LFU:online

Independent reflection on methods, concepts and argumentation strategies within in the discourse of psychoanalysis and cultural studies.

Contemporary psychoanalytic authors that can be associated with a critical approach, seem to show an increasing opposition against present live conditions and subject-formations in a postmodern-neoliberal society. The degree of sophistication in this criticism tends to vary a lot. On the other side, affirmative voices question methodologies and concepts of critical approaches, especially of authors such as Zizek, Ehrenberg, Han or Pfaller.

We will start with Martin Dornes polemic essay Macht der Kapitalismus depressiv? and take a closer look at the debate, that followed his publication in early 2015. The ongoing discussion in psychoanalysis between authors with a more clinical or scientific approach and authors that are affiliated to cultural studies reflects not only the “janus face” of Psychoanalysis, but, as Adorno tried to point out, the janus face of the concept of culture as such. 

Preparatory text reading, presentations, text-based discussions

Comprehensive literature studies, presentations, text discussion, seminar paper.

Dornes, M. (2015): Macht der Kapitalismus depressiv? In: Psyche - Z Psychoanal 69.

Ehrenberg, A. (2004): Das erschöpfte Selbst. Surkamp, Frankfurt am Main.

Further literature will be announced in the seminar.