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Organized by the Research Group for Clinical Formations in the Lacanian Field
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Thursday to Saturday, 25, 26, 27 June 2009
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When we refer to the subject of the unconscious as revised by
Lacan, we are used to say that it has no identity, since it is always
a "twosome"
, divided between two signifiers. More generally
speaking, the unconscious is not fit to establish an identity, be it
the sexual one, due to the fact that it is structured like a
language.
Moreover, the uncertainty as to being a man or being a woman is a
fact: the subject is troubled and doubts because it wants to be sure
that it has actually the sex corresponding to its anatomy - unless a
delusional certitude makes it raise objections as to this anatomy.
The sexual act itself is not a remedy, since, following the synopsis
of the seminar "The Logic of Fantasy"
: "there is no sexual
act, meaning : one that could categorically assert for the subject its
certitude of being of that particular sex"
.
Indeed, the unconscious is at the same time the remedy: with
respect to the sexuated couple, the signifier which is unique for the
two sexes, the phallus, opens the dialectics between being or having
the phallus, which supplants the flaw with respect to the
identity. This is not without consequences, since the verdrangung of
the phallus as signifier of desire has as effect the projection of the
typical manifestations of the sexes at the level of the pure semblant
: feminine masquerade and virile parade come on stage in this
"comedy of the sexes"
in which the ideals of the Other are the
leading lights, yet unable to answer to the question concerning the
sexual identity.
That was Lacan's major thesis when he followed in Freud's footsteps.
The formulas of sexuation, which appear for the first time in
"L'étourdit" in 1972 and are taken up again in Encore, go beyond that,
yet without invalidating what preceded them. They lay the foundations
of a possible definition of a sexual identity that would not be one
based on the semblant, but that should be determined in terms of
jouissance : the all-phallic determines the side of the man, the
not-all phallic determines the side of the woman. This partition into
the two "halves"
has nothing to do with the anatomy, and it
does not imply the object choice, homo or heterosexual. "They make
their own choice"
, "it is up to them"
, "they're the only
ones responsible for sexual being"
. Thus, we can find everything
on the side of the all-phallic: the heteros, the Montherlant type
homos in line with the ethics of the bachelor, hysterics outside of
sexes, and even some figures of mystiques such as Angelus
Silesius. All this allows us to say that sexual identity remains
independent with respect to the object choice, homo or hetero. This
thesis has indeed tremendous social implications.
There is one more question to be raised here, coming from the
latest developments in the Encore seminar. The knowledge of lalangue,
is made of "ones"
that are outside of the chain, and which
therefore is not structured like a language. Nevertheless it marks the
substance body following the first contingent encounters of
jouissance. Does this knowledge then have sexuated versions that could
have an impact on this partition?
Colette Soler, January 11, 2009, translated by Radu Turcanu.
1. LACAN J., La logique du fantasme, Autres écrits, seuil, 2001, p. 325.
In order to organize the talks, we have split the general topic into three parts:
In February, March, April and May, we will send several notes dealing with our chosen topic and which should open up the expected dialogue on this topic.
The seminar will take place in Reid Hall, 4, rue de Chevreuse, 75006 Paris
Métro Vavin, RER Port Royal, Bus 58,68,83,91
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(1) Please underline your choice.
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Internationale des Forums - École de Psychanalyse des Forums du Champ Lacanien
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