Difference between revisions of "Fragmented body"

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{{Top}}corps morcelé{{Bottom}}
 
{{Top}}corps morcelé{{Bottom}}
  
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==Jacques Lacan==
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The notion of the [[fragmented body]] is one of the earliest original concepts to appear in [[Lacan]]'s [[Works of Jacques Lacan|work]], and is closely linked to the concept of the [[mirror stage]].
  
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The concept of the "[[fragmented body]]" is developed by [[Jacques Lacan]] in the context of the [[mirror stage]].
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==Mirror Stage==
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In the [[mirror stage]] the [[infant]] sees its [[reflection]] in the [[mirror]] as a [[whole]]/[[synthesis]], and this [[perception]] causes, by contrast, the [[perception]] of its own [[body]] (which [[lack]]s [[motor coordination]] at this [[stage]]) as [[division|divided]] and [[fragmentation|fragmented]].  
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==Critical Dictionary==
 
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In his early paper on the [[mirror stage]] (1949), [[Lacan]] refers to the ''[[imago]]'' of the [[fragmented body]] as an [[image]] of [[castration]] which expresses the [[subject]]'s [[feeling]] that the [[body]] [[lack]]s any substantial [[unity]].
 
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The resultant [[anxiety]] stimulates the [[subject]]'s [[identification]] with the complete [[image]] in the [[mirror]], but the [[fragmented body]] always poses a [[threat]] to its [[unity]].
 
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According to [[Lacan]], the ''[[imago]]'' of the [[fragmented body]] reappears when the [[analysis]] touches upon or provokes the [[aggressivity]] of the [[analysand]].
 
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==Mirror Stage and Ego Formation==
 
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In the [[mirror stage]] the [[infant]] sees its [[reflection]] in the [[mirror]] as a [[whole]]/[[synthesis]], and this [[perception]] causes, by contrast, the [[perception]] of its own [[body]] (which [[lack]]s [[motor coordination]] at this [[stage]]) as [[division|divided]] and [[fragmentation|fragmented]].  
 
  
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==Ego Formation==
 
The [[anxiety]] provoked by this feeling of [[fragmentation]] fuels the [[identification]] with the [[specular image]] by which the [[ego]] is [[formation|formed]].  
 
The [[anxiety]] provoked by this feeling of [[fragmentation]] fuels the [[identification]] with the [[specular image]] by which the [[ego]] is [[formation|formed]].  
  
 
==Fragmentation==
 
==Fragmentation==
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The [[ego]] is constantly threatened by the [[memory]] of this sense of [[fragmentation]], which manifests itself in "images of castration, emasculation, mutilation, dismemberment, dislocation, evisceration, devouring, bursting open of the body" which haunt the human imagination.<ref>{{E}} p.11</ref>  
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However, the anticipation of a synthetic [[ego]] is henceforth constantly threatened by the [[memory]] of this sense of [[fragmentation]], which manifests itself in "images of castration, emasculation, mutilation, dismemberment, dislocation, evisceration, devouring, bursting open of the body" which haunt the human imagination.<ref>{{E}} p. 11</ref>  
  
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These [[image]]s typically appear in the [[analysand]]'s [[dream]]s and associations at a particular phase in the [[treatment]] - namely, the moment when the [[analysand]]'s [[aggressivity]] emerges in the negative [[transference]].  
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==Transference==
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These [[image]]s typically appear in the [[analysand]]'s [[dream]]s and [[free association|association]]s at a particular phase in the [[treatment]] - namely, the moment when the [[analysand]]'s [[aggressivity]] emerges in the negative [[transference]].  
  
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This moment is an important early [[sign]] that the [[treatment]] is progressing in the right direction, i.e. towards the disintegration of the rigid [[unity]] of the [[ego]].<ref>{{L}} (1951b) "Some reflections on the ego", ''Int. J. Psycho-Anal.'', vol. 34, 1953: 13</ref>
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This moment is an important early [[sign]] that the [[treatment]] is progressing in the right direction, i.e. towards the disintegration of the rigid [[unity]] of the [[ego]].<ref>{{L}} "[[Works of Jacques Lacan|Some Reflections on the Ego]]", ''Int. J. Psycho-Anal.'', vol. 34, 1953 [1951b]: 13</ref>
  
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==Illusion of Synthesis==
 
In a more general sense, the [[fragmented body]] refers not only to [[image]]s of the physical [[body]] but also to any sense of [[fragmentation]] and disunity:  
 
In a more general sense, the [[fragmented body]] refers not only to [[image]]s of the physical [[body]] but also to any sense of [[fragmentation]] and disunity:  
  
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[[Lacan]] also uses the term [[fragmented body]] to explain certain typical [[symptom]]s of [[hysteria]].  
 
[[Lacan]] also uses the term [[fragmented body]] to explain certain typical [[symptom]]s of [[hysteria]].  
  
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When a [[hysteria|hysterical]] [[paralysis]] affects a limb, it does not respect the physiological [[structure]] of the nervous system, but instead reflects the way the [[body]] is divided up by an 'imaginary anatomy'.
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When a [[hysteria|hysterical]] [[paralysis]] affects a limb, it does not respect the physiological [[structure]] of the nervous system, but instead reflects the way the [[body]] is divided up by an "imaginary anatomy".  
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In this way, the [[fragmented body]] is "revealed at the organic level, in the lines of fragilization that define the anatomy of phantasy, as exhibited in the schizoid and spasmodic symptoms of hysteria."<ref>{{E}} p.5</ref>
 
  
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==Surrealism==
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In this way, the [[fragmented body]] is "revealed at the organic level, in the lines of fragilization that define the anatomy of phantasy, as exhibited in the schizoid and spasmodic symptoms of hysteria."<ref>{{E}} p. 5</ref>
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The [[image]] of the [[fragmented body]] does not derive from [[Freud]].
 
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[[Lacan]] himself compares it to the [[hallucination|hallucinatory]] [[image|imagery]] of Hieronymus Bosch.
 
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It has been suggested that [[Lacan]]'s ''[[imago]]'' is influenced by Hans Bellmer's [[photograph|photographs]] of a dismembered and rearranged doll.<ref>Bowie, Malcolm. ''Lacan''. London: Fontana, 1991.</ref>
 
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They are inspired by the [[artist]]'s [[sexual]] [[obsession]] with  a young girl and appeared in a [[surrealist]] journal to which [[Lacan]] contributed.
 
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This suggestion is therefore highly plausible, and provides a reminder of [[Lacan]]'s debt to [[surrealism]].
 
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
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[[Category:Concepts]]
 
[[Category:Concepts]]
 
[[Category:Terms]]
 
[[Category:Terms]]
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Revision as of 13:40, 24 August 2006

French: corps morcelé

Jacques Lacan

The notion of the fragmented body is one of the earliest original concepts to appear in Lacan's work, and is closely linked to the concept of the mirror stage.

Mirror Stage

In the mirror stage the infant sees its reflection in the mirror as a whole/synthesis, and this perception causes, by contrast, the perception of its own body (which lacks motor coordination at this stage) as divided and fragmented.

Ego Formation

The anxiety provoked by this feeling of fragmentation fuels the identification with the specular image by which the ego is formed.

Fragmentation

However, the anticipation of a synthetic ego is henceforth constantly threatened by the memory of this sense of fragmentation, which manifests itself in "images of castration, emasculation, mutilation, dismemberment, dislocation, evisceration, devouring, bursting open of the body" which haunt the human imagination.[1]

Transference

These images typically appear in the analysand's dreams and associations at a particular phase in the treatment - namely, the moment when the analysand's aggressivity emerges in the negative transference.

This moment is an important early sign that the treatment is progressing in the right direction, i.e. towards the disintegration of the rigid unity of the ego.[2]

Illusion of Synthesis

In a more general sense, the fragmented body refers not only to images of the physical body but also to any sense of fragmentation and disunity:

"He [the subject] is originally an inchoate collection of desires - there you have the true sense of the expression fragmented body."[3]

Any such sense of disunity threatens the illusion of synthesis which constitutes the ego.

Hysteria

Lacan also uses the term fragmented body to explain certain typical symptoms of hysteria.

When a hysterical paralysis affects a limb, it does not respect the physiological structure of the nervous system, but instead reflects the way the body is divided up by an "imaginary anatomy".

In this way, the fragmented body is "revealed at the organic level, in the lines of fragilization that define the anatomy of phantasy, as exhibited in the schizoid and spasmodic symptoms of hysteria."[4]

See Also

References

  1. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p. 11
  2. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. "Some Reflections on the Ego", Int. J. Psycho-Anal., vol. 34, 1953 [1951b]: 13
  3. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book III. The Psychoses, 1955-56. Trans. Russell Grigg. London: Routledge, 1993. p.39
  4. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p. 5


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