartly to the current cli- about tele-analysis and tele-therapy. Also, to be mate calls for us to safeguard our patients, sent to all members shortly is the reading list supervisees, the PANY community and the New York City community at large by not see- 1. in keeping with changes since mid-March, these are not included here. ing patients in person; and to do this now. The

March 15 Director’s Announcement Frank

evidence so far suggests that those communi- imagined. But I believe that we will grow as ties in the world that continued to go about individuals and as a cohesive and loving com- their lives as usual are facing arduous circum- munity as we face these currents, help our stances. We should not repeat that mistake. patients and each other in the process, and The public health dimension must be consid- own a deeper appreciation of the value of our ered. Doing our part to “flatten the curve” and work, a value that I feel is infinitely deep. in so doing conserve medical resources is in The COVID task force will meet regularly. We my view a paramount duty as a citizen. will have an ongoing series of Zoom meetings I recognize that we will all be working for both faculty and for candidates to discuss through a shared loss, a loss of the ever-so-spe- so much that will arise, much of which is hard cial intimacy that develops in the room with to anticipate now—primarily to support one our patients, in the service of the deeply mean- another. ingful help that we provide. Conscious and Having come to this decision, we're halfway unconscious illusions of invulnerability and there. May everyone be well and safe, control (including in the therapeutic and analytic situation) shared by all of us, are being David Frank confronted in ways none of us could have Bulletin Board PANY's Training Analyst and Certification PANY LGBTQ+ Study Group Study Group The PANY LGBTQ+ Study Group for the The Training Analyst and Certification study of clinical practice issues in psycho- Study Group is a faculty peer group that analysis and psychoanalytic psychotherapy meets monthly with the purpose of prepar- involving members of this group is continuing Faculty for American Board of ing to meet online during the current pan- Psychoanalysis (ABP) Certification and/or demic.We invite all faculty and all candi- the PANY Training Analyst process. dates to join. Members meet one Saturday throughout the Hopefully, viewing our own clinical cases year to discuss in detail their case write-ups, referencing sexuality and gender as addi- which are presented on a rotating basis . tions to contemporary analytic theory will Anyone interested in joining the Study allow us to enhance analytic practice of ben- Group or seeking more information is wel- efit to the LGBTQ+ community. come to contact any of the group members listed below. Barry Rand, MD Chair, Curriculum Committee Leslie Cummins Carmela Perez Barry Rand Susan Resek Jennifer Schimmel Aneil Shirke Malini Singh

Each of these study groups will continue to meet online one Saturday per month during the pandemic.

Seeking Treatment? Apply at PANY.org

Fast Times at PANY With the present becoming a moving target, we thought we’d provide a snapshot timeline of change.

March 14 I'd like to encourage the PANY family to make use of the Meeting to discuss Covid Situation listserv to share questions and experiences and provide useful counsel, reflections, and information as we make Online Supervision our way through the Coronavirus experience, doing our To: PANY Psychoanalytic and Psychotherapy Candidates best to help the helpers. From: David Frank, Director and Carmela Perez, EC Chair David Frank, PANY Director March 20, 2020 Carmela, Liz, Susan, Sharon, Monica and I are writing to discuss the COVID-19 situation and its impact on the March 23 PANY community. We hope that all PANY candidates are well and feel that it is important that we are available for Extension of Progression Deadlines one another at this time. To All In-Class Psychoanalytic Candidates at PANY: Since the COVID situation may affect the ability of candi- We feel it would be helpful if candidates have an opportu- dates to start new analyses with their patients, PANY will nity to discuss their experience of this extraordinary situa- extend the deadlines to meet progression requirements tion using our Zoom, HIPAA compliant video platform, from the beginning of classes in September to Jan 1, 2021. with a few faculty members who will be available to facili- tate a supportive group process. The faculty will also be In particular, first year candidates will be able to progress meeting in this way. to the second year even if they have not yet begun an analytic case—as long as they are otherwise felt by the SPC to Liz Horwitz, Daniella Lukashok, and Susan Resek will facil- be ready to progress, based on input from class instructors itate the conversation among psychoanalytic candidates; and PCD advisors. Similarly, third year students will be and Monica Michell and Sharon Lavon-Krein will be available to progress to the fourth year if cleared by the SPC able to host the conversation among psychotherapy pro- even if they do not have two cases. gram candidates. We hope that a January deadline is realistic, but if the situ- In addition, until further notice, all candidates in all pro- ation changes, we will be open to extending the deadline grams can opt to have their individual supervision (psy- further. chotherapy program, PCD supervision for analytic candidates, and analytic supervision for analytic candidates) We are reaching out to supervisors to clarify their avail- done by remote means—whether by telephone or HIPAA ability for supervising cases that start remotely in the compliant video software—whether supervisor or candi- event that there are candidates who are ready to do so and date requests distance supervision. who have received approval for the case from their PCD and SPC advisors. March 20 We hope you are all doing well. Please feel free to contact Online Listserv your SPC advisors or any of us with questions you might To: PANY Community have. The Covid-19 Task Force (David Frank, Elizabeth Horwitz, Elizabeth Horwitz, M.D. Stephen Malach, Carmela Perez, Barry Rand, Susan Resek, Susan Resek, L.C.S.W. Herbert Stein, and Jennifer Stephenson) has discussed the Chair Student Progression Committee benefits and challenges of an email listserv. Associate Chair, Student Progression Committee Carmela Perez, Ph.D. David Frank, M.D. In considering the importance of the support and infor- Chiar, Education Committee Director mation we can offer one another, for patient care and in our educational work, we decided to establish this com- April 1 munity hub, to enable and enhance the flow of information during the Coronavirus situation. Faculty Discussion Meeting Good afternoon, Making use of a listserv has been considered over the years Carmela Perez and David Frank will host another faculty by different PANY administrations, always with the ulti- discussion meeting on Wednesday, April 1st at 8:45 PM via mate decision to defer. But we'll give it a shot now, under Zoom, to continue to discuss the impact of Covid-19 on extraordinary circumstances, and see how it goes. our work and on PANY.

We offer this channel of interaction to PANY faculty and April 18 candidates, to support one another as we navigate Meeting for Candidates uncharted waters, while also recognizing that this will not “Impact of Coronavirus on Psychoanalytic necessarily be the forum of choice for all. For now we'll include the entire community, reserving a future option of Practice and Training” separate listservs for candidates and for faculty. For this Saturday, April 18, each class will be shortened by twenty minutes (830 to 930; 940 to 1040; 1050 to 1150) in In addition to the listserv, the video group meetings order to allow for a 12 noon meeting for all candidates. At through the Zoom platform that we started over the past that meeting, faculty members David Frank, Barry Rand, week—one for psychoanalytic candidates, one for psy- Harvey Schwartz, and Kerry Sulkowicz will speak about chotherapy candidates, and one for faculty—will continue the impact of the Coronavirus on psychoanalytic practice on a periodic basis. and training. More to come.

Doing Analysis and Psychotherapy in the Pandemic by Barry Rand This note was presented to candidates on line at a meeting on April 18, 2020. Although presented for candidates, it is of interest to all of us at this time of disruption and change.

At the initiation of the PANY COVID Task with risks of severe illness and mortality pro- Force, I agreed to offer some guidance to can- voking anxieties, fears, trauma, dissociation, didates transitioning to providing distance denial; and a sense of loss, helplessness, psychoanalysis and psychotherapy for the potential depression, and an instability in our duration of the pandemic. My need to transi- sense of our own and loved ones' physical and tion my own practice postponed my efforts to psychological preservation. These dangers share my thinking about (and now experienc- and responses, of course, become central ing) distance psychoanalysis. By now you have themes in the manifest content and in the established your work with patients and unconscious affective latent content of the analysands in distance treatments after having analysis. However, this danger is a trauma received first the PANY imprimatur, then the shared within our professional sphere with requirement to proceed to tele-psychoanaly- our colleagues, mentors, and most important- sis. As you are all more tech savvy than I am, ly our patients/analysands, in the literature the need to discuss the practicalities of transi- designated a “shared trauma”. This shared tioning to distance treatment has already trauma involves experiencing the patient's passed and has been sufficiently accom- trauma, our own, and the trauma coming plished by each of you. Instead, I would like to from shared experiences, particularly in the draw your attention to the numerous psycho- room with patients. (After 9/11, I experienced analytic issues involved in this new psychoan- many feelings around my patients' reactions alytic situation in a time of real danger and to that day and I asked new patients for 4 stress. I am drawing not only on my recent years where they were on 9/11.) experiences, but also on working for years The biologic challenge requires a change with patients on their PTSD and depressions through action in the real world by the analyst during and following 9/11. These ideas are physically distancing one's self from the solely my own opinion and you may find that patient in order to maintain safety and the your colleagues, instructors and supervisors continuation of the therapeutic process. This may have opinions differing from what I am danger/shared trauma/preservative action about to tell you. series involves then three matters to be con- There is no one theory or correct technique, sidered: (1) reactions to the danger: focusing protocol, or solution to handling the work in first on the analyst's own emotional responses each psychoanalytic dyad in transitioning and to this danger from the current reality, one's continuing the psychoanalysis or psychother- fantasies, and within the countertransference, apy at a distance during this pandemic. But both personal and in the dyadic relationship; there are psychoanalytic matters that we and a primary focus on the patient's charac- should each focus on during this period. Each teristic responses to danger and their transfer- matter involves change and requires some ence responses; all are within the sphere of understanding of the change in the new situa- traditional analytic work; (2) shared trauma: tion and the patient's and analyst's emotional the change in the analytic relationship engen- reactions to each aspect of this change, with dered by the experiencing of a shared trauma the affective experiences coming from both with the patient in an ongoing fashion the current reality and from the past as requires a new perspective about the analytic revealed in transference countertransference relationship and process; and (3) distance responses. treatment: the reaction to the act of changing We are in a period of danger, a biologic dan- and then maintaining the setting to a distance ger to our individual and communal health technologically-based meeting and the vari-

Doing Analysis and Therapy in the Pandemic Rand ous meanings of that to the patient and ana- ing, but I found that after a couple of sessions lyst. Each of these elements may come up at of regression to the beginning of the analysis, any point in the pandemic period and may usually one can return to the analytic process shift throughout a session or course of ses- and listening without much sacrifice after the sions. Listening for references to the current slightly more interactive process. I saw that situation outside the room requires an atten- patients need time to adjust and may move tion to additional meanings beyond the usual through talking about the video experience to process prior to the pandemic; it is an addi- talking about the differences from usual ses- tional layer of the streams of consciousness sions to accommodating themselves after a pressing for expression within the analysis. It few sessions to using their bed or living room is like exploring a dream where the day couch to replicate the analytic couch experi- residue hangs heavy in the room. ence. Unlike using our analytic couch in in- At the heart of the attention to danger are person sessions, patients may try out different the patient's conflicts aroused by these dan- furniture, rooms, and locations before settling gers. But in order to provide an analytic situa- into a preferred substitute couch with suffi- tion for the analysand, attending to one's own cient privacy. needs (physical and emotional), responses to Attention should be paid to loss and depres- danger, fantasies and conflicts are prerequi- sive reactions. In the face of change and anxi- sites to our work, eventually requiring an ety from the danger, the experience of loss exhausting intensity over time, which often may be underestimated in considering the led to burn-out among therapists after 9/11. analytic process during the pandemic. Unusually, I am drawing your attention not Unfortunately as the pandemic continues and only to the need for your analyses and super- we along with our patients experience more vision, but also to the need for relaxation, losses, the impetus for mourning and the risk sleep, eating, exercise, and social contact via of depression intensifies. So, in addition to the videoconferencing with colleagues, friends real sense of actual loss, fantasies of loss relat- and family. (Therapist's consultations and dis- ed to earlier life events and internal conflicts cussions in support groups were essential in arise. Losses related directly to the analyst dealing with therapy post 9/11.) We are may become more available to the patient and already having PANY community video meet- may result in depressive reactions to the not- ings for information and support, which I in-person situation for both participants; hope you attend. these may include seemingly minor matters It is helpful to think of a change in frame (“I miss the walk to your office”). These losses when initiating a change to a distance analy- can precipitate a mourning process or a sis. This distancing disturbs the underlying depressive response or both and may occur in traditional frame and boundaries fostering the the analysand, the analyst or the analytic field psychoanalytic situation, attitude and process. in the room, acted out or expressed in associa- I have seen that change in frame as first tions, fantasies, and dreams. (“I missed my requiring patient consent and input, and a sessions with you because I can't talk now; I working together to establish a new frame as can't talk about all this.” “I had a dream where close to the usual one as possible (consistency you were not in your usual place and ...”). of place, view of the other, analytic couch); as Paraphrasing Freud near the end of well as an acknowledgement of loss and “Mourning and Melancholia”, this may be a change in the new arrangement. I find it best good place to stop because although there is to discuss these last matters in the same way I much more to say, not all can be understood talk with patients about changes in frequency and said at this time. or extended vacations or absences: introduc- Hope you have found this useful and can ing the practicalities and listening for uncon- utilize it in listening to patients and in dis- scious responses to the changes and losses. As cussing your cases in supervision. you may have noted, the intensity and abrupt- Everyone stay well. ness of the change may require some shift ini- tially from a traditional analytic silent listen- Barry Rand, MD Curriculum Chair, PANY

Twin Films Bohemian Rhapsody and Blinded by the Light by Herbert H. Stein In his classic book on psychoanalysis and to leave in a somewhat stern tone. film, Movies On Your Mind, Harvey Greenberg “Out again, Farrokh?” wrote about Casablanca, “If I know it's “It's Freddie now, Papa.” Schmaltzy, then why am I crying?” “Freddie or Farrokh, what difference does it I don't know if it's by chance or design that make when you're out every night, no thought two of the best films I saw in 2019 have so of the future in your head? Good thoughts, many similarities that they could be siblings if good words, good deeds. That's what you not twins. Each gets its title from a famous should aspire to.” rock song. Each takes place in England in “Yes. And how's that worked out for you?” approximately the same time period. In each, Freddie answers in an angry tone before leav- the central character is a young South Asian ing. man facing similar conflicts around family A teenage boy, Javed is talking with his and culture. Each story is accompanied by childhood friend, Matt and Matt's new girl- and told through the music of the rock group friend in the cul de sac parking area of the that created and performed the title song. surrounding row houses in which they both The films are Bohemian Rhapsody and live when Javed's father pulls up in his car in Blinded by the Light. The first starts around front of their home a short distance away. 1970 and came out in theaters in 2018; the “What are they doing?” he barks at Javed, second starts in the 1980's and came out in looking at Matt and the pretty girl kissing. He theaters in 2019. Each is based on a true story, then continues, “How can you be friends with Bohemian Rhapsody on the life of the self- that boy? No shame at all. I didn't move out of named Freddie Mercury, lead singer and song- Bury Park to see this. You should tell him this writer for the rock group Queen. Blinded by is very bad. Very bad behavior in a good the Light is based more loosely on the life of a neighborhood.” young man, known to us as Javed, and cen- “Dad, he's English.” tered around the music of Bruce Springsteen. The father scoffs and says, “Get the shop- We first see them living in their family ping out of the car.” homes in suburban England at that formative Javed sighs. time in life between adolescence and adult- The first scene comes early in the film, hood, perhaps the second major experience of Bohemian Rhapsody, the second early in separation and individuation. Blinded by the Light. The overall impression is We are in a family home somewhere in essentially the same, two sons in conflict with England. their fathers. Freddie Mercury is the older of “Dinner is ready.” these two sons and probably further along in “I'm not hungry, Mum,” a young man his development. We see him openly defiant, answers. confronting his critical father directly. From “Hmm, where are you going? Out with the tone of the language alone, we get the friends? A girl?” sense that he is still feeling close to his moth- “Oh, Mum.” er. “Look at you. Give your mother a kiss.” Javed is clearly younger and although frus- He does. trated, he confronts his father mildly, as if try- “I'm going to be late.” ing to convince him with logic with “he's “You're always late.” English,” showing his frustration with an “Hi, Papa. How was work?” a younger inward sigh of resignation. If Freddie is in woman, obviously his sister calls out as a mid- open rebellion, Javed is resigned to his fate, to dle-aged man, dressed in a suit, carrying a this point, defeated. newspaper comes in the front door. There is nothing unusual about two films He addresses the young man who is about that depict a father and son in conflict, but,

Twin Films Stein these two films offer a particular and particu- him and a friend from a table in a coffee shop. larly interesting version of this iconic face-off There is an active psychoanalytic literature by highlighting the element of immigration. on the subject of immigration. It has in recent Freddie Mercury's father was an Indian Parsi years been the subject of regular discussion by culture and a Zoroastrian by religion. The groups at the meetings of the American family had emigrated to England from Psychoanalytic Association. I am not an Zanzibar. Javed's family was from Pakistan authority on the subject and will not attempt and Moslem. Both fathers were born and grew to play one here, but will rely on these two up in a different culture than their sons. Each films as my authority. has an accent, each sees himself as foreign What they both reveal is the effect of immi- born and not part of English culture. The sons, gration on family dynamics, intergenerational on the other hand, have gone to English differences, and what we as psychoanalysts schools and are striving to overcome preju- tend to package under the Oedipus complex. dices to find their place in English society. What we see and experience with each of (Freddie Mercury actually went to an English these films is how immigration may dramati- school in India before immigrating, but the cally widen the divide between generations, in film does not tell us that.) this case between fathers and sons. The divide We see Javed's father taking him to his first begins with ideals. I have already indicated day of what we would call high school. Sitting that both Freddie and Javed's fathers view in the car at the school, Javed's father tells him their sons as failing to live up to the ideals to study hard and “look for the Jews … do which those fathers grew up with. Freddie what the Jews do. They're very successful peo- Mercury's father condenses it into a simple ple.” Javed tells him that sounds racist. His rule, “Good thoughts, good words, good father tells him to stay away from girls, “You're deeds.” here to study, okay?” He adds before leaving But the failure of ideals is mutual. Freddie is him off, “I'll find you a wife in good time. You openly dismissive of his father: “And how's leave that up to me.” that worked out for you?” His dismissive In contrast, on that first day, we see Javed in words and tone tell us that he does not see his a class led by Miss Clay, a young enthusiastic father as an ideal to live up to, but as some- teacher who encourages her students to make thing of a failure. Similarly, we see in Blinded a difference. She asks if anyone wants to be a by the Light that Javed see his father as periph- writer. Javed raises his hand, then lowers it. eral to the suburban English society in which She asks him about that after class. He tells they live. He tries to bridge that gap by telling her he's been writing poems and a diary since his father about his friend, “He's English.” In 10, “but they're not that good.” When she asks effect, he is also hoping to make his father him why he does it, he says to put down his aware of the unspoken fact that he, Javed, is thoughts and adds, “In my house, no one's also very much English. In part that divide has allowed opinions except my dad.” to do with the bigotry of the society, but in The fathers clearly want their sons to behave part it has to do with his father not under- like proper members of the culture in which standing the workings and values of the socie- they, the fathers, were born. They see their ty in which the young man hopes to grow. sons' attempts to find a place in the English This is something which I think a number of culture as rebellion, betrayal and a failure to readers have some immediate access to in live up to the ideals of the father. their lives as well as their work. Speaking for Javed in particular is squeezed between the myself, my parents grew up in this country, two cultures. Practically ordered by his father my father having gotten here at a young age. to avoid absorbing British values, he is given a They were clearly identified as Americans, and similar message from the other side by openly had values and goals in keeping with that. hostile bigots who write hate phrases on the Their parents, my grandparents, came to this walls of the town in which they live and chase country as adults. Their backgrounds and

Twin Films Stein childhood memories were from a different known and lived in all his life; the next place and culture. They varied in their own moment we hear the drums beating and ability to recognize the differences and horns blasting and the lyrics coming from attempt to adapt to the new culture, but in all Bruce's voice and then see the lyrics flashing cases there was clearly a broad divide between across the screen in the air and on the walls of generations, a divide that I could see as a the town as people begin to magically dance child, more strikingly in the case of my moth- to the music all over Luton, England in an er's family. I'm sure that many of those read- Arlowian mix of fantasy and reality. Like ing this have a similar family history and some Freddie Mercury, Javed is freed with the help level of experience with immigration. of the music to follow his creativity. What these two films bring to us is that the Each father has warned his son to contain Oedipus complex from a Freudian perspective himself to fit the ideals of the culture from and the issue of idealization from a self-psy- which the family came. Freddie's father cor- chological perspective are dramatically affect- rects him with the credo of his religion and ed by this element of parent and child having beliefs, not a bad credo, but used more as a been born into different cultures. In fact, if we cudgel than an invitation: “Good thoughts, look at the development of the two stories, I good words, good deeds.” He tells him that he think we find that neither Freddie nor Javed shouldn't be going out every night and could successfully negotiate his way in the becoming involved in the world of rock music. society in which he lives without separating That might be good advice for some young himself from the values and ideals of his men, but not for Freddie Mercury. father. Freddie Mercury, as we know and will Javed's father wants him to work hard also experience through the film, achieves studying to prepare himself for a life in busi- success as a brilliant writer and performer of ness and money, but Javed envisions himself rock music. Javed has chosen to be a journal- as a writer. Like, Freddie's father, Javed's ist, an ambition that conflicts with his father's father thinks he is wasting his time and fool- view of the world which would have him study ishly trying to join in English culture, leaving business and finance. his own behind. Javed has allies: a woman Enter music. In each film, music plays a role writing teacher at his school; a girl in that as the vehicle that gives the young man same class, Eliza, who also becomes a fan, strength and helps him to succeed in the new friend and girlfriend; an older man, a very culture. In the case of Freddie Mercury that is British older neighbor who accidentally sees a obvious, and follows from the biopic that gives sample of Javed's writing and brings it back to the film its name and central plot. Through his him with high praise and encouragement; music—his singing, writing, performing—he and, of course, “the Boss,” the idealized father will achieve incredible and unquestioned suc- figure, Bruce Springsteen. cess. For Javed, the music gives him an ally, a Like Javed, Freddie also has allies: the mem- source of inner strength, and the words need- bers of his band, “Queen,” and, like Javed, a ed to express his pain and his desires. He gets young woman he fell in love with early in his that through the music and lyrics of Bruce career (before realizing that he was attracted Springsteen, “The Boss,” and I don't think we to men), and who became a stable element in should dismiss the paternal significance of his life, at one point re-directing him back to that title. people who were his true allies and away from Both of these films demonstrate the power an agent who was using him and isolating of music to move us. I found this particularly him. true in Blinded by the Light. One moment, we For Javed, his English girlfriend also acts as a see Javed almost in despair, hopeless to over- link for him between the cultures, helping him come the control of his father and the threat to connect with his father. of violence and rejection from members of the Which brings us to the final similarity. community, really the only community he has I have presented these two films as siblings,

Twin Films Stein parallel process on the screens in the the- We see Javed walking in the windy street aters—fathers and sons, South Asian culture, with a look and stride of confidence. rock music, creativity vs. conformity, immigra- I have always liked Springsteen's music, but tion and its intergenerational effects. I had never before understood with such To this, I will add one more parallel. It is the immediacy how he was reaching out to a part one I alluded to at the beginning of this of the culture that was beaten down by pover- piece—the very beginning. ty and lack of opportunity or, in this case, to “If I know it's Schmaltzy, then why am I cry- an oppressed minority. As the film progresses, ing?” we hear and see that music and those lyrics In both cases, the tears were accompanied appearing all over with people dancing to it in by and brought on by music. I don't think I'm the streets as if the fantasy that we are experi- surprising anyone when I say that music can encing through Javed has taken over the entire seemingly reach down directly to that part of film and everyone in it. our brains (the periaqueductal grey?) that Springsteen's music also gives Javed another brings out affects, emotions, feelings. positive father figure, the father of his friend, Tears came to my eyes earlier in Blinded Matt, who is from the older generation that than in Rhapsody, and I'll begin there. revered Springsteen. The tears began for me—unexpectedly—at a That's where the tears first came to my eyes, point early in the film. We have seen Javed's essentially tears of joy. But those are not really struggle with his desires and ambitions, the tears that I am alluding to as the ones that simultaneously beaten down by the well- unite these two sibling films. Those came clos- meaning pressure from his father encouraging er to the end, so I'll fast forward, starting this him to hold on to time honored traditions and time with Bohemian Rhapsody. the hate mongering of bigoted, xenophobic Like Javed, Freddie Mercury also endures a neighbors who put up signs on the walls crisis. Through the machinations of his agent telling “Pakis” to go home, get out. and his own distrust of attachments, he At that point at which we are feeling the becomes isolated from his family, his band, weight of defeat, hopelessness on Javed's Queen, and Mary, the former girlfriend who shoulders, he listens to Springsteen. After his he continues to love. It is Mary who acts as the father has lost his job due to cuts, a despair- catalyst to bring him back from this isolation. ing, frustrated Javed tries to throw his poetry She meets him at an isolated house at which into the outdoor garbage only to have it blown he is staying and awakens him to the fact that away by a violent storm and spread around his agent has been filtering his contacts. the neighborhood. Back in his room he puts She also tells him that the agent has kept on earphones and plays a disk of Springsteen from him information about a worldwide music leant to him by another student, a Sikh, series of charitable concerts being planned who wanted to introduce him to “The Boss.” under the name Live Aid and including a mas- As we listen with him, Springsteen's words sive concert to be given at London's Wembley come up on the screen. I was immediately stadium. Freddie recontacts the band mem- struck by how well they suited his situation: bers and a sympathetic lawyer who has “nothing but tired … tired, bored with helped them and helps arrange to have Queen myself … I aint getting nowhere. I'm just liv- take part in the Wembley stadium concert. ing in a dump like this. There's something Freddie also faces another crisis. He has happening somewhere” been diagnosed with AIDS, a virtual death And as it goes on and we see Javed walking sentence in the early '90's. With this added and looking and remembering, Springsteen's weight, he approaches the date of the concert. words offer him hope as he changes songs. In a series of scenes we witness him re-uniting “I aint a boy, no I'm a man, and I believe in a with the band, then with a somewhat older promised land.” gay man, Jim Hutton, presented to us as ethi-

Twin Films Stein cal and empathic, whom he had met by and thousands of others. We see the phone chance earlier in the film. He goes with Jim to operators taking a barrage of calls for dona- meet with his family. When his father asks tions around the world. how he and Jim know each other, do they And then us, the audience in the theater, work together, Freddie puts his hand on Jim's, feeling a reunion with a man who has strug- saying that Jim is his friend. He then tells gled with self-imposed loneliness as he sings, them he is going to the concert. His sister tells “We are the champions, my friends.” As he is his parents that Freddie will perform at Live finishing the song, we see Mary reaching out Aid and Freddie explains, to Jim and see his mother with tears in her “We're all doing our bit for the starving chil- eyes. dren in Africa, and nobody's taking any In Blinded by the Light, Javed is faced with a money.” smaller venue, but the effect is no less dramat- Hearing this, Freddie's father slowly ic. He is the first honoree to speak at a prize- approaches him. giving ceremony (1988) at his school. Here, Freddie tells him, “Good thoughts, good too the young woman in his life, Eliza, plays words, good deeds. Just like you taught me, an important role in his “reunion” with his Father.” family. We see her coming to Javed's family's His father embraces him and they share a door and introducing herself to his mother. long, warm hug. As he leaves, he promises to At the ceremony, Javed is introduced as blow his mother a kiss when he's on the stage. reading an extract from “A Runaway American How could I keep from crying. Dream in Luton.” The film has actually begun with Freddie He says, “Bruce Springsteen was, to quote going up onto the stage at Wembley, but at the album he is most famous for, born in the that point we don't know the significance of USA, but he has fans around the world, what we are seeing. Now he and the band go including me. I was not born in the USA, and I up on that stage in front of an audience of grew up not in Asbury Park, New Jersey, but thousands, broadcast to an audience of mil- Bury Park, Luton. But the reason I connected lions, with Mary and her man beside Jim with Springsteen is because what he sings Hutton nearby watching and Freddie's family, about and champions are not only American with his father at the center, also watching values but are the best of human values. He them on the Telly. talks about working hard and holding on to It is 1985. With all this in mind, we see your dreams and not letting the hardness of Freddie onstage at Wembley on the piano, the world stop you from letting the best of you singing. slip away. In these words, I see a bridge “Mama, just killed a man. between Springsteen and my own Asian Put a gun against his head, upbringing.” Pulled my trigger now he's dead. At this point, his family enters the room and Mama, life has just begun, stands in the back. But now I've gone and thrown it all away.” “And that is why the music and values of As he goes on, we see his sister, mother and Springsteen's American dream can reach and father watching at home, while Mary, wide- touch a boy from … “ eyed, with her man and Jim just behind them, He sees his family and says, “I don't know if looking on close to the stage.. I can read this,” but is encouraged to go on. “Mama, I don't want to die, but sometimes He does continue, now looking at his family. wish I'd never been born at all.” “When I wrote this, I really believed every As he moves to another song, “Radio,” the word, but now... A lot has happened since I entire stadium sings along. A man who has wrote those words. Then, I thought Bruce lived his life with ambivalent attachments Springsteen was the answer and all I had to do now finds himself united with friends, family was live by his words. I don't think that's true

Twin Films Stein anymore. Bruce Springsteen got out of New heart.” Jersey by following his dream. Bruce sings, 'If They come together and have a brief, but dreams came true, well, wouldn't that be nice? very loving kiss. But this ain't no dream we're living through “You told my family, didn't you? Thank tonight. If you want it, you take it, and you pay you.” the price.' So the question I'm asking is: Can I She smiles acknowledgement and tells him, pay that price? I know having dreams doesn't “Now go and speak to your dad.” make me a bad son. I also know that every- He does, first greeting his mother and sister. thing I am is because of the sacrifices my His dad's words are equally touching. mum and dad made. My dad's not a typical “Son. This Bruce Springsteen, are you sure dad. We don't have jokey chats. He's not like he's American? Yes. And not Jewish. I read his the dad you see on telly. A lot of the time, he songs. He said work hard, don't give up, seems pretty angry at the world. I think Bruce respect your parents. This man must be Springsteen would understand my dad, cause Pakistani. Son, write your stories, yes. But like his father, they both came from poor don't forget ours.” backgrounds, both worked hard in factories, I probably don't have to make the point both had dreams that never came true, which here that these fraternal films bring us in left them angry. And they both had sons who touch with a conflict between separation/ wanted the chance to make them proud. individuation and attachment. In each, the Bruce has a song called "Blinded by the tears of joy flow from a young man's reunion Light." And when I first heard it, I thought... I with his family, but a reunion not as a child, thought it was about love and being blinded but as an adult. by the love we might have for a girl or money. They also clearly focus, within that theme, But last night, I listened to it again. And Bruce on fathers and sons, giving us a glimpse of an is saying so much more. I was blinded by the aspect of the “male Oedipus complex” that light when I first heard Springsteen because I isn't always emphasized, the need for a was only thinking, in that moment, about reunion of father and son on equal terms in Springsteen and me. But we're not all just acknowledgment of their love for one another. individuals. We have friends ... and family ... and what they think does matter. Success without them isn't really success. Being blinded meant I couldn't see how much I am like my dad and my dad is like me. And as much as I wanted to leave Luton, I understand that it will never leave me. Bruce says no one wins unless everybody wins. My hope is to build a bridge to my ambitions but not a wall between my family and me. That's my dream. My American dream. In Luton.” After the talk we see him standing near the stage, where he is approached by Eliza. He had stopped seeing her, in part out of hopelessness. Now, he tells her, “I'm so sorry. I've missed you like mad.” She answers, quoting Springsteen, “Like a river that don't know where it's flowing, you took a wrong turn and you just kept going. But everybody's got a hungry heart.” He echoes, “Everybody's got a hungry

News and Notes of Members Authors Honors Speakers Books Dr. Michael Garrett was Dr. Kerry Sulkowicz was a co- Friedman, Lawrence (2019) selected to be the annual leader for an online discussion Freud’s Papers on honoree and plenary speak- group sponsored by Physicians Technique and er at the ISPS-US for Human Rights about the Contemporary Clinical (International Society for mental health implications of Practice. Routledge, 240 pp. Psychological and Social the pandemic on April 2. Approaches to Psychosis) Garrett, Michael (2019) Annual Conference in Psychotherapy for Atlanta in October this year. Psychosis: Integrating PANY Members Cognitive Behavioral and Dr. Tracy Luther was gradu- Psychodynamic Treatment, ated from the PANY adult If you have something to say, Guilford Press is in its sec- psychoanalytic program on this may be the place to do it. ond printing, and is slated April 2, 2020. Send in articles about inter- for translation into Italian esting work you are doing Dr. Kerry Sulkowicz was and Russian. with your psychoanalytic elected President at the win- skills, insights and psychoan- Schwartz, Harvey (2020) ter meeting of the American alytically inspired commen- The Jewish Thought and Psychoanalytic Association Psychoanalysis Lectures. and has taken office as taries on a variety of subjects. Phoenix Publishing House. President-Elect. Send us poetry you’ve writ- 156 pp. (available in ten. paperback) This is your Bulletin, Papers to read and to write. Lament, Claudia (2020) PANY Members Useful untruths: another look at pluralism in the Please send your informa- clinical setting. tion for News and Notes to Psychoanalytic Quarterly If you want to send a mes- 89: 2. [email protected] sage to the PANY community or ask a question, you Book Reviews or by snail mail to can now do it via email at Glick, Robert reviewed Freud’s Papers on Herbert H. Stein, M.D. [email protected] Technique and Contempo- 425 East 79 Street rary Clinical Practice by New York, NY 10075 Lawrence Friedman. Psychoanalytic Quarterly 89: 165-171.

Garrett, Michael D. (2019) Dr. Jennifer Stuart will be reviewed Outpatient Book Reviews happy to hear from PANY Treatment of Psychosis: continued Psychodynamic Approaches faculty and candidates to Evidence-Based Practice Journal of the American interested in reviewing edited by David L. Psychoanalytic Association books for JAPA. Downing and John Mills. 67:1065-1071.

PANY at the Winter Meeting

Christopher Christian Ph. D. was a Presenter Dionne R. Powell, M.D. was a Discussant for at the DPE Research Education and Dialogue: the Committee Sponsored Workshop: “What do we mean by Corrective Emotional Psychotherapy Training Programs: Experience and what is its Therapeutic Role?” Considering Diversity with Faculty and Students. M. Nasir Ilahi, L.L.M. was a Co-Chair and Dr. Powell was the Discussant for the Discussant for the Discussion Group “Schizoid University Forum: Racism in America IV: Modes in Narcissistic and Borderline States: Return of the Biological Race: Has the Old Levels of Disturbance in the Capacity to Become New Again?” Symbolize and Establishing a Space-Time Continuum.” Steven S. Rolfe, M.D. was the Chair of the Mr. Ilahi was the Chair of the Discussion Committee Sponsored Workshop: Corporate Group, “Cultural Narratives in Psychoanalysis: and Organizational Consultants: The Clinical Relevance of Internalized Culture “Psychoanalytic Consulting to a Startup.” in a Globalized World.” Dr. Rolfe was a Co-Chair for the Discussion Group: “‘Ulysses’ and Psychoanalyis.” Theodore J. Jacobs, M.D. was the Discussant for the Discussion Group “Enriching Adult Diana S. Rosenstein, Ph. D. was the Chair of Analytic Work by Child Analytic Supervision, the Discussion Group: The Inside Focus: Training , and Practice. Listening for Affect and Defense Inside the Dr. Jacobs was Chair of the Panel: “Between Clinical Hour.” Insight and Change. Dr. Jacobs was a Panelist at the DPE Idea Harvey Schwartz, M.D. was a Co-Chair for the Incubation Workshop. Committee Sponsored Workshop: “Teaching About Analytic Case Writing.” Claudia Lament, Ph. D. was Chair of the Child Dr. Schwartz was a Co-Chair for the and Adolescent Panel: “Psychoanalytic Discussion Group, “Writing About Your Perspectives on Autism Across the Lifespan.” Analytic Work in a Case Report.”

Laurie J. Levinson, Ph. D. was a Co-Chair and Herbert H. Stein, M.D. was the Presenter for Discussant for the Discussion Group, the Service Members and Veterans Initiative. “Unconscious Reverberations in Child and Adolescent Analysis: The Challenges of Kerry J. Sulkowicz, M.D. was a Discussant for Maintaining an Intrapsychic Focus.” the Committee Sponsored Workshop: Corporate and Organizational Consultants: Jack Novick, Ph. D. was a Co-Chair for the “Psychoanalytic Consulting to a Startup.” Discussion Group, “Parent Work in Dr. Sulkowicz was a Co-Chair and Presenter Psychoanalysis.” for the Discussion Group: “Psychodynamic Problems in Organizations.” Kerry Kelly Novick was a Co-Chair for the Discussion Group, “Parent Work in Jason A. Wheeler, Ph. D. was the Presenter for Psychoanalysis.” the Two-Day Clinical Workshop of the Workshop Series in Analytic Process and Technique.

Bulletin of the Psychoanalytic Association of New York