The Gestalts of Mind and Text

The Gestalts of Mind and Text bridges literary studies and cognitive psychology to explore metaphor in poetic texts, drawing from Gestalt Psychology and integrating concepts from various literary traditions. It offers an empirical investigation, explores problem-solving, bidirectionality, embodied cognition, and the grotesque, and spans languages and periods. The book aims to appeal to a wide audience, including cognitive psychologists, literary scholars, researchers in aesthetics, and those interested in intellectual history.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 180 pages
Publication date: 29 January 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The Gestalts of Mind and Text is a groundbreaking work that seamlessly weaves together literary studies and cognitive psychology, offering a distinctive contribution to the realm of Cognitive Literary Studies. This book delves into the intricate world of metaphor in poetic texts, employing and refining empirical methodologies derived from Gestalt Psychology while incorporating concepts influenced by Gestalt Psychology. The title itself signifies an intellectual lineage, known as the Gestalt of the Mind, which originates with the Würzburg School of Psychology and subsequently evolves into Gestalt Psychology, offering a rich tapestry for the field of Cognitive Literary Studies. Moreover, the title hints at an artistic and imaginative tradition, referred to as the Gestalt of the Text, which has been applied to diverse literary schools, including Medieval, Early Modern, and Modernist periods. Finally, the Gestalt-Interaction Theory of Metaphor unveils the diverse possibilities for interpreting poetic metaphors.

This book makes three significant contributions:

Firstly, it prioritizes the empirical exploration of metaphor in poetic texts, employing rigorous research methods akin to those employed in Gestalt Psychology.

Secondly, it integrates key aspects such as problem-solving, the bidirectional nature of metaphor, embodied cognition, and the grotesque into the analysis of poetic texts and verbal protocols.

Thirdly, the book encompasses a wide range of literary traditions, spanning languages and historical periods, fostering a multidisciplinary approach to the study of the Gestalts of Mind and Text.

The overarching objective of this book is to present an interdisciplinary exploration of the Gestalts of Mind and Text. Its insights will appeal to a diverse audience, including cognitive psychologists, literary scholars, researchers in aesthetics, metaphor enthusiasts, and those with an interest in intellectual history. By bridging these two fields, The Gestalts of Mind and Text offers a fresh perspective on the complexities of human cognition and creativity, shedding light on the profound ways in which language and literature shape our understanding of the world.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032268316