Lawrence D. Kritzman is a distinguished professor of French and comparative literature. His scholarship delves deeply into the analysis of literary works and thought, particularly within the realms of French literature and philosophy. Kritzman's research often focuses on the imaginative processes employed by authors in their writings. His approach offers readers insightful perspectives on literary creation and its intellectual underpinnings.
Exploring the intersection of psychoanalytic theory and French Renaissance literature, this 1991 book delves into how psychological concepts influence literary interpretation and creation. It offers insights into the characters and narratives of the era, revealing deeper meanings through the lens of psychoanalysis. The analysis highlights the complexities of human behavior and thought as reflected in the works of prominent Renaissance authors, making it a significant contribution to both literary and psychological studies.
The third and final volume in Pierre Nora's award-winning (for Volume I) REALMS OF MEMORY, which includes groundbreaking discussions of France's past, powerfully demonstrates how a nation can both recover and rediscover its identity through remembrance, how rewriting history can forge new paradigms of cultural identity, and how meanings attached to an event can be as significant as the event itself. 146 illustrations.
This volume features over two hundred entries by prominent intellectuals from the French- and English-speaking world, serving as an authoritative guide to twentieth-century French thought. Its unparalleled scope and depth encompass critiques of key figures, movements, and publications that shaped diverse fields, including history, psychoanalysis, film, literary theory, and economics. Contributors explore developments in French thought on topics like pacifism, fashion, gastronomy, technology, and urbanism. More than a reference work, it offers original insights into various subjects. Notable contributors include influential French thinkers and scholars from the U.S., U.K., and Canada, who have played crucial roles in the evolution and dissemination of French ideas. The book features pairings such as Etienne Balibar on Althusser, Judith Butler on Hegel, and Julia Kristeva on Proust. It is organized into four parts: Movements and Currents, covering major schools of thought; Themes, focusing on defining ideas of the century; Intellectuals, providing critical accounts of figures like Derrida and Foucault; and Dissemination, addressing influential journals and media. This comprehensive work captures the richness of twentieth-century French intellectual life.
