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The podcast “Deep Dive Into October 7th” analyzes the 2023 Supernova Festival attack through the lens of Freudian psychoanalysis, focusing on Işık Barış Fidaner’s concept of the “counter-edipal drive.” It explores generational tensions, the symbolic father-son dynamic, and the psychological underpinnings of rebellion and violence. The discussion ties in cultural references like “The Last Temptation of Christ” to examine how generational abandonment can foster resentment, driving extreme actions. The episode stresses the importance of societal empathy and understanding to avoid such cycles of violence.

Generated by Google’s NotepadLM website given these links:

1) Counter-Oedipal Drive in the Festival Raid

2) Judas and Hamas

This is part of Numerical Discourses

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All right, so today we’re diving into something pretty heavy. Yeah, it’s the 2023 Supernova Festival attack, but we’re looking at it through a very specific lens, right? Not just the what but the why. Exactly, and to do that, we’re using, get this, Freudian psychoanalysis, which I know might sound a little out there, but just hear us out on this. Our guide for this deep dive is the work of Işık Barış Fidaner. He connects this really tragic event to some pretty big ideas. Yeah, some really interesting stuff. It even brings in the movie The Last Temptation of Christ, which, okay, gotta admit that one threw me for a loop at first. Oh, for sure, it’s a curveball, but actually, you’ll see, it makes a lot of sense in this context.

So, to start, I think it’s important to set the scene. Imagine a massive rave near Gaza, billed as a parallel universe, the Supernova experience, drawing in all these young people looking to escape, lose themselves in the music, the energy, this stark contrast, right? That’s where Fidaner’s analysis starts to get really interesting. It’s in these moments, these clashes, where we often find ourselves searching for deeper meaning. And he suggests we need to go beyond the surface, beyond just the headlines, the political arguments. Exactly, he wants us to delve into the psychological underpinnings, specifically something called the counter-edipal drive.

Okay, I gotta stop you right there. Counter-edipal drive? That’s a new one, even for me. It’s not as widely talked about, for sure. So, for those of us who might have slipped through Psych 101, break it down for us. All right, so picture this: a world grappling with climate change, right? Older generations hold a lot of the power and the money, right? But there’s this fear about the future their kids are inheriting, and this, Fidaner argues, creates a kind of anxiety, maybe even resentment. I can see that. He calls it the counter-edipal drive because, unlike the Oedipus complex, where it’s the son vying for the mother, right? Classic Freud. Here, it’s flipped. It’s the father figure, representing society, kind of subconsciously seeking to be free from the perceived burden of the younger generation.

Hold on, are you saying that society wants to be rid of its young people? It’s not about consciously wanting to harm anyone. Okay, good, because that took a turn. It’s more about recognizing these unconscious anxieties, this fear of the future. The younger generation embodies that unknown, and for some, maybe it feels like an unwanted future. So, less about malice, more about this disconnect. Exactly. Remember, we’re exploring psychological pressures here, but it’s within this context that the Supernova Festival attack takes on a whole new meaning.

Okay, so let’s say, for argument’s sake, we entertain this idea of the counter-edipal drive. How does that impact a teenager? That is the million-dollar question, right? Like, if you grow up feeling like society sees you as the problem? Well, that’s where Fidaner’s analysis gets even more interesting. I’m a little scared to ask. He argues that risky behavior, especially in adolescence, can become a way to elicit a reaction from the father, to force those in authority to acknowledge their existence. So, it’s like going to a dangerous place knowing it’s a risk but needing that reaction to feel seen? Think of it as a cry for attention, a rebellion against being dismissed, ignored, like they’re saying, “Look at me,” even if it’s in the context of danger. “I exist.” And that need, that drive to be seen, it can lead to, well, as we’ve been discussing, some pretty extreme behavior.

And this is where Fidaner brings in a really fascinating comparison, though you might not expect it. Yeah, the movie The Last Temptation of Christ, not exactly your typical psychoanalysis material, right? But it’s about this idea of an absent father figure, not literally absent but in the symbolic sense. Okay, I’m intrigued. Unpack that a little. So, in the film, you have Jesus tempted to avoid his fate, right? To choose a normal life, basically saying, “Thanks, but no thanks” to the whole Messiah thing. Yeah, basically shirking the role that’s been laid out for him, rejecting that destiny. And does he find peace and happiness that way? Not even close. In fact, it leads to disaster. Really? How so? It’s like his avoidance, it backfires. He ends up in constant conflict, turmoil, never finding peace because he never actually stepped into his role, never confronted it head-on. Exactly. Without that father figure, that guiding force setting limits, even through challenges or even, dare I say, discipline, right? Without that, the son remains trapped, can’t find his place, stuck, yearning for recognition but going about it all wrong. It’s like that saying, you know, sometimes a little tough love is better than being ignored.

That’s a great way to put it. And while we’ve been talking individuals, this dynamic, it scales up. You’re saying it plays out on a societal level too? Exactly. Fidaner sees echoes of this in how Hamas justified the Supernova attack. Okay, this is obviously a very sensitive topic, and I want to be crystal clear with everyone listening. Of course, absolutely. We are in no way condoning this horrific act of violence. 100%. This is about understanding, not justifying. Right, because Fidaner, he’s not saying the attack was justified, not at all, but he’s highlighting a potential connection to this generational resentment, this sense of abandonment.

So, he’s drawing a parallel between how Judas felt toward Jesus in the film? Yes. Remember that resentment, that betrayal Judas felt when Jesus chose a different path? Right, like Jesus was supposed to fulfill this destiny, and he just opted out. And Fidaner sees a similarity in the justifications given for the Supernova attack. You’re saying there’s this shared sense of the younger generation being failed, abandoned by those who were supposed to lead. It’s not about condoning the act itself, but understanding that despair, that anger that can fester when a whole generation feels hopeless, unheard, unseen. Exactly. And that feeling, that’s at the heart of the counter-edipal drive, this need to force a reaction, even a violent one.

So, where do we go from here? I mean, how do we escape this cycle, especially with all the very real problems facing future generations? That’s the million-dollar question, right? But Fidaner, he offers a glimmer of hope, I think. Okay, I’m listening because so far, it’s been a bit heavy. Remember how we talked about confronting the father, rebelling against those authority figures, the whole Oedipus thing? He argues that confrontation, yeah, it can be destructive, as we’ve tragically seen, but it’s also essential for growth. It’s how we define ourselves. Okay, so how do we take that energy, that frustration, and channel it into something positive? By understanding that this rebellion, this pushback, it’s how we find our place in the world. So, it’s not just about acting out, it’s about channeling that energy toward something constructive. Exactly, constructive being the key word here because, as we saw with Supernova, it can go very, very wrong. It can be devastating.

Right. So, the question becomes, how do we make sure that father listens, that society as a whole really sees the struggles of its young people, without leading to more violence, more pain? And that’s where things get really, really interesting because Fidaner, he leaves us with this powerful, even unsettling thought. He says it depends on how the older generation responds. It’s like he’s putting the ball in their court, challenging them. Yeah, exactly, like he’s asking, “Are you listening? Are you going to actually do something to make sure young people feel seen, heard, valued?” Because if not, if we keep ignoring them, dismissing their concerns, we risk seeing even more extreme forms of rebellion. And not just protest, but a real breakdown of how we do things, a rejection of the whole system.

Okay, that’s, yeah, that’s a lot to unpack. It’s heavy stuff. So then, what’s the answer? I mean, how do we actually break free from this cycle, especially with everything going on in the world? Well, it’s not easy, that’s for sure. But Fidaner, he says it starts with a shift in perspective. We have to stop seeing this as “us versus them,” stop seeing young people as the enemy. Right, their anxieties, their anger, it often comes from a place of caring, of wanting a better future. And that’s something we can all get behind. Instead of treating this generational thing as a battle, yeah, it’s more like we’re all on the same side, trying to solve a problem together. Exactly. It takes empathy, understanding, and that can be tough, especially these days when it feels like everyone’s at each other’s throats.

Which is why I think these deep dives are so important. It’s easy to get caught up in the headlines, to feel overwhelmed, but when we take the time to really dig into these issues, even when they take us to unexpected places like psychoanalysis. Exactly. It opens up new ways of seeing things, understanding the world and our place in it. It’s about connecting the dots, seeing the patterns. Even in events that seem totally senseless, there’s often a deeper story, something systemic going on. And maybe, just maybe, by understanding those deeper forces—the fears and anxieties that drive us, both as individuals and as a society, right?—maybe then we can start to bridge the gap

, create a world where tragedies like the Supernova Festival are unthinkable, where instead of leading to destruction, that rebellious energy, that desire for change, becomes a force for good. Right, driven by empathy, understanding, a shared commitment to making a better world for everyone. That’s a powerful vision. It’s a vision worth fighting for.

Absolutely. And to everyone listening, if this deep dive got you thinking, we want to hear from you. Until next time, keep asking those tough questions and keep diving deeper.