Archetypal Art History: A Visual Exploration of Collective Transformations
2 Continuing Education (CE) Credits
Live online
Can’t make it live? No problem, all sessions are recorded!
Sunday, November 9, 2025
10am-12pm PST
“Art is a symbolic expression of the collective unconscious and, although it is essentially a representation of symbols close to consciousness, it has a decisive therapeutic function for the life of the group.”
Depth psychologist, Eric Neumann, wrote how art often mirrors archetypal patterns embedded in the collective unconscious, providing psychic energy that sustains cultural cohesion. Often, the emergence of art imagery foreshadow cultural shifts needed to reinvigorate faltering societal cohesion. This online course moves beyond the traditional appreciation of art as mere aesthetics, positioning it instead as a profound psychological barometer. Drawing from the work of Carl Jung and Erich Neumann, we will explore art as symbolic expression of the collective unconscious, reflecting and shaping the archetypal patterns that define and drive a culture.
Through this lens, we will examine pivotal moments in Western art history to demonstrate how shifts in art forms and imagery have consistently presaged collective cultural transformations. By analyzing these visual narratives, we will uncover how art functions as an early warning system, revealing the psychic stirrings of a culture before they manifest in broader social change.
The course culminates with an exploration of emerging art forms and an animated discussion on what these new visual languages may tell us about our present archetypes and offer a framework for interpreting the signs of our current collective unconscious.
Can’t make it live? No problem, all sessions are recorded!
Who is this for?
- Anyone interested in the intersection of psychology, art, and culture.
- Psychologists, psychotherapists, and mental health professionals seeking to broaden their understanding of Jungian concepts.
- Those with an interest in depth psychology and Jungian psychology.
- Art enthusiasts and students of archetypal representations in modern society.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Discuss C.G. Jung and Erich Neumann's theories on art as a symbolic expression of the collective unconscious.
- Analyze how pivotal art movements have historically foreshadowed major cultural and societal shifts by revealing emerging archetypes.
- Discuss the symbolic language of specific art forms to better understand the psychic state of a culture.
Facilitators
Jeffrey Kiehl, PhD
Jeffrey Kiehl, PhD, is a Diplomate Jungian Analyst and senior training analyst for the C.G. Jung Institute of Colorado and the Inter-Regional Society of Jungian Analysts. He has published articles on The Evolution of Archetypal Forms in Western Civilization, US Cultural Complexes and Climate Change, The Green Man and Climate Change, The Archetypal Dimensions of Comic Books and The Nature of Uncertainty/The Uncertainty of Nature. Jeffrey’s interests include the relationship between psyche & art, alchemy, and film interpretation. He lives in Boulder, CO.
Dr. Leslee Brown, PhD
Dr. Brown is President and Director of Mind Body Passport Inc. designing and leading international trips for adult professionals, offering continuing education credits worldwide. Dr. Brown's interests are multi-faceted, engaging topics of psychology, culture, art, psychoanalysis, and social dreaming. She is passionate about weaving many disciplines and interests together and creating an atmosphere of growth and learning. Travel opens one’s mind and creates change bringing new perspectives on living life. She also served as The Director of International Seminars and Gastprofessor at Sigmund Freud University, Vienna. International psychology and developing “psychologists without borders” has become her focus. Dr. Brown has been in private practice for over twenty years, has been a research psychologist for The Neurologic Institute, and has served on faculty at UCLA Medical School teaching psychology and rapport-building techniques to medical students. Dr. Brown was also Assistant Professor at The Chicago School and Director of Centers for International Studies. Leslee lives and works part-time in Los Angeles, part-time in Paris, and the rest of the time is traveling the world.
Mind Body Passport is approved by the California Psychological Association to provide continuing professional education for psychologists. Mind Body Passport maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Mind Body Passport Inc. is also recognized as a CAMFT-approved Continuing Education Provider. Certificate awarded upon successful completion.
Questions?
Contact Dr. Leslee Brown for a free one-to-one consultation or e-mail us at info@mindbodypassport.com
No refunds issued on online courses.