Freud recognized literature's  intuitive  potential of understanding psychic undercurrents and drives, and often referred to literature for support of his theories of human depth psychology.  In fact, he constituted significant parts of his theory in close relations with well known literary works and literary protagonists. Variations on this model, which seeks literature's affirmation of psyhchoanalitic  concepts, as well as alternative attitudes regarding psychoanalysis and literature, were proposed by prominent  post-Freudian psychoanalysts such as Melanie Klein and Jacque Lacan. 

The seminar will be devoted to a critical discussion of these various theoretical position, specifically from the point of view of the renown literature scholar Shoshana Felman, as proposed in her seminal essay "The Question of Reading: Otherwise". We will investigate, among other things, the intiricate power relations between psychoanalysis and literature Felman describes, her innovative reply to the question of what is a psychoanalitic reading, as well as the new reading paradigm she thus formulates.

Reading materials will include literary works that functioned as case studies for the above mentioned theoretician (such as A.T.A Hoffman's "The Sandman", Balzac's "The Girl with the Golden Eyes" and Henry Jamse's "The Turn of the Screw". We will also read chapters from Freud, Klein, Lacan and Felman.

Requirments:

Previous aquaintance with psychoanalytic theory – recommended.

Presence in all meetings of seminar and fullfilment of weekly reading assignments.

Final paper (100% of final grade)