Dr Derek Hook, STC. S312

MSc Social and Cultural Psychology, MSc Organisational and Social Psychology, MSc Social and Public Communications, MSc Social Research Methods, MSc Health, Community and Development, MSc Media and Communications and MSc Media and Communications (Research). Students from all departments may attend subject to numbers, their own degree regulations and at the discretion of the teachers responsible.

Lacanian psychoanalysis provides a valuable set of instruments for an understanding of the structures and dynamics underlying communicative activity. This course will introduce students to a series of relevant components within Lacanian theory - the distinction between enunciation and statement, the role of the 'big Other' as the third in every dialogue, Lacan's four structures of discourse - before exploring how these ideas might inform, extend and develop how we go about the analysis of communication.

Specific content will include:  Freudian dream theory and the analysis of popular advertising texts; jokes, slips of the tongue, and the role of the unconscious in everyday speech; the notion of the 'big Other' as the mediating third in every instance of dialogue; Lacan's four discursive structures or social links (emphasizing particularly political, governmental and university discourse); the functioning of Master signifiers and the transmission of knowledge; 'empty' versus 'full' speech; a psychoanalytic account of ideology.

10 hours each of lectures and seminars in the Lent Term.

An essay plan of not more than 500 words is required.

A detailed reading list will be handed out at the beginning of the course.

B. Benvenuto, R. Kennedy, R. The Works of Jacques Lacan. An Introduction. London: Free Association (1986); M. Billig. Social psychology and intergroup relations, London: Academic Press (1976); R. Bocock, Sigmund Freud, London & New York: Routledge (1983); D. Evans, An Introductory Dictionary of Lacanian Psychoanalysis, London and New York: Routledge (1992); R. Feldstein, B. Fink & M. Jaanus, M. Reading Seminars I and II. SUNY Press (1996); B. Fink, B. The Lacanian subject between language and jouissance, Princeton: Princeton University Press (1995); S. Freud, The standard edition of the complete psychological works of Sigmund Freud, (Vol. 5 The interpretation of dreams; Vol 14, On narcissism; Mourning and melancholia; Vol. 19. The ego and the id). London, Vintage (2001); S. Freud. Mass psychology and other writings. London: Penguin (2004); S. Homer, Jacques Lacan, London & New York: Routledge (2005); S. Kay, Žižek: A critical introduction, Cambridge: Polity (2003); J. Lacan, J. Écrits, London: Tavistock (2006); R. Minsky, (1996). Psychoanalysis and Gender. London & New York: Routledge (1996); T. Myers, Slavoj Žižek. London & New York: Routledge (2003); J. Mitchell & J. Rose (Eds). Feminine sexuality. London: Norton (1982); S, Žižek, The sublime object of ideology, Verso: London (1989); S. Žižek, The plague of fantasies. London & New York: Verso; S. Žižek, Jacques Lacan: Critical evaluations in cultural theory, London: Verso (2003); S. Žižek, How to read Lacan, London: Granta (2006).

A written assignment of not more than 3,000 words (100%).