Interpreting Culture (202-0-11)
Topic
Analyzing Freud
Instructors
Erica Suzanne Weitzman
847/467-1849
1880 Campus Drive, Kresge Hall, Rm 3333
Office Hours: Tues, 3:30-5:30 PM and by appointment
Meeting Info
Kresge Centennial Hall 2-425: Mon, Wed 2:00PM - 2:50PM
Overview of class
This class will take a look at the life and work of the groundbreaking Viennese psychologist Sigmund Freud
from a comparative and interdisciplinary angle. Almost 80 years after his death, Freud's legacy continues to be
controversial: some claim that his theories are no longer relevant in the light of new research, whereas others
defend his theories and/or expand upon the implications and influence of his ideas, in the realm not only of
psychology, medicine, and neuroscience, but also in the fields of sociology, cultural studies, philosophy, literary
studies, criminal justice, queer studies, women's studies, communications, and many more. What is certain,
however, is that, one way or another, Freud's theories and ideas have marked the world for all time. This class
will read fundamental texts from Freud's body of work in dialogue with texts by Freud's near and distant
predecessors and followers, both to situate Freud in his historical and cultural context, and to think through the
many different kinds of questions that Freud's work addresses.
Evaluation Method
Final Exam - In Class
Class Materials (Required)
- Sigmund Freud, The Freud Reader, ed. Peter Gay (Norton)
ISBN-13: 978-0393314038
- Sigmund Freud, Introductory Lectures on Psychoanalysis (Norton)
ISBN-13: 978-0393007435
- Franz Kafka, Letter to the Father (Schocken)
ISBN-13: 978-0805212662
Class Materials (Suggested)
All texts for the course will be available on Canvas.
Class Attributes
Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline
Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area
Associated Classes
DIS - Kresge 3354 German Seminar Rm.: Fri 2:00PM - 2:50PM
DIS - Kresge Centennial Hall 2-415: Fri 2:00PM - 2:50PM