
Reading Group: Freud on Jokes
18 AprREADING GROUP:
Tonight (Apr. 18th) we will be continuing our discussion of humor and comedy with Sigmund Freud’s Jokes and their Relation to the Unconscious.
This week’s text:
- Carey, John. “Introduction” to Jokes and their Relation to the Unconscious
Freud, Sigmund. Jokes and their Relation to the Unconscious, 225-258.
Pdfs of the readings can be found: HERE
Location: Bloomfield Crazy Mocha (4525 Liberty Ave).
Need more: check out this interesting examination of laughter: LINK
As a reminder, even though we have moved to thematic groups, there is no expectation that people participate in every week, so even if you can’t commit to the whole spring, you are still more than welcome to join us when you can.
OTHER EVENTS THIS WEEK:
- None this week
OTHER NEWS:
Ever wondered how much we have really covered in reading group? Check out the new link that includes a (nearly) comprehensive list of every text that has been covered by the reading group since its inception a few years ago. LINK HERE
***
Dr. Fred Evans’ keynote from (un)commons: theory and public space is now available on youtube and our video page. Check it out!
LOOKING AHEAD:
Upcoming in Get It?! Continental Philosophy and Humor
4/18 – Carey, John. “Introduction” to Jokes and their Relation to the Unconscious
Freud, Sigmund. Jokes and their Relation to the Unconscious, 225-258.
4/25 -Freud, Sigmund. Jokes and their Relation to the Unconscious, 258-298.
5/2 – Bergson, Henri. Laughter: An Essay on the Meaning of the Comic, Chapters 1-2.
5/9 – Morreall, John. Comic Relief: A Comprehensive Philosophy of Humor, Chapters 1-2.
5/16 – Parvulescu, Anca. Laughter: Notes on a Passion. Chapter 4.
5/23 – Davis, Diane. Breaking Up at Totality, 104-115.
5/30 – Zupancic, Alenka. The Odd One In: On Comedy, “Structural Dynamics and Temporality of the Comical.”
6/6 – Pound, Marcus. “Comic Subjectivity- Žižek and Zupančič’s Spiritual Work of Art.”
Pdfs HERE.
Reading Group: Critchley on Humor
10 AprREADING GROUP:
Tomorrow (Apr. 11th) we will be continuing our discussion of Simon Critchley’s fantastic, On Humor.
This week’s text:
- Critchley, Simon. On Humor, Chapters 4-7.
Pdfs of the readings can be found: HERE
Location: Bloomfield Crazy Mocha (4525 Liberty Ave).
Need more: check out this interesting examination of laughter: LINK
As a reminder, even though we have moved to thematic groups, there is no expectation that people participate in every week, so even if you can’t commit to the whole spring, you are still more than welcome to join us when you can.
OTHER EVENTS THIS WEEK:
- 04/16, 3:00-5:00pm: St. Louis Anarchists: Pittsburgh Anarchist Speaker Series. Room 837 William Pitt Union.
OTHER NEWS:
Ever wondered how much we have really covered in reading group? Check out the new link that includes a (nearly) comprehensive list of every text that has been covered by the reading group since its inception a few years ago. LINK HERE
***
Dr. Fred Evans’ keynote from (un)commons: theory and public space is now available on youtube and our video page. Check it out!
LOOKING AHEAD:
Upcoming in Get It?! Continental Philosophy and Humor
4/11 – Critchley, Simon. On Humor, Chapters 4-7.
4/18 – Carey, John. “Introduction” to Jokes and their Relation to the Unconscious
Freud, Sigmund. Jokes and their Relation to the Unconscious, 225-258.
4/25 -Freud, Sigmund. Jokes and their Relation to the Unconscious, 258-298.
5/2 – Bergson, Henri. Laughter: An Essay on the Meaning of the Comic, Chapters 1-2.
5/9 – Morreall, John. Comic Relief: A Comprehensive Philosophy of Humor, Chapters 1-2.
5/16 – Parvulescu, Anca. Laughter: Notes on a Passion. Chapter 4.
5/23 – Davis, Diane. Breaking Up at Totality, 104-115.
5/30 – Zupancic, Alenka. The Odd One In: On Comedy, “Structural Dynamics and Temporality of the Comical.”
6/6 – Pound, Marcus. “Comic Subjectivity- Žižek and Zupančič’s Spiritual Work of Art.”
Pdfs HERE.
Reading Group: Critchley on Humor
3 AprREADING GROUP:
It’s time to kick off our Spring thematic section: Get It?! Continental Philosophy and Humor. Tomorrow (Apr. 4th) we will be discussing the first three chapters of Simon Critchley’s On Humor.
This week’s text:
- Critchley, Simon. On Humor, Chapters 1-3.
Free Pdfs of the readings can be found: HERE
Location: Bloomfield Crazy Mocha (4525 Liberty Ave).
As a reminder, even though we have moved to thematic groups, there is no expectation that people participate in every week, so even if you can’t commit to the whole winter, you are still more than welcome to join us when you can.
OTHER EVENTS THIS WEEK:
- 4/5, 4:30pm – “Rethinking Thinking: Heidegger in the 1950s,” Prof. Andrew Mitchell (Emory University). Simon Silverman Center, Gumberg Library, Duquesne University.
- 4/8, 2:30pm – Kristi Sweet (Texan A&M University). Simon Silverman Center, Gumberg Library, Duquesne University.
OTHER NEWS:
Ever wondered how much we have really covered in reading group? Check out the new link that includes a (nearly) comprehensive list of every text that has been covered by the reading group since its inception a few years ago. LINK HERE
***
Dr. Fred Evans’ keynote from (un)commons: theory and public space is now available on youtube and our video page. Check it out!
LOOKING AHEAD:
Upcoming in Get It?! Continental Philosophy and Humor
4/4 – Critchley, Simon. On Humor, Chapters 1-3.
4/11 – Critchley, Simon. On Humor, Chapters 4-7.
4/18 – Carey, John. “Introduction” to Jokes and their Relation to the Unconscious
Freud, Sigmund. Jokes and their Relation to the Unconscious, 225-258.
4/25 -Freud, Sigmund. Jokes and their Relation to the Unconscious, 258-298.
5/2 – Bergson, Henri. Laughter: An Essay on the Meaning of the Comic, Chapters 1-2.
5/9 – Morreall, John. Comic Relief: A Comprehensive Philosophy of Humor, Chapters 1-2.
5/16 – Parvulescu, Anca. Laughter: Notes on a Passion. Chapter 4.
5/23 – Davis, Diane. Breaking Up at Totality, 104-115.
5/30 – Zupancic, Alenka. The Odd One In: On Comedy, “Structural Dynamics and Temporality of the Comical.”
6/6 – Pound, Marcus. “Comic Subjectivity- Žižek and Zupančič’s Spiritual Work of Art.”
Pdfs HERE.
Reading Group: Critchley on Humor
28 MarREADING GROUP:
It’s time to kick off our Spring thematic section: Get It?! Continental Philosophy and Humor. For our first week (Apr. 4th) we will be discussing the first three chapters of Simon Critchley’s On Humor.
This week’s text:
- Critchley, Simon. On Humor, Chapters 1-3.
Free Pdfs of the readings can be found: HERE
Location: Bloomfield Crazy Mocha (4525 Liberty Ave).
As a reminder, even though we have moved to thematic groups, there is no expectation that people participate in every week, so even if you can’t commit to the whole winter, you are still more than welcome to join us when you can.
OTHER EVENTS THIS WEEK:
- 3/30, 7:30pm – “Pascal in a Post-Christian World.” Africa Room, Student Union, Duquesne University.
- 3/31, 6:00pm – “Just Gender” Documentary. Lawrence Hall, 200, Point Park University.
- 4/8, 2:30pm – Kristi Sweet (Texan A&M University). Simon Silverman Center, Gumberg Library, Duquesne University.
OTHER NEWS:
Ever wondered how much we have really covered in reading group? Check out the new link that includes a (nearly) comprehensive list of every text that has been covered by the reading group since its inception a few years ago. LINK HERE
***
Dr. Fred Evans’ keynote from (un)commons: theory and public space is now available on youtube and our video page. Check it out!
LOOKING AHEAD:
Upcoming in Get It?! Continental Philosophy and Humor
4/4 – Critchley, Simon. On Humor, Chapters 1-3.
4/11 – Critchley, Simon. On Humor, Chapters 4-7.
4/18 – Carey, John. “Introduction” to Jokes and their Relation to the Unconscious
Freud, Sigmund. Jokes and their Relation to the Unconscious, 225-258.
4/25 -Freud, Sigmund. Jokes and their Relation to the Unconscious, 258-298.
5/2 – Bergson, Henri. Laughter: An Essay on the Meaning of the Comic, Chapters 1-2.
5/9 – Morreall, John. Comic Relief: A Comprehensive Philosophy of Humor, Chapters 1-2.
5/16 – Parvulescu, Anca. Laughter: Notes on a Passion. Chapter 4.
5/23 – Davis, Diane. Breaking Up at Totality, 104-115.
5/30 – Zupancic, Alenka. The Odd One In: On Comedy, “Structural Dynamics and Temporality of the Comical.”
6/6 – Pound, Marcus. “Comic Subjectivity- Žižek and Zupančič’s Spiritual Work of Art.”
Pdfs HERE.
Last Lacan Reading Group: The Four Discourses!
13 MarREADING GROUP:

This week (Mar. 14th) we will be discussing Lacan’s account of the four discourses, and thinking through the relationship between psychoanalysis and the social/political sphere.
This week’s texts (Read one, both, or neither!):
- Lacan, “The Master and the Hysteric” in Seminar XVII
- Žižek, “Four Discourses, Four Subjects” in Sic 2: Cogito and the Unconscious
Free Pdfs of the readings can be found: HERE
Location: Bloomfield Crazy Mocha (4525 Liberty Ave).
This spring we are doing things a little different. For each week we have selected one Lacan text, and one secondary text. Read one, read both, read neither, it’s up to you! What is most important is that every Monday at 8:00pm we will come together to try and figure out what this notoriously obscure figure was really trying to get at. If you have a question raised by the text that you addressed at the meeting, leave a note in the comments below.
Want some extra resources? Check out PEL’s episode on Lacan HERE, or their episode on Lacan and Derrida’s readings of Poe’s “Purloined Letter” HERE.
As a reminder, even though we have moved to thematic groups, there is no expectation that people participate in every week, so even if you can’t commit to the whole winter, you are still more than welcome to join us when you can.
OTHER EVENTS THIS WEEK:
- 03/15, all day: “A Day for Learning and Speaking Out” – Duquesne University
- 03/17-18, multiple events: “Contemplation and Beyond: Phenomenology, Neuroscience, and the Spiritual.” The 34th Annual Simon Silverman Phenomenology Center Symposium. Duquesne University.
OTHER NEWS:
Ever wondered how much we have really covered in reading group? Check out the new link that includes a (nearly) comprehensive list of every text that has been covered by the reading group since its inception a few years ago. LINK HERE
***
Dr. Fred Evans’ keynote from (un)commons: theory and public space is now available on youtube and our video page. Check it out!
LOOKING AHEAD:
Upcoming in Lacan Demystified
3/14 – The Four Discourses
- Lacan, “The Master and the Hysteric” in Seminar XVII
- Žižek, “Four Discourses, Four Subjects” in Sic 2: Cogito and the Unconscious
Find all Pdfs Here
Coming this spring: Get it?!: Continental Philosophy and Humor
Dr. Evans Lecture is up!
7 MarCheck out Dr. Evans’ lecture from (un)commons: theory and public space. It is entitled “Citizenship and Public Art: The Political Aesthetic of New York’s 09/11/01 Memorial.”
Reading Group: Ethics and Psychoanalysis
6 MarREADING GROUP:
This week (Mar. 7th) we will be discussing Lacan’s account of the ethics of psychoanalysis.
This week’s texts (Read one, both, or neither!):
- Lacan, “Kant with Sade” in Ecrits
- Zupančič, “The Lie” in Ethics of the Real: Kant and Lacan
Free Pdfs of the readings can be found: HERE
Location: Bloomfield Crazy Mocha (4525 Liberty Ave).
This spring we are doing things a little different. For each week we have selected one Lacan text, and one secondary text. Read one, read both, read neither, it’s up to you! What is most important is that every Monday at 8:00pm we will come together to try and figure out what this notoriously obscure figure was really trying to get at. If you have a question raised by the text that you addressed at the meeting, leave a note in the comments below.
Want some extra resources? Check out PEL’s episode on Lacan HERE, or their episode on Lacan and Derrida’s readings of Poe’s “Purloined Letter” HERE.
As a reminder, even though we have moved to thematic groups, there is no expectation that people participate in every week, so even if you can’t commit to the whole winter, you are still more than welcome to join us when you can.
OTHER EVENTS THIS WEEK:
- 03/07 – 12:00pm: Dr. Bates: “Kantian Grit? Severus Snape and Shakespeare’s Brutus” Duquesne University, Africa Room, Student Union.
- 03/10 – 4:00pm: Kathleen Glenister Roberts: “Faith and Reason at Hogwarts: Harry Potter and Christian Intellectual Tradition” Duquesne University, Student Union 119.
OTHER NEWS:
Ever wondered how much we have really covered in reading group? Check out the new link that includes a (nearly) comprehensive list of every text that has been covered by the reading group since its inception a few years ago. LINK HERE
Dr. Fred Evans’ keynote from (un)commons: theory and public space is now available on youtube and our video page. Check it out!
LOOKING AHEAD:
Upcoming in Lacan Demystified
3/7 – Ethics and Psychoanalysis
- Lacan, “Kant with Sade” in Ecrits
- Zupančič, “The Lie” in Ethics of the Real: Kant and Lacan
3/14 – The Four Discourses
- Lacan, “The Master and the Hysteric” in Seminar XVII
- Žižek, “Four Discourses, Four Subjects” in Sic 2: Cogito and the Unconscious
Find all Pdfs Here
Coming this spring: Get it?!: Philosophy and Humor
Reading Group: Lacan on Feminine Sexuality
28 Feb
READING GROUP:
This week (Feb. 29th) we will be discussing Lacan’s understanding of feminine sexuality.
This week’s texts (Read one, both, or neither!):
- Lacan, “On Jouissance” and “God and
Woman’s Jouissance” in Seminar XX - Butler, “Lacan, Riviere, and the Strategies of Masquerade” in Gender Trouble
Free Pdfs of the readings can be found: HERE
Location: Bloomfield Crazy Mocha (4525 Liberty Ave).
This spring we are doing things a little different. For each week we have selected one Lacan text, and one secondary text. Read one, read both, read neither, it’s up to you! What is most important is that every Monday at 8:00pm we will come together to try and figure out what this notoriously obscure figure was really trying to get at. If you have a question raised by the text that you addressed at the meeting, leave a note in the comments below.
Want some extra resources? Check out PEL’s episode on Lacan HERE, or their episode on Lacan and Derrida’s readings of Poe’s “Purloined Letter” HERE.
As a reminder, even though we have moved to thematic groups, there is no expectation that people participate in every week, so even if you can’t commit to the whole winter, you are still more than welcome to join us when you can.
OTHER EVENTS THIS WEEK:
- None this week.
OTHER NEWS:
Ever wondered how much we have really covered in reading group? Check out the new link that includes a (nearly) comprehensive list of every text that has been covered by the reading group since its inception a few years ago. LINK HERE
LOOKING AHEAD:
Upcoming in Lacan Demystified
2/29 – Feminine Sexuality
- Lacan, “On Jouissance” and “God and
Woman’s Jouissance” in Seminar XX - Butler, “Lacan, Riviere, and the Strategies of Masquerade” in Gender Trouble
3/7 – Ethics and Psychoanalysis
- Lacan, “Kant with Sade” in Ecrits
- Zupančič, “The Lie” in Ethics of the Real: Kant and Lacan
3/14 – The Four Discourses
- Lacan, “The Master and the Hysteric” in Seminar XVII
- Žižek, “Four Discourses, Four Subjects” in Sic 2: Cogito and the Unconscious
Find all Pdfs Here
Coming this spring: Get it?!: Philosophy and Humor

