A Poetics of Neurosis - Narratives of Normalcy and Disorder in Cultural and Literary Texts

This book explores the verbalization of neurosis in literary and cultural texts, focusing on how neuroses are romanticized, vilified, bent to suit aesthetic and narrative choices, and transfigured to illustrate unresolved cultural tensions.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 08 December 2021
Publisher: Transcript Verlag

While psychiatry and the neurosciences have dismissed the concept of neurosis as too vague for medical purposes, in recent years, literary studies have embraced the term due to its abstractness. This comprehensive volume delves into the verbalization of neurosis in literary and cultural texts. In contrast to the individual medical diagnoses of neurosis, the contributions in this volume emphasize the poetics of neurosis. They shed light on how neuroses are often romanticized or vilified, manipulated to suit aesthetic and narrative choices, and transformed to illustrate unresolved cultural tensions.

The concept of neurosis has been a subject of debate within the fields of psychiatry and neuroscience, with some considering it too vague for medical purposes. However, in recent years, literary studies have taken a different approach by embracing the term due to its abstractness. This volume aims to investigate the verbalization of neurosis in literary and cultural texts, offering a comprehensive exploration of this topic.

In contrast to the medical diagnostics of neurosis that focus on the individual, the contributions in this volume emphasize the poetics of neurosis. They explore how neuroses are routinely romanticized or vilified, shaped to align with aesthetic and narrative choices, and transformed to illustrate unresolved cultural tensions. The authors of these contributions draw from a range of literary and cultural sources, including novels, poetry, plays, and films, to examine the ways in which neurosis is represented and interpreted.

One notable aspect of the volume is its recognition of the enduring influence of Freudian psychoanalysis on the understanding and representation of neurosis. While Freud's theories have been criticized for their reductionist approach and reliance on Western cultural norms, they have had a significant impact on the way. The authors of this volume argue that Freud's theories continue to shape how neurosis is conceptualized and portrayed in contemporary literature and culture, despite their limitations.

Another theme that emerges from the contributions is the relationship between neurosis and power. The authors explore how neuroses are often used as a tool to manipulate or control individuals, particularly in societies. They argue that neuroses are often pathologized and stigmatized, leading to social and cultural marginalization and discrimination. At the same time, however, neuroses can also be seen as a form of resistance against dominant ideologies and power structures, as individuals use their neuroses to challenge the status quo.

The volume also raises important questions about the role of language in the verbalization of neurosis. The authors argue that language plays a crucial role in shaping how neuroses are perceived and understood, as it is through language that individuals communicate their experiences and emotions to others. They explore how language can be used to perpetuate or challenge stereotypes and norms, and how it can be used to create new forms of understanding and empathy for individuals who experience neuroses.

In conclusion, this volume offers a valuable contribution to the field of literary and cultural studies by exploring the verbalization of neurosis in literary and cultural texts. Through its interdisciplinary approach, it sheds light on the complex and multifaceted nature of neurosis, challenging traditional understandings and providing new insights into the ways in which neuroses are represented and interpreted. The volume's emphasis on the poetics of neurosis offers a fresh perspective on this topic, highlighting the ways in which neuroses are not only medical phenomena but also cultural and linguistic phenomena. By examining the ways in which neuroses are verbalized in literary and cultural texts, this volume contributes to our understanding of the ways in which individuals navigate the complexities of the human experience and the ways in which societies.

Weight: 666g
Dimension: 226 x 147 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783837641325