Proteophobia

In this chapter, Strosberg provides an in-depth analysis and expansion of Zygmunt Bauman’s theory of proteophobia, defined as the fear of what defies clear-cut categorization. The author offers a concise overview and elucidation of the concept while exploring its contemporary perspectives from scholars such as Bryan Cheyette. The argument posits that many instances of anti-Semitism may be rooted in a proteophobic anxiety regarding Jewish and diasporic questions, particularly those involving shapeshifting, ambivalence, and otherness. Proteophobia has not received adequate attention, despite its potential as a valuable resource for contemporary researchers. The exploration of proteophobia is further enriched by probing into psychoanalytic theories of phobia, ambivalence, and rhetoric. The chapter incorporates insights from Franz Fanon, Jacques Lacan, Jean Laplanche, Bryan Cheyette, and Michael Rosenberg to enhance the understanding of the function of proteophobia and proposes strategies for resistance against proteophobia and anti-Semitism.