https://www.morbidanatomy.org/classes/the-macabre-in-story-and-jungian-psychologythe-brush-with-the-uncanny-taught-byzurich-trained-jungian-analystmuriel-mcmahon-beginning-november-4?fbclid=IwAR1EgCUKqEBDjhYOIzbWsVZHUKUrITSWlKiqiLtiAPXMMnGUsS1AN2iFFew
$125.00
Taught online via Zoom
$125.00 General Admission
PLEASE NOTE: All classes will be recorded for those who cannot attend live
Join Zurich trained Jungian analyst, Muriel McMahon, for a six week exploration into the macabre, the grotesque, and the monstrous through the lenses of biblical stories, fairytales, Jungian psychology, and contemporary politics. The interdisciplinary approach allows participants to take a deep dive into the themes of misalignment between spirit and matter and offers a rich tapestry of insights into human nature. We will tap into theories of fear, mortality, and the uncanny.
This course offers a pathway through which we can explore and understand the complex interplay between the dark aspects of human nature and culture, utilizing a wide range of interdisciplinary resources to engage deeply with the material.
Week 1: Introduction to the Macabre and the Grotesque
Objective: Understand the definitions, history, and significance of the macabre and the grotesque in literature, art, and psychology.
Readings:
Excerpts from "The Uncanny" by Sigmund Freud.
Introduction to Jungian psychology - focus on the shadow aspect.
Case Study: Analysis of Jung’s encounter at Ravenna.
Assignment: Reflective journal entry on personal encounters with the macabre or grotesque.
Week 2: Biblical Stories and the Monstrous
Objective: Explore biblical narratives that deal with monsters, demons, and divine punishments to understand ancient perspectives on evil and misalignment.
Readings:
Selections from the Book of Genesis (e.g., the story of the Nephilim, the Tower of Babel).
Book of Revelation excerpts (imagery of the apocalypse and the beast).
Discussion: How do these stories reflect the tension between spirit and matter?
Assignment: Comparative analysis of a biblical story and a contemporary political event through the lens of the monstrous.
Week 3: Fairytales and the Shadow Self
Objective: Investigate how fairytales use grotesque and macabre elements to represent the shadow self and moral lessons.
Readings:
Selections from fairytale: Grimms, Anderson, Yeats, and von Franz.
The Uses of Enchantment by Bruno Bettelheim, and Shadow and Evil in Fairytales, by von Franz focusing on the psychological significance of fairy tales.
Discussion: Group discussion on different fairy tales, focusing on the manifestation of the shadow and its resolution.
Assignment: Write a modern fairytale or rewrite a familiar one incorporating Jungian psychology concepts.
Week 4: Jungian Psychology and the Collective Unconscious
Objective: Delve deeper into Jungian psychology to understand the collective unconscious and its archetypes as manifested in myths, art, and literature.
Readings:
"Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious" by Carl Jung.
Analysis of modern myths (e.g., superheroes) through a Jungian lens.
Discussion: The role of the monstrous in the process of individuation and societal evolution.
Assignment: Analyze a piece of contemporary art or film that deals with the grotesque, using Jungian psychology.
Week 5: Contemporary Politics and the Monstrous
Objective: Examine how contemporary political discourse and events evoke the macabre and monstrous, reflecting societal fears and the shadow self.
Readings:
Case studies on the use of monstrous imagery in political propaganda.
In Frankenstein's Shadow: Myth, Monstrosity, and Nineteenth-Century Writing by Chris Baldick
Discussion: The impact of political monsters on collective psychology and societal health.
Assignment: Create a collage of contemporary monstrosities.
Week 6: Conclusion and Integration
Objective: Integrate the knowledge gained throughout the course to understand the broader implications of the monstrous in human culture.
Readings:
The Far Side of Madness, by John Weir Perry and John Beebe
Activities:
Group discussion on the role of the artist, writer, and psychologist in exploring and integrating the personal and collective shadow.
Final Project: Share with the group a piece of art, a short story, or a psychological case study that encapsulates the course's themes.