Captation

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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.

Specular Image

Lacan uses the term captation to describe the imaginary effects of the specular image on the subject.[1]

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

Captivation

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