RELI394 - A Critical Assessment of C.G. Jung

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A Critical Assessment of C.G. Jung
RELI394 FA

In spite of being one of the major social scientific thinkers of the 20th-century, C.G. Jung is virtually ignored in the academy today. Because of an unfortunate labeling of this work as mystical, Jung is disparaged by most social scientists, many of whom have only read Jung through his popularizers. Much of what Jung had to say is in striking parallel to ideas current in feminism, postmodernism, and reflexive anthropology. This course will examine works by Jung, post-Jungians, and critics of Jung t o understand the strengths and weaknesses in his thinking for the study of religion. Included in topics to be explored are the notions of archetypes, the collective unconscious, the shadow, Jung's use of gendered language, the idea of evolving consciousness, and dream interpretation.

MAJOR READINGS

Jung, THE PORTABLE JUNG, MAN AND HIS SYMBOLS
Whitmont, THE SYMBOLIC QUEST: BASIC CONCEPTS OF ANALYTICAL PSYCHOLOGY
Abrams, THE SHADOW IN AMERICA: RECLAIMING THE SOUL OF A NATION
Jaffe, FROM THE LIFE AND WORK OF J.G. JUNG and THE MYTH OF MEANING IN THE WORK OF C.G. JUNG
Jacobi, COMPLEX/ARCHETYPE/SYMBOL IN THE PSYCHOLOGY OF C.G. JUNG
Von Franz, THE PSYCHOLOGICAL MEANING OF REDEMPTION MYTHS IN FAIRY TALES

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Required weekly reading summaries, participation in class discussion, midterm essay, and final research paper.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Students must be prepared to read lengthy assignments for each class, and to be called upon to introduce the material for that class. This course fulfills a "Critical Theory" requirement for Religion majors.

Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

COURSE FORMAT: Seminar

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS RELI Grading Mode: Graded

Prerequisites: NONE

SECTION 01

Instructor(s): Smyers,Karen A.

Times: ..T.... 07:00PM-09:30PM; Location: RSCSEM

Reserved Seats: (Total Limit: 12)

SR. major: 4 Jr. major: 4

SR. non-major: 2 Jr. non-major: 1 SO: 1 FR: X

Special Attributes:

Last Updated on MAR-24-2000