Difference between revisions of "Bar"
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| − | 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 | + | 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]] [[symbol]]s '''S''' and '''A''' in a manner reminiscent of [[Heidegger]]'s practice of crossing out the word "[[being]]."<ref>Heidegger, 1956</ref> |
| − | The bar is used to strike through the S to produce, | + | The [[bar]] is used to strike through the '''S''' to produce, '''$''', the "[[bar|barred subject']]." |
| − | The bar here represents the division of the subject by language, the | + | The [[bar]] here represents the [[division]] of the subject]] by [[language]], the [[split]]. |
| − | Thus whereas before 1957 S designates the subject (e.g. in schema L), from 1957 on S designates the signifier and | + | Thus whereas before 1957 '''S''' designates the [[subject]] (e.g. in [[schema L]]), from 1957 on '''S''' designates the [[signifier]] and '''$''' designates the ([[divided]]) [[subject]]. |
| − | The bar is also used to strike through the A (the big Other) to produce the algebraic notation for the | + | 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 | + | However, [[Lacan]] continues to use both sign]]s in his [[algebra]] (e.g. in the [[graph of desire]]). |
| − | The | + | The [[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. |
| − | + | ===Woman=== | |
| − | In 1973 the [[bar]] is used to strike through the definite article ''la'' whenever it precedes the noun ''femme'' ( | + | In 1973 the [[bar]] is used to strike through the definite article ''la'' whenever it precedes the noun ''femme'' ('woman'), as in [[Lacan]]'s famous phrase ''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 | + | 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.<ref>{{S20}} p.68</ref> |
| − | + | ===Other=== | |
| + | 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 [[sexual difference]]), and as the ''trait unaire'' (see [[identification]]). | ||
| − | + | ==See Also== | |
| + | * [[Algebra]] | ||
| + | * [[Sign]] | ||
| + | * [[Signifier]] | ||
| + | * [[Signified]] | ||
| + | * [[Subject]] | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
Revision as of 12:56, 4 August 2006
Jacques Lacan
Signification
The term "bar" first appears in Lacan's work in 1957, where it is introduced in the context of a discussion of Saussure's concept of the sign.[1]
In this context, the bar is the line that separates the signifier from the signified (in the Saussurean algorithm), and stands for the resistance inherent in signification which is only crossed in metaphor.
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 S and A in a manner reminiscent of Heidegger's practice of crossing out the word "being."[2]
The bar is used to strike through the S to produce, $, the "barred subject'."
The bar here represents the division of the subject]] by language, the split.
Thus whereas before 1957 S designates the subject (e.g. in schema L), from 1957 on S designates the signifier and $ designates the (divided) subject.
The bar is also used to strike through the A (the big Other) to produce the algebraic notation for the "barred Other," A.
However, Lacan continues to use both sign]]s in his algebra (e.g. in the graph of desire).
The barred 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.
Woman
In 1973 the bar is used to strike through the definite article la whenever it precedes the noun femme ('woman'), as in Lacan's famous phrase 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.[3]
Other
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 sexual difference), and as the trait unaire (see identification).
See Also
References
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p.149
- ↑ Heidegger, 1956
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Le Séminaire. Livre XX. Encore, 1972-73. Ed. Jacques-Alain Miller. Paris: Seuil, 1975. p.68
