Difference between revisions of "Imago"
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[[Imago]]s act as sterotypes influencing the way the [[subject]] relates to other pople, who are perceived through the lens of these various [[imago]]s. | [[Imago]]s act as sterotypes influencing the way the [[subject]] relates to other pople, who are perceived through the lens of these various [[imago]]s. | ||
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The term '[[imago]]' occupies a central role in [[Lacan]]'s pre-1950 writings, where it is closely related to the term [[complex]]. | The term '[[imago]]' occupies a central role in [[Lacan]]'s pre-1950 writings, where it is closely related to the term [[complex]]. | ||
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"It is possible.. to designate int eh iamgo the proper object of psychology, exactly to the same extent that Galileo's notion of the inert matieral poitn formed the basis of phsyics."<ref>{{Ec}}. p.188</ref> | "It is possible.. to designate int eh iamgo the proper object of psychology, exactly to the same extent that Galileo's notion of the inert matieral poitn formed the basis of phsyics."<ref>{{Ec}}. p.188</ref> | ||
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Whereas for [[Jung]] and [[Klein]] [[imago]]s have equally positive and negative effects, In [[Lacan]]'s work they are wighted firmly towards the negative, ebing funamentally deceptive and disruptive elements. | Whereas for [[Jung]] and [[Klein]] [[imago]]s have equally positive and negative effects, In [[Lacan]]'s work they are wighted firmly towards the negative, ebing funamentally deceptive and disruptive elements. | ||
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"The first effect of the imago which appears in the human being is an effect of subjective ''alienation''.<ref>{{Ec}} p.181</ref> | "The first effect of the imago which appears in the human being is an effect of subjective ''alienation''.<ref>{{Ec}} p.181</ref> | ||
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After 1950 the term '[[imago]]' disappears almost entirely from [[Lacan]]'s theoretical vocabulary. | After 1950 the term '[[imago]]' disappears almost entirely from [[Lacan]]'s theoretical vocabulary. | ||
Revision as of 19:44, 30 July 2006
Originally introduced into psychoanalytic theory by Jung in 19111, the Latin term imago had already become standard in psychoanalytic terminology by the time Lacan began training as a psychoanalyst in the 1930s.
The term is clearly related to the term 'image', but it is meant to emphasize the subjective determination of the image; in other words, it includes feelings as well as a visual representation.
Imagos are specifically images of other people.
However, they are not the product of purely personal experience but universal prototypes which may be actualized in anyone's psyche.
Imagos act as sterotypes influencing the way the subject relates to other pople, who are perceived through the lens of these various imagos.
--
The term 'imago' occupies a central role in Lacan's pre-1950 writings, where it is closely related to the term complex.
In 1938, Lacan links each of the three family complexes to a specific imago: the weaning complex is liked to the iamgo of the maternal breast, the intrusion complex to the imago of the counterpart, and the Oedipus complex to the imago of the father.[1]
In 1946, Lacan argues that in formulating the concept of the imago, psychoanalysis has provided psychology with a proper object of study and thus set psychology on a truly scientific footing.
"It is possible.. to designate int eh iamgo the proper object of psychology, exactly to the same extent that Galileo's notion of the inert matieral poitn formed the basis of phsyics."[2]
--
Whereas for Jung and Klein imagos have equally positive and negative effects, In Lacan's work they are wighted firmly towards the negative, ebing funamentally deceptive and disruptive elements.
Lacan speaks of the imago of the fragmented body, and even unified imagos such as the specular image are mere illusions of wholeness which introduce an underlyign aggressivity.
"The first effect of the imago which appears in the human being is an effect of subjective alienation.[3]
-- After 1950 the term 'imago' disappears almost entirely from Lacan's theoretical vocabulary.
However, the basis ideas developed aroudn the term in Lacan's pre-1950 writings continue to play an important part in his thinking, being articulated around other terms, principally the term 'image.'
See Also
References
- ↑ Lacan. 1938.
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits. Paris: Seuil, 1966.. p.188
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits. Paris: Seuil, 1966. p.181
