Critical Social Inquiry 0275 - Psychosis, Art, Poetry

In this course we will explore psychosis as a structure of human experience that gives voice to the inaudible and vision to the imperceptible. We will study psychosis and its insights into the human through the artistic work of those who have left a trace of their experience in visual works and writing. We will consider historic art by psychotic patients, and also look at "outsider artists" in modern and contemporary time. We will be guided into the experience of psychosis through published writings by psychotic subjects; our theory of that experience will rely on a Lacanian, structural framing of psychosis. Each student will write a long essay on psychosis in response to the images and writings of the course, and will be responsible for three revisions of this essay during the semester. This course is intended for division II students who are interested in psychoanalysis, clinical psychology, the visual arts or creative writing.

Independent Work Writing and Research Students are expected to spend at least six to eight hours a week of preparation and work outside of class time.