art and psychoanalysis term paper

Final Paper Topics

4-6 pp in Word (.doc) format only (double-spaced). Use your name as file name. NO PLAGIRISM

Choose one of the following:

1. Rear Window: Hitchcock’s film may be viewed as a synthesis of many of the psychoanalytical ideas we have discussed this semester: perverse sexuality (voyeurism); narcissism; “the poet and daydreaming”; the “madonna/harlot syndrome,” Laura Mulvey’s discussion of the “male gaze,” etc.

2. The Uncanny: Discuss Freud’s essay on horror as it relates to the libido theory in general and/or the theory of “primary narcissism.” You may also focus your discussion of the essay on Freud’s interpretation of The Sandman: how does your reading of Hoffmann’s story support or expand Freud’s interpretation?

3. Living Doll: Expand on one or more of the study questions on the episode of The Twilight Zone. Be careful to avoid merely repeating your class discussion of the film.

4. Fairy Tales: Continue our discussion of fairy tales by analyzing one of the other fairy tales posted on the website. Be careful to avoid merely repeating your class discussion.

5. The Beast in the Jungle: Discuss other aspects of this story not already discussed in class in relation to Freud’s theory of narcissism.

6. Narcissism: Use Freud’s essay “On Narcissism” to draw together our comments throughout the semester on Freud’s theory of narcissism. Consider his comments, in the essay, on 1)women and narcissism 2) homoeroticism 3) the formation of the “super-ego,” etc.

7. Horror: Apply the psychoanalytic explanation of horror as the “return of repressed desires” (cf. Freud’s theory of the Medusa) to one or more examples of the horror genre in film and literature.

8. “The Antithetical Sense. . .” Using Freud’s essay explore the idea of the Ucs as unifying antithetical meanings, and how this idea confirms the notion of works of art as the return of unconscious thoughts and desires.

9. “A Special Type of Object Choice”/ “A Prevalent Form of Degradation”: Continue our (and Freud’s) discussion of the “Madonna/Harlot Complex” in these essays. How does Freud’s essay help us to understand the stereotyping of women in art and culture?

10. Something Wild: Expand on one or more of the study questions on the film.

11. The Sandman: Analyze Hoffmann’s tale a props Freud’s interpretation of same and/or your own psychoanalytical interpretation of the story. Consider, for example, the role of the doll “Olympia,” the relationship between Nathaniel and his friends, especially Klara, the “two fathers,” the two Coppelius’, the image of the tower, the image of the eyes, etc.

12. “The Theme of the 3 Caskets”: Discuss Freud’s theory of “three’s,” and his reading of King Lear, in psychoanalytical terms.