Postgraduate Study
The MA in Myth, Literature, and the Unconscious is an interdisciplinary
course drawing on the complementary expertise of the Department of Literature,
Film, and Theatre Studies (LIFTS) and the Centre for Psychoanalytic Studies
(CPS). The course critically explores a variety of theories of myth, both
ancient and modern, but focuses on the depth psychological theories of Freud and
Jung, which postulate that the real subject matter of myth is the unconscious
mind. With these theoretical foci, the course examines the role of myth in
literature, with special emphases on mythic representations of the city in
western culture and the uses of myth in some of the key texts of literary
modernism, whose authors worked in an intellectual milieu informed by the new
depth psychologies.
Course structure:
Module 1:
LT919 Interpretation of Myth [LiFTS; autumn term]: This module will explore
the interpretation of myth from antiquity to the present. It will consider
philosophical, theological, psychological and anthropological readings of myth
and will examine the work of, amongst others, Plato, Philo, Eliade, Cassirer,
Frazer, Campbell, Graves, Freud and Blumenberg. There will also be an
overview of the classification of myth and an introduction to the concepts of
theogony, aetiology, eschatology, and solar and vegetation myths.
Module 2:
PA971 The Mythological Psyche
[CPS; autumn term]: This module will
examine in depth some of Jung's key texts on myth. It will critically
explore Jung's theory of myth and its application, especially to literature, and
will also attend to the mythopoeic dimension of Jung's own writing.
Module 3: LT920 Cities and the Sacred [LiFTS;
spring term]: This module will
explore the myth of the city; its foundation, presiding deities, fate and
transformation. Employing an interdisciplinary approach, the module will
look at a wide range of theoretical readings, and will examine the
representation of the city in art and literature. Specific cities will be
studied including Rome, Athens, Troy and Jerusalem, as well as the ideal city of
Plato and St. Augustine's 'City of God'.
Module 4:
PA977 Dreams and Myths [CPS; spring term]: This module will explore
the psychoanalytic concepts of the unconscious, defence, repression, the
pleasure and reality principles, dreaming; and will extend them to Freud's and
his co-workers understanding of myth.
Module 5: LT921 Myth and Modernism: Joint seminar in myth, literature, and
depth psychology [LiFTS and CPS; fortnightly in the autumn and spring terms]: This
module will focus on some of the key texts of literary modernism to explore the
relationship between myth, literature, and depth psychology as well as some of
the challenges and opportunities of working in an interdisciplinary way with
literary and psychoanalytic studies.
Dissertation
Teaching methods and assessment
The course will be taught by means of tutor-led seminars and structured
independent study.
The course is assessed by four 5,000-word essays (one each for modules 1 to
4), one 4,000-word essay plus a 20-minute oral presentation (for module 5), and
a 20,000-word dissertation.
See here for how to
apply for postgraduate study
Informal enquiries may be made to: Jane Thorp, Postgraduate
Administrator
Department of Literature, Film, and
Theatre Studies
Telephone: +44 (0) 1206 872624
E-mail: thorj@essex.ac.uk