Difference between revisions of "Graph of desire"
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Rather, it represents the "[[time|logical moments]]" of the [[development|birth]] of a [[speech|speaking]] [[subject]]. | Rather, it represents the "[[time|logical moments]]" of the [[development|birth]] of a [[speech|speaking]] [[subject]]. | ||
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| + | ===Elementary Cell=== | ||
| + | [[Image:Lacan-graph-elementary.jpg|Elementary Cell|thumb|right|200px]] | ||
| + | The first of these stages in the "[[graph of desire|elementary cell]]" of the [[graph of desire|graph]].<ref>{{E}} p.303</ref> | ||
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| + | The horizontal line represents the [[diachronic]] [[signifying chain]]; the horseshoe-shaped line represents the vector of the [[subject]]'s [[intention]]ality. | ||
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| + | The double intersection of these two lines illustrates the nature of [[time|retroaction]]: the message, at the point marked '''s(A)''' in the [[graph of desire|elementary cell]], is the ''[[point de capiton]]'' determined [[time|retroactively]] by the particular [[punctuation]] given to it by the [[Other]], '''A'''. | ||
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| + | The [[linguistic|prelinguistic]] mythical [[subject]] of pure [[need]], indicated by the triangle, must pass through the defiles of the [[signifier]] which produces the [[divided]] [[subject]], '''$'''. | ||
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| + | ===Intermediate Stages=== | ||
| + | The intermediate stages of the [[graph of desire]] are not meant to show any [[progress|evolution]] or [[development|temporal development]], since the [[graph of desire|graph]] always exists as a whole; they are simply pedagogical devices used by [[Lacan]] in order to illustrate the [[structure]] of the [[graph of desire|complete graph]].<ref>{{E}} p.315</ref> | ||
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| + | Nevertheless, [[Lacan]] never intended to describe the genetic stages of a [[biological]] [[development]]. | ||
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| + | Rather, it represents the "logical moments" of the birth of a [[speaking]] [[subject]]. | ||
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| + | ===Complete Graph=== | ||
| + | [[Image:Lacan-graph-complete.jpg|Complete Graph|thumb|right|200px]] | ||
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| + | In the [[graph of desire|complete graph]] there are not one but two [[signifying chain]]s. | ||
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| + | The lower [[chain]] (from the [[signifier]] to the [[voice]]) is the [[conscious]] [[signifying chain]], the level of the [[statement]]. | ||
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| + | The upper [[chain]] (from ''[[jouissance]]'' to [[castration]]) is the [[signifying chain]] in the [[unconscious]], the level of the [[enunciation]]. | ||
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| + | The [[structure]] is thus duplicated: the upper part of the [[graph]] is structured exactly like the lower part. | ||
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==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
Revision as of 10:42, 19 October 2006
| French: graphe du désir |
The "graph of desire" is a topographical representation - schema or model - of the structure of desire.
The graph of desire is a conceptual tool from the psychoanalytic theory of Jacques Lacan.
The graph of desire is a topological representation of the structure of desire.
The graph of desire is a topological schema of the structure of the constitution of the human subject and its desire.
History
The graph of desire was first porposed in a 1960 colloquium, and was later published in the Ecrits.
The graph of desire is a schema, or model, that Jacques Lacan began developing in his seminar on The Formations of the Unconscious.[1]
The graph of desire was gradually developed by Lacan in the course of two successive seminars: The Formations of the Unconscious and Desire and its Interpretation.
Lacan first develops the graph of desire in the seminar of 1957-8 in order to illustrate the psychoanalytic theory of jokes.[2]
The graph reappears in some of the following seminars, but then all but disappears from Lacan's work.
He refers to the basic schema once again in "The Subversion of the Subject and the Dialectic of Desire in the Freudian Unconscious."
It achieved its definitive form in his essay "The Subversion of the Subject and the Dialectic of Desire in the Freudian Unconscious."[3]
The graph appears in various forms, although the most well known form of it appears in "The subversion of the subject and the dialectic of desire in the Freudian unconscious."[4]
Graph
It depends on ideas developed originally in Lacan's Schema R, a graph in which fundamental organizing sturctures of the human mind are shown in a schematic relationship to the registers which in turn structure human reality: the imaginary, the symbolic and the real.
The graph of desire is a 'flattened' representation of a signifying chain as it crosses a pathway Lacan called a vector of [[desire].
It appears as two curved lines which cross one another at two separate points.
Each line has a symbolic meaning.
Development
Lacan builds up the graph of desire in four stages.
Its four successive stages represent the constitution of the human subject and his desire.
The stages of the graph of desire are not meant to show any evolution or temporal development, since the graph always exists as a whole.
Nevertheless, Lacan never intended to describe the genetic stages of a biological development.
Rather, it represents the "logical moments" of the birth of a speaking subject.
Elementary Cell
The first of these stages in the "elementary cell" of the graph.[5]
The horizontal line represents the diachronic signifying chain; the horseshoe-shaped line represents the vector of the subject's intentionality.
The double intersection of these two lines illustrates the nature of retroaction: the message, at the point marked s(A) in the elementary cell, is the point de capiton determined retroactively by the particular punctuation given to it by the Other, A.
The prelinguistic mythical subject of pure need, indicated by the triangle, must pass through the defiles of the signifier which produces the divided subject, $.
Intermediate Stages
The intermediate stages of the graph of desire are not meant to show any evolution or temporal development, since the graph always exists as a whole; they are simply pedagogical devices used by Lacan in order to illustrate the structure of the complete graph.[6]
Nevertheless, Lacan never intended to describe the genetic stages of a biological development.
Rather, it represents the "logical moments" of the birth of a speaking subject.
Complete Graph
In the complete graph there are not one but two signifying chains.
The lower chain (from the signifier to the voice) is the conscious signifying chain, the level of the statement.
The upper chain (from jouissance to castration) is the signifying chain in the unconscious, the level of the enunciation.
The structure is thus duplicated: the upper part of the graph is structured exactly like the lower part.
See Also
References
- ↑ Jacques Lacan:Bibliography The Formations of the Unconscious. 1957-58
- ↑ Freud, Sigmund. Jokes and their Relation to the Unconscious," 1905. SE VIII.
- ↑ Jacques Lacan:Bibliography "The Subversion of the Subject and the Dialectic of Desire in the Freudian Unconscious." 1960
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. "Subversion du sujet et dialectique du désir dans l'inconscient freudien." Écrits. Paris: Seuil, 1966. p.793-827. "The subversion of the subject and the dialectic of desire in the Freudian unconscious." Ecrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. Bruce Fink. London: Tavistock. 1977. New York: W. W. Norton. 2004. p.292-325
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p.303
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p.315
