Historical origins and philosophical problems An introduction to melancholia as a historical and philosophical concept, beginning with classical accounts of melancholy and moving through its associations with temperament, genius, contemplation, and illness. Central questions: What distinguishes melancholia from ordinary sadness?
Why has melancholy been associated with both extraordinary creativity and profound suffering?

About the Instructor:
Kellye McBride holds an MA in Contemporary European Philosophy from Kingston University London, completed through a joint program with Université Paris 8, and a BA in Philosophy with departmental honors from the University of Oregon. She has taught philosophy in university and public-humanities settings, including Chemeketa Community College and Portland's People's Colloquium. Her teaching emphasizes critical engagement with primary texts, lively discussion, and making complex theoretical ideas comprehensible without sacrificing their intellectual depth. Kellye is also a professional editor and writer and the creator of Melancholia, a podcast exploring philosophical, psychoanalytic, literary, and cultural approaches to melancholy. Her interests include Continental philosophy, critical theory, psychoanalysis, death, desire, and the relationship between intellectual inquiry and everyday life.

Time: 6:30–8:30 PM
Location: L'école buissonnière, above Mother Foucault's Bookshop, 715 SE Grand Ave, Portland, OR
Instructor: Kellye McBride