Super Short Summary

Powers of Horror: An Essay on Abjection by Julia Kristeva explores the concept of the abject, which disrupts distinctions between self and others, evoking horror and nausea. Through a psychoanalytic and structuralist lens, Kristeva discusses abjection in art, literature, and culture, highlighting its role in human development and societal taboos. She examines religious rituals, particularly in Jewish and Christian contexts, as responses to abjection, and critically analyzes Louis-Ferdinand Céline’s work. Kristeva ultimately posits that literature exposes hidden abjection and urges psychoanalysts to confront it for mental well-being. The book discusses disturbing and grotesque images and addresses antisemitism.