Difference between revisions of "Graph of desire"

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| [[French]]: ''[[graphe du désir]]
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The "[[graph of desire]]" is a [[topology|topographical representation]] - [[topology|schema]] or [[topology|model]] - of the [[structure]] of [[desire]].
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The [[graph of desire]] is a [[topology|topological model]] of the [[structure]] of [[desire]].
 
 
The [[graph of desire]] is a conceptual tool from the [[psychoanalysis|psychoanalytic theory]] of [[Jacques Lacan]].
 
 
 
The [[graph of desire]] is a [[topology|topological representation]] of the [[structure]] of [[desire]].
 
 
 
The [[graph of desire]] is a [[topology|topological]] [[matheme|schema]] of the [[structure]] of the constitution of the [[human]] [[subject]] and its [[desire]].
 
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
The [[graph of desire]] was first porposed in a 1960 colloquium, and was later published in the ''[[Ecrits]]''.
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[[Jacques Lacan]] began to develop the [[graph of desire]] in his [[{{Y}}|1957]]-[[{{Y}}|58]] [[seminar]], ''[[Seminar V|Les formations de l'inconscient]]''.<ref>[[Jacques Lacan|Lacan, Jacques]]. ''[[Seminar V|Les formations de l'inconscient]]''. [[Seminar V|The Formations of the Unconscious]]. [[{{Y}}|1957]]-[[{{Y}}|58]]</ref>  The [[graph of desire]] reappears in some of the following [[seminar]]s 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]]."<ref>[[Jacques Lacan|Lacan, Jacques]]. "[[Works of Jacques Lacan|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</ref>
  
The [[graph of desire]] is a schema, or model, that [[Jacques Lacan]] began developing in his [[seminar]] on [[Seminar V|The Formations of the Unconscious]].<ref>{{LB}} [[Seminar V|The Formations of the Unconscious]]. [[{{Y}}|1957]]-[[{{Y}}|58]]</ref>
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==Four Stages==
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In this paper, [[Lacan]] builds up the [[graph of desire]] in four [[stages]].
  
The [[graph of desire]] was gradually developed by [[Lacan]] in the course of two successive [[seminars]]: [[Seminar V|The Formations of the Unconscious]] and [[Seminar VI|Desire and its Interpretation]].
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===Elementary Cell===
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The first of these stages in the "[[graph of desire|elementary cell]]" of the [[graph of desire|graph]].<ref>{{E}} p.303</ref>
  
[[Lacan]] first develops the [[graph of desire]] in [[Seminar V|the seminar of 1957-8]] in order to illustrate the [[psychoanalytic theory]] of [[joke]]s.<ref>[[Freud|Freud, Sigmund]]. ''[[Works of Sigmund Freud|Jokes and their Relation to the Unconscious]]," 1905. [[SE]] VIII.</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.
  
The [[graph of desire|graph]] reappears in some of the following [[seminars]], but then all but disappears from [[Lacan]]'s [[Works of Jacques Lacan|work]].
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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'''.
  
He refers to the basic schema once again in "[[The Subversion of the Subject and the Dialectic of Desire in the Freudian Unconscious]]."
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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]], '''$'''.
  
It achieved its definitive form in his essay "[[The Subversion of the Subject and the Dialectic of Desire in the Freudian Unconscious]]."<ref>{{LB}} "[[The Subversion of the Subject and the Dialectic of Desire in the Freudian Unconscious]]." 1960</ref>
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===Intermediate Stages===
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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>
  
The [[graph of desire|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]]."<ref>[[Lacan, Jacques]]. "[[Works of Jacques Lacan|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</ref>
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Nevertheless, [[Lacan]] never intended to describe the genetic stages of a [[biological]] [[development]].
  
==Development==
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Rather, it represents the "[[logical]] moments" of the [[birth]] of a [[speaking]] [[subject]].
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]].
 
  
==Graph==
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===Complete Graph===
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.
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In the [[completed graph]] there are not one but two [[signifying chain]]s.
  
Each line has a symbolic meaning.
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The lower [[chain]] (from the [[signifier]] to the [[voice]]) is the [[conscious]] [[signifying chain]], the level of the [[statement]].
  
==Development==
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The upper [[chain]] (from ''[[jouissance]]'' to [[castration]]) is the [[signifying chain]] in the [[unconscious]], the level of the [[enunciation]].
 
 
[[Lacan]] builds up the [[graph of desire]] in four stages.
 
 
 
Its four successive stages represent the constitution of the [[human]] [[subject]] and his [[desire]].
 
 
 
Nevertheless, [[Lacan]] never intended it to describe the [[biology|genetic]] [[development|stages]] of a [[biology|biological]] [[development]].
 
 
 
Rather, it represents the "[[time|logical moments]]" of the [[development|birth]] of a [[speech|speaking]] [[subject]].  
 
  
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The [[structure]] is thus duplicated: the upper part of the [[graph]] is [[structured]] exactly like the lower part.
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
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* [[Signifying Chain]]
 
* [[Signifying Chain]]
 
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* [[Structure]]
 
* [[Subject]]
 
* [[Subject]]
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* [[Unconscious]]
 
* [[Unconscious]]
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* [[Topology]]
 
{{Also}}
 
{{Also}}
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
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{| align="[[right]]"  style="line-height:2.0em;margin-left:10px;text-align:right;background-color:#fcfcfc;border:1px solid #aaa"
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| [[French]]: ''[[graphe du désir]]
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[[Image:GRAPHOFDESIRE-ONE.jpg||thumb|]]
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[[Image:GRAPHOFDESIRE-TWO.jpg|thumb|]]
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[[Image:Vector2.jpg|thumb|]]
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[[Image:Goodwill.jpg|thumb|]]
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[[Category:Dictionary]]
 
 
[[Category:Psychoanalysis]]
 
[[Category:Psychoanalysis]]
 
[[Category:Jacques Lacan]]
 
[[Category:Jacques Lacan]]
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[[Category:Dictionary]]
 
[[Category:Concepts]]
 
[[Category:Concepts]]
 
[[Category:Terms]]
 
[[Category:Terms]]
{{OK}}
 
 
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Latest revision as of 08:47, 24 May 2019

The graph of desire is a topological model of the structure of desire.

History

Jacques Lacan began to develop the graph of desire in his 1957-58 seminar, Les formations de l'inconscient.[1] The graph of desire reappears in some of the following seminars 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."[2]

Four Stages

In this paper, Lacan builds up the graph of desire in four stages.

Elementary Cell

The first of these stages in the "elementary cell" of the graph.[3]

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.[4]

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 completed 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

French: graphe du désir
GRAPHOFDESIRE-ONE.jpg
GRAPHOFDESIRE-TWO.jpg
Vector2.jpg
Goodwill.jpg