Changes

Not long after the 1957 paper in which the term first appears, in the [[seminar ]] of 1957-8, [[Lacan ]] goes on to use the [[bar ]] to strike through his [[algebraic symbols ]] [[symbol]]s '''S ''' and '''A ''' in a manner reminiscent of [[Heidegger]]'s practice of crossing out the word '"[[being' (see ]]."<ref>Heidegger, 1956). </ref>

The [[bar ]] is used to strike through the '''S ''' to produce, S'''$''', the '"[[bar|barred subject']]. "

The [[bar ]] here represents the [[division ]] of the subject ]] by [[language]], the SPLIT[[split]].

Thus whereas before 1957 '''S ''' designates the [[subject ]] (e.g. in [[schema L]]), from 1957 on '''S ''' designates the [[signifier ]] and S '''$''' designates the ([[divided]]) [[subject]].

The [[bar ]] is also used to strike through the '''A ''' (the [[big Other]]) to produce the algebraic notation for the '"[[bar|barred Other]]," ''', A'''.

However, [[Lacan ]] continues to use both signs sign]]s in his [[algebra ]] (e.g. in the [[graph of desire]]).

The barred [[bar]]red [[Other ]] is the [[Other ]] insofar as it is castrated, incomplete, marked by a [[lack]], as opposed to the complete, consistent, uncastrated [[Other]], an un-barred '''A''', which does not exist.

In 1973 the [[bar]] is used to strike through the definite article ''la'' whenever it precedes the noun ''femme'' (w'omanwoman'), as in [[Lacan]]'s famous phrase ''kffemme la femme n 'existe pas'' ('[[woman does not exist]]').

The definite article in French indicates universality, and by crossing it out [[Lacan ]] illustrates his thesis that [[femininity ]] is resistant to all forms of generalisation (see .<ref>{{S20, }} p.68).</ref>

In addition to these functions, the bar can also be interpreted as the symbolic phallus (which itself is never barred), as the symbol of negation in the formulae of sexuation (see ==See Also==* [[sexual differenceAlgebra]]), and as the trait unaire (see * [[identificationSign]]* [[Signifier]]* [[Signified]]* [[Subject]]).