Constructing

 Oedipus:  Seminar  Synopsis  and  Readings  -­  Texts  and  Film  

Last   semester   we   de-­‐constructed   the   Oedipus   Complex   as   it   has   be   psychologized  
and   anthropologized   in   the   tradition.     In   the   first   class   on   Sept.   28th,   we   will  
continue   this   deconstructive   process   with   a   review   of   the   original   versions   of   Freud  
and   it   variant   interpretations.     By   the   second   class   we   will   turn   to   a   constructive  
approach   situating   the   Oedipus   in   Linguistics,   Logic,   and   Mathematics.     This  
constructive  approach  will  be  continued  throughout  the  seminar  until  the  December  
break.  
Introductory  Exercise:  From  Interpreting  To  Constructing  the  Oedipus  

1)   Most   writers   have   transposed   the   structure   of   the   Oedipus   onto   literature   and  
film.     Freud   himself   constantly   juxtaposes   Hamlet   and   Oedipus   in   his   introductory  
versions.   The   participant   of   the   course   should   be   familiar   with   both   the   plays   of  
Oedipus  (at  least  Sophocles  version)  and  Shakespeare's  Hamlet.        

2)   An   abridged   text   of   the   original   works   of   Freud   (compiled   by   M.Ellen)   will   be  

provided  to  each  participant  in  the  first  seminar.  

3)  As  an  introductory  approach  to  the  Oedipus,  I  propose  the  following  exercise  as  a  
'warm-­‐up'   to   constructing   an   analytic   theory   and   practice.   Many   writers   have  
attempted   to   understand   psychoanalysis   by   interpreting   the   dramatic   structure   of  
film  within  the  theory  and  terminology  of  psychoanalysis.    But  what  are  the  scope  
and   limits   of   this   interpretative   method   of   working?   And   can   transposing   the  
structures   into   a   topology   and   logic   determine   a   constructive   approach   that   goes  
beyond   the   hermeneutics   of   interpretation?     To   respond   to   such   questions,   it   is  
proposed   that   each   person   watch   A.   Hitchcock's,   Frenzy   (1972),   then   interpret   its  
dramatic   framework   in   the   language   and   theory   of   psychoanalysis.     This   exercise  
aims  to  not  only  provide  a  concrete  example  of    'applied'  psychoanalysis,  but  show  
the  limits  of  such  interpretative  methods  in  the  practice  and  theory  of  analysis.    The  
2013   seminar   aims   to   examine   the   turn   from   interpreting   to   constructing  
psychoanalysis  and  the  Oedipus  Complex.  This  will  be  used  as  a  reference  point.  
a)  The  film  can  be  watched  for  free  on-­‐line  at:    

http://viooz.co/movies/1691-­‐frenzy-­‐1972.html  
Then  find  examples  that  can  be  considered  interpretations  of  the  following  analytic  
terms:  
Oedipus   Complex,   Primary   Repression,   Secondary   Repression,   Id-­‐Ego-­‐Super/Ego,   Foreclusion  
(Verwerfung),   Trauma,   Uncanny,   Fantasy   object,   Pulsion   (source,   aim,   goal,   object),   Symptom  
Formation,  The  Thing  (Cause).    

Include  any  other  concepts  or  terms  that  seem  to  you  pertinent  to  the  film.