COLT 66.01 What is Psychoanalysis?

This course aims to explore the relationship between literature and the theoretical and clinical writings of psychoanalysis. Through readings representing a range of psychoana­lytic and literary traditions, we will examine the connections that can be made between psy­chic structures and literary structures, between the language of the mind and the emotions and the language of the literary, cultural or cinematic text. What is the relationship between “literary” works and the theoretical and clinical writings of psychoanalysis? How do they inform one another? This large question will be examined through readings of essays and case histories by theorists such as Freud, Lacan, Kristeva, Butler,  Phillips, Bersani and Zizek. The course will focus on the theme of the family romance and its relationship to the question of gender in works by authors such as Sophocles, Shakespeare, Montaigne, Kafka, Woolf, Mann, Proust, Duras, and Almadovar.

Degree Requirement Attributes

Dist:INT or LIT; WCult:W

The Timetable of Class Meetings contains the most up-to-date information about a course. It includes not only the meeting time and instructor, but also its official distributive and/or world culture designation. This information supersedes any information you may see elsewhere, to include what may appear in this ORC/Catalog or on a department/program website. Note that course attributes may change term to term therefore those in effect are those (only) during the term in which you enroll in the course.

Department-Specific Course Categories

Comparative Literature