Dirty Words: The Expressive Power of Taboo

by Ariel C. Arango

Taboo words are the subject of this text, which traces the psychic origins of dirty words to early infancy and childhood, and their place and value in life and analytic therapy. It refers to dirty words used by Rabelais, Quevado, Mozart, Voltaire, the Marquis de Sade, Joyce and Lawrence.

Genres: Textbooks

232 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1977

Reviews

[Monse · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tan Freudiano que da asco...

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A psychoanalytical analysis to the expression of sexual taboos in Western European languages and cultures. Examples are taken from Ancient Greek mythology and from various classics of the Western cannon. Heavily influenced by Freud. Author is a female practicing psychoanalyst in South America. Hey contention is quite similar to Freud’s: prohibitions against sexual language and expressing oneself erotically are harmful to humans because denying who you were, are, and will be is bad for your health and your mind. Interesting read.

[Eli · Rating 2 out of 5]

A gloriously awful romp in 1980s Freudian thought. The author's raptures of the wonderfulness of breasts and derrières are absolutely laughter-inducing. Read it as a parody of Freudianism to get the most out of it.

[Eric · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mostly psycho-babble with Freudian interpretations of dirty words. Some of the quotes and histories of words are interesting, but in general this book is more yawn-inducing than intriguing.

[Kupie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only read a couple of chapters before the message got repetitive. It's a good premise and I enjoyed what I read, but I didn't feel like it required an entire book with a chapter for each word.