the invention of hysteria by photographic means

[SimonSawSunlight]

I am currently writing (or supposed to be writing) a paper on photographic case histories / case studies, more precisely Jean-Marie Charcot's studies of female hysteria in the 19th century. I have ordered a few books (is there a cheap english edition of Didi-Huberman's "Invention of hysteria"?) and found a few things online that should be helpful - but I thought some of you well-read people might have any further hints, information or knowledge on the topic (or other case histories that used photography as a central device) that I am yet ignoring. I am also looking for more journalistic sources, such as magazine articles or documentaries.

As for those interested but new to the topic: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/emotions/psychosomatic.html (the first part.)

Thanks.

 

[rxmd]

You might take a look at George Bateson's and Margared Mead's "The Balinese Character", an attempt at doing the ethnography of the "character" of a people mostly by photographic means. It has quite a bit on tantrums, which might be interesting for your case.

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

You might take a look at George Bateson's and Margared Mead's "The Balinese Character", an attempt at doing the ethnography of the "character" of a people mostly by photographic means. It has quite a bit on tantrums, which might be interesting for your case.

thanks. also, your signature made me chuckle in the context of this thread. 😀

 

[lynnb]

Hi Simon, what do you mean by 'photographic case histories' - are you referring to photographs of patients in a state of hysteria, or photos whilst undergoing treatment or demonstrations?

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

Hi Simon, what do you mean by 'photographic case histories' - are you referring to photographs of patients in a state of hysteria, or photos whilst undergoing treatment or demonstrations?

Photographs of patients rather than the other, photography as a means to "document" a "case" (or maybe even photography as the case). The general context of the paper being a lecture by Prof. Dr. Thomas Macho on the cultural history of casuistry and case histories in religious instutions, jurisprudence, medicine, science, psychology, etc.

 

[lynnb]

Here's a translation - the book is listed for $30
http://mitpress.mit.edu/catalog/item/default.asp?ttype=2&tid=10323

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

Here's a translation - the book is listed for $30
http://mitpress.mit.edu/catalog/item/default.asp?ttype=2&tid=10323

Thanks, the german and french version I found were all on the expensive side or hardly available. this one goes for about 20 quid on amazon.co.uk it seems.
I prefer owning a book to borrowing it from a library, my bank account however seems to have a different opinion on the matter. 😀

 

[alistair.o]

Is this of any help:-

www.mind.org.uk/assets/.../time_to_change_screening_madness.pdf

 

[lynnb]

someone else has been down this path - might be able to help you:
http://ellieharvey.com/section/171339_Hysteria.html
(read the text and references in the left hand pane)

Bibliography:

Didi-Huberman, G. (2004). Invention of Hysteria: Charcot and the Photographic Iconography of the Salpetriere. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press.

Tagg, J. (1988). The Burden of Representation: Essays on Photographies and Histories. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press

Showalter, E. (1987). The Female Malady: Women, Madness & English Culture, 1830-1980. London: Virago Press.

Showalter, E (1997). Hystories: Hysterical Epidemics and Modern Culture. London: Picador.

 

[kubilai]

Gaetan Gatian de Clerambault

Gaetan Gatian de Clerambault

Maybe my preferred photo book in my little library is "Gaetan Gatian de CLERAMBAULT, psychiatre et photographe" (Delagrange Paris 1990, 9 782908 602036)

http://homepages.ed.ac.uk/halla/papers/clerambault.html
http://www.franzdodel.ch/haiku/haiku_bild/bild_12/clerambault_falten.htm
http://www.psiquifotos.com/2009/10/92-los-drapeados-de-gaetan-gatian-de.html

Jacques Lacan, during its psychiatrist "internat", was directed by Clerambault.
CLerambault pictures of morocco's women are famous.

Clerambault (1872-1934) practised from 1905 at the special infirmary for the insane of Prefecture de Police. He became blind ; even its suicide is remarkable (in front of a mirror).