Alejandra Jalof: "Writing and psychoanalysis are closely related"

In Buenos Aires, a literary debate has unfolded over the role of language in society, with one writer arguing that writers must challenge common assumptions and use their craft as a tool for critical thought. The discussion centers around the work of Alejandra Jalof, a writer and psychoanalyst whose new book explores the relationship between writing and the unconscious mind. In a recent interview with Perfil, Jalof described her approach to writing as one that deliberately disrupts the accepted norms of everyday language, using it as both a weapon and a shield. Jalof explained that she sees a deep connection between her practice as a psychoanalyst and her work as a writer. Both disciplines, she argued, involve uncovering hidden meanings within seemingly ordinary expressions. She emphasized that while daily communication relies on shared linguistic conventions, such as the phrase “¿todo bien?”, writing allows for a more radical interrogation of these norms. For her, writing is not merely a means of conveying information but an act of resistance against the passive acceptance of established meanings. She pointed out that this process is particularly relevant in times when authoritarian figures seek to control public discourse. According to Jalof, the exercise of professional and critical journalism is essential to democracy, and it often provokes discomfort among those who believe they hold exclusive access to truth. Her argument suggests that literature, too, plays a vital role in challenging dominant narratives and exposing the subtle ways in which meaning is shaped and controlled. Jalof described the concept of the “common sense” as a kind of obstacle that writers must actively confront. Rather than allowing familiar expressions to dictate the direction of a text, she believes writers should question them, revealing alternative interpretations. This, she said, is akin to the work of a psychoanalyst, who identifies unconscious patterns embedded in speech that go unnoticed by the speaker themselves. She called this phenomenon “what passes as contraband in speaking,” suggesting that such insights can lead to moments of revelation or epiphany. The writer also highlighted how this method manifests in her own writing. She described certain small, seemingly insignificant details as “divine details”, moments that, when explored, reveal deeper layers of meaning. These details, she argued, are not just aesthetic choices but crucial elements that allow the written word to transcend mere communication and become an act of exploration and intervention. For Jalof, the goal of writing is not simply to reproduce existing meanings but to pause before them, to examine what might be overlooked or suppressed. She sees this as a core aspect of both literary creation and psychoanalysis, where the act of stopping to look closely at what appears obvious can open up new possibilities for understanding. Her latest works, Fotosíntesis and Linaje Caníbal, reflect this philosophy. Through them, she invites readers to engage with language not as a fixed system but as a dynamic space that can be questioned, challenged, and transformed. By doing so, she argues, writing becomes more than a form of expression, it becomes a site of political and intellectual engagement.