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 136-077 Psychoanalysis and Social Theory

Note

Formerly available as 136-260/360. Students who have completed 136-260/360 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

Availability

2nd and 3rd year

Credit Points

12.5

Coordinator

Dr John Cash

Prerequisites

Usually 50 points of first year arts subjects.

Semester

1 (view timetable)

Contact

A 1-hour lecture and 1.5-hour seminar per week

Subject Description

Psychoanalysis has informed and influenced contemporary social theory in manifold ways. Psychoanalysis has been central to theorising the decentred subject, it has radically affected conceptualisations of ideology, thrown reason under radical suspicion and has contributed to a better understanding of identities; including identities of nation, race, gender and ethnicity. This subject investigates these issues in the context of a consideration of texts by Freud, Klein, Lacan, Kristeva, Adorno, Fromm, Habermas, Mitchell, Giddens, Flax and Althusser. Students who complete this subject should possess knowledge of some major traditions in psychoanalytic theory, particularly Freudian, Kleinian and Lacanian and should possess an awareness of why social theory has been drawn to psychoanalysis in order to analyse subjectivities, group processes, intergroup relations, ideological formations, and forms of reason.

Assessment

Written work totalling 4000 words.



Search : Index : Faculty of Arts : Social Theory
Prev 136-074 Theoretical Foundations of Sociology
Next 136-081 Social Theory Honours Thesis
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