Catharsis and P

In our limited edition, long story of life, we are sure there have been many moments where we have felt something that we have not experienced directly. Pull up some movies, we cry. Listen to songs and we occupy a different state of mind. Have you ever wondered what that specific process was like and tried to understand it? I did and it brought me to catharsis.

catharsis

Catharsis was once exclusive to medical science, the term being purely therapeutic and used in a medical sense. “Catharsis” in Greek then meant ‘purgation’ or ‘cleansing’ of disease. This is the simple literal meaning. If a person is ill, the person gradually recovers through the removal or elimination (cleansing) of harmful, toxic substances from the body. Thus the medicine becomes a laxative as it cleanses the body and produces relief and balance. The Hippocratic school of medicine (founded by the physician Hippocrates, known as the “Father of Medicine”) used this physical, material level of meaning extensively, setting the tone for ‘catharsis’ for those who would later seek it.

prosody

We are still in ancient Greece and now Aristotle wrote prosodyAn important foundational work for literature, literary theory, poetry, drama, and all that jazz. It was here that an attempt was made to define catharsis. However, Aristotle elevated the meaning as he did not take it literally and instead took a metaphorical twist.

One of the main topics discussed in prosody Greek word for tragedy or tragic drama/theatre. For Aristotle, catharsis is part of the experience of the larger tragic drama. Aristotelian catharsis occurs on a mental, emotional, intellectual level. If you watch a sad movie, you feel intense sadness. It’s like experiencing what a movie character goes through takes away some of your burden or worry, even if it’s just for a short period of time. In rather simple terms, what does Aristotle talk about tragedy prosody Is this.

purification

Thus, through catharsis, artistic presentation purifies the soul as well as clarifies it intellectually. Be it a song, a painting, or a movie, catharsis makes us feel satisfied to some extent. It takes our fears, worries, pity, sadness, etc. and focuses it toward something that is outside of us so that we can feel someone else’s pain or terror, without things changing for us. Even after watching the film, our reality remains the same.

purification vs purification

Purification simply means getting rid of while purification means getting rid of bad substances

Pleasure

Many critics of literary theory have different interpretations regarding the precise meaning of Aristotle’s catharsis. At the end of the day, one thing is for sure that the laxative process involves a level of enjoyment and happiness. We are spectators and we are always spectators in front of a work of art.

Aristotle says that catharsis is the telos (goal) of tragedy.

Psychology

final p; Catharsis has once again come into discussion due to psychoanalysis. Sigmund Freud conceptualized the term as the emotional release of paralytic effects that occur after trauma or other negative memories. He believed that bringing buried trauma to light could help people achieve catharsis.

The universality of catharsis and its purifying properties make it an important process for healing and achieving balance.