Ariadna García Llorente

04 Sep 2023

Dissertation for the Master of Arts in Psychoanalytic Studies at Birkbeck College, University of London, supervised by Stephen Frosh.

12 Nov 2019

"Una mirada alternativa a la depresión: la ética psicoanalítica" — Conference presentation for the XVI Congreso Internacional de Jóvenes Investigadores en Filosofía, Tales: Pensar el mundo después de la Gran Guerra: Resistencias, Divergencias y Nuevos Paradigmas.

(Complutense University of Madrid, 2019)

11 Apr 2019

"Haciendo política desde la falta" — Conference presentation for the LVI Congreso de Filosofía Joven: Ontología millennial de la divina juventud.

(Santiago de Compostela University, 2019)

(Un)speaking the Self: ‘Autotheory’ —from feminism to psychoanalysis
04 Sep 2023
Birkbeck College, University of London

Dissertation for the Master of Arts in Psychoanalytic Studies at Birkbeck College, University of London, supervised by Stephen Frosh.

This dissertation explores ‘Autotheory,’ a literary genre blending critical theory and personal narrative, tracing its evolution from the works of Maggie Nelson and Paul Preciado. Autotheory challenges traditional memoir and autobiographical conventions, embracing a non-cohesive and non-individualistic concept of the self. While some confine ‘autotheory’ to feminism, this study takes a broader view, exploring its diverse origins and its intricate relationship with psychoanalysis. It begins by dissecting Maggie Nelson’s groundbreaking autotheoretical work, The Argonauts, showcasing how it reshapes the idea of self within the narrative. It then investigates the interplay between Maggie Nelson’s work and Paul Preciado's Testo Junkie, aiming to provide a definition of the autotheoretical genre. The dissertation also explores the historical intersections of psychoanalysis, autofiction, and feminism, shedding light on their complex connections. It examines Maggie Nelson’s nuanced relationship with psychoanalysis and addresses ongoing debates within the autotheoretical community. Moreover, the study revisits Sigmund Freud’s The Interpretation of Dreams from an autotheoretical perspective, offering fresh insights into autotheory’s historical context and its intersections with psychoanalysis. The final chapter explores Mari Ruti’s autotheoretical work, Penis Envy and Other Bad Feelings: The Emotional Costs of Everyday Life, demonstrating how Ruti employs autotheory and psychoanalysis to articulate intricate political discourses and construct an emancipatory framework.

(Un)speaking the Self earned a high distinction (85%) and received the following praises:

"An absolutely wonderful piece of work, both beautifully written and incredibly well structured and constructed in terms of flow and argument. The choice of subject and its feminist and psychoanalytic valences were excellently chosen, and the works anchoring the progression of the argument well argued in their significance."

—Evan Sedgwick-Jell

"This is an excellent piece of work, both scholarly and original in parts, beautifully written and well structured, and working at a level that much exceeds a Masters dissertation."

—Anonymous marker