Psychoanalysis and Artmaking: South African Case Study
Write a research paper (±3000 words) in which you investigate the relationship between psychoanalytic theory and the practice of artmaking/ the making of cultural products. The paper must focus on the critical analysis of a central case study (an artwork/body of works by one contemporary artist, OR a film), as a means to explain the psychoanalytic processes at work in the creation and reception of the piece. It must be African or South African.
If you write about a film, music video, or series, select one scene or one character and a maximum of three screenshots
If you discuss an artist, select one to three artworks to discuss
You are required to critically engage with a selection of images or screenshots as part of your discussion. Think of semiotics: how does the theory you have discussed manifest itself visually in the image(s)?
For this essay you may once again work in pairs. If you work in pairs, your paper must have ±4000 words. See details below.
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK:
Use one of the following themes as the starting point of your research. Please note that you are welcome to use an amalgamation of these as topics. These are merely starting point suggestions.
- Art and affect: art making as a psychoanalytic aesthetic practice
- Art and the uncanny: art marking and the aesthetics of abjection
- The dream factory: the parallels and manifestations of psychoanalysis in film
- The cinema as mirror: Lacan and film
Art Education Answers: Expert Answers on Above Artmaking Case
The link between the psychoanalytic theory and art making is significant, as it has long fascinated Scholars across psychology, philosophy and cultural studies. The ways in which the art functions as both personal expression and cultural commentary is highly influenced by the ideas of Sigmund Freud about unconscious repression and symbolism. This Framework is further expanded by psychoanalytic thinkers such as Carl Jung. The provided significant views with respect to interpreting creativity, symbolism and audience reception. The main focus of analysis in this paper is on how psychoanalytic theory affects the processes underlying the production of art and cultural products and the ways in which they work in society.
Theoretical Framework
The main focus of psychoanalytic theory is on evaluating how unconscious drives, repression, trauma and desire shape creation and reception. The possible themes include art and affect, the uncanny/abjection, dream factory, cinema as mirror.
Case study selection: From the artwork, the work of a South African contemporary artist William Kentridge is selected and from the film/series, the character from A South Africa film like Five Fingers is selected/
| Disclaimer: This answer is a model for study and reference purposes only. Please do not submit it as your own work. |
