The Anatomy of Melancholy

What is melancholy exactly? An emotion? An illness? A temperament? Melancholy has been characterised throughout history by its deep ambiguity. Associated with fear and fertility, madness and genius, manic creativity and aphasic stupor, melancholy is a powerful inspiration for a range of expressions of thought and art. This subject will foster an adventurous approach to new knowledge and explore the different meanings of melancholy, from antiquity to the present day.