Topics in Literary and Cultural Theory : ‘Psychoanalytic Turns’

Seminar explores turns to psychoanalysis in the history, theory, and criticism of art and literature. Reading psychoanalytic writings by Freud, Ferenczi, Lacan, Klein, Laplanche, and others, paths and detours lead to problems of terminology, translation, mediation. Addressing works of art and literature, questions arise about how those works might be understood as instances of psychoanalytic criticism and/or critiques of psychoanalysis. A need for critical reflection on the meaningfulness of psychoanalytic theories for current scholarship in the humanities is a guiding concern of this seminar. Seminar guests include practicing psychoanalysts. Taught in English. Reading knowledge of German and/or French desirable but not required.