Difference between revisions of "Moebius strip"

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The [[moebius strip]] is one of the figures studied by [[Lacan]] in his use of [[topology]].
The [[moebius strip]] is one of the figures studiyed by [[Lacan]] in hus use of [[topology]].
 
  
 
It is a three-dimensional figure that can be formed by taking a long rectangle of paper and twisting it once before joining its ends together.
 
It is a three-dimensional figure that can be formed by taking a long rectangle of paper and twisting it once before joining its ends together.
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Likewise, the [[discourse]] of the [[master]] is continuous with the [[discoruse]] of the [[analyst]].
 
Likewise, the [[discourse]] of the [[master]] is continuous with the [[discoruse]] of the [[analyst]].
  
THe [[moebius strip]] also helps one ot understand how it is possible to "traverse the fantasy."<ref>{{S11} p.273</ref>
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The [[moebius strip]] also helps one ot understand how it is possible to "traverse the fantasy."<ref>{{S11} p.273</ref>
 
It is only because the two sides are continuous that it is possivle to cross over from [[inside]] to [[outside]].
 
It is only because the two sides are continuous that it is possivle to cross over from [[inside]] to [[outside]].
  

Revision as of 03:21, 24 June 2006

The moebius strip is one of the figures studied by Lacan in his use of topology.

It is a three-dimensional figure that can be formed by taking a long rectangle of paper and twisting it once before joining its ends together.

The result is a figure which subverts our normal (Euclidean) way of representing space, for it seems to ahve two sides but in fact has only one.

Locally, at any one point, two sides can be clearly distinguished, but when the whole strip is traversed it becomes clear tha they are in fact continuous.

The two sides are only distinguished by the dimension of time, the time it takes to traverse the whole strip.

The figure illustrates the way that psychoanalysis problematizes various binary oppositions, such as inside/outside, love/hate, signifier/signified, truth/appearance.

While the two terms in such opposiitons are often presented as radically distinct, Lacan prefers to understand these oppositions in terms of the topology of the moebius strip.

The opposed terms are thus seen to be not discrete but continuous with each other.

Likewise, the discourse of the master is continuous with the discoruse of the analyst.

The moebius strip also helps one ot understand how it is possible to "traverse the fantasy."[1] It is only because the two sides are continuous that it is possivle to cross over from inside to outside.

Yet, when one passes a finger round the surface of the moebius strip, it is impossible to say at which precise poitn one has crossed over from inside to outside]].

See Also

References

  1. {{S11} p.273