Surrealist writer Andre Breton praised hysteria for being the greatest poetic discovery of the 19th century, but many physicians have since viewed it as a "wastebasket of medicine", a psychosomatic state that defies definition and cure and that can be easily mistaken for other pathological conditions. In light of a resurgence of critical interest in hysteria, feminist scholar Elisabeth Bronfen reinvestigates medical writings and cultural performance to reveal the continued relevance of a disorder widely thought to be a ...
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Surrealist writer Andre Breton praised hysteria for being the greatest poetic discovery of the 19th century, but many physicians have since viewed it as a "wastebasket of medicine", a psychosomatic state that defies definition and cure and that can be easily mistaken for other pathological conditions. In light of a resurgence of critical interest in hysteria, feminist scholar Elisabeth Bronfen reinvestigates medical writings and cultural performance to reveal the continued relevance of a disorder widely thought to be a romantic formulation of the past. Through a critical rereading she develops a new concept of hysteria, one that challenges traditional gender-based theories linking it to dissatisfied feminine sexual desire. Bronfen turns instead to hysteria's traumatic causes, particularly the fear of violation, and shows how the conversion of psychic anguish into somatic symptoms can be interpreted today as the enactment of personal and cultural discontent. Tracing the development of cultural formations of hysteria from the 1800s to the present, this book explores the writings of Freud, Charcot and Janet together with fictional texts (Radcliffe, Stoker, Anne Sexton), opera (Mozart,
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Seller's Description:
This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside. This book has soft covers. In fair condition, suitable as a study copy. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item, 800grams, ISBN: 9780691012308.
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Seller's Description:
VG-light edge wear and creasing to back corners. Glossy BW and color illustrated wraps with tan, white and orange lettering. xviii, 469 pp. BW illustrations. Surrealist writer André Breton praised hysteria for being the greatest poetic discovery of the nineteenth century, but many physicians have since viewed it as the "wastebasket of medicine, " a psychosomatic state that defies attempts at definition and cure and that can be easily mistaken for other pathological conditions. In light of a resurgence of critical interest in hysteria, leading feminist scholar Elisabeth Bronfen reinvestigates medical writings and cultural performance to reveal the continued relevance of a disorder widely thought to be a romantic formulation of the past. Through a critical rereading, she develops a new concept of hysteria, one that challenges traditional gender-based theories linking it to dissatisfied feminine sexual desire. Bronfen turns instead to hysteria's traumatic causes, particularly the fear of violation, and shows how the conversion of psychic anguish into somatic symptoms can be interpreted today as the enactment of personal and cultural discontent. -Jacket.
