Eros and Logos: On Desire and Literature

The seminar deals with the productive tension between erotic desire and linguistic expression, eros and logos. It will trace the structural intimacy between erotic desire and language and endeavor to understand the erotic as an intimate relationship with language (philo-logy, philia of logos). Readings include Plato’s Symposion, Sappho’s poetry, as well as selected texts by Anne Carson, Julia Kristeva, Jacques Lacan, Roland Barthes, Audre Lorde, Hélène Cixous, and Werner Hamacher. This course will be taught by Max Kade Distinguished Professor Caroline Sauter (U of Frankfurt).