Englisches Seminar - Ruhr-Universität Bochum

Übung
050 702 Viol
Putting Britain on the Couch. Psychoanalysis and/in Cultural Studies, 3 CP
2 st. fr 10-12 GABF 04/413 Süd
The relationship between psychoanalysis and cultural studies is a highly complex
one. While psychoanalysis – itself arguably one of the most controversial,
misunderstood, and derided academic theories – has given some important stimuli to
the way cultural studies conceptualises phenomena like ideology, identity, ethnicity,
gender, and sexuality, many a cultural studies expert remains doubtful about the
general compatibility between both disciplines, seeing psychoanalysis as inherently
phallocentric, universalist, and static – i.e. as diametrically opposed to all that cultural
studies stands for.
In this class, we will discuss the key psychoanalytic concepts of thinkers like
Freud, Lacan, and Zizek. We will try to identify the strengths and weaknesses of
their ideas and look at what role these have played for cultural studies – both in
theoretical and practical terms. Then, we will go on to develop our own
psychoanalytic readings of a number of phenomena taken from British culture:
can the monarchy, boy band and football fandom or New Labour be better
understood by laying them on the (post-)Freudian couch?
Students wishing to participate – either consciously or unconsciously – should buy
Henk de Berg’s introductory Freud’s Theory and Its Use in Literary and Cultural
Studies (Rochester, NY – Woodbridge: Camden House, 2004) and start reading it
before the first session.
Requirements: to obtain credits students must participate actively in the discussions,
give an oral presentation, and complete a number of small assignments (as part of
different teamwork projects).