sexual relationship ({{Top}}rapport sexuel) {{Bottom}}[[Image:Graph.of.Sexuation.jpg|thumb|right]]==Jacques Lacan =====There is No Relation Between the Sexes===[[Lacan]] first proposes hisfamous [[formula]]: ''il n'y a pas de rapport sexuel'' in 1970,<ref>{{L}} ''[[Seminar XVII|Le Séminaire. Livre XVII. L'envers de la psychanalyse, 1969-70]]''. Ed. [[Jacques-Alain Miller]]. [[Paris]]: Seuil, 1991: 134</ref> and takes it up again in his [[seminar]] of 1972-3.<ref>{{S20}} p. 17</ref>
famous This formula: il n'y is usually translated into [[English]] as "There is no such [[thing]] as a pas de rapport sexuel in 1970 (see [[sexual]] [[relationship]]", which is misleading since [[Lacan 1969-70:]] is certainly not denying that [[people]] have sex!
134)The formula might be better rendered "There is no relation between the [[sexes]]", and takes thus emphasizing that it up again in his seminar is not primarily the [[act]] of '''sexual intercourse''' that [[Lacan]] is referring to but the question of 1972-3 (S20, 17)the relation between the [[sexual difference|masculine sexual position]] and the [[sexual difference|feminine sexual position]]. This formula is
usually translated into English as ===Sexual Difference===The formula thus condenses a [[number]] of points in [[Lacan]]'There is no such thing as a s approach to the question of [[sexual relation-difference]]:
ship'====Other of Langage====1. There is no direct, unmediated relation between the [[sexual difference|male]] and [[sexual difference|female sexual position]], which is misleading since Lacan is certainly not denying that people havebecause the [[Other]] of [[language]] stands between [[them]] as a [[third]] party.<ref>{{S20}} p. 64</ref>
sex! The formula might be better rendered <blockquote>"Between [[male]] and [[female]] [[human]] beings there is no such thing as an instinctive relationship'There because all [[sexuality]] is no relation between marked by thesignifier."<ref>{{L}} (l975b) "[[Conférence à Genève sur le symptôme]]." ''Les Block-[[Notes]] de la [[psychanalyse]]''. Brussels.</ref></blockquote>
sexes', thus emphasising One consequence of this is that it is not primarily possible to define [[perversion]] by reference to a supposedly [[nature|natural form]] of the act of [[sexual intercourse thatrelationship]] (as [[Freud]] did).
Lacan [[Heterosexuality]] is referring to thus not [[natural]] but the question of the relation between the masculine[[normative]].<ref>{{Ec}} p. 223</ref>
====Asymmetry====2. There is no reciprocity or symmetry between the [[sexual position difference|male]] and [[sexual difference|female sexual positions]] because the [[symbolic order]] is fundamentally asymmetrical; there is no corresponding [[signifier]] which could [[signify]] [[Woman]] in the same way that the feminine [[sexual positiondifference|male]] [[sex]] is [[symbolize]]d. The formula thus condenses a
number of points in Lacan's approach to There is only one [[signifier]], the question of SEXUAL DIFFERENCE:[[phallus]], which governs the relations between the [[sex]]es.<ref>{{E}} p. 289</ref>
1. There is thus no direct, unmediated relation between [[symbol]] for a symmetrical [[sexual relationship]]: "the male and femalesexual relationship cannot be written."<ref>{{S20}} p. 35</ref>
sexual position, because the Other of language stands ====Love====3. Relations between them as a thirdmen and [[women]] can never be [[harmonious]]; "The most naked [[rivalry]] between men and women is eternal."<ref>{{S2}} p. 263</ref>
party [[Love]] is no more than an [[illusion]] designed to make up for the [[absence]] of harmonious relations between the [[sex]]es (S20whether presented in [[mythical]] [[terms]], 64as in [[Plato]]'s [[Symposium]], or in [[psychoanalytic]] terms, as in [[Balint]]'s [[concept]] of [[love|genital love]]). 'Between male and female human beings there is no such
thing as an instinctive relationship' because all sexuality is marked by the====Drives====4. The [[drive|sexual drives]] are directed not towards a "[[whole]] person" but towards [[part-object]]s.
signifier There is therefore no such thing as a [[sexual relationship]] between two [[subject]]s, only between a [[subject]] and a (Lacan, l975b[[partial]])object. One consequence of this is that it is not possible to
define perversion by reference to For the man, the [[objet (petit) a|object a supposedly natural form ]] occupies the [[place]] of the [[missing]] partner, which produces the [[matheme]] of [[fantasy]] (SOa); in other [[words]], the [[Woman]] does not [[exist]] for the man as a [[real]] [[subject]], but only as a [[fantasy]] [[object]], the sexual[[cause]] of his [[desire]].<ref>{{S20}} p. 58</ref>
====Woman and Mother====5. [[Woman]] cannot function sexually qua [[Woman]] but only qua [[mother]]; "[[Woman]] begins to function in the sexual relationship (only as Freud did)mother."<ref>{{S20}} p. Heterosexuality is thus not natural but normative36</ref>
(Ec====Sex and Meaning====6. As something rooted in the [[real]], [[sex]] is opposed to [[meaning]]; and "sex, in opposing itself to [[sense]], is also, by definition, opposed to relation, to [[communication]]."<ref>Copjec, 223)Joan.1994: 21</ref>
2. There is no reciprocity or symmetry between the male and female==See Also=={{See}}* [[Desire]]* [[Drive]]* [[Existence]]||* [[Fantasy]]* [[Language]]* [[Love]]||* [[Mother]]* [[Part Object]]* [[Perversion]]||* [[Phallus]]* [[Sexual difference]]* [[Signifier]]||* [[Symbol]]* [[Symbolic]]* [[Woman]]{{Also}}
positions because the [[Symbolic]] order is fundamentally asymmetrical; there is no corresponding signifier which could signify [[Woman]] in the same way that the male sex is symbolised. There is only one signifier, the [[Phallus]], which governs the relations between the sexes (E, 289). There is thus no symbol for a symmetrical sexual relationship: 'the sexual relationship cannot be written' (S20, 35). 3. Relations between men and women can never be harmonious; 'The most naked rivalry between men and women is eternal' (S2, 263). Love is no more than an illusion designed to make up for the absence of harmonious relations between the sexes (whether presented in mythical terms, as in Plato's Sympo- sium, or in psychoanalytic terms, as in Balint's concept of GENITAL œOVC). 4. The sexual drives are directed not towards a 'whole person' but towards PART-OBJECTS. There is therefore no such thing as a sexual relationship between two subjects, only between a subject and a (partial) object. For the man, the object a occupies the place of the missing partner, which produces the matheme of fantasy (SOa); in other words, the [[Woman]] does not exist for the man as a [[Real]] subject, but only as a fantasy object, the cause of his desire (S20, 58). 5. [[Woman]] cannot function sexually qua [[Woman]] but only qua mother; '[[Woman]] begins to function in the sexual relationship only as mother' (S20, 36). 6. As something rooted in the [[Real]], sex is opposed to meaning; and 'sex, in represents a radically different way in which the SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP CAD misfire (S20, 53-4). sexual relationship (rapport sexuel) Lacan first proposes his famous formula: il n'y a pas de rapport sexuel in 1970 (see Lacan 1969-70: 134), and takes it up again in his seminar of 1972-3 (S20, 17). This formula is usually translated into English as 'There is no such thing as a sexual relation- ship', which is misleading since Lacan is certainly not denying that people have sex! The formula might be better rendered 'There is no relation between the sexes', thus emphasising that it is not primarily the act of sexual intercourse that Lacan is referring to but the question of the relation between the masculine sexual position and the feminine sexual position. The formula thus condenses a number of points in Lacan's approach to the question of SEXUAL DIFFERENCE: 1. There is no direct, unmediated relation between the male and female sexual position, because the Other of language stands between them as a third party (S20, 64). 'Between male and female human beings there is no such thing as an instinctive relationship' because all sexuality is marked by the signifier (Lacan, l975b). One consequence of this is that it is not possible to define perversion by reference to a supposedly natural form of the sexual relationship (as Freud did). Heterosexuality is thus not natural but normative (Ec, 223). 2. There is no reciprocity or symmetry between the male and female positions because the [[Symbolic]] order is fundamentally asymmetrical; there is no corresponding signifier which could signify [[Woman]] in the same way that the male sex is symbolised. There is only one signifier, the [[Phallus]], which governs the relations between the sexes (E, 289). There is thus no symbol for a symmetrical sexual relationship: 'the sexual relationship cannot be written' (S20, 35). 3. Relations between men and women can never be harmonious; 'The most naked rivalry between men and women is eternal' (S2, 263). Love is no more than an illusion designed to make up for the absence of harmonious relations between the sexes (whether presented in mythical terms, as in Plato's Sympo- sium, or in psychoanalytic terms, as in Balint's concept of GENITAL œOVC). 4. The sexual drives are directed not towards a 'whole person' but towards PART-OBJECTS. There is therefore no such thing as a sexual relationship between two subjects, only between a subject and a (partial) object. For the man, the object a occupies the place of the missing partner, which produces the matheme of fantasy (SOa); in other words, the [[Woman]] does not exist for the man as a [[Real]] subject, but only as a fantasy object, the cause of his desire (S20, 58). 5. [[Woman]] cannot function sexually qua [[Woman]] but only qua mother; '[[Woman]] begins to function in the sexual relationship only as mother' (S20, 36). 6. As something rooted in the [[Real]], sex is opposed to meaning; and 'sex, in opposing itself to sense, is also, by definition, opposed to relation, to commu- nication' (Copjec, 1994: 21). == References ==<div style="font-size:11px" class="references-small">
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[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:Lacan]]{{OK}}[[Category:Terms]][[Category:Concepts]][[Category:Psychoanalysis]]__NOTOC__
