Difference between revisions of "Fragmented body"

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{{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 term '[[fragmented body]]' ([[French]]:''corps morcelé'') is introduced by [[Jacques Lacan]] in his discussion 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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==Ego Formation==
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In his early paper on the [[mirror stage]] (1949), [[Lacan]] refers to the [[imago]] of the [[fragmented body]], or [[image]]s of [[castration]] and evisceration, which express the [[subject]]'s feeling that the [[body]] [[lack]]s any substantial [[unity]].
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The [[anxiety]] provoked by this [[feeling]] of [[fragmentation]] fuels the [[identification]] with the [[specular image]] by which the [[ego]] is [[formation|formed]].  
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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]], and its [[existence]] helps to explain [[hysteria|hysterical]] [[symptom]]s such as [[paralysis]] of the limbs and the '[[phantom limb]]' [[syndrome]] in which an amputee feels [[pain]] in a limb that has been removed.
 
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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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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 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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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>Lacan, 1951b: 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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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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==Illusion of Synthesis==
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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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<blockquote>"He [the subject] is originally an inchoate collection of desires - there you have the true sense of the expression fragmented body."<ref>S3, 39</ref></blockquote>
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<blockquote>"He [the [[subject]]] is originally an inchoate collection of desires - there you have the [[true]] sense of the expression fragmented body."<ref>{{S3}} p.39</ref></blockquote>
  
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Any such sense of disunity threatens the [[illusion]] of [[synthesis]] which constitutes the [[ego]].
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Any such sense of dis[[unity]] threatens the [[illusion]] of [[synthesis]] which constitutes the [[ego]].
  
 
==Hysteria==
 
==Hysteria==
 
[[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, 5</ref>
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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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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; 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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Bowie's suggestion is therefore highly plausible, and provides a reminder of Lacan's debt to [[surrealism]].
 
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
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* [[mirror stage]]
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{{See}}
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* [[body]]
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* [[Aggressivity]]
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* [[lack]]
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* [[Anxiety]]
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* [[fragmentation]]
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* [[Castration]]
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* [[anxiety]]
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* [[specular image]]
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* [[Ego]]
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* [[ego]]
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* [[Gestalt]]
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* [[aggressivity]]
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* [[Hysteria]]
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* [[illusion]]
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* [[imaginary]]
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* [[Imaginary]]
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* [[transference]]
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* [[Imago]]
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* [[hysteria]]
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* [[Lack]]
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* [[Mirror stage]]
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* [[Specular image]]
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* [[Transference]]
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{{Also}}
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
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[[Category:Imaginary]]
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[[Category:OK]]
 
[[Category:Jacques Lacan]]
 
[[Category:Jacques Lacan]]
 
[[Category:Dictionary]]
 
[[Category:Dictionary]]
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[[Category:Psychoanalysis]]
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[[Category:Concepts]]
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[[Category:Terms]]
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Latest revision as of 07:50, 24 May 2019

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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