… 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.
-Erich Neumann (1951)
In this workshop, we explore how specific art forms appear at critical historical moments leading to a collective transformation of psyche. Jung used the terms “Spirit of the Times” and “Spirit of the Depths” to describe two forms of our being in the world. We will explore how through artistic image the Spirit of the Depths manifests itself in the Spirit of the Times. We consider specific periods in Western history to provide evidence for how art presages collective cultural transformation. The workshop concludes by considering what emerging art forms may be telling us about our present archetypal moment in history.