Electrified: Jean-Martin Charcot and the Iconography of Light in Hypnotism.
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| Title: | Electrified: Jean-Martin Charcot and the Iconography of Light in Hypnotism. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Jäger, Felix1 felix.jaeger@courtauld.ac.uk |
| Source: | Leonardo. Jun2026, Vol. 59 Issue 3, p226-233. 8p. |
| Subjects: | Hypnotism, Physiological effects of light, Charcot, J. M. (Jean Martin), 1825-1893, Symbolism in art, Aesthetics, Neurosciences |
| Abstract: | This article explores the use of artificial light technologies in hypnotist clinical practice and their broader impact on cognitive habits and aesthetic experiences in the late nineteenth century. Physicians interpreted the shock provoked by high-intensity lights as symptomatic of a neurological condition. Exploring the medical-visual work of Jean-Martin Charcot (1825–1893), the author reveals how these responses were in fact engineered by a carefully curated consultation setting. On the one hand, they mimicked art-historical iconographies such as miracle healings, alchemical experiments, and candlelit nocturnes; on the other, they relied on a bespoke decorative regime to manage heightened senses. In this reading, light hot-wired aesthetic experience into psychological discourse, and thus projected intense psychogenic powers able to both focus and manipulate the mind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Leonardo is the property of MIT Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 194363506 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1162/LEON.a.2677 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 8 StartPage: 226 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Hypnotism Type: general – SubjectFull: Physiological effects of light Type: general – SubjectFull: Charcot, J. M. (Jean Martin), 1825-1893 Type: general – SubjectFull: Symbolism in art Type: general – SubjectFull: Aesthetics Type: general – SubjectFull: Neurosciences Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Electrified: Jean-Martin Charcot and the Iconography of Light in Hypnotism. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Jäger, Felix IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 06 Text: Jun2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 0024094X Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 59 – Type: issue Value: 3 Titles: – TitleFull: Leonardo Type: main |
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