About the book
Winner of the 2009 Gradiva Award, Theoretical Category, presented by the National Association for the Advancement of Psychoanalysis
Esther Rashkin argues that psychoanalysis galvanizes, as no other discipline can, an understanding of texts in their social, historical, and political contexts. Demonstrating that close reading can be a radical political practice, she exposes heretofore unseen ideologies concealed in works of film and literature, from Last Tango in Paris to The Picture of Dorian Gray, from Barthes's Mythologies and Balzac's Sarrasine to Babette's Feast. Psychoanalytic concepts such as identification with the aggressor, the crypt, cryptonymy, illness of mourning, and the phantom allow Rashkin to reveal how shameful and unspeakable secrets propel the narratives she examines. In the process, she convincingly makes the case for a new practice of psychoanalytic cultural studies, a practice that fully engages with the politicized discourses—anti-Semitism, racism, colonialism, censorship—that mark a text's location in history.
Editions of Unspeakable Secrets and the Psychoanalysis of Culture
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780791475331
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780791475348
- PDF
- ISBN 9780791477977
Read an Excerpt
Winner of the 2009 Gradiva Award, Theoretical Category, presented by the National Association for the Advancement of Psychoanalysis
Esther Rashkin argues that psychoanalysis galvanizes, as no other discipline can, an understanding of texts in their social, historical, and political contexts. Demonstrating that close reading can be a radical political practice, she exposes heretofore unseen ideologies concealed in works of film and literature, from Last Tango in Paris to The Picture of Dorian Gray, from Barthes's Mythologies and Balzac's Sarrasine to Babette's Feast. Psychoanalytic concepts such as identification with the aggressor, the crypt, cryptonymy, illness of mourning, and the phantom allow Rashkin to reveal how shameful and unspeakable secrets propel the narratives she examines. In the process, she convincingly makes the case for a new practice of psychoanalytic cultural studies, a practice that fully engages with the politicized discourses—anti-Semitism, racism, colonialism, censorship—that mark a text's location in history.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Unspeakable Secrets and the Psychoanalysis of Culture about?
Winner of the 2009 Gradiva Award, Theoretical Category, presented by the National Association for the Advancement of Psychoanalysis
Esther Rashkin argues that psychoanalysis galvanizes, as no other discipline can, an understanding of texts in their social, historical, and political contexts. Demonstrating that close reading can be a radical political practice, she exposes heretofore unseen ideologies concealed in works of film and literature, from Last Tango in Paris to The Picture of Dorian Gray, from Barthes's Mythologies and Balzac's Sarrasine to Babette's Feast. Psychoanalytic concepts such as identification with the aggressor, the crypt, cryptonymy, illness of mourning, and the phantom allow Rashkin to reveal how shameful and unspeakable secrets propel the narratives she examines. In the process, she convincingly makes the case for a new practice of psychoanalytic cultural studies, a practice that fully engages with the politicized discourses—anti-Semitism, racism, colonialism, censorship—that mark a text's location in history.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Unspeakable Secrets and the Psychoanalysis of Culture?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Literature: history and criticism > Literary theory
Where can I read a sample of Unspeakable Secrets and the Psychoanalysis of Culture?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780791475331
How long is Unspeakable Secrets and the Psychoanalysis of Culture and how many pages does it have?
Unspeakable Secrets and the Psychoanalysis of Culture has 272 page(s)
Is Unspeakable Secrets and the Psychoanalysis of Culture part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series SUNY series in Psychoanalysis and Culture
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Unspeakable Secrets and the Psychoanalysis of Culture?
Esther Rashkin
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Unspeakable Secrets and the Psychoanalysis of Culture is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780791475331) and paperback(ISBN 9780791475348) and pdf(ISBN 9780791477977)
Where can I buy Unspeakable Secrets and the Psychoanalysis of Culture online or support local independent bookshops?
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Where can I buy Unspeakable Secrets and the Psychoanalysis of Culture?