Knotted Subject: Hysteria And Its Discontents

by Elisabeth Bronfen

In light of resurgent 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. Tracing the subject from the 1800s to the present, Bronfen's insights are sure to interest a wide range of readers. 20 photos. 5 line illustrations.

Genres: Psychoanalysis, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Gender and Sexuality, Cultural Studies, Feminism

469 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Elisabeth Bronfen is Professor of English and American Studies at the University of Zurich and, since 2007, Global Distinguished Professor at New York University.

She did her PhD at the University of Munich, on literary space in the work of Dorothy M. Richardson’s novel Pilgrimage, as well as her habilitation, five years later, on representations of femininity and death. A specialist in the 19th and 20th century literature, she has also written articles and books in the area of gender studies, psychoanalysis, film, cultural theory and visual culture.

She is a frequent contributor for local and international news publications and broadcasts, serving as an expert on culture as well as American politics.

Reviews

[Rukhsana Sukhan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poorly written, obscure and overwrought prose.