Difference between revisions of "Captation"

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Revision as of 08:16, 21 August 2006

French: Captation


The French substantive captation is a neologism coined by the French psychoanalysts Édouard Pichon and Odile Codet, from the verb capter.

Captation is a French term introduced by psychoanalysts Eduard Picon and Odile Codet.

It was adopted by Jacques Lacan in 1948 and occurs regularly in his work from this point on.

It was adopted by Jacques Lacan in 1948 to refer to the imaginary effects of the specular image,[1] and occurs regularly in his work from this point on.

Specular Image

Lacan uses the term captation to describe the imaginary effects of the specular image on the subject.[2]

The double sense of the French term - "captivation" and "capture" - nicely indicates the ambiguous nature of the power of the specular image.

Captivation

(On the one hand, it has the sense of "captivation," thus expressing the fascinating, seductive power of the image.)

(On the other hand, the term also conveys the idea of "capture," which evokes the more sinister power of the image to imprison the subject in a disabeling fixation.)

-- First, the term conveys the idea of "captivation."

In this sense, captation refers to the power of the specular image to "captivate" - to fascinate and/or to seduce - the subject.

Capture

Second, the term conveys the idea of "capture."

In this sense, captation refers to the power of the specular image to "capture" - to "imprison" and/or to "hold" - the subject (in a fixation).

See Also

References

  1. Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p.18
  2. Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p.18