Modules on Psychoanalysis
THE MODULES
in this section center around the psychoanalysts that have defined this
critical school. If you know nothing about psychoanalysis, I would suggest
that you begin with Sigmund Freud,
since he is the founder of this particular theoretical approach, and
then follow with Lacan,
then Kristeva. Each
critic tends to rethink and revise the ideas of the critic that came
before him or her, so it is helpful to know what each is reacting against
or building on.
The
Modules are designed to work aggregatively, so that each subsequent
module tends to build on the concepts discussed in the previous modules;
however, each is also designed to stand alone, and will sometimes be
hyperlinked in other sections of the Guide to Theory. In this way, the
modules seek to rethink the way most text-based introductions work.
Like a text-based introduction, the modules can work progressively,
as if one were thus turning the pages in a book. However, the structure
is actually more akin to Deleuze and Guattari's notion of the rhizome:
endlessly aggregative (at least in theory) and connected to each other
and to the rest of the site by multiple additional links. One can therefore
progress through the modules in alternate ways; in the psychoanalysis
modules, for example, one can concentrate on a single concept, psychosexual
development, exploring how Freud, Lacan, and Kristeva each differ in
significant ways when it comes to this issue. One can also explore connections
between the modules on psychonalysis and those found in other locations
in this site. The Freud module on transference and trauma, for example,
is logically and actively linked to the Narratology module on Peter
Brooks, allowing the user to think about the connections between psychoanalysis
and narrative theory.
The Modules for Psychoanalysis are on the left of this screen. If you
place your cursor on one of the categories, the module sub-categories
for each theorist will appear as a link. (Note that some browsers require
you to double-click on the link.)
Work
on these Modules has been supported by IHETS/IPSE (the Indiana
Higher Education Telecommunication System and the Indiana
Partnership for Statewide Education) and their Module
and Course Development Program.
