Theories of the Mind

 

The Theories of the Mind essay

 

These notes (well, the first version of them, anyway) were prepared immediately after marking a batch of Theories of the Mind essays.

You should know well and understand two of the theories of the mind (Freud, Jung, Lacan) and be able to apply it to one or more works of literature. ‘Literature’ in the largest sense: film is allowed, songs too. But, if you do film or music, you should write about the texts as films, as music, not as written text. You should include for the former eg the camera work, and for the latter how the music and the song work together.

So you have to show that you understand the theory that you are talking about. As far as this course is concerned, there are three levels of knowledge:

1.      the Theories of the Mind first year lectures

2.      the seminar course work

3.      your own reading of texts written by the theorists (that is, Freud, Jung, Lacan) as further research from the work done during the seminars.

Now, it is essential that you understand the following. Level one, the Theories lectures, is a first year introductory level. You must show knowledge over and above that level. Level two, as far as Freud and Jung are concerned, is also introductory: it is designed to give you a basic understanding. But you are expected to read on beyond that, show you have done so, and show you understand what you have read. And some of your reading must be in the original works of Freud and / or Jung. And, in the case of Jung, that original reading must not be confined to Memories Dreams, which is a wonderfully interesting book, but not at all part of his main theoretical work: in a sense it is a popular work, for beginners only, which is why I recommend it for beginners.

So the idea of the course is, I assume at the beginning you know and understand the lectures: that’s where we start from. During the course we proceed further, to a basic understanding of the theories, and how to apply them to literary texts. That is the foundation for you to do original work of your own, reading further in the original writings of the theorists, also secondary literature of course, to develop your own ability to understand and apply these ideas.

So: when I pick up a Theories essay, the first thing I do is look at the bibliography at the back. Don’t even think of not including a bibliography! If the only reference to psychoanalytic theory is Tom Davis’s lectures, as helpfully put on the Web for you, then it is normally not possible for that essay to get more than a 2.2 mark. I expect original writings by Freud and or Jung to be listed there, and I expect them to be referred to in the course of the essay, quoted from, and referenced.

The more books you read, and refer to, and put in your bibliography, the better. It's as simple as that.

The referencing is important. One skill that we are trying to teach you here is the use of evidence. Evidence must be evident. It’s not enough to read some Freud and then say in the course of your essay something like ‘Freud believed that castration anxiety was an essential part of the male relationship to the paternal figure’. I know it’s true, and you know I know it’s true, but I need to know how you know: so go ahead and evidence it with a quotation from Freud, properly referenced.

I make an exception of Lacan. His work is so difficult that I don’t necessarly expect you to have read the original material, though if you have, and can quote and reference it, I shall be impressed, and mark accordingly; but it’s not a sine qua non.

You can also of course use literary critics. But it is always much much better to enter into a debate with them than simply copy what they have to say.

Also, I expect you to use familiarly the Freudian and Jungian words. When I say at the beginning of the course acquire this language, I really mean it.

Some tedious presentation issues:

Please hand the thing in in loose typed sheets held together by a treasury tag (a what? you know, those green bootlace things) through a hole in the top left hand corner, in a simple plastic punched sleeve.

Ideally it should be 1.5 spaced, preferably 12 points with a 6 point space between the lines, and a double space between paragraphs. Oh, and if you really want to get on my right side, don't use the Times typeface: I dislike Times. I like Verdana. No marks, however, will be deducted for Times, or added for Verdana.

Quotes of more than two lines in length should be in a separate paragraph and indented. Like this.

You can include illustrations if you want. If you don't include a bibliography at the end I will be highly scandalised.

Finally: I have written very extensive notes on what I think an English Department essay should be like. I will refer to these notes when feeding you back on your essay. The notes are here.