Cinematic Representations of Memory: A Psychoanalytic Investigation Online Workshop

About

Sigmund Freud, in his book The Interpretation of Dreams (1900), wrote: "Our memory has no guarantees at all, and yet we bow more often than is objectively justified to the compulsion to believe what it says." Indeed, from a psychoanalytical perspective, we can never be certain if our perception of the past is completely accurate, yet the narrative we construct has an undeniable impact on how we define ourselves. Often we might summon up tiny seemingly random details about previous events; it's what the conscious mind fails to recollect that becomes real the object of inquiry. The very function of memory is wrapped up in mystery, as is the experiential reality of remembering, which appears closely linked with repetition.
In this workshop, we will explore cinematic representations of memory as our gateway to the past, with a special focus on Freud's theory of 'screen memories' and his paper "Remembering, Repeating and Working-Through" (1914). The following films will be discussed (advanced viewing is optional; bespoke video montages will be screened): Waltz With Bashir (2008, dir. Ari Folman), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004, dir. Michel Gondry), Mulholland Drive(2001, dir. David Lynch), and Memento (2000, dir. Christopher Nolan).
The workshop is designed and led by Mary Wild, the creator of the PROJECTIONS lecture series at Freud Museum London, applying psychoanalysis to film interpretation. Her interests include cinematic representations of mental illness, doppelgängers and the unconscious in the genres of horror, science fiction and documentary. Mary also co-hosts the Projections Podcast with Sarah Cleaver.

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