Difference between revisions of "Point de capiton"

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==Definition==
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=====Translation=====
 
The [[French]] term ''[[point de capiton]]'' is variously translated in [[English]] editions of [[Lacan]]'s work as "[[quilting point]]" or "[[anchoring point]]."  
 
The [[French]] term ''[[point de capiton]]'' is variously translated in [[English]] editions of [[Lacan]]'s work as "[[quilting point]]" or "[[anchoring point]]."  
  
 
To avoid the confusion resulting from this variety of translation, the term has here been left in the original [[French]].  
 
To avoid the confusion resulting from this variety of translation, the term has here been left in the original [[French]].  
  
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Literally an "[[upholstery button]]" it has also been translated as "[[anchoring point]]".
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It literally designates an [[upholstery button]], the analogy being that just as [[upholstery button]]s are places where "the mattress-maker's needle has worked hard to prevent a shapeless mass of stuffing from moving too freely about.<ref>Bowie, Malcolm. (1991) ''Lacan'', London: Fontana. p.74</ref>," so the ''[[points de capiton]]'' are points at which the "signified and signifier are knotted together."<ref>{{S3}} p.268</ref>
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It literally designates an [[upholstery button]], the analogy being that just as [[upholstery button]]s are places where "the mattress-maker's needle has worked hard to prevent a shapeless mass of stuffing from moving too freely about.<ref>Bowie, 1991: 74</ref>
 
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The [[upholstery button]] is an [[anchoring point]] on a quilt which "prevents a shapeless mass of stuffing from moving too freely about.<ref>Bowie, Malcolm. 1991. p.74</ref>  
 
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In the same way, the ''[[point de capiton]]'' is a point ([[signifier]]) that fixes the [[meaning]] inside an [[ideological]] field, stops the [[meaning]] from sliding about.
 
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In the same way, the ''[[point de capiton]]'' is a point at which "signified and signifier are knotted together."<ref>{{S3}} p.268</ref>
 
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The [[signifiers]] or [[signifying chain]] are unstable and liable to [[slippage]]s of [[meaning]].
 
  
 
[[Lacan]] introduces the term in his 1955-6 [[seminar]] on [[the psychoses]] to account for the fact that despite the continual [[slip]]page of the [[signified]] under the [[signifier]], thereare nevertheless in the normal ([[neurotic]]) [[subject]] certain fundamental "attachment points" between the [[signified]] and the [[signifier]] where this [[slip]]page is temporarily halted.  
 
[[Lacan]] introduces the term in his 1955-6 [[seminar]] on [[the psychoses]] to account for the fact that despite the continual [[slip]]page of the [[signified]] under the [[signifier]], thereare nevertheless in the normal ([[neurotic]]) [[subject]] certain fundamental "attachment points" between the [[signified]] and the [[signifier]] where this [[slip]]page is temporarily halted.  
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This helps to explain how it is that in the [[psychotic]] experience, "the signifier and the signified present themselves in a completely divided form."<ref>{{S3}} p.268</ref>.
 
This helps to explain how it is that in the [[psychotic]] experience, "the signifier and the signified present themselves in a completely divided form."<ref>{{S3}} p.268</ref>.
  
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=====Meaning=====
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For [[Lacan]] the link between [[signifier]] and [[signified]] is so precarious that whereas [[Saussure]] saw the whole [[system]] as more or less grounded, [[Lacan]] sees only occasional points of [[stability]].
 
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These points of [[stability]] are referred to as ''[[points de capiton]]'', or "quilting points," points "by which the signifier stops the otherwise endless movement to produce "the necessary illusion of a fixed meaning."
 
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==Diachrony and Synchrony==
 
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The ''[[point de capiton]]'' is thus the point in the [[signifying chain]] at which "the signifier stops the otherwise endless movement of the signification" and produces the necessary [[illusion]] of a fixed [[meaning]].<ref>{{E}} p.303</ref>
 
The ''[[point de capiton]]'' is thus the point in the [[signifying chain]] at which "the signifier stops the otherwise endless movement of the signification" and produces the necessary [[illusion]] of a fixed [[meaning]].<ref>{{E}} p.303</ref>
  
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=====Diachronic and Synchronic Dimension=====
 
Since the [[signifying chain]] has both a [[diachronic]] and a [[synchronic]] dimension, so also does the ''[[point de capiton]]'':
 
Since the [[signifying chain]] has both a [[diachronic]] and a [[synchronic]] dimension, so also does the ''[[point de capiton]]'':
  
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===Diachrony===
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=====Diachronic Dimension=====
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[[Image:PointdeCapiton.gif|right]]
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[[Image:PointdeCapiton.gif|thumb|275px|right]]
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1. The [[diachronic]] dimension of the ''[[point de capiton]]'' lies in the fact that [[communication]] is always a [[retroactive]] effect of [[punctuation]].  
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The [[diachronic]] dimension of the ''[[point de capiton]]'' lies in the fact that [[communication]] is always a [[retroactive]] effect of [[punctuation]].  
  
 
It is only when the sentence is completed that the sense of the first words is determined [[retroactively]].  
 
It is only when the sentence is completed that the sense of the first words is determined [[retroactively]].  
  
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This function is illustrated in the elementary cell of the [[graph of desire]], in which the ''[[point de capiton]]'' is the leftmost point of intersection between the vector S-S' and the vector [[Image:ASRIGHT.jpg|50px]] (A-S).
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This function is illustrated in the elementary cell of the [[graph of desire]], in which the ''[[point de capiton]]'' is the leftmost point of intersection between the vector S-S' and the vector [[Image:ASRIGHT.jpg|25px]] (A-S).
  
 
===Synchrony===
 
===Synchrony===
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2. The [[synchronic]] aspect is [[metaphor]], by which the [[signifier]] crosses the [[bar]] into the [[signified]].  
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The [[synchronic]] aspect is [[metaphor]], by which the [[signifier]] crosses the [[bar]] into the [[signified]].  
  
 
<blockquote>"The [[synchronic]] [[structure]] (of the ''[[point de capiton]]'') is more hidden, and it is this [[structure]] that takes us to the source. It is [[metaphor]]."<ref>{{E}} p.303</ref></blockquote>
 
<blockquote>"The [[synchronic]] [[structure]] (of the ''[[point de capiton]]'') is more hidden, and it is this [[structure]] that takes us to the source. It is [[metaphor]]."<ref>{{E}} p.303</ref></blockquote>
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[[Category:Jacques Lacan]]
 
[[Category:Jacques Lacan]]
 
[[Category:Dictionary]]
 
[[Category:Dictionary]]
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Revision as of 05:19, 18 August 2006

Translation

The French term point de capiton is variously translated in English editions of Lacan's work as "quilting point" or "anchoring point."

To avoid the confusion resulting from this variety of translation, the term has here been left in the original French.

It literally designates an upholstery button, the analogy being that just as upholstery buttons are places where "the mattress-maker's needle has worked hard to prevent a shapeless mass of stuffing from moving too freely about.[1]," so the points de capiton are points at which the "signified and signifier are knotted together."[2]

Lacan introduces the term in his 1955-6 seminar on the psychoses to account for the fact that despite the continual slippage of the signified under the signifier, thereare nevertheless in the normal (neurotic) subject certain fundamental "attachment points" between the signified and the signifier where this slippage is temporarily halted.

A certain minimum number of these points are "necessary for a person to be called normal," and "when they are not established, or when they give way'" the result is psychosis.[3]

This helps to explain how it is that in the psychotic experience, "the signifier and the signified present themselves in a completely divided form."[4].

Meaning

The point de capiton is thus the point in the signifying chain at which "the signifier stops the otherwise endless movement of the signification" and produces the necessary illusion of a fixed meaning.[5]

Diachronic and Synchronic Dimension

Since the signifying chain has both a diachronic and a synchronic dimension, so also does the point de capiton:

Diachronic Dimension
PointdeCapiton.gif

The diachronic dimension of the point de capiton lies in the fact that communication is always a retroactive effect of punctuation.

It is only when the sentence is completed that the sense of the first words is determined retroactively.

This function is illustrated in the elementary cell of the graph of desire, in which the point de capiton is the leftmost point of intersection between the vector S-S' and the vector

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

(A-S).

Synchrony

The synchronic aspect is metaphor, by which the signifier crosses the bar into the signified.

"The synchronic structure (of the point de capiton) is more hidden, and it is this structure that takes us to the source. It is metaphor."[6]

See Also

References

  1. ↑ Bowie, Malcolm. (1991) Lacan, London: Fontana. p.74
  2. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book III. The Psychoses, 1955-56. Trans. Russell Grigg. London: Routledge, 1993. p.268
  3. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book III. The Psychoses, 1955-56. Trans. Russell Grigg. London: Routledge, 1993. p.268-9
  4. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book III. The Psychoses, 1955-56. Trans. Russell Grigg. London: Routledge, 1993. p.268
  5. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p.303
  6. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p.303


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