INDIVIDUAL and MASS

Stereoscopic Reading
of Modern Soul

jung-ellul.org

« Resistance to
the organized mass
can be affected only
by the man who is
as well organized
in his individuality
as the mass itself »

« We live in both
an individualistic and
a mass society. These
two characteristics
are often contrasted.
In reality, mass society
is fundamentally negative
towards the individual. »

Gegenwart und Zukunft, 1957
(Tr. The Undiscovered Self, 1958)

Propagandes, 1962
(Tr. Propaganda, 1965)

LUCIDITY

Welcome to anyone who,
by opportunity or out of curiosity,
will read these texts,

Recently written but nourished
by five decades of questioning
observations, experiences and readings,
they are published on this little site
like throwing a message into the ocean:
without any illusions, but with a hint of hope.

The hope that they will help us to better
understand how the City works
and provide enough energy
to get involved.

TENACITY

Presentation (ENGL)

Présentation (FR)

Apresentação (PORT)

Cross-readings of C.G. Jung
and Jacques Ellul

The impossible Realization

The Trump Phenomenon
interpreted through the work
of C.G. Jung and Jacques Ellul

April 10, 2021

Study Day
Technologies et inconscient
SFPA
(Société Française de
Psychologie Analytique)

March 25, 2023

Colloquium
Puissance de l’Ombre.
Entre individuel et collectif
AJPO
(Association Jungienne de
Psychanalyse d’Occitanie)

April 21, 2025

Written especially
at the attention
for American audience

Summary and extract – pdf
Texte intégral en français – pdf

Summary and extract – pdf

Full text – pdf

contact@jung-ellul.org

HOW TO RESIST ?

In his books, Jacques Ellul insists: “To be is to resist.” He points out that resistance
to the technological system is a priori inconceivable through political action and institutional
means because it first requires the demystification of the state.

This demystification is precisely what C.G. Jung also invites us to consider in his book
Gegenwart und Zukunft. He notes that we can only “become an individual” (individuation)
if we begin by expecting nothing from the state, politics, and more generally, the Zeitgeist.

Jung points out that the psyche only flourishes fully when it expresses itself
symbolically and the ego begins to listen to symbolic language.
Ellul, in The Empire of Nonsense, emphasizes how much the Technician System
is “symbolicidal” because it is based entirely on the principle of non-contradiction.

Therefore, the only way to resist this system - and at the same time to become an individual -
is to systematically and radically expose one's self to those who contradict it. This includes:
- “the other” (the lover, the friend, the neighbor, the chance encounter...);
- “the other within oneself” (the Shadow, the anima, the Self....);
- the Totally Other, if one benefits from its grace.

Everyone does as they wish and, above all, as they are able.
As for me, 50 years ago I chose to be contradicted by canvases and paintbrushes,
with the help of others, of “the other within me” and of the Other, when he chooses to inspire me.

I create two types of paintings: introspective paintings, in tune with my inner self,
and activist paintings, in tune with the outside world.

Here are seven activist paintings.

FRANCAIS........................ ENGLISH