Nietzsche and Freud: Pandora's box of transgressive contemporary art

Abstract

Kieran Cashell defines the art of transgression as shaped by the "dark troika" (Nietzsche, Freud, and Bataille). This paper examines how their philosophical and psychoanalytic contributions have influenced contemporary art, particularly, works that challenge traditional aesthetics such as form, symmetry, and beauty, often described as "de immundo" by Jean Clair. Nietzsche’s early work, The Birth of Tragedy, introduces the Apollonian and Dionysian dichotomy, which highlights the tension between order and chaos, providing a framework for understanding transgressive artistic expressions. This paper links Nietzsche’s philosophy to Freudian psychoanalysis, particularly, in relation to the sublimation of repressed drives like aggression and sexuality in art. It further explores how contemporary transgressive art reflects these ideas through the violation of societal norms, taboos, and the exploration of the body’s limits. Dance, as a bodily medium, plays a crucial role in these explorations, serving as a space for embodying chaos, passion, and liberation. Both, visual art and dance, through their engagement with the repressed and the taboo, subvert established boundaries, allowing for an exploration of deeper aspects of human nature and cultural norms. Ultimately, this paper asserts that transgressive art, including dance, remains a potent means for challenging and reconfiguring the limits of representation and social order.