Difference between revisions of "Point de capiton"
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| [[French]]: [[quilting point|point de capiton{{Bottom}} | | [[French]]: [[quilting point|point de capiton{{Bottom}} | ||
| − | 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]]. |
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| − | To avoid the confusion resulting from this variety of translation, the term has here been left in the original [[French]]. | ||
=====Upholstery Button===== | =====Upholstery Button===== | ||
| − | 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> | + | 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> |
=====Slippage===== | =====Slippage===== | ||
| − | [[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]], there are 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]], there are nevertheless in the normal ([[neurotic]]) [[subject]] certain fundamental "attachment points" between the [[signified]] and the [[signifier]] where this [[slip]]page 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]].<ref>{{S3}} pp. 268-9</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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| − | 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]].<ref>{{S3}} | ||
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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>. | ||
=====Illusion of a Fixed Meaning===== | =====Illusion of a Fixed 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]].<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> |
=====Diachronic and Synchronic Dimension===== | =====Diachronic and Synchronic Dimension===== | ||
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=====Diachronic Dimension===== | =====Diachronic Dimension===== | ||
[[Image:GRAPHOFDESIRE-FIRST.jpg|thumb|right|[[graph of desire|The elementary cell]]]] | [[Image:GRAPHOFDESIRE-FIRST.jpg|thumb|right|[[graph of desire|The elementary cell]]]] | ||
| − | The [[diachronic]] dimension of the ''[[point de capiton]]'' lies in the fact that [[communication]] is always a [[retroactive]] effect of [[punctuation]]. | + | 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 [[graph of desire|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|20px]]. |
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| − | 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 [[graph of desire|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|20px]]. | ||
=====Synchronic Dimension===== | =====Synchronic Dimension===== | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
| + | <div style="font-size:11px" class="references-small"> | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
| + | </div> | ||
[[Category:Psychoanalysis]] | [[Category:Psychoanalysis]] | ||
Revision as of 12:16, 12 November 2006
| French: point de capiton |
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.
Upholstery Button
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]
Slippage
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, there are 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].
Illusion of a Fixed 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
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
.
Synchronic Dimension
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
- ↑ Bowie, Malcolm. (1991) Lacan, London: Fontana. p.74
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book III. The Psychoses, 1955-56. Trans. Russell Grigg. London: Routledge, 1993. p. 268
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book III. The Psychoses, 1955-56. Trans. Russell Grigg. London: Routledge, 1993. pp. 268-9
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book III. The Psychoses, 1955-56. Trans. Russell Grigg. London: Routledge, 1993. p. 268
- ↑ 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.303
