The Psychic Life of Power Theories in Subjection M Judith Butler
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University California
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The Psychic Life of Power Theories in Subjection M Judith Butler
Stanford Stanford,
University California
Press
Acknowledgments
Stanford U n i v e r s i t y Press
This w o r k was generously sponsored by a Humanities Re-
Stanford, California
s e a r c h F e l l o w s h i p f r o m the U n i v e r s i t y o f C a l i f o r n i a a t B e r k e -
© 1997 b y t h e B o a r d o f T r u s t e e s o f t h e Leland Stanford Junior University P r i n t e d i n the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a C I P data a p p e a r at the e n d of the b o o k
ley. I a m g r a t e f u l t o those f r i e n d s a n d c o l l e a g u e s w h o g a v e incisive readings
o f s o m e o f the
chapters:
Wendy
Brown,
W i l l i a m Connolly, D a v i d P a l u m b o - L i u , Kaja Silverman, A n n e N o r t o n , D e n i s e R i l e y , a n d H a y d e n W h i t e , a s w e l l a s the s t u d e n t s w h o p a r t i c i p a t e d i n " S o c i a l Subjects / P s y c h i c States" a t B e r k e l e y . I t h a n k A d a m P h i l l i p s for h i s p e r m i s s i o n t o r e p r i n t o u r e x c h a n g e f r o m Psychoanalytic Dialogues in this context.
I
also t h a n k H e l e n T a r t a r for her m e t i c u l o u s , i n t e l l i g e n t , a n d t h o r o u g h g o i n g e d i t i n g , a n d G a y l e S a l a m o n for her assistance w i t h the m a n u s c r i p t .
Acknowledgments
Stanford U n i v e r s i t y Press
This w o r k was generously sponsored by a Humanities Re-
Stanford, California
s e a r c h F e l l o w s h i p f r o m the U n i v e r s i t y o f C a l i f o r n i a a t B e r k e -
© 1997 b y t h e B o a r d o f T r u s t e e s o f t h e Leland Stanford Junior University P r i n t e d i n the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a C I P data a p p e a r at the e n d of the b o o k
ley. I a m g r a t e f u l t o those f r i e n d s a n d c o l l e a g u e s w h o g a v e incisive readings
o f s o m e o f the
chapters:
Wendy
Brown,
W i l l i a m Connolly, D a v i d P a l u m b o - L i u , Kaja Silverman, A n n e N o r t o n , D e n i s e R i l e y , a n d H a y d e n W h i t e , a s w e l l a s the s t u d e n t s w h o p a r t i c i p a t e d i n " S o c i a l Subjects / P s y c h i c States" a t B e r k e l e y . I t h a n k A d a m P h i l l i p s for h i s p e r m i s s i o n t o r e p r i n t o u r e x c h a n g e f r o m Psychoanalytic Dialogues in this context.
I
also t h a n k H e l e n T a r t a r for her m e t i c u l o u s , i n t e l l i g e n t , a n d t h o r o u g h g o i n g e d i t i n g , a n d G a y l e S a l a m o n for her assistance w i t h the m a n u s c r i p t .
Contents
Introduction 1
Stubborn Attachment, B o d i l y Subjection Rereading Hegel on the Unhappy Consciousness
2
5
63
Subjection, Resistance, Resignification Between Freud and Foucault
4
31
C i r c u i t s of B a d Conscience Nietzsche and Freud
3
1
83
" C o n s c i e n c e D o t h M a k e Subjects o f U s A l l " Althusser's Subjection
106
M e l a n c h o l y G e n d e r / Refused Identification
132
Keeping It M o v i n g
6
Commentary on Judith Butler, by Adam Phillips
151
Reply to A d a m Phillips
160
Psychic Inceptions Melancholy, Ambivalence, Rage
167
Notes
201
Index
217
The Psychic Life of Power Theories
in
Subjection
Introduction
W e s h o u l d t r y t o g r a s p s u b j e c t i o n i n its m a t e r i a l i n s t a n c e a s a c o n s t i t u t i o n of s u b j e c t s . — M i c h e l Foucault, "Two Lectures" T h e s p l i t t i n g of the subject, w i t h i n w h i c h the self as present to itself is o n l y one m o m e n t , a n d the c h a r g e d reflexivity of that m o m e n t , i s the p o i n t o f p u r c h a s e w i t h i n the subject o f its s u b j e c t i o n . T h e p r o f o u n d a n d c o r p o r e a l g u i l t w i t h w h i c h t h e s u b j e c t i s i n v e s t e d a s t h e f e b r i l e u n d e r t o n e o f t h a t selfc o n s c i o u s n e s s , w h i c h t u r n s o u t t o k n o w s o little o f itself, i s decisive i n s e c u r i n g the d e e p i n n e r c o n t r o l , w h i c h has b e e n called interpellation. — F r a n c i s B a r k e r , The Tremulous Private Body: Essays
on
Subjection
Subjection . . . T h e a c t or fact of b e i n g s u b j e c t e d , as u n d e r a m o n a r c h o r o t h e r s o v e r e i g n o r s u p e r i o r p o w e r ; the state o f b e i n g subject to, or u n d e r the d o m i n i o n of another; hence gen. s u b o r d i n a t i o n . . . . T h e c o n d i t i o n of b e i n g s u b j e c t , e x p o s e d , or l i a b l e to; l i a b i l i t y . . . . Logic. T h e a c t of s u p p l y i n g a s u b j e c t to a p r e d i c a t e .
—Oxford
English
Dictionary
A s a f o r m o f power, subjection i s paradoxical. T o b e d o m i il nated by a p o w e r external to oneself is a f a m i l i a r a n d a g o n i z i n g f o r m p o w e r takes. T o f i n d , h o w e v e r , that w h a t " o n e "
2
Introduction
Introduction
is, one's v e r y f o r m a t i o n as a subject, is in s o m e sense d e p e n -
project r e q u i r e s t h i n k i n g the t h e o r y o f p o w e r t o g e t h e r w i t h a
d e n t u p o n that v e r y p o w e r i s q u i t e another. W e are u s e d t o
t h e o r y o f the p s y c h e , a task that h a s b e e n e s c h e w e d b y w r i t e r s
t h i n k i n g o f p o w e r a s w h a t presses o n the subject f r o m the o u t -
in both F o u c a u l d i a n a n d psychoanalytic orthodoxies. T h o u g h
side, a s w h a t s u b o r d i n a t e s , sets u n d e r n e a t h , a n d relegates t o
i t offers n o p r o m i s e o f a g r a n d s y n t h e s i s , the p r e s e n t i n q u i r y
a l o w e r o r d e r . T h i s is s u r e l y a f a i r d e s c r i p t i o n of p a r t of w h a t
seeks t o e x p l o r e the p r o v i s i o n a l p e r s p e c t i v e s f r o m w h i c h e a c h
p o w e r does. B u t if, f o l l o w i n g F o u c a u l t , w e u n d e r s t a n d p o w e r
t h e o r y i l l u m i n a t e s the other. T h e project n e i t h e r b e g i n s n o r
as forming the subject as w e l l , as p r o v i d i n g the v e r y c o n d i t i o n
e n d s w i t h F r e u d a n d F o u c a u l t ; the q u e s t i o n o f s u b j e c t i o n , o f
o f its e x i s t e n c e a n d the t r a j e c t o r y o f its d e s i r e , t h e n p o w e r i s
h o w the subject i s f o r m e d i n s u b o r d i n a t i o n , p r e o c c u p i e s the
n o t s i m p l y w h a t w e o p p o s e b u t also, i n a s t r o n g sense, w h a t w e
s e c t i o n of H e g e l ' s Phenomenology of Spirit that traces the slave's
d e p e n d o n for o u r existence a n d w h a t w e harbor a n d preserve
a p p r o a c h t o f r e e d o m a n d h i s d i s a p p o i n t i n g f a l l i n t o the " u n -
i n the b e i n g s that w e are. T h e c u s t o m a r y m o d e l f o r u n d e r -
h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s . " T h e m a s t e r , w h o a t first a p p e a r s t o
s t a n d i n g t h i s p r o c e s s g o e s a s f o l l o w s : p o w e r i m p o s e s itself o n
b e " e x t e r n a l " t o the slave, r e e m e r g e s a s the slave's o w n c o n -
us, a n d , w e a k e n e d b y its force, w e c o m e t o i n t e r n a l i z e o r a c -
science. T h e u n h a p p i n e s s o f the c o n s c i o u s n e s s that e m e r g e s i s
cept its t e r m s . W h a t s u c h a n a c c o u n t fails t o note, h o w e v e r ,
its o w n self-beratement, the effect o f t h e t r a n s m u t a t i o n o f t h e
i s that the " w e " w h o a c c e p t s u c h t e r m s are f u n d a m e n t a l l y
m a s t e r i n t o a p s y c h i c r e a l i t y . T h e s e l f - m o r t i f i c a t i o n s that seek
d e p e n d e n t o n those t e r m s f o r " o u r " existence. A r e there n o t
t o r e d r e s s the i n s i s t e n t c o r p o r e a l i t y o f s e l f - c o n s c i o u s n e s s i n s t i -
d i s c u r s i v e c o n d i t i o n s f o r the a r t i c u l a t i o n o f a n y " w e " ? S u b j e c -
tute b a d conscience. T h i s figure of consciousness t u r n e d back
tion consists precisely in this f u n d a m e n t a l d e p e n d e n c y on a
u p o n itself p r e f i g u r e s N i e t z s c h e ' s a c c o u n t , in On the Genealogy
d i s c o u r s e w e n e v e r c h o s e b u t that, p a r a d o x i c a l l y , i n i t i a t e s a n d
o f Morals, n o t o n l y o f h o w r e p r e s s i o n a n d r e g u l a t i o n f o r m t h e
s u s t a i n s o u r agency.
o v e r l a p p i n g p h e n o m e n a of conscience a n d bad conscience, but
" S u b j e c t i o n " s i g n i f i e s the p r o c e s s o f b e c o m i n g s u b o r d i n a t e d b y p o w e r a s w e l l a s the p r o c e s s o f b e c o m i n g a subject. W h e t h e r b y i n t e r p e l l a t i o n , i n A l t h u s s e r ' s sense, o r b y d i s c u r s i v e p r o d u c t i v i t y , i n F o u c a u l t ' s , the subject i s i n i t i a t e d t h r o u g h a p r i m a r y s u b m i s s i o n t o p o w e r . A l t h o u g h F o u c a u l t i d e n t i f i e s the
a l s o o f h o w the latter b e c o m e e s s e n t i a l t o the f o r m a t i o n , p e r sistence, a n d c o n t i n u i t y o f the subject. I n e a c h case, p o w e r that at first a p p e a r s as e x t e r n a l , p r e s s e d u p o n the subject, p r e s s i n g the subject i n t o s u b o r d i n a t i o n , a s s u m e s a p s y c h i c f o r m that c o n s t i t u t e s the subject's s e l f - i d e n t i t y .
a m b i v a l e n c e i n t h i s f o r m u l a t i o n , h e d o e s n o t elaborate o n the
T h e f o r m t h i s p o w e r takes i s r e l e n t l e s s l y m a r k e d b y a f i g u r e
s p e c i f i c m e c h a n i s m s o f h o w the subject i s f o r m e d i n s u b m i s -
of t u r n i n g , a t u r n i n g back u p o n oneself or even a t u r n i n g
s i o n . N o t o n l y d o e s the e n t i r e d o m a i n o f the p s y c h e r e m a i n
on oneself. T h i s f i g u r e operates as p a r t of the e x p l a n a t i o n of
l a r g e l y u n r e m a r k e d i n h i s theory, b u t p o w e r i n t h i s d o u b l e
h o w a subject is p r o d u c e d , a n d so there is no subject, s t r i c t l y
valence of subordinating a n d p r o d u c i n g remains unexplored.
s p e a k i n g , w h o m a k e s this t u r n . O n the c o n t r a r y , the t u r n a p -
T h u s , if s u b m i s s i o n is a c o n d i t i o n of s u b j e c t i o n , it m a k e s sense
p e a r s to f u n c t i o n as a t r o p o l o g i c a l i n a u g u r a t i o n of the subject,
t o ask: W h a t i s the p s y c h i c f o r m that p o w e r takes? S u c h a
a f o u n d i n g m o m e n t w h o s e o n t o l o g i c a l status r e m a i n s p e r m a -
2
Introduction
Introduction
is, one's v e r y f o r m a t i o n as a subject, is in s o m e sense d e p e n -
project r e q u i r e s t h i n k i n g the t h e o r y o f p o w e r t o g e t h e r w i t h a
d e n t u p o n that v e r y p o w e r i s q u i t e another. W e are u s e d t o
t h e o r y o f the p s y c h e , a task that h a s b e e n e s c h e w e d b y w r i t e r s
t h i n k i n g o f p o w e r a s w h a t presses o n the subject f r o m the o u t -
in both F o u c a u l d i a n a n d psychoanalytic orthodoxies. T h o u g h
side, a s w h a t s u b o r d i n a t e s , sets u n d e r n e a t h , a n d relegates t o
i t offers n o p r o m i s e o f a g r a n d s y n t h e s i s , the p r e s e n t i n q u i r y
a l o w e r o r d e r . T h i s is s u r e l y a f a i r d e s c r i p t i o n of p a r t of w h a t
seeks t o e x p l o r e the p r o v i s i o n a l p e r s p e c t i v e s f r o m w h i c h e a c h
p o w e r does. B u t if, f o l l o w i n g F o u c a u l t , w e u n d e r s t a n d p o w e r
t h e o r y i l l u m i n a t e s the other. T h e project n e i t h e r b e g i n s n o r
as forming the subject as w e l l , as p r o v i d i n g the v e r y c o n d i t i o n
e n d s w i t h F r e u d a n d F o u c a u l t ; the q u e s t i o n o f s u b j e c t i o n , o f
o f its e x i s t e n c e a n d the t r a j e c t o r y o f its d e s i r e , t h e n p o w e r i s
h o w the subject i s f o r m e d i n s u b o r d i n a t i o n , p r e o c c u p i e s the
n o t s i m p l y w h a t w e o p p o s e b u t also, i n a s t r o n g sense, w h a t w e
s e c t i o n of H e g e l ' s Phenomenology of Spirit that traces the slave's
d e p e n d o n for o u r existence a n d w h a t w e harbor a n d preserve
a p p r o a c h t o f r e e d o m a n d h i s d i s a p p o i n t i n g f a l l i n t o the " u n -
i n the b e i n g s that w e are. T h e c u s t o m a r y m o d e l f o r u n d e r -
h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s . " T h e m a s t e r , w h o a t first a p p e a r s t o
s t a n d i n g t h i s p r o c e s s g o e s a s f o l l o w s : p o w e r i m p o s e s itself o n
b e " e x t e r n a l " t o the slave, r e e m e r g e s a s the slave's o w n c o n -
us, a n d , w e a k e n e d b y its force, w e c o m e t o i n t e r n a l i z e o r a c -
science. T h e u n h a p p i n e s s o f the c o n s c i o u s n e s s that e m e r g e s i s
cept its t e r m s . W h a t s u c h a n a c c o u n t fails t o note, h o w e v e r ,
its o w n self-beratement, the effect o f t h e t r a n s m u t a t i o n o f t h e
i s that the " w e " w h o a c c e p t s u c h t e r m s are f u n d a m e n t a l l y
m a s t e r i n t o a p s y c h i c r e a l i t y . T h e s e l f - m o r t i f i c a t i o n s that seek
d e p e n d e n t o n those t e r m s f o r " o u r " existence. A r e there n o t
t o r e d r e s s the i n s i s t e n t c o r p o r e a l i t y o f s e l f - c o n s c i o u s n e s s i n s t i -
d i s c u r s i v e c o n d i t i o n s f o r the a r t i c u l a t i o n o f a n y " w e " ? S u b j e c -
tute b a d conscience. T h i s figure of consciousness t u r n e d back
tion consists precisely in this f u n d a m e n t a l d e p e n d e n c y on a
u p o n itself p r e f i g u r e s N i e t z s c h e ' s a c c o u n t , in On the Genealogy
d i s c o u r s e w e n e v e r c h o s e b u t that, p a r a d o x i c a l l y , i n i t i a t e s a n d
o f Morals, n o t o n l y o f h o w r e p r e s s i o n a n d r e g u l a t i o n f o r m t h e
s u s t a i n s o u r agency.
o v e r l a p p i n g p h e n o m e n a of conscience a n d bad conscience, but
" S u b j e c t i o n " s i g n i f i e s the p r o c e s s o f b e c o m i n g s u b o r d i n a t e d b y p o w e r a s w e l l a s the p r o c e s s o f b e c o m i n g a subject. W h e t h e r b y i n t e r p e l l a t i o n , i n A l t h u s s e r ' s sense, o r b y d i s c u r s i v e p r o d u c t i v i t y , i n F o u c a u l t ' s , the subject i s i n i t i a t e d t h r o u g h a p r i m a r y s u b m i s s i o n t o p o w e r . A l t h o u g h F o u c a u l t i d e n t i f i e s the
a l s o o f h o w the latter b e c o m e e s s e n t i a l t o the f o r m a t i o n , p e r sistence, a n d c o n t i n u i t y o f the subject. I n e a c h case, p o w e r that at first a p p e a r s as e x t e r n a l , p r e s s e d u p o n the subject, p r e s s i n g the subject i n t o s u b o r d i n a t i o n , a s s u m e s a p s y c h i c f o r m that c o n s t i t u t e s the subject's s e l f - i d e n t i t y .
a m b i v a l e n c e i n t h i s f o r m u l a t i o n , h e d o e s n o t elaborate o n the
T h e f o r m t h i s p o w e r takes i s r e l e n t l e s s l y m a r k e d b y a f i g u r e
s p e c i f i c m e c h a n i s m s o f h o w the subject i s f o r m e d i n s u b m i s -
of t u r n i n g , a t u r n i n g back u p o n oneself or even a t u r n i n g
s i o n . N o t o n l y d o e s the e n t i r e d o m a i n o f the p s y c h e r e m a i n
on oneself. T h i s f i g u r e operates as p a r t of the e x p l a n a t i o n of
l a r g e l y u n r e m a r k e d i n h i s theory, b u t p o w e r i n t h i s d o u b l e
h o w a subject is p r o d u c e d , a n d so there is no subject, s t r i c t l y
valence of subordinating a n d p r o d u c i n g remains unexplored.
s p e a k i n g , w h o m a k e s this t u r n . O n the c o n t r a r y , the t u r n a p -
T h u s , if s u b m i s s i o n is a c o n d i t i o n of s u b j e c t i o n , it m a k e s sense
p e a r s to f u n c t i o n as a t r o p o l o g i c a l i n a u g u r a t i o n of the subject,
t o ask: W h a t i s the p s y c h i c f o r m that p o w e r takes? S u c h a
a f o u n d i n g m o m e n t w h o s e o n t o l o g i c a l status r e m a i n s p e r m a -
4
Introduction
nently uncertain. S u c h a notion, then, appears difficult, if not i m p o s s i b l e , t o i n c o r p o r a t e i n t o the a c c o u n t o f subject f o r m a t i o n . W h a t o r w h o i s s a i d t o t u r n , a n d w h a t i s the object o f s u c h a t u r n ? H o w i s i t that a subject i s w r o u g h t f r o m s u c h a n o n t o l o g i c a l l y u n c e r t a i n f o r m o f twisting? Perhaps w i t h the adv e n t o f t h i s f i g u r e , w e are n o l o n g e r i n the b u s i n e s s o f " g i v i n g a n a c c o u n t o f the f o r m a t i o n o f the subject." W e are, rather, confronted w i t h the t r o p o l o g i c a l p r e s u m p t i o n m a d e b y a n y s u c h e x p l a n a t i o n , o n e that facilitates the e x p l a n a t i o n b u t a l s o m a r k s its l i m i t . T h e m o m e n t w e seek t o d e t e r m i n e h o w p o w e r p r o d u c e s its subject, h o w t h e subject takes i n t h e p o w e r b y w h i c h i t i s i n a u g u r a t e d , w e s e e m t o enter t h i s t r o p o l o g i c a l q u a n d a r y . W e c a n n o t p r e s u m e a subject w h o p e r f o r m s a n i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n i f the f o r m a t i o n o f t h e subject i s i n n e e d o f exp l a n a t i o n . T h e f i g u r e t o w h i c h w e refer has n o t yet a c q u i r e d existence a n d i s n o t p a r t o f a v e r i f i a b l e e x p l a n a t i o n , yet o u r reference c o n t i n u e s t o m a k e a c e r t a i n k i n d o f sense. T h e p a r a dox of subjection i m p l i e s a paradox of referentiality: namely, that w e m u s t refer t o w h a t d o e s n o t yet exist. T h r o u g h a f i g u r e that m a r k s the s u s p e n s i o n o f o u r o n t o l o g i c a l c o m m i t m e n t s , w e seek t o a c c o u n t for h o w the subject c o m e s t o be. T h a t t h i s f i g u r e i s i t s e l f a " t u r n " is, r h e t o r i c a l l y , p e r f o r m a t i v e l y s p e c t a c u l a r ; " t u r n " translates the G r e e k sense o f " t r o p e . " T h u s the
Introduction i n s t a n c e o f t h i s q u a s i - f i c t i v e effort t o g i v e a n a c c o u n t o f h o w the s o c i a l subject i s p r o d u c e d t h r o u g h l i n g u i s t i c m e a n s . A l t h u s s e r ' s d o c t r i n e of i n t e r p e l l a t i o n c l e a r l y sets the stage f o r F o u c a u l t ' s later v i e w s o n the " d i s c u r s i v e p r o d u c t i o n o f the subject." F o u c a u l t , of c o u r s e , i n s i s t s that the subject is n o t " s p o k e n " i n t o existence a n d that the m a t r i c e s o f p o w e r a n d d i s c o u r s e that c o n s t i t u t e the subject are n e i t h e r s i n g u l a r n o r s o v e r e i g n i n t h e i r p r o d u c t i v e a c t i o n . Yet A l t h u s s e r a n d F o u c a u l t agree that there is a f o u n d i n g s u b o r d i n a t i o n in the p r o c e s s of assujetissement.
I n A l t h u s s e r ' s essay
"Ideology and Ideologi-
c a l State A p p a r a t u s e s , " the s u b o r d i n a t i o n of the subject takes p l a c e t h r o u g h l a n g u a g e , as the effect of the a u t h o r i t a t i v e v o i c e that h a i l s the i n d i v i d u a l . I n the i n f a m o u s e x a m p l e that A l t h u s ser offers, a p o l i c e m a n h a i l s a p a s s e r b y on the street, a n d the p a s s e r b y t u r n s a n d r e c o g n i z e s h i m s e l f a s the o n e w h o i s h a i l e d . I n the e x c h a n g e b y w h i c h that r e c o g n i t i o n i s p r o f e r r e d a n d a c c e p t e d , i n t e r p e l l a t i o n — t h e d i s c u r s i v e p r o d u c t i o n o f the s o c i a l s u b j e c t — t a k e s p l a c e . S i g n i f i c a n t l y , A l t h u s s e r does n o t offer a c l u e a s t o w h y that i n d i v i d u a l t u r n s a r o u n d , a c c e p t i n g the v o i c e a s b e i n g a d d r e s s e d t o h i m o r her, a n d a c c e p t i n g the s u b o r d i n a t i o n a n d n o r m a l i z a t i o n effected b y that v o i c e . W h y d o e s this subject t u r n t o w a r d the v o i c e o f the l a w , a n d w h a t i s
t r o p e o f the t u r n b o t h i n d i c a t e s a n d e x e m p l i f i e s the t r o p o l o g i -
the effect of s u c h a t u r n in i n a u g u r a t i n g a s o c i a l subject? Is t h i s
c a l status o f the gesture. D o e s s u b j e c t i o n i n a u g u r a t e t r o p o l o g y
a g u i l t y subject a n d , i f so, h o w d i d i t b e c o m e g u i l t y ? M i g h t
i n s o m e w a y , o r i s the i n a u g u r a t i v e w o r k o f t r o p e s n e c e s s a r i l y
the t h e o r y of i n t e r p e l l a t i o n r e q u i r e a t h e o r y of c o n s c i e n c e ?
1
i n v o k e d w h e n w e t r y t o a c c o u n t f o r the g e n e r a t i o n o f t h e s u b -
T h e i n t e r p e l l a t i o n o f the subject t h r o u g h the i n a u g u r a t i v e
ject? W e w i l l r e t u r n t o t h i s q u e s t i o n t o w a r d the e n d o f this
a d d r e s s o f state a u t h o r i t y p r e s u p p o s e s n o t o n l y that the i n -
i n q u i r y w h e n w e c o n s i d e r h o w the e x p l a n a t i o n o f m e l a n c h o l i a
c u l c a t i o n o f c o n s c i e n c e a l r e a d y has t a k e n p l a c e , b u t that c o n -
participates in the m e c h a n i s m it describes, p r o d u c i n g p s y c h i c
science, u n d e r s t o o d as the p s y c h i c o p e r a t i o n of a r e g u l a t o r y
t o p o g r a p h i e s that are c l e a r l y t r o p o l o g i c a l .
n o r m , constitutes a specifically p s y c h i c a n d social w o r k i n g of p o w e r o n w h i c h i n t e r p e l l a t i o n d e p e n d s b u t for w h i c h i t c a n
T h e scene o f " i n t e r p e l l a t i o n " o f f e r e d b y A l t h u s s e r i s o n e
g i v e n o a c c o u n t . M o r e o v e r , the m o d e l o f p o w e r i n A l t h u s -
4
Introduction
nently uncertain. S u c h a notion, then, appears difficult, if not i m p o s s i b l e , t o i n c o r p o r a t e i n t o the a c c o u n t o f subject f o r m a t i o n . W h a t o r w h o i s s a i d t o t u r n , a n d w h a t i s the object o f s u c h a t u r n ? H o w i s i t that a subject i s w r o u g h t f r o m s u c h a n o n t o l o g i c a l l y u n c e r t a i n f o r m o f twisting? Perhaps w i t h the adv e n t o f t h i s f i g u r e , w e are n o l o n g e r i n the b u s i n e s s o f " g i v i n g a n a c c o u n t o f the f o r m a t i o n o f the subject." W e are, rather, confronted w i t h the t r o p o l o g i c a l p r e s u m p t i o n m a d e b y a n y s u c h e x p l a n a t i o n , o n e that facilitates the e x p l a n a t i o n b u t a l s o m a r k s its l i m i t . T h e m o m e n t w e seek t o d e t e r m i n e h o w p o w e r p r o d u c e s its subject, h o w t h e subject takes i n t h e p o w e r b y w h i c h i t i s i n a u g u r a t e d , w e s e e m t o enter t h i s t r o p o l o g i c a l q u a n d a r y . W e c a n n o t p r e s u m e a subject w h o p e r f o r m s a n i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n i f the f o r m a t i o n o f t h e subject i s i n n e e d o f exp l a n a t i o n . T h e f i g u r e t o w h i c h w e refer has n o t yet a c q u i r e d existence a n d i s n o t p a r t o f a v e r i f i a b l e e x p l a n a t i o n , yet o u r reference c o n t i n u e s t o m a k e a c e r t a i n k i n d o f sense. T h e p a r a dox of subjection i m p l i e s a paradox of referentiality: namely, that w e m u s t refer t o w h a t d o e s n o t yet exist. T h r o u g h a f i g u r e that m a r k s the s u s p e n s i o n o f o u r o n t o l o g i c a l c o m m i t m e n t s , w e seek t o a c c o u n t for h o w the subject c o m e s t o be. T h a t t h i s f i g u r e i s i t s e l f a " t u r n " is, r h e t o r i c a l l y , p e r f o r m a t i v e l y s p e c t a c u l a r ; " t u r n " translates the G r e e k sense o f " t r o p e . " T h u s the
Introduction i n s t a n c e o f t h i s q u a s i - f i c t i v e effort t o g i v e a n a c c o u n t o f h o w the s o c i a l subject i s p r o d u c e d t h r o u g h l i n g u i s t i c m e a n s . A l t h u s s e r ' s d o c t r i n e of i n t e r p e l l a t i o n c l e a r l y sets the stage f o r F o u c a u l t ' s later v i e w s o n the " d i s c u r s i v e p r o d u c t i o n o f the subject." F o u c a u l t , of c o u r s e , i n s i s t s that the subject is n o t " s p o k e n " i n t o existence a n d that the m a t r i c e s o f p o w e r a n d d i s c o u r s e that c o n s t i t u t e the subject are n e i t h e r s i n g u l a r n o r s o v e r e i g n i n t h e i r p r o d u c t i v e a c t i o n . Yet A l t h u s s e r a n d F o u c a u l t agree that there is a f o u n d i n g s u b o r d i n a t i o n in the p r o c e s s of assujetissement.
I n A l t h u s s e r ' s essay
"Ideology and Ideologi-
c a l State A p p a r a t u s e s , " the s u b o r d i n a t i o n of the subject takes p l a c e t h r o u g h l a n g u a g e , as the effect of the a u t h o r i t a t i v e v o i c e that h a i l s the i n d i v i d u a l . I n the i n f a m o u s e x a m p l e that A l t h u s ser offers, a p o l i c e m a n h a i l s a p a s s e r b y on the street, a n d the p a s s e r b y t u r n s a n d r e c o g n i z e s h i m s e l f a s the o n e w h o i s h a i l e d . I n the e x c h a n g e b y w h i c h that r e c o g n i t i o n i s p r o f e r r e d a n d a c c e p t e d , i n t e r p e l l a t i o n — t h e d i s c u r s i v e p r o d u c t i o n o f the s o c i a l s u b j e c t — t a k e s p l a c e . S i g n i f i c a n t l y , A l t h u s s e r does n o t offer a c l u e a s t o w h y that i n d i v i d u a l t u r n s a r o u n d , a c c e p t i n g the v o i c e a s b e i n g a d d r e s s e d t o h i m o r her, a n d a c c e p t i n g the s u b o r d i n a t i o n a n d n o r m a l i z a t i o n effected b y that v o i c e . W h y d o e s this subject t u r n t o w a r d the v o i c e o f the l a w , a n d w h a t i s
t r o p e o f the t u r n b o t h i n d i c a t e s a n d e x e m p l i f i e s the t r o p o l o g i -
the effect of s u c h a t u r n in i n a u g u r a t i n g a s o c i a l subject? Is t h i s
c a l status o f the gesture. D o e s s u b j e c t i o n i n a u g u r a t e t r o p o l o g y
a g u i l t y subject a n d , i f so, h o w d i d i t b e c o m e g u i l t y ? M i g h t
i n s o m e w a y , o r i s the i n a u g u r a t i v e w o r k o f t r o p e s n e c e s s a r i l y
the t h e o r y of i n t e r p e l l a t i o n r e q u i r e a t h e o r y of c o n s c i e n c e ?
1
i n v o k e d w h e n w e t r y t o a c c o u n t f o r the g e n e r a t i o n o f t h e s u b -
T h e i n t e r p e l l a t i o n o f the subject t h r o u g h the i n a u g u r a t i v e
ject? W e w i l l r e t u r n t o t h i s q u e s t i o n t o w a r d the e n d o f this
a d d r e s s o f state a u t h o r i t y p r e s u p p o s e s n o t o n l y that the i n -
i n q u i r y w h e n w e c o n s i d e r h o w the e x p l a n a t i o n o f m e l a n c h o l i a
c u l c a t i o n o f c o n s c i e n c e a l r e a d y has t a k e n p l a c e , b u t that c o n -
participates in the m e c h a n i s m it describes, p r o d u c i n g p s y c h i c
science, u n d e r s t o o d as the p s y c h i c o p e r a t i o n of a r e g u l a t o r y
t o p o g r a p h i e s that are c l e a r l y t r o p o l o g i c a l .
n o r m , constitutes a specifically p s y c h i c a n d social w o r k i n g of p o w e r o n w h i c h i n t e r p e l l a t i o n d e p e n d s b u t for w h i c h i t c a n
T h e scene o f " i n t e r p e l l a t i o n " o f f e r e d b y A l t h u s s e r i s o n e
g i v e n o a c c o u n t . M o r e o v e r , the m o d e l o f p o w e r i n A l t h u s -
6
Introduction
Introduction
7
ser's a c c o u n t a t t r i b u t e s p e r f o r m a t i v e p o w e r t o the a u t h o r i t a -
p r e s s e d on a subject b u t f o r m s a subject, that is, is p r e s s e d on
t i v e v o i c e , the v o i c e o f s a n c t i o n , a n d h e n c e t o a n o t i o n o f l a n -
a subject by its f o r m a t i o n , suggests an a m b i v a l e n c e at the site
g u a g e f i g u r e d a s s p e e c h . H o w are w e t o a c c o u n t for the p o w e r
w h e r e the subject emerges. If the effect of a u t o n o m y is c o n -
of written discourse, or of bureaucratic discourse, w h i c h cir-
d i t i o n e d b y s u b o r d i n a t i o n a n d that f o u n d i n g s u b o r d i n a t i o n o r
culates w i t h o u t v o i c e o r s i g n a t u r e ? F i n a l l y , A l t h u s s e r ' s v i e w ,
d e p e n d e n c y i s r i g o r o u s l y r e p r e s s e d , the subject e m e r g e s i n
u s e f u l as it is, r e m a i n s i m p l i c i t l y c o n s t r a i n e d by a n o t i o n of a
t a n d e m w i t h the u n c o n s c i o u s . T h e F o u c a u l t i a n p o s t u l a t i o n o f
c e n t r a l i z e d state a p p a r a t u s , o n e w h o s e w o r d i s its d e e d , m o d -
s u b j e c t i o n a s the s i m u l t a n e o u s s u b o r d i n a t i o n a n d f o r m i n g o f
eled on d i v i n e authority. The n o t i o n of discourse emerges in
the subject a s s u m e s a s p e c i f i c p s y c h o a n a l y t i c v a l e n c e w h e n w e
F o u c a u l t i n p a r t t o c o u n t e r the s o v e r e i g n m o d e l o f i n t e r p e l l a -
c o n s i d e r that no subject e m e r g e s w i t h o u t a p a s s i o n a t e attach-
tive speech in theories s u c h as A l t h u s s e r ' s , but also to take
m e n t t o those o n w h o m h e o r she i s f u n d a m e n t a l l y d e p e n d e n t
a c c o u n t of the efficacy of d i s c o u r s e a p a r t f r o m its i n s t a n t i a t i o n
(even i f that p a s s i o n i s " n e g a t i v e " i n the p s y c h o a n a l y t i c sense).
a s the s p o k e n w o r d .
A l t h o u g h the d e p e n d e n c y o f the c h i l d i s n o t political s u b o r d i n a t i o n i n a n y u s u a l sense, the f o r m a t i o n o f p r i m a r y p a s s i o n
Passionate
Attachments
i n d e p e n d e n c y r e n d e r s the c h i l d v u l n e r a b l e t o s u b o r d i n a t i o n a n d e x p l o i t a t i o n , a t o p i c that has b e c o m e a p r e o c c u p a t i o n of
T h e i n s i s t e n c e that a subject is p a s s i o n a t e l y a t t a c h e d to h i s
recent p o l i t i c a l d i s c o u r s e . M o r e o v e r , t h i s s i t u a t i o n o f p r i m a r y
o r h e r o w n s u b o r d i n a t i o n has b e e n i n v o k e d c y n i c a l l y b y those
d e p e n d e n c y c o n d i t i o n s the p o l i t i c a l f o r m a t i o n a n d r e g u l a t i o n
w h o seek to d e b u n k the c l a i m s of the s u b o r d i n a t e d . If a s u b -
of subjects a n d b e c o m e s the m e a n s of t h e i r s u b j e c t i o n . If there
ject c a n b e s h o w n t o p u r s u e o r s u s t a i n h i s o r h e r s u b o r d i n a t e d
is no f o r m a t i o n of the subject w i t h o u t a p a s s i o n a t e a t t a c h m e n t
status, the r e a s o n i n g goes, t h e n p e r h a p s f i n a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y for
t o t h o s e b y w h o m she o r h e i s s u b o r d i n a t e d , t h e n s u b o r d i -
that s u b o r d i n a t i o n r e s i d e s w i t h the subject. O v e r a n d against
n a t i o n p r o v e s c e n t r a l t o the b e c o m i n g o f the subject. A s the
t h i s v i e w , I w o u l d m a i n t a i n that the a t t a c h m e n t t o s u b j e c t i o n
c o n d i t i o n o f b e c o m i n g a subject, s u b o r d i n a t i o n i m p l i e s b e i n g
i s p r o d u c e d t h r o u g h the w o r k i n g s o f p o w e r , a n d that p a r t o f
i n a m a n d a t o r y s u b m i s s i o n . M o r e o v e r , the d e s i r e t o s u r v i v e ,
2
the o p e r a t i o n o f p o w e r i s m a d e c l e a r i n t h i s p s y c h i c effect, o n e
"to be," i s a p e r v a s i v e l y e x p l o i t a b l e d e s i r e . T h e o n e w h o h o l d s
o f the m o s t i n s i d i o u s o f its p r o d u c t i o n s . If, i n a N i e t z s c h e a n
o u t the p r o m i s e o f c o n t i n u e d e x i s t e n c e p l a y s t o the d e s i r e
sense, the subject i s f o r m e d b y a w i l l that t u r n s b a c k u p o n
t o s u r v i v e . " I w o u l d r a t h e r exist i n s u b o r d i n a t i o n t h a n n o t
itself, a s s u m i n g a r e f l e x i v e f o r m , t h e n the subject is the m o -
e x i s t " i s o n e f o r m u l a t i o n o f t h i s p r e d i c a m e n t ( w h e r e the r i s k
d a l i t y o f p o w e r that t u r n s o n itself; the subject i s the effect o f
o f " d e a t h " i s also p o s s i b l e ) . T h i s i s o n e r e a s o n w h y debates
power in recoil.
a b o u t the r e a l i t y o f the s e x u a l a b u s e o f c h i l d r e n t e n d t o m i s -
T h e subject w h o i s a t o n c e f o r m e d a n d s u b o r d i n a t e d i s
state the c h a r a c t e r of the e x p l o i t a t i o n . It is n o t s i m p l y that a
a l r e a d y i m p l i c a t e d i n the scene o f p s y c h o a n a l y s i s . F o u c a u l t ' s
s e x u a l i t y i s u n i l a t e r a l l y i m p o s e d b y the a d u l t , n o r that a s e x u -
r e f o r m u l a t i o n o f s u b o r d i n a t i o n a s that w h i c h i s n o t o n l y
a l i t y i s u n i l a t e r a l l y f a n t a s i z e d b y the c h i l d , b u t that the c h i l d ' s
6
Introduction
Introduction
7
ser's a c c o u n t a t t r i b u t e s p e r f o r m a t i v e p o w e r t o the a u t h o r i t a -
p r e s s e d on a subject b u t f o r m s a subject, that is, is p r e s s e d on
t i v e v o i c e , the v o i c e o f s a n c t i o n , a n d h e n c e t o a n o t i o n o f l a n -
a subject by its f o r m a t i o n , suggests an a m b i v a l e n c e at the site
g u a g e f i g u r e d a s s p e e c h . H o w are w e t o a c c o u n t for the p o w e r
w h e r e the subject emerges. If the effect of a u t o n o m y is c o n -
of written discourse, or of bureaucratic discourse, w h i c h cir-
d i t i o n e d b y s u b o r d i n a t i o n a n d that f o u n d i n g s u b o r d i n a t i o n o r
culates w i t h o u t v o i c e o r s i g n a t u r e ? F i n a l l y , A l t h u s s e r ' s v i e w ,
d e p e n d e n c y i s r i g o r o u s l y r e p r e s s e d , the subject e m e r g e s i n
u s e f u l as it is, r e m a i n s i m p l i c i t l y c o n s t r a i n e d by a n o t i o n of a
t a n d e m w i t h the u n c o n s c i o u s . T h e F o u c a u l t i a n p o s t u l a t i o n o f
c e n t r a l i z e d state a p p a r a t u s , o n e w h o s e w o r d i s its d e e d , m o d -
s u b j e c t i o n a s the s i m u l t a n e o u s s u b o r d i n a t i o n a n d f o r m i n g o f
eled on d i v i n e authority. The n o t i o n of discourse emerges in
the subject a s s u m e s a s p e c i f i c p s y c h o a n a l y t i c v a l e n c e w h e n w e
F o u c a u l t i n p a r t t o c o u n t e r the s o v e r e i g n m o d e l o f i n t e r p e l l a -
c o n s i d e r that no subject e m e r g e s w i t h o u t a p a s s i o n a t e attach-
tive speech in theories s u c h as A l t h u s s e r ' s , but also to take
m e n t t o those o n w h o m h e o r she i s f u n d a m e n t a l l y d e p e n d e n t
a c c o u n t of the efficacy of d i s c o u r s e a p a r t f r o m its i n s t a n t i a t i o n
(even i f that p a s s i o n i s " n e g a t i v e " i n the p s y c h o a n a l y t i c sense).
a s the s p o k e n w o r d .
A l t h o u g h the d e p e n d e n c y o f the c h i l d i s n o t political s u b o r d i n a t i o n i n a n y u s u a l sense, the f o r m a t i o n o f p r i m a r y p a s s i o n
Passionate
Attachments
i n d e p e n d e n c y r e n d e r s the c h i l d v u l n e r a b l e t o s u b o r d i n a t i o n a n d e x p l o i t a t i o n , a t o p i c that has b e c o m e a p r e o c c u p a t i o n of
T h e i n s i s t e n c e that a subject is p a s s i o n a t e l y a t t a c h e d to h i s
recent p o l i t i c a l d i s c o u r s e . M o r e o v e r , t h i s s i t u a t i o n o f p r i m a r y
o r h e r o w n s u b o r d i n a t i o n has b e e n i n v o k e d c y n i c a l l y b y those
d e p e n d e n c y c o n d i t i o n s the p o l i t i c a l f o r m a t i o n a n d r e g u l a t i o n
w h o seek to d e b u n k the c l a i m s of the s u b o r d i n a t e d . If a s u b -
of subjects a n d b e c o m e s the m e a n s of t h e i r s u b j e c t i o n . If there
ject c a n b e s h o w n t o p u r s u e o r s u s t a i n h i s o r h e r s u b o r d i n a t e d
is no f o r m a t i o n of the subject w i t h o u t a p a s s i o n a t e a t t a c h m e n t
status, the r e a s o n i n g goes, t h e n p e r h a p s f i n a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y for
t o t h o s e b y w h o m she o r h e i s s u b o r d i n a t e d , t h e n s u b o r d i -
that s u b o r d i n a t i o n r e s i d e s w i t h the subject. O v e r a n d against
n a t i o n p r o v e s c e n t r a l t o the b e c o m i n g o f the subject. A s the
t h i s v i e w , I w o u l d m a i n t a i n that the a t t a c h m e n t t o s u b j e c t i o n
c o n d i t i o n o f b e c o m i n g a subject, s u b o r d i n a t i o n i m p l i e s b e i n g
i s p r o d u c e d t h r o u g h the w o r k i n g s o f p o w e r , a n d that p a r t o f
i n a m a n d a t o r y s u b m i s s i o n . M o r e o v e r , the d e s i r e t o s u r v i v e ,
2
the o p e r a t i o n o f p o w e r i s m a d e c l e a r i n t h i s p s y c h i c effect, o n e
"to be," i s a p e r v a s i v e l y e x p l o i t a b l e d e s i r e . T h e o n e w h o h o l d s
o f the m o s t i n s i d i o u s o f its p r o d u c t i o n s . If, i n a N i e t z s c h e a n
o u t the p r o m i s e o f c o n t i n u e d e x i s t e n c e p l a y s t o the d e s i r e
sense, the subject i s f o r m e d b y a w i l l that t u r n s b a c k u p o n
t o s u r v i v e . " I w o u l d r a t h e r exist i n s u b o r d i n a t i o n t h a n n o t
itself, a s s u m i n g a r e f l e x i v e f o r m , t h e n the subject is the m o -
e x i s t " i s o n e f o r m u l a t i o n o f t h i s p r e d i c a m e n t ( w h e r e the r i s k
d a l i t y o f p o w e r that t u r n s o n itself; the subject i s the effect o f
o f " d e a t h " i s also p o s s i b l e ) . T h i s i s o n e r e a s o n w h y debates
power in recoil.
a b o u t the r e a l i t y o f the s e x u a l a b u s e o f c h i l d r e n t e n d t o m i s -
T h e subject w h o i s a t o n c e f o r m e d a n d s u b o r d i n a t e d i s
state the c h a r a c t e r of the e x p l o i t a t i o n . It is n o t s i m p l y that a
a l r e a d y i m p l i c a t e d i n the scene o f p s y c h o a n a l y s i s . F o u c a u l t ' s
s e x u a l i t y i s u n i l a t e r a l l y i m p o s e d b y the a d u l t , n o r that a s e x u -
r e f o r m u l a t i o n o f s u b o r d i n a t i o n a s that w h i c h i s n o t o n l y
a l i t y i s u n i l a t e r a l l y f a n t a s i z e d b y the c h i l d , b u t that the c h i l d ' s
8
Introduction
Introduction
love, a l o v e that is n e c e s s a r y for its e x i s t e n c e , is e x p l o i t e d a n d
sense of " I . " " T c o u l d n o t be w h o I am if I w e r e to l o v e in the
a passionate attachment abused.
w a y that I a p p a r e n t l y d i d , w h i c h I m u s t , t o p e r s i s t a s m y s e l f ,
9
L e t u s c o n s i d e r that a subject i s n o t o n l y f o r m e d i n s u b -
c o n t i n u e t o d e n y a n d yet u n c o n s c i o u s l y reenact i n c o n t e m p o -
o r d i n a t i o n , b u t that t h i s s u b o r d i n a t i o n p r o v i d e s the subject's
r a r y life w i t h the m o s t t e r r i b l e s u f f e r i n g a s its c o n s e q u e n c e . "
c o n t i n u i n g c o n d i t i o n of possibility. A child's love is p r i o r to
T h e t r a u m a t i c r e p e t i t i o n o f w h a t has b e e n f o r e c l o s e d f r o m
judgment and decision; a c h i l d tended and nourished in a
c o n t e m p o r a r y life t h r e a t e n s the " I . " T h r o u g h that n e u r o t i c
" g o o d e n o u g h " w a y w i l l l o v e , a n d o n l y later s t a n d a c h a n c e o f
r e p e t i t i o n the subject p u r s u e s its o w n d i s s o l u t i o n , its o w n u n -
d i s c r i m i n a t i n g a m o n g those h e o r she loves. T h i s i s t o say, n o t
r a v e l i n g , a p u r s u i t that m a r k s an agency, b u t n o t the subject's
that the c h i l d l o v e s b l i n d l y (since f r o m e a r l y o n there i s d i s -
a g e n c y — r a t h e r , the a g e n c y of a d e s i r e that a i m s at the d i s s o -
cernment and "knowingness" of an important kind), but only
l u t i o n of the subject, w h e r e the subject s t a n d s as a b a r to that
that i f the c h i l d i s t o p e r s i s t i n a p s y c h i c a n d s o c i a l sense, there
desire.
4
m u s t b e d e p e n d e n c y a n d the f o r m a t i o n o f a t t a c h m e n t : there i s
I f the subject i s p r o d u c e d t h r o u g h f o r e c l o s u r e , t h e n the s u b -
n o p o s s i b i l i t y o f n o t l o v i n g , w h e r e l o v e i s b o u n d u p w i t h the
ject i s p r o d u c e d b y a c o n d i t i o n f r o m w h i c h i t is, b y d e f i n i t i o n ,
r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r life. T h e c h i l d d o e s n o t k n o w t o w h a t he/she
s e p a r a t e d a n d d i f f e r e n t i a t e d . D e s i r e w i l l a i m a t u n r a v e l i n g the
attaches; yet the i n f a n t a s w e l l a s the c h i l d m u s t a t t a c h i n
subject, b u t b e t h w a r t e d b y p r e c i s e l y the subject i n w h o s e
o r d e r t o p e r s i s t i n a n d a s itself. N o subject c a n e m e r g e w i t h -
n a m e it operates. A v e x a t i o n of d e s i r e , o n e that p r o v e s c r u c i a l
o u t t h i s a t t a c h m e n t , f o r m e d i n d e p e n d e n c y , b u t n o subject, i n
to s u b j e c t i o n , i m p l i e s that for the subject to p e r s i s t , the s u b -
t h e c o u r s e o f its f o r m a t i o n , c a n e v e r a f f o r d f u l l y t o "see" it.
ject m u s t t h w a r t its o w n d e s i r e . A n d for d e s i r e t o t r i u m p h , the
T h i s a t t a c h m e n t i n its p r i m a r y f o r m s m u s t b o t h come t o b e a n d
subject m u s t b e t h r e a t e n e d w i t h d i s s o l u t i o n . A subject t u r n e d
b e denied, its c o m i n g t o b e m u s t c o n s i s t i n its p a r t i a l d e n i a l , for
a g a i n s t itself (its desire) a p p e a r s , on t h i s m o d e l , to be a c o n d i -
the subject to e m e r g e .
t i o n of the p e r s i s t e n c e of the subject.
3
T h a t a c c o u n t s i n p a r t f o r the a d u l t sense o f h u m i l i a t i o n
T o d e s i r e the c o n d i t i o n s o f one's o w n s u b o r d i n a t i o n i s t h u s
w h e n c o n f r o n t e d w i t h the earliest objects o f l o v e — p a r e n t s ,
r e q u i r e d t o p e r s i s t a s oneself. W h a t does i t m e a n t o e m b r a c e
g u a r d i a n s , s i b l i n g s , a n d s o o n — t h e sense o f b e l a t e d i n d i g n a -
the v e r y f o r m o f p o w e r — r e g u l a t i o n , p r o h i b i t i o n , s u p p r e s s i o n
t i o n in w h i c h one claims, "I c o u l d n ' t p o s s i b l y love s u c h a per-
— that threatens o n e w i t h d i s s o l u t i o n i n a n effort, p r e c i s e l y , t o
s o n . " T h e u t t e r a n c e c o n c e d e s the p o s s i b i l i t y i t d e n i e s , estab-
p e r s i s t i n o n e ' s o w n existence? I t i s n o t s i m p l y that o n e r e -
l i s h i n g the "I" a s p r e d i c a t e d u p o n that f o r e c l o s u r e , g r o u n d e d
q u i r e s the r e c o g n i t i o n o f the o t h e r a n d that a f o r m o f r e c o g n i -
i n a n d b y that f i r m l y i m a g i n e d i m p o s s i b i l i t y . T h e "I" i s t h u s
t i o n i s c o n f e r r e d t h r o u g h s u b o r d i n a t i o n , b u t r a t h e r that o n e i s
f u n d a m e n t a l l y t h r e a t e n e d b y the s p e c t e r o f t h i s ( i m p o s s i b l e )
d e p e n d e n t o n p o w e r for one's v e r y f o r m a t i o n , that that f o r m a -
l o v e ' s r e a p p e a r a n c e a n d r e m a i n s c o n d e m n e d t o r e e n a c t that
t i o n i s i m p o s s i b l e w i t h o u t d e p e n d e n c y , a n d that the p o s t u r e o f
l o v e u n c o n s c i o u s l y , r e p e a t e d l y r e l i v i n g a n d d i s p l a c i n g that
the a d u l t subject c o n s i s t s p r e c i s e l y i n the d e n i a l a n d reenact-
s c a n d a l , that i m p o s s i b i l i t y , o r c h e s t r a t i n g that threat t o o n e ' s
m e n t o f t h i s d e p e n d e n c y . T h e " I " e m e r g e s u p o n the c o n d i t i o n
8
Introduction
Introduction
love, a l o v e that is n e c e s s a r y for its e x i s t e n c e , is e x p l o i t e d a n d
sense of " I . " " T c o u l d n o t be w h o I am if I w e r e to l o v e in the
a passionate attachment abused.
w a y that I a p p a r e n t l y d i d , w h i c h I m u s t , t o p e r s i s t a s m y s e l f ,
9
L e t u s c o n s i d e r that a subject i s n o t o n l y f o r m e d i n s u b -
c o n t i n u e t o d e n y a n d yet u n c o n s c i o u s l y reenact i n c o n t e m p o -
o r d i n a t i o n , b u t that t h i s s u b o r d i n a t i o n p r o v i d e s the subject's
r a r y life w i t h the m o s t t e r r i b l e s u f f e r i n g a s its c o n s e q u e n c e . "
c o n t i n u i n g c o n d i t i o n of possibility. A child's love is p r i o r to
T h e t r a u m a t i c r e p e t i t i o n o f w h a t has b e e n f o r e c l o s e d f r o m
judgment and decision; a c h i l d tended and nourished in a
c o n t e m p o r a r y life t h r e a t e n s the " I . " T h r o u g h that n e u r o t i c
" g o o d e n o u g h " w a y w i l l l o v e , a n d o n l y later s t a n d a c h a n c e o f
r e p e t i t i o n the subject p u r s u e s its o w n d i s s o l u t i o n , its o w n u n -
d i s c r i m i n a t i n g a m o n g those h e o r she loves. T h i s i s t o say, n o t
r a v e l i n g , a p u r s u i t that m a r k s an agency, b u t n o t the subject's
that the c h i l d l o v e s b l i n d l y (since f r o m e a r l y o n there i s d i s -
a g e n c y — r a t h e r , the a g e n c y of a d e s i r e that a i m s at the d i s s o -
cernment and "knowingness" of an important kind), but only
l u t i o n of the subject, w h e r e the subject s t a n d s as a b a r to that
that i f the c h i l d i s t o p e r s i s t i n a p s y c h i c a n d s o c i a l sense, there
desire.
4
m u s t b e d e p e n d e n c y a n d the f o r m a t i o n o f a t t a c h m e n t : there i s
I f the subject i s p r o d u c e d t h r o u g h f o r e c l o s u r e , t h e n the s u b -
n o p o s s i b i l i t y o f n o t l o v i n g , w h e r e l o v e i s b o u n d u p w i t h the
ject i s p r o d u c e d b y a c o n d i t i o n f r o m w h i c h i t is, b y d e f i n i t i o n ,
r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r life. T h e c h i l d d o e s n o t k n o w t o w h a t he/she
s e p a r a t e d a n d d i f f e r e n t i a t e d . D e s i r e w i l l a i m a t u n r a v e l i n g the
attaches; yet the i n f a n t a s w e l l a s the c h i l d m u s t a t t a c h i n
subject, b u t b e t h w a r t e d b y p r e c i s e l y the subject i n w h o s e
o r d e r t o p e r s i s t i n a n d a s itself. N o subject c a n e m e r g e w i t h -
n a m e it operates. A v e x a t i o n of d e s i r e , o n e that p r o v e s c r u c i a l
o u t t h i s a t t a c h m e n t , f o r m e d i n d e p e n d e n c y , b u t n o subject, i n
to s u b j e c t i o n , i m p l i e s that for the subject to p e r s i s t , the s u b -
t h e c o u r s e o f its f o r m a t i o n , c a n e v e r a f f o r d f u l l y t o "see" it.
ject m u s t t h w a r t its o w n d e s i r e . A n d for d e s i r e t o t r i u m p h , the
T h i s a t t a c h m e n t i n its p r i m a r y f o r m s m u s t b o t h come t o b e a n d
subject m u s t b e t h r e a t e n e d w i t h d i s s o l u t i o n . A subject t u r n e d
b e denied, its c o m i n g t o b e m u s t c o n s i s t i n its p a r t i a l d e n i a l , for
a g a i n s t itself (its desire) a p p e a r s , on t h i s m o d e l , to be a c o n d i -
the subject to e m e r g e .
t i o n of the p e r s i s t e n c e of the subject.
3
T h a t a c c o u n t s i n p a r t f o r the a d u l t sense o f h u m i l i a t i o n
T o d e s i r e the c o n d i t i o n s o f one's o w n s u b o r d i n a t i o n i s t h u s
w h e n c o n f r o n t e d w i t h the earliest objects o f l o v e — p a r e n t s ,
r e q u i r e d t o p e r s i s t a s oneself. W h a t does i t m e a n t o e m b r a c e
g u a r d i a n s , s i b l i n g s , a n d s o o n — t h e sense o f b e l a t e d i n d i g n a -
the v e r y f o r m o f p o w e r — r e g u l a t i o n , p r o h i b i t i o n , s u p p r e s s i o n
t i o n in w h i c h one claims, "I c o u l d n ' t p o s s i b l y love s u c h a per-
— that threatens o n e w i t h d i s s o l u t i o n i n a n effort, p r e c i s e l y , t o
s o n . " T h e u t t e r a n c e c o n c e d e s the p o s s i b i l i t y i t d e n i e s , estab-
p e r s i s t i n o n e ' s o w n existence? I t i s n o t s i m p l y that o n e r e -
l i s h i n g the "I" a s p r e d i c a t e d u p o n that f o r e c l o s u r e , g r o u n d e d
q u i r e s the r e c o g n i t i o n o f the o t h e r a n d that a f o r m o f r e c o g n i -
i n a n d b y that f i r m l y i m a g i n e d i m p o s s i b i l i t y . T h e "I" i s t h u s
t i o n i s c o n f e r r e d t h r o u g h s u b o r d i n a t i o n , b u t r a t h e r that o n e i s
f u n d a m e n t a l l y t h r e a t e n e d b y the s p e c t e r o f t h i s ( i m p o s s i b l e )
d e p e n d e n t o n p o w e r for one's v e r y f o r m a t i o n , that that f o r m a -
l o v e ' s r e a p p e a r a n c e a n d r e m a i n s c o n d e m n e d t o r e e n a c t that
t i o n i s i m p o s s i b l e w i t h o u t d e p e n d e n c y , a n d that the p o s t u r e o f
l o v e u n c o n s c i o u s l y , r e p e a t e d l y r e l i v i n g a n d d i s p l a c i n g that
the a d u l t subject c o n s i s t s p r e c i s e l y i n the d e n i a l a n d reenact-
s c a n d a l , that i m p o s s i b i l i t y , o r c h e s t r a t i n g that threat t o o n e ' s
m e n t o f t h i s d e p e n d e n c y . T h e " I " e m e r g e s u p o n the c o n d i t i o n
10
Introduction
Introduction
il
that i t d e n y its f o r m a t i o n i n d e p e n d e n c y , the c o n d i t i o n s o f its
a "site"), a n d t h e y e n j o y i n t e l l i g i b i l i t y o n l y to the extent that
o w n p o s s i b i l i t y . T h e "I," h o w e v e r , i s t h r e a t e n e d w i t h d i s r u p -
t h e y are, a s i t w e r e , first e s t a b l i s h e d i n l a n g u a g e . T h e subject
t i o n p r e c i s e l y b y t h i s d e n i a l , b y its u n c o n s c i o u s p u r s u i t o f its
i s the l i n g u i s t i c o c c a s i o n for the i n d i v i d u a l t o a c h i e v e a n d r e -
o w n d i s s o l u t i o n t h r o u g h n e u r o t i c r e p e t i t i o n s that restage the
p r o d u c e i n t e l l i g i b i l i t y , the l i n g u i s t i c c o n d i t i o n o f its e x i s t e n c e
p r i m a r y s c e n a r i o s i t n o t o n l y refuses t o see b u t c a n n o t see, i f i t
a n d agency. N o i n d i v i d u a l b e c o m e s a subject w i t h o u t first b e -
w i s h e s t o r e m a i n itself. T h i s m e a n s , o f c o u r s e , that, p r e d i c a t e d
c o m i n g subjected or u n d e r g o i n g "subjectivation" (a translation
o n w h a t i t refuses t o k n o w , i t i s s e p a r a t e d f r o m itself a n d c a n
of the F r e n c h assujetissement). It m a k e s l i t t l e sense to treat " t h e
n e v e r q u i t e b e c o m e o r r e m a i n itself.
i n d i v i d u a l " a s a n i n t e l l i g i b l e t e r m i f i n d i v i d u a l s are s a i d t o acq u i r e t h e i r i n t e l l i g i b i l i t y b y b e c o m i n g subjects. P a r a d o x i c a l l y ,
Ambivalence
n o i n t e l l i g i b l e reference t o i n d i v i d u a l s o r t h e i r b e c o m i n g c a n t a k e p l a c e w i t h o u t a p r i o r reference to t h e i r status as subjects.
T h e n o t i o n o f the subject has i n c i t e d c o n t r o v e r s y w i t h i n
T h e s t o r y b y w h i c h s u b j e c t i o n i s t o l d is, i n e v i t a b l y , c i r c u l a r ,
r e c e n t t h e o r e t i c a l debate, b e i n g p r o m o t e d b y s o m e a s a n e c -
p r e s u p p o s i n g the v e r y subject f o r w h i c h i t seeks t o g i v e a n ac-
essary p r e c o n d i t i o n of agency a n d r e v i l e d by others as a s i g n
c o u n t . O n the o n e h a n d , the subject c a n refer t o its o w n gene-
of "mastery" to be refused. My purpose is neither to enumer-
sis o n l y b y t a k i n g a t h i r d - p e r s o n p e r s p e c t i v e o n itself, that is,
ate n o r t o r e s o l v e the c o n t e m p o r a r y i n s t a n c e s o f t h i s debate.
b y d i s p o s s e s s i n g its o w n p e r s p e c t i v e i n the act o f n a r r a t i n g its
R a t h e r , I p r o p o s e to take a c c o u n t of h o w a p a r a d o x r e c u r r e n t l y
genesis. O n the o t h e r h a n d , the n a r r a t i o n o f h o w the subject
s t r u c t u r e s the debate, l e a d i n g i t a l m o s t a l w a y s t o c u l m i n a t e i n
i s c o n s t i t u t e d p r e s u p p o s e s that the c o n s t i t u t i o n has a l r e a d y
d i s p l a y s o f a m b i v a l e n c e . H o w c a n i t b e that the subject, t a k e n
t a k e n p l a c e , a n d t h u s a r r i v e s after the fact. T h e subject loses
t o b e the c o n d i t i o n for a n d i n s t r u m e n t o f agency, i s a t the s a m e
itself t o t e l l the s t o r y o f itself, b u t i n t e l l i n g the s t o r y o f i t s e l f
t i m e the effect o f s u b o r d i n a t i o n , u n d e r s t o o d a s the d e p r i v a -
seeks t o g i v e a n a c c o u n t o f w h a t the n a r r a t i v e f u n c t i o n has
t i o n o f a g e n c y ? I f s u b o r d i n a t i o n i s the c o n d i t i o n o f p o s s i b i l i t y
a l r e a d y m a d e p l a i n . W h a t does i t m e a n , t h e n , that the s u b -
f o r agency, h o w m i g h t a g e n c y b e t h o u g h t i n o p p o s i t i o n t o the
ject, d e f e n d e d by s o m e as a p r e s u p p o s i t i o n of agency, is a l s o
forces o f s u b o r d i n a t i o n ?
u n d e r s t o o d to be an effect of s u b j e c t i o n ? S u c h a f o r m u l a t i o n
" T h e subject" is sometimes b a n d i e d about as if it were inter-
suggests that i n the act o f o p p o s i n g s u b o r d i n a t i o n , the subject
c h a n g e a b l e w i t h "the p e r s o n " o r "the i n d i v i d u a l . " T h e g e n e a l -
reiterates its s u b j e c t i o n ( a n o t i o n s h a r e d b y b o t h p s y c h o a n a l y -
o g y of the subject as a c r i t i c a l category, h o w e v e r , suggests that
sis a n d F o u c a u l d i a n a c c o u n t s ) . H o w , t h e n , i s s u b j e c t i o n t o b e
the subject, r a t h e r t h a n b e i d e n t i f i e d s t r i c t l y w i t h the i n d i -
t h o u g h t a n d h o w c a n i t b e c o m e a site o f a l t e r a t i o n ? A p o w e r
v i d u a l , o u g h t to be d e s i g n a t e d as a l i n g u i s t i c category, a p l a c e -
exerted on a subject, s u b j e c t i o n is n e v e r t h e l e s s a p o w e r assumed
holder, a structure in formation. Individuals come to occupy
by the subject, an a s s u m p t i o n that c o n s t i t u t e s the i n s t r u m e n t
the site of the subject (the subject s i m u l t a n e o u s l y e m e r g e s as
of that subject's b e c o m i n g .
10
Introduction
Introduction
il
that i t d e n y its f o r m a t i o n i n d e p e n d e n c y , the c o n d i t i o n s o f its
a "site"), a n d t h e y e n j o y i n t e l l i g i b i l i t y o n l y to the extent that
o w n p o s s i b i l i t y . T h e "I," h o w e v e r , i s t h r e a t e n e d w i t h d i s r u p -
t h e y are, a s i t w e r e , first e s t a b l i s h e d i n l a n g u a g e . T h e subject
t i o n p r e c i s e l y b y t h i s d e n i a l , b y its u n c o n s c i o u s p u r s u i t o f its
i s the l i n g u i s t i c o c c a s i o n for the i n d i v i d u a l t o a c h i e v e a n d r e -
o w n d i s s o l u t i o n t h r o u g h n e u r o t i c r e p e t i t i o n s that restage the
p r o d u c e i n t e l l i g i b i l i t y , the l i n g u i s t i c c o n d i t i o n o f its e x i s t e n c e
p r i m a r y s c e n a r i o s i t n o t o n l y refuses t o see b u t c a n n o t see, i f i t
a n d agency. N o i n d i v i d u a l b e c o m e s a subject w i t h o u t first b e -
w i s h e s t o r e m a i n itself. T h i s m e a n s , o f c o u r s e , that, p r e d i c a t e d
c o m i n g subjected or u n d e r g o i n g "subjectivation" (a translation
o n w h a t i t refuses t o k n o w , i t i s s e p a r a t e d f r o m itself a n d c a n
of the F r e n c h assujetissement). It m a k e s l i t t l e sense to treat " t h e
n e v e r q u i t e b e c o m e o r r e m a i n itself.
i n d i v i d u a l " a s a n i n t e l l i g i b l e t e r m i f i n d i v i d u a l s are s a i d t o acq u i r e t h e i r i n t e l l i g i b i l i t y b y b e c o m i n g subjects. P a r a d o x i c a l l y ,
Ambivalence
n o i n t e l l i g i b l e reference t o i n d i v i d u a l s o r t h e i r b e c o m i n g c a n t a k e p l a c e w i t h o u t a p r i o r reference to t h e i r status as subjects.
T h e n o t i o n o f the subject has i n c i t e d c o n t r o v e r s y w i t h i n
T h e s t o r y b y w h i c h s u b j e c t i o n i s t o l d is, i n e v i t a b l y , c i r c u l a r ,
r e c e n t t h e o r e t i c a l debate, b e i n g p r o m o t e d b y s o m e a s a n e c -
p r e s u p p o s i n g the v e r y subject f o r w h i c h i t seeks t o g i v e a n ac-
essary p r e c o n d i t i o n of agency a n d r e v i l e d by others as a s i g n
c o u n t . O n the o n e h a n d , the subject c a n refer t o its o w n gene-
of "mastery" to be refused. My purpose is neither to enumer-
sis o n l y b y t a k i n g a t h i r d - p e r s o n p e r s p e c t i v e o n itself, that is,
ate n o r t o r e s o l v e the c o n t e m p o r a r y i n s t a n c e s o f t h i s debate.
b y d i s p o s s e s s i n g its o w n p e r s p e c t i v e i n the act o f n a r r a t i n g its
R a t h e r , I p r o p o s e to take a c c o u n t of h o w a p a r a d o x r e c u r r e n t l y
genesis. O n the o t h e r h a n d , the n a r r a t i o n o f h o w the subject
s t r u c t u r e s the debate, l e a d i n g i t a l m o s t a l w a y s t o c u l m i n a t e i n
i s c o n s t i t u t e d p r e s u p p o s e s that the c o n s t i t u t i o n has a l r e a d y
d i s p l a y s o f a m b i v a l e n c e . H o w c a n i t b e that the subject, t a k e n
t a k e n p l a c e , a n d t h u s a r r i v e s after the fact. T h e subject loses
t o b e the c o n d i t i o n for a n d i n s t r u m e n t o f agency, i s a t the s a m e
itself t o t e l l the s t o r y o f itself, b u t i n t e l l i n g the s t o r y o f i t s e l f
t i m e the effect o f s u b o r d i n a t i o n , u n d e r s t o o d a s the d e p r i v a -
seeks t o g i v e a n a c c o u n t o f w h a t the n a r r a t i v e f u n c t i o n has
t i o n o f a g e n c y ? I f s u b o r d i n a t i o n i s the c o n d i t i o n o f p o s s i b i l i t y
a l r e a d y m a d e p l a i n . W h a t does i t m e a n , t h e n , that the s u b -
f o r agency, h o w m i g h t a g e n c y b e t h o u g h t i n o p p o s i t i o n t o the
ject, d e f e n d e d by s o m e as a p r e s u p p o s i t i o n of agency, is a l s o
forces o f s u b o r d i n a t i o n ?
u n d e r s t o o d to be an effect of s u b j e c t i o n ? S u c h a f o r m u l a t i o n
" T h e subject" is sometimes b a n d i e d about as if it were inter-
suggests that i n the act o f o p p o s i n g s u b o r d i n a t i o n , the subject
c h a n g e a b l e w i t h "the p e r s o n " o r "the i n d i v i d u a l . " T h e g e n e a l -
reiterates its s u b j e c t i o n ( a n o t i o n s h a r e d b y b o t h p s y c h o a n a l y -
o g y of the subject as a c r i t i c a l category, h o w e v e r , suggests that
sis a n d F o u c a u l d i a n a c c o u n t s ) . H o w , t h e n , i s s u b j e c t i o n t o b e
the subject, r a t h e r t h a n b e i d e n t i f i e d s t r i c t l y w i t h the i n d i -
t h o u g h t a n d h o w c a n i t b e c o m e a site o f a l t e r a t i o n ? A p o w e r
v i d u a l , o u g h t to be d e s i g n a t e d as a l i n g u i s t i c category, a p l a c e -
exerted on a subject, s u b j e c t i o n is n e v e r t h e l e s s a p o w e r assumed
holder, a structure in formation. Individuals come to occupy
by the subject, an a s s u m p t i o n that c o n s t i t u t e s the i n s t r u m e n t
the site of the subject (the subject s i m u l t a n e o u s l y e m e r g e s as
of that subject's b e c o m i n g .
Introduction
12
Subjection
/
Subordination
Introduction
13
r e t a i n s the c o n d i t i o n s o f its e m e r g e n c e , t h i s d o e s n o t i m p l y that a l l o f its a g e n c y r e m a i n s t e t h e r e d t o those c o n d i t i o n s
T h e d o u b l e aspect of s u b j e c t i o n a p p e a r s to l e a d to a v i c i o u s
a n d that those c o n d i t i o n s r e m a i n the s a m e i n e v e r y o p e r a t i o n
c i r c l e : the a g e n c y of the subject a p p e a r s to be an effect of its
o f agency. A s s u m i n g p o w e r i s n o t a s t r a i g h t f o r w a r d task o f
s u b o r d i n a t i o n . A n y effort t o o p p o s e that s u b o r d i n a t i o n w i l l
t a k i n g p o w e r f r o m one place, transferring it intact, a n d then
n e c e s s a r i l y p r e s u p p o s e a n d r e i n v o k e it. L u c k i l y , the s t o r y s u r -
a n d t h e r e m a k i n g i t o n e ' s o w n ; the act o f a p p r o p r i a t i o n m a y
v i v e s t h i s i m p a s s e . W h a t d o e s i t m e a n for the a g e n c y o f a s u b -
i n v o l v e a n a l t e r a t i o n o f p o w e r s u c h that the p o w e r a s s u m e d
ject to presuppose its o w n s u b o r d i n a t i o n ? Is the act of presuppos-
o r a p p r o p r i a t e d w o r k s a g a i n s t the p o w e r that m a d e that as-
ing the s a m e as the act of reinstating, or is there a d i s c o n t i n u i t y
s u m p t i o n possible. W h e r e conditions of subordination make
b e t w e e n the p o w e r p r e s u p p o s e d a n d the p o w e r r e i n s t a t e d ?
p o s s i b l e the a s s u m p t i o n o f p o w e r , the p o w e r a s s u m e d r e m a i n s
C o n s i d e r that i n the v e r y act b y w h i c h the subject r e p r o d u c e s
t i e d t o those c o n d i t i o n s , b u t i n a n a m b i v a l e n t w a y ; i n fact, the
the c o n d i t i o n s o f its o w n s u b o r d i n a t i o n , the subject e x e m p l i -
p o w e r a s s u m e d m a y a t o n c e r e t a i n a n d resist that s u b o r d i n a -
fies a t e m p o r a l l y b a s e d v u l n e r a b i l i t y that b e l o n g s to those c o n -
t i o n . T h i s c o n c l u s i o n is n o t to be t h o u g h t of as (a) a r e s i s t a n c e
d i t i o n s , s p e c i f i c a l l y , t o the e x i g e n c i e s o f t h e i r r e n e w a l . P o w e r
that is really a r e c u p e r a t i o n of p o w e r or (b) a r e c u p e r a t i o n that
c o n s i d e r e d as a c o n d i t i o n of the subject is n e c e s s a r i l y n o t the
is really a resistance. It is b o t h at o n c e , a n d t h i s a m b i v a l e n c e
s a m e a s p o w e r c o n s i d e r e d a s w h a t the subject i s s a i d t o w i e l d .
f o r m s the b i n d o f agency.
T h e p o w e r that i n i t i a t e s the subject fails t o r e m a i n c o n t i n u -
A c c o r d i n g t o the f o r m u l a t i o n o f s u b j e c t i o n a s b o t h the s u b -
o u s w i t h the p o w e r that i s the subject's agency. A s i g n i f i c a n t
o r d i n a t i o n a n d b e c o m i n g o f the subject, p o w e r is, a s s u b o r d i -
a n d p o t e n t i a l l y e n a b l i n g r e v e r s a l o c c u r s w h e n p o w e r shifts
n a t i o n , a set of c o n d i t i o n s that p r e c e d e s the subject, e f f e c t i n g
f r o m its status as a c o n d i t i o n of a g e n c y to the subject's " o w n "
a n d s u b o r d i n a t i n g the subject f r o m the o u t s i d e . T h i s f o r m u l a -
a g e n c y ( c o n s t i t u t i n g a n a p p e a r a n c e o f p o w e r i n w h i c h the s u b -
t i o n falters, h o w e v e r , w h e n w e c o n s i d e r that t h e r e i s n o s u b -
ject a p p e a r s a s the c o n d i t i o n o f its " o w n " p o w e r ) . H o w are w e
ject p r i o r to t h i s effect. P o w e r n o t o n l y acts on a subject b u t ,
to assess that b e c o m i n g ? Is it an e n a b l i n g b r e a k , a b a d b r e a k ?
in a t r a n s i t i v e sense, enacts the subject i n t o b e i n g . As a c o n d i -
H o w i s i t that the p o w e r u p o n w h i c h the subject d e p e n d s f o r
t i o n , p o w e r p r e c e d e s the subject. P o w e r loses its a p p e a r a n c e
e x i s t e n c e a n d w h i c h the subject i s c o m p e l l e d t o reiterate t u r n s
o f p r i o r i t y , h o w e v e r , w h e n i t i s w i e l d e d b y the subject, a s i t u a -
a g a i n s t itself i n the c o u r s e o f that r e i t e r a t i o n ? H o w m i g h t w e
t i o n that g i v e s r i s e t o the r e v e r s e p e r s p e c t i v e that p o w e r i s the
t h i n k r e s i s t a n c e w i t h i n the t e r m s o f r e i t e r a t i o n ?
effect of the subject, a n d that p o w e r is w h a t subjects effect. A
S u c h a v i e w suggests that a g e n c y c a n n o t l o g i c a l l y b e d e -
c o n d i t i o n d o e s n o t e n a b l e o r enact w i t h o u t b e c o m i n g p r e s e n t .
r i v e d f r o m its c o n d i t i o n s , that n o c o n t i n u i t y i s t o b e a s s u m e d
B e c a u s e P o w e r i s n o t i n t a c t p r i o r t o the subject, the a p p e a r -
b e t w e e n (a) w h a t m a k e s p o w e r p o s s i b l e a n d (b) the k i n d s
a n c e o f its p r i o r i t y d i s a p p e a r s a s p o w e r acts o n the subject,
o f p o s s i b i l i t i e s that p o w e r a s s u m e s . I f i n a c t i n g the subject
a n d the subject i s i n a u g u r a t e d ( a n d d e r i v e d ) t h r o u g h t h i s tern-
Introduction
12
Subjection
/
Subordination
Introduction
13
r e t a i n s the c o n d i t i o n s o f its e m e r g e n c e , t h i s d o e s n o t i m p l y that a l l o f its a g e n c y r e m a i n s t e t h e r e d t o those c o n d i t i o n s
T h e d o u b l e aspect of s u b j e c t i o n a p p e a r s to l e a d to a v i c i o u s
a n d that those c o n d i t i o n s r e m a i n the s a m e i n e v e r y o p e r a t i o n
c i r c l e : the a g e n c y of the subject a p p e a r s to be an effect of its
o f agency. A s s u m i n g p o w e r i s n o t a s t r a i g h t f o r w a r d task o f
s u b o r d i n a t i o n . A n y effort t o o p p o s e that s u b o r d i n a t i o n w i l l
t a k i n g p o w e r f r o m one place, transferring it intact, a n d then
n e c e s s a r i l y p r e s u p p o s e a n d r e i n v o k e it. L u c k i l y , the s t o r y s u r -
a n d t h e r e m a k i n g i t o n e ' s o w n ; the act o f a p p r o p r i a t i o n m a y
v i v e s t h i s i m p a s s e . W h a t d o e s i t m e a n for the a g e n c y o f a s u b -
i n v o l v e a n a l t e r a t i o n o f p o w e r s u c h that the p o w e r a s s u m e d
ject to presuppose its o w n s u b o r d i n a t i o n ? Is the act of presuppos-
o r a p p r o p r i a t e d w o r k s a g a i n s t the p o w e r that m a d e that as-
ing the s a m e as the act of reinstating, or is there a d i s c o n t i n u i t y
s u m p t i o n possible. W h e r e conditions of subordination make
b e t w e e n the p o w e r p r e s u p p o s e d a n d the p o w e r r e i n s t a t e d ?
p o s s i b l e the a s s u m p t i o n o f p o w e r , the p o w e r a s s u m e d r e m a i n s
C o n s i d e r that i n the v e r y act b y w h i c h the subject r e p r o d u c e s
t i e d t o those c o n d i t i o n s , b u t i n a n a m b i v a l e n t w a y ; i n fact, the
the c o n d i t i o n s o f its o w n s u b o r d i n a t i o n , the subject e x e m p l i -
p o w e r a s s u m e d m a y a t o n c e r e t a i n a n d resist that s u b o r d i n a -
fies a t e m p o r a l l y b a s e d v u l n e r a b i l i t y that b e l o n g s to those c o n -
t i o n . T h i s c o n c l u s i o n is n o t to be t h o u g h t of as (a) a r e s i s t a n c e
d i t i o n s , s p e c i f i c a l l y , t o the e x i g e n c i e s o f t h e i r r e n e w a l . P o w e r
that is really a r e c u p e r a t i o n of p o w e r or (b) a r e c u p e r a t i o n that
c o n s i d e r e d as a c o n d i t i o n of the subject is n e c e s s a r i l y n o t the
is really a resistance. It is b o t h at o n c e , a n d t h i s a m b i v a l e n c e
s a m e a s p o w e r c o n s i d e r e d a s w h a t the subject i s s a i d t o w i e l d .
f o r m s the b i n d o f agency.
T h e p o w e r that i n i t i a t e s the subject fails t o r e m a i n c o n t i n u -
A c c o r d i n g t o the f o r m u l a t i o n o f s u b j e c t i o n a s b o t h the s u b -
o u s w i t h the p o w e r that i s the subject's agency. A s i g n i f i c a n t
o r d i n a t i o n a n d b e c o m i n g o f the subject, p o w e r is, a s s u b o r d i -
a n d p o t e n t i a l l y e n a b l i n g r e v e r s a l o c c u r s w h e n p o w e r shifts
n a t i o n , a set of c o n d i t i o n s that p r e c e d e s the subject, e f f e c t i n g
f r o m its status as a c o n d i t i o n of a g e n c y to the subject's " o w n "
a n d s u b o r d i n a t i n g the subject f r o m the o u t s i d e . T h i s f o r m u l a -
a g e n c y ( c o n s t i t u t i n g a n a p p e a r a n c e o f p o w e r i n w h i c h the s u b -
t i o n falters, h o w e v e r , w h e n w e c o n s i d e r that t h e r e i s n o s u b -
ject a p p e a r s a s the c o n d i t i o n o f its " o w n " p o w e r ) . H o w are w e
ject p r i o r to t h i s effect. P o w e r n o t o n l y acts on a subject b u t ,
to assess that b e c o m i n g ? Is it an e n a b l i n g b r e a k , a b a d b r e a k ?
in a t r a n s i t i v e sense, enacts the subject i n t o b e i n g . As a c o n d i -
H o w i s i t that the p o w e r u p o n w h i c h the subject d e p e n d s f o r
t i o n , p o w e r p r e c e d e s the subject. P o w e r loses its a p p e a r a n c e
e x i s t e n c e a n d w h i c h the subject i s c o m p e l l e d t o reiterate t u r n s
o f p r i o r i t y , h o w e v e r , w h e n i t i s w i e l d e d b y the subject, a s i t u a -
a g a i n s t itself i n the c o u r s e o f that r e i t e r a t i o n ? H o w m i g h t w e
t i o n that g i v e s r i s e t o the r e v e r s e p e r s p e c t i v e that p o w e r i s the
t h i n k r e s i s t a n c e w i t h i n the t e r m s o f r e i t e r a t i o n ?
effect of the subject, a n d that p o w e r is w h a t subjects effect. A
S u c h a v i e w suggests that a g e n c y c a n n o t l o g i c a l l y b e d e -
c o n d i t i o n d o e s n o t e n a b l e o r enact w i t h o u t b e c o m i n g p r e s e n t .
r i v e d f r o m its c o n d i t i o n s , that n o c o n t i n u i t y i s t o b e a s s u m e d
B e c a u s e P o w e r i s n o t i n t a c t p r i o r t o the subject, the a p p e a r -
b e t w e e n (a) w h a t m a k e s p o w e r p o s s i b l e a n d (b) the k i n d s
a n c e o f its p r i o r i t y d i s a p p e a r s a s p o w e r acts o n the subject,
o f p o s s i b i l i t i e s that p o w e r a s s u m e s . I f i n a c t i n g the subject
a n d the subject i s i n a u g u r a t e d ( a n d d e r i v e d ) t h r o u g h t h i s tern-
14
Introduction
Introduction
15
p o r a l r e v e r s a l i n the h o r i z o n o f p o w e r . A s the a g e n c y o f the
a n d as the condition of possibility for a r a d i c a l l y c o n d i t i o n e d
subject, p o w e r a s s u m e s its p r e s e n t t e m p o r a l d i m e n s i o n .
f o r m of agency. A t h e o r y of the subject s h o u l d t a k e i n t o ac-
5
P o w e r acts o n the subject i n a t least t w o w a y s : first, a s w h a t m a k e s the subject p o s s i b l e , the c o n d i t i o n o f its p o s s i b i l i t y a n d
c o u n t the f u l l a m b i v a l e n c e o f the c o n d i t i o n s o f its o p e r a t i o n . T h e r e is, a s i t w e r e , n o c o n c e p t u a l t r a n s i t i o n t o b e m a d e b e -
its f o r m a t i v e o c c a s i o n , a n d s e c o n d , a s w h a t i s t a k e n u p a n d
t w e e n p o w e r a s e x t e r n a l t o the subject, " a c t i n g o n , " a n d p o w e r
r e i t e r a t e d i n the subject's " o w n " a c t i n g . A s a subject o f p o w e r
as c o n s t i t u t i v e of the subject, "acted by." W h a t o n e m i g h t ex-
( w h e r e "of" c o n n o t e s b o t h " b e l o n g i n g t o " a n d " w i e l d i n g " ) , the
pect b y w a y o f a t r a n s i t i o n is, i n fact, a s p l i t t i n g a n d r e v e r -
subject e c l i p s e s the c o n d i t i o n s o f its o w n e m e r g e n c e ; i t e c l i p s e s
s a l c o n s t i t u t i v e o f the subject itself. P o w e r acts o n the s u b -
p o w e r w i t h p o w e r . T h e c o n d i t i o n s n o t o n l y m a k e p o s s i b l e the
ject, a n a c t i n g that i s a n e n a c t i n g : a n i r r e s o l v a b l e a m b i g u i t y
subject b u t enter i n t o the subject's f o r m a t i o n . T h e y are m a d e
arises w h e n o n e a t t e m p t s t o d i s t i n g u i s h b e t w e e n the p o w e r
p r e s e n t i n the acts o f that f o r m a t i o n a n d i n the acts o f the s u b -
that ( t r a n s i t i v e l y ) enacts the subject, a n d the p o w e r e n a c t e d
ject that f o l l o w .
b y the subject, that is, b e t w e e n the p o w e r that f o r m s the s u b -
T h e n o t i o n o f p o w e r a t w o r k i n s u b j e c t i o n thus a p p e a r s i n
ject a n d the subject's " o w n " p o w e r . W h a t o r w h o i s d o i n g the
t w o i n c o m m e n s u r a b l e t e m p o r a l m o d a l i t i e s : first, a s w h a t i s
" e n a c t i n g " here? Is it a p o w e r p r i o r to the subject or that of
for the subject a l w a y s p r i o r , o u t s i d e o f itself, a n d o p e r a t i v e
the subject i t s e l f ? A t s o m e p o i n t , a r e v e r s a l a n d c o n c e a l m e n t
f r o m the start; s e c o n d , a s the w i l l e d effect o f the subject. T h i s
o c c u r s , a n d p o w e r e m e r g e s a s w h a t b e l o n g s e x c l u s i v e l y t o the
s e c o n d m o d a l i t y c a r r i e s at least t w o sets of m e a n i n g s : as the
subject ( m a k i n g the subject a p p e a r a s i f i t b e l o n g e d t o n o p r i o r
w i l l e d effect of the subject, s u b j e c t i o n is a s u b o r d i n a t i o n that
o p e r a t i o n o f p o w e r ) . M o r e o v e r , w h a t i s e n a c t e d b y the subject
the subject b r i n g s on itself; yet if s u b j e c t i o n p r o d u c e s a subject
i s e n a b l e d b u t n o t f i n a l l y c o n s t r a i n e d b y the p r i o r w o r k i n g o f
a n d a subject is the p r e c o n d i t i o n of agency, t h e n s u b j e c t i o n
p o w e r . A g e n c y e x c e e d s the p o w e r b y w h i c h i t i s e n a b l e d . O n e
i s the a c c o u n t b y w h i c h a subject b e c o m e s the g u a r a n t o r o f
m i g h t say that the p u r p o s e s o f p o w e r are n o t a l w a y s the p u r -
its r e s i s t a n c e a n d o p p o s i t i o n . W h e t h e r p o w e r i s c o n c e i v e d a s
p o s e s of agency. To the extent that the latter d i v e r g e f r o m the
p r i o r to the subject or as its i n s t r u m e n t a l effect, the v a c i l l a -
f o r m e r , a g e n c y is the a s s u m p t i o n of a p u r p o s e unintended by
t i o n b e t w e e n the t w o t e m p o r a l m o d a l i t i e s o f p o w e r ( " b e f o r e "
p o w e r , o n e that c o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n d e r i v e d l o g i c a l l y o r h i s -
a n d "after" the subject) has m a r k e d m o s t o f the debates o n the
t o r i c a l l y , that o p e r a t e s i n a r e l a t i o n o f c o n t i n g e n c y a n d r e v e r s a l
subject a n d the p r o b l e m o f agency. M a n y c o n v e r s a t i o n s o n the
t o the p o w e r that m a k e s i t p o s s i b l e , t o w h i c h i t n e v e r t h e l e s s
t o p i c h a v e b e c o m e m i r e d i n w h e t h e r the subject i s the c o n d i -
b e l o n g s . T h i s is, as it w e r e , the a m b i v a l e n t scene of agency,
t i o n o r the i m p a s s e o f agency. I n d e e d , b o t h q u a n d a r i e s h a v e
c o n s t r a i n e d b y n o t e l e o l o g i c a l necessity.
l e d m a n y t o c o n s i d e r the i s s u e o f the subject a s a n i n e v i t a b l e s t u m b l i n g b l o c k i n s o c i a l theory. P a r t o f t h i s d i f f i c u l t y , I s u g gest, is that the subject is itself a site of t h i s a m b i v a l e n c e in w h i c h the subject e m e r g e s b o t h as the effect of a p r i o r p o w e r
P o w e r i s b o t h e x t e r n a l t o the subject a n d the v e r y v e n u e o f the subject. T h i s a p p a r e n t c o n t r a d i c t i o n m a k e s sense w h e n w e u n d e r s t a n d that n o subject c o m e s i n t o b e i n g w i t h o u t p o w e r , b u t that its c o m i n g i n t o b e i n g i n v o l v e s the d i s s i m u l a t i o n o f
14
Introduction
Introduction
15
p o r a l r e v e r s a l i n the h o r i z o n o f p o w e r . A s the a g e n c y o f the
a n d as the condition of possibility for a r a d i c a l l y c o n d i t i o n e d
subject, p o w e r a s s u m e s its p r e s e n t t e m p o r a l d i m e n s i o n .
f o r m of agency. A t h e o r y of the subject s h o u l d t a k e i n t o ac-
5
P o w e r acts o n the subject i n a t least t w o w a y s : first, a s w h a t m a k e s the subject p o s s i b l e , the c o n d i t i o n o f its p o s s i b i l i t y a n d
c o u n t the f u l l a m b i v a l e n c e o f the c o n d i t i o n s o f its o p e r a t i o n . T h e r e is, a s i t w e r e , n o c o n c e p t u a l t r a n s i t i o n t o b e m a d e b e -
its f o r m a t i v e o c c a s i o n , a n d s e c o n d , a s w h a t i s t a k e n u p a n d
t w e e n p o w e r a s e x t e r n a l t o the subject, " a c t i n g o n , " a n d p o w e r
r e i t e r a t e d i n the subject's " o w n " a c t i n g . A s a subject o f p o w e r
as c o n s t i t u t i v e of the subject, "acted by." W h a t o n e m i g h t ex-
( w h e r e "of" c o n n o t e s b o t h " b e l o n g i n g t o " a n d " w i e l d i n g " ) , the
pect b y w a y o f a t r a n s i t i o n is, i n fact, a s p l i t t i n g a n d r e v e r -
subject e c l i p s e s the c o n d i t i o n s o f its o w n e m e r g e n c e ; i t e c l i p s e s
s a l c o n s t i t u t i v e o f the subject itself. P o w e r acts o n the s u b -
p o w e r w i t h p o w e r . T h e c o n d i t i o n s n o t o n l y m a k e p o s s i b l e the
ject, a n a c t i n g that i s a n e n a c t i n g : a n i r r e s o l v a b l e a m b i g u i t y
subject b u t enter i n t o the subject's f o r m a t i o n . T h e y are m a d e
arises w h e n o n e a t t e m p t s t o d i s t i n g u i s h b e t w e e n the p o w e r
p r e s e n t i n the acts o f that f o r m a t i o n a n d i n the acts o f the s u b -
that ( t r a n s i t i v e l y ) enacts the subject, a n d the p o w e r e n a c t e d
ject that f o l l o w .
b y the subject, that is, b e t w e e n the p o w e r that f o r m s the s u b -
T h e n o t i o n o f p o w e r a t w o r k i n s u b j e c t i o n thus a p p e a r s i n
ject a n d the subject's " o w n " p o w e r . W h a t o r w h o i s d o i n g the
t w o i n c o m m e n s u r a b l e t e m p o r a l m o d a l i t i e s : first, a s w h a t i s
" e n a c t i n g " here? Is it a p o w e r p r i o r to the subject or that of
for the subject a l w a y s p r i o r , o u t s i d e o f itself, a n d o p e r a t i v e
the subject i t s e l f ? A t s o m e p o i n t , a r e v e r s a l a n d c o n c e a l m e n t
f r o m the start; s e c o n d , a s the w i l l e d effect o f the subject. T h i s
o c c u r s , a n d p o w e r e m e r g e s a s w h a t b e l o n g s e x c l u s i v e l y t o the
s e c o n d m o d a l i t y c a r r i e s at least t w o sets of m e a n i n g s : as the
subject ( m a k i n g the subject a p p e a r a s i f i t b e l o n g e d t o n o p r i o r
w i l l e d effect of the subject, s u b j e c t i o n is a s u b o r d i n a t i o n that
o p e r a t i o n o f p o w e r ) . M o r e o v e r , w h a t i s e n a c t e d b y the subject
the subject b r i n g s on itself; yet if s u b j e c t i o n p r o d u c e s a subject
i s e n a b l e d b u t n o t f i n a l l y c o n s t r a i n e d b y the p r i o r w o r k i n g o f
a n d a subject is the p r e c o n d i t i o n of agency, t h e n s u b j e c t i o n
p o w e r . A g e n c y e x c e e d s the p o w e r b y w h i c h i t i s e n a b l e d . O n e
i s the a c c o u n t b y w h i c h a subject b e c o m e s the g u a r a n t o r o f
m i g h t say that the p u r p o s e s o f p o w e r are n o t a l w a y s the p u r -
its r e s i s t a n c e a n d o p p o s i t i o n . W h e t h e r p o w e r i s c o n c e i v e d a s
p o s e s of agency. To the extent that the latter d i v e r g e f r o m the
p r i o r to the subject or as its i n s t r u m e n t a l effect, the v a c i l l a -
f o r m e r , a g e n c y is the a s s u m p t i o n of a p u r p o s e unintended by
t i o n b e t w e e n the t w o t e m p o r a l m o d a l i t i e s o f p o w e r ( " b e f o r e "
p o w e r , o n e that c o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n d e r i v e d l o g i c a l l y o r h i s -
a n d "after" the subject) has m a r k e d m o s t o f the debates o n the
t o r i c a l l y , that o p e r a t e s i n a r e l a t i o n o f c o n t i n g e n c y a n d r e v e r s a l
subject a n d the p r o b l e m o f agency. M a n y c o n v e r s a t i o n s o n the
t o the p o w e r that m a k e s i t p o s s i b l e , t o w h i c h i t n e v e r t h e l e s s
t o p i c h a v e b e c o m e m i r e d i n w h e t h e r the subject i s the c o n d i -
b e l o n g s . T h i s is, as it w e r e , the a m b i v a l e n t scene of agency,
t i o n o r the i m p a s s e o f agency. I n d e e d , b o t h q u a n d a r i e s h a v e
c o n s t r a i n e d b y n o t e l e o l o g i c a l necessity.
l e d m a n y t o c o n s i d e r the i s s u e o f the subject a s a n i n e v i t a b l e s t u m b l i n g b l o c k i n s o c i a l theory. P a r t o f t h i s d i f f i c u l t y , I s u g gest, is that the subject is itself a site of t h i s a m b i v a l e n c e in w h i c h the subject e m e r g e s b o t h as the effect of a p r i o r p o w e r
P o w e r i s b o t h e x t e r n a l t o the subject a n d the v e r y v e n u e o f the subject. T h i s a p p a r e n t c o n t r a d i c t i o n m a k e s sense w h e n w e u n d e r s t a n d that n o subject c o m e s i n t o b e i n g w i t h o u t p o w e r , b u t that its c o m i n g i n t o b e i n g i n v o l v e s the d i s s i m u l a t i o n o f
i6
Introduction
Introduction
p o w e r , a m e t a l e p t i c r e v e r s a l i n w h i c h the subject p r o d u c e d
resonates w i t h a l a r g e r c u l t u r a l a n d p o l i t i c a l p r e d i c a m e n t ,
b y p o w e r b e c o m e s h e r a l d e d a s the subject w h o founds p o w e r .
n a m e l y , h o w t o t a k e a n o p p o s i t i o n a l r e l a t i o n t o p o w e r that is,
T h i s f o u n d a t i o n a l i s m o f the subject i s a n effect o f a w o r k i n g
a d m i t t e d l y , i m p l i c a t e d i n the v e r y p o w e r o n e o p p o s e s . O f t e n
17
o f p o w e r , a n effect a c h i e v e d b y r e v e r s a l a n d c o n c e a l m e n t o f
t h i s p o s t l i b e r a t o r y i n s i g h t has l e d t o the c o n c l u s i o n that a l l
that p r i o r w o r k i n g . T h i s d o e s n o t m e a n that the subject c a n
a g e n c y here m e e t s its i m p a s s e . E i t h e r f o r m s o f c a p i t a l o r s y m -
b e reduced t o the p o w e r b y w h i c h i t i s o c c a s i o n e d , n o r does
b o l i c d o m i n a t i o n are h e l d t o b e s u c h that o u r acts are a l w a y s
i t m e a n that the p o w e r b y w h i c h i t i s o c c a s i o n e d i s reducible
a l r e a d y " d o m e s t i c a t e d " i n a d v a n c e , o r a set o f g e n e r a l i z e d a n d
to the subject. P o w e r is n e v e r m e r e l y a c o n d i t i o n e x t e r n a l or
t i m e l e s s i n s i g h t s i s o f f e r e d i n t o the a p o r e t i c s t r u c t u r e o f a l l
p r i o r t o the subject, n o r c a n i t b e e x c l u s i v e l y i d e n t i f i e d w i t h
m o v e m e n t s t o w a r d a f u t u r e . I w o u l d suggest that n o h i s t o r i -
the subject. I f c o n d i t i o n s o f p o w e r are t o p e r s i s t , t h e y m u s t b e
cal o r l o g i c a l conclusions f o l l o w necessarily f r o m this p r i m a r y
r e i t e r a t e d ; the subject is p r e c i s e l y the site of s u c h r e i t e r a t i o n ,
c o m p l i c i t y w i t h s u b o r d i n a t i o n , b u t that s o m e p o s s i b i l i t i e s t e n -
a r e p e t i t i o n that i s n e v e r m e r e l y m e c h a n i c a l . A s the a p p e a r -
tatively do. That agency is i m p l i c a t e d in s u b o r d i n a t i o n is not
a n c e o f p o w e r shifts f r o m the c o n d i t i o n o f the subject t o its
the s i g n of a fatal s e l f - c o n t r a d i c t i o n at the c o r e of the subject
effects, the c o n d i t i o n s o f p o w e r ( p r i o r a n d external) a s s u m e
a n d , h e n c e , f u r t h e r p r o o f o f its p e r n i c i o u s o r o b s o l e t e c h a r -
a present a n d f u t u r a l f o r m . But p o w e r assumes this present
acter. B u t n e i t h e r d o e s it r e s t o r e a p r i s t i n e n o t i o n of the s u b -
c h a r a c t e r t h r o u g h a r e v e r s a l o f its d i r e c t i o n , o n e that p e r f o r m s
ject, d e r i v e d f r o m s o m e c l a s s i c a l l i b e r a l - h u m a n i s t f o r m u l a t i o n ,
a b r e a k w i t h w h a t has c o m e b e f o r e a n d d i s s i m u l a t e s as a self-
w h o s e a g e n c y i s a l w a y s a n d o n l y o p p o s e d t o p o w e r . T h e first
i n a u g u r a t i n g agency. T h e r e i t e r a t i o n o f p o w e r n o t o n l y t e m -
v i e w characterizes p o l i t i c a l l y s a n c t i m o n i o u s f o r m s of fatal-
p o r a l i z e s the c o n d i t i o n s o f s u b o r d i n a t i o n b u t s h o w s these c o n -
i s m ; the s e c o n d , n a i v e f o r m s o f p o l i t i c a l o p t i m i s m . I h o p e t o
d i t i o n s t o be, n o t static s t r u c t u r e s , b u t t e m p o r a l i z e d — a c t i v e
steer c l e a r o f b o t h these a l t e r n a t i v e s .
a n d productive. The temporalization performed by reiteration
T h e subject m i g h t yet b e t h o u g h t a s d e r i v i n g its a g e n c y
traces the r o u t e b y w h i c h p o w e r ' s a p p e a r a n c e shifts a n d r e -
f r o m p r e c i s e l y the p o w e r i t o p p o s e s , a s a w k w a r d a n d e m b a r -
verses: the p e r s p e c t i v e o f p o w e r alters f r o m w h a t i s a l w a y s
r a s s i n g a s s u c h a f o r m u l a t i o n m i g h t be, e s p e c i a l l y f o r those
w o r k i n g o n u s f r o m the o u t s i d e a n d f r o m the outset t o w h a t
w h o b e l i e v e that c o m p l i c i t y a n d a m b i v a l e n c e c o u l d b e r o o t e d
c o n s t i t u t e s the sense o f a g e n c y a t w o r k i n o u r p r e s e n t acts a n d
o u t o n c e a n d for a l l . I f the subject i s neither f u l l y d e t e r m i n e d b y
the f u t u r a l e x p a n s e o f t h e i r effects.
p o w e r nor f u l l y d e t e r m i n i n g o f p o w e r (but s i g n i f i c a n t l y a n d
A l t h o u g h this study is indebted to Foucault 's f o r m u l a t i o n
p a r t i a l l y b o t h ) , the subject e x c e e d s the l o g i c o f n o n c o n t r a d i c -
o f the p r o b l e m o f assujetissement i n h i s essays " T h e Subject o f
t i o n , i s a n e x c r e s c e n c e o f l o g i c , a s i t w e r e . T o c l a i m that the
P o w e r " a n d the " T w o L e c t u r e s " p u b l i s h e d i n Power/Knowledge,
subject exceeds e i t h e r / o r i s n o t t o c l a i m that i t l i v e s i n s o m e
a s w e l l a s t o h i s m a n y d i s c u s s i o n s o f the subject o f d e s i r e a n d
free z o n e o f its o w n m a k i n g . E x c e e d i n g i s n o t e s c a p i n g , a n d
the subject of l a w in History of Sexuality, Volumes 1 and 2 a n d
the subject exceeds p r e c i s e l y that t o w h i c h i t i s b o u n d . I n t h i s
Discipline and Punish? the f o r m u l a t i o n of the subject at i s s u e
sense, the subject c a n n o t q u e l l the a m b i v a l e n c e b y w h i c h i t i s
7
i6
Introduction
Introduction
p o w e r , a m e t a l e p t i c r e v e r s a l i n w h i c h the subject p r o d u c e d
resonates w i t h a l a r g e r c u l t u r a l a n d p o l i t i c a l p r e d i c a m e n t ,
b y p o w e r b e c o m e s h e r a l d e d a s the subject w h o founds p o w e r .
n a m e l y , h o w t o t a k e a n o p p o s i t i o n a l r e l a t i o n t o p o w e r that is,
T h i s f o u n d a t i o n a l i s m o f the subject i s a n effect o f a w o r k i n g
a d m i t t e d l y , i m p l i c a t e d i n the v e r y p o w e r o n e o p p o s e s . O f t e n
17
o f p o w e r , a n effect a c h i e v e d b y r e v e r s a l a n d c o n c e a l m e n t o f
t h i s p o s t l i b e r a t o r y i n s i g h t has l e d t o the c o n c l u s i o n that a l l
that p r i o r w o r k i n g . T h i s d o e s n o t m e a n that the subject c a n
a g e n c y here m e e t s its i m p a s s e . E i t h e r f o r m s o f c a p i t a l o r s y m -
b e reduced t o the p o w e r b y w h i c h i t i s o c c a s i o n e d , n o r does
b o l i c d o m i n a t i o n are h e l d t o b e s u c h that o u r acts are a l w a y s
i t m e a n that the p o w e r b y w h i c h i t i s o c c a s i o n e d i s reducible
a l r e a d y " d o m e s t i c a t e d " i n a d v a n c e , o r a set o f g e n e r a l i z e d a n d
to the subject. P o w e r is n e v e r m e r e l y a c o n d i t i o n e x t e r n a l or
t i m e l e s s i n s i g h t s i s o f f e r e d i n t o the a p o r e t i c s t r u c t u r e o f a l l
p r i o r t o the subject, n o r c a n i t b e e x c l u s i v e l y i d e n t i f i e d w i t h
m o v e m e n t s t o w a r d a f u t u r e . I w o u l d suggest that n o h i s t o r i -
the subject. I f c o n d i t i o n s o f p o w e r are t o p e r s i s t , t h e y m u s t b e
cal o r l o g i c a l conclusions f o l l o w necessarily f r o m this p r i m a r y
r e i t e r a t e d ; the subject is p r e c i s e l y the site of s u c h r e i t e r a t i o n ,
c o m p l i c i t y w i t h s u b o r d i n a t i o n , b u t that s o m e p o s s i b i l i t i e s t e n -
a r e p e t i t i o n that i s n e v e r m e r e l y m e c h a n i c a l . A s the a p p e a r -
tatively do. That agency is i m p l i c a t e d in s u b o r d i n a t i o n is not
a n c e o f p o w e r shifts f r o m the c o n d i t i o n o f the subject t o its
the s i g n of a fatal s e l f - c o n t r a d i c t i o n at the c o r e of the subject
effects, the c o n d i t i o n s o f p o w e r ( p r i o r a n d external) a s s u m e
a n d , h e n c e , f u r t h e r p r o o f o f its p e r n i c i o u s o r o b s o l e t e c h a r -
a present a n d f u t u r a l f o r m . But p o w e r assumes this present
acter. B u t n e i t h e r d o e s it r e s t o r e a p r i s t i n e n o t i o n of the s u b -
c h a r a c t e r t h r o u g h a r e v e r s a l o f its d i r e c t i o n , o n e that p e r f o r m s
ject, d e r i v e d f r o m s o m e c l a s s i c a l l i b e r a l - h u m a n i s t f o r m u l a t i o n ,
a b r e a k w i t h w h a t has c o m e b e f o r e a n d d i s s i m u l a t e s as a self-
w h o s e a g e n c y i s a l w a y s a n d o n l y o p p o s e d t o p o w e r . T h e first
i n a u g u r a t i n g agency. T h e r e i t e r a t i o n o f p o w e r n o t o n l y t e m -
v i e w characterizes p o l i t i c a l l y s a n c t i m o n i o u s f o r m s of fatal-
p o r a l i z e s the c o n d i t i o n s o f s u b o r d i n a t i o n b u t s h o w s these c o n -
i s m ; the s e c o n d , n a i v e f o r m s o f p o l i t i c a l o p t i m i s m . I h o p e t o
d i t i o n s t o be, n o t static s t r u c t u r e s , b u t t e m p o r a l i z e d — a c t i v e
steer c l e a r o f b o t h these a l t e r n a t i v e s .
a n d productive. The temporalization performed by reiteration
T h e subject m i g h t yet b e t h o u g h t a s d e r i v i n g its a g e n c y
traces the r o u t e b y w h i c h p o w e r ' s a p p e a r a n c e shifts a n d r e -
f r o m p r e c i s e l y the p o w e r i t o p p o s e s , a s a w k w a r d a n d e m b a r -
verses: the p e r s p e c t i v e o f p o w e r alters f r o m w h a t i s a l w a y s
r a s s i n g a s s u c h a f o r m u l a t i o n m i g h t be, e s p e c i a l l y f o r those
w o r k i n g o n u s f r o m the o u t s i d e a n d f r o m the outset t o w h a t
w h o b e l i e v e that c o m p l i c i t y a n d a m b i v a l e n c e c o u l d b e r o o t e d
c o n s t i t u t e s the sense o f a g e n c y a t w o r k i n o u r p r e s e n t acts a n d
o u t o n c e a n d for a l l . I f the subject i s neither f u l l y d e t e r m i n e d b y
the f u t u r a l e x p a n s e o f t h e i r effects.
p o w e r nor f u l l y d e t e r m i n i n g o f p o w e r (but s i g n i f i c a n t l y a n d
A l t h o u g h this study is indebted to Foucault 's f o r m u l a t i o n
p a r t i a l l y b o t h ) , the subject e x c e e d s the l o g i c o f n o n c o n t r a d i c -
o f the p r o b l e m o f assujetissement i n h i s essays " T h e Subject o f
t i o n , i s a n e x c r e s c e n c e o f l o g i c , a s i t w e r e . T o c l a i m that the
P o w e r " a n d the " T w o L e c t u r e s " p u b l i s h e d i n Power/Knowledge,
subject exceeds e i t h e r / o r i s n o t t o c l a i m that i t l i v e s i n s o m e
a s w e l l a s t o h i s m a n y d i s c u s s i o n s o f the subject o f d e s i r e a n d
free z o n e o f its o w n m a k i n g . E x c e e d i n g i s n o t e s c a p i n g , a n d
the subject of l a w in History of Sexuality, Volumes 1 and 2 a n d
the subject exceeds p r e c i s e l y that t o w h i c h i t i s b o u n d . I n t h i s
Discipline and Punish? the f o r m u l a t i o n of the subject at i s s u e
sense, the subject c a n n o t q u e l l the a m b i v a l e n c e b y w h i c h i t i s
7
r Introduction
Introduction
constituted. P a i n f u l , d y n a m i c , a n d p r o m i s i n g , this v a c i l l a t i o n
a n c h o l i a that w o r k i n t a n d e m w i t h p r o c e s s e s o f s o c i a l r e g u l a -
b e t w e e n the a l r e a d y - t h e r e a n d the y e t - t o - c o m e is a c r o s s r o a d s
t i o n . A n d yet, i f w e refuse the o n t o l o g i c a l d u a l i s m that p o s i t s
that rejoins e v e r y step b y w h i c h i t i s t r a v e r s e d , a r e i t e r a t e d
the s e p a r a t i o n o f the p o l i t i c a l a n d the p s y c h i c , i t s e e m s c r u -
a m b i v a l e n c e at the heart of agency. P o w e r r e a r t i c u l a t e d is " r e " -
c i a l t o offer a c r i t i c a l a c c o u n t o f p s y c h i c s u b j e c t i o n i n t e r m s
a r t i c u l a t e d i n the sense o f a l r e a d y d o n e a n d " r e " - a r t i c u l a t e d i n
o f the r e g u l a t o r y a n d p r o d u c t i v e effects o f p o w e r . I f f o r m s
the sense o f d o n e over, d o n e a g a i n , d o n e a n e w . W h a t r e m a i n
o f r e g u l a t o r y p o w e r are s u s t a i n e d i n p a r t t h r o u g h the f o r m a -
18
19
t o b e c o n s i d e r e d are: (a) h o w the f o r m a t i o n o f the subject i n -
t i o n o f a subject, a n d i f that f o r m a t i o n takes p l a c e a c c o r d i n g
v o l v e s the r e g u l a t o r y f o r m a t i o n o f the p s y c h e , i n c l u d i n g h o w
t o the r e q u i r e m e n t s o f p o w e r , s p e c i f i c a l l y , a s the i n c o r p o r a -
w e m i g h t r e j o i n the d i s c o u r s e o f p o w e r w i t h the d i s c o u r s e
t i o n o f n o r m s , t h e n a t h e o r y o f subject f o r m a t i o n m u s t g i v e
o f p s y c h o a n a l y s i s ; a n d (b) h o w w e m i g h t m a k e s u c h a c o n -
a n a c c o u n t o f t h i s p r o c e s s o f i n c o r p o r a t i o n , a n d the n o t i o n o f
c e p t i o n o f the subject w o r k a s a n o t i o n o f p o l i t i c a l a g e n c y i n
i n c o r p o r a t i o n m u s t b e i n t e r r o g a t e d t o a s c e r t a i n the p s y c h i c
postliberatory times.
t o p o g r a p h y i t a s s u m e s . H o w d o e s the s u b j e c t i o n o f d e s i r e r e q u i r e a n d i n s t i t u t e the d e s i r e for s u b j e c t i o n ?
Regulations of the Psyche
I n c l a i m i n g that s o c i a l n o r m s are i n t e r n a l i z e d , w e h a v e n o t yet e x p l a i n e d w h a t i n c o r p o r a t i o n or, m o r e g e n e r a l l y , i n t e r n a l -
I f p o w e r w o r k s n o t m e r e l y t o d o m i n a t e o r o p p r e s s exist-
i z a t i o n is, w h a t i t m e a n s f o r a n o r m t o b e c o m e i n t e r n a l i z e d
i n g subjects, b u t a l s o t o f o r m subjects, w h a t i s t h i s f o r m a t i o n ?
o r w h a t h a p p e n s t o the n o r m i n the p r o c e s s o f i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n .
O b v i o u s l y , p o w e r d o e s n o t b r i n g p e r s o n s i n t o the w o r l d i n
I s the n o r m first " o u t s i d e , " a n d d o e s i t t h e n enter i n t o a p r e -
a n y o r d i n a r y sense. F o u c a u l t l i n k s the f o r m a t i v e o r p r o d u c -
g i v e n p s y c h i c space, u n d e r s t o o d a s a n i n t e r i o r theater o f s o m e
tive character of p o w e r to regulatory a n d d i s c i p l i n a r y regimes.
k i n d ? O r d o e s the i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n o f the n o r m c o n t r i b u t e t o
In Discipline and Punish, c r i m e p r o d u c e s a class of c r i m i n a l s ,
the p r o d u c t i o n o f i n t e r n a l i t y ? D o e s the n o r m , h a v i n g b e c o m e
c r a f t e d b o d i l y i n the g e s t u r e a n d s t y l e o f i m p r i s o n m e n t . B u t
p s y c h i c , i n v o l v e n o t o n l y the i n t e r i o r i z a t i o n o f the n o r m , b u t
h o w are w e t o u n d e r s t a n d t h i s sense o f p r o d u c t i o n a n d craft-
the i n t e r i o r i z a t i o n o f the p s y c h e ? 1 a r g u e that t h i s p r o c e s s o f
ing? The formative d i m e n s i o n of p o w e r is to be u n d e r s t o o d
i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n fabricates the distinction between interior and ex-
i n a n o n m e c h a n i s t i c a n d n o n b e h a v i o r i s t i c f a s h i o n . I t does n o t
terior life, o f f e r i n g us a d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n the p s y c h i c a n d the
9
a l w a y s p r o d u c e a c c o r d i n g t o a p u r p o s e , o r rather, its p r o d u c -
s o c i a l that differs s i g n i f i c a n t l y f r o m a n a c c o u n t o f the p s y c h i c
t i o n i s s u c h that i t o f t e n exceeds o r alters the p u r p o s e s f o r
i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n o f n o r m s . M o r e o v e r , g i v e n that n o r m s are n o t
w h i c h it produces.
i n t e r n a l i z e d i n m e c h a n i c a l o r f u l l y p r e d i c t a b l e w a y s , d o e s the
8
F o u c a u l t i s n o t o r i o u s l y t a c i t u r n o n the
t o p i c o f the p s y c h e , b u t a n a c c o u n t o f s u b j e c t i o n , i t seems,
n o r m a s s u m e a n o t h e r c h a r a c t e r as a psychic p h e n o m e n o n ? In
m u s t b e t r a c e d i n the t u r n s o f p s y c h i c life. M o r e s p e c i f i c a l l y , i t
p a r t i c u l a r , h o w are w e t o a c c o u n t f o r the d e s i r e f o r the n o r m
m u s t b e t r a c e d i n the p e c u l i a r t u r n i n g o f a subject a g a i n s t itself
a n d for subjection m o r e generally in terms of a p r i o r desire
that takes p l a c e i n acts o f s e l f - r e p r o a c h , c o n s c i e n c e , a n d m e l -
for s o c i a l existence, a d e s i r e e x p l o i t e d b y r e g u l a t o r y p o w e r ?
r Introduction
Introduction
constituted. P a i n f u l , d y n a m i c , a n d p r o m i s i n g , this v a c i l l a t i o n
a n c h o l i a that w o r k i n t a n d e m w i t h p r o c e s s e s o f s o c i a l r e g u l a -
b e t w e e n the a l r e a d y - t h e r e a n d the y e t - t o - c o m e is a c r o s s r o a d s
t i o n . A n d yet, i f w e refuse the o n t o l o g i c a l d u a l i s m that p o s i t s
that rejoins e v e r y step b y w h i c h i t i s t r a v e r s e d , a r e i t e r a t e d
the s e p a r a t i o n o f the p o l i t i c a l a n d the p s y c h i c , i t s e e m s c r u -
a m b i v a l e n c e at the heart of agency. P o w e r r e a r t i c u l a t e d is " r e " -
c i a l t o offer a c r i t i c a l a c c o u n t o f p s y c h i c s u b j e c t i o n i n t e r m s
a r t i c u l a t e d i n the sense o f a l r e a d y d o n e a n d " r e " - a r t i c u l a t e d i n
o f the r e g u l a t o r y a n d p r o d u c t i v e effects o f p o w e r . I f f o r m s
the sense o f d o n e over, d o n e a g a i n , d o n e a n e w . W h a t r e m a i n
o f r e g u l a t o r y p o w e r are s u s t a i n e d i n p a r t t h r o u g h the f o r m a -
18
19
t o b e c o n s i d e r e d are: (a) h o w the f o r m a t i o n o f the subject i n -
t i o n o f a subject, a n d i f that f o r m a t i o n takes p l a c e a c c o r d i n g
v o l v e s the r e g u l a t o r y f o r m a t i o n o f the p s y c h e , i n c l u d i n g h o w
t o the r e q u i r e m e n t s o f p o w e r , s p e c i f i c a l l y , a s the i n c o r p o r a -
w e m i g h t r e j o i n the d i s c o u r s e o f p o w e r w i t h the d i s c o u r s e
t i o n o f n o r m s , t h e n a t h e o r y o f subject f o r m a t i o n m u s t g i v e
o f p s y c h o a n a l y s i s ; a n d (b) h o w w e m i g h t m a k e s u c h a c o n -
a n a c c o u n t o f t h i s p r o c e s s o f i n c o r p o r a t i o n , a n d the n o t i o n o f
c e p t i o n o f the subject w o r k a s a n o t i o n o f p o l i t i c a l a g e n c y i n
i n c o r p o r a t i o n m u s t b e i n t e r r o g a t e d t o a s c e r t a i n the p s y c h i c
postliberatory times.
t o p o g r a p h y i t a s s u m e s . H o w d o e s the s u b j e c t i o n o f d e s i r e r e q u i r e a n d i n s t i t u t e the d e s i r e for s u b j e c t i o n ?
Regulations of the Psyche
I n c l a i m i n g that s o c i a l n o r m s are i n t e r n a l i z e d , w e h a v e n o t yet e x p l a i n e d w h a t i n c o r p o r a t i o n or, m o r e g e n e r a l l y , i n t e r n a l -
I f p o w e r w o r k s n o t m e r e l y t o d o m i n a t e o r o p p r e s s exist-
i z a t i o n is, w h a t i t m e a n s f o r a n o r m t o b e c o m e i n t e r n a l i z e d
i n g subjects, b u t a l s o t o f o r m subjects, w h a t i s t h i s f o r m a t i o n ?
o r w h a t h a p p e n s t o the n o r m i n the p r o c e s s o f i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n .
O b v i o u s l y , p o w e r d o e s n o t b r i n g p e r s o n s i n t o the w o r l d i n
I s the n o r m first " o u t s i d e , " a n d d o e s i t t h e n enter i n t o a p r e -
a n y o r d i n a r y sense. F o u c a u l t l i n k s the f o r m a t i v e o r p r o d u c -
g i v e n p s y c h i c space, u n d e r s t o o d a s a n i n t e r i o r theater o f s o m e
tive character of p o w e r to regulatory a n d d i s c i p l i n a r y regimes.
k i n d ? O r d o e s the i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n o f the n o r m c o n t r i b u t e t o
In Discipline and Punish, c r i m e p r o d u c e s a class of c r i m i n a l s ,
the p r o d u c t i o n o f i n t e r n a l i t y ? D o e s the n o r m , h a v i n g b e c o m e
c r a f t e d b o d i l y i n the g e s t u r e a n d s t y l e o f i m p r i s o n m e n t . B u t
p s y c h i c , i n v o l v e n o t o n l y the i n t e r i o r i z a t i o n o f the n o r m , b u t
h o w are w e t o u n d e r s t a n d t h i s sense o f p r o d u c t i o n a n d craft-
the i n t e r i o r i z a t i o n o f the p s y c h e ? 1 a r g u e that t h i s p r o c e s s o f
ing? The formative d i m e n s i o n of p o w e r is to be u n d e r s t o o d
i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n fabricates the distinction between interior and ex-
i n a n o n m e c h a n i s t i c a n d n o n b e h a v i o r i s t i c f a s h i o n . I t does n o t
terior life, o f f e r i n g us a d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n the p s y c h i c a n d the
9
a l w a y s p r o d u c e a c c o r d i n g t o a p u r p o s e , o r rather, its p r o d u c -
s o c i a l that differs s i g n i f i c a n t l y f r o m a n a c c o u n t o f the p s y c h i c
t i o n i s s u c h that i t o f t e n exceeds o r alters the p u r p o s e s f o r
i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n o f n o r m s . M o r e o v e r , g i v e n that n o r m s are n o t
w h i c h it produces.
i n t e r n a l i z e d i n m e c h a n i c a l o r f u l l y p r e d i c t a b l e w a y s , d o e s the
8
F o u c a u l t i s n o t o r i o u s l y t a c i t u r n o n the
t o p i c o f the p s y c h e , b u t a n a c c o u n t o f s u b j e c t i o n , i t seems,
n o r m a s s u m e a n o t h e r c h a r a c t e r as a psychic p h e n o m e n o n ? In
m u s t b e t r a c e d i n the t u r n s o f p s y c h i c life. M o r e s p e c i f i c a l l y , i t
p a r t i c u l a r , h o w are w e t o a c c o u n t f o r the d e s i r e f o r the n o r m
m u s t b e t r a c e d i n the p e c u l i a r t u r n i n g o f a subject a g a i n s t itself
a n d for subjection m o r e generally in terms of a p r i o r desire
that takes p l a c e i n acts o f s e l f - r e p r o a c h , c o n s c i e n c e , a n d m e l -
for s o c i a l existence, a d e s i r e e x p l o i t e d b y r e g u l a t o r y p o w e r ?
Introduction
Introduction
W h e r e s o c i a l categories g u a r a n t e e a r e c o g n i z a b l e a n d e n d u r -
t i o n e x p l o i t s the d e s i r e for existence, w h e r e e x i s t e n c e i s a l w a y s
i n g s o c i a l existence, the e m b r a c e o f s u c h categories, e v e n a s
conferred f r o m elsewhere; it m a r k s a p r i m a r y v u l n e r a b i l i t y to
t h e y w o r k i n the s e r v i c e o f s u b j e c t i o n , i s o f t e n p r e f e r r e d t o n o
the O t h e r i n o r d e r t o be.
20
s o c i a l e x i s t e n c e a t a l l . H o w i s it, t h e n , that the l o n g i n g for s u b -
21
A s s u m i n g t e r m s o f p o w e r that o n e n e v e r m a d e b u t t o w h i c h
j e c t i o n , b a s e d o n a l o n g i n g for s o c i a l existence, r e c a l l i n g a n d
one i s v u l n e r a b l e , o n w h i c h o n e d e p e n d s i n o r d e r t o be, a p -
exploiting p r i m a r y dependencies, emerges as an instrument
p e a r s to be a m u n d a n e s u b j e c t i o n at the b a s i s of subject f o r -
a n d effect o f the p o w e r o f subjection?
mation. " A s s u m i n g " p o w e r is no s i m p l e process, however, for
T o u n d e r s c o r e the abuses o f p o w e r a s r e a l , n o t the c r e a t i o n
p o w e r is not m e c h a n i c a l l y r e p r o d u c e d w h e n it is assumed.
or f a n t a s y of the subject, p o w e r is o f t e n cast as u n e q u i v o c a l l y
I n s t e a d , o n b e i n g a s s u m e d , p o w e r r u n s the r i s k o f a s s u m i n g
e x t e r n a l t o the subject, s o m e t h i n g i m p o s e d a g a i n s t the s u b -
another f o r m a n d direction. If conditions of p o w e r do not u n i -
ject's w i l l . B u t i f the v e r y p r o d u c t i o n o f the subject a n d the
l a t e r a l l y p r o d u c e subjects, t h e n w h a t i s the t e m p o r a l a n d l o g i -
f o r m a t i o n o f that w i l l are the c o n s e q u e n c e s o f a p r i m a r y s u b -
c a l f o r m that the a s s u m p t i o n o f p o w e r takes? A r e d e s c r i p t i o n
o r d i n a t i o n , t h e n the v u l n e r a b i l i t y of the subject to a p o w e r n o t
o f the d o m a i n o f p s y c h i c s u b j e c t i o n i s n e e d e d t o m a k e c l e a r
o f its o w n m a k i n g i s u n a v o i d a b l e . T h a t v u l n e r a b i l i t y q u a l i f i e s
h o w s o c i a l p o w e r p r o d u c e s m o d e s o f r e f l e x i v i t y a t the s a m e
the subject a s a n e x p l o i t a b l e k i n d o f b e i n g . I f o n e i s t o o p p o s e
t i m e a s i t l i m i t s f o r m s o f s o c i a l i t y . I n o t h e r w o r d s , t o the ex-
the abuses o f p o w e r ( w h i c h i s n o t the s a m e a s o p p o s i n g p o w e r
tent that n o r m s o p e r a t e a s p s y c h i c p h e n o m e n a , r e s t r i c t i n g a n d
itself), i t seems w i s e t o c o n s i d e r i n w h a t o u r v u l n e r a b i l i t y t o
p r o d u c i n g d e s i r e , t h e y also g o v e r n the f o r m a t i o n o f the subject
that a b u s e consists. T h a t subjects are c o n s t i t u t e d i n p r i m a r y
a n d c i r c u m s c r i b e the d o m a i n o f a l i v a b l e s o c i a l i t y . T h e p s y c h i c
v u l n e r a b i l i t y d o e s n o t e x o n e r a t e the abuses t h e y suffer; o n the
o p e r a t i o n o f the n o r m offers a m o r e i n s i d i o u s r o u t e f o r r e g u -
c o n t r a r y , i t m a k e s a l l the m o r e c l e a r h o w f u n d a m e n t a l the v u l -
l a t o r y p o w e r t h a n e x p l i c i t c o e r c i o n , o n e w h o s e success a l l o w s
n e r a b i l i t y c a n be.
its tacit o p e r a t i o n w i t h i n the s o c i a l . A n d yet, b e i n g p s y c h i c ,
H o w i s i t that the subject i s the k i n d o f b e i n g w h o c a n b e
the n o r m d o e s n o t m e r e l y r e i n s t a t e s o c i a l p o w e r , i t b e c o m e s
e x p l o i t e d , w h o is, b y v i r t u e o f its o w n f o r m a t i o n , v u l n e r a b l e
formative a n d vulnerable in h i g h l y specific ways. The social
t o s u b j u g a t i o n ? B o u n d t o seek r e c o g n i t i o n o f its o w n e x i s t e n c e
c a t e g o r i z a t i o n s that e s t a b l i s h the v u l n e r a b i l i t y of the subject to
i n categories, t e r m s , a n d n a m e s that are n o t o f its o w n m a k i n g ,
l a n g u a g e are t h e m s e l v e s v u l n e r a b l e t o b o t h p s y c h i c a n d h i s -
the subject seeks the s i g n o f its o w n e x i s t e n c e o u t s i d e itself,
t o r i c a l change. T h i s v i e w c o u n t e r s a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f a p s y -
i n a d i s c o u r s e that i s a t o n c e d o m i n a n t a n d i n d i f f e r e n t . S o c i a l
c h i c o r l i n g u i s t i c n o r m a t i v i t y (as i n s o m e v e r s i o n s o f the S y m -
categories s i g n i f y s u b o r d i n a t i o n a n d e x i s t e n c e a t once. I n o t h e r
b o l i c ) that i s p r i o r t o the s o c i a l o r sets c o n s t r a i n t s o n the s o c i a l .
w o r d s , w i t h i n s u b j e c t i o n the p r i c e o f e x i s t e n c e i s s u b o r d i n a -
Just a s the subject i s d e r i v e d f r o m c o n d i t i o n s o f p o w e r that p r e -
t i o n . P r e c i s e l y a t the m o m e n t i n w h i c h c h o i c e i s i m p o s s i b l e ,
cede it, s o the p s y c h i c o p e r a t i o n o f the n o r m i s d e r i v e d , t h o u g h
the subject p u r s u e s s u b o r d i n a t i o n as the p r o m i s e of existence.
not mechanically or predictably, f r o m p r i o r social operations.
T h i s p u r s u i t i s n o t c h o i c e , b u t n e i t h e r i s i t necessity. Subjec-
P s y c h i c subjection m a r k s a specific m o d a l i t y of subjection.
Introduction
Introduction
W h e r e s o c i a l categories g u a r a n t e e a r e c o g n i z a b l e a n d e n d u r -
t i o n e x p l o i t s the d e s i r e for existence, w h e r e e x i s t e n c e i s a l w a y s
i n g s o c i a l existence, the e m b r a c e o f s u c h categories, e v e n a s
conferred f r o m elsewhere; it m a r k s a p r i m a r y v u l n e r a b i l i t y to
t h e y w o r k i n the s e r v i c e o f s u b j e c t i o n , i s o f t e n p r e f e r r e d t o n o
the O t h e r i n o r d e r t o be.
20
s o c i a l e x i s t e n c e a t a l l . H o w i s it, t h e n , that the l o n g i n g for s u b -
21
A s s u m i n g t e r m s o f p o w e r that o n e n e v e r m a d e b u t t o w h i c h
j e c t i o n , b a s e d o n a l o n g i n g for s o c i a l existence, r e c a l l i n g a n d
one i s v u l n e r a b l e , o n w h i c h o n e d e p e n d s i n o r d e r t o be, a p -
exploiting p r i m a r y dependencies, emerges as an instrument
p e a r s to be a m u n d a n e s u b j e c t i o n at the b a s i s of subject f o r -
a n d effect o f the p o w e r o f subjection?
mation. " A s s u m i n g " p o w e r is no s i m p l e process, however, for
T o u n d e r s c o r e the abuses o f p o w e r a s r e a l , n o t the c r e a t i o n
p o w e r is not m e c h a n i c a l l y r e p r o d u c e d w h e n it is assumed.
or f a n t a s y of the subject, p o w e r is o f t e n cast as u n e q u i v o c a l l y
I n s t e a d , o n b e i n g a s s u m e d , p o w e r r u n s the r i s k o f a s s u m i n g
e x t e r n a l t o the subject, s o m e t h i n g i m p o s e d a g a i n s t the s u b -
another f o r m a n d direction. If conditions of p o w e r do not u n i -
ject's w i l l . B u t i f the v e r y p r o d u c t i o n o f the subject a n d the
l a t e r a l l y p r o d u c e subjects, t h e n w h a t i s the t e m p o r a l a n d l o g i -
f o r m a t i o n o f that w i l l are the c o n s e q u e n c e s o f a p r i m a r y s u b -
c a l f o r m that the a s s u m p t i o n o f p o w e r takes? A r e d e s c r i p t i o n
o r d i n a t i o n , t h e n the v u l n e r a b i l i t y of the subject to a p o w e r n o t
o f the d o m a i n o f p s y c h i c s u b j e c t i o n i s n e e d e d t o m a k e c l e a r
o f its o w n m a k i n g i s u n a v o i d a b l e . T h a t v u l n e r a b i l i t y q u a l i f i e s
h o w s o c i a l p o w e r p r o d u c e s m o d e s o f r e f l e x i v i t y a t the s a m e
the subject a s a n e x p l o i t a b l e k i n d o f b e i n g . I f o n e i s t o o p p o s e
t i m e a s i t l i m i t s f o r m s o f s o c i a l i t y . I n o t h e r w o r d s , t o the ex-
the abuses o f p o w e r ( w h i c h i s n o t the s a m e a s o p p o s i n g p o w e r
tent that n o r m s o p e r a t e a s p s y c h i c p h e n o m e n a , r e s t r i c t i n g a n d
itself), i t seems w i s e t o c o n s i d e r i n w h a t o u r v u l n e r a b i l i t y t o
p r o d u c i n g d e s i r e , t h e y also g o v e r n the f o r m a t i o n o f the subject
that a b u s e consists. T h a t subjects are c o n s t i t u t e d i n p r i m a r y
a n d c i r c u m s c r i b e the d o m a i n o f a l i v a b l e s o c i a l i t y . T h e p s y c h i c
v u l n e r a b i l i t y d o e s n o t e x o n e r a t e the abuses t h e y suffer; o n the
o p e r a t i o n o f the n o r m offers a m o r e i n s i d i o u s r o u t e f o r r e g u -
c o n t r a r y , i t m a k e s a l l the m o r e c l e a r h o w f u n d a m e n t a l the v u l -
l a t o r y p o w e r t h a n e x p l i c i t c o e r c i o n , o n e w h o s e success a l l o w s
n e r a b i l i t y c a n be.
its tacit o p e r a t i o n w i t h i n the s o c i a l . A n d yet, b e i n g p s y c h i c ,
H o w i s i t that the subject i s the k i n d o f b e i n g w h o c a n b e
the n o r m d o e s n o t m e r e l y r e i n s t a t e s o c i a l p o w e r , i t b e c o m e s
e x p l o i t e d , w h o is, b y v i r t u e o f its o w n f o r m a t i o n , v u l n e r a b l e
formative a n d vulnerable in h i g h l y specific ways. The social
t o s u b j u g a t i o n ? B o u n d t o seek r e c o g n i t i o n o f its o w n e x i s t e n c e
c a t e g o r i z a t i o n s that e s t a b l i s h the v u l n e r a b i l i t y of the subject to
i n categories, t e r m s , a n d n a m e s that are n o t o f its o w n m a k i n g ,
l a n g u a g e are t h e m s e l v e s v u l n e r a b l e t o b o t h p s y c h i c a n d h i s -
the subject seeks the s i g n o f its o w n e x i s t e n c e o u t s i d e itself,
t o r i c a l change. T h i s v i e w c o u n t e r s a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f a p s y -
i n a d i s c o u r s e that i s a t o n c e d o m i n a n t a n d i n d i f f e r e n t . S o c i a l
c h i c o r l i n g u i s t i c n o r m a t i v i t y (as i n s o m e v e r s i o n s o f the S y m -
categories s i g n i f y s u b o r d i n a t i o n a n d e x i s t e n c e a t once. I n o t h e r
b o l i c ) that i s p r i o r t o the s o c i a l o r sets c o n s t r a i n t s o n the s o c i a l .
w o r d s , w i t h i n s u b j e c t i o n the p r i c e o f e x i s t e n c e i s s u b o r d i n a -
Just a s the subject i s d e r i v e d f r o m c o n d i t i o n s o f p o w e r that p r e -
t i o n . P r e c i s e l y a t the m o m e n t i n w h i c h c h o i c e i s i m p o s s i b l e ,
cede it, s o the p s y c h i c o p e r a t i o n o f the n o r m i s d e r i v e d , t h o u g h
the subject p u r s u e s s u b o r d i n a t i o n as the p r o m i s e of existence.
not mechanically or predictably, f r o m p r i o r social operations.
T h i s p u r s u i t i s n o t c h o i c e , b u t n e i t h e r i s i t necessity. Subjec-
P s y c h i c subjection m a r k s a specific m o d a l i t y of subjection.
22
Introduction
Introduction
23
I t does n o t s i m p l y reflect o r r e p r e s e n t b r o a d e r r e l a t i o n s o f
W h a t i s the m e a n s b y w h i c h d e s i r e i s u n d e r s t o o d t o b e
social p o w e r — e v e n as it remains importantly tied to them.
curbed, d o u b l e d back, or even prohibited? Reflection on desire
F r e u d a n d N i e t z s c h e offer d i f f e r i n g a c c o u n t s o f subject f o r m a -
absorbs d e s i r e i n t o r e f l e c t i o n : w e w i l l see h o w this w o r k s i n
t i o n that r e l y o n the p r o d u c t i v i t y o f the n o r m . B o t h a c c o u n t
H e g e l . B u t there i s a n o t h e r o r d e r o f p r o h i b i t i o n , o n e w h i c h
for the f a b r i c a t i o n of c o n s c i e n c e as the effect of an i n t e r n a l i z e d
falls o u t s i d e the c i r c u i t o f s e l f - r e f l e c t i o n . F r e u d d i s t i n g u i s h e s
p r o h i b i t i o n (thereby establishing " p r o h i b i t i o n " as not o n l y p r i -
b e t w e e n r e p r e s s i o n a n d f o r e c l o s u r e , s u g g e s t i n g that a r e -
vative, but productive). In F r e u d a n d Nietzsche, a p r o h i b i t i o n
p r e s s e d d e s i r e m i g h t o n c e h a v e l i v e d a p a r t f r o m its p r o h i b i -
o n a c t i o n o r e x p r e s s i o n i s s a i d t o t u r n "the d r i v e "
t i o n , b u t that f o r e c l o s e d d e s i r e i s r i g o r o u s l y b a r r e d , c o n s t i -
1 0
back on
itself, f a b r i c a t i n g a n i n t e r n a l s p h e r e , the c o n d i t i o n for self-
t u t i n g the subject t h r o u g h a c e r t a i n k i n d o f p r e e m p t i v e loss.
i n s p e c t i o n a n d r e f l e x i v i t y . T h e d r i v e t u r n i n g b a c k u p o n itself
E l s e w h e r e I h a v e s u g g e s t e d that the f o r e c l o s u r e of h o m o -
b e c o m e s the p r e c i p i t a t i n g c o n d i t i o n of subject f o r m a t i o n , a
s e x u a l i t y a p p e a r s to be f o u n d a t i o n a l to a c e r t a i n h e t e r o s e x u a l
p r i m a r y l o n g i n g i n r e c o i l that i s t r a c e d i n H e g e l ' s v i e w o f the
v e r s i o n o f the subject.
u n h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s a s w e l l . W h e t h e r the d o u b l i n g b a c k
someone of similar gender and "I have never lost" any such
u p o n itself i s p e r f o r m e d b y p r i m a r y l o n g i n g s , d e s i r e , o r d r i v e s ,
p e r s o n p r e d i c a t e s the " I " o n the " n e v e r - n e v e r " o f that l o v e a n d
i t p r o d u c e s i n e a c h i n s t a n c e a p s y c h i c h a b i t o f self-beratement,
loss. I n d e e d , the o n t o l o g i c a l a c c o m p l i s h m e n t o f h e t e r o s e x u a l
o n e that is c o n s o l i d a t e d o v e r t i m e as c o n s c i e n c e .
" b e i n g " i s t r a c e d t o t h i s d o u b l e n e g a t i o n , w h i c h f o r m s its c o n -
C o n s c i e n c e i s the m e a n s b y w h i c h a subject b e c o m e s a n object f o r itself, r e f l e c t i n g on itself, e s t a b l i s h i n g itself as r e flective a n d reflexive. T h e "I" i s n o t s i m p l y o n e w h o t h i n k s
11
The formula "I have never l o v e d "
s t i t u t i v e m e l a n c h o l i a , a n e m p h a t i c a n d i r r e v e r s i b l e loss that f o r m s the t e n u o u s basis o f that " b e i n g . " Significantly, F r e u d identifies heightened conscience a n d
a b o u t h i m - o r herself; i t i s d e f i n e d b y t h i s c a p a c i t y for r e -
self-beratement a s o n e s i g n o f m e l a n c h o l i a , the c o n d i t i o n o f
flective s e l f - r e l a t i o n o r r e f l e x i v i t y . F o r N i e t z s c h e , r e f l e x i v i t y i s
u n c o m p l e t e d grief. T h e f o r e c l o s u r e o f c e r t a i n f o r m s o f l o v e
a c o n s e q u e n c e o f c o n s c i e n c e ; s e l f - k n o w i n g f o l l o w s f r o m self-
suggests that the m e l a n c h o l i a that g r o u n d s the subject ( a n d
p u n i s h m e n t . ( T h u s o n e n e v e r " k n o w s " o n e s e l f p r i o r t o the r e -
h e n c e a l w a y s threatens t o u n s e t t l e a n d d i s r u p t that g r o u n d )
c o i l of desire in question.) In order to c u r b desire, one makes
s i g n a l s a n i n c o m p l e t e a n d i r r e s o l v a b l e grief. U n o w n e d a n d i n -
o f oneself a n object f o r r e f l e c t i o n ; i n the c o u r s e o f p r o d u c -
c o m p l e t e , m e l a n c h o l i a is the l i m i t to the subject's sense of pou-
i n g one's o w n a l t e r i t y , o n e b e c o m e s e s t a b l i s h e d a s a r e f l e x i v e
voir, its sense o f w h a t i t c a n a c c o m p l i s h a n d , i n that sense, its
b e i n g , o n e w h o c a n take oneself a s a n object. R e f l e x i v i t y b e -
p o w e r . M e l a n c h o l i a rifts the subject, m a r k i n g a l i m i t t o w h a t i t
c o m e s the m e a n s b y w h i c h d e s i r e i s r e g u l a r l y t r a n s m u t e d i n t o
c a n a c c o m m o d a t e . B e c a u s e the subject d o e s n o t , c a n n o t , reflect
the c i r c u i t o f self-reflection. T h e d o u b l i n g b a c k o f d e s i r e that
o n that loss, that loss m a r k s the l i m i t o f r e f l e x i v i t y , that w h i c h
culminates in reflexivity produces, however, another order of
exceeds ( a n d c o n d i t i o n s ) its c i r c u i t r y . U n d e r s t o o d a s f o r e c l o -
d e s i r e : the d e s i r e for that v e r y c i r c u i t , for r e f l e x i v i t y a n d , u l t i -
s u r e , that loss i n a u g u r a t e s the subject a n d threatens i t w i t h
m a t e l y , for s u b j e c t i o n .
dissolution.
22
Introduction
Introduction
23
I t does n o t s i m p l y reflect o r r e p r e s e n t b r o a d e r r e l a t i o n s o f
W h a t i s the m e a n s b y w h i c h d e s i r e i s u n d e r s t o o d t o b e
social p o w e r — e v e n as it remains importantly tied to them.
curbed, d o u b l e d back, or even prohibited? Reflection on desire
F r e u d a n d N i e t z s c h e offer d i f f e r i n g a c c o u n t s o f subject f o r m a -
absorbs d e s i r e i n t o r e f l e c t i o n : w e w i l l see h o w this w o r k s i n
t i o n that r e l y o n the p r o d u c t i v i t y o f the n o r m . B o t h a c c o u n t
H e g e l . B u t there i s a n o t h e r o r d e r o f p r o h i b i t i o n , o n e w h i c h
for the f a b r i c a t i o n of c o n s c i e n c e as the effect of an i n t e r n a l i z e d
falls o u t s i d e the c i r c u i t o f s e l f - r e f l e c t i o n . F r e u d d i s t i n g u i s h e s
p r o h i b i t i o n (thereby establishing " p r o h i b i t i o n " as not o n l y p r i -
b e t w e e n r e p r e s s i o n a n d f o r e c l o s u r e , s u g g e s t i n g that a r e -
vative, but productive). In F r e u d a n d Nietzsche, a p r o h i b i t i o n
p r e s s e d d e s i r e m i g h t o n c e h a v e l i v e d a p a r t f r o m its p r o h i b i -
o n a c t i o n o r e x p r e s s i o n i s s a i d t o t u r n "the d r i v e "
t i o n , b u t that f o r e c l o s e d d e s i r e i s r i g o r o u s l y b a r r e d , c o n s t i -
1 0
back on
itself, f a b r i c a t i n g a n i n t e r n a l s p h e r e , the c o n d i t i o n for self-
t u t i n g the subject t h r o u g h a c e r t a i n k i n d o f p r e e m p t i v e loss.
i n s p e c t i o n a n d r e f l e x i v i t y . T h e d r i v e t u r n i n g b a c k u p o n itself
E l s e w h e r e I h a v e s u g g e s t e d that the f o r e c l o s u r e of h o m o -
b e c o m e s the p r e c i p i t a t i n g c o n d i t i o n of subject f o r m a t i o n , a
s e x u a l i t y a p p e a r s to be f o u n d a t i o n a l to a c e r t a i n h e t e r o s e x u a l
p r i m a r y l o n g i n g i n r e c o i l that i s t r a c e d i n H e g e l ' s v i e w o f the
v e r s i o n o f the subject.
u n h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s a s w e l l . W h e t h e r the d o u b l i n g b a c k
someone of similar gender and "I have never lost" any such
u p o n itself i s p e r f o r m e d b y p r i m a r y l o n g i n g s , d e s i r e , o r d r i v e s ,
p e r s o n p r e d i c a t e s the " I " o n the " n e v e r - n e v e r " o f that l o v e a n d
i t p r o d u c e s i n e a c h i n s t a n c e a p s y c h i c h a b i t o f self-beratement,
loss. I n d e e d , the o n t o l o g i c a l a c c o m p l i s h m e n t o f h e t e r o s e x u a l
o n e that is c o n s o l i d a t e d o v e r t i m e as c o n s c i e n c e .
" b e i n g " i s t r a c e d t o t h i s d o u b l e n e g a t i o n , w h i c h f o r m s its c o n -
C o n s c i e n c e i s the m e a n s b y w h i c h a subject b e c o m e s a n object f o r itself, r e f l e c t i n g on itself, e s t a b l i s h i n g itself as r e flective a n d reflexive. T h e "I" i s n o t s i m p l y o n e w h o t h i n k s
11
The formula "I have never l o v e d "
s t i t u t i v e m e l a n c h o l i a , a n e m p h a t i c a n d i r r e v e r s i b l e loss that f o r m s the t e n u o u s basis o f that " b e i n g . " Significantly, F r e u d identifies heightened conscience a n d
a b o u t h i m - o r herself; i t i s d e f i n e d b y t h i s c a p a c i t y for r e -
self-beratement a s o n e s i g n o f m e l a n c h o l i a , the c o n d i t i o n o f
flective s e l f - r e l a t i o n o r r e f l e x i v i t y . F o r N i e t z s c h e , r e f l e x i v i t y i s
u n c o m p l e t e d grief. T h e f o r e c l o s u r e o f c e r t a i n f o r m s o f l o v e
a c o n s e q u e n c e o f c o n s c i e n c e ; s e l f - k n o w i n g f o l l o w s f r o m self-
suggests that the m e l a n c h o l i a that g r o u n d s the subject ( a n d
p u n i s h m e n t . ( T h u s o n e n e v e r " k n o w s " o n e s e l f p r i o r t o the r e -
h e n c e a l w a y s threatens t o u n s e t t l e a n d d i s r u p t that g r o u n d )
c o i l of desire in question.) In order to c u r b desire, one makes
s i g n a l s a n i n c o m p l e t e a n d i r r e s o l v a b l e grief. U n o w n e d a n d i n -
o f oneself a n object f o r r e f l e c t i o n ; i n the c o u r s e o f p r o d u c -
c o m p l e t e , m e l a n c h o l i a is the l i m i t to the subject's sense of pou-
i n g one's o w n a l t e r i t y , o n e b e c o m e s e s t a b l i s h e d a s a r e f l e x i v e
voir, its sense o f w h a t i t c a n a c c o m p l i s h a n d , i n that sense, its
b e i n g , o n e w h o c a n take oneself a s a n object. R e f l e x i v i t y b e -
p o w e r . M e l a n c h o l i a rifts the subject, m a r k i n g a l i m i t t o w h a t i t
c o m e s the m e a n s b y w h i c h d e s i r e i s r e g u l a r l y t r a n s m u t e d i n t o
c a n a c c o m m o d a t e . B e c a u s e the subject d o e s n o t , c a n n o t , reflect
the c i r c u i t o f self-reflection. T h e d o u b l i n g b a c k o f d e s i r e that
o n that loss, that loss m a r k s the l i m i t o f r e f l e x i v i t y , that w h i c h
culminates in reflexivity produces, however, another order of
exceeds ( a n d c o n d i t i o n s ) its c i r c u i t r y . U n d e r s t o o d a s f o r e c l o -
d e s i r e : the d e s i r e for that v e r y c i r c u i t , for r e f l e x i v i t y a n d , u l t i -
s u r e , that loss i n a u g u r a t e s the subject a n d threatens i t w i t h
m a t e l y , for s u b j e c t i o n .
dissolution.
24
Introduction
Introduction
25
C o n s i d e r e d a l o n g N i e t z s c h e a n a n d H e g e l i a n l i n e s , the s u b -
latter case, the f o r e c l o s u r e m i g h t b e u s e f u l l y r e l i n k e d w i t h the
ject engages i n its o w n s e l f - t h w a r t i n g , a c c o m p l i s h e s its o w n
Foucauldian notion of a regulatory ideal, an ideal according
s u b j e c t i o n , d e s i r e s a n d crafts its o w n s h a c k l e s , a n d s o t u r n s
to w h i c h certain f o r m s of love become possible a n d others,
a g a i n s t a d e s i r e that i t k n o w s t o b e — o r k n e w t o b e — i t s o w n .
impossible. W i t h i n psychoanalysis, we think of social sanction
F o r a loss t o p r e d a t e the subject, t o m a k e i t p o s s i b l e ( a n d i m -
a s e n c o d e d i n the e g o - i d e a l a n d p a t r o l l e d b y the s u p e r - e g o .
p o s s i b l e ) , w e m u s t c o n s i d e r the p a r t that loss p l a y s i n subject
But what might it mean to think of social sanction as w o r k i n g ,
f o r m a t i o n . Is there a loss that c a n n o t be t h o u g h t , c a n n o t be
t h r o u g h f o r e c l o s u r e , t o p r o d u c e the p o s s i b l e d o m a i n i n w h i c h
o w n e d o r g r i e v e d , w h i c h f o r m s the c o n d i t i o n o f p o s s i b i l i t y f o r
l o v e a n d loss c a n o p e r a t e ? A s f o r e c l o s u r e , the s a n c t i o n w o r k s
the subject? Is t h i s w h a t H e g e l c a l l e d "the loss of the loss," a
not to p r o h i b i t existing desire but to p r o d u c e certain k i n d s of
f o r e c l o s u r e that c o n s t i t u t e s a n u n k n o w a b i l i t y w i t h o u t w h i c h
objects a n d to.bar o t h e r s f r o m the f i e l d o f s o c i a l p r o d u c t i o n . I n
the subject c a n n o t e n d u r e , a n i g n o r a n c e a n d m e l a n c h o l i a that
t h i s w a y , the s a n c t i o n d o e s n o t w o r k a c c o r d i n g t o the r e p r e s -
m a k e s p o s s i b l e a l l c l a i m s o f k n o w l e d g e a s one's o w n ? I s t h e r e
sive h y p o t h e s i s , a s p o s t u l a t e d a n d c r i t i c i z e d b y F o u c a u l t , b u t
not a l o n g i n g to g r i e v e — a n d , equivalently, an inability to
as a m e c h a n i s m of p r o d u c t i o n , o n e that c a n o p e r a t e , h o w e v e r ,
g r i e v e — t h a t w h i c h o n e n e v e r w a s able t o l o v e , a l o v e that f a l l s
o n the b a s i s o f a n o r i g i n a r y v i o l e n c e .
12
s h o r t of the " c o n d i t i o n s of e x i s t e n c e " ? T h i s is a loss n o t m e r e l y
I n the w o r k o f M e l a n i e K l e i n , g u i l t a p p e a r s t o e m e r g e , n o t
o f the object o r s o m e set o f objects, b u t o f l o v e ' s o w n p o s s i -
in consequence of internalizing an external prohibition, but as
b i l i t y : the loss o f the a b i l i t y t o l o v e , the u n f i n i s h a b l e g r i e v i n g
a w a y o f p r e s e r v i n g the object o f l o v e f r o m one's o w n p o t e n -
f o r that w h i c h f o u n d s the subject. O n the o n e h a n d , m e l a n c h o -
t i a l l y o b l i t e r a t i n g v i o l e n c e . G u i l t serves the f u n c t i o n o f p r e -
l i a i s a n a t t a c h m e n t that s u b s t i t u t e s f o r a n a t t a c h m e n t that i s
s e r v i n g the object o f l o v e a n d , hence, o f p r e s e r v i n g l o v e itself.
b r o k e n , gone, o r i m p o s s i b l e ; o n the o t h e r h a n d , m e l a n c h o l i a
What might it mean to understand guilt, then, as a w a y in
c o n t i n u e s the t r a d i t i o n o f i m p o s s i b i l i t y , a s i t w e r e , that b e l o n g s
w h i c h l o v e p r e s e r v e s the object i t m i g h t o t h e r w i s e d e s t r o y ?
t o the a t t a c h m e n t f o r w h i c h i t s u b s t i t u t e s .
As a s t o p g a p a g a i n s t a s a d i s t i c d e s t r u c t i o n , g u i l t s i g n a l s less
T h e r e are, o f c o u r s e , v a r i o u s w a y s o f r e f u s i n g t o l o v e , n o t
the p s y c h i c p r e s e n c e o f a n o r i g i n a l l y s o c i a l a n d e x t e r n a l n o r m
all of w h i c h qualify as foreclosure. But what happens w h e n
t h a n a c o u n t e r v a i l i n g d e s i r e t o c o n t i n u e the object o n e w i s h e s
a c e r t a i n f o r e c l o s u r e o f l o v e b e c o m e s the c o n d i t i o n o f p o s s i -
d e a d . I t i s i n t h i s sense that g u i l t e m e r g e s i n the c o u r s e o f
b i l i t y f o r s o c i a l e x i s t e n c e ? D o e s this n o t p r o d u c e a s o c i a l i t y
m e l a n c h o l i a n o t o n l y , a s the F r e u d i a n v i e w w o u l d h a v e i t , t o
afflicted b y m e l a n c h o l i a , a s o c i a l i t y i n w h i c h l o s s c a n n o t b e
k e e p the d e a d object a l i v e , b u t t o k e e p the l i v i n g object f r o m
g r i e v e d b e c a u s e i t c a n n o t b e r e c o g n i z e d a s loss, b e c a u s e w h a t
"death," w h e r e d e a t h m e a n s the d e a t h o f l o v e , i n c l u d i n g the
is lost never h a d a n y entitlement to existence?
o c c a s i o n s o f s e p a r a t i o n a n d loss.
H e r e o n e m i g h t w e l l d i s t i n g u i s h b e t w e e n (a) a n attach-
D o e s the K l e i n i a n v i e w suggest, t h e n , that the f u n c t i o n o f
m e n t that is s u b s e q u e n t l y d i s a v o w e d a n d (b) a f o r e c l o s u r e that
l o v e c a n b e f u l l y e x p l a i n e d w i t h i n a p s y c h i c e c o n o m y that
s t r u c t u r e s the f o r m s that a n y a t t a c h m e n t m a y a s s u m e . I n the
c a r r i e s n o s o c i a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t r e s i d u e ? O r i s the s o c i a l s i g n i f i -
24
Introduction
Introduction
25
C o n s i d e r e d a l o n g N i e t z s c h e a n a n d H e g e l i a n l i n e s , the s u b -
latter case, the f o r e c l o s u r e m i g h t b e u s e f u l l y r e l i n k e d w i t h the
ject engages i n its o w n s e l f - t h w a r t i n g , a c c o m p l i s h e s its o w n
Foucauldian notion of a regulatory ideal, an ideal according
s u b j e c t i o n , d e s i r e s a n d crafts its o w n s h a c k l e s , a n d s o t u r n s
to w h i c h certain f o r m s of love become possible a n d others,
a g a i n s t a d e s i r e that i t k n o w s t o b e — o r k n e w t o b e — i t s o w n .
impossible. W i t h i n psychoanalysis, we think of social sanction
F o r a loss t o p r e d a t e the subject, t o m a k e i t p o s s i b l e ( a n d i m -
a s e n c o d e d i n the e g o - i d e a l a n d p a t r o l l e d b y the s u p e r - e g o .
p o s s i b l e ) , w e m u s t c o n s i d e r the p a r t that loss p l a y s i n subject
But what might it mean to think of social sanction as w o r k i n g ,
f o r m a t i o n . Is there a loss that c a n n o t be t h o u g h t , c a n n o t be
t h r o u g h f o r e c l o s u r e , t o p r o d u c e the p o s s i b l e d o m a i n i n w h i c h
o w n e d o r g r i e v e d , w h i c h f o r m s the c o n d i t i o n o f p o s s i b i l i t y f o r
l o v e a n d loss c a n o p e r a t e ? A s f o r e c l o s u r e , the s a n c t i o n w o r k s
the subject? Is t h i s w h a t H e g e l c a l l e d "the loss of the loss," a
not to p r o h i b i t existing desire but to p r o d u c e certain k i n d s of
f o r e c l o s u r e that c o n s t i t u t e s a n u n k n o w a b i l i t y w i t h o u t w h i c h
objects a n d to.bar o t h e r s f r o m the f i e l d o f s o c i a l p r o d u c t i o n . I n
the subject c a n n o t e n d u r e , a n i g n o r a n c e a n d m e l a n c h o l i a that
t h i s w a y , the s a n c t i o n d o e s n o t w o r k a c c o r d i n g t o the r e p r e s -
m a k e s p o s s i b l e a l l c l a i m s o f k n o w l e d g e a s one's o w n ? I s t h e r e
sive h y p o t h e s i s , a s p o s t u l a t e d a n d c r i t i c i z e d b y F o u c a u l t , b u t
not a l o n g i n g to g r i e v e — a n d , equivalently, an inability to
as a m e c h a n i s m of p r o d u c t i o n , o n e that c a n o p e r a t e , h o w e v e r ,
g r i e v e — t h a t w h i c h o n e n e v e r w a s able t o l o v e , a l o v e that f a l l s
o n the b a s i s o f a n o r i g i n a r y v i o l e n c e .
12
s h o r t of the " c o n d i t i o n s of e x i s t e n c e " ? T h i s is a loss n o t m e r e l y
I n the w o r k o f M e l a n i e K l e i n , g u i l t a p p e a r s t o e m e r g e , n o t
o f the object o r s o m e set o f objects, b u t o f l o v e ' s o w n p o s s i -
in consequence of internalizing an external prohibition, but as
b i l i t y : the loss o f the a b i l i t y t o l o v e , the u n f i n i s h a b l e g r i e v i n g
a w a y o f p r e s e r v i n g the object o f l o v e f r o m one's o w n p o t e n -
f o r that w h i c h f o u n d s the subject. O n the o n e h a n d , m e l a n c h o -
t i a l l y o b l i t e r a t i n g v i o l e n c e . G u i l t serves the f u n c t i o n o f p r e -
l i a i s a n a t t a c h m e n t that s u b s t i t u t e s f o r a n a t t a c h m e n t that i s
s e r v i n g the object o f l o v e a n d , hence, o f p r e s e r v i n g l o v e itself.
b r o k e n , gone, o r i m p o s s i b l e ; o n the o t h e r h a n d , m e l a n c h o l i a
What might it mean to understand guilt, then, as a w a y in
c o n t i n u e s the t r a d i t i o n o f i m p o s s i b i l i t y , a s i t w e r e , that b e l o n g s
w h i c h l o v e p r e s e r v e s the object i t m i g h t o t h e r w i s e d e s t r o y ?
t o the a t t a c h m e n t f o r w h i c h i t s u b s t i t u t e s .
As a s t o p g a p a g a i n s t a s a d i s t i c d e s t r u c t i o n , g u i l t s i g n a l s less
T h e r e are, o f c o u r s e , v a r i o u s w a y s o f r e f u s i n g t o l o v e , n o t
the p s y c h i c p r e s e n c e o f a n o r i g i n a l l y s o c i a l a n d e x t e r n a l n o r m
all of w h i c h qualify as foreclosure. But what happens w h e n
t h a n a c o u n t e r v a i l i n g d e s i r e t o c o n t i n u e the object o n e w i s h e s
a c e r t a i n f o r e c l o s u r e o f l o v e b e c o m e s the c o n d i t i o n o f p o s s i -
d e a d . I t i s i n t h i s sense that g u i l t e m e r g e s i n the c o u r s e o f
b i l i t y f o r s o c i a l e x i s t e n c e ? D o e s this n o t p r o d u c e a s o c i a l i t y
m e l a n c h o l i a n o t o n l y , a s the F r e u d i a n v i e w w o u l d h a v e i t , t o
afflicted b y m e l a n c h o l i a , a s o c i a l i t y i n w h i c h l o s s c a n n o t b e
k e e p the d e a d object a l i v e , b u t t o k e e p the l i v i n g object f r o m
g r i e v e d b e c a u s e i t c a n n o t b e r e c o g n i z e d a s loss, b e c a u s e w h a t
"death," w h e r e d e a t h m e a n s the d e a t h o f l o v e , i n c l u d i n g the
is lost never h a d a n y entitlement to existence?
o c c a s i o n s o f s e p a r a t i o n a n d loss.
H e r e o n e m i g h t w e l l d i s t i n g u i s h b e t w e e n (a) a n attach-
D o e s the K l e i n i a n v i e w suggest, t h e n , that the f u n c t i o n o f
m e n t that is s u b s e q u e n t l y d i s a v o w e d a n d (b) a f o r e c l o s u r e that
l o v e c a n b e f u l l y e x p l a i n e d w i t h i n a p s y c h i c e c o n o m y that
s t r u c t u r e s the f o r m s that a n y a t t a c h m e n t m a y a s s u m e . I n the
c a r r i e s n o s o c i a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t r e s i d u e ? O r i s the s o c i a l s i g n i f i -
26
Introduction
Introduction
c a n c e o f g u i l t t o b e t r a c e d i n a r e g i s t e r o t h e r t h a n that o f p r o -
cause s u c h objects f a i l to q u a l i f y as objects of l o v e : as objects
h i b i t i o n , i n the d e s i r e for r e p a r a t i o n ? I n o r d e r t o p r e s e r v e the
of love they assume a m a r k of destruction. Indeed, they m a y
object f r o m o n e ' s o w n a g g r e s s i o n , a n a g g r e s s i o n that a l w a y s
threaten one's o w n d e s t r u c t i o n as w e l l : "I w i l l be d e s t r o y e d if
a c c o m p a n i e s l o v e (as c o n f l i c t ) , g u i l t enters the p s y c h i c scene
I l o v e in that w a y . " M a r k e d for "death," the object is, as it w e r e ,
as a necessity. If the object goes, so goes a s o u r c e of l o v e . In
a l r e a d y lost, a n d the d e s i r e t o v a n q u i s h the object i s p r e c i s e l y
o n e sense, g u i l t w o r k s t o t h w a r t the a g g r e s s i v e e x p r e s s i o n o f
the d e s i r e t o v a n q u i s h a n object w h i c h , i f l o v e d , w o u l d s p e l l
l o v e that m i g h t d o i n the l o v e d object, a n object u n d e r s t o o d t o
d e s t r u c t i o n for the o n e w h o loves.
27
b e a s o u r c e o f l o v e ; i n a c o u n t e r sense, h o w e v e r , g u i l t w o r k s
C a n w e r e a d the w o r k i n g s o f s o c i a l p o w e r p r e c i s e l y i n the
t o p r e s e r v e the object a s a n object o f l o v e (its i d e a l i z a t i o n ) a n d
d e l i m i t a t i o n o f the f i e l d o f s u c h objects, objects m a r k e d f o r
h e n c e ( v i a i d e a l i z a t i o n ) t o p r e s e r v e the p o s s i b i l i t y o f l o v i n g
death? A n d i s this p a r t o f the i r r e a l i t y , the m e l a n c h o l i c aggres-
a n d b e i n g loved. A g g r e s s i o n — o r hate—is not m e r e l y m i t i -
s i o n a n d the d e s i r e t o v a n q u i s h , that c h a r a c t e r i z e s the p u b l i c
g a t e d , b u t r e r o u t e d a g a i n s t the o n e w h o loves, o p e r a t i n g a s
r e s p o n s e t o the d e a t h o f m a n y o f t h o s e c o n s i d e r e d " s o c i a l l y
the self-beratements o f the s u p e r - e g o .
B e c a u s e l o v e a n d ag-
dead," w h o die f r o m A I D S ? G a y people, prostitutes, d r u g
g r e s s i o n w o r k together, the m i t i g a t i o n o f a g g r e s s i o n t h r o u g h
users, a m o n g o t h e r s ? I f t h e y are d y i n g o r a l r e a d y d e a d , let u s
g u i l t i s also the m i t i g a t i o n o f l o v e . G u i l t w o r k s , t h e n , b o t h t o
v a n q u i s h t h e m a g a i n . A n d c a n the sense o f " t r i u m p h " b e w o n
f o r e c l o s e a n d t o c o n t i n u e l o v e , o r rather, t o c o n t i n u e l o v e (less
precisely through a practice of social differentiation in w h i c h
p a s s i o n a t e l y , to be sure) as the effect of a f o r e c l o s u r e .
one a c h i e v e s a n d m a i n t a i n s " s o c i a l e x i s t e n c e " o n l y b y the p r o -
13
K l e i n ' s s c h e m e raises a n u m b e r o f q u e s t i o n s r e l a t i n g t o the
d u c t i o n a n d m a i n t e n a n c e o f those s o c i a l l y d e a d ? M i g h t o n e
relation between love a n d aggression. W h y m i g h t one want
not also r e a d the p a r a n o i a that s t r u c t u r e s p u b l i c d i s c o u r s e o n
d e a d the object o f l o v e ? I s t h i s a p r i m a r y s a d i s m that m i g h t b e
s u c h issues as the i n v e r s i o n of that a g g r e s s i o n : the d e s i r e to
e x p l a i n e d b y r e c o u r s e t o a p r i m a r y d e a t h d r i v e , o r are there
v a n q u i s h the d e a d o t h e r that, t h r o u g h a r e v e r s a l , c o m e s t o
o t h e r w a y s t o a c c o u n t for the d e s i r e t o v a n q u i s h w h a t o n e
m a r k that o t h e r as the threat of d e a t h , c a s t i n g the o t h e r as the
l o v e s ? F o l l o w i n g F r e u d , K l e i n situates s.uch a d e s i r e t o v a n -
( u n l i k e l y ) p e r s e c u t o r o f the s o c i a l l y n o r m a l a n d n o r m a l i z e d ?
q u i s h w i t h i n the p r o b l e m a t i c o f m e l a n c h o l i a , t h u s m a k i n g the
W h a t is i t , t h e n , that is d e s i r e d in s u b j e c t i o n ? Is it a s i m p l e
p o i n t that the d e s i r e to v a n q u i s h c h a r a c t e r i z e s a r e l a t i o n to an
l o v e of the s h a c k l e s , or is t h e r e a m o r e c o m p l e x s c e n a r i o at
object a l r e a d y lost: a l r e a d y lost a n d t h u s e l i g i b l e for a c e r t a i n
w o r k ? H o w i s s u r v i v a l t o b e m a i n t a i n e d i f the t e r m s b y w h i c h
k i n d of vanquishing.
existence i s g u a r a n t e e d are p r e c i s e l y t h o s e that d e m a n d a n d
K l e i n l i n k s g u i l t t o w a r d the object w i t h the d e s i r e t o t r i -
i n s t i t u t e s u b o r d i n a t i o n ? O n this u n d e r s t a n d i n g , s u b j e c t i o n i s
u m p h o v e r the object, a sense o f t r i u m p h w h i c h , i f p u r s u e d too
the p a r a d o x i c a l effect o f a r e g i m e o f p o w e r i n w h i c h the v e r y
far, threatens to d e s t r o y the object as a s o u r c e of love. Yet o n e
" c o n d i t i o n s of existence," the p o s s i b i l i t y of c o n t i n u i n g as a
m i g h t c o n s i d e r that c e r t a i n f o r m s o f l o v e e n t a i l the loss o f the
r e c o g n i z a b l e s o c i a l b e i n g , r e q u i r e s the f o r m a t i o n a n d m a i n t e -
object n o t o n l y b e c a u s e o f a n i n n a t e d e s i r e t o t r i u m p h , b u t b e -
n a n c e o f the subject i n s u b o r d i n a t i o n . I f o n e accepts S p i n o z a ' s
26
Introduction
Introduction
c a n c e o f g u i l t t o b e t r a c e d i n a r e g i s t e r o t h e r t h a n that o f p r o -
cause s u c h objects f a i l to q u a l i f y as objects of l o v e : as objects
h i b i t i o n , i n the d e s i r e for r e p a r a t i o n ? I n o r d e r t o p r e s e r v e the
of love they assume a m a r k of destruction. Indeed, they m a y
object f r o m o n e ' s o w n a g g r e s s i o n , a n a g g r e s s i o n that a l w a y s
threaten one's o w n d e s t r u c t i o n as w e l l : "I w i l l be d e s t r o y e d if
a c c o m p a n i e s l o v e (as c o n f l i c t ) , g u i l t enters the p s y c h i c scene
I l o v e in that w a y . " M a r k e d for "death," the object is, as it w e r e ,
as a necessity. If the object goes, so goes a s o u r c e of l o v e . In
a l r e a d y lost, a n d the d e s i r e t o v a n q u i s h the object i s p r e c i s e l y
o n e sense, g u i l t w o r k s t o t h w a r t the a g g r e s s i v e e x p r e s s i o n o f
the d e s i r e t o v a n q u i s h a n object w h i c h , i f l o v e d , w o u l d s p e l l
l o v e that m i g h t d o i n the l o v e d object, a n object u n d e r s t o o d t o
d e s t r u c t i o n for the o n e w h o loves.
27
b e a s o u r c e o f l o v e ; i n a c o u n t e r sense, h o w e v e r , g u i l t w o r k s
C a n w e r e a d the w o r k i n g s o f s o c i a l p o w e r p r e c i s e l y i n the
t o p r e s e r v e the object a s a n object o f l o v e (its i d e a l i z a t i o n ) a n d
d e l i m i t a t i o n o f the f i e l d o f s u c h objects, objects m a r k e d f o r
h e n c e ( v i a i d e a l i z a t i o n ) t o p r e s e r v e the p o s s i b i l i t y o f l o v i n g
death? A n d i s this p a r t o f the i r r e a l i t y , the m e l a n c h o l i c aggres-
a n d b e i n g loved. A g g r e s s i o n — o r hate—is not m e r e l y m i t i -
s i o n a n d the d e s i r e t o v a n q u i s h , that c h a r a c t e r i z e s the p u b l i c
g a t e d , b u t r e r o u t e d a g a i n s t the o n e w h o loves, o p e r a t i n g a s
r e s p o n s e t o the d e a t h o f m a n y o f t h o s e c o n s i d e r e d " s o c i a l l y
the self-beratements o f the s u p e r - e g o .
B e c a u s e l o v e a n d ag-
dead," w h o die f r o m A I D S ? G a y people, prostitutes, d r u g
g r e s s i o n w o r k together, the m i t i g a t i o n o f a g g r e s s i o n t h r o u g h
users, a m o n g o t h e r s ? I f t h e y are d y i n g o r a l r e a d y d e a d , let u s
g u i l t i s also the m i t i g a t i o n o f l o v e . G u i l t w o r k s , t h e n , b o t h t o
v a n q u i s h t h e m a g a i n . A n d c a n the sense o f " t r i u m p h " b e w o n
f o r e c l o s e a n d t o c o n t i n u e l o v e , o r rather, t o c o n t i n u e l o v e (less
precisely through a practice of social differentiation in w h i c h
p a s s i o n a t e l y , to be sure) as the effect of a f o r e c l o s u r e .
one a c h i e v e s a n d m a i n t a i n s " s o c i a l e x i s t e n c e " o n l y b y the p r o -
13
K l e i n ' s s c h e m e raises a n u m b e r o f q u e s t i o n s r e l a t i n g t o the
d u c t i o n a n d m a i n t e n a n c e o f those s o c i a l l y d e a d ? M i g h t o n e
relation between love a n d aggression. W h y m i g h t one want
not also r e a d the p a r a n o i a that s t r u c t u r e s p u b l i c d i s c o u r s e o n
d e a d the object o f l o v e ? I s t h i s a p r i m a r y s a d i s m that m i g h t b e
s u c h issues as the i n v e r s i o n of that a g g r e s s i o n : the d e s i r e to
e x p l a i n e d b y r e c o u r s e t o a p r i m a r y d e a t h d r i v e , o r are there
v a n q u i s h the d e a d o t h e r that, t h r o u g h a r e v e r s a l , c o m e s t o
o t h e r w a y s t o a c c o u n t for the d e s i r e t o v a n q u i s h w h a t o n e
m a r k that o t h e r as the threat of d e a t h , c a s t i n g the o t h e r as the
l o v e s ? F o l l o w i n g F r e u d , K l e i n situates s.uch a d e s i r e t o v a n -
( u n l i k e l y ) p e r s e c u t o r o f the s o c i a l l y n o r m a l a n d n o r m a l i z e d ?
q u i s h w i t h i n the p r o b l e m a t i c o f m e l a n c h o l i a , t h u s m a k i n g the
W h a t is i t , t h e n , that is d e s i r e d in s u b j e c t i o n ? Is it a s i m p l e
p o i n t that the d e s i r e to v a n q u i s h c h a r a c t e r i z e s a r e l a t i o n to an
l o v e of the s h a c k l e s , or is t h e r e a m o r e c o m p l e x s c e n a r i o at
object a l r e a d y lost: a l r e a d y lost a n d t h u s e l i g i b l e for a c e r t a i n
w o r k ? H o w i s s u r v i v a l t o b e m a i n t a i n e d i f the t e r m s b y w h i c h
k i n d of vanquishing.
existence i s g u a r a n t e e d are p r e c i s e l y t h o s e that d e m a n d a n d
K l e i n l i n k s g u i l t t o w a r d the object w i t h the d e s i r e t o t r i -
i n s t i t u t e s u b o r d i n a t i o n ? O n this u n d e r s t a n d i n g , s u b j e c t i o n i s
u m p h o v e r the object, a sense o f t r i u m p h w h i c h , i f p u r s u e d too
the p a r a d o x i c a l effect o f a r e g i m e o f p o w e r i n w h i c h the v e r y
far, threatens to d e s t r o y the object as a s o u r c e of love. Yet o n e
" c o n d i t i o n s of existence," the p o s s i b i l i t y of c o n t i n u i n g as a
m i g h t c o n s i d e r that c e r t a i n f o r m s o f l o v e e n t a i l the loss o f the
r e c o g n i z a b l e s o c i a l b e i n g , r e q u i r e s the f o r m a t i o n a n d m a i n t e -
object n o t o n l y b e c a u s e o f a n i n n a t e d e s i r e t o t r i u m p h , b u t b e -
n a n c e o f the subject i n s u b o r d i n a t i o n . I f o n e accepts S p i n o z a ' s
28
Introduction
Introduction
n o t i o n that d e s i r e i s a l w a y s the d e s i r e t o p e r s i s t i n o n e ' s o w n
tence t h r e a t e n e d . A n d yet, w i t h o u t a r e p e t i t i o n that r i s k s l i f e —
being,
a n d recasts the metaphysical s u b s t a n c e that f o r m s the
i n its c u r r e n t o r g a n i z a t i o n — h o w m i g h t w e b e g i n t o i m a g i n e
i d e a l for d e s i r e a s a m o r e p l i a b l e n o t i o n o f s o c i a l b e i n g , o n e
the c o n t i n g e n c y o f that o r g a n i z a t i o n , a n d p e r f o r m a t i v e l y r e -
m i g h t t h e n b e p r e p a r e d t o r e d e s c r i b e the d e s i r e t o p e r s i s t
c o n f i g u r e the c o n t o u r s of the c o n d i t i o n s of life?
1 4
29
i n one's o w n b e i n g a s s o m e t h i n g that c a n b e b r o k e r e d o n l y
A c r i t i c a l a n a l y s i s of s u b j e c t i o n i n v o l v e s : (1) an a c c o u n t of
w i t h i n the r i s k y t e r m s o f s o c i a l life. T h e r i s k o f d e a t h i s t h u s c o -
the w a y r e g u l a t o r y p o w e r m a i n t a i n s subjects i n s u b o r d i n a t i o n
e x t e n s i v e w i t h the i n s u r m o u n t a b i l i t y o f the s o c i a l . I f the t e r m s
b y p r o d u c i n g a n d e x p l o i t i n g the d e m a n d for c o n t i n u i t y , v i s i -
b y w h i c h "existence" i s formulated, sustained, a n d w i t h d r a w n
b i l i t y , a n d p l a c e ; (2) r e c o g n i t i o n that the subject p r o d u c e d as
are the a c t i v e a n d p r o d u c t i v e v o c a b u l a r y o f p o w e r , t h e n t o
continuous, visible, a n d located is nevertheless h a u n t e d by an
p e r s i s t i n one's b e i n g m e a n s t o b e g i v e n o v e r f r o m the start
i n a s s i m i l a b l e r e m a i n d e r , a m e l a n c h o l i a that m a r k s the l i m i t s
t o s o c i a l t e r m s that are n e v e r f u l l y one's o w n . T h e d e s i r e t o
of s u b j e c t i v a t i o n ; (3) an a c c o u n t of the i t e r a b i l i t y of the s u b -
p e r s i s t i n one's o w n b e i n g r e q u i r e s s u b m i t t i n g t o a w o r l d o f
ject that s h o w s h o w a g e n c y m a y w e l l c o n s i s t i n o p p o s i n g a n d
others that i s f u n d a m e n t a l l y n o t one's o w n ( a s u b m i s s i o n that
t r a n s f o r m i n g the s o c i a l t e r m s b y w h i c h i t i s s p a w n e d .
does n o t t a k e p l a c e a t a later date, b u t w h i c h f r a m e s a n d m a k e s
A l t h o u g h s u c h a f o r m u l a t i o n c a n h a r d l y b e the b a s i s for a n
p o s s i b l e the d e s i r e t o be). O n l y b y p e r s i s t i n g i n a l t e r i t y d o e s
o p t i m i s t i c v i e w of the subject or of a s u b j e c t - c e n t e r e d p o l i t i c s ,
o n e p e r s i s t i n one's " o w n " b e i n g . V u l n e r a b l e t o t e r m s that o n e
it m a y s t a n d as a p r o v o c a t i o n a n d as a c a u t i o n a g a i n s t t w o
n e v e r m a d e , o n e p e r s i s t s a l w a y s , t o s o m e degree, t h r o u g h cate-
f o r m s o f t h e o r e t i c a l d e s i r e : o n e i n w h i c h a s s u m i n g a n d stat-
gories, n a m e s , t e r m s , a n d c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s that m a r k a p r i m a r y
i n g a " s u b j e c t - p o s i t i o n " i s the c o n s u m m a t e m o m e n t o f p o l i t i c s ;
a n d inaugurative alienation in sociality. If such terms institute
a n d a n o t h e r i n w h i c h the d i s m i s s a l o f the subject a s a p h i l o -
a p r i m a r y s u b o r d i n a t i o n or, i n d e e d , a p r i m a r y v i o l e n c e , t h e n
s o p h i c a l t r o p e u n d e r e s t i m a t e s the l i n g u i s t i c r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r
a subject e m e r g e s a g a i n s t itself in o r d e r , p a r a d o x i c a l l y , to be
e n t e r i n g s o c i a l i t y a t a l l . A s m u c h a s a p e r s p e c t i v e o n the s u b -
for itself.
ject r e q u i r e s an e v a c u a t i o n of the first p e r s o n , a s u s p e n s i o n of
W h a t w o u l d i t m e a n for the subject t o d e s i r e s o m e t h i n g
the "I" in the interests of an a n a l y s i s of subject f o r m a t i o n , so
o t h e r t h a n its c o n t i n u e d " s o c i a l e x i s t e n c e " ? I f s u c h a n e x i s t e n c e
a r e a s s u m p t i o n of that f i r s t - p e r s o n p e r s p e c t i v e is c o m p e l l e d
cannot be undone w i t h o u t falling into some k i n d of death, can
b y the q u e s t i o n o f agency. T h e a n a l y s i s o f s u b j e c t i o n i s a l w a y s
existence nevertheless be r i s k e d , death courted or p u r s u e d , in
d o u b l e , t r a c i n g the c o n d i t i o n s o f subject f o r m a t i o n a n d t r a c -
o r d e r t o e x p o s e a n d o p e n t o t r a n s f o r m a t i o n the h o l d o f s o c i a l
i n g the t u r n against those c o n d i t i o n s for the s u b j e c t — a n d its
p o w e r o n the c o n d i t i o n s o f life's p e r s i s t e n c e ? T h e subject i s
perspective—to
emerge.
c o m p e l l e d t o repeat the n o r m s b y w h i c h i t i s p r o d u c e d , b u t
A c r i t i c a l e v a l u a t i o n of subject f o r m a t i o n m a y w e l l offer a
that r e p e t i t i o n establishes a d o m a i n of r i s k , f o r if o n e fails to
better c o m p r e h e n s i o n o f the d o u b l e b i n d s t o w h i c h o u r e m a n -
r e i n s t a t e the n o r m " i n the r i g h t w a y , " o n e b e c o m e s subject t o
c i p a t o r y efforts o c c a s i o n a l l y l e a d w i t h o u t , i n c o n s e q u e n c e ,
f u r t h e r s a n c t i o n , o n e feels the p r e v a i l i n g c o n d i t i o n s o f e x i s -
e v a c u a t i n g the p o l i t i c a l . Is there a w a y to a f f i r m c o m p l i c i t y
28
Introduction
Introduction
n o t i o n that d e s i r e i s a l w a y s the d e s i r e t o p e r s i s t i n o n e ' s o w n
tence t h r e a t e n e d . A n d yet, w i t h o u t a r e p e t i t i o n that r i s k s l i f e —
being,
a n d recasts the metaphysical s u b s t a n c e that f o r m s the
i n its c u r r e n t o r g a n i z a t i o n — h o w m i g h t w e b e g i n t o i m a g i n e
i d e a l for d e s i r e a s a m o r e p l i a b l e n o t i o n o f s o c i a l b e i n g , o n e
the c o n t i n g e n c y o f that o r g a n i z a t i o n , a n d p e r f o r m a t i v e l y r e -
m i g h t t h e n b e p r e p a r e d t o r e d e s c r i b e the d e s i r e t o p e r s i s t
c o n f i g u r e the c o n t o u r s of the c o n d i t i o n s of life?
1 4
29
i n one's o w n b e i n g a s s o m e t h i n g that c a n b e b r o k e r e d o n l y
A c r i t i c a l a n a l y s i s of s u b j e c t i o n i n v o l v e s : (1) an a c c o u n t of
w i t h i n the r i s k y t e r m s o f s o c i a l life. T h e r i s k o f d e a t h i s t h u s c o -
the w a y r e g u l a t o r y p o w e r m a i n t a i n s subjects i n s u b o r d i n a t i o n
e x t e n s i v e w i t h the i n s u r m o u n t a b i l i t y o f the s o c i a l . I f the t e r m s
b y p r o d u c i n g a n d e x p l o i t i n g the d e m a n d for c o n t i n u i t y , v i s i -
b y w h i c h "existence" i s formulated, sustained, a n d w i t h d r a w n
b i l i t y , a n d p l a c e ; (2) r e c o g n i t i o n that the subject p r o d u c e d as
are the a c t i v e a n d p r o d u c t i v e v o c a b u l a r y o f p o w e r , t h e n t o
continuous, visible, a n d located is nevertheless h a u n t e d by an
p e r s i s t i n one's b e i n g m e a n s t o b e g i v e n o v e r f r o m the start
i n a s s i m i l a b l e r e m a i n d e r , a m e l a n c h o l i a that m a r k s the l i m i t s
t o s o c i a l t e r m s that are n e v e r f u l l y one's o w n . T h e d e s i r e t o
of s u b j e c t i v a t i o n ; (3) an a c c o u n t of the i t e r a b i l i t y of the s u b -
p e r s i s t i n one's o w n b e i n g r e q u i r e s s u b m i t t i n g t o a w o r l d o f
ject that s h o w s h o w a g e n c y m a y w e l l c o n s i s t i n o p p o s i n g a n d
others that i s f u n d a m e n t a l l y n o t one's o w n ( a s u b m i s s i o n that
t r a n s f o r m i n g the s o c i a l t e r m s b y w h i c h i t i s s p a w n e d .
does n o t t a k e p l a c e a t a later date, b u t w h i c h f r a m e s a n d m a k e s
A l t h o u g h s u c h a f o r m u l a t i o n c a n h a r d l y b e the b a s i s for a n
p o s s i b l e the d e s i r e t o be). O n l y b y p e r s i s t i n g i n a l t e r i t y d o e s
o p t i m i s t i c v i e w of the subject or of a s u b j e c t - c e n t e r e d p o l i t i c s ,
o n e p e r s i s t i n one's " o w n " b e i n g . V u l n e r a b l e t o t e r m s that o n e
it m a y s t a n d as a p r o v o c a t i o n a n d as a c a u t i o n a g a i n s t t w o
n e v e r m a d e , o n e p e r s i s t s a l w a y s , t o s o m e degree, t h r o u g h cate-
f o r m s o f t h e o r e t i c a l d e s i r e : o n e i n w h i c h a s s u m i n g a n d stat-
gories, n a m e s , t e r m s , a n d c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s that m a r k a p r i m a r y
i n g a " s u b j e c t - p o s i t i o n " i s the c o n s u m m a t e m o m e n t o f p o l i t i c s ;
a n d inaugurative alienation in sociality. If such terms institute
a n d a n o t h e r i n w h i c h the d i s m i s s a l o f the subject a s a p h i l o -
a p r i m a r y s u b o r d i n a t i o n or, i n d e e d , a p r i m a r y v i o l e n c e , t h e n
s o p h i c a l t r o p e u n d e r e s t i m a t e s the l i n g u i s t i c r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r
a subject e m e r g e s a g a i n s t itself in o r d e r , p a r a d o x i c a l l y , to be
e n t e r i n g s o c i a l i t y a t a l l . A s m u c h a s a p e r s p e c t i v e o n the s u b -
for itself.
ject r e q u i r e s an e v a c u a t i o n of the first p e r s o n , a s u s p e n s i o n of
W h a t w o u l d i t m e a n for the subject t o d e s i r e s o m e t h i n g
the "I" in the interests of an a n a l y s i s of subject f o r m a t i o n , so
o t h e r t h a n its c o n t i n u e d " s o c i a l e x i s t e n c e " ? I f s u c h a n e x i s t e n c e
a r e a s s u m p t i o n of that f i r s t - p e r s o n p e r s p e c t i v e is c o m p e l l e d
cannot be undone w i t h o u t falling into some k i n d of death, can
b y the q u e s t i o n o f agency. T h e a n a l y s i s o f s u b j e c t i o n i s a l w a y s
existence nevertheless be r i s k e d , death courted or p u r s u e d , in
d o u b l e , t r a c i n g the c o n d i t i o n s o f subject f o r m a t i o n a n d t r a c -
o r d e r t o e x p o s e a n d o p e n t o t r a n s f o r m a t i o n the h o l d o f s o c i a l
i n g the t u r n against those c o n d i t i o n s for the s u b j e c t — a n d its
p o w e r o n the c o n d i t i o n s o f life's p e r s i s t e n c e ? T h e subject i s
perspective—to
emerge.
c o m p e l l e d t o repeat the n o r m s b y w h i c h i t i s p r o d u c e d , b u t
A c r i t i c a l e v a l u a t i o n of subject f o r m a t i o n m a y w e l l offer a
that r e p e t i t i o n establishes a d o m a i n of r i s k , f o r if o n e fails to
better c o m p r e h e n s i o n o f the d o u b l e b i n d s t o w h i c h o u r e m a n -
r e i n s t a t e the n o r m " i n the r i g h t w a y , " o n e b e c o m e s subject t o
c i p a t o r y efforts o c c a s i o n a l l y l e a d w i t h o u t , i n c o n s e q u e n c e ,
f u r t h e r s a n c t i o n , o n e feels the p r e v a i l i n g c o n d i t i o n s o f e x i s -
e v a c u a t i n g the p o l i t i c a l . Is there a w a y to a f f i r m c o m p l i c i t y
30
Introduction
a s the basis o f p o l i t i c a l agency, y e t i n s i s t that p o l i t i c a l a g e n c y m a y d o m o r e t h a n reiterate the c o n d i t i o n s o f s u b o r d i n a t i o n ? If, as A l t h u s s e r i m p l i e s , b e c o m i n g a subject r e q u i r e s a k i n d o f m a s t e r y i n d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e f r o m s u b m i s s i o n , are there p e r -
Stubborn Attachment, Bodily Subjection
haps p o l i t i c a l and psychic consequences to be w r o u g h t f r o m s u c h a f o u n d i n g a m b i v a l e n c e ? T h e t e m p o r a l p a r a d o x o f the subject i s s u c h that, o f necessity, w e m u s t lose the p e r s p e c t i v e o f a subject a l r e a d y f o r m e d i n o r d e r t o a c c o u n t f o r o u r o w n
Rereading Hegel on
b e c o m i n g . T h a t " b e c o m i n g " i s n o s i m p l e o r c o n t i n u o u s affair,
Unhappy
b u t a n u n e a s y p r a c t i c e o f r e p e t i t i o n a n d its r i s k s , c o m p e l l e d
the
Consciousness
yet i n c o m p l e t e , w a v e r i n g o n the h o r i z o n o f s o c i a l b e i n g .
a freedom still enmeshed in servitude —Hegel,
T
The Phenomenology of Spirit
he t r a n s i t i o n in The Phenomenology of Spirit f r o m the sect i o n " L o r d s h i p a n d B o n d a g e " t o " T h e F r e e d o m o f Self-
C o n s c i o u s n e s s : S t o i c i s m , S k e p t i c i s m , a n d the U n h a p p y C o n sciousness"
1
is o n e of the least i n t e r r o g a t e d of H e g e l ' s p h i l o -
s o p h i c a l m o v e m e n t s . P e r h a p s b e c a u s e the c h a p t e r o n l o r d s h i p a n d b o n d a g e s e c u r e d a l i b e r a t i o n i s t n a r r a t i v e for v a r i o u s p r o gressive p o l i t i c a l visions, most readers have neglected to pay a t t e n t i o n t o the r e s o l u t i o n o f f r e e d o m i n t o s e l f - e n s l a v e m e n t a t the e n d o f the chapter. Insofar a s recent t h e o r y has c a l l e d i n t o q u e s t i o n b o t h the a s s u m p t i o n o f a p r o g r e s s i v e h i s t o r y a n d the status o f the subject, the d y s t o p i c r e s o l u t i o n o f " L o r d s h i p a n d B o n d a g e " has p e r h a p s r e g a i n e d a t i m e l y s i g n i f i c a n c e . F o u c a u l t s u g g e s t e d that the p o i n t o f m o d e r n p o l i t i c s i s n o
30
Introduction
a s the basis o f p o l i t i c a l agency, y e t i n s i s t that p o l i t i c a l a g e n c y m a y d o m o r e t h a n reiterate the c o n d i t i o n s o f s u b o r d i n a t i o n ? If, as A l t h u s s e r i m p l i e s , b e c o m i n g a subject r e q u i r e s a k i n d o f m a s t e r y i n d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e f r o m s u b m i s s i o n , are there p e r -
Stubborn Attachment, Bodily Subjection
haps p o l i t i c a l and psychic consequences to be w r o u g h t f r o m s u c h a f o u n d i n g a m b i v a l e n c e ? T h e t e m p o r a l p a r a d o x o f the subject i s s u c h that, o f necessity, w e m u s t lose the p e r s p e c t i v e o f a subject a l r e a d y f o r m e d i n o r d e r t o a c c o u n t f o r o u r o w n
Rereading Hegel on
b e c o m i n g . T h a t " b e c o m i n g " i s n o s i m p l e o r c o n t i n u o u s affair,
Unhappy
b u t a n u n e a s y p r a c t i c e o f r e p e t i t i o n a n d its r i s k s , c o m p e l l e d
the
Consciousness
yet i n c o m p l e t e , w a v e r i n g o n the h o r i z o n o f s o c i a l b e i n g .
a freedom still enmeshed in servitude —Hegel,
T
The Phenomenology of Spirit
he t r a n s i t i o n in The Phenomenology of Spirit f r o m the sect i o n " L o r d s h i p a n d B o n d a g e " t o " T h e F r e e d o m o f Self-
C o n s c i o u s n e s s : S t o i c i s m , S k e p t i c i s m , a n d the U n h a p p y C o n sciousness"
1
is o n e of the least i n t e r r o g a t e d of H e g e l ' s p h i l o -
s o p h i c a l m o v e m e n t s . P e r h a p s b e c a u s e the c h a p t e r o n l o r d s h i p a n d b o n d a g e s e c u r e d a l i b e r a t i o n i s t n a r r a t i v e for v a r i o u s p r o gressive p o l i t i c a l visions, most readers have neglected to pay a t t e n t i o n t o the r e s o l u t i o n o f f r e e d o m i n t o s e l f - e n s l a v e m e n t a t the e n d o f the chapter. Insofar a s recent t h e o r y has c a l l e d i n t o q u e s t i o n b o t h the a s s u m p t i o n o f a p r o g r e s s i v e h i s t o r y a n d the status o f the subject, the d y s t o p i c r e s o l u t i o n o f " L o r d s h i p a n d B o n d a g e " has p e r h a p s r e g a i n e d a t i m e l y s i g n i f i c a n c e . F o u c a u l t s u g g e s t e d that the p o i n t o f m o d e r n p o l i t i c s i s n o
r 32
Stubborn Attachment, B o d i l y Subjection
Hegel's Unhappy Consciousness
33
l o n g e r to l i b e r a t e a subject, b u t r a t h e r to i n t e r r o g a t e the r e g u l a -
p r e s s e d , i n c a r c e r a t e d w i t h i n a n d f i n a l l y able t o d i s c h a r g e a n d
t o r y m e c h a n i s m s t h r o u g h w h i c h "subjects" are p r o d u c e d a n d
vent itself o n l y on itself: that, a n d that a l o n e , is w h a t the bad
maintained. A l t h o u g h Foucault's vocabulary ought not to be
conscience is in its b e g i n n i n g s . "
3
c o n f l a t e d w i t h H e g e l ' s , h i s c o n c e r n w i t h the d o u b l e - e d g e d i m -
U n d e r s c o r i n g the p a i n f u l r e a l i z a t i o n that " l i b e r a t i o n " f r o m
p l i c a t i o n s of s u b j e c t i o n (assujetissement: the s i m u l t a n e o u s form-
e x t e r n a l a u t h o r i t i e s d o e s n o t suffice to i n i t i a t e a subject i n t o
ing a n d regulating of the subject) is in s o m e w a y s p r e f i g u r e d
freedom, Foucault draws u p o n Nietzsche and, in particular,
i n H e g e l ' s a c c o u n t o f the b o n d s m a n ' s l i b e r a t i o n i n t o v a r i o u s
u p o n the s e l f - i n c a r c e r a t i n g m o v e m e n t that s t r u c t u r e s m o d e r n
f o r m s of e t h i c a l self-beratement. In Discipline and Punish, F o u -
f o r m s o f r e f l e x i v i t y . T h e l i m i t s t o l i b e r a t i o n are t o b e u n d e r -
c a u l t l i m i t s the efficacy o f p r i s o n r e f o r m : "the m a n d e s c r i b e d
stood not merely as self-imposed but, more fundamentally,
for u s , w h o m w e are i n v i t e d t o free, i s a l r e a d y i n h i m s e l f the
as the p r e c o n d i t i o n of the subject's v e r y f o r m a t i o n . A c e r t a i n
effect of a s u b j e c t i o n [assujettissement] m u c h m o r e p r o f o u n d
s t r u c t u r i n g a t t a c h m e n t t o s u b j e c t i o n b e c o m e s the c o n d i t i o n
t h a n h i m s e l f . " T h e b o n d s m a n i n H e g e l t h r o w s off the a p p a r -
o f m o r a l s u b j e c t i v a t i o n . C o n s i d e r the e x p a n d e d text o f F o u -
ently external " L o r d " only to find himself in an ethical w o r l d ,
c a u l t ' s r e m a r k s o n the p r i s o n e r ' s s u b j e c t i o n , p r e v i o u s l y c i t e d ,
subjected t o v a r i o u s n o r m s a n d i d e a l s . O r , t o p u t i t m o r e
i n Discipline and Punish: " T h e m a n d e s c r i b e d for u s , w h o m w e
p r e c i s e l y , the subject e m e r g e s a s a n u n h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s
are i n v i t e d to free, is a l r e a d y in h i m s e l f the effect of a s u b -
t h r o u g h the r e f l e x i v e a p p l i c a t i o n o f these e t h i c a l l a w s .
j e c t i o n [assujettissement] m u c h m o r e p r o f o u n d t h a n h i m s e l f . A
2
T h e p e r m u t a t i o n s o f s e l f - e n s l a v e m e n t that H e g e l d e s c r i b e s
' s o u l ' i n h a b i t s h i m a n d b r i n g s h i m t o existence, w h i c h i s itself
a p p e a r t o take the b o d y a s w h a t m u s t b e n e g a t e d , m o r t i f i e d , o r
a factor i n the m a s t e r y that p o w e r exercises o v e r the b o d y . T h e
s u b o r d i n a t e d t o a n e t h i c a l d e m a n d . T h e " t e r r o r " that seizes the
s o u l is the effect a n d i n s t r u m e n t of a p o l i t i c a l a n a t o m y ; the
b o n d s m a n w i t h his recognition of freedom appears to c u l m i -
s o u l i s the p r i s o n o f the b o d y . "
4
nate i n the s i m u l t a n e o u s f a b r i c a t i o n o f e t h i c a l n o r m s a n d the
H o w p r e c i s e l y are w e t o r e a d this " i n h a b i t i n g " o f the b o d y
b e r a t e m e n t o f the b o d i l y c o n d i t i o n o f h i s o w n life. I n this sense,
b y the s o u l ? C a n a r e t u r n t o H e g e l h e l p u s t o r e a d it? W h a t are
" T h e U n h a p p y C o n s c i o u s n e s s " establishes a r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n
the p o i n t s o f c o n v e r g e n c e a n d d i v e r g e n c e i n H e g e l , N i e t z s c h e ,
s e l f - e n s l a v e m e n t a s b o d i l y s u b j e c t i o n a n d the f o r m u l a t i o n o f
a n d F o u c a u l t o n the s t r u c t u r e o f subjection? H e g e l ' s a c c o u n t i n
s e l f - i m p o s e d e t h i c a l i m p e r a t i v e s that p r e f i g u r e s N i e t z s c h e ' s
"The U n h a p p y Consciousness" prefigures a critical discourse
c r i t i q u e of the s a m e in On the Genealogy of Morals a n d F o u -
o n e t h i c a l p o s i t i o n s that n o t o n l y seek t o i n s t i t u t e the d e n i a l o r
c a u l t ' s a p p r o p r i a t i o n o f that c r i t i q u e . I n the f o l l o w i n g c i t a t i o n
sacrifice o f b o d i l y life, b u t that f a l l i n t o i n s t r u c t i v e p a r a d o x e s
f r o m N i e t z s c h e ' s Genealogy of Morals, o n e c a n d i s c e r n a t e m p o -
w h e n t h e y d o . H e g e l s h o w s that i f the s u p p r e s s i o n o f the b o d y
r a r y c o n v e r g e n c e b e t w e e n the f i g u r e s o f s e l f - e n s l a v e m e n t i n
r e q u i r e s a n i n s t r u m e n t a l m o v e m e n t o f a n d b y the b o d y , t h e n
H e g e l ' s " U n h a p p y C o n s c i o u s n e s s " a n d the m o r a l i z e d " m a n "
the b o d y i s i n a d v e r t e n t l y preserved i n a n d b y the i n s t r u m e n t o f
of c o n s c i e n c e in N i e t z s c h e : " T h i s instinct for freedom f o r c i b l y
its s u p p r e s s i o n . T h i s f o r m u l a t i o n p r e f i g u r e s the p o s s i b i l i t y o f
m a d e l a t e n t . . . t h i s i n s t i n c t for f r e e d o m p u s h e d b a c k a n d r e -
a convergence w i t h Nietzschean, F o u c a u l t i a n , and, as we shall
r 32
Stubborn Attachment, B o d i l y Subjection
Hegel's Unhappy Consciousness
33
l o n g e r to l i b e r a t e a subject, b u t r a t h e r to i n t e r r o g a t e the r e g u l a -
p r e s s e d , i n c a r c e r a t e d w i t h i n a n d f i n a l l y able t o d i s c h a r g e a n d
t o r y m e c h a n i s m s t h r o u g h w h i c h "subjects" are p r o d u c e d a n d
vent itself o n l y on itself: that, a n d that a l o n e , is w h a t the bad
maintained. A l t h o u g h Foucault's vocabulary ought not to be
conscience is in its b e g i n n i n g s . "
3
c o n f l a t e d w i t h H e g e l ' s , h i s c o n c e r n w i t h the d o u b l e - e d g e d i m -
U n d e r s c o r i n g the p a i n f u l r e a l i z a t i o n that " l i b e r a t i o n " f r o m
p l i c a t i o n s of s u b j e c t i o n (assujetissement: the s i m u l t a n e o u s form-
e x t e r n a l a u t h o r i t i e s d o e s n o t suffice to i n i t i a t e a subject i n t o
ing a n d regulating of the subject) is in s o m e w a y s p r e f i g u r e d
freedom, Foucault draws u p o n Nietzsche and, in particular,
i n H e g e l ' s a c c o u n t o f the b o n d s m a n ' s l i b e r a t i o n i n t o v a r i o u s
u p o n the s e l f - i n c a r c e r a t i n g m o v e m e n t that s t r u c t u r e s m o d e r n
f o r m s of e t h i c a l self-beratement. In Discipline and Punish, F o u -
f o r m s o f r e f l e x i v i t y . T h e l i m i t s t o l i b e r a t i o n are t o b e u n d e r -
c a u l t l i m i t s the efficacy o f p r i s o n r e f o r m : "the m a n d e s c r i b e d
stood not merely as self-imposed but, more fundamentally,
for u s , w h o m w e are i n v i t e d t o free, i s a l r e a d y i n h i m s e l f the
as the p r e c o n d i t i o n of the subject's v e r y f o r m a t i o n . A c e r t a i n
effect of a s u b j e c t i o n [assujettissement] m u c h m o r e p r o f o u n d
s t r u c t u r i n g a t t a c h m e n t t o s u b j e c t i o n b e c o m e s the c o n d i t i o n
t h a n h i m s e l f . " T h e b o n d s m a n i n H e g e l t h r o w s off the a p p a r -
o f m o r a l s u b j e c t i v a t i o n . C o n s i d e r the e x p a n d e d text o f F o u -
ently external " L o r d " only to find himself in an ethical w o r l d ,
c a u l t ' s r e m a r k s o n the p r i s o n e r ' s s u b j e c t i o n , p r e v i o u s l y c i t e d ,
subjected t o v a r i o u s n o r m s a n d i d e a l s . O r , t o p u t i t m o r e
i n Discipline and Punish: " T h e m a n d e s c r i b e d for u s , w h o m w e
p r e c i s e l y , the subject e m e r g e s a s a n u n h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s
are i n v i t e d to free, is a l r e a d y in h i m s e l f the effect of a s u b -
t h r o u g h the r e f l e x i v e a p p l i c a t i o n o f these e t h i c a l l a w s .
j e c t i o n [assujettissement] m u c h m o r e p r o f o u n d t h a n h i m s e l f . A
2
T h e p e r m u t a t i o n s o f s e l f - e n s l a v e m e n t that H e g e l d e s c r i b e s
' s o u l ' i n h a b i t s h i m a n d b r i n g s h i m t o existence, w h i c h i s itself
a p p e a r t o take the b o d y a s w h a t m u s t b e n e g a t e d , m o r t i f i e d , o r
a factor i n the m a s t e r y that p o w e r exercises o v e r the b o d y . T h e
s u b o r d i n a t e d t o a n e t h i c a l d e m a n d . T h e " t e r r o r " that seizes the
s o u l is the effect a n d i n s t r u m e n t of a p o l i t i c a l a n a t o m y ; the
b o n d s m a n w i t h his recognition of freedom appears to c u l m i -
s o u l i s the p r i s o n o f the b o d y . "
4
nate i n the s i m u l t a n e o u s f a b r i c a t i o n o f e t h i c a l n o r m s a n d the
H o w p r e c i s e l y are w e t o r e a d this " i n h a b i t i n g " o f the b o d y
b e r a t e m e n t o f the b o d i l y c o n d i t i o n o f h i s o w n life. I n this sense,
b y the s o u l ? C a n a r e t u r n t o H e g e l h e l p u s t o r e a d it? W h a t are
" T h e U n h a p p y C o n s c i o u s n e s s " establishes a r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n
the p o i n t s o f c o n v e r g e n c e a n d d i v e r g e n c e i n H e g e l , N i e t z s c h e ,
s e l f - e n s l a v e m e n t a s b o d i l y s u b j e c t i o n a n d the f o r m u l a t i o n o f
a n d F o u c a u l t o n the s t r u c t u r e o f subjection? H e g e l ' s a c c o u n t i n
s e l f - i m p o s e d e t h i c a l i m p e r a t i v e s that p r e f i g u r e s N i e t z s c h e ' s
"The U n h a p p y Consciousness" prefigures a critical discourse
c r i t i q u e of the s a m e in On the Genealogy of Morals a n d F o u -
o n e t h i c a l p o s i t i o n s that n o t o n l y seek t o i n s t i t u t e the d e n i a l o r
c a u l t ' s a p p r o p r i a t i o n o f that c r i t i q u e . I n the f o l l o w i n g c i t a t i o n
sacrifice o f b o d i l y life, b u t that f a l l i n t o i n s t r u c t i v e p a r a d o x e s
f r o m N i e t z s c h e ' s Genealogy of Morals, o n e c a n d i s c e r n a t e m p o -
w h e n t h e y d o . H e g e l s h o w s that i f the s u p p r e s s i o n o f the b o d y
r a r y c o n v e r g e n c e b e t w e e n the f i g u r e s o f s e l f - e n s l a v e m e n t i n
r e q u i r e s a n i n s t r u m e n t a l m o v e m e n t o f a n d b y the b o d y , t h e n
H e g e l ' s " U n h a p p y C o n s c i o u s n e s s " a n d the m o r a l i z e d " m a n "
the b o d y i s i n a d v e r t e n t l y preserved i n a n d b y the i n s t r u m e n t o f
of c o n s c i e n c e in N i e t z s c h e : " T h i s instinct for freedom f o r c i b l y
its s u p p r e s s i o n . T h i s f o r m u l a t i o n p r e f i g u r e s the p o s s i b i l i t y o f
m a d e l a t e n t . . . t h i s i n s t i n c t for f r e e d o m p u s h e d b a c k a n d r e -
a convergence w i t h Nietzschean, F o u c a u l t i a n , and, as we shall
Stubborn Attachment, Bodily Subjection
Hegel's Unhappy Consciousness
see, F r e u d i a n p e r s p e c t i v e s o n self-abasement, w h i c h H e g e l ' s
t e r e d the l o r d a n d the b o n d s m a n , a n d w e h a v e b e e n g i v e n
text, i n the t r a n s i t i o n t o S p i r i t , forecloses. T h e r e a d i n g that f o l -
t o u n d e r s t a n d these d i s c r e p a n t figures a s d i f f e r e n t i a l l y p o s i -
l o w s p u r s u e s the p a t h that H e g e l i n t r o d u c e s o n l y t o foreclose.
t i o n e d w i t h respect t o b o d i l y life. T h e b o n d s m a n a p p e a r s a s
A r r e s t i n g the text p r i o r t o its r e s o l u t i o n i n t o S p i r i t , t h i s i n q u i r y
a n i n s t r u m e n t a l b o d y w h o s e l a b o r p r o v i d e s for the m a t e r i a l
34
35
seeks t o k n o w w h e t h e r a s u p p r e s s e d l i n k w i t h a N i e t z s c h e a n
c o n d i t i o n s o f the l o r d ' s existence, a n d w h o s e m a t e r i a l p r o d -
a n d F r e u d i a n account of conscience is e m b e d d e d in Hegel's
ucts reflect b o t h the s u b o r d i n a t i o n o f the b o n d s m a n a n d the
chapter.
d o m i n a t i o n of the master. In a sense, the l o r d p o s t u r e s as a d i s -
T h e first s e c t i o n of t h i s essay offers a r e a d i n g that a c c o u n t s
e m b o d i e d d e s i r e f o r self-reflection, o n e w h o n o t o n l y r e q u i r e s
for h o w t h i s p a r a d o x o f b o d i l y s u b j e c t i o n i s f o r m u l a t e d i n
the s u b o r d i n a t i o n o f the b o n d s m a n i n the status o f a n i n s t r u -
the t r a n s i t i o n f r o m " L o r d s h i p a n d B o n d a g e " t o " T h e U n h a p p y
m e n t a l b o d y , b u t w h o r e q u i r e s i n effect that the b o n d s m a n b e
C o n s c i o u s n e s s " in The Phenomenology of Spirit. In the s e c o n d
the l o r d ' s b o d y , b u t b e i t i n s u c h a w a y that the l o r d forgets o r
s e c t i o n , I c o n s i d e r the restatements of that p a r a d o x i c a l f o r m u -
d i s a v o w s h i s o w n a c t i v i t y i n p r o d u c i n g the b o n d s m a n , a p r o -
lation i n psychoanalytic a n d F o u c a u l t i a n terms. W i t h o u t pre-
duction w h i c h we w i l l call a projection.
s u m i n g a d i r e c t l i n e of i n f l u e n c e , I suggest b o t h that H e g e l ' s
T h i s forgetting involves a clever trick. It is an action by
i n s i g h t s i n " T h e U n h a p p y C o n s c i o u s n e s s " o n the i n e l u c t a b i l i t y
w h i c h a n a c t i v i t y i s d i s a v o w e d , yet, a s a n a c t i o n , i t r h e t o r i -
o f the a t t a c h m e n t o f a n d t o the b o d y i n s u b j e c t i o n are r e -
c a l l y c o n c e d e s the v e r y a c t i v i t y that i t seeks t o negate. T o d i s -
i t e r a t e d i n F o u c a u l t i a n f r a m e w o r k s , a n d that the F o u c a u l t i a n
a v o w one's b o d y , t o r e n d e r i t " O t h e r " a n d t h e n t o e s t a b l i s h the
a c c o u n t o f s u b j e c t i o n , d e s p i t e its s i g n i f i c a n t m o v e s b e y o n d
" O t h e r " a s a n effect o f a u t o n o m y , i s t o p r o d u c e o n e ' s b o d y i n
d i a l e c t i c a l l o g i c , r e m a i n s u n w i t t i n g l y t e t h e r e d t o the H e g e l i a n
s u c h a w a y that the a c t i v i t y o f its p r o d u c t i o n — a n d its essen-
f o r m u l a t i o n . F u r t h e r m o r e , H e g e l t a c i t l y p r e s u m e s that subjec-
t i a l r e l a t i o n t o the l o r d — i s d e n i e d . T h i s t r i c k o r r u s e i n v o l v e s a
t i o n is u n d e r s t o o d as a s e l f - n e g a t i n g attachment a n d , in t h i s
d o u b l e d i s a v o w a l a n d a n i m p e r a t i v e that the " O t h e r " b e c o m e
w a y , shares a n o p e r a t i v e a s s u m p t i o n w i t h the F r e u d i a n n o t i o n
c o m p l i c i t w i t h t h i s d i s a v o w a l . I n o r d e r n o t t o b e the b o d y that
of l i b i d i n a l investment.
the l o r d p r e s u m a b l y is, a n d i n o r d e r t o h a v e the b o n d s m a n p o s t u r e a s i f the b o d y that h e i s b e l o n g s t o h i m s e l f — a n d n o t b e
Hegel and the Production of Self-Enslavement
the o r c h e s t r a t e d p r o j e c t i o n of the l o r d — t h e r e m u s t be a c e r t a i n k i n d o f e x c h a n g e , a b a r g a i n o r d e a l , i n w h i c h r u s e s are e n a c t e d
In H e g e l ' s Phenomenology, b o d i e s are a l m o s t n e v e r to be
a n d t r a n s a c t e d . I n effect, the i m p e r a t i v e t o the b o n d s m a n c o n -
f o u n d a s objects o f p h i l o s o p h i c a l r e f l e c t i o n , m u c h less a s sites
sists i n the f o l l o w i n g f o r m u l a t i o n : y o u b e m y b o d y f o r m e , b u t
o f e x p e r i e n c e , for b o d i e s are, i n H e g e l , a l w a y s a n d o n l y r e -
d o n o t let m e k n o w that the b o d y y o u are i s m y b o d y . A n i n -
f e r r e d t o i n d i r e c t l y a s the e n c a s e m e n t , l o c a t i o n , o r s p e c i f i c i t y
j u n c t i o n a n d c o n t r a c t are h e r e p e r f o r m e d i n s u c h a w a y that
o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s . B y the t i m e w e a r r i v e a t the s e c t i o n o n the
the m o v e s w h i c h g u a r a n t e e the f u l f i l l m e n t o f the i n j u n c t i o n
u n h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s , w e , the readers, h a v e a l r e a d y e n c o u n -
a n d the c o n t r a c t are i m m e d i a t e l y c o v e r e d o v e r a n d f o r g o t t e n .
Stubborn Attachment, Bodily Subjection
Hegel's Unhappy Consciousness
see, F r e u d i a n p e r s p e c t i v e s o n self-abasement, w h i c h H e g e l ' s
t e r e d the l o r d a n d the b o n d s m a n , a n d w e h a v e b e e n g i v e n
text, i n the t r a n s i t i o n t o S p i r i t , forecloses. T h e r e a d i n g that f o l -
t o u n d e r s t a n d these d i s c r e p a n t figures a s d i f f e r e n t i a l l y p o s i -
l o w s p u r s u e s the p a t h that H e g e l i n t r o d u c e s o n l y t o foreclose.
t i o n e d w i t h respect t o b o d i l y life. T h e b o n d s m a n a p p e a r s a s
A r r e s t i n g the text p r i o r t o its r e s o l u t i o n i n t o S p i r i t , t h i s i n q u i r y
a n i n s t r u m e n t a l b o d y w h o s e l a b o r p r o v i d e s for the m a t e r i a l
34
35
seeks t o k n o w w h e t h e r a s u p p r e s s e d l i n k w i t h a N i e t z s c h e a n
c o n d i t i o n s o f the l o r d ' s existence, a n d w h o s e m a t e r i a l p r o d -
a n d F r e u d i a n account of conscience is e m b e d d e d in Hegel's
ucts reflect b o t h the s u b o r d i n a t i o n o f the b o n d s m a n a n d the
chapter.
d o m i n a t i o n of the master. In a sense, the l o r d p o s t u r e s as a d i s -
T h e first s e c t i o n of t h i s essay offers a r e a d i n g that a c c o u n t s
e m b o d i e d d e s i r e f o r self-reflection, o n e w h o n o t o n l y r e q u i r e s
for h o w t h i s p a r a d o x o f b o d i l y s u b j e c t i o n i s f o r m u l a t e d i n
the s u b o r d i n a t i o n o f the b o n d s m a n i n the status o f a n i n s t r u -
the t r a n s i t i o n f r o m " L o r d s h i p a n d B o n d a g e " t o " T h e U n h a p p y
m e n t a l b o d y , b u t w h o r e q u i r e s i n effect that the b o n d s m a n b e
C o n s c i o u s n e s s " in The Phenomenology of Spirit. In the s e c o n d
the l o r d ' s b o d y , b u t b e i t i n s u c h a w a y that the l o r d forgets o r
s e c t i o n , I c o n s i d e r the restatements of that p a r a d o x i c a l f o r m u -
d i s a v o w s h i s o w n a c t i v i t y i n p r o d u c i n g the b o n d s m a n , a p r o -
lation i n psychoanalytic a n d F o u c a u l t i a n terms. W i t h o u t pre-
duction w h i c h we w i l l call a projection.
s u m i n g a d i r e c t l i n e of i n f l u e n c e , I suggest b o t h that H e g e l ' s
T h i s forgetting involves a clever trick. It is an action by
i n s i g h t s i n " T h e U n h a p p y C o n s c i o u s n e s s " o n the i n e l u c t a b i l i t y
w h i c h a n a c t i v i t y i s d i s a v o w e d , yet, a s a n a c t i o n , i t r h e t o r i -
o f the a t t a c h m e n t o f a n d t o the b o d y i n s u b j e c t i o n are r e -
c a l l y c o n c e d e s the v e r y a c t i v i t y that i t seeks t o negate. T o d i s -
i t e r a t e d i n F o u c a u l t i a n f r a m e w o r k s , a n d that the F o u c a u l t i a n
a v o w one's b o d y , t o r e n d e r i t " O t h e r " a n d t h e n t o e s t a b l i s h the
a c c o u n t o f s u b j e c t i o n , d e s p i t e its s i g n i f i c a n t m o v e s b e y o n d
" O t h e r " a s a n effect o f a u t o n o m y , i s t o p r o d u c e o n e ' s b o d y i n
d i a l e c t i c a l l o g i c , r e m a i n s u n w i t t i n g l y t e t h e r e d t o the H e g e l i a n
s u c h a w a y that the a c t i v i t y o f its p r o d u c t i o n — a n d its essen-
f o r m u l a t i o n . F u r t h e r m o r e , H e g e l t a c i t l y p r e s u m e s that subjec-
t i a l r e l a t i o n t o the l o r d — i s d e n i e d . T h i s t r i c k o r r u s e i n v o l v e s a
t i o n is u n d e r s t o o d as a s e l f - n e g a t i n g attachment a n d , in t h i s
d o u b l e d i s a v o w a l a n d a n i m p e r a t i v e that the " O t h e r " b e c o m e
w a y , shares a n o p e r a t i v e a s s u m p t i o n w i t h the F r e u d i a n n o t i o n
c o m p l i c i t w i t h t h i s d i s a v o w a l . I n o r d e r n o t t o b e the b o d y that
of l i b i d i n a l investment.
the l o r d p r e s u m a b l y is, a n d i n o r d e r t o h a v e the b o n d s m a n p o s t u r e a s i f the b o d y that h e i s b e l o n g s t o h i m s e l f — a n d n o t b e
Hegel and the Production of Self-Enslavement
the o r c h e s t r a t e d p r o j e c t i o n of the l o r d — t h e r e m u s t be a c e r t a i n k i n d o f e x c h a n g e , a b a r g a i n o r d e a l , i n w h i c h r u s e s are e n a c t e d
In H e g e l ' s Phenomenology, b o d i e s are a l m o s t n e v e r to be
a n d t r a n s a c t e d . I n effect, the i m p e r a t i v e t o the b o n d s m a n c o n -
f o u n d a s objects o f p h i l o s o p h i c a l r e f l e c t i o n , m u c h less a s sites
sists i n the f o l l o w i n g f o r m u l a t i o n : y o u b e m y b o d y f o r m e , b u t
o f e x p e r i e n c e , for b o d i e s are, i n H e g e l , a l w a y s a n d o n l y r e -
d o n o t let m e k n o w that the b o d y y o u are i s m y b o d y . A n i n -
f e r r e d t o i n d i r e c t l y a s the e n c a s e m e n t , l o c a t i o n , o r s p e c i f i c i t y
j u n c t i o n a n d c o n t r a c t are h e r e p e r f o r m e d i n s u c h a w a y that
o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s . B y the t i m e w e a r r i v e a t the s e c t i o n o n the
the m o v e s w h i c h g u a r a n t e e the f u l f i l l m e n t o f the i n j u n c t i o n
u n h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s , w e , the readers, h a v e a l r e a d y e n c o u n -
a n d the c o n t r a c t are i m m e d i a t e l y c o v e r e d o v e r a n d f o r g o t t e n .
36
Stubborn Attachment, Bodily Subjection
Hegel's Unhappy Consciousness
37
A t the c l o s e o f the s e c t i o n o n l o r d s h i p a n d b o n d a g e , the
a c t i v e a n d a u t o n o m o u s . I n d e e d , the object e m e r g e s a s the o b -
b o n d s m a n l a b o r s a w a y i n a r e p e t i t i v e f a s h i o n o n objects that
j e c t i f i c a t i o n o f the b o n d s m a n ' s l a b o r , a n d t h u s a s a n i n s t a n c e
b e l o n g t o the l o r d . I n t h i s sense, b o t h h i s l a b o r a n d h i s p r o d u c t s
of that l a b o r , a c o n g e a l i n g a n d r e f l e c t i o n of that labor. B u t
are p r e s u m e d f r o m the start t o b e o t h e r t h a n h i s o w n , e x p r o -
w h a t , t h e n , d o e s the object reflect? Is it the a u t o n o m y of the
p r i a t e d . T h e y are g i v e n a w a y p r i o r t o a n y p o s s i b i l i t y o f g i v i n g
b o n d s m a n ? O r i s i t the d i s s i m u l a t e d effect o f a u t o n o m y that
t h e m a w a y , s i n c e t h e y are, s t r i c t l y s p e a k i n g , n e v e r the b o n d s -
r e s u l t s f r o m the c o n t r a c t m a d e b e t w e e n l o r d a n d b o n d s m a n ?
m a n ' s t o g i v e . A n d yet, t h i s " c o n t r a c t " i n w h i c h the b o n d s -
I n o t h e r w o r d s , i f the b o n d s m a n effects a u t o n o m y t h r o u g h a
m a n s u b s t i t u t e s h i m s e l f f o r the l o r d b e c o m e s c o n s e q u e n t i a l ;
m i m i n g o f the l o r d ' s b o d y , a m i m i n g w h i c h r e m a i n s h i d d e n
the s u b s t i t u t i o n itself b e c o m e s f o r m a t i v e o f a n d for the b o n d s -
f r o m the l o r d , t h e n the " a u t o n o m y " o f the slave i s the c r e d i b l e
m a n . A s the b o n d s m a n slaves a w a y a n d b e c o m e s a w a r e o f
effect of t h i s d i s s i m u l a t i o n . T h e object of l a b o r t h u s reflects
h i s o w n s i g n a t u r e o n the t h i n g s that h e m a k e s , h e r e c o g n i z e s
the a u t o n o m y of the b o n d s m a n to the extent that the object,
i n the f o r m o f the artifact that h e crafts the m a r k i n g s o f h i s
too, c o v e r s o v e r the d i s s i m u l a t i o n w h i c h i s the a c t i v i t y o f the
o w n l a b o r , m a r k i n g s that are f o r m a t i v e o f the object itself. H i s
b o n d s m a n . I n h i s w o r k , t h e n , the b o n d s m a n d i s c o v e r s o r r e a d s
l a b o r p r o d u c e s a v i s i b l e a n d l e g i b l e set o f m a r k s i n w h i c h the
h i s o w n s i g n a t u r e , b u t w h a t i s i t that m a r k s that s i g n a t u r e a s
b o n d s m a n r e a d s b a c k f r o m the object a c o n f i r m a t i o n o f h i s
h i s o w n ? T h e b o n d s m a n d i s c o v e r s h i s a u t o n o m y , b u t h e does
o w n formative a c t i v i t y T h i s labor, this activity, w h i c h belongs
n o t (yet) see that h i s a u t o n o m y is the d i s s i m u l a t e d effect of
f r o m the start t o the l o r d , i s n e v e r t h e l e s s reflected b a c k t o the
the l o r d ' s . ( N o r d o e s h e see that the l o r d ' s a u t o n o m y i s itself
b o n d s m a n a s h i s o w n l a b o r , a l a b o r that emanates f r o m h i m ,
a d i s s i m u l a t i o n : the l o r d effects the a u t o n o m y o f d i s e m b o d i e d
e v e n i f i t a p p e a r s t o e m a n a t e f r o m the l o r d . C a n , t h e n , the l a b o r reflected b a c k b e s a i d f i n a l l y t o b e the b o n d s m a n ' s o w n ? R e m e m b e r that the l o r d has d i s a v o w e d h i s
r e f l e c t i o n a n d delegates the a u t o n o m y o f e m b o d i m e n t t o the b o n d s m a n , t h u s p r o d u c i n g t w o " a u t o n o m i e s " that a p p e a r a t the outset r a d i c a l l y t o e x c l u d e o n e another.)
o w n l a b o r i n g b e i n g , his b o d y as an i n s t r u m e n t of labor, a n d
B u t h e r e a q u e s t i o n e m e r g e s : D o e s the b o n d s m a n ' s a c t i v i t y
has e s t a b l i s h e d the b o n d s m a n a s the o n e w h o w i l l o c c u p y the
r e m a i n f u l l y c o n s t r a i n e d b y the d i s s i m u l a t i o n b y w h i c h i t i s
l o r d ' s b o d y for h i m . I n t h i s sense, the l o r d has c o n t r a c t e d the
m o b i l i z e d ? O r does t h i s d i s s i m u l a t i o n p r o d u c e effects that ex-
b o n d s m a n as a surrogate or substitute. The b o n d s m a n thus
c e e d the c o n t r o l o r d o m i n i o n o f the l o r d ?
b e l o n g s t o the l o r d , b u t w i t h a k i n d o f b e l o n g i n g that c a n n o t
I f the b o n d s m a n i s t o r e c o g n i z e the m a r k s m a d e o n the
b e a v o w e d , f o r t o a v o w the b e l o n g i n g w o u l d b e t o a v o w the
object a s h i s o w n , t h e n that r e c o g n i t i o n m u s t t a k e p l a c e
s u b s t i t u t i o n a n d , hence, t o e x p o s e the l o r d a s b e i n g the b o d y
t h r o u g h a n act o f r e a d i n g o r i n t e r p r e t a t i o n b y w h i c h the m a r k s
w h i c h the l o r d a p p a r e n t l y v e r y m u c h does n o t w a n t t o be.
(Zeichen) that the b o n d s m a n sees are s o m e h o w u n d e r s t o o d to
H e n c e , it is as a s u b s t i t u t e in the s e r v i c e of d i s a v o w a l that the
r e p r e s e n t the b o n d s m a n . I t i s n o t that the a c t i v i t y m u s t b e w i t -
b o n d s m a n l a b o r s ; o n l y b y m i m i n g a n d c o v e r i n g o v e r the m i -
n e s s e d , b u t that the signs p r o d u c e d m u s t be r e a d as an effect
m e t i c status o f that l a b o r c a n the b o n d s m a n a p p e a r t o b e b o t h
o f the e f f e c t i v i t y that d e s i g n a t e s the b o n d s m a n , m u s t i n s o m e
36
Stubborn Attachment, Bodily Subjection
Hegel's Unhappy Consciousness
37
A t the c l o s e o f the s e c t i o n o n l o r d s h i p a n d b o n d a g e , the
a c t i v e a n d a u t o n o m o u s . I n d e e d , the object e m e r g e s a s the o b -
b o n d s m a n l a b o r s a w a y i n a r e p e t i t i v e f a s h i o n o n objects that
j e c t i f i c a t i o n o f the b o n d s m a n ' s l a b o r , a n d t h u s a s a n i n s t a n c e
b e l o n g t o the l o r d . I n t h i s sense, b o t h h i s l a b o r a n d h i s p r o d u c t s
of that l a b o r , a c o n g e a l i n g a n d r e f l e c t i o n of that labor. B u t
are p r e s u m e d f r o m the start t o b e o t h e r t h a n h i s o w n , e x p r o -
w h a t , t h e n , d o e s the object reflect? Is it the a u t o n o m y of the
p r i a t e d . T h e y are g i v e n a w a y p r i o r t o a n y p o s s i b i l i t y o f g i v i n g
b o n d s m a n ? O r i s i t the d i s s i m u l a t e d effect o f a u t o n o m y that
t h e m a w a y , s i n c e t h e y are, s t r i c t l y s p e a k i n g , n e v e r the b o n d s -
r e s u l t s f r o m the c o n t r a c t m a d e b e t w e e n l o r d a n d b o n d s m a n ?
m a n ' s t o g i v e . A n d yet, t h i s " c o n t r a c t " i n w h i c h the b o n d s -
I n o t h e r w o r d s , i f the b o n d s m a n effects a u t o n o m y t h r o u g h a
m a n s u b s t i t u t e s h i m s e l f f o r the l o r d b e c o m e s c o n s e q u e n t i a l ;
m i m i n g o f the l o r d ' s b o d y , a m i m i n g w h i c h r e m a i n s h i d d e n
the s u b s t i t u t i o n itself b e c o m e s f o r m a t i v e o f a n d for the b o n d s -
f r o m the l o r d , t h e n the " a u t o n o m y " o f the slave i s the c r e d i b l e
m a n . A s the b o n d s m a n slaves a w a y a n d b e c o m e s a w a r e o f
effect of t h i s d i s s i m u l a t i o n . T h e object of l a b o r t h u s reflects
h i s o w n s i g n a t u r e o n the t h i n g s that h e m a k e s , h e r e c o g n i z e s
the a u t o n o m y of the b o n d s m a n to the extent that the object,
i n the f o r m o f the artifact that h e crafts the m a r k i n g s o f h i s
too, c o v e r s o v e r the d i s s i m u l a t i o n w h i c h i s the a c t i v i t y o f the
o w n l a b o r , m a r k i n g s that are f o r m a t i v e o f the object itself. H i s
b o n d s m a n . I n h i s w o r k , t h e n , the b o n d s m a n d i s c o v e r s o r r e a d s
l a b o r p r o d u c e s a v i s i b l e a n d l e g i b l e set o f m a r k s i n w h i c h the
h i s o w n s i g n a t u r e , b u t w h a t i s i t that m a r k s that s i g n a t u r e a s
b o n d s m a n r e a d s b a c k f r o m the object a c o n f i r m a t i o n o f h i s
h i s o w n ? T h e b o n d s m a n d i s c o v e r s h i s a u t o n o m y , b u t h e does
o w n formative a c t i v i t y T h i s labor, this activity, w h i c h belongs
n o t (yet) see that h i s a u t o n o m y is the d i s s i m u l a t e d effect of
f r o m the start t o the l o r d , i s n e v e r t h e l e s s reflected b a c k t o the
the l o r d ' s . ( N o r d o e s h e see that the l o r d ' s a u t o n o m y i s itself
b o n d s m a n a s h i s o w n l a b o r , a l a b o r that emanates f r o m h i m ,
a d i s s i m u l a t i o n : the l o r d effects the a u t o n o m y o f d i s e m b o d i e d
e v e n i f i t a p p e a r s t o e m a n a t e f r o m the l o r d . C a n , t h e n , the l a b o r reflected b a c k b e s a i d f i n a l l y t o b e the b o n d s m a n ' s o w n ? R e m e m b e r that the l o r d has d i s a v o w e d h i s
r e f l e c t i o n a n d delegates the a u t o n o m y o f e m b o d i m e n t t o the b o n d s m a n , t h u s p r o d u c i n g t w o " a u t o n o m i e s " that a p p e a r a t the outset r a d i c a l l y t o e x c l u d e o n e another.)
o w n l a b o r i n g b e i n g , his b o d y as an i n s t r u m e n t of labor, a n d
B u t h e r e a q u e s t i o n e m e r g e s : D o e s the b o n d s m a n ' s a c t i v i t y
has e s t a b l i s h e d the b o n d s m a n a s the o n e w h o w i l l o c c u p y the
r e m a i n f u l l y c o n s t r a i n e d b y the d i s s i m u l a t i o n b y w h i c h i t i s
l o r d ' s b o d y for h i m . I n t h i s sense, the l o r d has c o n t r a c t e d the
m o b i l i z e d ? O r does t h i s d i s s i m u l a t i o n p r o d u c e effects that ex-
b o n d s m a n as a surrogate or substitute. The b o n d s m a n thus
c e e d the c o n t r o l o r d o m i n i o n o f the l o r d ?
b e l o n g s t o the l o r d , b u t w i t h a k i n d o f b e l o n g i n g that c a n n o t
I f the b o n d s m a n i s t o r e c o g n i z e the m a r k s m a d e o n the
b e a v o w e d , f o r t o a v o w the b e l o n g i n g w o u l d b e t o a v o w the
object a s h i s o w n , t h e n that r e c o g n i t i o n m u s t t a k e p l a c e
s u b s t i t u t i o n a n d , hence, t o e x p o s e the l o r d a s b e i n g the b o d y
t h r o u g h a n act o f r e a d i n g o r i n t e r p r e t a t i o n b y w h i c h the m a r k s
w h i c h the l o r d a p p a r e n t l y v e r y m u c h does n o t w a n t t o be.
(Zeichen) that the b o n d s m a n sees are s o m e h o w u n d e r s t o o d to
H e n c e , it is as a s u b s t i t u t e in the s e r v i c e of d i s a v o w a l that the
r e p r e s e n t the b o n d s m a n . I t i s n o t that the a c t i v i t y m u s t b e w i t -
b o n d s m a n l a b o r s ; o n l y b y m i m i n g a n d c o v e r i n g o v e r the m i -
n e s s e d , b u t that the signs p r o d u c e d m u s t be r e a d as an effect
m e t i c status o f that l a b o r c a n the b o n d s m a n a p p e a r t o b e b o t h
o f the e f f e c t i v i t y that d e s i g n a t e s the b o n d s m a n , m u s t i n s o m e
Stubborn Attachment, B o d i l y Subjection
Hegel's Unhappy Consciousness
w a y b e u n d e r s t o o d t o refer r e t r o a c t i v e l y t o the b o n d s m a n a s
n a t u r e of the b o n d s m a n . W h a t e m e r g e s is less a p a l i m p s e s t i c
s i g n a t o r y . I f w e are t o u n d e r s t a n d the f o r m i n g o f the object
object—like Kafka's topographies—than a m a r k of ownership
a s the i n s c r i b i n g o f the b o n d s m a n ' s s i g n a t u r e , the f o r m a t i v e
p r o d u c e d t h r o u g h a set of c o n s e q u e n t i a l erasures.
38
39
p r i n c i p l e of the object to be the f o r m a t i o n of h i s s i g n a t u r e , t h e n
S i g n i f i c a n t l y , the b o n d s m a n n e v e r t h e l e s s d e r i v e s a sense of
the b o n d s m a n ' s s i g n a t u r e d e s i g n a t e s a d o m a i n of c o n t e s t e d
s e l f - r e c o g n i t i o n a t the e n d o f the c h a p t e r , b u t n o t b y r e a d i n g
o w n e r s h i p . T h i s i s his m a r k , w h i c h h e c a n r e a d ( w e s h a l l let the
b a c k h i s s i g n a t u r e f r o m the object. A f t e r a l l , that s i g n a t u r e has
b o n d s m a n o c c u p y the site o f p r e s u m p t i v e m a s c u l i n i t y ) , a n d
b e e n w r i t t e n o v e r b y the s i g n a t u r e o f the l o r d . H e r e c o g n i z e s
s o the object a p p e a r s t o b e l o n g t o h i m . Yet this object m a r k e d
h i m s e l f i n the v e r y f o r f e i t u r e o f the s i g n a t u r e , i n the threat
b y h i m , w h i c h has h i s m a r k o n i t , b e l o n g s t o the l o r d , a t least
t o a u t o n o m y that s u c h a n e x p r o p r i a t i o n p r o d u c e s . S t r a n g e l y ,
n o m i n a l l y . T h e b o n d s m a n s i g n s , a s i t w e r e , for the l o r d , a s a
t h e n , a c e r t a i n s e l f - r e c o g n i t i o n i s d e r i v e d f r o m the r a d i c a l l y
p r o x y s i g n a t o r y , as a d e l e g a t e d s u b s t i t u t e . T h u s the s i g n a t u r e
t e n u o u s status o f the b o n d s m a n ; i t i s a c h i e v e d t h r o u g h the ex-
d o e s n o t seal o w n e r s h i p o f the object b y the b o n d s m a n , b u t
p e r i e n c e of absolute fear.
b e c o m e s the site for the r e d o u b l i n g o f o w n e r s h i p a n d , h e n c e , sets the stage for a scene of c o n t e s t a t i o n .
T h i s fear is a fear of a c e r t a i n loss of c o n t r o l , a c e r t a i n t r a n sience a n d e x p r o p r i a b i l i t y p r o d u c e d b y the a c t i v i t y o f labor.
T h e m a r k o r s i g n o n the object i s n o t s i m p l y the p r o p e r t y
H e r e the l o g i c o f the b o n d s m a n ' s a c t i v i t y a p p e a r s c u r i o u s l y t o
o f the b o n d s m a n — t h i s object w i t h h i s m a r k o n i t i m p l i e s f o r
c o n v e r g e w i t h that o f the l o r d . E a r l i e r i t s e e m e d that the l o r d
h i m that h e i s a b e i n g w h o m a r k s t h i n g s , w h o s e a c t i v i t y p r o -
o c c u p i e d the p l a c e o f p u r e c o n s u m p t i o n , a p p r o p r i a t i n g a n d
d u c e s a s i n g u l a r effect, a s i g n a t u r e , w h i c h is i r r e d u c i b l y h i s .
e x t i n g u i s h i n g a l l that the b o n d s m a n m a d e . T h e b o n d s m a n , b y
T h a t s i g n a t u r e i s e r a s e d w h e n the object i s g i v e n o v e r t o the
contrast, a c h i e v e d the e x p e r i e n c e o f s e l f - r e f l e x i v i t y t h r o u g h
l o r d , w h o s t a m p s i t w i t h his n a m e , o w n s i t , o r c o n s u m e s i t i n
w o r k i n g o n a n d c r e a t i n g a n object that b o r e the m a r k s o f h i s
s o m e w a y . T h e w o r k i n g o f the slave i s t h u s t o b e u n d e r s t o o d
being, a n d thereby understood himself as a being w h o forms
as a m a r k i n g w h i c h r e g u l a r l y u n m a r k s itself, a s i g n a t o r y act
o r creates t h i n g s w h i c h o u t l a s t h i m , a p r o d u c e r o f p e r m a n e n t
w h i c h p u t s itself u n d e r e r a s u r e a t the m o m e n t i n w h i c h i t i s
t h i n g s . F o r the l o r d , o c c u p y i n g the p o s i t i o n o f p u r e c o n s u m p -
circulated, for c i r c u l a t i o n here is a l w a y s a matter of e x p r o p r i a -
t i o n , objects w e r e t r a n s i t o r y , a n d h e h i m s e l f w a s d e f i n e d a s a
t i o n b y the l o r d . T h e slave, o f c o u r s e , f r o m the start has b e e n
series o f t r a n s i t o r y desires. F o r the l o r d , t h e n , n o t h i n g s e e m e d
w o r k i n g f o r a n o t h e r , u n d e r the n a m e o r s i g n o f s o m e other,
t o last, e x c e p t p e r h a p s h i s o w n c o n s u m i n g a c t i v i t y , h i s o w n
a n d s o has b e e n m a r k i n g the object w i t h h i s o w n s i g n a t u r e
e n d l e s s desire.
u n d e r a set o f c o n d i t i o n s i n w h i c h that s i g n a t u r e i s a l w a y s
T h e s e t w o p o s i t i o n s , h o w e v e r , are n o t r a d i c a l l y o p p o s e d t o
a l r e a d y e r a s e d , w r i t t e n o v e r , e x p r o p r i a t e d , r e s i g n i f i e d . I f the
o n e a n o t h e r , for e a c h i n a different w a y e x p e r i e n c e s o n l y a n d
b o n d s m a n w r i t e s o v e r the s i g n a t o r y o f the l o r d , t e m p o r a r i l y
a l w a y s the loss o f the object a n d , w i t h that loss, the e x p e r i e n c e
r e v e r s i n g the s u b o r d i n a t e p o s i t i o n o f the p r o x y t o the o r i g i -
of a f e a r f u l t r a n s i e n c e . W o r k is, f o r H e g e l , a f o r m of d e s i r e ,
n a l , the l o r d r e a p p r o p r i a t e s the object b y w r i t i n g o v e r the s i g -
a f o r m w h i c h i d e a l l y s u p p r e s s e s the t r a n s i t o r y c h a r a c t e r o f
Stubborn Attachment, B o d i l y Subjection
Hegel's Unhappy Consciousness
w a y b e u n d e r s t o o d t o refer r e t r o a c t i v e l y t o the b o n d s m a n a s
n a t u r e of the b o n d s m a n . W h a t e m e r g e s is less a p a l i m p s e s t i c
s i g n a t o r y . I f w e are t o u n d e r s t a n d the f o r m i n g o f the object
object—like Kafka's topographies—than a m a r k of ownership
a s the i n s c r i b i n g o f the b o n d s m a n ' s s i g n a t u r e , the f o r m a t i v e
p r o d u c e d t h r o u g h a set of c o n s e q u e n t i a l erasures.
38
39
p r i n c i p l e of the object to be the f o r m a t i o n of h i s s i g n a t u r e , t h e n
S i g n i f i c a n t l y , the b o n d s m a n n e v e r t h e l e s s d e r i v e s a sense of
the b o n d s m a n ' s s i g n a t u r e d e s i g n a t e s a d o m a i n of c o n t e s t e d
s e l f - r e c o g n i t i o n a t the e n d o f the c h a p t e r , b u t n o t b y r e a d i n g
o w n e r s h i p . T h i s i s his m a r k , w h i c h h e c a n r e a d ( w e s h a l l let the
b a c k h i s s i g n a t u r e f r o m the object. A f t e r a l l , that s i g n a t u r e has
b o n d s m a n o c c u p y the site o f p r e s u m p t i v e m a s c u l i n i t y ) , a n d
b e e n w r i t t e n o v e r b y the s i g n a t u r e o f the l o r d . H e r e c o g n i z e s
s o the object a p p e a r s t o b e l o n g t o h i m . Yet this object m a r k e d
h i m s e l f i n the v e r y f o r f e i t u r e o f the s i g n a t u r e , i n the threat
b y h i m , w h i c h has h i s m a r k o n i t , b e l o n g s t o the l o r d , a t least
t o a u t o n o m y that s u c h a n e x p r o p r i a t i o n p r o d u c e s . S t r a n g e l y ,
n o m i n a l l y . T h e b o n d s m a n s i g n s , a s i t w e r e , for the l o r d , a s a
t h e n , a c e r t a i n s e l f - r e c o g n i t i o n i s d e r i v e d f r o m the r a d i c a l l y
p r o x y s i g n a t o r y , as a d e l e g a t e d s u b s t i t u t e . T h u s the s i g n a t u r e
t e n u o u s status o f the b o n d s m a n ; i t i s a c h i e v e d t h r o u g h the ex-
d o e s n o t seal o w n e r s h i p o f the object b y the b o n d s m a n , b u t
p e r i e n c e of absolute fear.
b e c o m e s the site for the r e d o u b l i n g o f o w n e r s h i p a n d , h e n c e , sets the stage for a scene of c o n t e s t a t i o n .
T h i s fear is a fear of a c e r t a i n loss of c o n t r o l , a c e r t a i n t r a n sience a n d e x p r o p r i a b i l i t y p r o d u c e d b y the a c t i v i t y o f labor.
T h e m a r k o r s i g n o n the object i s n o t s i m p l y the p r o p e r t y
H e r e the l o g i c o f the b o n d s m a n ' s a c t i v i t y a p p e a r s c u r i o u s l y t o
o f the b o n d s m a n — t h i s object w i t h h i s m a r k o n i t i m p l i e s f o r
c o n v e r g e w i t h that o f the l o r d . E a r l i e r i t s e e m e d that the l o r d
h i m that h e i s a b e i n g w h o m a r k s t h i n g s , w h o s e a c t i v i t y p r o -
o c c u p i e d the p l a c e o f p u r e c o n s u m p t i o n , a p p r o p r i a t i n g a n d
d u c e s a s i n g u l a r effect, a s i g n a t u r e , w h i c h is i r r e d u c i b l y h i s .
e x t i n g u i s h i n g a l l that the b o n d s m a n m a d e . T h e b o n d s m a n , b y
T h a t s i g n a t u r e i s e r a s e d w h e n the object i s g i v e n o v e r t o the
contrast, a c h i e v e d the e x p e r i e n c e o f s e l f - r e f l e x i v i t y t h r o u g h
l o r d , w h o s t a m p s i t w i t h his n a m e , o w n s i t , o r c o n s u m e s i t i n
w o r k i n g o n a n d c r e a t i n g a n object that b o r e the m a r k s o f h i s
s o m e w a y . T h e w o r k i n g o f the slave i s t h u s t o b e u n d e r s t o o d
being, a n d thereby understood himself as a being w h o forms
as a m a r k i n g w h i c h r e g u l a r l y u n m a r k s itself, a s i g n a t o r y act
o r creates t h i n g s w h i c h o u t l a s t h i m , a p r o d u c e r o f p e r m a n e n t
w h i c h p u t s itself u n d e r e r a s u r e a t the m o m e n t i n w h i c h i t i s
t h i n g s . F o r the l o r d , o c c u p y i n g the p o s i t i o n o f p u r e c o n s u m p -
circulated, for c i r c u l a t i o n here is a l w a y s a matter of e x p r o p r i a -
t i o n , objects w e r e t r a n s i t o r y , a n d h e h i m s e l f w a s d e f i n e d a s a
t i o n b y the l o r d . T h e slave, o f c o u r s e , f r o m the start has b e e n
series o f t r a n s i t o r y desires. F o r the l o r d , t h e n , n o t h i n g s e e m e d
w o r k i n g f o r a n o t h e r , u n d e r the n a m e o r s i g n o f s o m e other,
t o last, e x c e p t p e r h a p s h i s o w n c o n s u m i n g a c t i v i t y , h i s o w n
a n d s o has b e e n m a r k i n g the object w i t h h i s o w n s i g n a t u r e
e n d l e s s desire.
u n d e r a set o f c o n d i t i o n s i n w h i c h that s i g n a t u r e i s a l w a y s
T h e s e t w o p o s i t i o n s , h o w e v e r , are n o t r a d i c a l l y o p p o s e d t o
a l r e a d y e r a s e d , w r i t t e n o v e r , e x p r o p r i a t e d , r e s i g n i f i e d . I f the
o n e a n o t h e r , for e a c h i n a different w a y e x p e r i e n c e s o n l y a n d
b o n d s m a n w r i t e s o v e r the s i g n a t o r y o f the l o r d , t e m p o r a r i l y
a l w a y s the loss o f the object a n d , w i t h that loss, the e x p e r i e n c e
r e v e r s i n g the s u b o r d i n a t e p o s i t i o n o f the p r o x y t o the o r i g i -
of a f e a r f u l t r a n s i e n c e . W o r k is, f o r H e g e l , a f o r m of d e s i r e ,
n a l , the l o r d r e a p p r o p r i a t e s the object b y w r i t i n g o v e r the s i g -
a f o r m w h i c h i d e a l l y s u p p r e s s e s the t r a n s i t o r y c h a r a c t e r o f
40
Stubborn Attachment, B o d i l y Subjection
Hegel's Unhappy Consciousness
41
d e s i r e ; i n h i s w o r d s , " w o r k i s d e s i r e h e l d i n c h e c k , fleetingness
T h i s e x p r o p r i a t i o n o f the object d o e s n o t negate the b o n d s -
s t a v e d off" (118/153). T o w o r k o n a n object i s t o g i v e i t f o r m ,
m a n ' s sense o f h i m s e l f a s a l a b o r i n g b e i n g , b u t i t d o e s i m p l y
a n d t o g i v e i t f o r m i s t o g i v e i t a n e x i s t e n c e that o v e r c o m e s
that w h a t e v e r h e m a k e s , h e a l s o loses. T h e d e t e r m i n a t e t h i n g
t r a n s i t o r i n e s s . T h e c o n s u m p t i o n o f the object i s the n e g a t i o n o f
that the b o n d s m a n m a k e s reflects the b o n d s m a n h i m s e l f as a
that effect of p e r m a n e n c e ; the c o n s u m p t i o n of the object is its
d e t e r m i n a t e t h i n g . B u t b e c a u s e the object i s g i v e n a w a y , h e b e -
déformation. T h e a c c u m u l a t i o n o f p r o p e r t y , h o w e v e r , r e q u i r e s
c o m e s that w h i c h c a n b e f o r f e i t e d . I f the object i s the c o n g e a l -
that f o r m e d objects b e p o s s e s s e d r a t h e r t h a n c o n s u m e d ; o n l y
i n g o r f o r m i n g o f l a b o r , a n d i f the l a b o r i s that o f the b o n d s -
a s p r o p e r t y d o objects r e t a i n t h e i r f o r m a n d "stave off fleet-
m a n , t h e n the d e t e r m i n a t e a n d t r a n s i e n t c h a r a c t e r o f the t h i n g
i n g n e s s . " O n l y a s p r o p e r t y d o objects f u l f i l l the t h e o l o g i c a l
w i l l i m p l y the d e t e r m i n a t e a n d t r a n s i e n t c h a r a c t e r o f the
p r o m i s e w i t h w h i c h t h e y are i n v e s t e d .
b o n d s m a n . T h e l a b o r i n g b o d y w h i c h n o w k n o w s itself t o h a v e
T h e b o n d s m a n ' s fear, t h e n , c o n s i s t s i n the e x p e r i e n c e o f
f o r m e d the object also k n o w s that it is transient. T h e b o n d s m a n
h a v i n g w h a t a p p e a r s t o b e h i s p r o p e r t y e x p r o p r i a t e d . I n the
not o n l y negates t h i n g s ( i n the sense o f t r a n s f o r m i n g t h e m
e x p e r i e n c e o f g i v i n g u p w h a t h e has m a d e , the b o n d s m a n
t h r o u g h labor) a n d is a n e g a t i n g a c t i v i t y , b u t he is subject to a
u n d e r s t a n d s t w o i s s u e s : first, that w h a t h e i s i s e m b o d i e d o r
full a n d final negation in death. T h i s confrontation of death at
s i g n i f i e d i n w h a t h e m a k e s , a n d s e c o n d , that w h a t h e m a k e s i s
the e n d of the c h a p t e r r e c a l l s the l i f e - a n d - d e a t h s t r u g g l e at its
m a d e u n d e r the c o m p u l s i o n t o g i v e i t u p . H e n c e , i f the object
b e g i n n i n g . The strategy of d o m i n a t i o n w a s meant to replace
defines h i m , reflects b a c k w h a t h e is, i s the s i g n a t o r y text b y
the l i f e - a n d - d e a t h s t r u g g l e . B u t i n the e a r l i e r v e r s i o n d e a t h
w h i c h h e a c q u i r e s a sense o f w h o h e is, a n d i f t h o s e objects are
h a p p e n e d t h r o u g h the v i o l e n c e o f the o t h e r ; d o m i n a t i o n w a s
r e l e n t l e s s l y s a c r i f i c e d , t h e n he is a r e l e n t l e s s l y s e l f - s a c r i f i c i n g
a w a y of f o r c i n g the o t h e r to d i e within the c o n t e x t of life.
being. He can recognize his o w n signature o n l y as what is con-
T h e f a i l u r e of d o m i n a t i o n as a s t r a t e g y r e i n t r o d u c e s the fear of
s t a n t l y b e i n g e r a s e d , a s a p e r s i s t e n t site o f v a n i s h i n g . H e has
d e a t h , b u t locates i t a s the i n e v i t a b l e fate o f a n y b e i n g w h o s e
n o c o n t r o l o v e r w h a t h e p u t s h i s n a m e t o o r o v e r the p u r p o s e s
consciousness is d e t e r m i n e d a n d e m b o d i e d , no longer as a
t o w h i c h h e seeks t o fasten h i s n a m e . H i s s i g n a t u r e i s a n act
threat p o s e d b y a n o t h e r . T h e b o n d s m a n v e r g e s o n t h i s shatter-
o f self-erasure: h e r e a d s that the s i g n a t u r e i s h i s , that h i s o w n e x i s t e n c e a p p e a r s t o b e i r r e d u c i b l y h i s o w n , that w h a t i s i r r e d u c i b l y h i s o w n i s h i s o w n v a n i s h i n g , a n d that t h i s v a n i s h i n g is effected by a n o t h e r — t h a t is, that t h i s is a s o c i a l l y c o m p e l l e d f o r m o f self-erasure. N o t o n l y d o e s h e l a b o r for a n o t h e r , w h o takes the y i e l d o f h i s l a b o r , b u t h e g i v e s u p h i s s i g n a t u r e for the s i g n a t u r e o f the other, n o l o n g e r m a r k i n g o w n e r s h i p o f h i s o w n labor in any way.
i n g r e c o g n i t i o n o f h i s o w n d e a t h i n the last p a r a g r a p h o f the chapter, b u t h e r e c o i l s f r o m r e c o g n i z i n g d e a t h , a t t a c h i n g h i m self i n s t e a d t o v a r i o u s a t t r i b u t e s o f h i s o w n , t a k i n g u p a p o s ture of smugness or stubbornness, c l i n g i n g to what appears to be f i r m about himself, f i r m l y clinging to himself, in order not t o k n o w that d e a t h threatens e v e r y aspect o f h i s o w n f i r m n e s s : "since the e n t i r e c o n t e n t s o f its n a t u r a l c o n s c i o u s n e s s h a v e n o t b e e n j e o p a r d i z e d , [Indem nicht aile Erfullungen seines naturlichen
40
Stubborn Attachment, B o d i l y Subjection
Hegel's Unhappy Consciousness
41
d e s i r e ; i n h i s w o r d s , " w o r k i s d e s i r e h e l d i n c h e c k , fleetingness
T h i s e x p r o p r i a t i o n o f the object d o e s n o t negate the b o n d s -
s t a v e d off" (118/153). T o w o r k o n a n object i s t o g i v e i t f o r m ,
m a n ' s sense o f h i m s e l f a s a l a b o r i n g b e i n g , b u t i t d o e s i m p l y
a n d t o g i v e i t f o r m i s t o g i v e i t a n e x i s t e n c e that o v e r c o m e s
that w h a t e v e r h e m a k e s , h e a l s o loses. T h e d e t e r m i n a t e t h i n g
t r a n s i t o r i n e s s . T h e c o n s u m p t i o n o f the object i s the n e g a t i o n o f
that the b o n d s m a n m a k e s reflects the b o n d s m a n h i m s e l f as a
that effect of p e r m a n e n c e ; the c o n s u m p t i o n of the object is its
d e t e r m i n a t e t h i n g . B u t b e c a u s e the object i s g i v e n a w a y , h e b e -
déformation. T h e a c c u m u l a t i o n o f p r o p e r t y , h o w e v e r , r e q u i r e s
c o m e s that w h i c h c a n b e f o r f e i t e d . I f the object i s the c o n g e a l -
that f o r m e d objects b e p o s s e s s e d r a t h e r t h a n c o n s u m e d ; o n l y
i n g o r f o r m i n g o f l a b o r , a n d i f the l a b o r i s that o f the b o n d s -
a s p r o p e r t y d o objects r e t a i n t h e i r f o r m a n d "stave off fleet-
m a n , t h e n the d e t e r m i n a t e a n d t r a n s i e n t c h a r a c t e r o f the t h i n g
i n g n e s s . " O n l y a s p r o p e r t y d o objects f u l f i l l the t h e o l o g i c a l
w i l l i m p l y the d e t e r m i n a t e a n d t r a n s i e n t c h a r a c t e r o f the
p r o m i s e w i t h w h i c h t h e y are i n v e s t e d .
b o n d s m a n . T h e l a b o r i n g b o d y w h i c h n o w k n o w s itself t o h a v e
T h e b o n d s m a n ' s fear, t h e n , c o n s i s t s i n the e x p e r i e n c e o f
f o r m e d the object also k n o w s that it is transient. T h e b o n d s m a n
h a v i n g w h a t a p p e a r s t o b e h i s p r o p e r t y e x p r o p r i a t e d . I n the
not o n l y negates t h i n g s ( i n the sense o f t r a n s f o r m i n g t h e m
e x p e r i e n c e o f g i v i n g u p w h a t h e has m a d e , the b o n d s m a n
t h r o u g h labor) a n d is a n e g a t i n g a c t i v i t y , b u t he is subject to a
u n d e r s t a n d s t w o i s s u e s : first, that w h a t h e i s i s e m b o d i e d o r
full a n d final negation in death. T h i s confrontation of death at
s i g n i f i e d i n w h a t h e m a k e s , a n d s e c o n d , that w h a t h e m a k e s i s
the e n d of the c h a p t e r r e c a l l s the l i f e - a n d - d e a t h s t r u g g l e at its
m a d e u n d e r the c o m p u l s i o n t o g i v e i t u p . H e n c e , i f the object
b e g i n n i n g . The strategy of d o m i n a t i o n w a s meant to replace
defines h i m , reflects b a c k w h a t h e is, i s the s i g n a t o r y text b y
the l i f e - a n d - d e a t h s t r u g g l e . B u t i n the e a r l i e r v e r s i o n d e a t h
w h i c h h e a c q u i r e s a sense o f w h o h e is, a n d i f t h o s e objects are
h a p p e n e d t h r o u g h the v i o l e n c e o f the o t h e r ; d o m i n a t i o n w a s
r e l e n t l e s s l y s a c r i f i c e d , t h e n he is a r e l e n t l e s s l y s e l f - s a c r i f i c i n g
a w a y of f o r c i n g the o t h e r to d i e within the c o n t e x t of life.
being. He can recognize his o w n signature o n l y as what is con-
T h e f a i l u r e of d o m i n a t i o n as a s t r a t e g y r e i n t r o d u c e s the fear of
s t a n t l y b e i n g e r a s e d , a s a p e r s i s t e n t site o f v a n i s h i n g . H e has
d e a t h , b u t locates i t a s the i n e v i t a b l e fate o f a n y b e i n g w h o s e
n o c o n t r o l o v e r w h a t h e p u t s h i s n a m e t o o r o v e r the p u r p o s e s
consciousness is d e t e r m i n e d a n d e m b o d i e d , no longer as a
t o w h i c h h e seeks t o fasten h i s n a m e . H i s s i g n a t u r e i s a n act
threat p o s e d b y a n o t h e r . T h e b o n d s m a n v e r g e s o n t h i s shatter-
o f self-erasure: h e r e a d s that the s i g n a t u r e i s h i s , that h i s o w n e x i s t e n c e a p p e a r s t o b e i r r e d u c i b l y h i s o w n , that w h a t i s i r r e d u c i b l y h i s o w n i s h i s o w n v a n i s h i n g , a n d that t h i s v a n i s h i n g is effected by a n o t h e r — t h a t is, that t h i s is a s o c i a l l y c o m p e l l e d f o r m o f self-erasure. N o t o n l y d o e s h e l a b o r for a n o t h e r , w h o takes the y i e l d o f h i s l a b o r , b u t h e g i v e s u p h i s s i g n a t u r e for the s i g n a t u r e o f the other, n o l o n g e r m a r k i n g o w n e r s h i p o f h i s o w n labor in any way.
i n g r e c o g n i t i o n o f h i s o w n d e a t h i n the last p a r a g r a p h o f the chapter, b u t h e r e c o i l s f r o m r e c o g n i z i n g d e a t h , a t t a c h i n g h i m self i n s t e a d t o v a r i o u s a t t r i b u t e s o f h i s o w n , t a k i n g u p a p o s ture of smugness or stubbornness, c l i n g i n g to what appears to be f i r m about himself, f i r m l y clinging to himself, in order not t o k n o w that d e a t h threatens e v e r y aspect o f h i s o w n f i r m n e s s : "since the e n t i r e c o n t e n t s o f its n a t u r a l c o n s c i o u s n e s s h a v e n o t b e e n j e o p a r d i z e d , [Indem nicht aile Erfullungen seines naturlichen
Stubborn Attachment, B o d i l y Subjection
Hegel's Unhappy Consciousness
Bewusstseins wankend geworden] d e t e r m i n a t e b e i n g s t i l l in prin-
o f s e r v i t u d e . C o n s c i o u s n e s s c l i n g s o r attaches t o itself, a n d
ciple attaches to it; h a v i n g a m i n d of one's o w n is s e l f - w i l l , a
t h i s c l i n g i n g to c o n s c i o u s n e s s is at the s a m e t i m e a d i s a v o w a l
f r e e d o m s t i l l e n m e s h e d i n s e r v i t u d e " (119/155).
o f the b o d y , w h i c h a p p e a r s t o s i g n i f y the t e r r o r o f d e a t h , "the
42
43
T h e u n h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s e m e r g e s h e r e i n the m o v e m e n t
a b s o l u t e fear." T h e u n h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s r e q u i r e s a n d e n -
by w h i c h terror is allayed through a resolution of stubborn-
gages t h i s a t t a c h m e n t b y i n v o k i n g a n i m p e r a t i v e . Its fear i s
ness or, rather, t h r o u g h the a c t i o n b y w h i c h t e r r o r o f b o d i l y
a l l a y e d b y l e g i s l a t i n g a n e t h i c a l n o r m . H e n c e , the i m p e r a t i v e
d e a t h i s d i s p l a c e d b y a s m u g n e s s a n d s t u b b o r n n e s s that, i n the
t o c l i n g t o o n e s e l f i s m o t i v a t e d b y t h i s a b s o l u t e fear a n d b y the
next chapter, is r e v a l u e d as religious self-righteousness. T h i s
n e e d to refuse that fear. I n a s m u c h as it is an ethical i n j u n c t i o n ,
s a n c t i m o n i o u s self is n o t without t e r r o r : its r e f l e x i v i t y is self-
t h i s i m p e r a t i v e is the d i s a r t i c u l a t e d r e f u s a l of a b s o l u t e fear.
t e r r o r i z i n g . T h e b o d y w h i c h the b o n d s m e n e m b l e m a t i z e d a s
T h e s e c t i o n o n the u n h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s e x p l a i n s the
a l a b o r i n g i n s t r u m e n t i s recast a t the e n d o f the l o r d s h i p a n d
genesis of the s p h e r e of the e t h i c a l as a defense a g a i n s t the
b o n d a g e c h a p t e r as a t r a n s i e n t object, subject to d e a t h . T h e r e c -
a b s o l u t e fear b y w h i c h i t i s m o t i v a t e d . T h e f a b r i c a t i o n o f n o r m s
o g n i t i o n o f the b o d y ' s d e a t h i s a v e r t e d , h o w e v e r , for a m o d e o f
o u t o f ( a n d against) fear, a n d the r e f l e x i v e i m p o s i t i o n o f those
l i v i n g i n w h i c h the b o d y i s ceaselessly d y i n g a w a y : h e n c e , the
n o r m s , subjects the u n h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s i n a d o u b l e sense:
m o v e f r o m the s e r v i t u d e o f the b o n d s m a n t o that o f the u n -
the subject i s s u b o r d i n a t e d t o n o r m s , a n d the n o r m s are s u b -
h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s . T h e b o n d s m a n takes the p l a c e o f the l o r d
j e c t i v a t i n g , that is, t h e y g i v e a n e t h i c a l s h a p e t o the r e f l e x i v i t y
b y r e c o g n i z i n g h i s o w n f o r m a t i v e c a p a c i t y , b u t o n c e the l o r d
o f t h i s e m e r g i n g subject. T h e s u b j e c t i o n that takes p l a c e u n d e r
i s d i s p l a c e d , the b o n d s m a n b e c o m e s l o r d o v e r h i m s e l f , m o r e
the s i g n of the e t h i c a l is a f l i g h t f r o m fear, a n d so is c o n s t i t u t e d
specifically, l o r d over his o w n b o d y ; this f o r m of reflexivity
as a k i n d of f l i g h t a n d d e n i a l , a f e a r f u l f l i g h t f r o m fear that
s i g n a l s the passage f r o m b o n d a g e t o u n h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s .
c o v e r s its fear first w i t h s t u b b o r n e s s a n d t h e n w i t h r e l i g i o u s
It i n v o l v e s s p l i t t i n g the p s y c h e i n t o t w o p a r t s , a l o r d s h i p a n d a
s e l f - r i g h t e o u s n e s s . T h e m o r e a b s o l u t e the e t h i c a l i m p e r a t i v e
b o n d a g e i n t e r n a l t o a s i n g l e c o n s c i o u s n e s s , w h e r e b y the b o d y
b e c o m e s , the m o r e s t u b b o r n or eigensinnig the e n f o r c e m e n t of
is again d i s s i m u l a t e d as an alterity, b u t w h e r e this alterity is
its l a w , the m o r e the a b s o l u t e n e s s of the m o t i v a t i n g fear is at
n o w i n t e r i o r t o the p s y c h e itself. N o l o n g e r subjected a s a n
o n c e a r t i c u l a t e d a n d r e f u s e d . A b s o l u t e fear i s t h u s d i s p l a c e d
e x t e r n a l i n s t r u m e n t o f l a b o r , the b o d y i s s t i l l s p l i t off f r o m
b y the a b s o l u t e l a w w h i c h , p a r a d o x i c a l l y , r e c o n s t i t u t e d the
c o n s c i o u s n e s s . R e c o n s t i t u t e d a s a n i n t e r i o r a l i e n , the b o d y i s
fear as a fear of the l a w .
s u s t a i n e d t h r o u g h its d i s a v o w a l a s w h a t c o n s c i o u s n e s s m u s t continue to disavow.
A b s o l u t e fear w o u l d j e o p a r d i z e a l l d e t e r m i n a t e t h i n g s , i n c l u d i n g the d e t e r m i n a t e t h i n g n e s s o f the b o n d s m a n . T h e f l i g h t
W h a t i s the f o r m that t h i s s e l f - s u b j e c t i o n takes i n the sec-
f r o m that fear, a fear of d e a t h , vacates the t h i n g l i k e c h a r a c t e r of
t i o n o n the u n h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s ? I n the first i n s t a n c e , i t i s a
the subject. T h i s e n t a i l s v a c a t i n g the b o d y a n d c l i n g i n g t o w h a t
f o r m of s t u b b o r n n e s s (eigensinnigkeit). It has a " m i n d of one's
appears to be most disembodied: thought. H e g e l introduces
o w n " or "self-will," but one w h i c h is nevertheless s t i l l a f o r m
s t o i c i s m as a k i n d of d e f e n s i v e c l i n g i n g , o n e that separates
Stubborn Attachment, B o d i l y Subjection
Hegel's Unhappy Consciousness
Bewusstseins wankend geworden] d e t e r m i n a t e b e i n g s t i l l in prin-
o f s e r v i t u d e . C o n s c i o u s n e s s c l i n g s o r attaches t o itself, a n d
ciple attaches to it; h a v i n g a m i n d of one's o w n is s e l f - w i l l , a
t h i s c l i n g i n g to c o n s c i o u s n e s s is at the s a m e t i m e a d i s a v o w a l
f r e e d o m s t i l l e n m e s h e d i n s e r v i t u d e " (119/155).
o f the b o d y , w h i c h a p p e a r s t o s i g n i f y the t e r r o r o f d e a t h , "the
42
43
T h e u n h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s e m e r g e s h e r e i n the m o v e m e n t
a b s o l u t e fear." T h e u n h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s r e q u i r e s a n d e n -
by w h i c h terror is allayed through a resolution of stubborn-
gages t h i s a t t a c h m e n t b y i n v o k i n g a n i m p e r a t i v e . Its fear i s
ness or, rather, t h r o u g h the a c t i o n b y w h i c h t e r r o r o f b o d i l y
a l l a y e d b y l e g i s l a t i n g a n e t h i c a l n o r m . H e n c e , the i m p e r a t i v e
d e a t h i s d i s p l a c e d b y a s m u g n e s s a n d s t u b b o r n n e s s that, i n the
t o c l i n g t o o n e s e l f i s m o t i v a t e d b y t h i s a b s o l u t e fear a n d b y the
next chapter, is r e v a l u e d as religious self-righteousness. T h i s
n e e d to refuse that fear. I n a s m u c h as it is an ethical i n j u n c t i o n ,
s a n c t i m o n i o u s self is n o t without t e r r o r : its r e f l e x i v i t y is self-
t h i s i m p e r a t i v e is the d i s a r t i c u l a t e d r e f u s a l of a b s o l u t e fear.
t e r r o r i z i n g . T h e b o d y w h i c h the b o n d s m e n e m b l e m a t i z e d a s
T h e s e c t i o n o n the u n h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s e x p l a i n s the
a l a b o r i n g i n s t r u m e n t i s recast a t the e n d o f the l o r d s h i p a n d
genesis of the s p h e r e of the e t h i c a l as a defense a g a i n s t the
b o n d a g e c h a p t e r as a t r a n s i e n t object, subject to d e a t h . T h e r e c -
a b s o l u t e fear b y w h i c h i t i s m o t i v a t e d . T h e f a b r i c a t i o n o f n o r m s
o g n i t i o n o f the b o d y ' s d e a t h i s a v e r t e d , h o w e v e r , for a m o d e o f
o u t o f ( a n d against) fear, a n d the r e f l e x i v e i m p o s i t i o n o f those
l i v i n g i n w h i c h the b o d y i s ceaselessly d y i n g a w a y : h e n c e , the
n o r m s , subjects the u n h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s i n a d o u b l e sense:
m o v e f r o m the s e r v i t u d e o f the b o n d s m a n t o that o f the u n -
the subject i s s u b o r d i n a t e d t o n o r m s , a n d the n o r m s are s u b -
h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s . T h e b o n d s m a n takes the p l a c e o f the l o r d
j e c t i v a t i n g , that is, t h e y g i v e a n e t h i c a l s h a p e t o the r e f l e x i v i t y
b y r e c o g n i z i n g h i s o w n f o r m a t i v e c a p a c i t y , b u t o n c e the l o r d
o f t h i s e m e r g i n g subject. T h e s u b j e c t i o n that takes p l a c e u n d e r
i s d i s p l a c e d , the b o n d s m a n b e c o m e s l o r d o v e r h i m s e l f , m o r e
the s i g n of the e t h i c a l is a f l i g h t f r o m fear, a n d so is c o n s t i t u t e d
specifically, l o r d over his o w n b o d y ; this f o r m of reflexivity
as a k i n d of f l i g h t a n d d e n i a l , a f e a r f u l f l i g h t f r o m fear that
s i g n a l s the passage f r o m b o n d a g e t o u n h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s .
c o v e r s its fear first w i t h s t u b b o r n e s s a n d t h e n w i t h r e l i g i o u s
It i n v o l v e s s p l i t t i n g the p s y c h e i n t o t w o p a r t s , a l o r d s h i p a n d a
s e l f - r i g h t e o u s n e s s . T h e m o r e a b s o l u t e the e t h i c a l i m p e r a t i v e
b o n d a g e i n t e r n a l t o a s i n g l e c o n s c i o u s n e s s , w h e r e b y the b o d y
b e c o m e s , the m o r e s t u b b o r n or eigensinnig the e n f o r c e m e n t of
is again d i s s i m u l a t e d as an alterity, b u t w h e r e this alterity is
its l a w , the m o r e the a b s o l u t e n e s s of the m o t i v a t i n g fear is at
n o w i n t e r i o r t o the p s y c h e itself. N o l o n g e r subjected a s a n
o n c e a r t i c u l a t e d a n d r e f u s e d . A b s o l u t e fear i s t h u s d i s p l a c e d
e x t e r n a l i n s t r u m e n t o f l a b o r , the b o d y i s s t i l l s p l i t off f r o m
b y the a b s o l u t e l a w w h i c h , p a r a d o x i c a l l y , r e c o n s t i t u t e d the
c o n s c i o u s n e s s . R e c o n s t i t u t e d a s a n i n t e r i o r a l i e n , the b o d y i s
fear as a fear of the l a w .
s u s t a i n e d t h r o u g h its d i s a v o w a l a s w h a t c o n s c i o u s n e s s m u s t continue to disavow.
A b s o l u t e fear w o u l d j e o p a r d i z e a l l d e t e r m i n a t e t h i n g s , i n c l u d i n g the d e t e r m i n a t e t h i n g n e s s o f the b o n d s m a n . T h e f l i g h t
W h a t i s the f o r m that t h i s s e l f - s u b j e c t i o n takes i n the sec-
f r o m that fear, a fear of d e a t h , vacates the t h i n g l i k e c h a r a c t e r of
t i o n o n the u n h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s ? I n the first i n s t a n c e , i t i s a
the subject. T h i s e n t a i l s v a c a t i n g the b o d y a n d c l i n g i n g t o w h a t
f o r m of s t u b b o r n n e s s (eigensinnigkeit). It has a " m i n d of one's
appears to be most disembodied: thought. H e g e l introduces
o w n " or "self-will," but one w h i c h is nevertheless s t i l l a f o r m
s t o i c i s m as a k i n d of d e f e n s i v e c l i n g i n g , o n e that separates
r Stubborn Attachment, Bodily Subjection
Hegel's Unhappy Consciousness
the a c t i v i t y o f t h i n k i n g f r o m a n y c o n t e n t . F o r H e g e l , s t o i c i s m
f o r m o f s t u b b o r n n e s s o r eigensinnigkeit: " i t i s i n fact l i k e the
w i t h d r a w s i n t o a subjective a n d r a t i o n a l existence that has as
s q u a b b l i n g o f s e l f - w i l l e d c h i l d r e n [eigensinniger Jungen] w h o b y
44
45
its h i g h e s t a i m the a b s o l u t e w i t h d r a w a l f r o m existence p e r se,
c o n t r a d i c t i n g t h e m s e l v e s b u y for t h e m s e l v e s the p l e a s u r e [die
i n c l u d i n g its o w n . T h i s task t u r n s o u t t o b e s e l f - r e f u t i n g , o f
Freude]
c o u r s e , i n s o f a r as e v e n s e l f - r e f u t a t i o n r e q u i r e s a p e r s i s t e n t self
The skeptic overrides his o w n contradictoriness in order to
t o enact the w i t h d r a w a l f r o m its o w n a n d o t h e r existences.
t a k e p l e a s u r e i n f o r c i n g others t o w i t n e s s t h e i r c o n t r a d i c -
B e c a u s e the c o n c e p t u a l act of n e g a t i o n a l w a y s p r e s u p p o s e s a
tions. But this pleasure, a f o r m of s a d i s m , is short-lived, for
p o s i t i o n f r o m w h i c h that n e g a t i o n takes p l a c e , s t o i c i s m e n d s
the s t u b b o r n a n d p e r s i s t e n t c h a r a c t e r o f the s k e p t i c ' s efforts
u p u n d e r s c o r i n g the v e r y p o s i t i v i t y o f the self that i t s o u g h t
w i l l d o u b t l e s s b e c h a l l e n g e d w h e n the s k e p t i c e n c o u n t e r s
t o deny. S k e p t i c i s m f o l l o w s u p o n s t o i c i s m f o r H e g e l b e c a u s e
a n o t h e r l i k e h i m s e l f . I f a n o t h e r s k e p t i c e x p o s e s the first s k e p -
s k e p t i c i s m b e g i n s b y p r e s u p p o s i n g the i n s u p e r a b i l i t y o f the
tic's c o n t r a d i c t i o n s , t h e n the first s k e p t i c i s f o r c e d t o t a k e ac-
of c o n t i n u a l l y c o n t r a d i c t i n g o n e a n o t h e r " (126/162).
t h i n k i n g subject. F o r s k e p t i c i s m , the self is a p e r p e t u a l l y n e -
count of his o w n contradictoriness. This u n d e r s t a n d i n g of his
g a t i n g a c t i v i t y , a c t i v e l y r e f u t i n g the e x i s t e n c e o f e v e r y t h i n g a s
o w n contradictoriness w i l l initiate for h i m a n e w m o d a l i t y
its o w n c o n s t i t u t i v e a c t i v i t y .
o f t h o u g h t . A t t h i s p o i n t , the s k e p t i c b e c o m e s s e l f - c o n s c i o u s
S k e p t i c i s m negates the d o m a i n o f a l t e r i t y b y t r y i n g t o s h o w
o f the c o n s t i t u t i v e c o n t r a d i c t i o n o f h i s o w n n e g a t i n g a c t i v i t y
that a n y g i v e n d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f l o g i c a l n e c e s s i t y t u r n s i n t o its
a n d the u n h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s e m e r g e s a s a n e x p l i c i t f o r m o f
o p p o s i t e a n d , hence, i s n o t w h a t i t is. T h e s k e p t i c traces a n d
ethical reflexivity.
focuses o n t h i s c o n s t a n t v a n i s h i n g o f d e t e r m i n a t e a p p e a r a n c e
I n a sense, the c h i l d i s h a n d s t u b b o r n p l e a s u r e that the s k e p -
w i t h o u t t a k i n g i n t o a c c o u n t the d i a l e c t i c a l l o g i c that o r c h e s -
tic takes i n w a t c h i n g a n o t h e r f a l l t u r n s i n t o a p r o f o u n d u n -
trates a n d u n i f i e s these v a r i o u s o p p o s i t i o n s . H e n c e , n o t h i n g
h a p p i n e s s w h e n he is, as it w e r e , f o r c e d to watch himself f a l l i n t o
i s w h a t i t is, a n d there i s n o l o g i c a l o r e m p i r i c a l g r o u n d ac-
e n d l e s s c o n t r a d i c t i o n s . H e r e the d i s t a n c e a f f o r d e d b y w a t c h -
c e s s i b l e t o the s k e p t i c o n w h i c h the d o m a i n o f a l t e r i t y m i g h t
i n g seems e s s e n t i a l l y l i n k e d t o the s a d i s m o f the p l e a s u r e a n d
rationally be k n o w n . The skeptic's t h i n k i n g becomes a fran-
t o the p o s t u r e o f the s k e p t i c a s o n e w h o e x e m p t s h i m s e l f
tic effort t o m a k e e v e r y g i v e n d e t e r m i n a t i o n d i s a p p e a r i n t o
t h r o u g h v i s u a l d i s t a n c e f r o m the scene that h e w i t n e s s e s . T h e
s o m e o t h e r one, s o that t h i s c o n s t a n t a p p e a r i n g a n d v a n i s h i n g
s a d i s t i c p l e a s u r e i n v o l v e d i n w a t c h i n g a n o t h e r b e c o m e s , i n the
p r o c e e d s a c c o r d i n g t o n o o r d e r o r necessity. T h e s k e p t i c , l i k e
m o d e o f u n h a p p i n e s s , a d i s p l e a s u r a b l e w a t c h i n g o f oneself.
some n e w historicists a m o n g us, ends up p r o d u c i n g contra-
W i t n e s s i n g i m p l i e s a m i m e t i c r e d u p l i c a t i o n o f the self, a n d its
5
d i c t i o n for its o w n sake: s i g n i f i c a n t l y , H e g e l a r g u e s that t h i s
" d i s p a s s i o n " i s b e l i e d b y the p a s s i o n o f m i m e t i c i s m . T h e self
p r o d u c t i o n o f c h a o s ( u n d e r s t o o d a s ceaseless c o n t r a d i c t i o n ) i s
w h o s h o r e d u p its i d e n t i t y b y e n c o u r a g i n g others t o f a l l i n t o
pleasurable i n a s m u c h as the s k e p t i c is a l w a y s able to u n d e r -
c o n t r a d i c t i o n s u d d e n l y sees itself as o n e of t h o s e o t h e r s ; t h i s
m i n e the p o s i t i o n o f h i s p h i l o s o p h i c a l o p p o n e n t .
v i e w i n g o f oneself a t a d i s t a n c e n o t o n l y i n i t i a t e s the u n h a p p y
T h i s k i n d of pleasurable a n d incessant refutation is still a
c o n s c i o u s n e s s b u t a l s o i n v e r t s the s k e p t i c ' s p l e a s u r e i n t o p a i n .
r Stubborn Attachment, Bodily Subjection
Hegel's Unhappy Consciousness
the a c t i v i t y o f t h i n k i n g f r o m a n y c o n t e n t . F o r H e g e l , s t o i c i s m
f o r m o f s t u b b o r n n e s s o r eigensinnigkeit: " i t i s i n fact l i k e the
w i t h d r a w s i n t o a subjective a n d r a t i o n a l existence that has as
s q u a b b l i n g o f s e l f - w i l l e d c h i l d r e n [eigensinniger Jungen] w h o b y
44
45
its h i g h e s t a i m the a b s o l u t e w i t h d r a w a l f r o m existence p e r se,
c o n t r a d i c t i n g t h e m s e l v e s b u y for t h e m s e l v e s the p l e a s u r e [die
i n c l u d i n g its o w n . T h i s task t u r n s o u t t o b e s e l f - r e f u t i n g , o f
Freude]
c o u r s e , i n s o f a r as e v e n s e l f - r e f u t a t i o n r e q u i r e s a p e r s i s t e n t self
The skeptic overrides his o w n contradictoriness in order to
t o enact the w i t h d r a w a l f r o m its o w n a n d o t h e r existences.
t a k e p l e a s u r e i n f o r c i n g others t o w i t n e s s t h e i r c o n t r a d i c -
B e c a u s e the c o n c e p t u a l act of n e g a t i o n a l w a y s p r e s u p p o s e s a
tions. But this pleasure, a f o r m of s a d i s m , is short-lived, for
p o s i t i o n f r o m w h i c h that n e g a t i o n takes p l a c e , s t o i c i s m e n d s
the s t u b b o r n a n d p e r s i s t e n t c h a r a c t e r o f the s k e p t i c ' s efforts
u p u n d e r s c o r i n g the v e r y p o s i t i v i t y o f the self that i t s o u g h t
w i l l d o u b t l e s s b e c h a l l e n g e d w h e n the s k e p t i c e n c o u n t e r s
t o deny. S k e p t i c i s m f o l l o w s u p o n s t o i c i s m f o r H e g e l b e c a u s e
a n o t h e r l i k e h i m s e l f . I f a n o t h e r s k e p t i c e x p o s e s the first s k e p -
s k e p t i c i s m b e g i n s b y p r e s u p p o s i n g the i n s u p e r a b i l i t y o f the
tic's c o n t r a d i c t i o n s , t h e n the first s k e p t i c i s f o r c e d t o t a k e ac-
of c o n t i n u a l l y c o n t r a d i c t i n g o n e a n o t h e r " (126/162).
t h i n k i n g subject. F o r s k e p t i c i s m , the self is a p e r p e t u a l l y n e -
count of his o w n contradictoriness. This u n d e r s t a n d i n g of his
g a t i n g a c t i v i t y , a c t i v e l y r e f u t i n g the e x i s t e n c e o f e v e r y t h i n g a s
o w n contradictoriness w i l l initiate for h i m a n e w m o d a l i t y
its o w n c o n s t i t u t i v e a c t i v i t y .
o f t h o u g h t . A t t h i s p o i n t , the s k e p t i c b e c o m e s s e l f - c o n s c i o u s
S k e p t i c i s m negates the d o m a i n o f a l t e r i t y b y t r y i n g t o s h o w
o f the c o n s t i t u t i v e c o n t r a d i c t i o n o f h i s o w n n e g a t i n g a c t i v i t y
that a n y g i v e n d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f l o g i c a l n e c e s s i t y t u r n s i n t o its
a n d the u n h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s e m e r g e s a s a n e x p l i c i t f o r m o f
o p p o s i t e a n d , hence, i s n o t w h a t i t is. T h e s k e p t i c traces a n d
ethical reflexivity.
focuses o n t h i s c o n s t a n t v a n i s h i n g o f d e t e r m i n a t e a p p e a r a n c e
I n a sense, the c h i l d i s h a n d s t u b b o r n p l e a s u r e that the s k e p -
w i t h o u t t a k i n g i n t o a c c o u n t the d i a l e c t i c a l l o g i c that o r c h e s -
tic takes i n w a t c h i n g a n o t h e r f a l l t u r n s i n t o a p r o f o u n d u n -
trates a n d u n i f i e s these v a r i o u s o p p o s i t i o n s . H e n c e , n o t h i n g
h a p p i n e s s w h e n he is, as it w e r e , f o r c e d to watch himself f a l l i n t o
i s w h a t i t is, a n d there i s n o l o g i c a l o r e m p i r i c a l g r o u n d ac-
e n d l e s s c o n t r a d i c t i o n s . H e r e the d i s t a n c e a f f o r d e d b y w a t c h -
c e s s i b l e t o the s k e p t i c o n w h i c h the d o m a i n o f a l t e r i t y m i g h t
i n g seems e s s e n t i a l l y l i n k e d t o the s a d i s m o f the p l e a s u r e a n d
rationally be k n o w n . The skeptic's t h i n k i n g becomes a fran-
t o the p o s t u r e o f the s k e p t i c a s o n e w h o e x e m p t s h i m s e l f
tic effort t o m a k e e v e r y g i v e n d e t e r m i n a t i o n d i s a p p e a r i n t o
t h r o u g h v i s u a l d i s t a n c e f r o m the scene that h e w i t n e s s e s . T h e
s o m e o t h e r one, s o that t h i s c o n s t a n t a p p e a r i n g a n d v a n i s h i n g
s a d i s t i c p l e a s u r e i n v o l v e d i n w a t c h i n g a n o t h e r b e c o m e s , i n the
p r o c e e d s a c c o r d i n g t o n o o r d e r o r necessity. T h e s k e p t i c , l i k e
m o d e o f u n h a p p i n e s s , a d i s p l e a s u r a b l e w a t c h i n g o f oneself.
some n e w historicists a m o n g us, ends up p r o d u c i n g contra-
W i t n e s s i n g i m p l i e s a m i m e t i c r e d u p l i c a t i o n o f the self, a n d its
5
d i c t i o n for its o w n sake: s i g n i f i c a n t l y , H e g e l a r g u e s that t h i s
" d i s p a s s i o n " i s b e l i e d b y the p a s s i o n o f m i m e t i c i s m . T h e self
p r o d u c t i o n o f c h a o s ( u n d e r s t o o d a s ceaseless c o n t r a d i c t i o n ) i s
w h o s h o r e d u p its i d e n t i t y b y e n c o u r a g i n g others t o f a l l i n t o
pleasurable i n a s m u c h as the s k e p t i c is a l w a y s able to u n d e r -
c o n t r a d i c t i o n s u d d e n l y sees itself as o n e of t h o s e o t h e r s ; t h i s
m i n e the p o s i t i o n o f h i s p h i l o s o p h i c a l o p p o n e n t .
v i e w i n g o f oneself a t a d i s t a n c e n o t o n l y i n i t i a t e s the u n h a p p y
T h i s k i n d of pleasurable a n d incessant refutation is still a
c o n s c i o u s n e s s b u t a l s o i n v e r t s the s k e p t i c ' s p l e a s u r e i n t o p a i n .
Stubborn Attachment, B o d i l y Subjection
Hegel's Unhappy Consciousness
T h e s a d i s m d i r e c t e d t o w a r d the other i s n o w t u r n e d b a c k o n
p e r t a i n s t o the subject's o w n p h e n o m e n a l b e i n g . T h e c h i l d w h o
c o n s c i o u s n e s s itself ( p o s t p o n i n g for the m o m e n t w h e t h e r the
" w a t c h e s " i s t r a n s f i g u r e d i n t o the j u d g e w h o "passes j u d g -
p l e a s u r e i n s a d i s m i s a l s o r e r o u t e d against c o n s c i o u s n e s s ) . A s
m e n t , " a n d the aspect o f the self o n w h i c h i t passes j u d g m e n t
a d u a l s t r u c t u r e , the u n h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s takes itself as its
i s s t e e p e d i n the c h a n g e a b l e w o r l d o f b o d i l y s e n s a t i o n .
46
o w n object o f s c o r n .
47
U n h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s seeks t o o v e r c o m e t h i s d u a l i t y b y
T h e p h i l o s o p h i c a l e l a b o r a t i o n o f t h i s s c o r n takes the f o l -
f i n d i n g a b o d y w h i c h e m b o d i e s the p u r i t y o f its u n c h a n g e a b l e
l o w i n g f o r m : c o n s c i o u s n e s s i s n o w d i v i d e d i n t o t w o p a r t s , the
part; i t seeks t o c o m e i n t o r e l a t i o n w i t h "the U n c h a n g e a b l e i n
" e s s e n t i a l " a n d " u n c h a n g e a b l e , " o n the o n e h a n d , a n d the " i n -
its i n c a r n a t e o r e m b o d i e d f o r m . " T o d o this, the subject s u b -
e s s e n t i a l " a n d "changeable," o n the other. T h e w a t c h i n g self,
o r d i n a t e s its o w n b o d y i n the s e r v i c e o f the t h o u g h t o f the
d e f i n e d as a k i n d of witnessing a n d scorning, differentiates itself
u n c h a n g e a b l e ; t h i s s u b o r d i n a t i n g a n d p u r i f y i n g effort i s that
f r o m the self w i t n e s s e d a s p e r p e t u a l l y f a l l i n g i n t o c o n t r a d i c t i o n . T h i s w a t c h i n g b e c o m e s a w a y o f r e e s t a b l i s h i n g the v i s u a l d i s t a n c e b e t w e e n a subject a l o o f f r o m the scene a n d the s u b ject i n c o n t r a d i c t i o n . I n t h i s case, h o w e v e r , the w i t n e s s i n g a n d s c o r n i n g self c a n n o t d e n y that the c o n t r a d i c t o r y self i s its o w n self; it k n o w s that the c o n t r a d i c t o r y self is itself, b u t in o r d e r to s h o r e u p a n i d e n t i t y o v e r a n d against i t , i t r e n d e r s t h i s c o n t r a d i c t o r y self i n t o a n i n e s s e n t i a l p a r t o f itself. I t t h u s p a r t s w i t h itself i n o r d e r t o p u r i f y itself o f c o n t r a d i c t i o n .
of devotion
(Andacht). Yet, p r e d i c t a b l y , t h i s effort to d e p l o y
the b o d y i n the s e r v i c e o f t h i n k i n g the u n c h a n g e a b l e p r o v e s i m p o s s i b l e . D e v o t i o n t u r n s o u t t o b e p u r e self-feeling, w h a t H e g e l d i s p a r a g i n g l y refers t o a s "the c h a o t i c j i n g l i n g o f b e l l s , o r a m i s t o f w a r m i n c e n s e , a m u s i c a l t h i n k i n g " (131/168). A s self-feeling, i t i s the f e e l i n g o f the b o d y c o m p e l l e d t o s i g n i f y the t r a n s c e n d e n t a n d u n c h a n g e a b l e , a f e e l i n g w h i c h n e v e r theless r e m a i n s e n s c o n c e d i n the b o d i l y f e e l i n g that i t seeks t o t r a n s c e n d . I n d e e d , self-feeling refers o n l y a n d e n d l e s s l y t o
A s a r e s u l t , the u n h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s berates itself c o n -
itself (a t r a n s c e n d e n t a l i z e d f o r m of eigensinnigkeit), a n d so is
stantly, s e t t i n g u p o n e p a r t o f itself a s a p u r e j u d g e a l o o f f r o m
u n a b l e t o f u r n i s h k n o w l e d g e o f a n y t h i n g o t h e r t h a n itself.
c o n t r a d i c t i o n a n d d i s p a r a g i n g its c h a n g e a b l e p a r t a s i n e s s e n -
D e v o t i o n , t h e n , w h i c h seeks t o i n s t r u m e n t a l i z e the b o d y i n
t i a l , a l t h o u g h i n e l u c t a b l y t i e d t o it. S i g n i f i c a n t l y , the a c t i v i t y that i n s k e p t i c i s m b e g i n s a s c h i l d i s h s a d i s m b e c o m e s r e f o r m u l a t e d a s e t h i c a l s e l f - j u d g m e n t i n the context o f the u n h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s : a s a d u l t t o c h i l d , t h e n , the u n c h a n g e a b l e c o n s c i o u s n e s s "passes j u d g m e n t " o n the changeable. I m p l i c i t i n t h i s d u a l s t r u c t u r i n g o f the subject, h o w e v e r , i s the r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n t h o u g h t a n d c o r p o r e a l i t y , for the u n c h a n g e a b l e w i l l b e a k i n d o f n o n c o n t r a d i c t o r y t h o u g h t , the p u r e t h o u g h t s o u g h t b y the stoics, a n d the c o n t r a d i c t o r y d o m a i n w i l l b e that o f altern a t i n g q u a l i t i e s , the c h a n g e a b l e d o m a i n o f a p p e a r a n c e , w h a t
the s e r v i c e o f the u n c h a n g e a b l e , t u r n s o u t t o b e a n i m m e r s i o n i n the b o d y that p r e c l u d e s access t o a n y t h i n g else, i n d e e d , a n i m m e r s i o n that takes the b o d y t o b e the u n c h a n g e a b l e a n d s o falls i n t o c o n t r a d i c t i o n . A l t h o u g h devotion appears to be a f o r m of self-immersion, it is a l s o a c o n t i n u a t i o n of s e l f - b e r a t e m e n t as s e l f - m o r t i f i c a t i o n . T h i s self-feeling, p r e c i s e l y b e c a u s e i t d o e s n o t r e a c h the u n c h a n g e a b l e , b e c o m e s itself the object o f d e r i s i o n a n d j u d g m e n t , m a r k i n g the c o n t i n u i n g i n a d e q u a c y o f the self i n r e l a t i o n t o its t r a n s c e n d e n t m e a s u r e . T h e t r a n s c e n d e n t i s w h a t i s a l w a y s
Stubborn Attachment, B o d i l y Subjection
Hegel's Unhappy Consciousness
T h e s a d i s m d i r e c t e d t o w a r d the other i s n o w t u r n e d b a c k o n
p e r t a i n s t o the subject's o w n p h e n o m e n a l b e i n g . T h e c h i l d w h o
c o n s c i o u s n e s s itself ( p o s t p o n i n g for the m o m e n t w h e t h e r the
" w a t c h e s " i s t r a n s f i g u r e d i n t o the j u d g e w h o "passes j u d g -
p l e a s u r e i n s a d i s m i s a l s o r e r o u t e d against c o n s c i o u s n e s s ) . A s
m e n t , " a n d the aspect o f the self o n w h i c h i t passes j u d g m e n t
a d u a l s t r u c t u r e , the u n h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s takes itself as its
i s s t e e p e d i n the c h a n g e a b l e w o r l d o f b o d i l y s e n s a t i o n .
46
o w n object o f s c o r n .
47
U n h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s seeks t o o v e r c o m e t h i s d u a l i t y b y
T h e p h i l o s o p h i c a l e l a b o r a t i o n o f t h i s s c o r n takes the f o l -
f i n d i n g a b o d y w h i c h e m b o d i e s the p u r i t y o f its u n c h a n g e a b l e
l o w i n g f o r m : c o n s c i o u s n e s s i s n o w d i v i d e d i n t o t w o p a r t s , the
part; i t seeks t o c o m e i n t o r e l a t i o n w i t h "the U n c h a n g e a b l e i n
" e s s e n t i a l " a n d " u n c h a n g e a b l e , " o n the o n e h a n d , a n d the " i n -
its i n c a r n a t e o r e m b o d i e d f o r m . " T o d o this, the subject s u b -
e s s e n t i a l " a n d "changeable," o n the other. T h e w a t c h i n g self,
o r d i n a t e s its o w n b o d y i n the s e r v i c e o f the t h o u g h t o f the
d e f i n e d as a k i n d of witnessing a n d scorning, differentiates itself
u n c h a n g e a b l e ; t h i s s u b o r d i n a t i n g a n d p u r i f y i n g effort i s that
f r o m the self w i t n e s s e d a s p e r p e t u a l l y f a l l i n g i n t o c o n t r a d i c t i o n . T h i s w a t c h i n g b e c o m e s a w a y o f r e e s t a b l i s h i n g the v i s u a l d i s t a n c e b e t w e e n a subject a l o o f f r o m the scene a n d the s u b ject i n c o n t r a d i c t i o n . I n t h i s case, h o w e v e r , the w i t n e s s i n g a n d s c o r n i n g self c a n n o t d e n y that the c o n t r a d i c t o r y self i s its o w n self; it k n o w s that the c o n t r a d i c t o r y self is itself, b u t in o r d e r to s h o r e u p a n i d e n t i t y o v e r a n d against i t , i t r e n d e r s t h i s c o n t r a d i c t o r y self i n t o a n i n e s s e n t i a l p a r t o f itself. I t t h u s p a r t s w i t h itself i n o r d e r t o p u r i f y itself o f c o n t r a d i c t i o n .
of devotion
(Andacht). Yet, p r e d i c t a b l y , t h i s effort to d e p l o y
the b o d y i n the s e r v i c e o f t h i n k i n g the u n c h a n g e a b l e p r o v e s i m p o s s i b l e . D e v o t i o n t u r n s o u t t o b e p u r e self-feeling, w h a t H e g e l d i s p a r a g i n g l y refers t o a s "the c h a o t i c j i n g l i n g o f b e l l s , o r a m i s t o f w a r m i n c e n s e , a m u s i c a l t h i n k i n g " (131/168). A s self-feeling, i t i s the f e e l i n g o f the b o d y c o m p e l l e d t o s i g n i f y the t r a n s c e n d e n t a n d u n c h a n g e a b l e , a f e e l i n g w h i c h n e v e r theless r e m a i n s e n s c o n c e d i n the b o d i l y f e e l i n g that i t seeks t o t r a n s c e n d . I n d e e d , self-feeling refers o n l y a n d e n d l e s s l y t o
A s a r e s u l t , the u n h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s berates itself c o n -
itself (a t r a n s c e n d e n t a l i z e d f o r m of eigensinnigkeit), a n d so is
stantly, s e t t i n g u p o n e p a r t o f itself a s a p u r e j u d g e a l o o f f r o m
u n a b l e t o f u r n i s h k n o w l e d g e o f a n y t h i n g o t h e r t h a n itself.
c o n t r a d i c t i o n a n d d i s p a r a g i n g its c h a n g e a b l e p a r t a s i n e s s e n -
D e v o t i o n , t h e n , w h i c h seeks t o i n s t r u m e n t a l i z e the b o d y i n
t i a l , a l t h o u g h i n e l u c t a b l y t i e d t o it. S i g n i f i c a n t l y , the a c t i v i t y that i n s k e p t i c i s m b e g i n s a s c h i l d i s h s a d i s m b e c o m e s r e f o r m u l a t e d a s e t h i c a l s e l f - j u d g m e n t i n the context o f the u n h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s : a s a d u l t t o c h i l d , t h e n , the u n c h a n g e a b l e c o n s c i o u s n e s s "passes j u d g m e n t " o n the changeable. I m p l i c i t i n t h i s d u a l s t r u c t u r i n g o f the subject, h o w e v e r , i s the r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n t h o u g h t a n d c o r p o r e a l i t y , for the u n c h a n g e a b l e w i l l b e a k i n d o f n o n c o n t r a d i c t o r y t h o u g h t , the p u r e t h o u g h t s o u g h t b y the stoics, a n d the c o n t r a d i c t o r y d o m a i n w i l l b e that o f altern a t i n g q u a l i t i e s , the c h a n g e a b l e d o m a i n o f a p p e a r a n c e , w h a t
the s e r v i c e o f the u n c h a n g e a b l e , t u r n s o u t t o b e a n i m m e r s i o n i n the b o d y that p r e c l u d e s access t o a n y t h i n g else, i n d e e d , a n i m m e r s i o n that takes the b o d y t o b e the u n c h a n g e a b l e a n d s o falls i n t o c o n t r a d i c t i o n . A l t h o u g h devotion appears to be a f o r m of self-immersion, it is a l s o a c o n t i n u a t i o n of s e l f - b e r a t e m e n t as s e l f - m o r t i f i c a t i o n . T h i s self-feeling, p r e c i s e l y b e c a u s e i t d o e s n o t r e a c h the u n c h a n g e a b l e , b e c o m e s itself the object o f d e r i s i o n a n d j u d g m e n t , m a r k i n g the c o n t i n u i n g i n a d e q u a c y o f the self i n r e l a t i o n t o its t r a n s c e n d e n t m e a s u r e . T h e t r a n s c e n d e n t i s w h a t i s a l w a y s
Stubborn Attachment, B o d i l y Subjection
Hegel's Unhappy Consciousness
m i s s e d , a n d so h a u n t s t h i s c o n s c i o u s n e s s as a figure of w h a t
s a c r e d life, C h r i s t i s u n d e r s t o o d a s a n e m b o d i m e n t w h i c h i s
48
49
i s p e r m a n e n t l y i n a c c e s s i b l e , f o r e v e r lost. I n the m o d e o f d e v o -
c o n t i n u a l l y i n the m o d e o f g i v i n g t h a n k s . I n its d e s i r e a n d i n
tion, then, "consciousness . . . can o n l y find as a present reality
its w o r k , t h i s e m b o d i e d c o n s c i o u s n e s s seeks t o g i v e t h a n k s for
the g r a v e of its l i f e " (132/169-70). In a t r a n s p o s i t i o n of fig-
its o w n life, c a p a c i t i e s , f a c u l t i e s , a b i l i t i e s . T h e s e are g i v e n t o
ures, the b o d y s u r v i v e s , a n d a l l that i s left o f the t r a n s c e n d e n t
it; its life is e x p e r i e n c e d as a gift; a n d it l i v e s o u t its life in the
i d e a l is a "grave." W h e r e a s d e v o t i o n , t h e n , b e g i n s as an effort
m o d e o f gratefulness. A l l o f its acts i t o w e s t o a n o t h e r ; its life
to s u b o r d i n a t e the b o d y to a t r a n s c e n d e n t object, it e n d s by
b e c o m e s u n d e r s t o o d a s a k i n d o f e n d l e s s debt.
t a k i n g the b o d y , that is, self-feeling, as its object of w o r s h i p , a n d l e t t i n g the u n c h a n g e a b l e s p i r i t die.
P r e c i s e l y because, o n the o n e h a n d , t h i s l i v i n g b e i n g o w e s its life t o a n o t h e r b e i n g , i t i s n o t the seat o r o r i g i n o f its o w n a c -
H e r e w e m i g h t c o n c l u d e that a c e r t a i n f o r m o f s e l f - p r e o c c u -
t i o n s . Its a c t i o n i s r e f e r r e d t o a n o t h e r ' s a c t i o n ; t h u s , n o t b e i n g
p a t i o n , u n d e r s t o o d as a r e f o r m u l a t i o n of an i n s u r m o u n t a b l e
the g r o u n d o f its o w n a c t i o n , i t i s n o t r e s p o n s i b l e for w h a t i t
eigensinnigkeit, c o n s t i t u t e s a n a r c i s s i s m of the subject that d e -
does. O n the o t h e r h a n d , its o w n a c t i o n s are t o b e c o n s t r u e d
feats the s e l f - s a c r i f i c i a l project o f d e v o t i o n . T h e subject w h o
as a p e r p e t u a l self-sacrifice by w h i c h the self proves or d e m o n -
w o u l d s u b o r d i n a t e its b o d y t o a n i d e a l , c o m p e l its b o d y t o
strates its o w n t h a n k f u l n e s s . T h i s d e m o n s t r a t i o n o f t h a n k f u l -
e m b o d y a n i d e a l , f i n d s itself m o r e f u l l y a u t o n o m o u s f r o m that
ness t h u s b e c o m e s a k i n d o f s e l f - a g g r a n d i z e m e n t , w h a t H e g e l
i d e a l , o u t l i v i n g i t altogether. T h e c o l l a p s e o f d e v o t i o n i n t o n a r -
w i l l c a l l "the e x t r e m e o f i n d i v i d u a l i t y " (134/171).
c i s s i s m , i f w e c a n c a l l i t that, s i g n i f i e s that there c a n b e n o f i n a l
T h e r e n u n c i a t i o n o f the self a s the o r i g i n o f its o w n a c -
l e a v e - t a k i n g o f the b o d y w i t h i n life. F o r c e d , t h e n , t o a c c e p t
tions must be p e r f o r m e d repeatedly a n d can never finally be
t h i s i n e l u c t a b i l i t y of the b o d y as a p r e s u p p o s i t i o n , a n e w f o r m
a c h i e v e d , if o n l y b e c a u s e the demonstration of r e n u n c i a t i o n is
o f the subject e m e r g e s , w h i c h i s d i s t i n c t l y K a n t i a n . I f there i s
itself a s e l f - w i l l e d a c t i o n . T h i s s e l f - w i l l e d a c t i o n t h u s r h e t o r i -
a w o r l d o f a p p e a r a n c e for w h i c h the b o d y i s e s s e n t i a l , t h e n
cally confounds precisely what it is supposed to show. The
s u r e l y there i s a w o r l d o f n o u m e n a i n w h i c h the b o d y has n o
self b e c o m e s a n i n c e s s a n t p e r f o r m e r o f r e n u n c i a t i o n , w h e r e b y
p l a c e ; the w o r l d d i v i d e s u p i n t o b e i n g s that are f o r - i t s e l f a n d
the p e r f o r m a n c e , a s a n a c t i o n , c o n t r a d i c t s the p o s t u l a t i o n o f
in-itself. I n a f o r m u l a t i o n that w i l l p r e f i g u r e K i e r k e g a a r d ' s Philosophical Fragments, H e g e l c l a i m s that the u n c h a n g e a b l e w o r l d
/«action that it is m e a n t to s i g n i f y . P a r a d o x i c a l l y , p e r f o r m a n c e b e c o m e s the occasion f o r a g r a n d a n d e n d l e s s a c t i o n that effect i v e l y a u g m e n t s a n d i n d i v i d u a t e s the self i t seeks t o deny.
s u r r e n d e r s o r r e n o u n c e s a n e m b o d i e d f o r m , that it, the i n -
T h i s c o n s c i o u s n e s s , l i k e the stoic, seeks t o k n o w a n d s h o w
itself, d e l i v e r s a n e m b o d i e d v e r s i o n o f itself i n t o the c h a n g e -
itself as a " n o t h i n g , " yet i n e v i t a b l y b e c o m e s a doing of n o t h -
able w o r l d t o b e s a c r i f i c e d . T h i s reference t o the f i g u r e o f
i n g . H e r e the p l e a s u r e w h i c h e a r l i e r a p p e a r e d t o b e l o n g t o
C h r i s t suggests that the u n c h a n g e a b l e w o r l d b e c o m e s e m -
the c h i l d i s h s a d i s m o f the s k e p t i c i s t u r n e d o n the self: t h i s
b o d i e d , b u t does s o o n l y t o b e s a c r i f i c e d o r r e t u r n e d t o the
"doing of n o t h i n g , " H e g e l argues, finds in "its enjoyment a
u n c h a n g e a b l e w o r l d f r o m w h i c h i t c a m e . A s a m o d e l for the
feeling of wretchedness." This i n t e r m i n g l i n g of pleasure a n d
Stubborn Attachment, B o d i l y Subjection
Hegel's Unhappy Consciousness
m i s s e d , a n d so h a u n t s t h i s c o n s c i o u s n e s s as a figure of w h a t
s a c r e d life, C h r i s t i s u n d e r s t o o d a s a n e m b o d i m e n t w h i c h i s
48
49
i s p e r m a n e n t l y i n a c c e s s i b l e , f o r e v e r lost. I n the m o d e o f d e v o -
c o n t i n u a l l y i n the m o d e o f g i v i n g t h a n k s . I n its d e s i r e a n d i n
tion, then, "consciousness . . . can o n l y find as a present reality
its w o r k , t h i s e m b o d i e d c o n s c i o u s n e s s seeks t o g i v e t h a n k s for
the g r a v e of its l i f e " (132/169-70). In a t r a n s p o s i t i o n of fig-
its o w n life, c a p a c i t i e s , f a c u l t i e s , a b i l i t i e s . T h e s e are g i v e n t o
ures, the b o d y s u r v i v e s , a n d a l l that i s left o f the t r a n s c e n d e n t
it; its life is e x p e r i e n c e d as a gift; a n d it l i v e s o u t its life in the
i d e a l is a "grave." W h e r e a s d e v o t i o n , t h e n , b e g i n s as an effort
m o d e o f gratefulness. A l l o f its acts i t o w e s t o a n o t h e r ; its life
to s u b o r d i n a t e the b o d y to a t r a n s c e n d e n t object, it e n d s by
b e c o m e s u n d e r s t o o d a s a k i n d o f e n d l e s s debt.
t a k i n g the b o d y , that is, self-feeling, as its object of w o r s h i p , a n d l e t t i n g the u n c h a n g e a b l e s p i r i t die.
P r e c i s e l y because, o n the o n e h a n d , t h i s l i v i n g b e i n g o w e s its life t o a n o t h e r b e i n g , i t i s n o t the seat o r o r i g i n o f its o w n a c -
H e r e w e m i g h t c o n c l u d e that a c e r t a i n f o r m o f s e l f - p r e o c c u -
t i o n s . Its a c t i o n i s r e f e r r e d t o a n o t h e r ' s a c t i o n ; t h u s , n o t b e i n g
p a t i o n , u n d e r s t o o d as a r e f o r m u l a t i o n of an i n s u r m o u n t a b l e
the g r o u n d o f its o w n a c t i o n , i t i s n o t r e s p o n s i b l e for w h a t i t
eigensinnigkeit, c o n s t i t u t e s a n a r c i s s i s m of the subject that d e -
does. O n the o t h e r h a n d , its o w n a c t i o n s are t o b e c o n s t r u e d
feats the s e l f - s a c r i f i c i a l project o f d e v o t i o n . T h e subject w h o
as a p e r p e t u a l self-sacrifice by w h i c h the self proves or d e m o n -
w o u l d s u b o r d i n a t e its b o d y t o a n i d e a l , c o m p e l its b o d y t o
strates its o w n t h a n k f u l n e s s . T h i s d e m o n s t r a t i o n o f t h a n k f u l -
e m b o d y a n i d e a l , f i n d s itself m o r e f u l l y a u t o n o m o u s f r o m that
ness t h u s b e c o m e s a k i n d o f s e l f - a g g r a n d i z e m e n t , w h a t H e g e l
i d e a l , o u t l i v i n g i t altogether. T h e c o l l a p s e o f d e v o t i o n i n t o n a r -
w i l l c a l l "the e x t r e m e o f i n d i v i d u a l i t y " (134/171).
c i s s i s m , i f w e c a n c a l l i t that, s i g n i f i e s that there c a n b e n o f i n a l
T h e r e n u n c i a t i o n o f the self a s the o r i g i n o f its o w n a c -
l e a v e - t a k i n g o f the b o d y w i t h i n life. F o r c e d , t h e n , t o a c c e p t
tions must be p e r f o r m e d repeatedly a n d can never finally be
t h i s i n e l u c t a b i l i t y of the b o d y as a p r e s u p p o s i t i o n , a n e w f o r m
a c h i e v e d , if o n l y b e c a u s e the demonstration of r e n u n c i a t i o n is
o f the subject e m e r g e s , w h i c h i s d i s t i n c t l y K a n t i a n . I f there i s
itself a s e l f - w i l l e d a c t i o n . T h i s s e l f - w i l l e d a c t i o n t h u s r h e t o r i -
a w o r l d o f a p p e a r a n c e for w h i c h the b o d y i s e s s e n t i a l , t h e n
cally confounds precisely what it is supposed to show. The
s u r e l y there i s a w o r l d o f n o u m e n a i n w h i c h the b o d y has n o
self b e c o m e s a n i n c e s s a n t p e r f o r m e r o f r e n u n c i a t i o n , w h e r e b y
p l a c e ; the w o r l d d i v i d e s u p i n t o b e i n g s that are f o r - i t s e l f a n d
the p e r f o r m a n c e , a s a n a c t i o n , c o n t r a d i c t s the p o s t u l a t i o n o f
in-itself. I n a f o r m u l a t i o n that w i l l p r e f i g u r e K i e r k e g a a r d ' s Philosophical Fragments, H e g e l c l a i m s that the u n c h a n g e a b l e w o r l d
/«action that it is m e a n t to s i g n i f y . P a r a d o x i c a l l y , p e r f o r m a n c e b e c o m e s the occasion f o r a g r a n d a n d e n d l e s s a c t i o n that effect i v e l y a u g m e n t s a n d i n d i v i d u a t e s the self i t seeks t o deny.
s u r r e n d e r s o r r e n o u n c e s a n e m b o d i e d f o r m , that it, the i n -
T h i s c o n s c i o u s n e s s , l i k e the stoic, seeks t o k n o w a n d s h o w
itself, d e l i v e r s a n e m b o d i e d v e r s i o n o f itself i n t o the c h a n g e -
itself as a " n o t h i n g , " yet i n e v i t a b l y b e c o m e s a doing of n o t h -
able w o r l d t o b e s a c r i f i c e d . T h i s reference t o the f i g u r e o f
i n g . H e r e the p l e a s u r e w h i c h e a r l i e r a p p e a r e d t o b e l o n g t o
C h r i s t suggests that the u n c h a n g e a b l e w o r l d b e c o m e s e m -
the c h i l d i s h s a d i s m o f the s k e p t i c i s t u r n e d o n the self: t h i s
b o d i e d , b u t does s o o n l y t o b e s a c r i f i c e d o r r e t u r n e d t o the
"doing of n o t h i n g , " H e g e l argues, finds in "its enjoyment a
u n c h a n g e a b l e w o r l d f r o m w h i c h i t c a m e . A s a m o d e l for the
feeling of wretchedness." This i n t e r m i n g l i n g of pleasure a n d
Stubborn Attachment, B o d i l y Subjection
Hegel's Unhappy Consciousness
p a i n r e s u l t s f r o m a r e n u n c i a t i o n o f the self w h i c h c a n n e v e r
an e x p e r i e n c e of w r e t c h e d n e s s , there is s o m e c o n s c i o u s n e s s
q u i t e a c c o m p l i s h that r e n u n c i a t i o n , w h i c h , a s a n i n c e s s a n t ac-
w h i c h takes s t o c k o f these f u n c t i o n s a n d w h i c h i s n o t t h o r -
c o m p l i s h i n g , c a r r i e s w i t h i t the p l e a s u r a b l e a s s e r t i o n o f self.
o u g h l y i d e n t i f i e d w i t h t h e m . S i g n i f i c a n t l y , i t i s h e r e , i n the
T h e s e l f - a b s o r p t i o n o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s d o e s n o t translate i n t o
effort t o differentiate itself f r o m its e x c r e t o r y f u n c t i o n s , i n -
50
5i
s e l f - c o n g r a t u l a t i o n o r s i m p l e n a r c i s s i s m . Rather, i t a p p e a r s a s
d e e d , f r o m its e x c r e t o r y i d e n t i t y , that c o n s c i o u s n e s s r e l i e s o n
negative narcissism, an engaged preoccupation w i t h what is
a " m e d i a t o r , " w h a t H e g e l w i l l c a l l "the p r i e s t . " I n o r d e r t o r e -
m o s t d e b a s e d a n d d e f i l e d a b o u t it.
c o n n e c t w i t h the p u r e a n d the u n c h a n g e a b l e , t h i s b o d i l y c o n -
H e r e a g a i n the self to be r e n o u n c e d is f i g u r e d as a b o d i l y
s c i o u s n e s s offers u p its e v e r y " d o i n g " t o a p r i e s t o r m i n i s t e r .
self, a s " t h i s a c t u a l i n d i v i d u a l i n the a n i m a l f u n c t i o n s . " H e g e l
T h i s m e d i a t i n g a g e n c y r e l i e v e s the abject c o n s c i o u s n e s s o f its
a p p e a r s t o i m p l y d e f e c a t i o n a s a n object o f s e l f - p r e o c c u p a t i o n :
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y for its o w n a c t i o n s . T h r o u g h the i n s t i t u t i o n o f
"these [ a n i m a l f u n c t i o n s ] are n o l o n g e r p e r f o r m e d n a t u r a l l y
c o u n s e l a n d a d v i c e , the p r i e s t offers the r e a s o n for the abject
a n d w i t h o u t embarrassment, as matters trifling in themselves
c o n s c i o u s n e s s ' s a c t i o n s . E v e r y t h i n g that the abject c o n s c i o u s -
w h i c h c a n n o t possess a n y i m p o r t a n c e o r e s s e n t i a l s i g n i f i c a n c e
ness offers, that is, a l l o f its e x t e r n a l i z a t i o n s , i n c l u d i n g d e s i r e ,
for S p i r i t ; i n s t e a d , i t i s i n t h e m that the e n e m y r e v e a l s h i m -
w o r k , a n d e x c r e m e n t , are to be c o n s t r u e d as offerings, as p a y -
self i n h i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s h a p e , t h e y are r a t h e r the object o f
i n g p e n a n c e . T h e p r i e s t i n s t i t u t e s b o d i l y s e l f - a b n e g a t i o n a s the
s e r i o u s e n d e a v o r , a n d b e c o m e p r e c i s e l y m a t t e r s o f the u t -
p r i c e o f h o l i n e s s , e l e v a t i n g the r e n u n c i a t o r y g e s t u r e o f e x c r e -
most importance. This enemy, however, renews himself in his
t i o n t o a r e l i g i o u s p r a c t i c e w h e r e b y the e n t i r e b o d y i s r i t u -
defeat, a n d c o n s c i o u s n e s s , i n f i x i n g its a t t e n t i o n o n h i m , far
a l i s t i c a l l y p u r g e d . T h e s a n c t i f i c a t i o n o f a b j e c t i o n takes p l a c e
f r o m f r e e i n g itself f r o m h i m , r e a l l y r e m a i n s f o r e v e r i n contact
t h r o u g h r i t u a l s of f a s t i n g a n d m o r t i f i c a t i o n [fasten uni kas-
w i t h h i m , a n d f o r e v e r sees itself a s d e f i l e d " (135-36/174). T h i s
teien]" (137/175). B e c a u s e the b o d y c a n n o t be f u l l y d e n i e d , as
"enemy," as it w e r e , is d e s c r i b e d as "the m e r e s t p a r t i c u l a r of
the stoic t h o u g h t , i t m u s t b e r i t u a l i s t i c a l l y r e n o u n c e d .
the m e a n e s t character," o n e w h i c h serves, u n f o r t u n a t e l y , a s a n
I n its fastings a n d m o r t i f i c a t i o n s , the u n h a p p y c o n s c i o u s -
object o f i d e n t i f i c a t i o n for t h i s " f a l l e n " c o n s c i o u s n e s s . H e r e ,
ness d e n i e s itself the p l e a s u r e s o f c o n s u m p t i o n , f i g u r i n g p e r -
c o n s c i o u s n e s s i n its f u l l a b j e c t i o n has b e c o m e l i k e shit, lost i n
h a p s that i t w i l l f o r e s t a l l the i n e v i t a b i l i t y o f the e x c r e m e n t a l
a s e l f - r e f e r e n t i a l a n a l i t y , a c i r c l e of its o w n m a k i n g . In H e g e l ' s
m o m e n t . A s s e l f - i n f l i c t e d b o d i l y acts, f a s t i n g a n d m o r t i f i c a t i o n
w o r d s , " w e h a v e here o n l y a p e r s o n a l i t y c o n f i n e d t o its o w n
are r e f l e x i v e a c t i o n s , t u r n i n g s o f the b o d y against itself. A t the
self a n d its p e t t y a c t i o n s , a p e r s o n a l i t y b r o o d i n g o v e r itself, as
l i m i t s o f t h i s s e l f - m o r t i f i c a t i o n a n d self-sacrifice, the abjected
w r e t c h e d as it is i m p o v e r i s h e d " (136/174).
c o n s c i o u s n e s s a p p e a r s t o g r o u n d its a c t i o n i n the c o u n s e l o f
R e g a r d i n g itself as a n o t h i n g , as a d o i n g of n o t h i n g , as an e x c r e m e n t a l f u n c t i o n , a n d h e n c e r e g a r d i n g itself a s e x c r e m e n t ,
the p r i e s t , a n d yet t h i s g r o u n d i n g m e r e l y c o n c e a l s the r e f l e x i v e o r i g i n s o f its s e l f - p u n i s h m e n t .
t h i s c o n s c i o u s n e s s effectively r e d u c e s itself to the c h a n g e a b l e
A t t h i s j u n c t u r e H e g e l d e p a r t s f r o m w h a t has b e e n the pat-
features o f its b o d i l y f u n c t i o n s a n d p r o d u c t s . Yet, s i n c e i t i s
t e r n o f e x p l a n a t i o n , i n w h i c h a self-negating p o s t u r e i s u n d e r -
Stubborn Attachment, B o d i l y Subjection
Hegel's Unhappy Consciousness
p a i n r e s u l t s f r o m a r e n u n c i a t i o n o f the self w h i c h c a n n e v e r
an e x p e r i e n c e of w r e t c h e d n e s s , there is s o m e c o n s c i o u s n e s s
q u i t e a c c o m p l i s h that r e n u n c i a t i o n , w h i c h , a s a n i n c e s s a n t ac-
w h i c h takes s t o c k o f these f u n c t i o n s a n d w h i c h i s n o t t h o r -
c o m p l i s h i n g , c a r r i e s w i t h i t the p l e a s u r a b l e a s s e r t i o n o f self.
o u g h l y i d e n t i f i e d w i t h t h e m . S i g n i f i c a n t l y , i t i s h e r e , i n the
T h e s e l f - a b s o r p t i o n o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s d o e s n o t translate i n t o
effort t o differentiate itself f r o m its e x c r e t o r y f u n c t i o n s , i n -
50
5i
s e l f - c o n g r a t u l a t i o n o r s i m p l e n a r c i s s i s m . Rather, i t a p p e a r s a s
d e e d , f r o m its e x c r e t o r y i d e n t i t y , that c o n s c i o u s n e s s r e l i e s o n
negative narcissism, an engaged preoccupation w i t h what is
a " m e d i a t o r , " w h a t H e g e l w i l l c a l l "the p r i e s t . " I n o r d e r t o r e -
m o s t d e b a s e d a n d d e f i l e d a b o u t it.
c o n n e c t w i t h the p u r e a n d the u n c h a n g e a b l e , t h i s b o d i l y c o n -
H e r e a g a i n the self to be r e n o u n c e d is f i g u r e d as a b o d i l y
s c i o u s n e s s offers u p its e v e r y " d o i n g " t o a p r i e s t o r m i n i s t e r .
self, a s " t h i s a c t u a l i n d i v i d u a l i n the a n i m a l f u n c t i o n s . " H e g e l
T h i s m e d i a t i n g a g e n c y r e l i e v e s the abject c o n s c i o u s n e s s o f its
a p p e a r s t o i m p l y d e f e c a t i o n a s a n object o f s e l f - p r e o c c u p a t i o n :
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y for its o w n a c t i o n s . T h r o u g h the i n s t i t u t i o n o f
"these [ a n i m a l f u n c t i o n s ] are n o l o n g e r p e r f o r m e d n a t u r a l l y
c o u n s e l a n d a d v i c e , the p r i e s t offers the r e a s o n for the abject
a n d w i t h o u t embarrassment, as matters trifling in themselves
c o n s c i o u s n e s s ' s a c t i o n s . E v e r y t h i n g that the abject c o n s c i o u s -
w h i c h c a n n o t possess a n y i m p o r t a n c e o r e s s e n t i a l s i g n i f i c a n c e
ness offers, that is, a l l o f its e x t e r n a l i z a t i o n s , i n c l u d i n g d e s i r e ,
for S p i r i t ; i n s t e a d , i t i s i n t h e m that the e n e m y r e v e a l s h i m -
w o r k , a n d e x c r e m e n t , are to be c o n s t r u e d as offerings, as p a y -
self i n h i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s h a p e , t h e y are r a t h e r the object o f
i n g p e n a n c e . T h e p r i e s t i n s t i t u t e s b o d i l y s e l f - a b n e g a t i o n a s the
s e r i o u s e n d e a v o r , a n d b e c o m e p r e c i s e l y m a t t e r s o f the u t -
p r i c e o f h o l i n e s s , e l e v a t i n g the r e n u n c i a t o r y g e s t u r e o f e x c r e -
most importance. This enemy, however, renews himself in his
t i o n t o a r e l i g i o u s p r a c t i c e w h e r e b y the e n t i r e b o d y i s r i t u -
defeat, a n d c o n s c i o u s n e s s , i n f i x i n g its a t t e n t i o n o n h i m , far
a l i s t i c a l l y p u r g e d . T h e s a n c t i f i c a t i o n o f a b j e c t i o n takes p l a c e
f r o m f r e e i n g itself f r o m h i m , r e a l l y r e m a i n s f o r e v e r i n contact
t h r o u g h r i t u a l s of f a s t i n g a n d m o r t i f i c a t i o n [fasten uni kas-
w i t h h i m , a n d f o r e v e r sees itself a s d e f i l e d " (135-36/174). T h i s
teien]" (137/175). B e c a u s e the b o d y c a n n o t be f u l l y d e n i e d , as
"enemy," as it w e r e , is d e s c r i b e d as "the m e r e s t p a r t i c u l a r of
the stoic t h o u g h t , i t m u s t b e r i t u a l i s t i c a l l y r e n o u n c e d .
the m e a n e s t character," o n e w h i c h serves, u n f o r t u n a t e l y , a s a n
I n its fastings a n d m o r t i f i c a t i o n s , the u n h a p p y c o n s c i o u s -
object o f i d e n t i f i c a t i o n for t h i s " f a l l e n " c o n s c i o u s n e s s . H e r e ,
ness d e n i e s itself the p l e a s u r e s o f c o n s u m p t i o n , f i g u r i n g p e r -
c o n s c i o u s n e s s i n its f u l l a b j e c t i o n has b e c o m e l i k e shit, lost i n
h a p s that i t w i l l f o r e s t a l l the i n e v i t a b i l i t y o f the e x c r e m e n t a l
a s e l f - r e f e r e n t i a l a n a l i t y , a c i r c l e of its o w n m a k i n g . In H e g e l ' s
m o m e n t . A s s e l f - i n f l i c t e d b o d i l y acts, f a s t i n g a n d m o r t i f i c a t i o n
w o r d s , " w e h a v e here o n l y a p e r s o n a l i t y c o n f i n e d t o its o w n
are r e f l e x i v e a c t i o n s , t u r n i n g s o f the b o d y against itself. A t the
self a n d its p e t t y a c t i o n s , a p e r s o n a l i t y b r o o d i n g o v e r itself, as
l i m i t s o f t h i s s e l f - m o r t i f i c a t i o n a n d self-sacrifice, the abjected
w r e t c h e d as it is i m p o v e r i s h e d " (136/174).
c o n s c i o u s n e s s a p p e a r s t o g r o u n d its a c t i o n i n the c o u n s e l o f
R e g a r d i n g itself as a n o t h i n g , as a d o i n g of n o t h i n g , as an e x c r e m e n t a l f u n c t i o n , a n d h e n c e r e g a r d i n g itself a s e x c r e m e n t ,
the p r i e s t , a n d yet t h i s g r o u n d i n g m e r e l y c o n c e a l s the r e f l e x i v e o r i g i n s o f its s e l f - p u n i s h m e n t .
t h i s c o n s c i o u s n e s s effectively r e d u c e s itself to the c h a n g e a b l e
A t t h i s j u n c t u r e H e g e l d e p a r t s f r o m w h a t has b e e n the pat-
features o f its b o d i l y f u n c t i o n s a n d p r o d u c t s . Yet, s i n c e i t i s
t e r n o f e x p l a n a t i o n , i n w h i c h a self-negating p o s t u r e i s u n d e r -
Stubborn Attachment, B o d i l y Subjection
Hegel's Unhappy Consciousness
s c o r e d as a posture, a p h e n o m e n a l i z a t i o n that refutes the n e g a -
f r o m p a i n , f i g u r e d a s its f u t u r e c o m p e n s a t i o n . F o r H e g e l , t h i s
t i o n i t seeks t o i n s t i t u t e . I n the p l a c e o f s u c h a n e x p l a n a t i o n ,
e s c h a t o l o g i c a l t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f the p a i n o f t h i s w o r l d i n t o
H e g e l asserts that the w i l l o f a n o t h e r operates t h r o u g h the self-
the p l e a s u r e of the n e x t establishes the t r a n s i t i o n f r o m self-
52
53
s a c r i f i c i a l a c t i o n s of the p e n i t e n t . In effect, self-sacrifice is n o t
consciousness to reason. A n d self-consciousness's recognition
r e f u t e d t h r o u g h the c l a i m that self-sacrifice i s itself a w i l l f u l
of itself as p a r t of a r e l i g i o u s c o m m u n i t y of w i l l s effects the
a c t i v i t y ; rather, H e g e l asserts that i n self-sacrifice one enacts
transition f r o m self-consciousness to Spirit.
a n o t h e r ' s w i l l . O n e m i g h t e x p e c t that the p e n i t e n t w o u l d b e
B u t w h a t are w e t o m a k e o f t h i s f i n a l t r a n s i t i o n , c o n s i d e r i n g
s h o w n to be reveling in himself, self-aggrandizing, narcissis-
the i m m a n e n t r e l a t i o n o f p l e a s u r e a n d p a i n i n the t r a n s i t i o n s
t i c , that h i s s e l f - p u n i s h m e n t s w o u l d c u l m i n a t e i n a p l e a s u r a b l e
that p r e c e d e it? B e f o r e the i n t r o d u c t i o n o f the " m e d i a t o r " a n d
a s s e r t i o n o f self. B u t H e g e l e s c h e w s t h i s e x p l a n a t i o n a n d t h u s
the " p r i e s t , " the c h a p t e r o n the u n h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s a p -
b r e a k s w i t h the p a t t e r n o f e x p l a n a t i o n i n the c h a p t e r i n f a v o r
p e a r s to p r o c e e d as if it c o n t a i n e d a t r e n c h a n t c r i t i q u e of e t h i -
of a religious solution in Spirit.
cal imperatives a n d r e l i g i o u s ideals, a critique w h i c h prefig-
I n d e e d , at t h i s j u n c t u r e o n e m i g h t w e l l i m a g i n e a set of
u r e s the N i e t z s c h e a n a n a l y s i s that e m e r g e s s o m e s i x t y y e a r s
c l o s i n g t r a n s i t i o n s f o r " T h e U n h a p p y C o n s c i o u s n e s s " differ-
later. E v e r y effort t o r e d u c e itself t o i n a c t i o n o r t o n o t h i n g ,
ent f r o m the ones H e g e l s u p p l i e s , a set that is, n e v e r t h e l e s s ,
t o s u b o r d i n a t e o r m o r t i f y its o w n b o d y , c u l m i n a t e s i n a d v e r -
perhaps more p r o p e r l y Hegelian than H e g e l himself. The peni-
t e n t l y in the production of s e l f - c o n s c i o u s n e s s as a p l e a s u r e -
tent d i s c l a i m s h i s act a s h i s o w n , a v o w i n g that a n o t h e r ' s w i l l ,
s e e k i n g a n d s e l f - a g g r a n d i z i n g agent. E v e r y effort t o o v e r c o m e
the p r i e s t ' s , operates t h r o u g h h i s self-sacrifice, a n d , further,
the b o d y , p l e a s u r e , a n d a g e n c y p r o v e s t o b e n o t h i n g o t h e r
that the p r i e s t ' s w i l l i s d e t e r m i n e d b y G o d ' s . I n s t a l l e d t h u s
t h a n the a s s e r t i o n of p r e c i s e l y those features of the subject.
i n a great c h a i n o f w i l l s , the abject c o n s c i o u s n e s s enters i n t o a c o m m u n i t y o f w i l l s . A l t h o u g h its w i l l i s d e t e r m i n a t e , i t i s
Post-Hegelian
Subjections
n e v e r t h e l e s s b o u n d t o the p r i e s t ' s ; i n this u n i t y , the n o t i o n o f S p i r i t i s first d i s c e r n e d . T h e m e d i a t o r o r p r i e s t c o u n s e l s the
The Nietzschean critique of ethical norms, prefigured in
p e n i t e n t that h i s p a i n w i l l b e r e p a i d w i t h e v e r l a s t i n g a b u n -
"The U n h a p p y Consciousness" and articulated in Nietzsche's
d a n c e , that h i s m i s e r y w i l l b e r e w a r d e d w i t h e v e r l a s t i n g h a p -
On the Genealogy of Morals a n d Daybreak, has r e c e i v e d m o r e
piness; misery a n d p a i n i m p l y a future transformation into
recent r e f o r m u l a t i o n in F o u c a u l t ' s Discipline and Punish. B o t h
t h e i r o p p o s i t e s . I n t h i s sense, the m i n i s t e r r e f o r m u l a t e s the
H e g e l ' s p o s i t i o n a n d those i n s p i r e d b y N i e t z s c h e m i g h t a l s o
d i a l e c t i c a l r e v e r s a l a n d establishes the i n v e r s i o n o f v a l u e s a s
b e u s e f u l l y c o m p a r e d w i t h F r e u d ' s c r i t i q u e o f the genesis
a n a b s o l u t e p r i n c i p l e . W h e r e a s i n a l l o f the e a r l i e r e x a m p l e s
of m o r a l i m p e r a t i v e s in Civilization and Its Discontents. R e c a l l
o f s e l f - n e g a t i o n p l e a s u r e w a s u n d e r s t o o d t o inhere i n p a i n
that for H e g e l e t h i c a l i m p e r a t i v e s first e m e r g e i n a d e f e n s i v e
(the p l e a s u r a b l e a g g r a n d i z e m e n t o f the stoic, the p l e a s u r a b l e
r e s p o n s e t o a b s o l u t e fear, a n d t h e i r e m e r g e n c e m u s t b e c o n -
s a d i s m o f the s k e p t i c ) , p l e a s u r e i s h e r e t e m p o r a l l y r e m o v e d
s t r u e d as a p e r m u t a t i o n a n d r e f u s a l of that fear. T h i s a b s o l u t e
Stubborn Attachment, B o d i l y Subjection
Hegel's Unhappy Consciousness
s c o r e d as a posture, a p h e n o m e n a l i z a t i o n that refutes the n e g a -
f r o m p a i n , f i g u r e d a s its f u t u r e c o m p e n s a t i o n . F o r H e g e l , t h i s
t i o n i t seeks t o i n s t i t u t e . I n the p l a c e o f s u c h a n e x p l a n a t i o n ,
e s c h a t o l o g i c a l t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f the p a i n o f t h i s w o r l d i n t o
H e g e l asserts that the w i l l o f a n o t h e r operates t h r o u g h the self-
the p l e a s u r e of the n e x t establishes the t r a n s i t i o n f r o m self-
52
53
s a c r i f i c i a l a c t i o n s of the p e n i t e n t . In effect, self-sacrifice is n o t
consciousness to reason. A n d self-consciousness's recognition
r e f u t e d t h r o u g h the c l a i m that self-sacrifice i s itself a w i l l f u l
of itself as p a r t of a r e l i g i o u s c o m m u n i t y of w i l l s effects the
a c t i v i t y ; rather, H e g e l asserts that i n self-sacrifice one enacts
transition f r o m self-consciousness to Spirit.
a n o t h e r ' s w i l l . O n e m i g h t e x p e c t that the p e n i t e n t w o u l d b e
B u t w h a t are w e t o m a k e o f t h i s f i n a l t r a n s i t i o n , c o n s i d e r i n g
s h o w n to be reveling in himself, self-aggrandizing, narcissis-
the i m m a n e n t r e l a t i o n o f p l e a s u r e a n d p a i n i n the t r a n s i t i o n s
t i c , that h i s s e l f - p u n i s h m e n t s w o u l d c u l m i n a t e i n a p l e a s u r a b l e
that p r e c e d e it? B e f o r e the i n t r o d u c t i o n o f the " m e d i a t o r " a n d
a s s e r t i o n o f self. B u t H e g e l e s c h e w s t h i s e x p l a n a t i o n a n d t h u s
the " p r i e s t , " the c h a p t e r o n the u n h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s a p -
b r e a k s w i t h the p a t t e r n o f e x p l a n a t i o n i n the c h a p t e r i n f a v o r
p e a r s to p r o c e e d as if it c o n t a i n e d a t r e n c h a n t c r i t i q u e of e t h i -
of a religious solution in Spirit.
cal imperatives a n d r e l i g i o u s ideals, a critique w h i c h prefig-
I n d e e d , at t h i s j u n c t u r e o n e m i g h t w e l l i m a g i n e a set of
u r e s the N i e t z s c h e a n a n a l y s i s that e m e r g e s s o m e s i x t y y e a r s
c l o s i n g t r a n s i t i o n s f o r " T h e U n h a p p y C o n s c i o u s n e s s " differ-
later. E v e r y effort t o r e d u c e itself t o i n a c t i o n o r t o n o t h i n g ,
ent f r o m the ones H e g e l s u p p l i e s , a set that is, n e v e r t h e l e s s ,
t o s u b o r d i n a t e o r m o r t i f y its o w n b o d y , c u l m i n a t e s i n a d v e r -
perhaps more p r o p e r l y Hegelian than H e g e l himself. The peni-
t e n t l y in the production of s e l f - c o n s c i o u s n e s s as a p l e a s u r e -
tent d i s c l a i m s h i s act a s h i s o w n , a v o w i n g that a n o t h e r ' s w i l l ,
s e e k i n g a n d s e l f - a g g r a n d i z i n g agent. E v e r y effort t o o v e r c o m e
the p r i e s t ' s , operates t h r o u g h h i s self-sacrifice, a n d , further,
the b o d y , p l e a s u r e , a n d a g e n c y p r o v e s t o b e n o t h i n g o t h e r
that the p r i e s t ' s w i l l i s d e t e r m i n e d b y G o d ' s . I n s t a l l e d t h u s
t h a n the a s s e r t i o n of p r e c i s e l y those features of the subject.
i n a great c h a i n o f w i l l s , the abject c o n s c i o u s n e s s enters i n t o a c o m m u n i t y o f w i l l s . A l t h o u g h its w i l l i s d e t e r m i n a t e , i t i s
Post-Hegelian
Subjections
n e v e r t h e l e s s b o u n d t o the p r i e s t ' s ; i n this u n i t y , the n o t i o n o f S p i r i t i s first d i s c e r n e d . T h e m e d i a t o r o r p r i e s t c o u n s e l s the
The Nietzschean critique of ethical norms, prefigured in
p e n i t e n t that h i s p a i n w i l l b e r e p a i d w i t h e v e r l a s t i n g a b u n -
"The U n h a p p y Consciousness" and articulated in Nietzsche's
d a n c e , that h i s m i s e r y w i l l b e r e w a r d e d w i t h e v e r l a s t i n g h a p -
On the Genealogy of Morals a n d Daybreak, has r e c e i v e d m o r e
piness; misery a n d p a i n i m p l y a future transformation into
recent r e f o r m u l a t i o n in F o u c a u l t ' s Discipline and Punish. B o t h
t h e i r o p p o s i t e s . I n t h i s sense, the m i n i s t e r r e f o r m u l a t e s the
H e g e l ' s p o s i t i o n a n d those i n s p i r e d b y N i e t z s c h e m i g h t a l s o
d i a l e c t i c a l r e v e r s a l a n d establishes the i n v e r s i o n o f v a l u e s a s
b e u s e f u l l y c o m p a r e d w i t h F r e u d ' s c r i t i q u e o f the genesis
a n a b s o l u t e p r i n c i p l e . W h e r e a s i n a l l o f the e a r l i e r e x a m p l e s
of m o r a l i m p e r a t i v e s in Civilization and Its Discontents. R e c a l l
o f s e l f - n e g a t i o n p l e a s u r e w a s u n d e r s t o o d t o inhere i n p a i n
that for H e g e l e t h i c a l i m p e r a t i v e s first e m e r g e i n a d e f e n s i v e
(the p l e a s u r a b l e a g g r a n d i z e m e n t o f the stoic, the p l e a s u r a b l e
r e s p o n s e t o a b s o l u t e fear, a n d t h e i r e m e r g e n c e m u s t b e c o n -
s a d i s m o f the s k e p t i c ) , p l e a s u r e i s h e r e t e m p o r a l l y r e m o v e d
s t r u e d as a p e r m u t a t i o n a n d r e f u s a l of that fear. T h i s a b s o l u t e
Stubborn Attachment, B o d i l y Subjection
Hegel's Unhappy Consciousness
fear w a s the fear of d e a t h , h e n c e a fear c o n d i t i o n e d by the
b o d y within life, efforts w h i c h c u l m i n a t e d i n the a s s e r t i o n o f
finite c h a r a c t e r o f the b o d y . T h e e t h i c a l r e f u s a l a n d s u b o r d i -
the i n e l u c t a b i l i t y o f the b o d y . W h e r e a s o t h e r r e l i g i o u s n o t i o n s
54
55
n a t i o n o f the b o d y m i g h t t h e n b e u n d e r s t o o d a s a m a g i c a l
t u r n e d o u t t o b e s u r r e p t i t i o u s w a y s o f r e a s s e r t i n g the b o d y ,
effort t o p r e e m p t that e x i s t e n t i a l n e g a t i o n . M o r e o v e r , the i d e a l
t h i s o n e a p p e a r s e x e m p t f r o m the d i a l e c t i c a l r e v e r s a l that i t
o f r a d i c a l self-sufficiency i s j e o p a r d i z e d b y the b o d y ' s p e r m e -
resolves.
a b i l i t y a n d d e p e n d e n c y . I n t h i s sense, e x c r e t i o n i s n o t the o n l y
P s y c h o a n a l y s i s t h e o r i z e s the f a i l u r e t o m a i n t a i n the subjec-
" a n i m a l f u n c t i o n " that w o u l d s i g n i f y " d e f i l e m e n t " f o r t h i s s u b -
t i o n o f the b o d y a l o n g l i n e s p a r a l l e l t o these e a r l i e r d i a l e c t i c a l
ject. T h e r e p e a t e d efforts t o sacrifice the b o d y w h i c h b e c o m e
reversals. T h e r e p r e s s i o n o f the l i b i d o i s a l w a y s u n d e r s t o o d
r e p e a t e d a s s e r t i o n s o f the b o d y are a l s o efforts t o d e f e n d i t
as itself a l i b i d i n a l l y i n v e s t e d r e p r e s s i o n . H e n c e , the l i b i d o is
a g a i n s t e v e r y t h i n g that " j e o p a r d i z e s " it, w h e r e t o b e i n " j e o p -
not absolutely negated t h r o u g h repression, but rather becomes
a r d y " d e n o t e s a d a n g e r s l i g h t l y less d i r e t h a n d e a t h , a k i n d
the i n s t r u m e n t o f its o w n s u b j e c t i o n . T h e r e p r e s s i v e l a w i s
o f p e n e t r a t i v e p a r o x y s m that i m p l i e s b e i n g m o v e d o r s h a k e n
n o t e x t e r n a l t o the l i b i d o that i t represses, b u t the r e p r e s s i v e
s e x u a l l y " t h r o u g h a n d t h r o u g h " (durch und durch angesteckt).
l a w represses t o the extent that r e p r e s s i o n b e c o m e s a l i b i d i -
O n e c o u l d t h e n see i n the v a r i o u s f o r m s o f s e l f - b e r a t e m e n t a n d
n a l a c t i v i t y . F u r t h e r , m o r a l i n t e r d i c t i o n s , e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e that 7
self-mortification typologized in "The U n h a p p y Conscious-
are t u r n e d a g a i n s t the b o d y , are t h e m s e l v e s s u s t a i n e d b y the
n e s s " a p r é f i g u r a t i o n of n e u r o s i s a n d p e r h a p s a l s o a s p e c i f i c
b o d i l y a c t i v i t y that t h e y seek t o c u r b :
modality of homosexual panic.
6
W e m i g h t t h e n r e r e a d the m o b i l i z i n g fear that i s b o t h r e f u s e d a n d r e r o u t e d b y the e t h i c a l i m p e r a t i v e i n t e r m s o f the f e a r e d " e x p r o p r i a b i l i t y " o f the b o d y . I f the b o n d s m a n ' s l a b o r i n g a c t i v i t y c o u l d b e e x p r o p r i a t e d b y the l o r d a n d the essence o f the b o n d s m a n ' s b o d y b e h e l d i n o w n e r s h i p b y that l o r d ,
An idea . . . w h i c h belongs entirely to psychoanalysis and w h i c h is foreign to people's ordinary way of thinking . . . it tells us that conscience (or more correctly, the anxiety w h i c h later becomes conscience) is indeed the cause of instinctual renunciation to begin w i t h , but that later that relationship is reversed. Every renunciation of i n stinct n o w becomes a dynamic source of conscience and every fresh renunciation increases the latter's severity and intolerance. 8
t h e n the b o d y c o n s t i t u t e s a site of c o n t e s t e d o w n e r s h i p , o n e w h i c h t h r o u g h d o m i n a t i o n o r the threat o f d e a t h c a n a l w a y s
A c c o r d i n g t o F r e u d , t h e n , the s e l f - i m p o s e d i m p e r a t i v e s o f c o n -
b e o w n e d b y another. T h e b o d y a p p e a r s t o b e n o t h i n g other
s c i e n c e are p u r s u e d a n d a p p l i e d p r e c i s e l y b e c a u s e t h e y are
t h a n a threat to the project of safety a n d self-sufficiency that
n o w the site o f the v e r y s a t i s f a c t i o n that t h e y seek t o p r o -
g o v e r n s the Phenomenology's trajectory. T h e
h i b i t . I n o t h e r w o r d s , p r o h i b i t i o n b e c o m e s the d i s p l a c e d site
anal preoccupa-
t i o n that d i r e c t l y p r e c e d e s the a s c e n d a n c e i n t o a r e l i g i o u s c o n -
o f s a t i s f a c t i o n f o r the " i n s t i n c t " o r d e s i r e that i s p r o h i b i t e d ,
c e p t o f a n afterlife suggests that b o d i l y p e r m e a b i l i t y c a n o n l y
a n o c c a s i o n f o r r e l i v i n g the i n s t i n c t u n d e r the r u b r i c o f the
b e r e s o l v e d b y escape i n t o a n afterlife i n w h i c h n o b o d i e s exist
c o n d e m n i n g law. T h i s is, o f c o u r s e , the s o u r c e o f the f o r m o f
a t a l l . T h i s a f f i r m a t i o n o f the a b s o l u t e n e g a t i o n o f the b o d y
c o m e d y i n w h i c h the b e a r e r o f the m o r a l l a w t u r n s o u t t o
c o n t r a d i c t s a l l the e a r l i e r efforts t o s u b o r d i n a t e o r m a s t e r the
Stubborn Attachment, B o d i l y Subjection
Hegel's Unhappy Consciousness
fear w a s the fear of d e a t h , h e n c e a fear c o n d i t i o n e d by the
b o d y within life, efforts w h i c h c u l m i n a t e d i n the a s s e r t i o n o f
finite c h a r a c t e r o f the b o d y . T h e e t h i c a l r e f u s a l a n d s u b o r d i -
the i n e l u c t a b i l i t y o f the b o d y . W h e r e a s o t h e r r e l i g i o u s n o t i o n s
54
55
n a t i o n o f the b o d y m i g h t t h e n b e u n d e r s t o o d a s a m a g i c a l
t u r n e d o u t t o b e s u r r e p t i t i o u s w a y s o f r e a s s e r t i n g the b o d y ,
effort t o p r e e m p t that e x i s t e n t i a l n e g a t i o n . M o r e o v e r , the i d e a l
t h i s o n e a p p e a r s e x e m p t f r o m the d i a l e c t i c a l r e v e r s a l that i t
o f r a d i c a l self-sufficiency i s j e o p a r d i z e d b y the b o d y ' s p e r m e -
resolves.
a b i l i t y a n d d e p e n d e n c y . I n t h i s sense, e x c r e t i o n i s n o t the o n l y
P s y c h o a n a l y s i s t h e o r i z e s the f a i l u r e t o m a i n t a i n the subjec-
" a n i m a l f u n c t i o n " that w o u l d s i g n i f y " d e f i l e m e n t " f o r t h i s s u b -
t i o n o f the b o d y a l o n g l i n e s p a r a l l e l t o these e a r l i e r d i a l e c t i c a l
ject. T h e r e p e a t e d efforts t o sacrifice the b o d y w h i c h b e c o m e
reversals. T h e r e p r e s s i o n o f the l i b i d o i s a l w a y s u n d e r s t o o d
r e p e a t e d a s s e r t i o n s o f the b o d y are a l s o efforts t o d e f e n d i t
as itself a l i b i d i n a l l y i n v e s t e d r e p r e s s i o n . H e n c e , the l i b i d o is
a g a i n s t e v e r y t h i n g that " j e o p a r d i z e s " it, w h e r e t o b e i n " j e o p -
not absolutely negated t h r o u g h repression, but rather becomes
a r d y " d e n o t e s a d a n g e r s l i g h t l y less d i r e t h a n d e a t h , a k i n d
the i n s t r u m e n t o f its o w n s u b j e c t i o n . T h e r e p r e s s i v e l a w i s
o f p e n e t r a t i v e p a r o x y s m that i m p l i e s b e i n g m o v e d o r s h a k e n
n o t e x t e r n a l t o the l i b i d o that i t represses, b u t the r e p r e s s i v e
s e x u a l l y " t h r o u g h a n d t h r o u g h " (durch und durch angesteckt).
l a w represses t o the extent that r e p r e s s i o n b e c o m e s a l i b i d i -
O n e c o u l d t h e n see i n the v a r i o u s f o r m s o f s e l f - b e r a t e m e n t a n d
n a l a c t i v i t y . F u r t h e r , m o r a l i n t e r d i c t i o n s , e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e that 7
self-mortification typologized in "The U n h a p p y Conscious-
are t u r n e d a g a i n s t the b o d y , are t h e m s e l v e s s u s t a i n e d b y the
n e s s " a p r é f i g u r a t i o n of n e u r o s i s a n d p e r h a p s a l s o a s p e c i f i c
b o d i l y a c t i v i t y that t h e y seek t o c u r b :
modality of homosexual panic.
6
W e m i g h t t h e n r e r e a d the m o b i l i z i n g fear that i s b o t h r e f u s e d a n d r e r o u t e d b y the e t h i c a l i m p e r a t i v e i n t e r m s o f the f e a r e d " e x p r o p r i a b i l i t y " o f the b o d y . I f the b o n d s m a n ' s l a b o r i n g a c t i v i t y c o u l d b e e x p r o p r i a t e d b y the l o r d a n d the essence o f the b o n d s m a n ' s b o d y b e h e l d i n o w n e r s h i p b y that l o r d ,
An idea . . . w h i c h belongs entirely to psychoanalysis and w h i c h is foreign to people's ordinary way of thinking . . . it tells us that conscience (or more correctly, the anxiety w h i c h later becomes conscience) is indeed the cause of instinctual renunciation to begin w i t h , but that later that relationship is reversed. Every renunciation of i n stinct n o w becomes a dynamic source of conscience and every fresh renunciation increases the latter's severity and intolerance. 8
t h e n the b o d y c o n s t i t u t e s a site of c o n t e s t e d o w n e r s h i p , o n e w h i c h t h r o u g h d o m i n a t i o n o r the threat o f d e a t h c a n a l w a y s
A c c o r d i n g t o F r e u d , t h e n , the s e l f - i m p o s e d i m p e r a t i v e s o f c o n -
b e o w n e d b y another. T h e b o d y a p p e a r s t o b e n o t h i n g other
s c i e n c e are p u r s u e d a n d a p p l i e d p r e c i s e l y b e c a u s e t h e y are
t h a n a threat to the project of safety a n d self-sufficiency that
n o w the site o f the v e r y s a t i s f a c t i o n that t h e y seek t o p r o -
g o v e r n s the Phenomenology's trajectory. T h e
h i b i t . I n o t h e r w o r d s , p r o h i b i t i o n b e c o m e s the d i s p l a c e d site
anal preoccupa-
t i o n that d i r e c t l y p r e c e d e s the a s c e n d a n c e i n t o a r e l i g i o u s c o n -
o f s a t i s f a c t i o n f o r the " i n s t i n c t " o r d e s i r e that i s p r o h i b i t e d ,
c e p t o f a n afterlife suggests that b o d i l y p e r m e a b i l i t y c a n o n l y
a n o c c a s i o n f o r r e l i v i n g the i n s t i n c t u n d e r the r u b r i c o f the
b e r e s o l v e d b y escape i n t o a n afterlife i n w h i c h n o b o d i e s exist
c o n d e m n i n g law. T h i s is, o f c o u r s e , the s o u r c e o f the f o r m o f
a t a l l . T h i s a f f i r m a t i o n o f the a b s o l u t e n e g a t i o n o f the b o d y
c o m e d y i n w h i c h the b e a r e r o f the m o r a l l a w t u r n s o u t t o
c o n t r a d i c t s a l l the e a r l i e r efforts t o s u b o r d i n a t e o r m a s t e r the
Stubborn Attachment, B o d i l y Subjection
Hegel's Unhappy Consciousness
b e the m o s t s e r i o u s t r a n s g r e s s o r o f its p r e c e p t s ( H a w t h o r n e ' s
meaning of all this is a w i l l to nothingness, a w i l l running counter to life, a revolt against the most fundamental presuppositions of life; yet it is and remains a w i l l ! . . . rather than want nothing, man even wants nothingness!
56
D i m s d a l e , T o m Stoppard's m o r a l philosopher). Because this d i s p l a c e d s a t i s f a c t i o n i s e x p e r i e n c e d t h r o u g h the a p p l i c a t i o n o f the l a w , that a p p l i c a t i o n i s r e i n v i g o r a t e d a n d i n t e n s i f i e d w i t h the e m e r g e n c e o f e v e r y p r o h i b i t e d desire. T h e p r o h i b i t i o n d o e s n o t seek t o o b l i t e r a t e p r o h i b i t e d d e s i r e ; o n the c o n t r a r y , p r o h i b i t i o n seeks t o r e p r o d u c e p r o h i b i t e d d e s i r e a n d b e c o m e s i n t e n s i f i e d t h r o u g h the r e n u n c i a t i o n s i t effects. T h e "afterlife" o f p r o h i b i t e d d e s i r e i s i n the p r o h i b i t i o n itself, w h e r e the p r o h i b i t i o n n o t o n l y s u s t a i n s , b u t is sustained by, the d e s i r e that it forces the subject to r e n o u n c e . In t h i s sense, t h e n , r e n u n c i a t i o n
57
9
I d o n o t m e a n t o suggest that F r e u d ' s h i g h l y p r o b l e m a t i c n o t i o n of instinct, Hegel's inchoate body, a n d Nietzsche's w i l l are s t r i c t l y e q u i v a l e n t . Yet I do w a n t to suggest that these three thinkers circumscribe a k i n d of dialectical reversal w h i c h centers o n the i m p o s s i b i l i t y o f a f u l l o r f i n a l r e f l e x i v e s u p p r e s s i o n o f w h a t w e m i g h t l o o s e l y c a l l "the b o d y " w i t h i n the c o n f i n e s o f life. I f the s u p p r e s s i o n o f the b o d y i s itself a n i n s t r u m e n t a l
takes p l a c e through the v e r y d e s i r e that is r e n o u n c e d , w h i c h is
m o v e m e n t o f a n d b y the b o d y , t h e n the b o d y i s i n a d v e r t e n t l y
to say, the d e s i r e is never r e n o u n c e d , b u t b e c o m e s p r e s e r v e d
p r e s e r v e d i n a n d b y the i n s t r u m e n t o f its s u p p r e s s i o n . T h e self-
a n d r e a s s e r t e d i n the v e r y s t r u c t u r e o f r e n u n c i a t i o n .
d e f e a t i n g effort o f s u c h s u p p r e s s i o n , h o w e v e r , n o t o n l y l e a d s
Nietzsche makes a similar argument, deploying a dialecti-
t o its o p p o s i t e — a s e l f - c o n g r a t u l a t o r y o r s e l f - a g g r a n d i z i n g as-
c a l s t r u c t u r e n o t u n l i k e H e g e l ' s , i n h i s c r i t i q u e o f the ascetic
s e r t i o n o f d e s i r e , w i l l , the b o d y — i n m o r e c o n t e m p o r a r y for-
i d e a l in On the Genealogy of Morals. T h e i n e l u c t a b i l i t y of the
m u l a t i o n s i t l e a d s t o the e l a b o r a t i o n o f a n i n s t i t u t i o n o f the
b o d y i n " T h e U n h a p p y C o n s c i o u s n e s s " p a r a l l e l s the i n e l u c t -
subject w h i c h exceeds the d i a l e c t i c a l f r a m e b y w h i c h i t i s
a b i l i t y o f " i n s t i n c t " i n F r e u d a n d that o f the w i l l i n N i e t z s c h e .
spawned.
F o r N i e t z s c h e , the ascetic i d e a l , u n d e r s t o o d a s a w i l l t o n o t h ingness, is a w a y of interpreting a l l suffering as guilt. A l t h o u g h g u i l t w o r k s t o d e n y a specific k i n d o f object for h u m a n w a n t s , i t c a n n o t o b l i t e r a t e the w a n t i n g c h a r a c t e r o f h u m a n s . A c c o r d i n g t o the dictates o f g u i l t , t h e n , " m a n h a d o n l y t o want s o m e t h i n g — a n d to b e g i n w i t h , it mattered not what, whereto, or h o w he w a n t e d : the will itself was saved." T h e ascetic i d e a l , v e r y m u c h like Hegel's u n h a p p y consciousness, is to be unders t o o d , t h e n , as: that hatred against everything human, even more, against everything animal, everything material, this disgust w i t h the senses, w i t h reason itself, this fear of happiness and beauty, this desire to get away from all semblance, change, becoming, death, wish, desire itself—the
I n H e g e l , the s u p p r e s s i o n o f b o d i l y life i s s h o w n t o r e q u i r e the v e r y b o d y that i t seeks t o s u p p r e s s ; i n t h i s sense, the b o d y i s p r e s e r v e d i n a n d b y the v e r y act o f s u p p r e s s i o n . F r e u d u n d e r s t o o d this differently in his analysis of neurosis as a k i n d of l i b i d i n a l a t t a c h m e n t to a p r o h i b i t i o n w h i c h n e v e r theless t h w a r t s l i b i d i n a l g r a t i f i c a t i o n . W h e r e that t h w a r t i n g c o n s t i t u t e s a r e p r e s s i o n , the s p l i t t i n g off of i d e a t i o n f r o m affect, n e u r o s i s o r s y m p t o m f o r m a t i o n f o l l o w s . O n e m i g h t r e a d H e g e l ' s references to eigensinnigkeit or s t u b b o r n n e s s as i l l u s t r a t i n g the p r o c e s s o f s p l i t t i n g a n d defense i n the f o r m a t i o n o f n e u r o s i s . T h a t H e g e l refers t o t h i s " u n h a p p i n e s s " a s a k i n d o f s t u b b o r n a t t a c h m e n t suggests that, a s i n n e u r o s i s , the e t h i c a l r e g u l a t i o n o f b o d i l y i m p u l s e b e c o m e s the f o c u s a n d a i m
Stubborn Attachment, B o d i l y Subjection
Hegel's Unhappy Consciousness
b e the m o s t s e r i o u s t r a n s g r e s s o r o f its p r e c e p t s ( H a w t h o r n e ' s
meaning of all this is a w i l l to nothingness, a w i l l running counter to life, a revolt against the most fundamental presuppositions of life; yet it is and remains a w i l l ! . . . rather than want nothing, man even wants nothingness!
56
D i m s d a l e , T o m Stoppard's m o r a l philosopher). Because this d i s p l a c e d s a t i s f a c t i o n i s e x p e r i e n c e d t h r o u g h the a p p l i c a t i o n o f the l a w , that a p p l i c a t i o n i s r e i n v i g o r a t e d a n d i n t e n s i f i e d w i t h the e m e r g e n c e o f e v e r y p r o h i b i t e d desire. T h e p r o h i b i t i o n d o e s n o t seek t o o b l i t e r a t e p r o h i b i t e d d e s i r e ; o n the c o n t r a r y , p r o h i b i t i o n seeks t o r e p r o d u c e p r o h i b i t e d d e s i r e a n d b e c o m e s i n t e n s i f i e d t h r o u g h the r e n u n c i a t i o n s i t effects. T h e "afterlife" o f p r o h i b i t e d d e s i r e i s i n the p r o h i b i t i o n itself, w h e r e the p r o h i b i t i o n n o t o n l y s u s t a i n s , b u t is sustained by, the d e s i r e that it forces the subject to r e n o u n c e . In t h i s sense, t h e n , r e n u n c i a t i o n
57
9
I d o n o t m e a n t o suggest that F r e u d ' s h i g h l y p r o b l e m a t i c n o t i o n of instinct, Hegel's inchoate body, a n d Nietzsche's w i l l are s t r i c t l y e q u i v a l e n t . Yet I do w a n t to suggest that these three thinkers circumscribe a k i n d of dialectical reversal w h i c h centers o n the i m p o s s i b i l i t y o f a f u l l o r f i n a l r e f l e x i v e s u p p r e s s i o n o f w h a t w e m i g h t l o o s e l y c a l l "the b o d y " w i t h i n the c o n f i n e s o f life. I f the s u p p r e s s i o n o f the b o d y i s itself a n i n s t r u m e n t a l
takes p l a c e through the v e r y d e s i r e that is r e n o u n c e d , w h i c h is
m o v e m e n t o f a n d b y the b o d y , t h e n the b o d y i s i n a d v e r t e n t l y
to say, the d e s i r e is never r e n o u n c e d , b u t b e c o m e s p r e s e r v e d
p r e s e r v e d i n a n d b y the i n s t r u m e n t o f its s u p p r e s s i o n . T h e self-
a n d r e a s s e r t e d i n the v e r y s t r u c t u r e o f r e n u n c i a t i o n .
d e f e a t i n g effort o f s u c h s u p p r e s s i o n , h o w e v e r , n o t o n l y l e a d s
Nietzsche makes a similar argument, deploying a dialecti-
t o its o p p o s i t e — a s e l f - c o n g r a t u l a t o r y o r s e l f - a g g r a n d i z i n g as-
c a l s t r u c t u r e n o t u n l i k e H e g e l ' s , i n h i s c r i t i q u e o f the ascetic
s e r t i o n o f d e s i r e , w i l l , the b o d y — i n m o r e c o n t e m p o r a r y for-
i d e a l in On the Genealogy of Morals. T h e i n e l u c t a b i l i t y of the
m u l a t i o n s i t l e a d s t o the e l a b o r a t i o n o f a n i n s t i t u t i o n o f the
b o d y i n " T h e U n h a p p y C o n s c i o u s n e s s " p a r a l l e l s the i n e l u c t -
subject w h i c h exceeds the d i a l e c t i c a l f r a m e b y w h i c h i t i s
a b i l i t y o f " i n s t i n c t " i n F r e u d a n d that o f the w i l l i n N i e t z s c h e .
spawned.
F o r N i e t z s c h e , the ascetic i d e a l , u n d e r s t o o d a s a w i l l t o n o t h ingness, is a w a y of interpreting a l l suffering as guilt. A l t h o u g h g u i l t w o r k s t o d e n y a specific k i n d o f object for h u m a n w a n t s , i t c a n n o t o b l i t e r a t e the w a n t i n g c h a r a c t e r o f h u m a n s . A c c o r d i n g t o the dictates o f g u i l t , t h e n , " m a n h a d o n l y t o want s o m e t h i n g — a n d to b e g i n w i t h , it mattered not what, whereto, or h o w he w a n t e d : the will itself was saved." T h e ascetic i d e a l , v e r y m u c h like Hegel's u n h a p p y consciousness, is to be unders t o o d , t h e n , as: that hatred against everything human, even more, against everything animal, everything material, this disgust w i t h the senses, w i t h reason itself, this fear of happiness and beauty, this desire to get away from all semblance, change, becoming, death, wish, desire itself—the
I n H e g e l , the s u p p r e s s i o n o f b o d i l y life i s s h o w n t o r e q u i r e the v e r y b o d y that i t seeks t o s u p p r e s s ; i n t h i s sense, the b o d y i s p r e s e r v e d i n a n d b y the v e r y act o f s u p p r e s s i o n . F r e u d u n d e r s t o o d this differently in his analysis of neurosis as a k i n d of l i b i d i n a l a t t a c h m e n t to a p r o h i b i t i o n w h i c h n e v e r theless t h w a r t s l i b i d i n a l g r a t i f i c a t i o n . W h e r e that t h w a r t i n g c o n s t i t u t e s a r e p r e s s i o n , the s p l i t t i n g off of i d e a t i o n f r o m affect, n e u r o s i s o r s y m p t o m f o r m a t i o n f o l l o w s . O n e m i g h t r e a d H e g e l ' s references to eigensinnigkeit or s t u b b o r n n e s s as i l l u s t r a t i n g the p r o c e s s o f s p l i t t i n g a n d defense i n the f o r m a t i o n o f n e u r o s i s . T h a t H e g e l refers t o t h i s " u n h a p p i n e s s " a s a k i n d o f s t u b b o r n a t t a c h m e n t suggests that, a s i n n e u r o s i s , the e t h i c a l r e g u l a t i o n o f b o d i l y i m p u l s e b e c o m e s the f o c u s a n d a i m
5»
Stubborn Attachment, B o d i l y Subjection
Hegel's Unhappy Consciousness
59
o f i m p u l s e itself. I n b o t h cases, w e are g i v e n t o u n d e r s t a n d a n
c a l r e v e r s a l w e f o l l o w e d i n H e g e l . I n F o u c a u l t , the s u p p r e s s i o n
a t t a c h m e n t t o s u b j e c t i o n w h i c h i s f o r m a t i v e o f the r e f l e x i v e
o f the b o d y n o t o n l y r e q u i r e s a n d p r o d u c e s the v e r y b o d y i t
s t r u c t u r e o f s u b j e c t i o n itself. T h e i m p u l s e o r b o d i l y e x p e r i e n c e
seeks t o s u p p r e s s , i t goes f u r t h e r b y e x t e n d i n g the b o d i l y d o -
w h i c h w o u l d be negated, to return to H e g e l , is inadvertently
m a i n t o b e r e g u l a t e d , p r o l i f e r a t i n g sites o f c o n t r o l , d i s c i p l i n e ,
preserved b y the v e r y a c t i v i t y o f n e g a t i o n .
a n d s u p p r e s s i o n . I n o t h e r w o r d s , the b o d y presumed b y the
W e c a n see i n b o t h H e g e l a n d F r e u d a c e r t a i n r e l i a n c e o n a
Hegelian explanation is incessantly p r o d u c e d and proliferated
dialectical reversal by w h i c h a b o d i l y experience, b r o a d l y con-
i n o r d e r t o e x t e n d the d o m a i n o f j u r i d i c a l p o w e r . I n t h i s sense,
s t r u e d , c o m e s u n d e r the c e n s o r o f the l a w o n l y t o r e e m e r g e a s
the r e s t r i c t i o n s p l a c e d on the b o d y n o t o n l y require a n d produce
the s u s t a i n i n g affect of that law. T h e F r e u d i a n n o t i o n of sub-
the b o d y t h e y seek to r e s t r i c t , b u t proliferate the d o m a i n of the
limation suggests that d e n i a l o r d i s p l a c e m e n t o f p l e a s u r e a n d
b o d i l y b e y o n d the d o m a i n t a r g e t e d b y the o r i g i n a l r e s t r i c t i o n .
d e s i r e c a n b e c o m e f o r m a t i v e of c u l t u r e ; h i s Civilization and Its
In w h a t m a n y h a v e c o m e to see as a f i n a l l y U t o p i a n g e s t u r e
Discontents t h u s l a i d the g r o u n d for M a r c u s e ' s Eros and Civili-
i n F o u c a u l t , t h i s p r o l i f e r a t i o n o f the b o d y b y j u r i d i c a l r e g i m e s
zation. T h e i n a d v e r t e n t l y p r o d u c t i v e effects o f s u b l i m a t i o n i n
b e y o n d the t e r m s o f d i a l e c t i c a l r e v e r s a l i s a l s o the site o f p o s -
the f o r m a t i o n o f c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t s a p p e a r t o e x c e e d the d i a l e c -
s i b l e resistance. T h e p s y c h o a n a l y t i c d i s c o u r s e that w o u l d d e -
t i c a l r e v e r s a l b y w h i c h t h e y are g e n e r a t e d . W h e r e a s f o r M a r -
scribe a n d pathologize repressed desire ends up p r o d u c i n g a
cuse, the d r i v e s , o r eros a n d thanatos, p r e c e d e the r e g u l a t o r y
discursive incitement to desire: i m p u l s e is continually fabri-
i m p e r a t i v e s b y w h i c h t h e y are r e n d e r e d c u l t u r a l l y l i v a b l e , f o r F o u c a u l t , the r e p r e s s i v e h y p o t h e s i s , w h i c h a p p e a r s t o i n c l u d e w i t h i n its s t r u c t u r e the m o d e l o f s u b l i m a t i o n , fails t o w o r k p r e c i s e l y b e c a u s e r e p r e s s i o n generates the v e r y p l e a s u r e s a n d d e s i r e s i t seeks t o regulate. F o r F o u c a u l t , r e p r e s s i o n d o e s n o t act o n a p r e g i v e n f i e l d o f p l e a s u r e a n d d e s i r e ; i t c o n s t i t u t e s that f i e l d a s that w h i c h i s t o b e r e g u l a t e d , that w h i c h i s a l w a y s p o t e n t i a l l y o r a c t u a l l y u n d e r the r u b r i c o f r e g u l a t i o n . T h e r e -
c a t e d as a site of c o n f e s s i o n a n d , h e n c e , p o t e n t i a l c o n t r o l , b u t t h i s f a b r i c a t i o n exceeds the r e g u l a t o r y a i m s b y w h i c h i t i s g e n erated. I n t h i s sense, c r i m i n a l c o d e s w h i c h seek t o c a t a l o g u e a n d i n s t i t u t i o n a l i z e n o r m a l c y b e c o m e the site f o r a contestat i o n o f the c o n c e p t o f the n o r m a l ; s e x o l o g i s t s w h o w o u l d classify a n d p a t h o l o g i z e h o m o s e x u a l i t y i n a d v e r t e n t l y p r o v i d e the c o n d i t i o n s for a p r o l i f e r a t i o n a n d m o b i l i z a t i o n o f h o m o s e x u a l cultures.
p r e s s i v e r e g i m e , a s F o u c a u l t calls it, r e q u i r e s its o w n self-
W i t h i n the H e g e l i a n f r a m e w o r k , the subject, w h i c h s p l i t s
a u g m e n t a t i o n a n d p r o l i f e r a t i o n . A s s u c h , this r e g i m e r e q u i r e s
itself off f r o m its b o d y , r e q u i r e s that b o d y i n o r d e r t o s u s -
the f i e l d o f b o d i l y i m p u l s e t o e x p a n d a n d p r o l i f e r a t e a s a m o r -
t a i n its s p l i t t i n g a c t i v i t y ; the b o d y t o b e s u p p r e s s e d i s t h u s
a l i z e d d o m a i n , s u c h that i t w i l l c o n t i n u a l l y h a v e f r e s h m a t e r i a l
m a r s h a l l e d i n the s e r v i c e o f that s u p p r e s s i o n . F o r F o u c a u l t ,
t h r o u g h w h i c h t o a r t i c u l a t e its o w n p o w e r . H e n c e , r e p r e s s i o n
the b o d y t o b e r e g u l a t e d i s s i m i l a r l y m a r s h a l l e d i n the ser-
produces a field of infinitely moralizable b o d i l y phenomena
v i c e o f s u p p r e s s i o n , b u t the b o d y i s n o t c o n s t i t u t e d p r i o r t o
i n o r d e r t o f a c i l i t a t e a n d r a t i o n a l i z e its o w n p r o l i f e r a t i o n .
that r e g u l a t i o n . O n the c o n t r a r y , the b o d y i s p r o d u c e d a s a n
H e r e w e see that F o u c a u l t d e p a r t s f r o m the k i n d o f d i a l e c t i -
object o f r e g u l a t i o n , a n d f o r r e g u l a t i o n t o a u g m e n t itself, the
5»
Stubborn Attachment, B o d i l y Subjection
Hegel's Unhappy Consciousness
59
o f i m p u l s e itself. I n b o t h cases, w e are g i v e n t o u n d e r s t a n d a n
c a l r e v e r s a l w e f o l l o w e d i n H e g e l . I n F o u c a u l t , the s u p p r e s s i o n
a t t a c h m e n t t o s u b j e c t i o n w h i c h i s f o r m a t i v e o f the r e f l e x i v e
o f the b o d y n o t o n l y r e q u i r e s a n d p r o d u c e s the v e r y b o d y i t
s t r u c t u r e o f s u b j e c t i o n itself. T h e i m p u l s e o r b o d i l y e x p e r i e n c e
seeks t o s u p p r e s s , i t goes f u r t h e r b y e x t e n d i n g the b o d i l y d o -
w h i c h w o u l d be negated, to return to H e g e l , is inadvertently
m a i n t o b e r e g u l a t e d , p r o l i f e r a t i n g sites o f c o n t r o l , d i s c i p l i n e ,
preserved b y the v e r y a c t i v i t y o f n e g a t i o n .
a n d s u p p r e s s i o n . I n o t h e r w o r d s , the b o d y presumed b y the
W e c a n see i n b o t h H e g e l a n d F r e u d a c e r t a i n r e l i a n c e o n a
Hegelian explanation is incessantly p r o d u c e d and proliferated
dialectical reversal by w h i c h a b o d i l y experience, b r o a d l y con-
i n o r d e r t o e x t e n d the d o m a i n o f j u r i d i c a l p o w e r . I n t h i s sense,
s t r u e d , c o m e s u n d e r the c e n s o r o f the l a w o n l y t o r e e m e r g e a s
the r e s t r i c t i o n s p l a c e d on the b o d y n o t o n l y require a n d produce
the s u s t a i n i n g affect of that law. T h e F r e u d i a n n o t i o n of sub-
the b o d y t h e y seek to r e s t r i c t , b u t proliferate the d o m a i n of the
limation suggests that d e n i a l o r d i s p l a c e m e n t o f p l e a s u r e a n d
b o d i l y b e y o n d the d o m a i n t a r g e t e d b y the o r i g i n a l r e s t r i c t i o n .
d e s i r e c a n b e c o m e f o r m a t i v e of c u l t u r e ; h i s Civilization and Its
In w h a t m a n y h a v e c o m e to see as a f i n a l l y U t o p i a n g e s t u r e
Discontents t h u s l a i d the g r o u n d for M a r c u s e ' s Eros and Civili-
i n F o u c a u l t , t h i s p r o l i f e r a t i o n o f the b o d y b y j u r i d i c a l r e g i m e s
zation. T h e i n a d v e r t e n t l y p r o d u c t i v e effects o f s u b l i m a t i o n i n
b e y o n d the t e r m s o f d i a l e c t i c a l r e v e r s a l i s a l s o the site o f p o s -
the f o r m a t i o n o f c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t s a p p e a r t o e x c e e d the d i a l e c -
s i b l e resistance. T h e p s y c h o a n a l y t i c d i s c o u r s e that w o u l d d e -
t i c a l r e v e r s a l b y w h i c h t h e y are g e n e r a t e d . W h e r e a s f o r M a r -
scribe a n d pathologize repressed desire ends up p r o d u c i n g a
cuse, the d r i v e s , o r eros a n d thanatos, p r e c e d e the r e g u l a t o r y
discursive incitement to desire: i m p u l s e is continually fabri-
i m p e r a t i v e s b y w h i c h t h e y are r e n d e r e d c u l t u r a l l y l i v a b l e , f o r F o u c a u l t , the r e p r e s s i v e h y p o t h e s i s , w h i c h a p p e a r s t o i n c l u d e w i t h i n its s t r u c t u r e the m o d e l o f s u b l i m a t i o n , fails t o w o r k p r e c i s e l y b e c a u s e r e p r e s s i o n generates the v e r y p l e a s u r e s a n d d e s i r e s i t seeks t o regulate. F o r F o u c a u l t , r e p r e s s i o n d o e s n o t act o n a p r e g i v e n f i e l d o f p l e a s u r e a n d d e s i r e ; i t c o n s t i t u t e s that f i e l d a s that w h i c h i s t o b e r e g u l a t e d , that w h i c h i s a l w a y s p o t e n t i a l l y o r a c t u a l l y u n d e r the r u b r i c o f r e g u l a t i o n . T h e r e -
c a t e d as a site of c o n f e s s i o n a n d , h e n c e , p o t e n t i a l c o n t r o l , b u t t h i s f a b r i c a t i o n exceeds the r e g u l a t o r y a i m s b y w h i c h i t i s g e n erated. I n t h i s sense, c r i m i n a l c o d e s w h i c h seek t o c a t a l o g u e a n d i n s t i t u t i o n a l i z e n o r m a l c y b e c o m e the site f o r a contestat i o n o f the c o n c e p t o f the n o r m a l ; s e x o l o g i s t s w h o w o u l d classify a n d p a t h o l o g i z e h o m o s e x u a l i t y i n a d v e r t e n t l y p r o v i d e the c o n d i t i o n s for a p r o l i f e r a t i o n a n d m o b i l i z a t i o n o f h o m o s e x u a l cultures.
p r e s s i v e r e g i m e , a s F o u c a u l t calls it, r e q u i r e s its o w n self-
W i t h i n the H e g e l i a n f r a m e w o r k , the subject, w h i c h s p l i t s
a u g m e n t a t i o n a n d p r o l i f e r a t i o n . A s s u c h , this r e g i m e r e q u i r e s
itself off f r o m its b o d y , r e q u i r e s that b o d y i n o r d e r t o s u s -
the f i e l d o f b o d i l y i m p u l s e t o e x p a n d a n d p r o l i f e r a t e a s a m o r -
t a i n its s p l i t t i n g a c t i v i t y ; the b o d y t o b e s u p p r e s s e d i s t h u s
a l i z e d d o m a i n , s u c h that i t w i l l c o n t i n u a l l y h a v e f r e s h m a t e r i a l
m a r s h a l l e d i n the s e r v i c e o f that s u p p r e s s i o n . F o r F o u c a u l t ,
t h r o u g h w h i c h t o a r t i c u l a t e its o w n p o w e r . H e n c e , r e p r e s s i o n
the b o d y t o b e r e g u l a t e d i s s i m i l a r l y m a r s h a l l e d i n the ser-
produces a field of infinitely moralizable b o d i l y phenomena
v i c e o f s u p p r e s s i o n , b u t the b o d y i s n o t c o n s t i t u t e d p r i o r t o
i n o r d e r t o f a c i l i t a t e a n d r a t i o n a l i z e its o w n p r o l i f e r a t i o n .
that r e g u l a t i o n . O n the c o n t r a r y , the b o d y i s p r o d u c e d a s a n
H e r e w e see that F o u c a u l t d e p a r t s f r o m the k i n d o f d i a l e c t i -
object o f r e g u l a t i o n , a n d f o r r e g u l a t i o n t o a u g m e n t itself, the
Stubborn Attachment, B o d i l y Subjection
Hegel's Unhappy Consciousness
b o d y i s proliferated a s a n object o f r e g u l a t i o n . T h i s p r o l i f e r a t i o n
of a resistance, at the l e v e l of i m p u l s e , to a f u l l a n d f i n a l d o -
b o t h m a r k s off F o u c a u l t ' s t h e o r y f r o m H e g e l ' s a n d c o n s t i t u t e s
mestication by any regulatory regime?
6o
61
the site o f p o t e n t i a l r e s i s t a n c e t o r e g u l a t i o n . T h e p o s s i b i l i t y
What Hegel implies in "The Unhappy Consciousness" is
o f t h i s r e s i s t a n c e i s d e r i v e d f r o m w h a t i s unforeseeable i n p r o -
n o t m e r e l y that m o r a l w r e t c h e d n e s s c a n n o t b e c o h e r e n t l y s u s -
liferation. But to understand h o w a regulatory regime c o u l d
t a i n e d , that i t i n v a r i a b l y c o n c e d e s the b o d i l y b e i n g that i t
p r o d u c e effects w h i c h are n o t o n l y u n f o r e s e e a b l e b u t c o n s t i -
seeks to d e n y , b u t that the p u r s u i t of w r e t c h e d n e s s , the a t t a c h -
tute r e s i s t a n c e , i t seems that w e m u s t r e t u r n t o the q u e s t i o n o f
m e n t t o w r e t c h e d n e s s , i s b o t h the c o n d i t i o n a n d the p o t e n -
s t u b b o r n a t t a c h m e n t s a n d , m o r e p r e c i s e l y , t o the p l a c e o f that
t i a l u n d o i n g o f s u c h s u b j e c t i o n . I f w r e t c h e d n e s s , agony, a n d
a t t a c h m e n t i n the s u b v e r s i o n o f the law.
p a i n are sites o r m o d e s o f s t u b b o r n n e s s , w a y s o f a t t a c h i n g t o
A l t h o u g h Foucault criticizes Freud's hypothesis of repres-
oneself, n e g a t i v e l y a r t i c u l a t e d m o d e s o f r e f l e x i v i t y , t h e n that
sion, he is i n d e b t e d to this theorization in his o w n account of
i s b e c a u s e t h e y are g i v e n b y r e g u l a t o r y r e g i m e s a s the sites
the p r o d u c t i o n a n d p r o l i f e r a t i o n o f the r e g u l a t e d b o d y . I n p a r -
a v a i l a b l e f o r a t t a c h m e n t , a n d a subject w i l l attach t o p a i n
t i c u l a r , the l o g i c o f s u b j e c t i o n i n b o t h H e g e l a n d F r e u d i m p l i e s
rather t h a n n o t attach a t a l l . F o r F r e u d , a n i n f a n t f o r m s a
that the i n s t r u m e n t o f s u p p r e s s i o n b e c o m e s the n e w s t r u c t u r e
p l e a s u r e - g i v i n g a t t a c h m e n t t o a n y e x c i t a t i o n that c o m e s its
a n d a i m o f d e s i r e , a t least w h e n s u b j e c t i o n p r o v e s effective.
w a y , e v e n the m o s t t r a u m a t i c , w h i c h a c c o u n t s for the f o r m a -
B u t i f a r e g u l a t o r y r e g i m e r e q u i r e s the p r o d u c t i o n o f n e w
t i o n o f m a s o c h i s m a n d , for s o m e , the p r o d u c t i o n o f a b j e c t i o n ,
sites o f r e g u l a t i o n a n d , h e n c e , a m o r e t h o r o u g h g o i n g m o r a l -
r e j e c t i o n , w r e t c h e d n e s s , a n d s o o n a s the n e c e s s a r y p r e c o n d i -
i z a t i o n o f the b o d y , t h e n w h a t i s the p l a c e o f b o d i l y i m p u l s e ,
t i o n s for l o v e . T h e g e s t u r e o f r e j e c t i o n c a n b e c o m e m a s o c h -
d e s i r e , a n d a t t a c h m e n t ? D o e s the r e g u l a t o r y r e g i m e n o t o n l y
i s t i c a l l y e r o t i c i z e d o n l y b e c a u s e i t i s a gesture. A l t h o u g h the
p r o d u c e d e s i r e , b u t b e c o m e p r o d u c e d b y the c u l t i v a t i o n o f a
rejecting gesture's a l l e g e d p u r p o s e i s t o t h w a r t a n o n c o m i n g
c e r t a i n a t t a c h m e n t to the r u l e of s u b j e c t i o n ? If p a r t of w h a t
d e s i r e , it n e v e r t h e l e s s a p p e a r s as a gesture, t h u s making itself
r e g u l a t o r y r e g i m e s d o i s t o c o n s t r a i n the f o r m a t i o n a n d at-
present a n d l e n d i n g itself to b e i n g r e a d as a k i n d of o f f e r i n g or,
t a c h m e n t s of d e s i r e , t h e n it s e e m s that f r o m the start a c e r t a i n
m i n i m a l l y , presence. P r e c i s e l y b e c a u s e the g e s t u r e of r e j e c t i o n
detachability of i m p u l s e is p r e s u m e d , a certain i n c o m m e n s u -
is, it r h e t o r i c a l l y d e n i e s the threat of w i t h d r a w a l that it n e v e r -
r a b i l i t y b e t w e e n the c a p a c i t y for a b o d i l y a t t a c h m e n t , o n the
theless p u r p o r t s t o signify. F o r the i n f a n t , the p r e s e n c e o r d e -
o n e h a n d , a n d the site w h e r e i t i s c o n f i n e d , o n the other. F o u -
t e r m i n a c y o f that object, n o m a t t e r h o w p e r s i s t e n t l y r e j e c t i n g ,
cault appears to p r e s u m e precisely this detachability of desire
is n e v e r t h e l e s s a site of p r e s e n c e a n d e x c i t a t i o n a n d , h e n c e , is
i n c l a i m i n g that i n c i t e m e n t s a n d r e v e r s a l s are t o s o m e d e g r e e
better t h a n n o object a t a l l . T h i s t r u i s m i s n o t far f r o m N i e t z -
unforeseeable, that t h e y h a v e the c a p a c i t y , c e n t r a l to the n o t i o n
sche's l i n e that the w i l l w o u l d r a t h e r w i l l n o t h i n g n e s s t h a n n o t
o f resistance, t o exceed the r e g u l a t o r y a i m s for w h i c h t h e y w e r e
w i l l at a l l . In b o t h cases, the d e s i r e to d e s i r e is a w i l l i n g n e s s to
p r o d u c e d . I f a g i v e n r e g i m e c a n n o t f u l l y c o n t r o l the i n c i t e -
d e s i r e p r e c i s e l y that w h i c h w o u l d f o r e c l o s e d e s i r e , i f o n l y f o r
m e n t s that i t n e v e r t h e l e s s p r o d u c e s , i s that i n p a r t the r e s u l t
the p o s s i b i l i t y o f c o n t i n u i n g t o desire.
Stubborn Attachment, B o d i l y Subjection
Hegel's Unhappy Consciousness
b o d y i s proliferated a s a n object o f r e g u l a t i o n . T h i s p r o l i f e r a t i o n
of a resistance, at the l e v e l of i m p u l s e , to a f u l l a n d f i n a l d o -
b o t h m a r k s off F o u c a u l t ' s t h e o r y f r o m H e g e l ' s a n d c o n s t i t u t e s
mestication by any regulatory regime?
6o
61
the site o f p o t e n t i a l r e s i s t a n c e t o r e g u l a t i o n . T h e p o s s i b i l i t y
What Hegel implies in "The Unhappy Consciousness" is
o f t h i s r e s i s t a n c e i s d e r i v e d f r o m w h a t i s unforeseeable i n p r o -
n o t m e r e l y that m o r a l w r e t c h e d n e s s c a n n o t b e c o h e r e n t l y s u s -
liferation. But to understand h o w a regulatory regime c o u l d
t a i n e d , that i t i n v a r i a b l y c o n c e d e s the b o d i l y b e i n g that i t
p r o d u c e effects w h i c h are n o t o n l y u n f o r e s e e a b l e b u t c o n s t i -
seeks to d e n y , b u t that the p u r s u i t of w r e t c h e d n e s s , the a t t a c h -
tute r e s i s t a n c e , i t seems that w e m u s t r e t u r n t o the q u e s t i o n o f
m e n t t o w r e t c h e d n e s s , i s b o t h the c o n d i t i o n a n d the p o t e n -
s t u b b o r n a t t a c h m e n t s a n d , m o r e p r e c i s e l y , t o the p l a c e o f that
t i a l u n d o i n g o f s u c h s u b j e c t i o n . I f w r e t c h e d n e s s , agony, a n d
a t t a c h m e n t i n the s u b v e r s i o n o f the law.
p a i n are sites o r m o d e s o f s t u b b o r n n e s s , w a y s o f a t t a c h i n g t o
A l t h o u g h Foucault criticizes Freud's hypothesis of repres-
oneself, n e g a t i v e l y a r t i c u l a t e d m o d e s o f r e f l e x i v i t y , t h e n that
sion, he is i n d e b t e d to this theorization in his o w n account of
i s b e c a u s e t h e y are g i v e n b y r e g u l a t o r y r e g i m e s a s the sites
the p r o d u c t i o n a n d p r o l i f e r a t i o n o f the r e g u l a t e d b o d y . I n p a r -
a v a i l a b l e f o r a t t a c h m e n t , a n d a subject w i l l attach t o p a i n
t i c u l a r , the l o g i c o f s u b j e c t i o n i n b o t h H e g e l a n d F r e u d i m p l i e s
rather t h a n n o t attach a t a l l . F o r F r e u d , a n i n f a n t f o r m s a
that the i n s t r u m e n t o f s u p p r e s s i o n b e c o m e s the n e w s t r u c t u r e
p l e a s u r e - g i v i n g a t t a c h m e n t t o a n y e x c i t a t i o n that c o m e s its
a n d a i m o f d e s i r e , a t least w h e n s u b j e c t i o n p r o v e s effective.
w a y , e v e n the m o s t t r a u m a t i c , w h i c h a c c o u n t s for the f o r m a -
B u t i f a r e g u l a t o r y r e g i m e r e q u i r e s the p r o d u c t i o n o f n e w
t i o n o f m a s o c h i s m a n d , for s o m e , the p r o d u c t i o n o f a b j e c t i o n ,
sites o f r e g u l a t i o n a n d , h e n c e , a m o r e t h o r o u g h g o i n g m o r a l -
r e j e c t i o n , w r e t c h e d n e s s , a n d s o o n a s the n e c e s s a r y p r e c o n d i -
i z a t i o n o f the b o d y , t h e n w h a t i s the p l a c e o f b o d i l y i m p u l s e ,
t i o n s for l o v e . T h e g e s t u r e o f r e j e c t i o n c a n b e c o m e m a s o c h -
d e s i r e , a n d a t t a c h m e n t ? D o e s the r e g u l a t o r y r e g i m e n o t o n l y
i s t i c a l l y e r o t i c i z e d o n l y b e c a u s e i t i s a gesture. A l t h o u g h the
p r o d u c e d e s i r e , b u t b e c o m e p r o d u c e d b y the c u l t i v a t i o n o f a
rejecting gesture's a l l e g e d p u r p o s e i s t o t h w a r t a n o n c o m i n g
c e r t a i n a t t a c h m e n t to the r u l e of s u b j e c t i o n ? If p a r t of w h a t
d e s i r e , it n e v e r t h e l e s s a p p e a r s as a gesture, t h u s making itself
r e g u l a t o r y r e g i m e s d o i s t o c o n s t r a i n the f o r m a t i o n a n d at-
present a n d l e n d i n g itself to b e i n g r e a d as a k i n d of o f f e r i n g or,
t a c h m e n t s of d e s i r e , t h e n it s e e m s that f r o m the start a c e r t a i n
m i n i m a l l y , presence. P r e c i s e l y b e c a u s e the g e s t u r e of r e j e c t i o n
detachability of i m p u l s e is p r e s u m e d , a certain i n c o m m e n s u -
is, it r h e t o r i c a l l y d e n i e s the threat of w i t h d r a w a l that it n e v e r -
r a b i l i t y b e t w e e n the c a p a c i t y for a b o d i l y a t t a c h m e n t , o n the
theless p u r p o r t s t o signify. F o r the i n f a n t , the p r e s e n c e o r d e -
o n e h a n d , a n d the site w h e r e i t i s c o n f i n e d , o n the other. F o u -
t e r m i n a c y o f that object, n o m a t t e r h o w p e r s i s t e n t l y r e j e c t i n g ,
cault appears to p r e s u m e precisely this detachability of desire
is n e v e r t h e l e s s a site of p r e s e n c e a n d e x c i t a t i o n a n d , h e n c e , is
i n c l a i m i n g that i n c i t e m e n t s a n d r e v e r s a l s are t o s o m e d e g r e e
better t h a n n o object a t a l l . T h i s t r u i s m i s n o t far f r o m N i e t z -
unforeseeable, that t h e y h a v e the c a p a c i t y , c e n t r a l to the n o t i o n
sche's l i n e that the w i l l w o u l d r a t h e r w i l l n o t h i n g n e s s t h a n n o t
o f resistance, t o exceed the r e g u l a t o r y a i m s for w h i c h t h e y w e r e
w i l l at a l l . In b o t h cases, the d e s i r e to d e s i r e is a w i l l i n g n e s s to
p r o d u c e d . I f a g i v e n r e g i m e c a n n o t f u l l y c o n t r o l the i n c i t e -
d e s i r e p r e c i s e l y that w h i c h w o u l d f o r e c l o s e d e s i r e , i f o n l y f o r
m e n t s that i t n e v e r t h e l e s s p r o d u c e s , i s that i n p a r t the r e s u l t
the p o s s i b i l i t y o f c o n t i n u i n g t o desire.
62
Stubborn Attachment, B o d i l y Subjection T h e q u e s t i o n , t h e n , that H e g e l a n d F r e u d w o u l d a p p e a r
t o p o s e for F o u c a u l t i s w h e t h e r t h i s t e r r a i n o f " s t u b b o r n att a c h m e n t " d o e s n o t i n s o m e w a y f i g u r e i n the s c e n a r i o s o f s u b j e c t i o n that he d e s c r i b e s . To w h a t extent d o e s a r e g u l a t o r y r e g i m e e x p l o i t t h i s w i l l i n g n e s s t o a t t a c h b l i n d l y t o w h a t seeks
Circuits of Bad Conscience
t o s u p p r e s s o r negate that v e r y a t t a c h m e n t ? A n d t o w h a t extent does the a t t a c h m e n t that a r e g u l a t o r y r e g i m e r e q u i r e s p r o v e t o b e b o t h its c o n s t i t u t i v e f a i l u r e a n d the p o t e n t i a l site
Nietzsche
of r e s i s t a n c e ? If d e s i r e has as its f i n a l a i m the c o n t i n u a t i o n of
and
Freud
i t s e l f — a n d here one m i g h t l i n k H e g e l , F r e u d , a n d F o u c a u l t a l l b a c k to S p i n o z a ' s conatus — t h e n the c a p a c i t y of d e s i r e to be w i t h d r a w n a n d t o r e a t t a c h w i l l c o n s t i t u t e s o m e t h i n g l i k e the v u l n e r a b i l i t y of every strategy of subjection.
N
i e t z s c h e offers a v i e w of c o n s c i e n c e as a m e n t a l a c t i v i t y that n o t o n l y f o r m s v a r i o u s p s y c h i c p h e n o m e n a , b u t i s
itself formed, the c o n s e q u e n c e of a d i s t i n c t i v e k i n d of i n t e r n a l ization. In Nietzsche, w h o distinguishes conscience f r o m bad c o n s c i e n c e , the w i l l i s s a i d t o t u r n b a c k u p o n itself. B u t w h a t are w e t o m a k e o f t h i s strange l o c u t i o n ; h o w are w e b e i n g a s k e d t o i m a g i n e a w i l l s u c h that i t r e c o i l s a n d r e d o u b l e s u p o n itself; a n d h o w , m o s t p e r t i n e n t l y , i s t h i s f i g u r e b e i n g o f f e r e d a s a w a y t o a r t i c u l a t e the k i n d o f r e f l e x i v i t y c e n t r a l t o the o p e r a t i o n of b a d conscience? F r e u d w i l l use a s i m i l a r language in w r i t i n g o f the f o r m a t i o n o f c o n s c i e n c e , e s p e c i a l l y i n r e l a t i o n t o p a r a n o i a a n d n a r c i s s i s m . H e d e s c r i b e s c o n s c i e n c e a s the force of a d e s i r e — a l t h o u g h s o m e t i m e s a force of a g g r e s s i o n — a s it t u r n s b a c k o n itself, a n d h e u n d e r s t a n d s p r o h i b i t i o n , n o t a s a l a w e x t e r n a l t o d e s i r e , b u t a s the v e r y o p e r a t i o n o f d e s i r e a s i t t u r n s o n its o w n p o s s i b i l i t y . W h a t sense d o w e m a k e o f the f i g u r e that e m e r g e s i n the c o n t e x t o f b o t h e x p l a n a t i o n s , that o f a w i l l that t u r n s b a c k on itself, that of a d e s i r e that t u r n s b a c k o n itself? W e m u s t ask n o t o n l y h o w t h i s f i g u r e o f r e c o i l i n g a n d
62
Stubborn Attachment, B o d i l y Subjection T h e q u e s t i o n , t h e n , that H e g e l a n d F r e u d w o u l d a p p e a r
t o p o s e for F o u c a u l t i s w h e t h e r t h i s t e r r a i n o f " s t u b b o r n att a c h m e n t " d o e s n o t i n s o m e w a y f i g u r e i n the s c e n a r i o s o f s u b j e c t i o n that he d e s c r i b e s . To w h a t extent d o e s a r e g u l a t o r y r e g i m e e x p l o i t t h i s w i l l i n g n e s s t o a t t a c h b l i n d l y t o w h a t seeks
Circuits of Bad Conscience
t o s u p p r e s s o r negate that v e r y a t t a c h m e n t ? A n d t o w h a t extent does the a t t a c h m e n t that a r e g u l a t o r y r e g i m e r e q u i r e s p r o v e t o b e b o t h its c o n s t i t u t i v e f a i l u r e a n d the p o t e n t i a l site
Nietzsche
of r e s i s t a n c e ? If d e s i r e has as its f i n a l a i m the c o n t i n u a t i o n of
and
Freud
i t s e l f — a n d here one m i g h t l i n k H e g e l , F r e u d , a n d F o u c a u l t a l l b a c k to S p i n o z a ' s conatus — t h e n the c a p a c i t y of d e s i r e to be w i t h d r a w n a n d t o r e a t t a c h w i l l c o n s t i t u t e s o m e t h i n g l i k e the v u l n e r a b i l i t y of every strategy of subjection.
N
i e t z s c h e offers a v i e w of c o n s c i e n c e as a m e n t a l a c t i v i t y that n o t o n l y f o r m s v a r i o u s p s y c h i c p h e n o m e n a , b u t i s
itself formed, the c o n s e q u e n c e of a d i s t i n c t i v e k i n d of i n t e r n a l ization. In Nietzsche, w h o distinguishes conscience f r o m bad c o n s c i e n c e , the w i l l i s s a i d t o t u r n b a c k u p o n itself. B u t w h a t are w e t o m a k e o f t h i s strange l o c u t i o n ; h o w are w e b e i n g a s k e d t o i m a g i n e a w i l l s u c h that i t r e c o i l s a n d r e d o u b l e s u p o n itself; a n d h o w , m o s t p e r t i n e n t l y , i s t h i s f i g u r e b e i n g o f f e r e d a s a w a y t o a r t i c u l a t e the k i n d o f r e f l e x i v i t y c e n t r a l t o the o p e r a t i o n of b a d conscience? F r e u d w i l l use a s i m i l a r language in w r i t i n g o f the f o r m a t i o n o f c o n s c i e n c e , e s p e c i a l l y i n r e l a t i o n t o p a r a n o i a a n d n a r c i s s i s m . H e d e s c r i b e s c o n s c i e n c e a s the force of a d e s i r e — a l t h o u g h s o m e t i m e s a force of a g g r e s s i o n — a s it t u r n s b a c k o n itself, a n d h e u n d e r s t a n d s p r o h i b i t i o n , n o t a s a l a w e x t e r n a l t o d e s i r e , b u t a s the v e r y o p e r a t i o n o f d e s i r e a s i t t u r n s o n its o w n p o s s i b i l i t y . W h a t sense d o w e m a k e o f the f i g u r e that e m e r g e s i n the c o n t e x t o f b o t h e x p l a n a t i o n s , that o f a w i l l that t u r n s b a c k on itself, that of a d e s i r e that t u r n s b a c k o n itself? W e m u s t ask n o t o n l y h o w t h i s f i g u r e o f r e c o i l i n g a n d
Circuits of Bad Conscience
Nietzsche and Freud
r e d o u b l i n g becomes central to u n d e r s t a n d i n g b a d conscience,
that n o subject c a n d o w i t h o u t , b u t w h i c h n o subject i s c o n -
b u t w h a t t h i s f i g u r e suggests a b o u t the b o d i l y p o s i t i o n o r d i s -
d e m n e d t o r e p e a t i n e x a c t l y the s a m e w a y .
64
65
p o s i t i o n e n c o d e d i n the s t r u c t u r e o f r e f l e x i v i t y . W h y d o e s a
M y i n q u i r y c o n c e r n s a p e r s i s t e n t p r o b l e m that e m e r g e s
b o d y d o u b l e d o v e r o n itself f i g u r e w h a t i t m e a n s t o b e a self-
w h e n w e t r y t o t h i n k the p o s s i b i l i t y o f a w i l l that takes i t s e l f
c o n s c i o u s sort o f b e i n g ?
a s its o w n object a n d , t h r o u g h the f o r m a t i o n o f that k i n d o f r e -
T h e n o t i o n that m o r a l i t y i s p r e d i c a t e d o n a c e r t a i n k i n d o f
f l e x i v i t y , b i n d s itself t o itself, a c q u i r e s its o w n i d e n t i t y t h r o u g h
v i o l e n c e i s a l r e a d y f a m i l i a r , b u t m o r e s u r p r i s i n g i s that s u c h
r e f l e x i v i t y . T o w h a t extent i s t h i s a p p a r e n t s e l f - b o n d a g e f u l l y
v i o l e n c e f o u n d s the subject. M o r a l i t y p e r f o r m s that v i o l e n c e
o r e x c l u s i v e l y s e l f - i m p o s e d ? I s t h i s s t r a n g e p o s t u r e o f the w i l l
a g a i n a n d a g a i n i n c u l t i v a t i n g the subject a s a r e f l e x i v e b e i n g .
i n the s e r v i c e o f a s o c i a l r e g u l a t i o n that r e q u i r e s the p r o d u c -
T h i s is, i n p a r t , w h a t l e d N i e t z s c h e t o reflect that m o r a l i t y
t i o n o f the subject a c o n s e q u e n c e o r a n e x p r e s s i o n o f b a d
is a k i n d of i l l n e s s . If this t u r n i n g on o n e s e l f c a n be c a l l e d a
c o n s c i e n c e ? I s u p p o s e that those w h o seek t o r e d e e m N i e t z -
k i n d o f v i o l e n c e , i t c a n n o t s i m p l y b e o p p o s e d i n the n a m e o f
sche b y c l a i m i n g that h e c a n b e i n v o k e d i n the s e r v i c e o f the
nonviolence, for w h e n a n d where it is opposed, it is o p p o s e d
e t h i c a l m i g h t t h i n k that the o n l y a l t e r n a t i v e w o r s e t h a n b a d
f r o m a p o s i t i o n that p r e s u p p o s e s t h i s v e r y v i o l e n c e . I do n o t
c o n s c i e n c e i s its o b l i t e r a t i o n . B u t r e m e m b e r that N i e t z s c h e n o t
w i s h s i m p l y t o u n d e r s c o r e the a p o r e t i c s t r u c t u r e i n v o l v e d i n
o n l y d i s t i n g u i s h e s b e t w e e n the e t h i c a l a n d m o r a l i t y , b u t asks
the a s s u m p t i o n o f m o r a l i t y , n o r s i m p l y t o a f f i r m the g e n e r a l -
a b o u t the value o f m o r a l i t y , t h u s i n s t a t i n g a v a l u e b y w h i c h
ized violence in any and all m o r a l positioning, although both
m o r a l i t y m i g h t b e assessed, b u t s u g g e s t i n g a s w e l l that t h i s
insights, furnished by deconstruction, f o r m a point of depar-
assessment, this v a l u a t i o n , m a y n o t b e r e d u c i b l e t o m o r a l i t y .
t u r e for w h a t I seek to d o . R a t h e r , I w o u l d suggest that the
I t a k e it that the j u x t a p o s i t i o n of N i e t z s c h e w i t h the q u e s -
subject w h o w o u l d o p p o s e v i o l e n c e , e v e n v i o l e n c e t o itself, i s
t i o n o f ethics is, i n d e e d , a q u e s t i o n b e c a u s e N i e t z s c h e a n d v a r i -
itself the effect o f a p r i o r v i o l e n c e w i t h o u t w h i c h the subject
o u s figures w i t h i n the C o n t i n e n t a l t r a d i t i o n h a v e b e e n f o u n d
c o u l d n o t h a v e e m e r g e d . C a n that p a r t i c u l a r c i r c l e b e b r o k e n ?
g u i l t y b y a s s o c i a t i o n w i t h i r r e s p o n s i b l e acts a n d events. W h a t
H o w a n d w h e n does that b r e a k a g e o c c u r ? A n d w h a t e m e r g e s
w i l l b e the r e s p o n s e t o these c h a r g e s ? T o t a k e the s i d e o f the
a s a s i g n i f i c a n t p o s s i b i l i t y i n w h i c h the subject loses its c l o s e d
e t h i c a l , t o relate e a c h a n d e v e r y t h i n k e r t o the e t h i c a l ? O r w i l l
c o n t o u r , the c i r c u l a r i t y o f its o w n r e f l e x i v e c l o s u r e ? A p u r e
this b e a n o c c a s i o n t o t h i n k the p r o b l e m a b i t m o r e c a r e f u l l y ,
w i l l , ontologically intact p r i o r to any articulation, does not
to c o n t i n u e to p o s e the e t h i c a l as a q u e s t i o n , o n e w h i c h c a n n o t
s u d d e n l y e m e r g e as a p r i n c i p l e of s e l f - a u g m e n t a t i o n a n d self-
b e f r e e d o f its c o m p l i c i t y w i t h w h a t i t m o s t s t r o n g l y o p p o s e s ?
a f f i r m a t i o n that exceeds the b o u n d s o f a n y a n d a l l r e g u l a t o r y
W i l l t h i s , p a r a d o x i c a l l y , b e c o m e a t i m e i n w h i c h w e reflect
s c h é m a s . R a t h e r , the f o r m a t i v e a n d f a b r i c a t i n g d i m e n s i o n o f
u p o n the m o r e p e r v a s i v e d i m e n s i o n s o f c o m p l i c i t y a n d w h a t
p s y c h i c life, w h i c h t r a v e l s u n d e r the n a m e o f the " w i l l , " a n d
might be derived f r o m such a vexed relation to power?
w h i c h i s u s u a l l y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h a r e s t r i c t i v e l y aesthetic d o -
I u n d e r s t a n d the d e s i r e t o r e s i t u a t e N i e t z s c h e w i t h i n the
m a i n , p r o v e s c e n t r a l t o r e f a s h i o n i n g the n o r m a t i v e s h a c k l e s
e t h i c a l d o m a i n a s a n effort t o c o u n t e r the c a r i c a t u r e , w i t h i n
Circuits of Bad Conscience
Nietzsche and Freud
r e d o u b l i n g becomes central to u n d e r s t a n d i n g b a d conscience,
that n o subject c a n d o w i t h o u t , b u t w h i c h n o subject i s c o n -
b u t w h a t t h i s f i g u r e suggests a b o u t the b o d i l y p o s i t i o n o r d i s -
d e m n e d t o r e p e a t i n e x a c t l y the s a m e w a y .
64
65
p o s i t i o n e n c o d e d i n the s t r u c t u r e o f r e f l e x i v i t y . W h y d o e s a
M y i n q u i r y c o n c e r n s a p e r s i s t e n t p r o b l e m that e m e r g e s
b o d y d o u b l e d o v e r o n itself f i g u r e w h a t i t m e a n s t o b e a self-
w h e n w e t r y t o t h i n k the p o s s i b i l i t y o f a w i l l that takes i t s e l f
c o n s c i o u s sort o f b e i n g ?
a s its o w n object a n d , t h r o u g h the f o r m a t i o n o f that k i n d o f r e -
T h e n o t i o n that m o r a l i t y i s p r e d i c a t e d o n a c e r t a i n k i n d o f
f l e x i v i t y , b i n d s itself t o itself, a c q u i r e s its o w n i d e n t i t y t h r o u g h
v i o l e n c e i s a l r e a d y f a m i l i a r , b u t m o r e s u r p r i s i n g i s that s u c h
r e f l e x i v i t y . T o w h a t extent i s t h i s a p p a r e n t s e l f - b o n d a g e f u l l y
v i o l e n c e f o u n d s the subject. M o r a l i t y p e r f o r m s that v i o l e n c e
o r e x c l u s i v e l y s e l f - i m p o s e d ? I s t h i s s t r a n g e p o s t u r e o f the w i l l
a g a i n a n d a g a i n i n c u l t i v a t i n g the subject a s a r e f l e x i v e b e i n g .
i n the s e r v i c e o f a s o c i a l r e g u l a t i o n that r e q u i r e s the p r o d u c -
T h i s is, i n p a r t , w h a t l e d N i e t z s c h e t o reflect that m o r a l i t y
t i o n o f the subject a c o n s e q u e n c e o r a n e x p r e s s i o n o f b a d
is a k i n d of i l l n e s s . If this t u r n i n g on o n e s e l f c a n be c a l l e d a
c o n s c i e n c e ? I s u p p o s e that those w h o seek t o r e d e e m N i e t z -
k i n d o f v i o l e n c e , i t c a n n o t s i m p l y b e o p p o s e d i n the n a m e o f
sche b y c l a i m i n g that h e c a n b e i n v o k e d i n the s e r v i c e o f the
nonviolence, for w h e n a n d where it is opposed, it is o p p o s e d
e t h i c a l m i g h t t h i n k that the o n l y a l t e r n a t i v e w o r s e t h a n b a d
f r o m a p o s i t i o n that p r e s u p p o s e s t h i s v e r y v i o l e n c e . I do n o t
c o n s c i e n c e i s its o b l i t e r a t i o n . B u t r e m e m b e r that N i e t z s c h e n o t
w i s h s i m p l y t o u n d e r s c o r e the a p o r e t i c s t r u c t u r e i n v o l v e d i n
o n l y d i s t i n g u i s h e s b e t w e e n the e t h i c a l a n d m o r a l i t y , b u t asks
the a s s u m p t i o n o f m o r a l i t y , n o r s i m p l y t o a f f i r m the g e n e r a l -
a b o u t the value o f m o r a l i t y , t h u s i n s t a t i n g a v a l u e b y w h i c h
ized violence in any and all m o r a l positioning, although both
m o r a l i t y m i g h t b e assessed, b u t s u g g e s t i n g a s w e l l that t h i s
insights, furnished by deconstruction, f o r m a point of depar-
assessment, this v a l u a t i o n , m a y n o t b e r e d u c i b l e t o m o r a l i t y .
t u r e for w h a t I seek to d o . R a t h e r , I w o u l d suggest that the
I t a k e it that the j u x t a p o s i t i o n of N i e t z s c h e w i t h the q u e s -
subject w h o w o u l d o p p o s e v i o l e n c e , e v e n v i o l e n c e t o itself, i s
t i o n o f ethics is, i n d e e d , a q u e s t i o n b e c a u s e N i e t z s c h e a n d v a r i -
itself the effect o f a p r i o r v i o l e n c e w i t h o u t w h i c h the subject
o u s figures w i t h i n the C o n t i n e n t a l t r a d i t i o n h a v e b e e n f o u n d
c o u l d n o t h a v e e m e r g e d . C a n that p a r t i c u l a r c i r c l e b e b r o k e n ?
g u i l t y b y a s s o c i a t i o n w i t h i r r e s p o n s i b l e acts a n d events. W h a t
H o w a n d w h e n does that b r e a k a g e o c c u r ? A n d w h a t e m e r g e s
w i l l b e the r e s p o n s e t o these c h a r g e s ? T o t a k e the s i d e o f the
a s a s i g n i f i c a n t p o s s i b i l i t y i n w h i c h the subject loses its c l o s e d
e t h i c a l , t o relate e a c h a n d e v e r y t h i n k e r t o the e t h i c a l ? O r w i l l
c o n t o u r , the c i r c u l a r i t y o f its o w n r e f l e x i v e c l o s u r e ? A p u r e
this b e a n o c c a s i o n t o t h i n k the p r o b l e m a b i t m o r e c a r e f u l l y ,
w i l l , ontologically intact p r i o r to any articulation, does not
to c o n t i n u e to p o s e the e t h i c a l as a q u e s t i o n , o n e w h i c h c a n n o t
s u d d e n l y e m e r g e as a p r i n c i p l e of s e l f - a u g m e n t a t i o n a n d self-
b e f r e e d o f its c o m p l i c i t y w i t h w h a t i t m o s t s t r o n g l y o p p o s e s ?
a f f i r m a t i o n that exceeds the b o u n d s o f a n y a n d a l l r e g u l a t o r y
W i l l t h i s , p a r a d o x i c a l l y , b e c o m e a t i m e i n w h i c h w e reflect
s c h é m a s . R a t h e r , the f o r m a t i v e a n d f a b r i c a t i n g d i m e n s i o n o f
u p o n the m o r e p e r v a s i v e d i m e n s i o n s o f c o m p l i c i t y a n d w h a t
p s y c h i c life, w h i c h t r a v e l s u n d e r the n a m e o f the " w i l l , " a n d
might be derived f r o m such a vexed relation to power?
w h i c h i s u s u a l l y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h a r e s t r i c t i v e l y aesthetic d o -
I u n d e r s t a n d the d e s i r e t o r e s i t u a t e N i e t z s c h e w i t h i n the
m a i n , p r o v e s c e n t r a l t o r e f a s h i o n i n g the n o r m a t i v e s h a c k l e s
e t h i c a l d o m a i n a s a n effort t o c o u n t e r the c a r i c a t u r e , w i t h i n
67
Circuits of Bad Conscience
Nietzsche and Freud
c o n t e m p o r a r y c r i t i c i s m , of N i e t z s c h e as one w h o o n l y de-
d i v i d e s the o u t s i d e f r o m the i n s i d e i s i n the p r o c e s s o f b e i n g
s t r o y s the d o m a i n o f v a l u e s ( w h e r e that d e s t r u c t i o n i s n o t itself
i n s t a l l e d , p r e c i s e l y t h r o u g h the r e g u l a t i o n o f the subject. T h e
a s o u r c e of v a l u e , or a v a l u e in itself). I w a n t i n s t e a d to s u g -
r e p r e s s i o n i s the v e r y t u r n i n g b a c k o n itself w h i c h the p a s -
gest that N i e t z s c h e offers us a p o l i t i c a l i n s i g h t i n t o the f o r m a -
sionate a t t a c h m e n t t o s u b j e c t i o n p e r f o r m s . H o w c a n a w i l l b e
t i o n o f the p s y c h e a n d the p r o b l e m o f s u b j e c t i o n , u n d e r s t o o d
e n t i c e d t o m a k e s u c h a t u r n ? A r e w e t o t h i n k that t u r n a s a n
p a r a d o x i c a l l y n o t m e r e l y as the s u b o r d i n a t i o n of a subject to
i n t e r n a l b e n d i n g o f the p s y c h e against itself? I f so, w h y i s i t
a n o r m , b u t as the c o n s t i t u t i o n of a subject t h r o u g h p r e c i s e l y
f i g u r e d a s a b o d y that t u r n s o n a n d a g a i n s t itself? A r e the p s y -
66
s u c h a s u b o r d i n a t i o n . I n d e e d , to the extent that b a d c o n s c i e n c e
c h i c a n d the s o m a t i c a r t i c u l a t e d t h r o u g h o n e a n o t h e r i n s u c h
i n v o l v e s a t u r n i n g a g a i n s t oneself, a b o d y i n r e c o i l u p o n itself,
a w a y that the f i g u r a t i o n of the first is i m p l i c a t e d i n v a r i a b l y
h o w d o e s t h i s f i g u r e serve the s o c i a l r e g u l a t i o n o f the subject,
in a c h i a s t i c r e l a t i o n to the s e c o n d ? C l e a r l y , w h a t is at stake
a n d h o w m i g h t w e u n d e r s t a n d this m o r e f u n d a m e n t a l s u b -
i s s o m e t h i n g m o r e t h a n a n d different f r o m a r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n
j e c t i o n , w i t h o u t w h i c h n o p r o p e r subject e m e r g e s ? I w a n t t o
a n external d e m a n d offered b y regulatory p o w e r a n d a n i n -
suggest that, a l t h o u g h there i s n o f i n a l u n d o i n g o f the r e f l e x i v e
t e r n a l r e c o i l r e g i s t e r e d as its s e c o n d a r y effect. If p r e s u p p o s e d
b i n d , that p o s t u r e of the self b e n t a g a i n s t itself, a p a s s i o n a t e
in the v e r y n o t i o n of the subject is a p a s s i o n a t e a t t a c h m e n t to
d e r e g u l a t i o n o f the subject m a y p e r h a p s p r e c i p i t a t e a t e n u o u s
s u b j e c t i o n , t h e n the subject w i l l n o t e m e r g e save a s a n e x e m -
u n r a v e l i n g o f that c o n s t i t u t i v e k n o t . W h a t e m e r g e s i s n o t the
p l i f i c a t i o n a n d effect of t h i s a t t a c h m e n t . I h o p e to s h o w , first
unshackled w i l l or a " b e y o n d " to power, but another direc-
through a consideration of Nietzsche, then in relation to F r e u d ,
t i o n for w h a t i s m o s t f o r m a t i v e i n p a s s i o n , a f o r m a t i v e p o w e r
h o w the v e r y n o t i o n o f r e f l e x i v i t y , a s a n e m e r g e n t s t r u c t u r e o f
w h i c h is at o n c e the c o n d i t i o n of its v i o l e n c e a g a i n s t itself, its
the subject, is the c o n s e q u e n c e of a " t u r n i n g b a c k on itself," a
status as a n e c e s s a r y f i c t i o n , a n d the site of its e n a b l i n g p o s s i -
r e p e a t e d s e l f - b e r a t e m e n t w h i c h c o m e s t o f o r m the m i s n o m e r
b i l i t i e s . T h i s r e c a s t i n g o f the " w i l l " i s n o t , p r o p e r l y s p e a k i n g ,
o f "conscience," a n d that there i s n o f o r m a t i o n o f the subject
the w i l l o f a subject, n o r i s i t a n effect f u l l y c u l t i v a t e d b y a n d
w i t h o u t a p a s s i o n a t e a t t a c h m e n t to s u b j e c t i o n .
t h r o u g h s o c i a l n o r m s ; i t is, I w o u l d suggest, the site a t w h i c h
Significantly, N i e t z s c h e attributes a creative or formative
the s o c i a l i m p l i c a t e s the p s y c h i c i n its v e r y f o r m a t i o n — o r , t o
p o w e r t o c o n s c i e n c e , a n d the act o f t u r n i n g b a c k u p o n o n e -
b e m o r e p r e c i s e , a s its v e r y f o r m a t i o n a n d f o r m a t i v i t y .
self i s n o t o n l y the c o n d i t i o n o f the p o s s i b i l i t y o f the s u b -
C o n s i d e r the g e n e r a l c l a i m that the s o c i a l r e g u l a t i o n o f the
ject, b u t the c o n d i t i o n o f the p o s s i b i l i t y o f f i c t i o n , f a b r i c a t i o n ,
subject c o m p e l s a p a s s i o n a t e a t t a c h m e n t to r e g u l a t i o n , a n d
a n d t r a n s f i g u r a t i o n . I n d e e d , N i e t z s c h e r e m a r k s that b a d c o n -
that this f o r m a t i o n o f the w i l l takes p l a c e i n p a r t t h r o u g h the
s c i e n c e fabricates the s o u l , that e x p a n s e of i n t e r i o r p s y c h i c
a c t i o n o f a r e p r e s s i o n . A l t h o u g h o n e i s t e m p t e d t o c l a i m that
space. If the subject is u n d e r s t o o d as a k i n d of n e c e s s a r y fic-
s o c i a l r e g u l a t i o n i s s i m p l y i n t e r n a l i z e d , t a k e n f r o m the out-
t i o n , t h e n i t i s a l s o o n e o f the first a r t i s t i c a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s
s i d e a n d b r o u g h t i n t o the p s y c h e , the p r o b l e m i s m o r e c o m -
p r e s u p p o s e d by morality. The artistic accomplishments of b a d
p l i c a t e d a n d , i n d e e d , m o r e i n s i d i o u s . F o r the b o u n d a r y that
c o n s c i e n c e e x c e e d the p u r v i e w o f the subject; i n d e e d , t h e y
67
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Nietzsche and Freud
c o n t e m p o r a r y c r i t i c i s m , of N i e t z s c h e as one w h o o n l y de-
d i v i d e s the o u t s i d e f r o m the i n s i d e i s i n the p r o c e s s o f b e i n g
s t r o y s the d o m a i n o f v a l u e s ( w h e r e that d e s t r u c t i o n i s n o t itself
i n s t a l l e d , p r e c i s e l y t h r o u g h the r e g u l a t i o n o f the subject. T h e
a s o u r c e of v a l u e , or a v a l u e in itself). I w a n t i n s t e a d to s u g -
r e p r e s s i o n i s the v e r y t u r n i n g b a c k o n itself w h i c h the p a s -
gest that N i e t z s c h e offers us a p o l i t i c a l i n s i g h t i n t o the f o r m a -
sionate a t t a c h m e n t t o s u b j e c t i o n p e r f o r m s . H o w c a n a w i l l b e
t i o n o f the p s y c h e a n d the p r o b l e m o f s u b j e c t i o n , u n d e r s t o o d
e n t i c e d t o m a k e s u c h a t u r n ? A r e w e t o t h i n k that t u r n a s a n
p a r a d o x i c a l l y n o t m e r e l y as the s u b o r d i n a t i o n of a subject to
i n t e r n a l b e n d i n g o f the p s y c h e against itself? I f so, w h y i s i t
a n o r m , b u t as the c o n s t i t u t i o n of a subject t h r o u g h p r e c i s e l y
f i g u r e d a s a b o d y that t u r n s o n a n d a g a i n s t itself? A r e the p s y -
66
s u c h a s u b o r d i n a t i o n . I n d e e d , to the extent that b a d c o n s c i e n c e
c h i c a n d the s o m a t i c a r t i c u l a t e d t h r o u g h o n e a n o t h e r i n s u c h
i n v o l v e s a t u r n i n g a g a i n s t oneself, a b o d y i n r e c o i l u p o n itself,
a w a y that the f i g u r a t i o n of the first is i m p l i c a t e d i n v a r i a b l y
h o w d o e s t h i s f i g u r e serve the s o c i a l r e g u l a t i o n o f the subject,
in a c h i a s t i c r e l a t i o n to the s e c o n d ? C l e a r l y , w h a t is at stake
a n d h o w m i g h t w e u n d e r s t a n d this m o r e f u n d a m e n t a l s u b -
i s s o m e t h i n g m o r e t h a n a n d different f r o m a r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n
j e c t i o n , w i t h o u t w h i c h n o p r o p e r subject e m e r g e s ? I w a n t t o
a n external d e m a n d offered b y regulatory p o w e r a n d a n i n -
suggest that, a l t h o u g h there i s n o f i n a l u n d o i n g o f the r e f l e x i v e
t e r n a l r e c o i l r e g i s t e r e d as its s e c o n d a r y effect. If p r e s u p p o s e d
b i n d , that p o s t u r e of the self b e n t a g a i n s t itself, a p a s s i o n a t e
in the v e r y n o t i o n of the subject is a p a s s i o n a t e a t t a c h m e n t to
d e r e g u l a t i o n o f the subject m a y p e r h a p s p r e c i p i t a t e a t e n u o u s
s u b j e c t i o n , t h e n the subject w i l l n o t e m e r g e save a s a n e x e m -
u n r a v e l i n g o f that c o n s t i t u t i v e k n o t . W h a t e m e r g e s i s n o t the
p l i f i c a t i o n a n d effect of t h i s a t t a c h m e n t . I h o p e to s h o w , first
unshackled w i l l or a " b e y o n d " to power, but another direc-
through a consideration of Nietzsche, then in relation to F r e u d ,
t i o n for w h a t i s m o s t f o r m a t i v e i n p a s s i o n , a f o r m a t i v e p o w e r
h o w the v e r y n o t i o n o f r e f l e x i v i t y , a s a n e m e r g e n t s t r u c t u r e o f
w h i c h is at o n c e the c o n d i t i o n of its v i o l e n c e a g a i n s t itself, its
the subject, is the c o n s e q u e n c e of a " t u r n i n g b a c k on itself," a
status as a n e c e s s a r y f i c t i o n , a n d the site of its e n a b l i n g p o s s i -
r e p e a t e d s e l f - b e r a t e m e n t w h i c h c o m e s t o f o r m the m i s n o m e r
b i l i t i e s . T h i s r e c a s t i n g o f the " w i l l " i s n o t , p r o p e r l y s p e a k i n g ,
o f "conscience," a n d that there i s n o f o r m a t i o n o f the subject
the w i l l o f a subject, n o r i s i t a n effect f u l l y c u l t i v a t e d b y a n d
w i t h o u t a p a s s i o n a t e a t t a c h m e n t to s u b j e c t i o n .
t h r o u g h s o c i a l n o r m s ; i t is, I w o u l d suggest, the site a t w h i c h
Significantly, N i e t z s c h e attributes a creative or formative
the s o c i a l i m p l i c a t e s the p s y c h i c i n its v e r y f o r m a t i o n — o r , t o
p o w e r t o c o n s c i e n c e , a n d the act o f t u r n i n g b a c k u p o n o n e -
b e m o r e p r e c i s e , a s its v e r y f o r m a t i o n a n d f o r m a t i v i t y .
self i s n o t o n l y the c o n d i t i o n o f the p o s s i b i l i t y o f the s u b -
C o n s i d e r the g e n e r a l c l a i m that the s o c i a l r e g u l a t i o n o f the
ject, b u t the c o n d i t i o n o f the p o s s i b i l i t y o f f i c t i o n , f a b r i c a t i o n ,
subject c o m p e l s a p a s s i o n a t e a t t a c h m e n t to r e g u l a t i o n , a n d
a n d t r a n s f i g u r a t i o n . I n d e e d , N i e t z s c h e r e m a r k s that b a d c o n -
that this f o r m a t i o n o f the w i l l takes p l a c e i n p a r t t h r o u g h the
s c i e n c e fabricates the s o u l , that e x p a n s e of i n t e r i o r p s y c h i c
a c t i o n o f a r e p r e s s i o n . A l t h o u g h o n e i s t e m p t e d t o c l a i m that
space. If the subject is u n d e r s t o o d as a k i n d of n e c e s s a r y fic-
s o c i a l r e g u l a t i o n i s s i m p l y i n t e r n a l i z e d , t a k e n f r o m the out-
t i o n , t h e n i t i s a l s o o n e o f the first a r t i s t i c a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s
s i d e a n d b r o u g h t i n t o the p s y c h e , the p r o b l e m i s m o r e c o m -
p r e s u p p o s e d by morality. The artistic accomplishments of b a d
p l i c a t e d a n d , i n d e e d , m o r e i n s i d i o u s . F o r the b o u n d a r y that
c o n s c i e n c e e x c e e d the p u r v i e w o f the subject; i n d e e d , t h e y
68
Circuits of Bad Conscience
Nietzsche and Freud
69
w i l l come to include "all imaginative and ideal phenomena,"
m e n t e d result of this p e c u l i a r f o r m of reflexivity? T h e n o u n
i n c l u d i n g c o n c e p t u a l t h i n k i n g , f i g u r a t i v e w r i t i n g , a n d the c o n -
f o r m "ego" w i l l t h e n r e i f y a n d m a s k the i t e r a t e d a c c u m u l a t i o n
j e c t u r e d fables a n d m y t h s w h i c h c o m p o s e the v a r i o u s r e t r o -
of this reflexive m o v e m e n t . Of what is this reflexivity c o m -
s p e c t i v e i m a g i n i n g s o f genealogy. I n this sense, the c o n d i t i o n
p o s e d ? W h a t i s i t that i s s a i d t o t u r n b a c k u p o n w h a t ? A n d
o f p o s s i b i l i t y o f N i e t z s c h e ' s o w n w r i t i n g a p p e a r s t o b e the b a d
w h a t c o m p o s e s the a c t i o n o f " t u r n i n g b a c k u p o n " ? I w a n t t o
c o n s c i e n c e for w h i c h i t seeks t o g i v e a n a c c o u n t .
suggest that t h i s l o g i c a l c i r c u l a r i t y i n w h i c h the subject a p -
N i e t z s c h e offers a n a r r a t i v e that seeks to a c c o u n t f o r t h i s
p e a r s a t o n c e t o b e p r e s u p p o s e d a n d n o t yet f o r m e d , o n the
f o r m a t i o n , b u t h i s n a r r a t i v e w i l l b e afflicted f r o m the start b y
o n e h a n d , o r f o r m e d a n d h e n c e n o t p r e s u p p o s e d , o n the other,
the v e r y c o n s c i e n c e that i t seeks t o u n c o v e r f o r us. T h e c l a i m
i s a m e l i o r a t e d w h e n o n e u n d e r s t a n d s that i n b o t h F r e u d a n d
that c o n s c i e n c e i s a f i c t i o n i s n o t t o b e c o n f u s e d w i t h the c l a i m
N i e t z s c h e t h i s r e l a t i o n s h i p o f r e f l e x i v i t y i s a l w a y s a n d o n l y fig-
that c o n s c i e n c e i s a r b i t r a r y o r d i s p e n s a b l e ; o n the c o n t r a r y , i t
u r e d , a n d that t h i s f i g u r e m a k e s n o o n t o l o g i c a l c l a i m . T o refer
i s a n e c e s s a r y f i c t i o n , o n e w i t h o u t w h i c h the g r a m m a t i c a l a n d
t o a " w i l l , " m u c h less t o its " t u r n i n g b a c k o n itself," i s a s t r a n g e
p h e n o m e n o l o g i c a l subject c a n n o t exist. B u t i f its f i c t i v e status
w a y t o s p e a k , s t r a n g e b e c a u s e i t figures a p r o c e s s w h i c h c a n -
d o e s n o t d i s p e l its necessity, h o w are w e t o c o n s t r u e the sense
n o t b e d e t a c h e d f r o m o r u n d e r s t o o d a p a r t f r o m that v e r y f i g u -
o f that n e c e s s i t y ? M o r e p r e c i s e l y , w h a t does i t m e a n t o say
r a t i o n . I n d e e d , for N i e t z s c h e , the w r i t i n g o f s u c h f i g u r a t i o n s ,
that a subject e m e r g e s o n l y t h r o u g h the a c t i o n o f t u r n i n g b a c k
a n d f i g u r a t i o n i n g e n e r a l , are p a r t a n d p a r c e l o f the " i d e a l a n d
on i t s e l f ? If t h i s t u r n i n g b a c k on oneself is a t r o p e , a m o v e -
i m a g i n a t i v e p h e n o m e n a " w h i c h are the c o n s e q u e n c e s o f b a d
m e n t w h i c h i s a l w a y s a n d o n l y figured a s a b o d i l y m o v e m e n t ,
conscience. H e n c e , we do not come to k n o w s o m e t h i n g about
b u t w h i c h n o b o d y l i t e r a l l y p e r f o r m s , i n w h a t w i l l the neces-
b a d c o n s c i e n c e w h e n w e c o n s i d e r the s t r a n g e f i g u r e o f reflex-
s i t y o f s u c h a f i g u r a t i o n c o n s i s t ? T h e t r o p e a p p e a r s t o b e the
i v i t y that N i e t z s c h e offers us. W e are, a s i t w e r e , c a u g h t u p i n
s h a d o w of a b o d y , a s h a d o w i n g of that b o d y ' s v i o l e n c e a g a i n s t
the l u r i n g effects o f b a d c o n s c i e n c e a t the v e r y t e x t u a l m o m e n t
itself, a b o d y i n s p e c t r a l a n d l i n g u i s t i c f o r m that i s the s i g n i -
w h e n w e seek t o k n o w w h a t , p r e c i s e l y , t h i s b a d c o n s c i e n c e is.
f y i n g m a r k o f the p s y c h e ' s e m e r g e n c e .
I f i t i s c r e d i t e d w i t h b e i n g the g r o u n d o f f i g u r a t i o n , yet c a n
C o n s i d e r e d g r a m m a t i c a l l y , i t w i l l s e e m that there m u s t first
itself o n l y b e f i g u r e d — i n d e e d , f i g u r e d a s that g r o u n d — t h e c i r -
b e a subject w h o t u r n s b a c k o n itself, yet I w i l l a r g u e that there
cularity w h i c h might be lamented from a logical perspective
is no subject e x c e p t as a c o n s e q u e n c e of t h i s v e r y r e f l e x i v i t y .
c o n c e r n e d w i t h e s t a b l i s h i n g c l e a r s e q u e n c e b e c o m e s the c o n -
H o w c a n the subject b e p r e s u m e d a t b o t h e n d s o f t h i s p r o -
s t i t u t i v e feature of b a d c o n s c i e n c e , c o n s i d e r e d b o t h as a f i g u r e
cess, e s p e c i a l l y w h e n i t i s the v e r y f o r m a t i o n o f the subject for
a n d a s the c o n d i t i o n o f p o s s i b i l i t y for f i g u r a t i o n itself.
w h i c h t h i s p r o c e s s seeks t o g i v e a n a c c o u n t ? If, in F r e u d , c o n s c i e n c e is a p a s s i o n a t e a t t a c h m e n t to prohi-
The apparent c i r c u l a r i t y of this account reappears in a rel a t e d set o f q u a n d a r i e s . W h a t m o t i v a t e s the w i l l t o t u r n b a c k
bition, a n a t t a c h m e n t w h i c h takes the f o r m o f a t u r n i n g b a c k
o n i t s e l f ? D o e s i t t u r n b a c k o n itself u n d e r the p r e s s u r e o f
on oneself, d o e s the f o r m a t i o n of the ego t a k e p l a c e as the s e d i -
a n e x t e r n a l f o r c e o r l a w , u n d e r the a n t i c i p a t e d o r r e c o l l e c t e d
68
Circuits of Bad Conscience
Nietzsche and Freud
69
w i l l come to include "all imaginative and ideal phenomena,"
m e n t e d result of this p e c u l i a r f o r m of reflexivity? T h e n o u n
i n c l u d i n g c o n c e p t u a l t h i n k i n g , f i g u r a t i v e w r i t i n g , a n d the c o n -
f o r m "ego" w i l l t h e n r e i f y a n d m a s k the i t e r a t e d a c c u m u l a t i o n
j e c t u r e d fables a n d m y t h s w h i c h c o m p o s e the v a r i o u s r e t r o -
of this reflexive m o v e m e n t . Of what is this reflexivity c o m -
s p e c t i v e i m a g i n i n g s o f genealogy. I n this sense, the c o n d i t i o n
p o s e d ? W h a t i s i t that i s s a i d t o t u r n b a c k u p o n w h a t ? A n d
o f p o s s i b i l i t y o f N i e t z s c h e ' s o w n w r i t i n g a p p e a r s t o b e the b a d
w h a t c o m p o s e s the a c t i o n o f " t u r n i n g b a c k u p o n " ? I w a n t t o
c o n s c i e n c e for w h i c h i t seeks t o g i v e a n a c c o u n t .
suggest that t h i s l o g i c a l c i r c u l a r i t y i n w h i c h the subject a p -
N i e t z s c h e offers a n a r r a t i v e that seeks to a c c o u n t f o r t h i s
p e a r s a t o n c e t o b e p r e s u p p o s e d a n d n o t yet f o r m e d , o n the
f o r m a t i o n , b u t h i s n a r r a t i v e w i l l b e afflicted f r o m the start b y
o n e h a n d , o r f o r m e d a n d h e n c e n o t p r e s u p p o s e d , o n the other,
the v e r y c o n s c i e n c e that i t seeks t o u n c o v e r f o r us. T h e c l a i m
i s a m e l i o r a t e d w h e n o n e u n d e r s t a n d s that i n b o t h F r e u d a n d
that c o n s c i e n c e i s a f i c t i o n i s n o t t o b e c o n f u s e d w i t h the c l a i m
N i e t z s c h e t h i s r e l a t i o n s h i p o f r e f l e x i v i t y i s a l w a y s a n d o n l y fig-
that c o n s c i e n c e i s a r b i t r a r y o r d i s p e n s a b l e ; o n the c o n t r a r y , i t
u r e d , a n d that t h i s f i g u r e m a k e s n o o n t o l o g i c a l c l a i m . T o refer
i s a n e c e s s a r y f i c t i o n , o n e w i t h o u t w h i c h the g r a m m a t i c a l a n d
t o a " w i l l , " m u c h less t o its " t u r n i n g b a c k o n itself," i s a s t r a n g e
p h e n o m e n o l o g i c a l subject c a n n o t exist. B u t i f its f i c t i v e status
w a y t o s p e a k , s t r a n g e b e c a u s e i t figures a p r o c e s s w h i c h c a n -
d o e s n o t d i s p e l its necessity, h o w are w e t o c o n s t r u e the sense
n o t b e d e t a c h e d f r o m o r u n d e r s t o o d a p a r t f r o m that v e r y f i g u -
o f that n e c e s s i t y ? M o r e p r e c i s e l y , w h a t does i t m e a n t o say
r a t i o n . I n d e e d , for N i e t z s c h e , the w r i t i n g o f s u c h f i g u r a t i o n s ,
that a subject e m e r g e s o n l y t h r o u g h the a c t i o n o f t u r n i n g b a c k
a n d f i g u r a t i o n i n g e n e r a l , are p a r t a n d p a r c e l o f the " i d e a l a n d
on i t s e l f ? If t h i s t u r n i n g b a c k on oneself is a t r o p e , a m o v e -
i m a g i n a t i v e p h e n o m e n a " w h i c h are the c o n s e q u e n c e s o f b a d
m e n t w h i c h i s a l w a y s a n d o n l y figured a s a b o d i l y m o v e m e n t ,
conscience. H e n c e , we do not come to k n o w s o m e t h i n g about
b u t w h i c h n o b o d y l i t e r a l l y p e r f o r m s , i n w h a t w i l l the neces-
b a d c o n s c i e n c e w h e n w e c o n s i d e r the s t r a n g e f i g u r e o f reflex-
s i t y o f s u c h a f i g u r a t i o n c o n s i s t ? T h e t r o p e a p p e a r s t o b e the
i v i t y that N i e t z s c h e offers us. W e are, a s i t w e r e , c a u g h t u p i n
s h a d o w of a b o d y , a s h a d o w i n g of that b o d y ' s v i o l e n c e a g a i n s t
the l u r i n g effects o f b a d c o n s c i e n c e a t the v e r y t e x t u a l m o m e n t
itself, a b o d y i n s p e c t r a l a n d l i n g u i s t i c f o r m that i s the s i g n i -
w h e n w e seek t o k n o w w h a t , p r e c i s e l y , t h i s b a d c o n s c i e n c e is.
f y i n g m a r k o f the p s y c h e ' s e m e r g e n c e .
I f i t i s c r e d i t e d w i t h b e i n g the g r o u n d o f f i g u r a t i o n , yet c a n
C o n s i d e r e d g r a m m a t i c a l l y , i t w i l l s e e m that there m u s t first
itself o n l y b e f i g u r e d — i n d e e d , f i g u r e d a s that g r o u n d — t h e c i r -
b e a subject w h o t u r n s b a c k o n itself, yet I w i l l a r g u e that there
cularity w h i c h might be lamented from a logical perspective
is no subject e x c e p t as a c o n s e q u e n c e of t h i s v e r y r e f l e x i v i t y .
c o n c e r n e d w i t h e s t a b l i s h i n g c l e a r s e q u e n c e b e c o m e s the c o n -
H o w c a n the subject b e p r e s u m e d a t b o t h e n d s o f t h i s p r o -
s t i t u t i v e feature of b a d c o n s c i e n c e , c o n s i d e r e d b o t h as a f i g u r e
cess, e s p e c i a l l y w h e n i t i s the v e r y f o r m a t i o n o f the subject for
a n d a s the c o n d i t i o n o f p o s s i b i l i t y for f i g u r a t i o n itself.
w h i c h t h i s p r o c e s s seeks t o g i v e a n a c c o u n t ? If, in F r e u d , c o n s c i e n c e is a p a s s i o n a t e a t t a c h m e n t to prohi-
The apparent c i r c u l a r i t y of this account reappears in a rel a t e d set o f q u a n d a r i e s . W h a t m o t i v a t e s the w i l l t o t u r n b a c k
bition, a n a t t a c h m e n t w h i c h takes the f o r m o f a t u r n i n g b a c k
o n i t s e l f ? D o e s i t t u r n b a c k o n itself u n d e r the p r e s s u r e o f
on oneself, d o e s the f o r m a t i o n of the ego t a k e p l a c e as the s e d i -
a n e x t e r n a l f o r c e o r l a w , u n d e r the a n t i c i p a t e d o r r e c o l l e c t e d
Circuits of Bad Conscience
Nietzsche and Freud
force o f p u n i s h m e n t ? O r d o e s t h i s p e c u l i a r f o r m o f r e f l e x i v i t y
s t a n d the force o f p u n i s h m e n t o u t s i d e o f the w a y s i n w h i c h i t
t a k e p l a c e p r i o r to, o r i n s o m e other f o r m o f c o m p l i c i t y w i t h ,
e x p l o i t s a n a r c i s s i s t i c d e m a n d , or, t o p u t i t i n a N i e t z s c h e a n
a set of e x t e r n a l l y i m p o s e d d e m a n d s ?
v e i n , i s i t p o s s i b l e t o u n d e r s t a n d the force o f p u n i s h m e n t o u t -
70
T o c l a r i f y t h i s last p o i n t i t i s i m p o r t a n t t o r e c o n s i d e r the thesis that p u n i s h m e n t p r e c e d e s c o n s c i e n c e , a n d that c o n -
71
s i d e o f the w a y s i n w h i c h i t e x p l o i t s the w i l l ' s a t t a c h m e n t t o itself?
s c i e n c e c a n b e u n d e r s t o o d a s the u n p r o b l e m a t i c i n t e r n a l i z a -
To c l a i m that there is a p a s s i o n a t e a t t a c h m e n t to s u b j e c t i o n
t i o n o f p u n i s h m e n t , its m n e m o n i c trace. A l t h o u g h there are
a p p e a r s to p r e s u p p o s e that there is first a p a s s i o n , a n d that its
clearly textual moments in w h i c h Nietzsche appears to be
a i m i s t o attach t o s o m e k i n d o f object. I n N i e t z s c h e , there w i l l
a r g u i n g for s u c h a t e m p o r a l p r i o r i t y o f p u n i s h m e n t t o c o n -
emerge a question of w h e t h e r this p r i m a r y passion, this w i l l ,
science, there are a l s o c o m p e t i n g v i e w s i n N i e t z s c h e w h i c h
p r e c e d e s the a t t a c h m e n t s b y w h i c h i t i s k n o w n , o r w h e t h e r its
c a l l this sequential account into question.
a t t a c h m e n t s p r e c e d e its p a s s i o n s o r a c q u i r e t h e i r p a s s i o n a t e
I f the w i l l i n N i e t z s c h e i s a t its m o s t p r o d u c t i v e — t h a t is, its
c h a r a c t e r o n l y after a n a t t a c h m e n t i s a s s u m e d . (It m a y i n v a r i -
m o s t c o n s c i e n t i o u s — w h e n i t i s t u r n e d b a c k u p o n itself, t h e n i t
a b l y b e b o t h , p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n a n i n c o m m e n s u r a b l e set o f t e m -
a p p e a r s that the s e v e r i t y o f c o n s c i e n c e i s l i n k e d t o the s t r e n g t h
p o r a l trajectories. I n s o m e w a y s , w e m i g h t see t h i s q u e s t i o n a s
o f the w i l l o f w h i c h i t i s c o m p o s e d . S i m i l a r l y , f o r F r e u d , the
p e r v a d i n g the debates b e t w e e n L a c a n i a n a n d object-relations
s t r e n g t h o f c o n s c i e n c e i s n o u r i s h e d p r e c i s e l y b y the a g g r e s s i o n
construals of Freud.)
that it f o r b i d s . In t h i s sense, t h e n , the s t r e n g t h of c o n s c i e n c e c o r r e l a t e s n e i t h e r w i t h the s t r e n g t h o f a p u n i s h m e n t r e c e i v e d
Nietzsche's Account of Bad Conscience
n o r w i t h the s t r e n g t h o f a m e m o r y o f a p u n i s h m e n t r e c e i v e d , but with the strength of one's own aggression, o n e w h i c h is s a i d to
Nietzsche's
consideration
of b a d
conscience
in
On
the
h a v e v e n t e d itself e x t e r n a l l y , b u t w h i c h n o w , u n d e r the r u b r i c
Genealogy of Morals is i n t r o d u c e d in s e c t i o n 16 of the sec-
o f b a d c o n s c i e n c e , i s s a i d t o v e n t itself i n t e r n a l l y . T h i s latter
o n d essay. A t first, the r e l a t i o n o f t h i s n o t i o n t o the n o t i o n
v e n t i n g is a l s o at the s a m e t i m e a f a b r i c a t i n g : an i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n
o f c o n s c i e n c e i n t r o d u c e d e a r l i e r i n the s a m e essay i s u n c l e a r .
w h i c h is p r o d u c e d or f a b r i c a t e d as the effect of a s u b l i m a t i o n .
C o n s c i e n c e i s i n t r o d u c e d v i a the a n i m a l w h o i s b r e d t o k e e p
T h i s c i r c u l a r i t y a p p e a r s t o b r e a k the l i n e o f c a u s a l i t y o r i n -
p r o m i s e s , a n d i n r e l a t i o n t o the " s o v e r e i g n " m a n . T h e o n e w h o
ternalization usually conjectured between an external or his-
m a k e s a n d k e e p s h i s p r o m i s e i s o n e w h o "has b r e d i n h i m s e l f
t o r i c a l e x p e r i e n c e o f p u n i s h m e n t a n d a n i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n o f the
a . . . f a c u l t y " o p p o s e d to f o r g e t f u l n e s s , n a m e l y , a m e m o r y ,
m n e m o n i c t r a c e o f that p u n i s h m e n t i n the f o r m o f c o n s c i e n c e .
w h i c h b e c o m e s "a memory of the will." H e r e N i e t z s c h e refers 1
But if conscience is self-derived in this way, a n d not d e r i v e d
t o a n " i m p r e s s i o n " that i s a c t i v e l y s u s t a i n e d b y a d e s i r e , o n e
unilaterally f r o m an internalization of an external or historical
w h i c h is not forgotten, but w h i c h , in being actively r e m e m -
p u n i s h m e n t , i s there s o m e o t h e r w a y t o u n d e r s t a n d its f u n c -
b e r e d , p r o d u c e s the p r o t r a c t e d c o n t i n u i t y o f the w i l l . B u t t h i s
t i o n i n the p r o c e s s o f s o c i a l r e g u l a t i o n ? I s i t p o s s i b l e t o u n d e r -
i m p r e s s i o n i s n o t s p e c i f i e d . A n i m p r e s s i o n f r o m w h e r e ? I n the
Circuits of Bad Conscience
Nietzsche and Freud
force o f p u n i s h m e n t ? O r d o e s t h i s p e c u l i a r f o r m o f r e f l e x i v i t y
s t a n d the force o f p u n i s h m e n t o u t s i d e o f the w a y s i n w h i c h i t
t a k e p l a c e p r i o r to, o r i n s o m e other f o r m o f c o m p l i c i t y w i t h ,
e x p l o i t s a n a r c i s s i s t i c d e m a n d , or, t o p u t i t i n a N i e t z s c h e a n
a set of e x t e r n a l l y i m p o s e d d e m a n d s ?
v e i n , i s i t p o s s i b l e t o u n d e r s t a n d the force o f p u n i s h m e n t o u t -
70
T o c l a r i f y t h i s last p o i n t i t i s i m p o r t a n t t o r e c o n s i d e r the thesis that p u n i s h m e n t p r e c e d e s c o n s c i e n c e , a n d that c o n -
71
s i d e o f the w a y s i n w h i c h i t e x p l o i t s the w i l l ' s a t t a c h m e n t t o itself?
s c i e n c e c a n b e u n d e r s t o o d a s the u n p r o b l e m a t i c i n t e r n a l i z a -
To c l a i m that there is a p a s s i o n a t e a t t a c h m e n t to s u b j e c t i o n
t i o n o f p u n i s h m e n t , its m n e m o n i c trace. A l t h o u g h there are
a p p e a r s to p r e s u p p o s e that there is first a p a s s i o n , a n d that its
clearly textual moments in w h i c h Nietzsche appears to be
a i m i s t o attach t o s o m e k i n d o f object. I n N i e t z s c h e , there w i l l
a r g u i n g for s u c h a t e m p o r a l p r i o r i t y o f p u n i s h m e n t t o c o n -
emerge a question of w h e t h e r this p r i m a r y passion, this w i l l ,
science, there are a l s o c o m p e t i n g v i e w s i n N i e t z s c h e w h i c h
p r e c e d e s the a t t a c h m e n t s b y w h i c h i t i s k n o w n , o r w h e t h e r its
c a l l this sequential account into question.
a t t a c h m e n t s p r e c e d e its p a s s i o n s o r a c q u i r e t h e i r p a s s i o n a t e
I f the w i l l i n N i e t z s c h e i s a t its m o s t p r o d u c t i v e — t h a t is, its
c h a r a c t e r o n l y after a n a t t a c h m e n t i s a s s u m e d . (It m a y i n v a r i -
m o s t c o n s c i e n t i o u s — w h e n i t i s t u r n e d b a c k u p o n itself, t h e n i t
a b l y b e b o t h , p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n a n i n c o m m e n s u r a b l e set o f t e m -
a p p e a r s that the s e v e r i t y o f c o n s c i e n c e i s l i n k e d t o the s t r e n g t h
p o r a l trajectories. I n s o m e w a y s , w e m i g h t see t h i s q u e s t i o n a s
o f the w i l l o f w h i c h i t i s c o m p o s e d . S i m i l a r l y , f o r F r e u d , the
p e r v a d i n g the debates b e t w e e n L a c a n i a n a n d object-relations
s t r e n g t h o f c o n s c i e n c e i s n o u r i s h e d p r e c i s e l y b y the a g g r e s s i o n
construals of Freud.)
that it f o r b i d s . In t h i s sense, t h e n , the s t r e n g t h of c o n s c i e n c e c o r r e l a t e s n e i t h e r w i t h the s t r e n g t h o f a p u n i s h m e n t r e c e i v e d
Nietzsche's Account of Bad Conscience
n o r w i t h the s t r e n g t h o f a m e m o r y o f a p u n i s h m e n t r e c e i v e d , but with the strength of one's own aggression, o n e w h i c h is s a i d to
Nietzsche's
consideration
of b a d
conscience
in
On
the
h a v e v e n t e d itself e x t e r n a l l y , b u t w h i c h n o w , u n d e r the r u b r i c
Genealogy of Morals is i n t r o d u c e d in s e c t i o n 16 of the sec-
o f b a d c o n s c i e n c e , i s s a i d t o v e n t itself i n t e r n a l l y . T h i s latter
o n d essay. A t first, the r e l a t i o n o f t h i s n o t i o n t o the n o t i o n
v e n t i n g is a l s o at the s a m e t i m e a f a b r i c a t i n g : an i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n
o f c o n s c i e n c e i n t r o d u c e d e a r l i e r i n the s a m e essay i s u n c l e a r .
w h i c h is p r o d u c e d or f a b r i c a t e d as the effect of a s u b l i m a t i o n .
C o n s c i e n c e i s i n t r o d u c e d v i a the a n i m a l w h o i s b r e d t o k e e p
T h i s c i r c u l a r i t y a p p e a r s t o b r e a k the l i n e o f c a u s a l i t y o r i n -
p r o m i s e s , a n d i n r e l a t i o n t o the " s o v e r e i g n " m a n . T h e o n e w h o
ternalization usually conjectured between an external or his-
m a k e s a n d k e e p s h i s p r o m i s e i s o n e w h o "has b r e d i n h i m s e l f
t o r i c a l e x p e r i e n c e o f p u n i s h m e n t a n d a n i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n o f the
a . . . f a c u l t y " o p p o s e d to f o r g e t f u l n e s s , n a m e l y , a m e m o r y ,
m n e m o n i c t r a c e o f that p u n i s h m e n t i n the f o r m o f c o n s c i e n c e .
w h i c h b e c o m e s "a memory of the will." H e r e N i e t z s c h e refers 1
But if conscience is self-derived in this way, a n d not d e r i v e d
t o a n " i m p r e s s i o n " that i s a c t i v e l y s u s t a i n e d b y a d e s i r e , o n e
unilaterally f r o m an internalization of an external or historical
w h i c h is not forgotten, but w h i c h , in being actively r e m e m -
p u n i s h m e n t , i s there s o m e o t h e r w a y t o u n d e r s t a n d its f u n c -
b e r e d , p r o d u c e s the p r o t r a c t e d c o n t i n u i t y o f the w i l l . B u t t h i s
t i o n i n the p r o c e s s o f s o c i a l r e g u l a t i o n ? I s i t p o s s i b l e t o u n d e r -
i m p r e s s i o n i s n o t s p e c i f i e d . A n i m p r e s s i o n f r o m w h e r e ? I n the
Circuits of Bad Conscience
Nietzsche and Freud
s e r v i c e o f w h a t ? N i e t z s c h e t h e n i n s i s t s that the o n e w h o m a k e s
a m e m o r y c a n be c r e a t e d for a w i l l . T h i s r e t u r n s us to the q u e s -
p r o m i s e s w i l l n o t a l l o w a n y t h i n g t o i n t e r r u p t the p r o c e s s b y
t i o n c o n c e r n i n g the status o f the " i m p r e s s i o n " that i s a c t i v e l y
72
73
w h i c h a n o r i g i n a l statement, " I w i l l " o r " I s h a l l d o this," c u l m i -
r e a n i m a t e d a n d r e l i v e d , a n d w h i c h , i n a n d t h r o u g h its r e a n i -
nates i n the d i s c h a r g e o f the d e s i g n a t e d act. T h e o n e w h o t r u l y
m a t i o n , establishes the p r o t r a c t e d c o n t i n u i t y o f the w i l l . "If
p r o m i s e s w i e l d s the p o w e r o f the s o v e r e i g n t o enact w h a t h e
s o m e t h i n g i s t o stay i n the m e m o r y , i t m u s t b e b u r n e d i n ; o n l y
says, t o b r i n g i n t o b e i n g w h a t h e w i l l s . I n o t h e r w o r d s , the
that w h i c h n e v e r ceases t o hurt stays i n the m e m o r y " (61/295).
p r o m i s i n g b e i n g establishes a c o n t i n u i t y b e t w e e n a statement
A n d w e t h e n l e a r n o f the " t e r r o r " that f o r m e r l y a t t e n d e d a l l
a n d a n act, a l t h o u g h the t e m p o r a l d i s j u n c t i o n b e t w e e n the
p r o m i s e s . I s t h i s " t e r r o r , " t h e n , t o b e c o n s t r u e d a s the " i m p r e s -
t w o i s a c k n o w l e d g e d a s a n o p p o r t u n i t y f o r the i n t e r v e n t i o n o f
s i o n " that w o r k s a s the m n e m o n i c d e v i c e w h e r e b y the w i l l
v a r i o u s c o m p e t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e s a n d a c c i d e n t s . I n the face o f
m a k e s itself r e g u l a r a n d c a l c u l a b l e ? B y s e c t i o n 4 , N i e t z s c h e
these c i r c u m s t a n c e s a n d a c c i d e n t s , the w i l l c o n t i n u e s t o p r o -
p o s e s the q u e s t i o n o f b a d c o n s c i e n c e e x p l i c i t l y , b u t c o n t i n u e s
d u c e itself, t o l a b o r o n itself i n the s e r v i c e o f m a k i n g o f itself
t o treat i t a s i f i t w e r e q u i t e separate f r o m c o n s c i e n c e itself. H e
a c o n t i n u i t y , w h e r e that c o n t i n u i t y , that " l o n g c h a i n o f w i l l , "
a s k s : H o w d i d "that o t h e r ' s o m b e r t h i n g , ' the c o n s c i o u s n e s s o f
a s N i e t z s c h e p u t s it, establishes its o w n t e m p o r a l i t y o v e r a n d
g u i l t , the ' b a d c o n s c i e n c e , ' c o m e i n t o the w o r l d ? " (62/297). B u t
a g a i n s t a n y o t h e r w h i c h m i g h t seek t o c o m p l i c a t e o r q u a l i f y its
is it other? Is there a w a y for the w i l l to b e c o m e r e g u l a r , to b e -
e x e c u t i o n . T h i s p r o m i s i n g b e i n g i s o n e w h o s t a n d s for h i m s e l f
c o m e the p r o t r a c t e d c o n t i n u i t y w h i c h u n d e r w r i t e s the p r o m -
t h r o u g h t i m e a n d w h o s e w o r d continues t h r o u g h time, one
ise, w i t h o u t b e c o m i n g subject t o the l o g i c o f b a d c o n s c i e n c e ?
" w h o g i v e s [his] w o r d a s s o m e t h i n g that c a n b e r e l i e d o n b e cause [h]e k n o w [ s ] h i m s e l f t o b e s t r o n g e n o u g h t o m a i n t a i n i t i n the face o f a c c i d e n t s " (60/294). T h i s p r o t r a c t e d w i l l , w h i c h i s s e l f - i d e n t i c a l t h r o u g h t i m e a n d w h i c h establishes its o w n t i m e , c o n s t i t u t e s the m a n o f c o n s c i e n c e . ( O d d l y e n o u g h , t h i s i d e a l o f the efficacious s p e e c h act p r e s u p p o s e d b y p r o m i s i n g i s u n d e r c u t b y N i e t z s c h e ' s o w n n o t i o n o f the s i g n c h a i n , a c c o r d i n g t o w h i c h a s i g h i s b o u n d t o s i g n i f y i n w a y s that estrange the s i g n f r o m the o r i g i n a t i n g i n t e n t i o n s b y w h i c h i t i s m o b i l i z e d . A c c o r d i n g t o the h i s t o r i c i t y o f the s i g n c h a i n , i t w o u l d b e i m p o s s i b l e t o k e e p a p r o m i s e , b e c a u s e i t w o u l d b e i m p o s s i b l e t o safeg u a r d a s i g n f r o m the v a r i o u s h i s t o r i c a l a c c i d e n t s b y w h i c h its m e a n i n g i s a u g m e n t e d i n excess o f its o r i g i n a t i n g i n t e n t i o n s . )
W e l l - k n o w n d i s c u s s i o n s o f the r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n d e b t a n d g u i l t f o l l o w ( 6 2 - 6 3 / 2 9 7 - 9 8 ) , i n w h i c h the f a i l u r e t o r e p a y a l o a n a w a k e n s the d e s i r e f o r c o m p e n s a t i o n i n the c r e d i t o r , a n d i n j u r y i s i n f l i c t e d o n the d e b t o r . T h e a t t r i b u t i o n o f m o r a l acc o u n t a b i l i t y t o the d e b t o r t h u s r a t i o n a l i z e s the d e s i r e o f the c r e d i t o r t o p u n i s h the d e b t o r . W i t h that n o t i o n o f " a c c o u n t a b i l i t y " emerges a w h o l e p a n o p l y of m o r a l l y saturated psyc h i c p h e n o m e n a : i n t e n t i o n a l i t y , e v e n c e r t a i n v e r s i o n s o f the w i l l itself. B u t the d e s i r e t o p u n i s h c a n n o t b e f u l l y a c c o u n t e d f o r b y the c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f the b r o k e n c o n t r a c t . W h y d o e s the c r e d i t o r t a k e p l e a s u r e i n the i n f l i c t i o n o f i n j u r y , a n d w h a t f o r m does that p l e a s u r e t a k e w h e n i n j u r y i s i n f l i c t e d i n the m o r a l i z e d a c t i o n b y w h i c h the c r e d i t o r h o l d s the d e b t o r m o r a l l y
In section 3, w h i c h follows this discussion, Nietzsche recon-
accountable a n d p r o n o u n c e s h i m g u i l t y ? W h a t strange con-
s i d e r s t h i s i d e a l i z a t i o n o f the p r o m i s i n g a n i m a l a n d a s k s h o w
s u m m a t i o n o f p l e a s u r e takes p l a c e i n that a t t r i b u t i o n o f g u i l t ?
Circuits of Bad Conscience
Nietzsche and Freud
s e r v i c e o f w h a t ? N i e t z s c h e t h e n i n s i s t s that the o n e w h o m a k e s
a m e m o r y c a n be c r e a t e d for a w i l l . T h i s r e t u r n s us to the q u e s -
p r o m i s e s w i l l n o t a l l o w a n y t h i n g t o i n t e r r u p t the p r o c e s s b y
t i o n c o n c e r n i n g the status o f the " i m p r e s s i o n " that i s a c t i v e l y
72
73
w h i c h a n o r i g i n a l statement, " I w i l l " o r " I s h a l l d o this," c u l m i -
r e a n i m a t e d a n d r e l i v e d , a n d w h i c h , i n a n d t h r o u g h its r e a n i -
nates i n the d i s c h a r g e o f the d e s i g n a t e d act. T h e o n e w h o t r u l y
m a t i o n , establishes the p r o t r a c t e d c o n t i n u i t y o f the w i l l . "If
p r o m i s e s w i e l d s the p o w e r o f the s o v e r e i g n t o enact w h a t h e
s o m e t h i n g i s t o stay i n the m e m o r y , i t m u s t b e b u r n e d i n ; o n l y
says, t o b r i n g i n t o b e i n g w h a t h e w i l l s . I n o t h e r w o r d s , the
that w h i c h n e v e r ceases t o hurt stays i n the m e m o r y " (61/295).
p r o m i s i n g b e i n g establishes a c o n t i n u i t y b e t w e e n a statement
A n d w e t h e n l e a r n o f the " t e r r o r " that f o r m e r l y a t t e n d e d a l l
a n d a n act, a l t h o u g h the t e m p o r a l d i s j u n c t i o n b e t w e e n the
p r o m i s e s . I s t h i s " t e r r o r , " t h e n , t o b e c o n s t r u e d a s the " i m p r e s -
t w o i s a c k n o w l e d g e d a s a n o p p o r t u n i t y f o r the i n t e r v e n t i o n o f
s i o n " that w o r k s a s the m n e m o n i c d e v i c e w h e r e b y the w i l l
v a r i o u s c o m p e t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e s a n d a c c i d e n t s . I n the face o f
m a k e s itself r e g u l a r a n d c a l c u l a b l e ? B y s e c t i o n 4 , N i e t z s c h e
these c i r c u m s t a n c e s a n d a c c i d e n t s , the w i l l c o n t i n u e s t o p r o -
p o s e s the q u e s t i o n o f b a d c o n s c i e n c e e x p l i c i t l y , b u t c o n t i n u e s
d u c e itself, t o l a b o r o n itself i n the s e r v i c e o f m a k i n g o f itself
t o treat i t a s i f i t w e r e q u i t e separate f r o m c o n s c i e n c e itself. H e
a c o n t i n u i t y , w h e r e that c o n t i n u i t y , that " l o n g c h a i n o f w i l l , "
a s k s : H o w d i d "that o t h e r ' s o m b e r t h i n g , ' the c o n s c i o u s n e s s o f
a s N i e t z s c h e p u t s it, establishes its o w n t e m p o r a l i t y o v e r a n d
g u i l t , the ' b a d c o n s c i e n c e , ' c o m e i n t o the w o r l d ? " (62/297). B u t
a g a i n s t a n y o t h e r w h i c h m i g h t seek t o c o m p l i c a t e o r q u a l i f y its
is it other? Is there a w a y for the w i l l to b e c o m e r e g u l a r , to b e -
e x e c u t i o n . T h i s p r o m i s i n g b e i n g i s o n e w h o s t a n d s for h i m s e l f
c o m e the p r o t r a c t e d c o n t i n u i t y w h i c h u n d e r w r i t e s the p r o m -
t h r o u g h t i m e a n d w h o s e w o r d continues t h r o u g h time, one
ise, w i t h o u t b e c o m i n g subject t o the l o g i c o f b a d c o n s c i e n c e ?
" w h o g i v e s [his] w o r d a s s o m e t h i n g that c a n b e r e l i e d o n b e cause [h]e k n o w [ s ] h i m s e l f t o b e s t r o n g e n o u g h t o m a i n t a i n i t i n the face o f a c c i d e n t s " (60/294). T h i s p r o t r a c t e d w i l l , w h i c h i s s e l f - i d e n t i c a l t h r o u g h t i m e a n d w h i c h establishes its o w n t i m e , c o n s t i t u t e s the m a n o f c o n s c i e n c e . ( O d d l y e n o u g h , t h i s i d e a l o f the efficacious s p e e c h act p r e s u p p o s e d b y p r o m i s i n g i s u n d e r c u t b y N i e t z s c h e ' s o w n n o t i o n o f the s i g n c h a i n , a c c o r d i n g t o w h i c h a s i g h i s b o u n d t o s i g n i f y i n w a y s that estrange the s i g n f r o m the o r i g i n a t i n g i n t e n t i o n s b y w h i c h i t i s m o b i l i z e d . A c c o r d i n g t o the h i s t o r i c i t y o f the s i g n c h a i n , i t w o u l d b e i m p o s s i b l e t o k e e p a p r o m i s e , b e c a u s e i t w o u l d b e i m p o s s i b l e t o safeg u a r d a s i g n f r o m the v a r i o u s h i s t o r i c a l a c c i d e n t s b y w h i c h its m e a n i n g i s a u g m e n t e d i n excess o f its o r i g i n a t i n g i n t e n t i o n s . )
W e l l - k n o w n d i s c u s s i o n s o f the r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n d e b t a n d g u i l t f o l l o w ( 6 2 - 6 3 / 2 9 7 - 9 8 ) , i n w h i c h the f a i l u r e t o r e p a y a l o a n a w a k e n s the d e s i r e f o r c o m p e n s a t i o n i n the c r e d i t o r , a n d i n j u r y i s i n f l i c t e d o n the d e b t o r . T h e a t t r i b u t i o n o f m o r a l acc o u n t a b i l i t y t o the d e b t o r t h u s r a t i o n a l i z e s the d e s i r e o f the c r e d i t o r t o p u n i s h the d e b t o r . W i t h that n o t i o n o f " a c c o u n t a b i l i t y " emerges a w h o l e p a n o p l y of m o r a l l y saturated psyc h i c p h e n o m e n a : i n t e n t i o n a l i t y , e v e n c e r t a i n v e r s i o n s o f the w i l l itself. B u t the d e s i r e t o p u n i s h c a n n o t b e f u l l y a c c o u n t e d f o r b y the c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f the b r o k e n c o n t r a c t . W h y d o e s the c r e d i t o r t a k e p l e a s u r e i n the i n f l i c t i o n o f i n j u r y , a n d w h a t f o r m does that p l e a s u r e t a k e w h e n i n j u r y i s i n f l i c t e d i n the m o r a l i z e d a c t i o n b y w h i c h the c r e d i t o r h o l d s the d e b t o r m o r a l l y
In section 3, w h i c h follows this discussion, Nietzsche recon-
accountable a n d p r o n o u n c e s h i m g u i l t y ? W h a t strange con-
s i d e r s t h i s i d e a l i z a t i o n o f the p r o m i s i n g a n i m a l a n d a s k s h o w
s u m m a t i o n o f p l e a s u r e takes p l a c e i n that a t t r i b u t i o n o f g u i l t ?
74
Circuits of B a d Conscience
Nietzsche and Freud
75
T h i s a c c o u n t o f h o w the a t t r i b u t i o n o f g u i l t o r i g i n a t e s i s n o t
a c t u a l i z e d a s d e e d , a n d t o e m e r g e o n the c o n d i t i o n that the
yet the f o r m a t i o n o f b a d c o n s c i e n c e ( w h i c h w o u l d , o f c o u r s e ,
p r o m i s e has b e e n b r o k e n . B u t r e c a l l that the e x e c u t i o n o f the
b e the s e l f - a t t r i b u t i o n o r s e l f - i n f l i c t i o n o f g u i l t ) . I t p r e s u p -
d e e d w a s n o t w i t h o u t its f a b r i c a t i o n s : o n e effect o f the p r o m -
p o s e s that a c o n t r a c t has b e e n b r o k e n , a n d the e x i s t e n c e of the
ise i s t o p r o d u c e a n "I" w h i c h m i g h t s t a n d f o r itself across
c o n t r a c t p r e s u p p o s e s the i n s t i t u t i o n o f p r o m i s i n g . I n d e e d , the
t i m e . T h u s , the f a b r i c a t i o n o f s u c h a n "I" i s the p a r a d o x i c a l r e -
d e b t o r i s o n e w h o fails t o k e e p h i s p r o m i s e , p r o t r a c t h i s w i l l ,
s u l t o f the p r o m i s e . T h e " I " b e c o m e s c o n t i n u o u s w i t h its d e e d ,
a n d d i s c h a r g e h i s w o r d i n the e x e c u t i o n o f a n act.
b u t its d e e d is, p a r a d o x i c a l l y , to create the c o n t i n u i t y of itself.
T h e p u n i s h m e n t o f the d e b t o r t h u s p r e s u p p o s e s the m o d e l
B a d c o n s c i e n c e w o u l d b e the f a b r i c a t i o n o f i n f e r i o r i t y that
o r i d e a l o f the p r o m i s i n g a n i m a l , y e t t h i s p r o m i s i n g a n i m a l
attends the b r e a k i n g o f a p r o m i s e , the d i s c o n t i n u i t y o f the w i l l ,
c o u l d n o t c o m e i n t o b e i n g w i t h o u t the i m p r e s s i o n s o f t e r r o r
b u t the " I " w h o w o u l d k e e p the p r o m i s e i s p r e c i s e l y the c u l -
p r o d u c e d b y p u n i s h m e n t . T h e p u n i s h m e n t o f the d e b t o r a p -
t i v a t e d effect o f t h i s c o n t i n u o u s f a b r i c a t i o n o f i n f e r i o r i t y . C a n
p e a r s t o e m e r g e i n r e s p o n s e t o a n i n j u r y , the d e b t b e i n g cast
there e v e n b e a p r o m i s i n g b e i n g , o n e w h o i s able t o d i s c h a r g e
as that i n j u r y , b u t the r e s p o n s e takes on a m e a n i n g that ex-
w o r d s i n t o deeds, w i t h o u t the b a d c o n s c i e n c e w h i c h f o r m s
ceeds the e x p l i c i t p u r p o s e o f a c h i e v i n g c o m p e n s a t i o n . F o r the
the v e r y " I " w h o m a k e s g o o d h i s w o r d t h r o u g h t i m e , w h o has
p u n i s h m e n t i s p l e a s u r a b l e , a n d the i n f l i c t i o n o f i n j u r y i s c o n -
a m e m o r y o f the w i l l , a n d f o r w h o m the p s y c h e has a l r e a d y
s t r u e d as a s e d u c t i o n to life ( 6 6 - 6 7 / 3 0 1 - 2 ) .
been produced?
I f t h i s c o m p l i c a t e d scene a n i m a t e s the c r e d i t o r , h o w d o w e
N i e t z s c h e d e s c r i b e s " b a d c o n s c i e n c e i n its b e g i n n i n g s " a s
u n d e r s t a n d the f o r m a t i o n o f b a d c o n s c i e n c e i n the d e b t o r ?
the "instinct for freedom f o r c i b l y m a d e l a t e n t " (87/325).
N i e t z s c h e w r i t e s , " P u n i s h m e n t i s s u p p o s e d t o h a v e the v a l u e
w h e r e i s the trace o f t h i s f r e e d o m i n the s e l f - s h a c k l i n g that
o f a w a k e n i n g the f e e l i n g o f g u i l t i n the g u i l t y p e r s o n ; o n e
N i e t z s c h e d e s c r i b e s ? I t i s t o b e f o u n d i n the p l e a s u r e t a k e n i n
But
seeks in it the a c t u a l instrumentum of that p s y c h i c a l r e a c t i o n
a f f l i c t i n g p a i n , a p l e a s u r e t a k e n i n a f f l i c t i n g p a i n o n oneself
c a l l e d ' b a d c o n s c i e n c e , ' ' s t i n g o f c o n s c i e n c e ' " (81/318).
i n the s e r v i c e of, i n the n a m e of, m o r a l i t y . T h i s p l e a s u r e i n af-
B u t N i e t z s c h e takes h i s d i s t a n c e f r o m t h i s f o r m u l a t i o n ,
f l i c t i o n , a t t r i b u t e d e a r l i e r t o the c r e d i t o r , t h u s b e c o m e s , u n d e r
s i n c e n o t m e r e l y p s y c h i c r e a c t i o n s , b u t the p s y c h e itself i s
the p r e s s u r e o f the s o c i a l c o n t r a c t , a n i n t e r n a l i z e d p l e a s u r e ,
the i n s t r u m e n t o f t h i s p u n i s h m e n t . T h e i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n o f i n -
the j o y o f p e r s e c u t i n g oneself. T h e o r i g i n o f b a d c o n s c i e n c e is,
s t i n c t — w h i c h takes p l a c e w h e n the i n s t i n c t does n o t i m m e d i -
t h u s , the j o y t a k e n i n p e r s e c u t i n g oneself, w h e r e the self p e r s e -
a t e l y d i s c h a r g e a s the d e e d — i s u n d e r s t o o d t o p r o d u c e the s o u l
c u t e d d o e s n o t exist o u t s i d e the o r b i t o f that p e r s e c u t i o n . B u t
o r the p s y c h e i n s t e a d ; the p r e s s u r e e x e r t e d f r o m the w a l l s o f
the i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n o f p u n i s h m e n t i s the v e r y p r o d u c t i o n o f the
s o c i e t y forces a n i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n w h i c h c u l m i n a t e s i n the p r o -
self, a n d i t i s i n t h i s p r o d u c t i o n that p l e a s u r e a n d f r e e d o m are
d u c t i o n o f the s o u l , t h i s p r o d u c t i o n b e i n g u n d e r s t o o d a s a p r i -
c u r i o u s l y l o c a t e d . P u n i s h m e n t i s n o t m e r e l y p r o d u c t i v e o f the
m a r y a r t i s t i c a c c o m p l i s h m e n t , the f a b r i c a t i o n o f a n i d e a l . T h i s
self, b u t t h i s v e r y p r o d u c t i v i t y o f p u n i s h m e n t i s the site for
f a b r i c a t i o n a p p e a r s t o take the p l a c e o f the p r o m i s e , the w o r d
the f r e e d o m a n d p l e a s u r e o f the w i l l , its f a b r i c a t i n g a c t i v i t y .
74
Circuits of B a d Conscience
Nietzsche and Freud
75
T h i s a c c o u n t o f h o w the a t t r i b u t i o n o f g u i l t o r i g i n a t e s i s n o t
a c t u a l i z e d a s d e e d , a n d t o e m e r g e o n the c o n d i t i o n that the
yet the f o r m a t i o n o f b a d c o n s c i e n c e ( w h i c h w o u l d , o f c o u r s e ,
p r o m i s e has b e e n b r o k e n . B u t r e c a l l that the e x e c u t i o n o f the
b e the s e l f - a t t r i b u t i o n o r s e l f - i n f l i c t i o n o f g u i l t ) . I t p r e s u p -
d e e d w a s n o t w i t h o u t its f a b r i c a t i o n s : o n e effect o f the p r o m -
p o s e s that a c o n t r a c t has b e e n b r o k e n , a n d the e x i s t e n c e of the
ise i s t o p r o d u c e a n "I" w h i c h m i g h t s t a n d f o r itself across
c o n t r a c t p r e s u p p o s e s the i n s t i t u t i o n o f p r o m i s i n g . I n d e e d , the
t i m e . T h u s , the f a b r i c a t i o n o f s u c h a n "I" i s the p a r a d o x i c a l r e -
d e b t o r i s o n e w h o fails t o k e e p h i s p r o m i s e , p r o t r a c t h i s w i l l ,
s u l t o f the p r o m i s e . T h e " I " b e c o m e s c o n t i n u o u s w i t h its d e e d ,
a n d d i s c h a r g e h i s w o r d i n the e x e c u t i o n o f a n act.
b u t its d e e d is, p a r a d o x i c a l l y , to create the c o n t i n u i t y of itself.
T h e p u n i s h m e n t o f the d e b t o r t h u s p r e s u p p o s e s the m o d e l
B a d c o n s c i e n c e w o u l d b e the f a b r i c a t i o n o f i n f e r i o r i t y that
o r i d e a l o f the p r o m i s i n g a n i m a l , y e t t h i s p r o m i s i n g a n i m a l
attends the b r e a k i n g o f a p r o m i s e , the d i s c o n t i n u i t y o f the w i l l ,
c o u l d n o t c o m e i n t o b e i n g w i t h o u t the i m p r e s s i o n s o f t e r r o r
b u t the " I " w h o w o u l d k e e p the p r o m i s e i s p r e c i s e l y the c u l -
p r o d u c e d b y p u n i s h m e n t . T h e p u n i s h m e n t o f the d e b t o r a p -
t i v a t e d effect o f t h i s c o n t i n u o u s f a b r i c a t i o n o f i n f e r i o r i t y . C a n
p e a r s t o e m e r g e i n r e s p o n s e t o a n i n j u r y , the d e b t b e i n g cast
there e v e n b e a p r o m i s i n g b e i n g , o n e w h o i s able t o d i s c h a r g e
as that i n j u r y , b u t the r e s p o n s e takes on a m e a n i n g that ex-
w o r d s i n t o deeds, w i t h o u t the b a d c o n s c i e n c e w h i c h f o r m s
ceeds the e x p l i c i t p u r p o s e o f a c h i e v i n g c o m p e n s a t i o n . F o r the
the v e r y " I " w h o m a k e s g o o d h i s w o r d t h r o u g h t i m e , w h o has
p u n i s h m e n t i s p l e a s u r a b l e , a n d the i n f l i c t i o n o f i n j u r y i s c o n -
a m e m o r y o f the w i l l , a n d f o r w h o m the p s y c h e has a l r e a d y
s t r u e d as a s e d u c t i o n to life ( 6 6 - 6 7 / 3 0 1 - 2 ) .
been produced?
I f t h i s c o m p l i c a t e d scene a n i m a t e s the c r e d i t o r , h o w d o w e
N i e t z s c h e d e s c r i b e s " b a d c o n s c i e n c e i n its b e g i n n i n g s " a s
u n d e r s t a n d the f o r m a t i o n o f b a d c o n s c i e n c e i n the d e b t o r ?
the "instinct for freedom f o r c i b l y m a d e l a t e n t " (87/325).
N i e t z s c h e w r i t e s , " P u n i s h m e n t i s s u p p o s e d t o h a v e the v a l u e
w h e r e i s the trace o f t h i s f r e e d o m i n the s e l f - s h a c k l i n g that
o f a w a k e n i n g the f e e l i n g o f g u i l t i n the g u i l t y p e r s o n ; o n e
N i e t z s c h e d e s c r i b e s ? I t i s t o b e f o u n d i n the p l e a s u r e t a k e n i n
But
seeks in it the a c t u a l instrumentum of that p s y c h i c a l r e a c t i o n
a f f l i c t i n g p a i n , a p l e a s u r e t a k e n i n a f f l i c t i n g p a i n o n oneself
c a l l e d ' b a d c o n s c i e n c e , ' ' s t i n g o f c o n s c i e n c e ' " (81/318).
i n the s e r v i c e of, i n the n a m e of, m o r a l i t y . T h i s p l e a s u r e i n af-
B u t N i e t z s c h e takes h i s d i s t a n c e f r o m t h i s f o r m u l a t i o n ,
f l i c t i o n , a t t r i b u t e d e a r l i e r t o the c r e d i t o r , t h u s b e c o m e s , u n d e r
s i n c e n o t m e r e l y p s y c h i c r e a c t i o n s , b u t the p s y c h e itself i s
the p r e s s u r e o f the s o c i a l c o n t r a c t , a n i n t e r n a l i z e d p l e a s u r e ,
the i n s t r u m e n t o f t h i s p u n i s h m e n t . T h e i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n o f i n -
the j o y o f p e r s e c u t i n g oneself. T h e o r i g i n o f b a d c o n s c i e n c e is,
s t i n c t — w h i c h takes p l a c e w h e n the i n s t i n c t does n o t i m m e d i -
t h u s , the j o y t a k e n i n p e r s e c u t i n g oneself, w h e r e the self p e r s e -
a t e l y d i s c h a r g e a s the d e e d — i s u n d e r s t o o d t o p r o d u c e the s o u l
c u t e d d o e s n o t exist o u t s i d e the o r b i t o f that p e r s e c u t i o n . B u t
o r the p s y c h e i n s t e a d ; the p r e s s u r e e x e r t e d f r o m the w a l l s o f
the i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n o f p u n i s h m e n t i s the v e r y p r o d u c t i o n o f the
s o c i e t y forces a n i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n w h i c h c u l m i n a t e s i n the p r o -
self, a n d i t i s i n t h i s p r o d u c t i o n that p l e a s u r e a n d f r e e d o m are
d u c t i o n o f the s o u l , t h i s p r o d u c t i o n b e i n g u n d e r s t o o d a s a p r i -
c u r i o u s l y l o c a t e d . P u n i s h m e n t i s n o t m e r e l y p r o d u c t i v e o f the
m a r y a r t i s t i c a c c o m p l i s h m e n t , the f a b r i c a t i o n o f a n i d e a l . T h i s
self, b u t t h i s v e r y p r o d u c t i v i t y o f p u n i s h m e n t i s the site for
f a b r i c a t i o n a p p e a r s t o take the p l a c e o f the p r o m i s e , the w o r d
the f r e e d o m a n d p l e a s u r e o f the w i l l , its f a b r i c a t i n g a c t i v i t y .
7
6
Nietzsche and Freud
Circuits of Bad Conscience
77
A s a p e c u l i a r d e f o r m a t i o n o f a r t i s t r y ( w h i c h is, o f c o u r s e ,
nomena, then it is difficult to imagine w h i c h of Nietzsche's
i n d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e f r o m its p r i m a r y f o r m a t i o n ) , s e l f - c o n s c i o u s -
fabulous genealogical terms w o u l d not finally be attributable
ness i s the f o r m the w i l l takes w h e n i t i s p r e v e n t e d f r o m
to t h i s b a d c o n s c i e n c e . I n d e e d , h i s p r o j e c t of o f f e r i n g a g e n e a l -
s i m p l e e x p r e s s i o n a s a d e e d . B u t i s the m o d e l b y w h i c h a n i n -
o g y o f b a d c o n s c i e n c e a p p e a r s t o f o u n d e r w h e n the v e r y t e r m s
s t i n c t o r a w i l l expresses o r d i s c h a r g e s itself i n a d e e d i n a n y
h e w i l l u s e t o a c c o u n t for t h i s f o r m a t i o n t u r n o u t t o b e the
sense p r i o r t o t h i s s e l f - t h w a r t e d e x p r e s s i o n o f b a d c o n s c i e n c e ?
effect o f t h i s f o r m a t i o n itself. E l s e w h e r e h e w i l l refuse, for i n -
C a n there b e a m o d e l o f p r o m i s i n g that d o e s n o t f r o m the first
stance, t o a c c e p t the n o t i o n o f the w i l l a s a c o n c e p t u a l g i v e n .
presuppose b a d conscience? The noble is described earlier as
In Beyond Good and Evil, he w r i t e s , " w i l l i n g s e e m s to me to
one for w h o m his w o r k i s "an instinctive creation a n d i m p o s i -
be . . . s o m e t h i n g complicated, s o m e t h i n g that is a u n i t o n l y as a
t i o n o f f o r m s . . . the m o s t i n v o l u n t a r y a n d u n c o n s c i o u s artists
w o r d . " O n c e w i l l i n g i s e l e v a t e d t o the status o f a p h i l o s o p h i 2
[that] there a r e " (86/325). T h e s o u l is p r e c i s e l y w h a t a c e r t a i n
cal concept, he writes, it is of necessity a k i n d of fiction. The
v i o l e n t a r t i s t r y p r o d u c e s w h e n i t takes itself a s its o w n object.
s a m e w o u l d c l e a r l y h o l d for the n o t i o n o f " i n s t i n c t , " a n d a l s o
T h e s o u l , the p s y c h e , i s n o t there p r i o r t o t h i s r e f l e x i v e m o v e ,
for the effort t o a c c o u n t c h r o n o l o g i c a l l y o r s e q u e n t i a l l y f o r
b u t t h i s r e f l e x i v e t u r n i n g o f the w i l l a g a i n s t itself p r o d u c e s i n
h o w a n y t h i n g c a n b e d e r i v e d f r o m the w i l l , o r the w i l l f r o m
its w a k e the m e t a p h o r i c s o f p s y c h i c life.
a n y t h i n g else: "one s h o u l d u s e 'cause' a n d 'effect' o n l y a s p u r e
If we u n d e r s t a n d the s o u l to be the effect of i m p o s i n g a
c o n c e p t s , that is to say, as c o n v e n t i o n a l f i c t i o n s for the p u r p o s e
f o r m u p o n oneself, w h e r e the f o r m i s t a k e n t o b e e q u i v a l e n t
o f d e s i g n a t i o n a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n — n o t for e x p l a n a t i o n . "
t o the s o u l , t h e n there c a n b e n o p r o t r a c t e d w i l l , n o " I " that
On the Genealogy of Morals, he reiterates that c o n c e p t u a l i z a -
s t a n d s f o r itself t h r o u g h t i m e , w i t h o u t t h i s s e l f - i m p o s i t i o n o f
t i o n e m e r g e s f r o m the g e n e a l o g y o f t o r t u r e a s the p r o m i s e o f
f o r m , t h i s m o r a l l a b o r i n g o n oneself. T h i s f u n d a m e n t a l l y a r t i s -
a c e r t a i n escape: c o n c e p t s , he w r i t e s , are an effort to g a i n r e -
3
In
tic p r o d u c t i o n o f b a d c o n s c i e n c e , the p r o d u c t i o n o f a " f o r m "
lease f r o m a t o r t u r e . Is the v e r y c o n c e p t u a l a p p a r a t u s of On
f r o m a n d o f the w i l l , i s d e s c r i b e d b y N i e t z s c h e a s "the w o m b
the Genealogy of Morals i m p l i c a t e d in t h i s d e s c r i p t i o n , a n d is
o f a l l i d e a l a n d i m a g i n a t i v e p h e n o m e n a " (87/326). B a d c o n -
N i e t z s c h e ' s text t h e n a n effort t o escape f r o m the t o r t u r e s o f
s c i e n c e i s f a b r i c a t e d , b u t i t i n t u r n i s c r e d i t e d w i t h the f a b r i -
b a d c o n s c i e n c e , a l t h o u g h i t o w e s its life, a s i t w e r e , t o that v e r y
c a t i o n o f a l l i d e a l a n d i m a g i n a t i v e p h e n o m e n a . I s there, t h e n ,
source?
a n y w a y t o a n s w e r the q u e s t i o n o f w h e t h e r a r t i s t r y p r e c e d e s
I f a l l " i m a g i n a t i v e p h e n o m e n a " are the r e s u l t o f t h i s v i o l e n t
b a d c o n s c i e n c e o r i s its r e s u l t ? I s there a n y w a y t o p o s t u l a t e
i n t e r i o r i z a t i o n , i t f o l l o w s that the g e n e a l o g i c a l a c c o u n t w i l l b e
s o m e t h i n g b e f o r e t h i s " t u r n i n g b a c k u p o n i t s e l f " w h i c h i s the
o n e of these p h e n o m e n a , a n a r r a t i v e effect of the n a r r a t i v e it
t r o p i c f o u n d a t i o n o f the subject a n d a l l a r t i s t r y , i n c l u d i n g a l l
seeks t o t e l l . T h e u n m a s k i n g o f the n a r r a t i v e i s its r e m a s k i n g —
i m a g i n a t i o n a n d c o n c e p t u a l life?
i n e v i t a b l y . I n d e e d , i t seems that the v e r y c r e a t i v i t y o n e seeks
I f b a d c o n s c i e n c e originates
imaginative and ideal phe-
t o o p p o s e t o the i n h i b i t i o n o f s t r e n g t h i s f u n d a m e n t a l l y d e -
7
6
Nietzsche and Freud
Circuits of Bad Conscience
77
A s a p e c u l i a r d e f o r m a t i o n o f a r t i s t r y ( w h i c h is, o f c o u r s e ,
nomena, then it is difficult to imagine w h i c h of Nietzsche's
i n d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e f r o m its p r i m a r y f o r m a t i o n ) , s e l f - c o n s c i o u s -
fabulous genealogical terms w o u l d not finally be attributable
ness i s the f o r m the w i l l takes w h e n i t i s p r e v e n t e d f r o m
to t h i s b a d c o n s c i e n c e . I n d e e d , h i s p r o j e c t of o f f e r i n g a g e n e a l -
s i m p l e e x p r e s s i o n a s a d e e d . B u t i s the m o d e l b y w h i c h a n i n -
o g y o f b a d c o n s c i e n c e a p p e a r s t o f o u n d e r w h e n the v e r y t e r m s
s t i n c t o r a w i l l expresses o r d i s c h a r g e s itself i n a d e e d i n a n y
h e w i l l u s e t o a c c o u n t for t h i s f o r m a t i o n t u r n o u t t o b e the
sense p r i o r t o t h i s s e l f - t h w a r t e d e x p r e s s i o n o f b a d c o n s c i e n c e ?
effect o f t h i s f o r m a t i o n itself. E l s e w h e r e h e w i l l refuse, for i n -
C a n there b e a m o d e l o f p r o m i s i n g that d o e s n o t f r o m the first
stance, t o a c c e p t the n o t i o n o f the w i l l a s a c o n c e p t u a l g i v e n .
presuppose b a d conscience? The noble is described earlier as
In Beyond Good and Evil, he w r i t e s , " w i l l i n g s e e m s to me to
one for w h o m his w o r k i s "an instinctive creation a n d i m p o s i -
be . . . s o m e t h i n g complicated, s o m e t h i n g that is a u n i t o n l y as a
t i o n o f f o r m s . . . the m o s t i n v o l u n t a r y a n d u n c o n s c i o u s artists
w o r d . " O n c e w i l l i n g i s e l e v a t e d t o the status o f a p h i l o s o p h i 2
[that] there a r e " (86/325). T h e s o u l is p r e c i s e l y w h a t a c e r t a i n
cal concept, he writes, it is of necessity a k i n d of fiction. The
v i o l e n t a r t i s t r y p r o d u c e s w h e n i t takes itself a s its o w n object.
s a m e w o u l d c l e a r l y h o l d for the n o t i o n o f " i n s t i n c t , " a n d a l s o
T h e s o u l , the p s y c h e , i s n o t there p r i o r t o t h i s r e f l e x i v e m o v e ,
for the effort t o a c c o u n t c h r o n o l o g i c a l l y o r s e q u e n t i a l l y f o r
b u t t h i s r e f l e x i v e t u r n i n g o f the w i l l a g a i n s t itself p r o d u c e s i n
h o w a n y t h i n g c a n b e d e r i v e d f r o m the w i l l , o r the w i l l f r o m
its w a k e the m e t a p h o r i c s o f p s y c h i c life.
a n y t h i n g else: "one s h o u l d u s e 'cause' a n d 'effect' o n l y a s p u r e
If we u n d e r s t a n d the s o u l to be the effect of i m p o s i n g a
c o n c e p t s , that is to say, as c o n v e n t i o n a l f i c t i o n s for the p u r p o s e
f o r m u p o n oneself, w h e r e the f o r m i s t a k e n t o b e e q u i v a l e n t
o f d e s i g n a t i o n a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n — n o t for e x p l a n a t i o n . "
t o the s o u l , t h e n there c a n b e n o p r o t r a c t e d w i l l , n o " I " that
On the Genealogy of Morals, he reiterates that c o n c e p t u a l i z a -
s t a n d s f o r itself t h r o u g h t i m e , w i t h o u t t h i s s e l f - i m p o s i t i o n o f
t i o n e m e r g e s f r o m the g e n e a l o g y o f t o r t u r e a s the p r o m i s e o f
f o r m , t h i s m o r a l l a b o r i n g o n oneself. T h i s f u n d a m e n t a l l y a r t i s -
a c e r t a i n escape: c o n c e p t s , he w r i t e s , are an effort to g a i n r e -
3
In
tic p r o d u c t i o n o f b a d c o n s c i e n c e , the p r o d u c t i o n o f a " f o r m "
lease f r o m a t o r t u r e . Is the v e r y c o n c e p t u a l a p p a r a t u s of On
f r o m a n d o f the w i l l , i s d e s c r i b e d b y N i e t z s c h e a s "the w o m b
the Genealogy of Morals i m p l i c a t e d in t h i s d e s c r i p t i o n , a n d is
o f a l l i d e a l a n d i m a g i n a t i v e p h e n o m e n a " (87/326). B a d c o n -
N i e t z s c h e ' s text t h e n a n effort t o escape f r o m the t o r t u r e s o f
s c i e n c e i s f a b r i c a t e d , b u t i t i n t u r n i s c r e d i t e d w i t h the f a b r i -
b a d c o n s c i e n c e , a l t h o u g h i t o w e s its life, a s i t w e r e , t o that v e r y
c a t i o n o f a l l i d e a l a n d i m a g i n a t i v e p h e n o m e n a . I s there, t h e n ,
source?
a n y w a y t o a n s w e r the q u e s t i o n o f w h e t h e r a r t i s t r y p r e c e d e s
I f a l l " i m a g i n a t i v e p h e n o m e n a " are the r e s u l t o f t h i s v i o l e n t
b a d c o n s c i e n c e o r i s its r e s u l t ? I s there a n y w a y t o p o s t u l a t e
i n t e r i o r i z a t i o n , i t f o l l o w s that the g e n e a l o g i c a l a c c o u n t w i l l b e
s o m e t h i n g b e f o r e t h i s " t u r n i n g b a c k u p o n i t s e l f " w h i c h i s the
o n e of these p h e n o m e n a , a n a r r a t i v e effect of the n a r r a t i v e it
t r o p i c f o u n d a t i o n o f the subject a n d a l l a r t i s t r y , i n c l u d i n g a l l
seeks t o t e l l . T h e u n m a s k i n g o f the n a r r a t i v e i s its r e m a s k i n g —
i m a g i n a t i o n a n d c o n c e p t u a l life?
i n e v i t a b l y . I n d e e d , i t seems that the v e r y c r e a t i v i t y o n e seeks
I f b a d c o n s c i e n c e originates
imaginative and ideal phe-
t o o p p o s e t o the i n h i b i t i o n o f s t r e n g t h i s f u n d a m e n t a l l y d e -
78
Nietzsche and Freud
Circuits of Bad Conscience
p e n d e n t o n that v e r y i n h i b i t i o n . I n t h i s sense, r e p r e s s i o n a p p e a r s t o u n d e r w r i t e o r g u a r a n t e e b o t h the b e i n g w h o p r o m i s e s a n d the w r i t e r o f f i c t i o n , i n c l u d i n g c o n c e p t u a l f i c t i o n s s u c h a s
79
o n l y t o want s o m e t h i n g — a n d t o b e g i n w i t h , i t m a t t e r e d n o t w h a t , w h e r e t o , or h o w he w a n t e d :
the will itself was saved"
(162/411).
g e n e a l o g y . T h e u n i t y o f w i l l a t t r i b u t e d t o the p r o m i s i n g i s itself
I n h i s a n a l y s i s o f n e u r o s i s , F r e u d u n d e r s t o o d t h i s differ-
the effect of a r e p r e s s i o n , a f o r g e t f u l n e s s , a n o t - r e m e m b e r i n g
ently, a s a k i n d o f l i b i d i n a l a t t a c h m e n t t o a p r o h i b i t i o n w h i c h
o f the satisfactions w h i c h a p p e a r t o p r e c e d e r e p r e s s i o n , a n d
has a s its p u r p o s e the t h w a r t i n g o f l i b i d i n a l g r a t i f i c a t i o n .
w h i c h repression makes sure w i l l not appear again.
W h e r e that t h w a r t i n g c o n s t i t u t e s a r e p r e s s i o n , the r e p r e s s i o n i s s u s t a i n e d b y the l i b i d o that i t seeks t o t h w a r t . I n n e u r o -
Freud, Narcissism, and Regulation I n t h i s f i n a l s e c t i o n , I w o u l d l i k e t o r e t u r n t o the p r o b l e m o f
sis, the e t h i c a l r e g u l a t i o n o f b o d i l y i m p u l s e b e c o m e s the f o c u s a n d a i m o f i m p u l s e itself. H e r e w e are g i v e n t o u n d e r s t a n d a n a t t a c h m e n t t o s u b j e c t i o n w h i c h i s f o r m a t i v e o f the r e f l e x i v e
social regulation, not as acting on a psyche, but as c o m p l i c i -
structure of subjection. The i m p u l s e w h i c h w o u l d be negated
t o u s i n the f o r m a t i o n o f the p s y c h e a n d its d e s i r e . T o that e n d ,
i s i n a d v e r t e n t l y preserved b y that v e r y n e g a t i n g a c t i v i t y .
I p r o p o s e a d e t o u r t h r o u g h F r e u d ; the N i e t z s c h e a n r e s o n a n c e s i n h i s c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f c o n s c i e n c e w i l l b e c o m e clear.
W e c a n hear a r e s o n a n c e o f N i e t z s c h e w h e n F r e u d d e s c r i b e s the p r o c e s s b y w h i c h l i b i d o c o m e s u n d e r the c e n s o r
The postulation of repression's p r i m a c y brings us directly
of the l a w o n l y to r e e m e r g e as the s u s t a i n i n g affect of that
t o F r e u d , a n d t o a r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f the p r o b l e m o f p u n -
l a w . T h e r e p r e s s i o n o f the l i b i d o i s a l w a y s t o b e u n d e r s t o o d
i s h m e n t i n r e l a t i o n t o the f o r m a t i o n o f c o n s c i e n c e a n d s o c i a l
as itself a l i b i d i n a l l y i n v e s t e d r e p r e s s i o n . H e n c e , the l i b i d o is
s u b j e c t i o n . I f t h i s s u b j e c t i o n i s n o t m e c h a n i s t i c , n o t the s i m p l e
not absolutely negated t h r o u g h repression, but rather becomes
effect o f a n i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n , t h e n h o w c a n w e u n d e r s t a n d the
the i n s t r u m e n t o f its o w n s u b j e c t i o n . T h e r e p r e s s i v e l a w i s
p s y c h i c e n g a g e m e n t w i t h s u b j e c t i o n i n a w a y that d o e s n o t d i s -
n o t e x t e r n a l t o the l i b i d o that i t represses, b u t the r e p r e s s i v e
j o i n the d i s c o u r s e o f s e l f - s u b j e c t i o n f r o m the p r o b l e m o f s o c i a l
l a w represses t o the extent that r e p r e s s i o n b e c o m e s a l i b i d i -
regulation? H o w can cultivating a narcissistic attachment to
n a l a c t i v i t y . F u r t h e r , m o r a l i n t e r d i c t i o n s , e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e that
p u n i s h m e n t b e the m e a n s b y w h i c h the p o w e r o f s o c i a l r e g u -
are t u r n e d a g a i n s t the b o d y , are t h e m s e l v e s s u s t a i n e d b y the
l a t i o n e x p l o i t s a n a r c i s s i s t i c d e m a n d for s e l f - r e f l e c t i o n w h i c h
b o d i l y a c t i v i t y that t h e y seek t o c u r b .
is i n d i f f e r e n t to its o c c a s i o n ?
T h e desire to desire is a w i l l i n g n e s s to desire precisely w h a t
T h i s s u g g e s t i o n o f n a r c i s s i s m is, I w o u l d suggest, a l r e a d y
w o u l d f o r e c l o s e d e s i r e , i f o n l y for the p o s s i b i l i t y o f c o n t i n u i n g
a t w o r k i n N i e t z s c h e . T h e ascetic i d e a l , u n d e r s t o o d a s a w i l l
t o d e s i r e . T h i s d e s i r e f o r d e s i r e i s e x p l o i t e d i n the p r o c e s s o f
to nothingness, is a w a y of i n t e r p r e t i n g a l l suffering as guilt.
s o c i a l r e g u l a t i o n , f o r i f the t e r m s b y w h i c h w e g a i n s o c i a l r e c -
W h e r e a s g u i l t w o r k s t o d e n y a s p e c i f i c k i n d o f object f o r
o g n i t i o n for o u r s e l v e s are t h o s e b y w h i c h w e are r e g u l a t e d and
h u m a n w a n t s , i t c a n n o t o b l i t e r a t e the w a n t i n g c h a r a c t e r o f
g a i n s o c i a l existence, t h e n t o a f f i r m o n e ' s e x i s t e n c e i s t o c a p i t u -
h u m a n s . A c c o r d i n g t o the dictates o f g u i l t , t h e n , " m a n h a d
late t o one's s u b o r d i n a t i o n — a s o r r y b i n d . H o w p r e c i s e l y t h i s
78
Nietzsche and Freud
Circuits of Bad Conscience
p e n d e n t o n that v e r y i n h i b i t i o n . I n t h i s sense, r e p r e s s i o n a p p e a r s t o u n d e r w r i t e o r g u a r a n t e e b o t h the b e i n g w h o p r o m i s e s a n d the w r i t e r o f f i c t i o n , i n c l u d i n g c o n c e p t u a l f i c t i o n s s u c h a s
79
o n l y t o want s o m e t h i n g — a n d t o b e g i n w i t h , i t m a t t e r e d n o t w h a t , w h e r e t o , or h o w he w a n t e d :
the will itself was saved"
(162/411).
g e n e a l o g y . T h e u n i t y o f w i l l a t t r i b u t e d t o the p r o m i s i n g i s itself
I n h i s a n a l y s i s o f n e u r o s i s , F r e u d u n d e r s t o o d t h i s differ-
the effect of a r e p r e s s i o n , a f o r g e t f u l n e s s , a n o t - r e m e m b e r i n g
ently, a s a k i n d o f l i b i d i n a l a t t a c h m e n t t o a p r o h i b i t i o n w h i c h
o f the satisfactions w h i c h a p p e a r t o p r e c e d e r e p r e s s i o n , a n d
has a s its p u r p o s e the t h w a r t i n g o f l i b i d i n a l g r a t i f i c a t i o n .
w h i c h repression makes sure w i l l not appear again.
W h e r e that t h w a r t i n g c o n s t i t u t e s a r e p r e s s i o n , the r e p r e s s i o n i s s u s t a i n e d b y the l i b i d o that i t seeks t o t h w a r t . I n n e u r o -
Freud, Narcissism, and Regulation I n t h i s f i n a l s e c t i o n , I w o u l d l i k e t o r e t u r n t o the p r o b l e m o f
sis, the e t h i c a l r e g u l a t i o n o f b o d i l y i m p u l s e b e c o m e s the f o c u s a n d a i m o f i m p u l s e itself. H e r e w e are g i v e n t o u n d e r s t a n d a n a t t a c h m e n t t o s u b j e c t i o n w h i c h i s f o r m a t i v e o f the r e f l e x i v e
social regulation, not as acting on a psyche, but as c o m p l i c i -
structure of subjection. The i m p u l s e w h i c h w o u l d be negated
t o u s i n the f o r m a t i o n o f the p s y c h e a n d its d e s i r e . T o that e n d ,
i s i n a d v e r t e n t l y preserved b y that v e r y n e g a t i n g a c t i v i t y .
I p r o p o s e a d e t o u r t h r o u g h F r e u d ; the N i e t z s c h e a n r e s o n a n c e s i n h i s c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f c o n s c i e n c e w i l l b e c o m e clear.
W e c a n hear a r e s o n a n c e o f N i e t z s c h e w h e n F r e u d d e s c r i b e s the p r o c e s s b y w h i c h l i b i d o c o m e s u n d e r the c e n s o r
The postulation of repression's p r i m a c y brings us directly
of the l a w o n l y to r e e m e r g e as the s u s t a i n i n g affect of that
t o F r e u d , a n d t o a r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f the p r o b l e m o f p u n -
l a w . T h e r e p r e s s i o n o f the l i b i d o i s a l w a y s t o b e u n d e r s t o o d
i s h m e n t i n r e l a t i o n t o the f o r m a t i o n o f c o n s c i e n c e a n d s o c i a l
as itself a l i b i d i n a l l y i n v e s t e d r e p r e s s i o n . H e n c e , the l i b i d o is
s u b j e c t i o n . I f t h i s s u b j e c t i o n i s n o t m e c h a n i s t i c , n o t the s i m p l e
not absolutely negated t h r o u g h repression, but rather becomes
effect o f a n i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n , t h e n h o w c a n w e u n d e r s t a n d the
the i n s t r u m e n t o f its o w n s u b j e c t i o n . T h e r e p r e s s i v e l a w i s
p s y c h i c e n g a g e m e n t w i t h s u b j e c t i o n i n a w a y that d o e s n o t d i s -
n o t e x t e r n a l t o the l i b i d o that i t represses, b u t the r e p r e s s i v e
j o i n the d i s c o u r s e o f s e l f - s u b j e c t i o n f r o m the p r o b l e m o f s o c i a l
l a w represses t o the extent that r e p r e s s i o n b e c o m e s a l i b i d i -
regulation? H o w can cultivating a narcissistic attachment to
n a l a c t i v i t y . F u r t h e r , m o r a l i n t e r d i c t i o n s , e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e that
p u n i s h m e n t b e the m e a n s b y w h i c h the p o w e r o f s o c i a l r e g u -
are t u r n e d a g a i n s t the b o d y , are t h e m s e l v e s s u s t a i n e d b y the
l a t i o n e x p l o i t s a n a r c i s s i s t i c d e m a n d for s e l f - r e f l e c t i o n w h i c h
b o d i l y a c t i v i t y that t h e y seek t o c u r b .
is i n d i f f e r e n t to its o c c a s i o n ?
T h e desire to desire is a w i l l i n g n e s s to desire precisely w h a t
T h i s s u g g e s t i o n o f n a r c i s s i s m is, I w o u l d suggest, a l r e a d y
w o u l d f o r e c l o s e d e s i r e , i f o n l y for the p o s s i b i l i t y o f c o n t i n u i n g
a t w o r k i n N i e t z s c h e . T h e ascetic i d e a l , u n d e r s t o o d a s a w i l l
t o d e s i r e . T h i s d e s i r e f o r d e s i r e i s e x p l o i t e d i n the p r o c e s s o f
to nothingness, is a w a y of i n t e r p r e t i n g a l l suffering as guilt.
s o c i a l r e g u l a t i o n , f o r i f the t e r m s b y w h i c h w e g a i n s o c i a l r e c -
W h e r e a s g u i l t w o r k s t o d e n y a s p e c i f i c k i n d o f object f o r
o g n i t i o n for o u r s e l v e s are t h o s e b y w h i c h w e are r e g u l a t e d and
h u m a n w a n t s , i t c a n n o t o b l i t e r a t e the w a n t i n g c h a r a c t e r o f
g a i n s o c i a l existence, t h e n t o a f f i r m o n e ' s e x i s t e n c e i s t o c a p i t u -
h u m a n s . A c c o r d i n g t o the dictates o f g u i l t , t h e n , " m a n h a d
late t o one's s u b o r d i n a t i o n — a s o r r y b i n d . H o w p r e c i s e l y t h i s
81
Circuits of Bad Conscience
Nietzsche and Freud
narcissistic attachment to attachment is exploited by mecha-
Its Discontents, w h e r e it t u r n s o u t that the p r o h i b i t i o n a g a i n s t
n i s m s o f s o c i a l r e g u l a t i o n i s i n a d v e r t e n t l y m a d e c l e a r i n a set
h o m o s e x u a l i t y w h i c h c o n s c i e n c e i s s a i d t o enact o r a r t i c u l a t e
o f s p e c u l a t i o n s that F r e u d offers o n the r e p r e s s i o n o f h o m o -
f o u n d s a n d c o n s t i t u t e s c o n s c i e n c e itself a s a p s y c h i c p h e n o m e -
s e x u a l i t y a n d the f o r m a t i o n o f c o n s c i e n c e a n d c i t i z e n s h i p . I n
n o n . T h e p r o h i b i t i o n a g a i n s t the d e s i r e i s that d e s i r e a s i t t u r n s
80
" O n the M e c h a n i s m o f P a r a n o i a , " h e l i n k s the s u p p r e s s i o n o f
b a c k u p o n itself, a n d t h i s t u r n i n g b a c k u p o n itself b e c o m e s the
h o m o s e x u a l d r i v e s t o the p r o d u c t i o n o f s o c i a l f e e l i n g . A t the
v e r y i n c e p t i o n , the v e r y a c t i o n o f w h a t i s r e n d e r e d e n t i t a t i v e
e n d o f that p i e c e , h e r e m a r k s that " h o m o s e x u a l d r i v e s " h e l p
t h r o u g h the t e r m " c o n s c i e n c e . "
t o c o n s t i t u t e "the s o c i a l i n s t i n c t s , t h u s c o n t r i b u t i n g a n e r o t i c factor to f r i e n d s h i p a n d c o m r a d e s h i p , to esprit de corps a n d to
F r e u d w r i t e s in Civilization and Its
Discontents
"that c o n -
science (or m o r e c o r r e c t l y , the a n x i e t y w h i c h later b e c o m e s
the l o v e o f m a n k i n d i n g e n e r a l . " A t the c l o s e o f the essay " O n
conscience) i s i n d e e d the cause o f i n s t i n c t u a l r e n u n c i a t i o n t o
N a r c i s s i s m , " h e m i g h t b e r e a d a s s p e c i f y i n g the l o g i c w h e r e b y
b e g i n w i t h , b u t that later the r e l a t i o n s h i p i s r e v e r s e d . E v e r y
t h i s p r o d u c t i o n o f s o c i a l f e e l i n g takes p l a c e . T h e " e g o - i d e a l , "
renunciation of instinct n o w becomes a d y n a m i c source of
h e w r i t e s , has a s o c i a l s i d e : " i t i s a l s o the c o m m o n i d e a l o f
c o n s c i e n c e a n d e v e r y f r e s h r e n u n c i a t i o n increases the latter's
a f a m i l y , a class or a n a t i o n . It n o t o n l y b i n d s the n a r c i s s i s t i c
severity a n d intolerance."
4
6
l i b i d o , b u t a l s o a c o n s i d e r a b l e a m o u n t o f the p e r s o n ' s h o m o -
A c c o r d i n g t o F r e u d , t h e n , the s e l f - i m p o s e d i m p e r a t i v e s that
s e x u a l l i b i d o , w h i c h i n t h i s w a y b e c o m e s t u r n e d b a c k i n t o the
c h a r a c t e r i z e the c i r c u l a r r o u t e o f c o n s c i e n c e are p u r s u e d a n d
ego. T h e d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n d u e t o the n o n - f u l f i l l m e n t o f the i d e a l
a p p l i e d p r e c i s e l y b e c a u s e t h e y are n o w the site o f the v e r y sat-
liberates h o m o s e x u a l l i b i d o , w h i c h i s t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o sense
i s f a c t i o n that t h e y seek t o p r o h i b i t . I n o t h e r w o r d s , p r o h i b i t i o n
o f g u i l t ( d r e a d o f the c o m m u n i t y ) . "
This transformation of
b e c o m e s the o c c a s i o n for r e l i v i n g the i n s t i n c t u n d e r the r u b r i c
h o m o s e x u a l i t y i n t o g u i l t a n d , therefore, i n t o the basis o f s o c i a l
o f the c o n d e m n i n g l a w . P r o h i b i t i o n r e p r o d u c e s the p r o h i b i t e d
f e e l i n g takes p l a c e w h e n the fear o f p a r e n t a l p u n i s h m e n t b e -
d e s i r e a n d b e c o m e s i n t e n s i f i e d t h r o u g h the r e n u n c i a t i o n s i t
c o m e s g e n e r a l i z e d a s the d r e a d o f l o s i n g the l o v e o f f e l l o w
effects. T h e "afterlife" o f p r o h i b i t e d d e s i r e takes p l a c e t h r o u g h
m e n . P a r a n o i a i s the w a y i n w h i c h that l o v e i s c o n s i s t e n t l y
the p r o h i b i t i o n itself, w h e r e the p r o h i b i t i o n n o t o n l y s u s t a i n s ,
r e i m a g i n e d a s a l w a y s a l m o s t w i t h d r a w n , a n d i t is, p a r a d o x i -
b u t is sustained by the d e s i r e that it forces i n t o r e n u n c i a t i o n .
c a l l y , fear o f l o s i n g that l o v e w h i c h m o t i v a t e s the s u b l i m a t i o n
I n t h i s sense, t h e n , r e n u n c i a t i o n takes p l a c e t h r o u g h the v e r y
or introversion of homosexuality. Indeed, this s u b l i m a t i o n is
d e s i r e that is r e n o u n c e d : the d e s i r e is never r e n o u n c e d , b u t
n o t q u i t e a s i n s t r u m e n t a l a s i t m a y s o u n d , for i t i s n o t that o n e
b e c o m e s p r e s e r v e d a n d r e a s s e r t e d i n the v e r y s t r u c t u r e o f r e -
d i s a v o w s h o m o s e x u a l i t y i n o r d e r t o g a i n the l o v e o f f e l l o w
nunciation.
5
m e n , b u t that a c e r t a i n h o m o s e x u a l i t y c a n o n l y b e a c h i e v e d a n d c o n t a i n e d through t h i s d i s a v o w a l .
T h i s e x a m p l e l e a d s u s b a c k t o the t r o p e w i t h w h i c h w e b e g a n , the f i g u r e o f c o n s c i e n c e a s t u r n i n g b a c k o n itself a s i f
A n o t h e r place in F r e u d w h e r e this becomes v e r y clear is
it w e r e a b o d y r e c o i l e d on itself, r e c o i l e d at the t h o u g h t of its
the d i s c u s s i o n of the f o r m a t i o n of c o n s c i e n c e in Civilization and
d e s i r e , f o r w h o m its d e s i r e i s s y m p t o m a t i z e d a s that p o s t u r e
81
Circuits of Bad Conscience
Nietzsche and Freud
narcissistic attachment to attachment is exploited by mecha-
Its Discontents, w h e r e it t u r n s o u t that the p r o h i b i t i o n a g a i n s t
n i s m s o f s o c i a l r e g u l a t i o n i s i n a d v e r t e n t l y m a d e c l e a r i n a set
h o m o s e x u a l i t y w h i c h c o n s c i e n c e i s s a i d t o enact o r a r t i c u l a t e
o f s p e c u l a t i o n s that F r e u d offers o n the r e p r e s s i o n o f h o m o -
f o u n d s a n d c o n s t i t u t e s c o n s c i e n c e itself a s a p s y c h i c p h e n o m e -
s e x u a l i t y a n d the f o r m a t i o n o f c o n s c i e n c e a n d c i t i z e n s h i p . I n
n o n . T h e p r o h i b i t i o n a g a i n s t the d e s i r e i s that d e s i r e a s i t t u r n s
80
" O n the M e c h a n i s m o f P a r a n o i a , " h e l i n k s the s u p p r e s s i o n o f
b a c k u p o n itself, a n d t h i s t u r n i n g b a c k u p o n itself b e c o m e s the
h o m o s e x u a l d r i v e s t o the p r o d u c t i o n o f s o c i a l f e e l i n g . A t the
v e r y i n c e p t i o n , the v e r y a c t i o n o f w h a t i s r e n d e r e d e n t i t a t i v e
e n d o f that p i e c e , h e r e m a r k s that " h o m o s e x u a l d r i v e s " h e l p
t h r o u g h the t e r m " c o n s c i e n c e . "
t o c o n s t i t u t e "the s o c i a l i n s t i n c t s , t h u s c o n t r i b u t i n g a n e r o t i c factor to f r i e n d s h i p a n d c o m r a d e s h i p , to esprit de corps a n d to
F r e u d w r i t e s in Civilization and Its
Discontents
"that c o n -
science (or m o r e c o r r e c t l y , the a n x i e t y w h i c h later b e c o m e s
the l o v e o f m a n k i n d i n g e n e r a l . " A t the c l o s e o f the essay " O n
conscience) i s i n d e e d the cause o f i n s t i n c t u a l r e n u n c i a t i o n t o
N a r c i s s i s m , " h e m i g h t b e r e a d a s s p e c i f y i n g the l o g i c w h e r e b y
b e g i n w i t h , b u t that later the r e l a t i o n s h i p i s r e v e r s e d . E v e r y
t h i s p r o d u c t i o n o f s o c i a l f e e l i n g takes p l a c e . T h e " e g o - i d e a l , "
renunciation of instinct n o w becomes a d y n a m i c source of
h e w r i t e s , has a s o c i a l s i d e : " i t i s a l s o the c o m m o n i d e a l o f
c o n s c i e n c e a n d e v e r y f r e s h r e n u n c i a t i o n increases the latter's
a f a m i l y , a class or a n a t i o n . It n o t o n l y b i n d s the n a r c i s s i s t i c
severity a n d intolerance."
4
6
l i b i d o , b u t a l s o a c o n s i d e r a b l e a m o u n t o f the p e r s o n ' s h o m o -
A c c o r d i n g t o F r e u d , t h e n , the s e l f - i m p o s e d i m p e r a t i v e s that
s e x u a l l i b i d o , w h i c h i n t h i s w a y b e c o m e s t u r n e d b a c k i n t o the
c h a r a c t e r i z e the c i r c u l a r r o u t e o f c o n s c i e n c e are p u r s u e d a n d
ego. T h e d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n d u e t o the n o n - f u l f i l l m e n t o f the i d e a l
a p p l i e d p r e c i s e l y b e c a u s e t h e y are n o w the site o f the v e r y sat-
liberates h o m o s e x u a l l i b i d o , w h i c h i s t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o sense
i s f a c t i o n that t h e y seek t o p r o h i b i t . I n o t h e r w o r d s , p r o h i b i t i o n
o f g u i l t ( d r e a d o f the c o m m u n i t y ) . "
This transformation of
b e c o m e s the o c c a s i o n for r e l i v i n g the i n s t i n c t u n d e r the r u b r i c
h o m o s e x u a l i t y i n t o g u i l t a n d , therefore, i n t o the basis o f s o c i a l
o f the c o n d e m n i n g l a w . P r o h i b i t i o n r e p r o d u c e s the p r o h i b i t e d
f e e l i n g takes p l a c e w h e n the fear o f p a r e n t a l p u n i s h m e n t b e -
d e s i r e a n d b e c o m e s i n t e n s i f i e d t h r o u g h the r e n u n c i a t i o n s i t
c o m e s g e n e r a l i z e d a s the d r e a d o f l o s i n g the l o v e o f f e l l o w
effects. T h e "afterlife" o f p r o h i b i t e d d e s i r e takes p l a c e t h r o u g h
m e n . P a r a n o i a i s the w a y i n w h i c h that l o v e i s c o n s i s t e n t l y
the p r o h i b i t i o n itself, w h e r e the p r o h i b i t i o n n o t o n l y s u s t a i n s ,
r e i m a g i n e d a s a l w a y s a l m o s t w i t h d r a w n , a n d i t is, p a r a d o x i -
b u t is sustained by the d e s i r e that it forces i n t o r e n u n c i a t i o n .
c a l l y , fear o f l o s i n g that l o v e w h i c h m o t i v a t e s the s u b l i m a t i o n
I n t h i s sense, t h e n , r e n u n c i a t i o n takes p l a c e t h r o u g h the v e r y
or introversion of homosexuality. Indeed, this s u b l i m a t i o n is
d e s i r e that is r e n o u n c e d : the d e s i r e is never r e n o u n c e d , b u t
n o t q u i t e a s i n s t r u m e n t a l a s i t m a y s o u n d , for i t i s n o t that o n e
b e c o m e s p r e s e r v e d a n d r e a s s e r t e d i n the v e r y s t r u c t u r e o f r e -
d i s a v o w s h o m o s e x u a l i t y i n o r d e r t o g a i n the l o v e o f f e l l o w
nunciation.
5
m e n , b u t that a c e r t a i n h o m o s e x u a l i t y c a n o n l y b e a c h i e v e d a n d c o n t a i n e d through t h i s d i s a v o w a l .
T h i s e x a m p l e l e a d s u s b a c k t o the t r o p e w i t h w h i c h w e b e g a n , the f i g u r e o f c o n s c i e n c e a s t u r n i n g b a c k o n itself a s i f
A n o t h e r place in F r e u d w h e r e this becomes v e r y clear is
it w e r e a b o d y r e c o i l e d on itself, r e c o i l e d at the t h o u g h t of its
the d i s c u s s i o n of the f o r m a t i o n of c o n s c i e n c e in Civilization and
d e s i r e , f o r w h o m its d e s i r e i s s y m p t o m a t i z e d a s that p o s t u r e
r
82
Circuits of Bad Conscience
o f r e c o i l . C o n s c i e n c e i s t h u s f i g u r e d a s a b o d y w h i c h takes itself as its object, f o r c e d i n t o a p e r m a n e n t p o s t u r e of n e g a t i v e n a r c i s s i s m or, m o r e p r e c i s e l y , a n a r c i s s i s t i c a l l y n o u r i s h e d self-beratement (then, mistakenly, identified w i t h a narcissist i c stage).
Subjection, Resistance, Resignification
C o n s i d e r — a s a p a r t i n g s h o t — h o w the c o n t e m p o r a r y efforts t o r e g u l a t e h o m o s e x u a l i t y w i t h i n the U . S . m i l i t a r y are t h e m selves the r e g u l a t o r y f o r m a t i o n o f the m a s c u l i n e subject, o n e
Between
w h o consecrates h i s i d e n t i t y t h r o u g h renunciation a s a n act o f
Freud
and
Foucault
s p e e c h : to say "I am a h o m o s e x u a l " is fine as l o n g as o n e a l s o promises " a n d I d o n ' t i n t e n d to act." T h i s , the s u p p r e s s i o n a n d s u s t a i n i n g o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y i n a n d t h r o u g h the c i r c u l a r p o s t u r e b y w h i c h a b o d y utters its o w n r e n u n c i a t i o n , accedes t o its r e g u l a t i o n t h r o u g h the p r o m i s e . B u t that p e r f o r m a t i v e u t t e r a n c e , h o w e v e r c o m p e l l e d , w i l l b e subject t o i n f e l i c i t y , t o
M y p r o b l e m i s essentially the d e f i n i t i o n o f the i m p l i c i t systems in w h i c h we find ourselves prisoners; what I w o u l d
s p e a k i n g o t h e r w i s e , t o r e c i t i n g o n l y h a l f the sentence, d e f o r m -
l i k e t o grasp i s the s y s t e m o f l i m i t s a n d e x c l u s i o n w h i c h
i n g the p r o m i s e , r e f o r m u l a t i n g the c o n f e s s i o n a s d e f i a n c e , r e -
w e p r a c t i c e w i t h o u t k n o w i n g it; I w o u l d l i k e t o m a k e the
m a i n i n g silent. T h i s o p p o s i t i o n w i l l d r a w f r o m a n d oppose
cultural unconscious apparent. — Foucault, "Rituals of E x c l u s i o n "
the p o w e r b y w h i c h i t i s c o m p e l l e d , a n d t h i s s h o r t c i r c u i t i n g of r e g u l a t o r y p o w e r c o n s t i t u t e s the p o s s i b i l i t y of a postmoral g e s t u r e t o w a r d a less r e g u l a r f r e e d o m , o n e that f r o m the p e r s p e c t i v e of a less c o d i f i a b l e set of v a l u e s calls i n t o q u e s t i o n the values of morality.
C
o n s i d e r , in Discipline and Punish, the p a r a d o x i c a l c h a r a c ter o f w h a t F o u c a u l t d e s c r i b e s a s the s u b j e c t i v a t i o n o f
the p r i s o n e r . T h e t e r m " s u b j e c t i v a t i o n " c a r r i e s the p a r a d o x i n itself: assujetissement d e n o t e s b o t h the b e c o m i n g of the subject a n d the p r o c e s s o f s u b j e c t i o n — o n e i n h a b i t s the f i g u r e o f a u t o n o m y o n l y by b e c o m i n g subjected to a power, a subjection
w h i c h i m p l i e s a r a d i c a l dependency. F o r F o u c a u l t , this p r o cess o f s u b j e c t i v a t i o n takes p l a c e c e n t r a l l y t h r o u g h the b o d y . In Discipline and Punish the p r i s o n e r ' s b o d y n o t o n l y a p p e a r s as a sign of g u i l t a n d t r a n s g r e s s i o n , as the e m b o d i m e n t of p r o h i b i t i o n a n d the s a n c t i o n for r i t u a l s o f n o r m a l i z a t i o n , b u t i s
r
82
Circuits of Bad Conscience
o f r e c o i l . C o n s c i e n c e i s t h u s f i g u r e d a s a b o d y w h i c h takes itself as its object, f o r c e d i n t o a p e r m a n e n t p o s t u r e of n e g a t i v e n a r c i s s i s m or, m o r e p r e c i s e l y , a n a r c i s s i s t i c a l l y n o u r i s h e d self-beratement (then, mistakenly, identified w i t h a narcissist i c stage).
Subjection, Resistance, Resignification
C o n s i d e r — a s a p a r t i n g s h o t — h o w the c o n t e m p o r a r y efforts t o r e g u l a t e h o m o s e x u a l i t y w i t h i n the U . S . m i l i t a r y are t h e m selves the r e g u l a t o r y f o r m a t i o n o f the m a s c u l i n e subject, o n e
Between
w h o consecrates h i s i d e n t i t y t h r o u g h renunciation a s a n act o f
Freud
and
Foucault
s p e e c h : to say "I am a h o m o s e x u a l " is fine as l o n g as o n e a l s o promises " a n d I d o n ' t i n t e n d to act." T h i s , the s u p p r e s s i o n a n d s u s t a i n i n g o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y i n a n d t h r o u g h the c i r c u l a r p o s t u r e b y w h i c h a b o d y utters its o w n r e n u n c i a t i o n , accedes t o its r e g u l a t i o n t h r o u g h the p r o m i s e . B u t that p e r f o r m a t i v e u t t e r a n c e , h o w e v e r c o m p e l l e d , w i l l b e subject t o i n f e l i c i t y , t o
M y p r o b l e m i s essentially the d e f i n i t i o n o f the i m p l i c i t systems in w h i c h we find ourselves prisoners; what I w o u l d
s p e a k i n g o t h e r w i s e , t o r e c i t i n g o n l y h a l f the sentence, d e f o r m -
l i k e t o grasp i s the s y s t e m o f l i m i t s a n d e x c l u s i o n w h i c h
i n g the p r o m i s e , r e f o r m u l a t i n g the c o n f e s s i o n a s d e f i a n c e , r e -
w e p r a c t i c e w i t h o u t k n o w i n g it; I w o u l d l i k e t o m a k e the
m a i n i n g silent. T h i s o p p o s i t i o n w i l l d r a w f r o m a n d oppose
cultural unconscious apparent. — Foucault, "Rituals of E x c l u s i o n "
the p o w e r b y w h i c h i t i s c o m p e l l e d , a n d t h i s s h o r t c i r c u i t i n g of r e g u l a t o r y p o w e r c o n s t i t u t e s the p o s s i b i l i t y of a postmoral g e s t u r e t o w a r d a less r e g u l a r f r e e d o m , o n e that f r o m the p e r s p e c t i v e of a less c o d i f i a b l e set of v a l u e s calls i n t o q u e s t i o n the values of morality.
C
o n s i d e r , in Discipline and Punish, the p a r a d o x i c a l c h a r a c ter o f w h a t F o u c a u l t d e s c r i b e s a s the s u b j e c t i v a t i o n o f
the p r i s o n e r . T h e t e r m " s u b j e c t i v a t i o n " c a r r i e s the p a r a d o x i n itself: assujetissement d e n o t e s b o t h the b e c o m i n g of the subject a n d the p r o c e s s o f s u b j e c t i o n — o n e i n h a b i t s the f i g u r e o f a u t o n o m y o n l y by b e c o m i n g subjected to a power, a subjection
w h i c h i m p l i e s a r a d i c a l dependency. F o r F o u c a u l t , this p r o cess o f s u b j e c t i v a t i o n takes p l a c e c e n t r a l l y t h r o u g h the b o d y . In Discipline and Punish the p r i s o n e r ' s b o d y n o t o n l y a p p e a r s as a sign of g u i l t a n d t r a n s g r e s s i o n , as the e m b o d i m e n t of p r o h i b i t i o n a n d the s a n c t i o n for r i t u a l s o f n o r m a l i z a t i o n , b u t i s
Subjection, Resistance, Resignification
Between Freud and Foucault
f r a m e d a n d f o r m e d t h r o u g h the d i s c u r s i v e m a t r i x o f a j u r i d i -
f u l l siege a n d i n v a s i o n o f that b o d y b y the s i g n i f y i n g p r a c t i c e s
c a l subject. T h e c l a i m that a d i s c o u r s e " f o r m s " the b o d y i s n o
o f the p r i s o n — n a m e l y , i n s p e c t i o n , c o n f e s s i o n , the r e g u l a r i z a -
s i m p l e one, a n d f r o m the start w e m u s t d i s t i n g u i s h h o w s u c h
t i o n a n d n o r m a l i z a t i o n o f b o d i l y m o v e m e n t a n d gesture, the
" f o r m i n g " is n o t the s a m e as a " c a u s i n g " or " d e t e r m i n i n g , " s t i l l
d i s c i p l i n a r y r e g i m e s o f the b o d y w h i c h h a v e l e d f e m i n i s t s t o
less is it a n o t i o n that b o d i e s are s o m e h o w m a d e of d i s c o u r s e
c o n s u l t F o u c a u l t i n o r d e r t o elaborate the d i s c i p l i n a r y p r o d u c -
pure and simple.
t i o n o f gender. T h e p r i s o n t h u s acts o n the p r i s o n e r ' s b o d y ,
84
1
85
2
F o u c a u l t suggests that the p r i s o n e r i s n o t r e g u l a t e d b y a n
b u t i t does s o b y f o r c i n g the p r i s o n e r t o a p p r o x i m a t e a n i d e a l ,
exterior r e l a t i o n of p o w e r , w h e r e b y an i n s t i t u t i o n takes a p r e -
a n o r m o f b e h a v i o r , a m o d e l o f o b e d i e n c e . T h i s i s h o w the
g i v e n i n d i v i d u a l a s the target o f its s u b o r d i n a t i n g a i m s . O n
prisoner's i n d i v i d u a l i t y is rendered coherent, totalized, m a d e
the c o n t r a r y , the i n d i v i d u a l i s f o r m e d or, rather, f o r m u l a t e d
i n t o the d i s c u r s i v e a n d c o n c e p t u a l p o s s e s s i o n o f the p r i s o n ; i t
t h r o u g h his discursively constituted " i d e n t i t y " as prisoner.
is, a s F o u c a u l t insists, the w a y i n w h i c h " h e b e c o m e s the p r i n -
S u b j e c t i o n is, l i t e r a l l y , the making of a subject, the p r i n c i p l e
ciple of his o w n subjection." This normative ideal inculcated,
o f r e g u l a t i o n a c c o r d i n g t o w h i c h a subject i s f o r m u l a t e d o r
a s i t w e r e , i n t o the p r i s o n e r i s a k i n d o f p s y c h i c i d e n t i t y , o r
p r o d u c e d . S u c h s u b j e c t i o n i s a k i n d o f p o w e r that n o t o n l y
w h a t F o u c a u l t w i l l c a l l a " s o u l . " B e c a u s e the s o u l i s a n i m p r i s -
u n i l a t e r a l l y acts on a g i v e n i n d i v i d u a l as a f o r m of d o m i n a -
o n i n g effect, F o u c a u l t c l a i m s that the p r i s o n e r i s subjected " i n
t i o n , b u t also activates or f o r m s the subject. H e n c e , s u b j e c t i o n
a m o r e f u n d a m e n t a l w a y " t h a n b y the s p a t i a l c a p t i v i t y o f the
i s n e i t h e r s i m p l y the d o m i n a t i o n o f a subject n o r its p r o d u c -
p r i s o n . I n d e e d , i n the c i t a t i o n that f o l l o w s , the s o u l i s f i g u r e d
t i o n , b u t designates a c e r t a i n k i n d o f r e s t r i c t i o n i n p r o d u c t i o n ,
as itself a k i n d of s p a t i a l c a p t i v i t y , i n d e e d , as a k i n d of p r i s o n ,
a r e s t r i c t i o n w i t h o u t w h i c h the p r o d u c t i o n o f the subject c a n -
w h i c h p r o v i d e s the e x t e r i o r f o r m o r r e g u l a t o r y p r i n c i p l e o f
n o t t a k e p l a c e , a r e s t r i c t i o n t h r o u g h w h i c h that p r o d u c t i o n
the p r i s o n e r ' s b o d y . T h i s b e c o m e s c l e a r i n F o u c a u l t ' s f o r m u -
takes p l a c e . A l t h o u g h F o u c a u l t o c c a s i o n a l l y tries t o a r g u e that
l a t i o n that "the m a n d e s c r i b e d for us, w h o m w e are i n v i t e d t o
h i s t o r i c a l l y juridical p o w e r — p o w e r a c t i n g o n , s u b o r d i n a t i n g ,
free, is a l r e a d y in h i m s e l f the effect of a s u b j e c t i o n [assujettisse-
p r e g i v e n subjects—precedes p r o d u c t i v e p o w e r , the c a p a c i t y o f
ment] m u c h m o r e p r o f o u n d t h a n h i m s e l f . . . the s o u l is the
p o w e r to form subjects, w i t h the p r i s o n e r it is clear that the
p r i s o n o f the b o d y " (30).
3
subject p r o d u c e d a n d the subject r e g u l a t e d o r s u b o r d i n a t e d
A l t h o u g h F o u c a u l t i s s p e c i f y i n g the s u b j e c t i v a t i o n o f the
are one, a n d that c o m p u l s o r y p r o d u c t i o n i s its o w n f o r m o f
p r i s o n e r here, h e a p p e a r s a l s o t o b e p r i v i l e g i n g the m e t a -
regulation.
p h o r o f the p r i s o n t o t h e o r i z e the s u b j e c t i v a t i o n o f the b o d y .
F o u c a u l t w a r n s a g a i n s t those w i t h i n the l i b e r a l t r a d i t i o n
W h a t are w e t o m a k e o f i m p r i s o n m e n t a n d i n v a s i o n a s the
w h o w o u l d l i b e r a t e the p r i s o n e r f r o m the p r i s o n ' s o p p r e s s i v e
p r i v i l e g e d f i g u r e s t h r o u g h w h i c h F o u c a u l t a r t i c u l a t e s the p r o -
confines, for the s u b j e c t i o n s i g n i f i e d b y the e x t e r i o r i n s t i t u t i o n
cess o f s u b j e c t i v a t i o n , the d i s c u r s i v e p r o d u c t i o n o f i d e n t i t i e s ?
o f the p r i s o n does n o t act a p a r t f r o m the i n v a s i o n a n d m a n a g e -
If discourse produces identity by supplying and enforcing
m e n t o f the p r i s o n e r ' s b o d y : w h a t F o u c a u l t d e s c r i b e s a s the
a regulatory p r i n c i p l e w h i c h t h o r o u g h l y invades, totalizes,
Subjection, Resistance, Resignification
Between Freud and Foucault
f r a m e d a n d f o r m e d t h r o u g h the d i s c u r s i v e m a t r i x o f a j u r i d i -
f u l l siege a n d i n v a s i o n o f that b o d y b y the s i g n i f y i n g p r a c t i c e s
c a l subject. T h e c l a i m that a d i s c o u r s e " f o r m s " the b o d y i s n o
o f the p r i s o n — n a m e l y , i n s p e c t i o n , c o n f e s s i o n , the r e g u l a r i z a -
s i m p l e one, a n d f r o m the start w e m u s t d i s t i n g u i s h h o w s u c h
t i o n a n d n o r m a l i z a t i o n o f b o d i l y m o v e m e n t a n d gesture, the
" f o r m i n g " is n o t the s a m e as a " c a u s i n g " or " d e t e r m i n i n g , " s t i l l
d i s c i p l i n a r y r e g i m e s o f the b o d y w h i c h h a v e l e d f e m i n i s t s t o
less is it a n o t i o n that b o d i e s are s o m e h o w m a d e of d i s c o u r s e
c o n s u l t F o u c a u l t i n o r d e r t o elaborate the d i s c i p l i n a r y p r o d u c -
pure and simple.
t i o n o f gender. T h e p r i s o n t h u s acts o n the p r i s o n e r ' s b o d y ,
84
1
85
2
F o u c a u l t suggests that the p r i s o n e r i s n o t r e g u l a t e d b y a n
b u t i t does s o b y f o r c i n g the p r i s o n e r t o a p p r o x i m a t e a n i d e a l ,
exterior r e l a t i o n of p o w e r , w h e r e b y an i n s t i t u t i o n takes a p r e -
a n o r m o f b e h a v i o r , a m o d e l o f o b e d i e n c e . T h i s i s h o w the
g i v e n i n d i v i d u a l a s the target o f its s u b o r d i n a t i n g a i m s . O n
prisoner's i n d i v i d u a l i t y is rendered coherent, totalized, m a d e
the c o n t r a r y , the i n d i v i d u a l i s f o r m e d or, rather, f o r m u l a t e d
i n t o the d i s c u r s i v e a n d c o n c e p t u a l p o s s e s s i o n o f the p r i s o n ; i t
t h r o u g h his discursively constituted " i d e n t i t y " as prisoner.
is, a s F o u c a u l t insists, the w a y i n w h i c h " h e b e c o m e s the p r i n -
S u b j e c t i o n is, l i t e r a l l y , the making of a subject, the p r i n c i p l e
ciple of his o w n subjection." This normative ideal inculcated,
o f r e g u l a t i o n a c c o r d i n g t o w h i c h a subject i s f o r m u l a t e d o r
a s i t w e r e , i n t o the p r i s o n e r i s a k i n d o f p s y c h i c i d e n t i t y , o r
p r o d u c e d . S u c h s u b j e c t i o n i s a k i n d o f p o w e r that n o t o n l y
w h a t F o u c a u l t w i l l c a l l a " s o u l . " B e c a u s e the s o u l i s a n i m p r i s -
u n i l a t e r a l l y acts on a g i v e n i n d i v i d u a l as a f o r m of d o m i n a -
o n i n g effect, F o u c a u l t c l a i m s that the p r i s o n e r i s subjected " i n
t i o n , b u t also activates or f o r m s the subject. H e n c e , s u b j e c t i o n
a m o r e f u n d a m e n t a l w a y " t h a n b y the s p a t i a l c a p t i v i t y o f the
i s n e i t h e r s i m p l y the d o m i n a t i o n o f a subject n o r its p r o d u c -
p r i s o n . I n d e e d , i n the c i t a t i o n that f o l l o w s , the s o u l i s f i g u r e d
t i o n , b u t designates a c e r t a i n k i n d o f r e s t r i c t i o n i n p r o d u c t i o n ,
as itself a k i n d of s p a t i a l c a p t i v i t y , i n d e e d , as a k i n d of p r i s o n ,
a r e s t r i c t i o n w i t h o u t w h i c h the p r o d u c t i o n o f the subject c a n -
w h i c h p r o v i d e s the e x t e r i o r f o r m o r r e g u l a t o r y p r i n c i p l e o f
n o t t a k e p l a c e , a r e s t r i c t i o n t h r o u g h w h i c h that p r o d u c t i o n
the p r i s o n e r ' s b o d y . T h i s b e c o m e s c l e a r i n F o u c a u l t ' s f o r m u -
takes p l a c e . A l t h o u g h F o u c a u l t o c c a s i o n a l l y tries t o a r g u e that
l a t i o n that "the m a n d e s c r i b e d for us, w h o m w e are i n v i t e d t o
h i s t o r i c a l l y juridical p o w e r — p o w e r a c t i n g o n , s u b o r d i n a t i n g ,
free, is a l r e a d y in h i m s e l f the effect of a s u b j e c t i o n [assujettisse-
p r e g i v e n subjects—precedes p r o d u c t i v e p o w e r , the c a p a c i t y o f
ment] m u c h m o r e p r o f o u n d t h a n h i m s e l f . . . the s o u l is the
p o w e r to form subjects, w i t h the p r i s o n e r it is clear that the
p r i s o n o f the b o d y " (30).
3
subject p r o d u c e d a n d the subject r e g u l a t e d o r s u b o r d i n a t e d
A l t h o u g h F o u c a u l t i s s p e c i f y i n g the s u b j e c t i v a t i o n o f the
are one, a n d that c o m p u l s o r y p r o d u c t i o n i s its o w n f o r m o f
p r i s o n e r here, h e a p p e a r s a l s o t o b e p r i v i l e g i n g the m e t a -
regulation.
p h o r o f the p r i s o n t o t h e o r i z e the s u b j e c t i v a t i o n o f the b o d y .
F o u c a u l t w a r n s a g a i n s t those w i t h i n the l i b e r a l t r a d i t i o n
W h a t are w e t o m a k e o f i m p r i s o n m e n t a n d i n v a s i o n a s the
w h o w o u l d l i b e r a t e the p r i s o n e r f r o m the p r i s o n ' s o p p r e s s i v e
p r i v i l e g e d f i g u r e s t h r o u g h w h i c h F o u c a u l t a r t i c u l a t e s the p r o -
confines, for the s u b j e c t i o n s i g n i f i e d b y the e x t e r i o r i n s t i t u t i o n
cess o f s u b j e c t i v a t i o n , the d i s c u r s i v e p r o d u c t i o n o f i d e n t i t i e s ?
o f the p r i s o n does n o t act a p a r t f r o m the i n v a s i o n a n d m a n a g e -
If discourse produces identity by supplying and enforcing
m e n t o f the p r i s o n e r ' s b o d y : w h a t F o u c a u l t d e s c r i b e s a s the
a regulatory p r i n c i p l e w h i c h t h o r o u g h l y invades, totalizes,
Subjection, Resistance, Resignification
Between Freud and Foucault
a n d r e n d e r s c o h e r e n t the i n d i v i d u a l , t h e n i t s e e m s that e v e r y
that i n f e r i o r i t y as a m a l l e a b l e s u r f a c e for the u n i l a t e r a l effects
" i d e n t i t y , " i n s o f a r as it is t o t a l i z i n g , acts as p r e c i s e l y s u c h
of disciplinary power.
86
87
a " s o u l that i m p r i s o n s the b o d y . " I n w h a t sense i s t h i s s o u l
I am in part m o v i n g t o w a r d a psychoanalytic criticism of
" m u c h m o r e p r o f o u n d " t h a n the p r i s o n e r h i m s e l f ? D o e s t h i s
F o u c a u l t , for I t h i n k that o n e c a n n o t a c c o u n t for s u b j e c t i v a -
m e a n that the s o u l p r e e x i s t s the b o d y that a n i m a t e s it? H o w
t i o n a n d , i n p a r t i c u l a r , b e c o m i n g the p r i n c i p l e o f o n e ' s o w n
are w e t o u n d e r s t a n d s u c h a c l a i m i n the c o n t e x t o f F o u c a u l t ' s
s u b j e c t i o n w i t h o u t r e c o u r s e to a p s y c h o a n a l y t i c a c c o u n t of the f o r m a t i v e o r g e n e r a t i v e effects o f r e s t r i c t i o n o r p r o h i b i t i o n .
theory of power? R a t h e r t h a n a n s w e r that q u e s t i o n d i r e c t l y , o n e m i g h t f o r the
M o r e o v e r , the f o r m a t i o n o f the subject c a n n o t f u l l y b e t h o u g h t
p u r p o s e s o f c l a r i f i c a t i o n c o u n t e r p o s e the " s o u l , " w h i c h F o u -
— i f it ever can b e — w i t h o u t recourse to a p a r a d o x i c a l l y en-
c a u l t a r t i c u l a t e s a s a n i m p r i s o n i n g f r a m e , t o the p s y c h e i n the
a b l i n g set of g r o u n d i n g c o n s t r a i n t s . Yet as I elaborate t h i s c r i -
p s y c h o a n a l y t i c sense. I n the p s y c h e , the subject's i d e a l c o r r e -
t i q u e , s o m e r o m a n t i c i z e d n o t i o n s o f the u n c o n s c i o u s d e f i n e d
4
s p o n d s t o the e g o - i d e a l , w h i c h the s u p e r - e g o i s s a i d t o c o n -
as necessary resistance w i l l come u n d e r critical scrutiny, a n d
s u l t , a s i t w e r e , i n o r d e r t o m e a s u r e the ego. L a c a n r e d e s c r i b e s
that c r i t i c i s m w i l l e n t a i l the r e e m e r g e n c e o f a F o u c a u l t i a n p e r -
t h i s i d e a l a s the " p o s i t i o n " o f the subject w i t h i n the s y m b o l i c ,
s p e c t i v e within p s y c h o a n a l y s i s . T h e q u e s t i o n of a s u p p r e s s e d
the n o r m that i n s t a l l s the subject w i t h i n l a n g u a g e a n d h e n c e
p s y c h o a n a l y s i s i n F o u c a u l t — r a i s e d b y F o u c a u l t h i m s e l f i n the
w i t h i n available schemes of c u l t u r a l intelligibility. This viable
reference t o a " c u l t u r a l u n c o n s c i o u s " q u o t e d i n the e p i g r a p h
a n d i n t e l l i g i b l e b e i n g , t h i s subject, i s a l w a y s p r o d u c e d a t a
t o t h i s c h a p t e r — m i g h t b e r a i s e d m o r e p r e c i s e l y a s the p r o b -
cost, a n d w h a t e v e r resists the n o r m a t i v e d e m a n d b y w h i c h
l e m o f l o c a t i n g o r a c c o u n t i n g f o r resistance. W h e r e d o e s r e s i s -
subjects are i n s t i t u t e d r e m a i n s u n c o n s c i o u s . T h u s the p s y c h e ,
tance t o o r i n d i s c i p l i n a r y subject f o r m a t i o n take p l a c e ? D o e s
w h i c h i n c l u d e s the u n c o n s c i o u s , i s v e r y d i f f e r e n t f r o m the
the r e d u c t i o n o f the p s y c h o a n a l y t i c a l l y r i c h n o t i o n o f the p s y -
subject: the p s y c h e i s p r e c i s e l y w h a t exceeds the i m p r i s o n i n g
che t o that o f the i m p r i s o n i n g s o u l e l i m i n a t e the p o s s i b i l i t y
effects of the d i s c u r s i v e d e m a n d to i n h a b i t a c o h e r e n t i d e n -
of r e s i s t a n c e to n o r m a l i z a t i o n a n d to subject f o r m a t i o n , a r e -
tity, to b e c o m e a c o h e r e n t subject. T h e p s y c h e is w h a t resists
s i s t a n c e that e m e r g e s p r e c i s e l y f r o m the i n c o m m e n s u r a b i l i t y
the r e g u l a r i z a t i o n that F o u c a u l t a s c r i b e s t o n o r m a l i z i n g d i s -
b e t w e e n p s y c h e a n d subject? H o w w o u l d w e u n d e r s t a n d s u c h
c o u r s e s . T h o s e d i s c o u r s e s are s a i d to i m p r i s o n the b o d y in the
resistance, a n d w o u l d s u c h a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g e n t a i l a c r i t i c a l
soul, t o a n i m a t e a n d c o n t a i n the b o d y w i t h i n that i d e a l f r a m e ,
r e t h i n k i n g o f p s y c h o a n a l y s i s a l o n g the w a y ?
a n d t o that extent r e d u c e the n o t i o n o f the p s y c h e t o the o p e r a tions of an externally framing a n d n o r m a l i z i n g ideal.
5
This
I n w h a t f o l l o w s , I w i l l ask t w o different k i n d s o f q u e s t i o n s , one of F o u c a u l t , a n d another of psychoanalysis ( a p p l y i n g this
F o u c a u l t i a n m o v e a p p e a r s t o treat the p s y c h e a s i f i t r e c e i v e d
term variously to F r e u d and to Lacan).
u n i l a t e r a l l y the effect o f the L a c a n i a n s y m b o l i c . T h e t r a n s p o s i -
u n d e r s t a n d s the p s y c h e t o b e a n i m p r i s o n i n g effect i n the ser-
t i o n o f the s o u l i n t o a n e x t e r i o r a n d i m p r i s o n i n g f r a m e f o r the
vice of n o r m a l i z a t i o n , then h o w m i g h t he account for psychic
b o d y vacates, a s i t w e r e , the i n f e r i o r i t y o f the b o d y , l e a v i n g
resistance to n o r m a l i z a t i o n ? Second, w h e n some p r o p o n e n t s
6
First, if Foucault
Subjection, Resistance, Resignification
Between Freud and Foucault
a n d r e n d e r s c o h e r e n t the i n d i v i d u a l , t h e n i t s e e m s that e v e r y
that i n f e r i o r i t y as a m a l l e a b l e s u r f a c e for the u n i l a t e r a l effects
" i d e n t i t y , " i n s o f a r as it is t o t a l i z i n g , acts as p r e c i s e l y s u c h
of disciplinary power.
86
87
a " s o u l that i m p r i s o n s the b o d y . " I n w h a t sense i s t h i s s o u l
I am in part m o v i n g t o w a r d a psychoanalytic criticism of
" m u c h m o r e p r o f o u n d " t h a n the p r i s o n e r h i m s e l f ? D o e s t h i s
F o u c a u l t , for I t h i n k that o n e c a n n o t a c c o u n t for s u b j e c t i v a -
m e a n that the s o u l p r e e x i s t s the b o d y that a n i m a t e s it? H o w
t i o n a n d , i n p a r t i c u l a r , b e c o m i n g the p r i n c i p l e o f o n e ' s o w n
are w e t o u n d e r s t a n d s u c h a c l a i m i n the c o n t e x t o f F o u c a u l t ' s
s u b j e c t i o n w i t h o u t r e c o u r s e to a p s y c h o a n a l y t i c a c c o u n t of the f o r m a t i v e o r g e n e r a t i v e effects o f r e s t r i c t i o n o r p r o h i b i t i o n .
theory of power? R a t h e r t h a n a n s w e r that q u e s t i o n d i r e c t l y , o n e m i g h t f o r the
M o r e o v e r , the f o r m a t i o n o f the subject c a n n o t f u l l y b e t h o u g h t
p u r p o s e s o f c l a r i f i c a t i o n c o u n t e r p o s e the " s o u l , " w h i c h F o u -
— i f it ever can b e — w i t h o u t recourse to a p a r a d o x i c a l l y en-
c a u l t a r t i c u l a t e s a s a n i m p r i s o n i n g f r a m e , t o the p s y c h e i n the
a b l i n g set of g r o u n d i n g c o n s t r a i n t s . Yet as I elaborate t h i s c r i -
p s y c h o a n a l y t i c sense. I n the p s y c h e , the subject's i d e a l c o r r e -
t i q u e , s o m e r o m a n t i c i z e d n o t i o n s o f the u n c o n s c i o u s d e f i n e d
4
s p o n d s t o the e g o - i d e a l , w h i c h the s u p e r - e g o i s s a i d t o c o n -
as necessary resistance w i l l come u n d e r critical scrutiny, a n d
s u l t , a s i t w e r e , i n o r d e r t o m e a s u r e the ego. L a c a n r e d e s c r i b e s
that c r i t i c i s m w i l l e n t a i l the r e e m e r g e n c e o f a F o u c a u l t i a n p e r -
t h i s i d e a l a s the " p o s i t i o n " o f the subject w i t h i n the s y m b o l i c ,
s p e c t i v e within p s y c h o a n a l y s i s . T h e q u e s t i o n of a s u p p r e s s e d
the n o r m that i n s t a l l s the subject w i t h i n l a n g u a g e a n d h e n c e
p s y c h o a n a l y s i s i n F o u c a u l t — r a i s e d b y F o u c a u l t h i m s e l f i n the
w i t h i n available schemes of c u l t u r a l intelligibility. This viable
reference t o a " c u l t u r a l u n c o n s c i o u s " q u o t e d i n the e p i g r a p h
a n d i n t e l l i g i b l e b e i n g , t h i s subject, i s a l w a y s p r o d u c e d a t a
t o t h i s c h a p t e r — m i g h t b e r a i s e d m o r e p r e c i s e l y a s the p r o b -
cost, a n d w h a t e v e r resists the n o r m a t i v e d e m a n d b y w h i c h
l e m o f l o c a t i n g o r a c c o u n t i n g f o r resistance. W h e r e d o e s r e s i s -
subjects are i n s t i t u t e d r e m a i n s u n c o n s c i o u s . T h u s the p s y c h e ,
tance t o o r i n d i s c i p l i n a r y subject f o r m a t i o n take p l a c e ? D o e s
w h i c h i n c l u d e s the u n c o n s c i o u s , i s v e r y d i f f e r e n t f r o m the
the r e d u c t i o n o f the p s y c h o a n a l y t i c a l l y r i c h n o t i o n o f the p s y -
subject: the p s y c h e i s p r e c i s e l y w h a t exceeds the i m p r i s o n i n g
che t o that o f the i m p r i s o n i n g s o u l e l i m i n a t e the p o s s i b i l i t y
effects of the d i s c u r s i v e d e m a n d to i n h a b i t a c o h e r e n t i d e n -
of r e s i s t a n c e to n o r m a l i z a t i o n a n d to subject f o r m a t i o n , a r e -
tity, to b e c o m e a c o h e r e n t subject. T h e p s y c h e is w h a t resists
s i s t a n c e that e m e r g e s p r e c i s e l y f r o m the i n c o m m e n s u r a b i l i t y
the r e g u l a r i z a t i o n that F o u c a u l t a s c r i b e s t o n o r m a l i z i n g d i s -
b e t w e e n p s y c h e a n d subject? H o w w o u l d w e u n d e r s t a n d s u c h
c o u r s e s . T h o s e d i s c o u r s e s are s a i d to i m p r i s o n the b o d y in the
resistance, a n d w o u l d s u c h a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g e n t a i l a c r i t i c a l
soul, t o a n i m a t e a n d c o n t a i n the b o d y w i t h i n that i d e a l f r a m e ,
r e t h i n k i n g o f p s y c h o a n a l y s i s a l o n g the w a y ?
a n d t o that extent r e d u c e the n o t i o n o f the p s y c h e t o the o p e r a tions of an externally framing a n d n o r m a l i z i n g ideal.
5
This
I n w h a t f o l l o w s , I w i l l ask t w o different k i n d s o f q u e s t i o n s , one of F o u c a u l t , a n d another of psychoanalysis ( a p p l y i n g this
F o u c a u l t i a n m o v e a p p e a r s t o treat the p s y c h e a s i f i t r e c e i v e d
term variously to F r e u d and to Lacan).
u n i l a t e r a l l y the effect o f the L a c a n i a n s y m b o l i c . T h e t r a n s p o s i -
u n d e r s t a n d s the p s y c h e t o b e a n i m p r i s o n i n g effect i n the ser-
t i o n o f the s o u l i n t o a n e x t e r i o r a n d i m p r i s o n i n g f r a m e f o r the
vice of n o r m a l i z a t i o n , then h o w m i g h t he account for psychic
b o d y vacates, a s i t w e r e , the i n f e r i o r i t y o f the b o d y , l e a v i n g
resistance to n o r m a l i z a t i o n ? Second, w h e n some p r o p o n e n t s
6
First, if Foucault
88
Subjection, Resistance, Resignification
Between Freud and Foucault
89
of p s y c h o a n a l y s i s i n s i s t that r e s i s t a n c e to n o r m a l i z a t i o n is a
o n l y u n d e r m i n e , but w h i c h appears to have no p o w e r to re-
f u n c t i o n o f the u n c o n s c i o u s , i s t h i s g u a r a n t e e o f p s y c h i c resis-
a r t i c u l a t e the t e r m s , the s y m b o l i c t e r m s — t o u s e L a c a n i a n p a r -
tance m e r e l y s l e i g h t o f h a n d ? M o r e p r e c i s e l y , i s the r e s i s t a n c e
l a n c e — b y w h i c h subjects are c o n s t i t u t e d , b y w h i c h s u b j e c t i o n
u p o n w h i c h psychoanalysis insists socially a n d discursively
i s i n s t a l l e d i n the v e r y f o r m a t i o n o f the subject? T h i s r e s i s t a n c e
p r o d u c e d , o r i s i t a k i n d o f r e s i s t a n c e to, a n u n d e r m i n i n g of,
establishes the i n c o m p l e t e c h a r a c t e r o f a n y effort t o p r o d u c e
s o c i a l a n d d i s c u r s i v e p r o d u c t i o n a s such? C o n s i d e r the c l a i m
a subject b y d i s c i p l i n a r y m e a n s , b u t i t r e m a i n s u n a b l e t o r e -
that the u n c o n s c i o u s o n l y a n d a l w a y s resists n o r m a l i z a t i o n ,
a r t i c u l a t e the d o m i n a n t t e r m s o f p r o d u c t i v e p o w e r .
that e v e r y r i t u a l o f c o n f o r m i t y t o the i n j u n c t i o n s o f c i v i l i z a -
Before
continuing
this
interrogation of psychoanalysis,
t i o n c o m e s at a cost, a n d that a c e r t a i n u n h a r n e s s e d a n d u n -
h o w e v e r , let u s r e t u r n t o the p r o b l e m o f b o d i e s i n F o u c a u l t .
s o c i a l i z e d r e m a i n d e r i s t h e r e b y p r o d u c e d , w h i c h contests the
H o w a n d w h y i s resistance d e n i e d t o bodies p r o d u c e d t h r o u g h
a p p e a r a n c e o f the l a w - a b i d i n g subject. T h i s p s y c h i c r e m a i n d e r
d i s c i p l i n a r y regimes? W h a t is this n o t i o n of d i s c i p l i n a r y p r o -
s i g n i f i e s the l i m i t s o f n o r m a l i z a t i o n . T h a t p o s i t i o n d o e s n o t
d u c t i o n , a n d does i t w o r k a s e f f i c a c i o u s l y a s F o u c a u l t a p p e a r s
i m p l y that s u c h r e s i s t a n c e w i e l d s the p o w e r t o r e w o r k o r r e -
to i m p l y ? In the f i n a l c h a p t e r of the first v o l u m e of The His-
a r t i c u l a t e the t e r m s o f d i s c u r s i v e d e m a n d , the d i s c i p l i n a r y i n -
tory of Sexuality, F o u c a u l t calls for a " h i s t o r y of b o d i e s " w h i c h
j u n c t i o n s b y w h i c h n o r m a l i z a t i o n o c c u r s . T o t h w a r t the i n j u n c -
w o u l d i n q u i r e i n t o "the m a n n e r i n w h i c h w h a t i s m o s t m a -
t i o n t o p r o d u c e a d o c i l e b o d y i s n o t the s a m e a s d i s m a n t l i n g
t e r i a l a n d v i t a l i n t h e m has b e e n i n v e s t e d . " I n t h i s f o r m u l a -
the i n j u n c t i o n o r c h a n g i n g the t e r m s o f subject c o n s t i t u t i o n . I f
t i o n , h e suggests that p o w e r acts n o t o n l y o n the b o d y b u t a l s o
the u n c o n s c i o u s , o r the p s y c h e m o r e g e n e r a l l y , i s d e f i n e d a s r e -
in the b o d y , that p o w e r n o t o n l y p r o d u c e s the b o u n d a r i e s of a
sistance, w h a t d o w e t h e n m a k e o f u n c o n s c i o u s a t t a c h m e n t s t o
subject b u t p e r v a d e s the i n f e r i o r i t y of that subject. In the last
7
s u b j e c t i o n , w h i c h i m p l y that the u n c o n s c i o u s i s n o m o r e free o f
f o r m u l a t i o n , i t a p p e a r s that there i s a n " i n s i d e " t o the b o d y
n o r m a l i z i n g d i s c o u r s e t h a n the subject? I f the u n c o n s c i o u s es-
w h i c h exists b e f o r e p o w e r ' s i n v a s i o n . B u t g i v e n the r a d i c a l ex-
capes f r o m a g i v e n n o r m a t i v e i n j u n c t i o n , t o w h a t o t h e r i n j u n c -
t e r i o r i t y o f the s o u l , h o w are w e t o u n d e r s t a n d " i n f e r i o r i t y "
t i o n d o e s i t f o r m a n a t t a c h m e n t ? W h a t m a k e s u s t h i n k that the
in F o u c a u l t ? That inferiority w i l l not be a soul, a n d it w i l l
u n c o n s c i o u s i s a n y less s t r u c t u r e d b y the p o w e r r e l a t i o n s that
n o t be a p s y c h e , b u t w h a t w i l l it be? Is t h i s a space of p u r e
p e r v a d e c u l t u r a l s i g n i f i e r s t h a n i s the l a n g u a g e o f the subject?
m a l l e a b i l i t y , o n e w h i c h is, a s i t w e r e , r e a d y t o c o n f o r m t o the
I f w e f i n d a n a t t a c h m e n t t o s u b j e c t i o n a t the l e v e l o f the u n -
d e m a n d s of socialization? Or is this i n f e r i o r i t y to be called,
c o n s c i o u s , w h a t k i n d o f r e s i s t a n c e i s t o b e w r o u g h t f r o m that?
s i m p l y , the b o d y ? H a s i t c o m e t o the p a r a d o x i c a l p o i n t w h e r e
E v e n i f w e g r a n t that u n c o n s c i o u s r e s i s t a n c e t o a n o r m a l -
F o u c a u l t w a n t s t o c l a i m that the s o u l i s the e x t e r i o r f o r m , a n d
i z i n g i n j u n c t i o n g u a r a n t e e s the f a i l u r e o f that i n j u n c t i o n f u l l y
8
the b o d y the i n t e r i o r space?
t o c o n s t i t u t e its subject, does s u c h r e s i s t a n c e d o a n y t h i n g t o
A l t h o u g h F o u c a u l t w a n t s o n o c c a s i o n t o refute the p o s s i -
alter o r e x p a n d the d o m i n a n t i n j u n c t i o n s o r i n t e r p e l l a t i o n s o f
b i l i t y of a b o d y w h i c h is not p r o d u c e d through p o w e r rela-
subject f o r m a t i o n ? W h a t d o w e m a k e o f a r e s i s t a n c e that c a n
t i o n s , s o m e t i m e s h i s e x p l a n a t i o n s r e q u i r e a b o d y to m a i n t a i n a
88
Subjection, Resistance, Resignification
Between Freud and Foucault
89
of p s y c h o a n a l y s i s i n s i s t that r e s i s t a n c e to n o r m a l i z a t i o n is a
o n l y u n d e r m i n e , but w h i c h appears to have no p o w e r to re-
f u n c t i o n o f the u n c o n s c i o u s , i s t h i s g u a r a n t e e o f p s y c h i c resis-
a r t i c u l a t e the t e r m s , the s y m b o l i c t e r m s — t o u s e L a c a n i a n p a r -
tance m e r e l y s l e i g h t o f h a n d ? M o r e p r e c i s e l y , i s the r e s i s t a n c e
l a n c e — b y w h i c h subjects are c o n s t i t u t e d , b y w h i c h s u b j e c t i o n
u p o n w h i c h psychoanalysis insists socially a n d discursively
i s i n s t a l l e d i n the v e r y f o r m a t i o n o f the subject? T h i s r e s i s t a n c e
p r o d u c e d , o r i s i t a k i n d o f r e s i s t a n c e to, a n u n d e r m i n i n g of,
establishes the i n c o m p l e t e c h a r a c t e r o f a n y effort t o p r o d u c e
s o c i a l a n d d i s c u r s i v e p r o d u c t i o n a s such? C o n s i d e r the c l a i m
a subject b y d i s c i p l i n a r y m e a n s , b u t i t r e m a i n s u n a b l e t o r e -
that the u n c o n s c i o u s o n l y a n d a l w a y s resists n o r m a l i z a t i o n ,
a r t i c u l a t e the d o m i n a n t t e r m s o f p r o d u c t i v e p o w e r .
that e v e r y r i t u a l o f c o n f o r m i t y t o the i n j u n c t i o n s o f c i v i l i z a -
Before
continuing
this
interrogation of psychoanalysis,
t i o n c o m e s at a cost, a n d that a c e r t a i n u n h a r n e s s e d a n d u n -
h o w e v e r , let u s r e t u r n t o the p r o b l e m o f b o d i e s i n F o u c a u l t .
s o c i a l i z e d r e m a i n d e r i s t h e r e b y p r o d u c e d , w h i c h contests the
H o w a n d w h y i s resistance d e n i e d t o bodies p r o d u c e d t h r o u g h
a p p e a r a n c e o f the l a w - a b i d i n g subject. T h i s p s y c h i c r e m a i n d e r
d i s c i p l i n a r y regimes? W h a t is this n o t i o n of d i s c i p l i n a r y p r o -
s i g n i f i e s the l i m i t s o f n o r m a l i z a t i o n . T h a t p o s i t i o n d o e s n o t
d u c t i o n , a n d does i t w o r k a s e f f i c a c i o u s l y a s F o u c a u l t a p p e a r s
i m p l y that s u c h r e s i s t a n c e w i e l d s the p o w e r t o r e w o r k o r r e -
to i m p l y ? In the f i n a l c h a p t e r of the first v o l u m e of The His-
a r t i c u l a t e the t e r m s o f d i s c u r s i v e d e m a n d , the d i s c i p l i n a r y i n -
tory of Sexuality, F o u c a u l t calls for a " h i s t o r y of b o d i e s " w h i c h
j u n c t i o n s b y w h i c h n o r m a l i z a t i o n o c c u r s . T o t h w a r t the i n j u n c -
w o u l d i n q u i r e i n t o "the m a n n e r i n w h i c h w h a t i s m o s t m a -
t i o n t o p r o d u c e a d o c i l e b o d y i s n o t the s a m e a s d i s m a n t l i n g
t e r i a l a n d v i t a l i n t h e m has b e e n i n v e s t e d . " I n t h i s f o r m u l a -
the i n j u n c t i o n o r c h a n g i n g the t e r m s o f subject c o n s t i t u t i o n . I f
t i o n , h e suggests that p o w e r acts n o t o n l y o n the b o d y b u t a l s o
the u n c o n s c i o u s , o r the p s y c h e m o r e g e n e r a l l y , i s d e f i n e d a s r e -
in the b o d y , that p o w e r n o t o n l y p r o d u c e s the b o u n d a r i e s of a
sistance, w h a t d o w e t h e n m a k e o f u n c o n s c i o u s a t t a c h m e n t s t o
subject b u t p e r v a d e s the i n f e r i o r i t y of that subject. In the last
7
s u b j e c t i o n , w h i c h i m p l y that the u n c o n s c i o u s i s n o m o r e free o f
f o r m u l a t i o n , i t a p p e a r s that there i s a n " i n s i d e " t o the b o d y
n o r m a l i z i n g d i s c o u r s e t h a n the subject? I f the u n c o n s c i o u s es-
w h i c h exists b e f o r e p o w e r ' s i n v a s i o n . B u t g i v e n the r a d i c a l ex-
capes f r o m a g i v e n n o r m a t i v e i n j u n c t i o n , t o w h a t o t h e r i n j u n c -
t e r i o r i t y o f the s o u l , h o w are w e t o u n d e r s t a n d " i n f e r i o r i t y "
t i o n d o e s i t f o r m a n a t t a c h m e n t ? W h a t m a k e s u s t h i n k that the
in F o u c a u l t ? That inferiority w i l l not be a soul, a n d it w i l l
u n c o n s c i o u s i s a n y less s t r u c t u r e d b y the p o w e r r e l a t i o n s that
n o t be a p s y c h e , b u t w h a t w i l l it be? Is t h i s a space of p u r e
p e r v a d e c u l t u r a l s i g n i f i e r s t h a n i s the l a n g u a g e o f the subject?
m a l l e a b i l i t y , o n e w h i c h is, a s i t w e r e , r e a d y t o c o n f o r m t o the
I f w e f i n d a n a t t a c h m e n t t o s u b j e c t i o n a t the l e v e l o f the u n -
d e m a n d s of socialization? Or is this i n f e r i o r i t y to be called,
c o n s c i o u s , w h a t k i n d o f r e s i s t a n c e i s t o b e w r o u g h t f r o m that?
s i m p l y , the b o d y ? H a s i t c o m e t o the p a r a d o x i c a l p o i n t w h e r e
E v e n i f w e g r a n t that u n c o n s c i o u s r e s i s t a n c e t o a n o r m a l -
F o u c a u l t w a n t s t o c l a i m that the s o u l i s the e x t e r i o r f o r m , a n d
i z i n g i n j u n c t i o n g u a r a n t e e s the f a i l u r e o f that i n j u n c t i o n f u l l y
8
the b o d y the i n t e r i o r space?
t o c o n s t i t u t e its subject, does s u c h r e s i s t a n c e d o a n y t h i n g t o
A l t h o u g h F o u c a u l t w a n t s o n o c c a s i o n t o refute the p o s s i -
alter o r e x p a n d the d o m i n a n t i n j u n c t i o n s o r i n t e r p e l l a t i o n s o f
b i l i t y of a b o d y w h i c h is not p r o d u c e d through p o w e r rela-
subject f o r m a t i o n ? W h a t d o w e m a k e o f a r e s i s t a n c e that c a n
t i o n s , s o m e t i m e s h i s e x p l a n a t i o n s r e q u i r e a b o d y to m a i n t a i n a
90
Subjection, Resistance, Resignification
Between
Freud
and
Foucault
91
m a t e r i a l i t y o n t o l o g i c a l l y d i s t i n c t f r o m the p o w e r r e l a t i o n s that
of a subject, a s u b j e c t i v a t i o n . T h e " s o u l b r i n g s [the p r i s o n e r ]
9
t a k e it as a site of i n v e s t m e n t . I n d e e d , the t e r m " s i t e " s e e m -
t o e x i s t e n c e " ; n o t u n l i k e i n A r i s t o t l e , the s o u l , a s a n i n s t r u -
i n g l y a p p e a r s i n t h i s p h r a s e w i t h o u t w a r r a n t , for w h a t i s the
m e n t o f p o w e r , f o r m s a n d f r a m e s the b o d y , s t a m p s i t , a n d i n
r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n the b o d y a s site a n d the i n v e s t m e n t s w h i c h
s t a m p i n g it, b r i n g s i t i n t o b e i n g . I n t h i s f o r m u l a t i o n , there i s
that site i s s a i d t o r e c e i v e o r b e a r ? D o e s the t e r m "site" s t a b i -
n o b o d y o u t s i d e o f p o w e r , f o r the m a t e r i a l i t y o f the b o d y —
l i z e the b o d y i n r e l a t i o n t o those i n v e s t m e n t s , w h i l e d e f l e c t i n g
indeed, materiality itself—is p r o d u c e d by a n d in direct rela-
the q u e s t i o n o f h o w i n v e s t m e n t s e s t a b l i s h , c o n t o u r , a n d d i s -
t i o n t o the i n v e s t m e n t o f p o w e r . T h e m a t e r i a l i t y o f the p r i s o n ,
r u p t w h a t the p h r a s e takes for g r a n t e d a s the b o d y ' s "site"
F o u c a u l t w r i t e s , is e s t a b l i s h e d to the extent that (dans la mesure
(i.e., d o e s the t e r m "site" deflect the project o f L a c a n ' s " m i r r o r
ou) it is a v e c t o r a n d i n s t r u m e n t of p o w e r .
1 2
H e n c e , the p r i s o n
stage")? W h a t c o n s t i t u t e s a n " i n v e s t m e n t , " a n d w h a t i s its c o n -
is materialized to the extent that it is invested with power. To be
stituting power? Does it have a v i s u a l i z i n g function, a n d can
g r a m m a t i c a l l y a c c u r a t e , there i s n o p r i s o n p r i o r t o its m a t e r i -
w e u n d e r s t a n d the p r o d u c t i o n o f the b o d i l y ego i n F r e u d a s
a l i z a t i o n ; its m a t e r i a l i z a t i o n i s c o e x t e n s i v e w i t h its i n v e s t i t u r e
the p r o j e c t e d o r s p a t i a l i z e d m o d a l i t y o f s u c h i n v e s t m e n t s ?
w i t h p o w e r r e l a t i o n s ; a n d m a t e r i a l i t y i s the effect a n d g a u g e
1 0
I n d e e d , t o w h a t extent i s the b o d y ' s site s t a b i l i z e d t h r o u g h a
o f t h i s i n v e s t m e n t . T h e p r i s o n c o m e s t o b e o n l y w i t h i n the
c e r t a i n p r o j e c t i v e i n s t a b i l i t y , one w h i c h F o u c a u l t c a n n o t q u i t e
f i e l d o f p o w e r r e l a t i o n s , m o r e s p e c i f i c a l l y , o n l y t o the extent
d e s c r i b e a n d w h i c h w o u l d p e r h a p s engage h i m i n the p r o b -
that i t i s s a t u r a t e d w i t h s u c h r e l a t i o n s a n d that s u c h a s a t u -
l e m a t i c o f the ego a s a n i m a g i n a r y f u n c t i o n ?
r a t i o n i s f o r m a t i v e o f its v e r y b e i n g . H e r e the b o d y — o f the
Discipline and Punish offers a different c o n f i g u r a t i o n of the
p r i s o n e r a n d o f the p r i s o n — i s n o t a n i n d e p e n d e n t m a t e r i a l i t y ,
r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n m a t e r i a l i t y a n d i n v e s t m e n t . T h e r e the s o u l
a static s u r f a c e or site, w h i c h a s u b s e q u e n t i n v e s t m e n t c o m e s
i s t a k e n t o b e a n i n s t r u m e n t o f p o w e r t h r o u g h w h i c h the
t o m a r k , s i g n i f y u p o n , o r p e r v a d e ; the b o d y i s that f o r w h i c h
b o d y is c u l t i v a t e d a n d f o r m e d . In a sense, it acts as a p o w e r -
m a t e r i a l i z a t i o n a n d i n v e s t i t u r e are c o e x t e n s i v e .
l a d e n s c h e m a that p r o d u c e s a n d a c t u a l i z e s the b o d y . W e c a n
A l t h o u g h the s o u l i s u n d e r s t o o d t o f r a m e the b o d y i n Disci-
u n d e r s t a n d F o u c a u l t ' s references t o the s o u l a s a n i m p l i c i t r e -
pline and Punish, F o u c a u l t suggests that the p r o d u c t i o n of the
w o r k i n g o f the A r i s t o t e l i a n f o r m u l a t i o n i n w h i c h the s o u l i s
"subject" takes p l a c e t o s o m e d e g r e e t h r o u g h the s u b o r d i n a -
u n d e r s t o o d t o b e the f o r m a n d p r i n c i p l e o f the b o d y ' s m a t t e r .
11
t i o n a n d e v e n d e s t r u c t i o n o f the b o d y . I n " N i e t z s c h e , G e n e a l -
F o u c a u l t a r g u e s in Discipline and Punish that the s o u l b e c o m e s
ogy, H i s t o r y , " F o u c a u l t r e m a r k s that o n l y t h r o u g h the d e -
a n o r m a t i v e a n d n o r m a l i z i n g i d e a l a c c o r d i n g t o w h i c h the
s t r u c t i o n o f the b o d y d o e s the subject a s a " d i s s o c i a t e d u n i t y "
b o d y is trained, shaped, cultivated, a n d invested; it is a his-
a p p e a r : "the b o d y i s the i n s c r i b e d s u r f a c e o f events ( t r a c e d b y
t o r i c a l l y s p e c i f i c i m a g i n a r y i d e a l (idéal spéculatif) u n d e r w h i c h
l a n g u a g e a n d d i s s o l v e d b y ideas), the l o c u s o f a d i s s o c i a t e d
the b o d y i s m a t e r i a l i z e d . T h i s " s u b j e c t i o n " or assujetissement is n o t o n l y a s u b o r d i nation but a securing a n d maintaining, a putting into place
self ( a d o p t i n g the i l l u s i o n of a s u b s t a n t i a l u n i t y ) , a n d a v o l u m e in perpetual disintegration."
1 3
T h e subject a p p e a r s a t the
e x p e n s e o f the b o d y , a n a p p e a r a n c e c o n d i t i o n e d i n i n v e r s e r e -
90
Subjection, Resistance, Resignification
Between
Freud
and
Foucault
91
m a t e r i a l i t y o n t o l o g i c a l l y d i s t i n c t f r o m the p o w e r r e l a t i o n s that
of a subject, a s u b j e c t i v a t i o n . T h e " s o u l b r i n g s [the p r i s o n e r ]
9
t a k e it as a site of i n v e s t m e n t . I n d e e d , the t e r m " s i t e " s e e m -
t o e x i s t e n c e " ; n o t u n l i k e i n A r i s t o t l e , the s o u l , a s a n i n s t r u -
i n g l y a p p e a r s i n t h i s p h r a s e w i t h o u t w a r r a n t , for w h a t i s the
m e n t o f p o w e r , f o r m s a n d f r a m e s the b o d y , s t a m p s i t , a n d i n
r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n the b o d y a s site a n d the i n v e s t m e n t s w h i c h
s t a m p i n g it, b r i n g s i t i n t o b e i n g . I n t h i s f o r m u l a t i o n , there i s
that site i s s a i d t o r e c e i v e o r b e a r ? D o e s the t e r m "site" s t a b i -
n o b o d y o u t s i d e o f p o w e r , f o r the m a t e r i a l i t y o f the b o d y —
l i z e the b o d y i n r e l a t i o n t o those i n v e s t m e n t s , w h i l e d e f l e c t i n g
indeed, materiality itself—is p r o d u c e d by a n d in direct rela-
the q u e s t i o n o f h o w i n v e s t m e n t s e s t a b l i s h , c o n t o u r , a n d d i s -
t i o n t o the i n v e s t m e n t o f p o w e r . T h e m a t e r i a l i t y o f the p r i s o n ,
r u p t w h a t the p h r a s e takes for g r a n t e d a s the b o d y ' s "site"
F o u c a u l t w r i t e s , is e s t a b l i s h e d to the extent that (dans la mesure
(i.e., d o e s the t e r m "site" deflect the project o f L a c a n ' s " m i r r o r
ou) it is a v e c t o r a n d i n s t r u m e n t of p o w e r .
1 2
H e n c e , the p r i s o n
stage")? W h a t c o n s t i t u t e s a n " i n v e s t m e n t , " a n d w h a t i s its c o n -
is materialized to the extent that it is invested with power. To be
stituting power? Does it have a v i s u a l i z i n g function, a n d can
g r a m m a t i c a l l y a c c u r a t e , there i s n o p r i s o n p r i o r t o its m a t e r i -
w e u n d e r s t a n d the p r o d u c t i o n o f the b o d i l y ego i n F r e u d a s
a l i z a t i o n ; its m a t e r i a l i z a t i o n i s c o e x t e n s i v e w i t h its i n v e s t i t u r e
the p r o j e c t e d o r s p a t i a l i z e d m o d a l i t y o f s u c h i n v e s t m e n t s ?
w i t h p o w e r r e l a t i o n s ; a n d m a t e r i a l i t y i s the effect a n d g a u g e
1 0
I n d e e d , t o w h a t extent i s the b o d y ' s site s t a b i l i z e d t h r o u g h a
o f t h i s i n v e s t m e n t . T h e p r i s o n c o m e s t o b e o n l y w i t h i n the
c e r t a i n p r o j e c t i v e i n s t a b i l i t y , one w h i c h F o u c a u l t c a n n o t q u i t e
f i e l d o f p o w e r r e l a t i o n s , m o r e s p e c i f i c a l l y , o n l y t o the extent
d e s c r i b e a n d w h i c h w o u l d p e r h a p s engage h i m i n the p r o b -
that i t i s s a t u r a t e d w i t h s u c h r e l a t i o n s a n d that s u c h a s a t u -
l e m a t i c o f the ego a s a n i m a g i n a r y f u n c t i o n ?
r a t i o n i s f o r m a t i v e o f its v e r y b e i n g . H e r e the b o d y — o f the
Discipline and Punish offers a different c o n f i g u r a t i o n of the
p r i s o n e r a n d o f the p r i s o n — i s n o t a n i n d e p e n d e n t m a t e r i a l i t y ,
r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n m a t e r i a l i t y a n d i n v e s t m e n t . T h e r e the s o u l
a static s u r f a c e or site, w h i c h a s u b s e q u e n t i n v e s t m e n t c o m e s
i s t a k e n t o b e a n i n s t r u m e n t o f p o w e r t h r o u g h w h i c h the
t o m a r k , s i g n i f y u p o n , o r p e r v a d e ; the b o d y i s that f o r w h i c h
b o d y is c u l t i v a t e d a n d f o r m e d . In a sense, it acts as a p o w e r -
m a t e r i a l i z a t i o n a n d i n v e s t i t u r e are c o e x t e n s i v e .
l a d e n s c h e m a that p r o d u c e s a n d a c t u a l i z e s the b o d y . W e c a n
A l t h o u g h the s o u l i s u n d e r s t o o d t o f r a m e the b o d y i n Disci-
u n d e r s t a n d F o u c a u l t ' s references t o the s o u l a s a n i m p l i c i t r e -
pline and Punish, F o u c a u l t suggests that the p r o d u c t i o n of the
w o r k i n g o f the A r i s t o t e l i a n f o r m u l a t i o n i n w h i c h the s o u l i s
"subject" takes p l a c e t o s o m e d e g r e e t h r o u g h the s u b o r d i n a -
u n d e r s t o o d t o b e the f o r m a n d p r i n c i p l e o f the b o d y ' s m a t t e r .
11
t i o n a n d e v e n d e s t r u c t i o n o f the b o d y . I n " N i e t z s c h e , G e n e a l -
F o u c a u l t a r g u e s in Discipline and Punish that the s o u l b e c o m e s
ogy, H i s t o r y , " F o u c a u l t r e m a r k s that o n l y t h r o u g h the d e -
a n o r m a t i v e a n d n o r m a l i z i n g i d e a l a c c o r d i n g t o w h i c h the
s t r u c t i o n o f the b o d y d o e s the subject a s a " d i s s o c i a t e d u n i t y "
b o d y is trained, shaped, cultivated, a n d invested; it is a his-
a p p e a r : "the b o d y i s the i n s c r i b e d s u r f a c e o f events ( t r a c e d b y
t o r i c a l l y s p e c i f i c i m a g i n a r y i d e a l (idéal spéculatif) u n d e r w h i c h
l a n g u a g e a n d d i s s o l v e d b y ideas), the l o c u s o f a d i s s o c i a t e d
the b o d y i s m a t e r i a l i z e d . T h i s " s u b j e c t i o n " or assujetissement is n o t o n l y a s u b o r d i nation but a securing a n d maintaining, a putting into place
self ( a d o p t i n g the i l l u s i o n of a s u b s t a n t i a l u n i t y ) , a n d a v o l u m e in perpetual disintegration."
1 3
T h e subject a p p e a r s a t the
e x p e n s e o f the b o d y , a n a p p e a r a n c e c o n d i t i o n e d i n i n v e r s e r e -
9
2
Subjection, Resistance, Resignification
Between
Freud
and
Foucault
93
l a t i o n t o the d i s a p p e a r a n c e o f the b o d y . T h e subject n o t o n l y
j e c t i v a t i o n that e x c e e d s the n o r m a l i z i n g a i m s b y w h i c h i t i s
e f f e c t i v e l y takes the p l a c e of the b o d y b u t acts as the s o u l
m o b i l i z e d , f o r e x a m p l e , i n " r e v e r s e - d i s c o u r s e , " o r (b) t h r o u g h
w h i c h f r a m e s a n d f o r m s the b o d y i n c a p t i v i t y . H e r e the f o r m -
convergence w i t h other discursive regimes, whereby inadver-
i n g a n d f r a m i n g f u n c t i o n o f that e x t e r i o r s o u l w o r k s against
t e n t l y p r o d u c e d d i s c u r s i v e c o m p l e x i t y u n d e r m i n e s the teleo-
the b o d y ; i n d e e d , i t m i g h t b e u n d e r s t o o d a s the s u b l i m a t i o n
logical aims of n o r m a l i z a t i o n .
o f the b o d y i n c o n s e q u e n c e o f d i s p l a c e m e n t a n d s u b s t i t u t i o n .
effect of p o w e r , as a p a r t of p o w e r , its s e l f - s u b v e r s i o n .
1 4
T h u s r e s i s t a n c e a p p e a r s a s the
I n t h u s r e d e s c r i b i n g the b o d y i n F o u c a u l t , I h a v e c l e a r l y
I n the t h e o r i z a t i o n o f resistance, a c e r t a i n p r o b l e m arises
w a n d e r e d into a psychoanalytic vocabulary of sublimation.
w h i c h c o n c e r n s p s y c h o a n a l y s i s a n d , b y i m p l i c a t i o n , the l i m i t s
W h i l e there, let me p o s e a q u e s t i o n to r e t u r n to the i s s u e of
o f s u b j e c t i v a t i o n . F o r F o u c a u l t , the subject w h o i s p r o d u c e d
s u b j e c t i o n a n d resistance. I f the b o d y i s s u b o r d i n a t e d a n d t o
t h r o u g h s u b j e c t i o n i s n o t p r o d u c e d a t a n i n s t a n t i n its t o t a l i t y .
s o m e extent d e s t r o y e d a s the d i s s o c i a t e d self emerges, a n d i f
Instead, i t i s i n the p r o c e s s o f b e i n g p r o d u c e d , i t i s repeat-
that e m e r g e n c e m i g h t b e r e a d a s the s u b l i m a t i o n o f the b o d y
e d l y p r o d u c e d ( w h i c h i s n o t the s a m e a s b e i n g p r o d u c e d
a n d the self b e r e a d a s the b o d y ' s g h o s t l y f o r m , t h e n i s there
a n e w a g a i n a n d again). It is p r e c i s e l y the p o s s i b i l i t y of a r e p e -
s o m e p a r t o f the b o d y w h i c h i s n o t p r e s e r v e d i n s u b l i m a t i o n ,
t i t i o n w h i c h d o e s n o t c o n s o l i d a t e that d i s s o c i a t e d u n i t y , the
s o m e p a r t o f the b o d y w h i c h r e m a i n s u n s u b l i m a t e d ?
subject, b u t w h i c h p r o l i f e r a t e s effects w h i c h u n d e r m i n e the
T h i s b o d i l y r e m a i n d e r , I w o u l d suggest, s u r v i v e s for s u c h a
force o f n o r m a l i z a t i o n . T h e t e r m w h i c h n o t o n l y n a m e s , b u t
subject i n the m o d e o f a l r e a d y , i f n o t a l w a y s , h a v i n g b e e n d e -
f o r m s a n d f r a m e s the s u b j e c t — l e t u s u s e F o u c a u l t ' s e x a m p l e
s t r o y e d , i n a k i n d o f c o n s t i t u t i v e loss. T h e b o d y i s n o t a site
of h o m o s e x u a l i t y — m o b i l i z e s a r e v e r s e d i s c o u r s e a g a i n s t the
on w h i c h a c o n s t r u c t i o n takes p l a c e ; it is a d e s t r u c t i o n on the
v e r y r e g i m e o f n o r m a l i z a t i o n b y w h i c h i t i s s p a w n e d . T h i s is,
o c c a s i o n o f w h i c h a subject i s f o r m e d . T h e f o r m a t i o n o f t h i s
o f c o u r s e , n o t a p u r e o p p o s i t i o n , for the s a m e " h o m o s e x u a l i t y "
subject i s a t o n c e the f r a m i n g , s u b o r d i n a t i o n , a n d r e g u l a t i o n o f
w i l l b e d e p l o y e d first i n the s e r v i c e o f n o r m a l i z i n g h e t e r o s e x u -
the b o d y , a n d the m o d e i n w h i c h that d e s t r u c t i o n i s p r e s e r v e d
a l i t y a n d s e c o n d i n the s e r v i c e o f its o w n d e p a t h o l o g i z a t i o n .
( i n the sense o f s u s t a i n e d a n d e m b a l m e d ) i n n o r m a l i z a t i o n .
T h i s t e r m w i l l c a r r y the r i s k o f the f o r m e r m e a n i n g i n the
If, t h e n , the b o d y i s n o w t o b e u n d e r s t o o d a s that w h i c h n o t
latter, b u t i t w o u l d b e a m i s t a k e t o t h i n k that s i m p l y b y s p e a k -
o n l y c o n s t i t u t e s the subject i n its d i s s o c i a t e d a n d s u b l i m a t e d
i n g the t e r m o n e e i t h e r t r a n s c e n d s h e t e r o s e x u a l n o r m a l i z a t i o n
state, b u t also exceeds o r resists a n y effort a t s u b l i m a t i o n , h o w
o r b e c o m e s its i n s t r u m e n t .
are w e t o u n d e r s t a n d t h i s b o d y that is, a s i t w e r e , n e g a t e d o r
T h e r i s k o f r e n o r m a l i z a t i o n i s p e r s i s t e n t l y there: c o n s i d e r
r e p r e s s e d s o that the subject m i g h t l i v e ? O n e m i g h t e x p e c t
the o n e w h o i n d e f i a n t " o u t n e s s " d e c l a r e s h i s / h e r h o m o s e x u -
the b o d y t o r e t u r n i n a n o n - n o r m a l i z a b l e w i l d n e s s , a n d there
a l i t y o n l y t o r e c e i v e the r e s p o n s e , " A h yes, s o y o u are that, a n d
are o f c o u r s e m o m e n t s i n F o u c a u l t w h e n s o m e t h i n g l i k e that
o n l y that." W h a t e v e r y o u say w i l l b e r e a d b a c k a s a n o v e r t
h a p p e n s . B u t m o r e o f t e n t h a n n o t , i n F o u c a u l t the p o s s i b i l i t y
or subtle manifestation of y o u r essential homosexuality. (One
of s u b v e r s i o n or r e s i s t a n c e a p p e a r s (a) in the c o u r s e of a s u b -
should not underestimate h o w exhausting it is to be expected
9
2
Subjection, Resistance, Resignification
Between
Freud
and
Foucault
93
l a t i o n t o the d i s a p p e a r a n c e o f the b o d y . T h e subject n o t o n l y
j e c t i v a t i o n that e x c e e d s the n o r m a l i z i n g a i m s b y w h i c h i t i s
e f f e c t i v e l y takes the p l a c e of the b o d y b u t acts as the s o u l
m o b i l i z e d , f o r e x a m p l e , i n " r e v e r s e - d i s c o u r s e , " o r (b) t h r o u g h
w h i c h f r a m e s a n d f o r m s the b o d y i n c a p t i v i t y . H e r e the f o r m -
convergence w i t h other discursive regimes, whereby inadver-
i n g a n d f r a m i n g f u n c t i o n o f that e x t e r i o r s o u l w o r k s against
t e n t l y p r o d u c e d d i s c u r s i v e c o m p l e x i t y u n d e r m i n e s the teleo-
the b o d y ; i n d e e d , i t m i g h t b e u n d e r s t o o d a s the s u b l i m a t i o n
logical aims of n o r m a l i z a t i o n .
o f the b o d y i n c o n s e q u e n c e o f d i s p l a c e m e n t a n d s u b s t i t u t i o n .
effect of p o w e r , as a p a r t of p o w e r , its s e l f - s u b v e r s i o n .
1 4
T h u s r e s i s t a n c e a p p e a r s a s the
I n t h u s r e d e s c r i b i n g the b o d y i n F o u c a u l t , I h a v e c l e a r l y
I n the t h e o r i z a t i o n o f resistance, a c e r t a i n p r o b l e m arises
w a n d e r e d into a psychoanalytic vocabulary of sublimation.
w h i c h c o n c e r n s p s y c h o a n a l y s i s a n d , b y i m p l i c a t i o n , the l i m i t s
W h i l e there, let me p o s e a q u e s t i o n to r e t u r n to the i s s u e of
o f s u b j e c t i v a t i o n . F o r F o u c a u l t , the subject w h o i s p r o d u c e d
s u b j e c t i o n a n d resistance. I f the b o d y i s s u b o r d i n a t e d a n d t o
t h r o u g h s u b j e c t i o n i s n o t p r o d u c e d a t a n i n s t a n t i n its t o t a l i t y .
s o m e extent d e s t r o y e d a s the d i s s o c i a t e d self emerges, a n d i f
Instead, i t i s i n the p r o c e s s o f b e i n g p r o d u c e d , i t i s repeat-
that e m e r g e n c e m i g h t b e r e a d a s the s u b l i m a t i o n o f the b o d y
e d l y p r o d u c e d ( w h i c h i s n o t the s a m e a s b e i n g p r o d u c e d
a n d the self b e r e a d a s the b o d y ' s g h o s t l y f o r m , t h e n i s there
a n e w a g a i n a n d again). It is p r e c i s e l y the p o s s i b i l i t y of a r e p e -
s o m e p a r t o f the b o d y w h i c h i s n o t p r e s e r v e d i n s u b l i m a t i o n ,
t i t i o n w h i c h d o e s n o t c o n s o l i d a t e that d i s s o c i a t e d u n i t y , the
s o m e p a r t o f the b o d y w h i c h r e m a i n s u n s u b l i m a t e d ?
subject, b u t w h i c h p r o l i f e r a t e s effects w h i c h u n d e r m i n e the
T h i s b o d i l y r e m a i n d e r , I w o u l d suggest, s u r v i v e s for s u c h a
force o f n o r m a l i z a t i o n . T h e t e r m w h i c h n o t o n l y n a m e s , b u t
subject i n the m o d e o f a l r e a d y , i f n o t a l w a y s , h a v i n g b e e n d e -
f o r m s a n d f r a m e s the s u b j e c t — l e t u s u s e F o u c a u l t ' s e x a m p l e
s t r o y e d , i n a k i n d o f c o n s t i t u t i v e loss. T h e b o d y i s n o t a site
of h o m o s e x u a l i t y — m o b i l i z e s a r e v e r s e d i s c o u r s e a g a i n s t the
on w h i c h a c o n s t r u c t i o n takes p l a c e ; it is a d e s t r u c t i o n on the
v e r y r e g i m e o f n o r m a l i z a t i o n b y w h i c h i t i s s p a w n e d . T h i s is,
o c c a s i o n o f w h i c h a subject i s f o r m e d . T h e f o r m a t i o n o f t h i s
o f c o u r s e , n o t a p u r e o p p o s i t i o n , for the s a m e " h o m o s e x u a l i t y "
subject i s a t o n c e the f r a m i n g , s u b o r d i n a t i o n , a n d r e g u l a t i o n o f
w i l l b e d e p l o y e d first i n the s e r v i c e o f n o r m a l i z i n g h e t e r o s e x u -
the b o d y , a n d the m o d e i n w h i c h that d e s t r u c t i o n i s p r e s e r v e d
a l i t y a n d s e c o n d i n the s e r v i c e o f its o w n d e p a t h o l o g i z a t i o n .
( i n the sense o f s u s t a i n e d a n d e m b a l m e d ) i n n o r m a l i z a t i o n .
T h i s t e r m w i l l c a r r y the r i s k o f the f o r m e r m e a n i n g i n the
If, t h e n , the b o d y i s n o w t o b e u n d e r s t o o d a s that w h i c h n o t
latter, b u t i t w o u l d b e a m i s t a k e t o t h i n k that s i m p l y b y s p e a k -
o n l y c o n s t i t u t e s the subject i n its d i s s o c i a t e d a n d s u b l i m a t e d
i n g the t e r m o n e e i t h e r t r a n s c e n d s h e t e r o s e x u a l n o r m a l i z a t i o n
state, b u t also exceeds o r resists a n y effort a t s u b l i m a t i o n , h o w
o r b e c o m e s its i n s t r u m e n t .
are w e t o u n d e r s t a n d t h i s b o d y that is, a s i t w e r e , n e g a t e d o r
T h e r i s k o f r e n o r m a l i z a t i o n i s p e r s i s t e n t l y there: c o n s i d e r
r e p r e s s e d s o that the subject m i g h t l i v e ? O n e m i g h t e x p e c t
the o n e w h o i n d e f i a n t " o u t n e s s " d e c l a r e s h i s / h e r h o m o s e x u -
the b o d y t o r e t u r n i n a n o n - n o r m a l i z a b l e w i l d n e s s , a n d there
a l i t y o n l y t o r e c e i v e the r e s p o n s e , " A h yes, s o y o u are that, a n d
are o f c o u r s e m o m e n t s i n F o u c a u l t w h e n s o m e t h i n g l i k e that
o n l y that." W h a t e v e r y o u say w i l l b e r e a d b a c k a s a n o v e r t
h a p p e n s . B u t m o r e o f t e n t h a n n o t , i n F o u c a u l t the p o s s i b i l i t y
or subtle manifestation of y o u r essential homosexuality. (One
of s u b v e r s i o n or r e s i s t a n c e a p p e a r s (a) in the c o u r s e of a s u b -
should not underestimate h o w exhausting it is to be expected
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and
Foucault
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t o b e a n " o u t " h o m o s e x u a l a l l the t i m e , w h e t h e r the e x p e c -
a n d s i m p l e , o r d o e s "the b o d y " c o m e t o s t a n d for a c e r t a i n
t a t i o n c o m e s f r o m g a y a n d l e s b i a n a l l i e s o r t h e i r foes.) H e r e
o p e r a t i o n o f the p s y c h e , o n e w h i c h i s d i s t i n c t l y different, i f n o t
F o u c a u l t cites a n d r e w o r k s the p o s s i b i l i t y o f r e s i g n i f i c a t i o n , o f
d i r e c t l y o p p o s e d to, the s o u l f i g u r e d a s a n i m p r i s o n i n g effect?
m o b i l i z i n g p o l i t i c a l l y w h a t N i e t z s c h e , in On the Genealogy of
P e r h a p s F o u c a u l t h i m s e l f h a s i n v e s t e d the b o d y w i t h a p s y -
Morals, c a l l e d the " s i g n c h a i n . " T h e r e N i e t z s c h e a r g u e s that the
c h i c m e a n i n g that h e c a n n o t elaborate w i t h i n the t e r m s that h e
uses t o w h i c h a g i v e n s i g n i s o r i g i n a l l y p u t are " w o r l d s a p a r t "
uses. H o w does the p r o c e s s o f s u b j e c t i v a t i o n , the d i s c i p l i n a r y
f r o m the uses t o w h i c h i t t h e n b e c o m e s a v a i l a b l e . T h i s t e m p o -
p r o d u c t i o n o f the subject, b r e a k d o w n , i f i t does, i n b o t h F o u -
r a l g a p b e t w e e n usages p r o d u c e s the p o s s i b i l i t y o f a r e v e r s a l
c a u l t i a n a n d p s y c h o a n a l y t i c t h e o r y ? W h e n c e does that f a i l u r e
o f s i g n i f i c a t i o n , b u t a l s o o p e n s the w a y for a n i n a u g u r a t i o n
e m e r g e , a n d w h a t are its c o n s e q u e n c e s ?
o f s i g n i f y i n g p o s s i b i l i t i e s that e x c e e d t h o s e t o w h i c h the t e r m has b e e n p r e v i o u s l y b o u n d .
C o n s i d e r the A l t h u s s e r i a n n o t i o n o f i n t e r p e l l a t i o n , i n w h i c h a subject i s c o n s t i t u t e d b y b e i n g h a i l e d , a d d r e s s e d , n a m e d .
1 5
T h e F o u c a u l t i a n subject i s n e v e r f u l l y c o n s t i t u t e d i n subjec-
F o r the m o s t p a r t , i t seems, A l t h u s s e r b e l i e v e d that t h i s s o c i a l
tion, then; it is repeatedly constituted in subjection, a n d it is
d e m a n d — o n e might call it a symbolic injunction—actually
i n the p o s s i b i l i t y o f a r e p e t i t i o n that repeats a g a i n s t its o r i g i n
p r o d u c e d the k i n d s o f subjects i t n a m e d . H e g i v e s the e x a m p l e
that s u b j e c t i o n m i g h t b e u n d e r s t o o d t o d r a w its i n a d v e r t e n t l y
o f the p o l i c e m a n o n the street y e l l i n g " H e y y o u there!," a n d
enabling power. F r o m a psychoanalytic perspective, however,
c o n c l u d e s that t h i s c a l l i m p o r t a n t l y c o n s t i t u t e s the o n e i t a d -
w e m i g h t ask w h e t h e r t h i s p o s s i b i l i t y o f r e s i s t a n c e t o a c o n -
dresses a n d sites. T h e scene is c l e a r l y a d i s c i p l i n a r y o n e ; the
stituting or subjectivating p o w e r can be derived from what is
p o l i c e m a n ' s c a l l i s a n effort t o b r i n g s o m e o n e b a c k i n l i n e . Yet
" i n " o r "of" d i s c o u r s e . W h a t c a n w e m a k e o f the w a y i n w h i c h
w e m i g h t a l s o u n d e r s t a n d i t i n L a c a n i a n t e r m s a s the c a l l o f
d i s c o u r s e s n o t o n l y c o n s t i t u t e the d o m a i n s o f the s p e a k a b l e ,
s y m b o l i c constitution. A s A l t h u s s e r himself insists, this per-
b u t are t h e m s e l v e s b o u n d e d t h r o u g h the p r o d u c t i o n o f a c o n -
f o r m a t i v e effort o f n a m i n g c a n o n l y attempt t o b r i n g its a d -
s t i t u t i v e o u t s i d e : the u n s p e a k a b l e , the u n s i g n i f i a b l e ?
dressee i n t o b e i n g : there is a l w a y s the r i s k of a c e r t a i n misrecog-
F r o m a Lacanian perspective,
one m i g h t w e l l question
nition. If o n e m i s r e c o g n i z e s that effort to p r o d u c e the subject,
w h e t h e r the effects o f the p s y c h e c a n b e s a i d t o b e e x h a u s t e d
the p r o d u c t i o n itself falters. T h e o n e w h o i s h a i l e d m a y f a i l t o
i n w h a t c a n b e s i g n i f i e d o r w h e t h e r there i s n o t , o v e r a n d
hear, m i s r e a d the c a l l , t u r n the o t h e r w a y , a n s w e r t o a n o t h e r
against t h i s s i g n i f y i n g b o d y , a d o m a i n o f the p s y c h e w h i c h
n a m e , i n s i s t o n n o t b e i n g a d d r e s s e d i n that w a y . I n d e e d , the
contests l e g i b i l i t y . If, a c c o r d i n g to p s y c h o a n a l y s i s , the subject
d o m a i n o f the i m a g i n a r y i s d e m a r c a t e d b y A l t h u s s e r a s p r e -
i s n o t the s a m e a s the p s y c h e f r o m w h i c h i t e m e r g e s a n d if, f o r
c i s e l y the d o m a i n that m a k e s misrecognition p o s s i b l e . T h e n a m e
F o u c a u l t , the subject i s n o t the s a m e a s the b o d y f r o m w h i c h i t
is called, a n d I am sure it is my name, but it isn't. The name
emerges, t h e n p e r h a p s the b o d y has c o m e t o s u b s t i t u t e for the
i s c a l l e d , a n d I a m s u r e that a n a m e i s b e i n g c a l l e d , m y n a m e ,
p s y c h e i n F o u c a u l t — t h a t is, a s that w h i c h exceeds a n d c o n -
but it is in someone's incomprehensible speech, or worse, it is
f o u n d s the i n j u n c t i o n s of n o r m a l i z a t i o n . Is t h i s a b o d y p u r e
someone c o u g h i n g , or worse, a radiator w h i c h for a m o m e n t
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95
t o b e a n " o u t " h o m o s e x u a l a l l the t i m e , w h e t h e r the e x p e c -
a n d s i m p l e , o r d o e s "the b o d y " c o m e t o s t a n d for a c e r t a i n
t a t i o n c o m e s f r o m g a y a n d l e s b i a n a l l i e s o r t h e i r foes.) H e r e
o p e r a t i o n o f the p s y c h e , o n e w h i c h i s d i s t i n c t l y different, i f n o t
F o u c a u l t cites a n d r e w o r k s the p o s s i b i l i t y o f r e s i g n i f i c a t i o n , o f
d i r e c t l y o p p o s e d to, the s o u l f i g u r e d a s a n i m p r i s o n i n g effect?
m o b i l i z i n g p o l i t i c a l l y w h a t N i e t z s c h e , in On the Genealogy of
P e r h a p s F o u c a u l t h i m s e l f h a s i n v e s t e d the b o d y w i t h a p s y -
Morals, c a l l e d the " s i g n c h a i n . " T h e r e N i e t z s c h e a r g u e s that the
c h i c m e a n i n g that h e c a n n o t elaborate w i t h i n the t e r m s that h e
uses t o w h i c h a g i v e n s i g n i s o r i g i n a l l y p u t are " w o r l d s a p a r t "
uses. H o w does the p r o c e s s o f s u b j e c t i v a t i o n , the d i s c i p l i n a r y
f r o m the uses t o w h i c h i t t h e n b e c o m e s a v a i l a b l e . T h i s t e m p o -
p r o d u c t i o n o f the subject, b r e a k d o w n , i f i t does, i n b o t h F o u -
r a l g a p b e t w e e n usages p r o d u c e s the p o s s i b i l i t y o f a r e v e r s a l
c a u l t i a n a n d p s y c h o a n a l y t i c t h e o r y ? W h e n c e does that f a i l u r e
o f s i g n i f i c a t i o n , b u t a l s o o p e n s the w a y for a n i n a u g u r a t i o n
e m e r g e , a n d w h a t are its c o n s e q u e n c e s ?
o f s i g n i f y i n g p o s s i b i l i t i e s that e x c e e d t h o s e t o w h i c h the t e r m has b e e n p r e v i o u s l y b o u n d .
C o n s i d e r the A l t h u s s e r i a n n o t i o n o f i n t e r p e l l a t i o n , i n w h i c h a subject i s c o n s t i t u t e d b y b e i n g h a i l e d , a d d r e s s e d , n a m e d .
1 5
T h e F o u c a u l t i a n subject i s n e v e r f u l l y c o n s t i t u t e d i n subjec-
F o r the m o s t p a r t , i t seems, A l t h u s s e r b e l i e v e d that t h i s s o c i a l
tion, then; it is repeatedly constituted in subjection, a n d it is
d e m a n d — o n e might call it a symbolic injunction—actually
i n the p o s s i b i l i t y o f a r e p e t i t i o n that repeats a g a i n s t its o r i g i n
p r o d u c e d the k i n d s o f subjects i t n a m e d . H e g i v e s the e x a m p l e
that s u b j e c t i o n m i g h t b e u n d e r s t o o d t o d r a w its i n a d v e r t e n t l y
o f the p o l i c e m a n o n the street y e l l i n g " H e y y o u there!," a n d
enabling power. F r o m a psychoanalytic perspective, however,
c o n c l u d e s that t h i s c a l l i m p o r t a n t l y c o n s t i t u t e s the o n e i t a d -
w e m i g h t ask w h e t h e r t h i s p o s s i b i l i t y o f r e s i s t a n c e t o a c o n -
dresses a n d sites. T h e scene is c l e a r l y a d i s c i p l i n a r y o n e ; the
stituting or subjectivating p o w e r can be derived from what is
p o l i c e m a n ' s c a l l i s a n effort t o b r i n g s o m e o n e b a c k i n l i n e . Yet
" i n " o r "of" d i s c o u r s e . W h a t c a n w e m a k e o f the w a y i n w h i c h
w e m i g h t a l s o u n d e r s t a n d i t i n L a c a n i a n t e r m s a s the c a l l o f
d i s c o u r s e s n o t o n l y c o n s t i t u t e the d o m a i n s o f the s p e a k a b l e ,
s y m b o l i c constitution. A s A l t h u s s e r himself insists, this per-
b u t are t h e m s e l v e s b o u n d e d t h r o u g h the p r o d u c t i o n o f a c o n -
f o r m a t i v e effort o f n a m i n g c a n o n l y attempt t o b r i n g its a d -
s t i t u t i v e o u t s i d e : the u n s p e a k a b l e , the u n s i g n i f i a b l e ?
dressee i n t o b e i n g : there is a l w a y s the r i s k of a c e r t a i n misrecog-
F r o m a Lacanian perspective,
one m i g h t w e l l question
nition. If o n e m i s r e c o g n i z e s that effort to p r o d u c e the subject,
w h e t h e r the effects o f the p s y c h e c a n b e s a i d t o b e e x h a u s t e d
the p r o d u c t i o n itself falters. T h e o n e w h o i s h a i l e d m a y f a i l t o
i n w h a t c a n b e s i g n i f i e d o r w h e t h e r there i s n o t , o v e r a n d
hear, m i s r e a d the c a l l , t u r n the o t h e r w a y , a n s w e r t o a n o t h e r
against t h i s s i g n i f y i n g b o d y , a d o m a i n o f the p s y c h e w h i c h
n a m e , i n s i s t o n n o t b e i n g a d d r e s s e d i n that w a y . I n d e e d , the
contests l e g i b i l i t y . If, a c c o r d i n g to p s y c h o a n a l y s i s , the subject
d o m a i n o f the i m a g i n a r y i s d e m a r c a t e d b y A l t h u s s e r a s p r e -
i s n o t the s a m e a s the p s y c h e f r o m w h i c h i t e m e r g e s a n d if, f o r
c i s e l y the d o m a i n that m a k e s misrecognition p o s s i b l e . T h e n a m e
F o u c a u l t , the subject i s n o t the s a m e a s the b o d y f r o m w h i c h i t
is called, a n d I am sure it is my name, but it isn't. The name
emerges, t h e n p e r h a p s the b o d y has c o m e t o s u b s t i t u t e for the
i s c a l l e d , a n d I a m s u r e that a n a m e i s b e i n g c a l l e d , m y n a m e ,
p s y c h e i n F o u c a u l t — t h a t is, a s that w h i c h exceeds a n d c o n -
but it is in someone's incomprehensible speech, or worse, it is
f o u n d s the i n j u n c t i o n s of n o r m a l i z a t i o n . Is t h i s a b o d y p u r e
someone c o u g h i n g , or worse, a radiator w h i c h for a m o m e n t
Subjection, Resistance, Resignification
96
Between
Freud
and
Foucault
97
a p p r o x i m a t e s a h u m a n v o i c e . O r I a m s u r e that n o one has
s i b i l i t y o f the d i s c u r s i v e — t h a t is, s y m b o l i c — c o n s t i t u t i o n o f
n o t i c e d m y t r a n s g r e s s i o n , a n d that i t i s n o t m y n a m e that i s
i d e n t i t y . I d e n t i t y c a n n e v e r b e f u l l y t o t a l i z e d b y the s y m b o l i c ,
b e i n g c a l l e d , b u t o n l y a c o u g h i n g passerby, the h i g h p i t c h o f
for w h a t i t fails t o o r d e r w i l l e m e r g e w i t h i n the i m a g i n a r y a s
the h e a t i n g m e c h a n i s m — b u t i t i s m y n a m e , a n d yet I d o n o t
a d i s o r d e r , a site w h e r e i d e n t i t y is c o n t e s t e d .
r e c o g n i z e m y s e l f i n the subject that the n a m e , a t t h i s m o m e n t , installs.
H e n c e , i n a L a c a n i a n v e i n , J a c q u e l i n e R o s e f o r m u l a t e s the u n c o n s c i o u s a s that w h i c h t h w a r t s a n y effort o f the s y m b o l i c
16
C o n s i d e r the force o f t h i s d y n a m i c o f i n t e r p e l l a t i o n a n d
to constitute sexed identity coherently a n d fully, an u n c o n -
m i s r e c o g n i t i o n w h e n the n a m e i s n o t a p r o p e r n a m e b u t a
s c i o u s i n d i c a t e d b y the s l i p s a n d g a p s that c h a r a c t e r i z e the
a n d hence a signifier capable of b e i n g inter-
w o r k i n g s of the i m a g i n a r y in l a n g u a g e . I q u o t e a passage
preted in a n u m b e r of divergent a n d conflictual ways. To be
w h i c h has b e n e f i t t e d m a n y o f u s w h o h a v e s o u g h t t o f i n d
hailed as a " w o m a n " or "Jew" or "queer" or "Black" or " C h i -
in psychoanalysis a p r i n c i p l e of resistance to g i v e n forms of
cana" may be heard or interpreted as an affirmation or an
social reality:
social category,
17
i n s u l t , d e p e n d i n g o n the c o n t e x t i n w h i c h the h a i l i n g o c c u r s ( w h e r e context i s the effective h i s t o r i c i t y a n d s p a t i a l i t y o f the s i g n ) . I f that n a m e i s c a l l e d , there i s m o r e o f t e n t h a n n o t s o m e h e s i t a t i o n a b o u t w h e t h e r o r h o w t o r e s p o n d , for w h a t i s a t stake i s w h e t h e r the t e m p o r a r y t o t a l i z a t i o n p e r f o r m e d b y the n a m e i s p o l i t i c a l l y e n a b l i n g o r p a r a l y z i n g , w h e t h e r the f o r e c l o s u r e , i n d e e d the v i o l e n c e , o f the t o t a l i z i n g r e d u c t i o n o f i d e n t i t y p e r f o r m e d b y that p a r t i c u l a r h a i l i n g i s p o l i t i c a l l y strategic o r r e g r e s s i v e or, i f p a r a l y z i n g a n d regressive, also e n abling in some way. T h e A l t h u s s e r i a n u s e o f L a c a n centers o n the f u n c t i o n o f the
The unconscious constantly reveals the "failure" of identity. Because there is no continuity of psychic life, so there is no stability of sexual identity, no position for w o m e n (or for men) w h i c h is ever simply achieved. N o r does psychoanalysis see such "failure" as a specialcase inability or an i n d i v i d u a l deviancy from the norm. "Failure" is not a moment to be regretted in a process of adaptation, or development into normality,. . . "failure" is something endlessly repeated and relived moment by moment throughout our i n d i v i d u a l histories. It appears not only in the symptom, but also in dreams, in slips of the tongue and in forms of sexual pleasure w h i c h are pushed to the sidelines of the norm. . . . there is a resistance to identity at the very heart of psychic life. 18
i m a g i n a r y as the p e r m a n e n t p o s s i b i l i t y of misrecognition, that is, the i n c o m m e n s u r a b i l i t y b e t w e e n s y m b o l i c d e m a n d (the
In Discipline and Punish, F o u c a u l t p r e s u m e s the efficacy of
n a m e that i s i n t e r p e l l a t e d ) a n d the i n s t a b i l i t y a n d u n p r e d i c t -
the s y m b o l i c d e m a n d , its p e r f o r m a t i v e c a p a c i t y t o c o n s t i t u t e
a b i l i t y of its a p p r o p r i a t i o n . If the i n t e r p e l l a t e d n a m e seeks to
the subject w h o m it n a m e s . In The History of Sexuality, Vol-
a c c o m p l i s h the i d e n t i t y to w h i c h it refers, it b e g i n s as a p e r -
ume l, h o w e v e r , there is b o t h a r e j e c t i o n of "a s i n g l e l o c u s
f o r m a t i v e p r o c e s s w h i c h i s n e v e r t h e l e s s d e r a i l e d i n the i m a g i -
o f R e v o l t " — w h i c h w o u l d p r e s u m a b l y i n c l u d e the p s y c h e , the
n a r y , f o r the i m a g i n a r y i s s u r e l y p r e o c c u p i e d w i t h the l a w ,
i m a g i n a r y , o r the u n c o n s c i o u s w i t h i n its p u r v i e w — a n d a n
s t r u c t u r e d b y the l a w , b u t does n o t i m m e d i a t e l y o b e y the law.
affirmation of m u l t i p l e possibilities of resistance enabled by
F o r the L a c a n i a n , t h e n , the i m a g i n a r y s i g n i f i e s the i m p o s -
p o w e r itself. F o r F o u c a u l t , r e s i s t a n c e c a n n o t b e outside the l a w
Subjection, Resistance, Resignification
96
Between
Freud
and
Foucault
97
a p p r o x i m a t e s a h u m a n v o i c e . O r I a m s u r e that n o one has
s i b i l i t y o f the d i s c u r s i v e — t h a t is, s y m b o l i c — c o n s t i t u t i o n o f
n o t i c e d m y t r a n s g r e s s i o n , a n d that i t i s n o t m y n a m e that i s
i d e n t i t y . I d e n t i t y c a n n e v e r b e f u l l y t o t a l i z e d b y the s y m b o l i c ,
b e i n g c a l l e d , b u t o n l y a c o u g h i n g passerby, the h i g h p i t c h o f
for w h a t i t fails t o o r d e r w i l l e m e r g e w i t h i n the i m a g i n a r y a s
the h e a t i n g m e c h a n i s m — b u t i t i s m y n a m e , a n d yet I d o n o t
a d i s o r d e r , a site w h e r e i d e n t i t y is c o n t e s t e d .
r e c o g n i z e m y s e l f i n the subject that the n a m e , a t t h i s m o m e n t , installs.
H e n c e , i n a L a c a n i a n v e i n , J a c q u e l i n e R o s e f o r m u l a t e s the u n c o n s c i o u s a s that w h i c h t h w a r t s a n y effort o f the s y m b o l i c
16
C o n s i d e r the force o f t h i s d y n a m i c o f i n t e r p e l l a t i o n a n d
to constitute sexed identity coherently a n d fully, an u n c o n -
m i s r e c o g n i t i o n w h e n the n a m e i s n o t a p r o p e r n a m e b u t a
s c i o u s i n d i c a t e d b y the s l i p s a n d g a p s that c h a r a c t e r i z e the
a n d hence a signifier capable of b e i n g inter-
w o r k i n g s of the i m a g i n a r y in l a n g u a g e . I q u o t e a passage
preted in a n u m b e r of divergent a n d conflictual ways. To be
w h i c h has b e n e f i t t e d m a n y o f u s w h o h a v e s o u g h t t o f i n d
hailed as a " w o m a n " or "Jew" or "queer" or "Black" or " C h i -
in psychoanalysis a p r i n c i p l e of resistance to g i v e n forms of
cana" may be heard or interpreted as an affirmation or an
social reality:
social category,
17
i n s u l t , d e p e n d i n g o n the c o n t e x t i n w h i c h the h a i l i n g o c c u r s ( w h e r e context i s the effective h i s t o r i c i t y a n d s p a t i a l i t y o f the s i g n ) . I f that n a m e i s c a l l e d , there i s m o r e o f t e n t h a n n o t s o m e h e s i t a t i o n a b o u t w h e t h e r o r h o w t o r e s p o n d , for w h a t i s a t stake i s w h e t h e r the t e m p o r a r y t o t a l i z a t i o n p e r f o r m e d b y the n a m e i s p o l i t i c a l l y e n a b l i n g o r p a r a l y z i n g , w h e t h e r the f o r e c l o s u r e , i n d e e d the v i o l e n c e , o f the t o t a l i z i n g r e d u c t i o n o f i d e n t i t y p e r f o r m e d b y that p a r t i c u l a r h a i l i n g i s p o l i t i c a l l y strategic o r r e g r e s s i v e or, i f p a r a l y z i n g a n d regressive, also e n abling in some way. T h e A l t h u s s e r i a n u s e o f L a c a n centers o n the f u n c t i o n o f the
The unconscious constantly reveals the "failure" of identity. Because there is no continuity of psychic life, so there is no stability of sexual identity, no position for w o m e n (or for men) w h i c h is ever simply achieved. N o r does psychoanalysis see such "failure" as a specialcase inability or an i n d i v i d u a l deviancy from the norm. "Failure" is not a moment to be regretted in a process of adaptation, or development into normality,. . . "failure" is something endlessly repeated and relived moment by moment throughout our i n d i v i d u a l histories. It appears not only in the symptom, but also in dreams, in slips of the tongue and in forms of sexual pleasure w h i c h are pushed to the sidelines of the norm. . . . there is a resistance to identity at the very heart of psychic life. 18
i m a g i n a r y as the p e r m a n e n t p o s s i b i l i t y of misrecognition, that is, the i n c o m m e n s u r a b i l i t y b e t w e e n s y m b o l i c d e m a n d (the
In Discipline and Punish, F o u c a u l t p r e s u m e s the efficacy of
n a m e that i s i n t e r p e l l a t e d ) a n d the i n s t a b i l i t y a n d u n p r e d i c t -
the s y m b o l i c d e m a n d , its p e r f o r m a t i v e c a p a c i t y t o c o n s t i t u t e
a b i l i t y of its a p p r o p r i a t i o n . If the i n t e r p e l l a t e d n a m e seeks to
the subject w h o m it n a m e s . In The History of Sexuality, Vol-
a c c o m p l i s h the i d e n t i t y to w h i c h it refers, it b e g i n s as a p e r -
ume l, h o w e v e r , there is b o t h a r e j e c t i o n of "a s i n g l e l o c u s
f o r m a t i v e p r o c e s s w h i c h i s n e v e r t h e l e s s d e r a i l e d i n the i m a g i -
o f R e v o l t " — w h i c h w o u l d p r e s u m a b l y i n c l u d e the p s y c h e , the
n a r y , f o r the i m a g i n a r y i s s u r e l y p r e o c c u p i e d w i t h the l a w ,
i m a g i n a r y , o r the u n c o n s c i o u s w i t h i n its p u r v i e w — a n d a n
s t r u c t u r e d b y the l a w , b u t does n o t i m m e d i a t e l y o b e y the law.
affirmation of m u l t i p l e possibilities of resistance enabled by
F o r the L a c a n i a n , t h e n , the i m a g i n a r y s i g n i f i e s the i m p o s -
p o w e r itself. F o r F o u c a u l t , r e s i s t a n c e c a n n o t b e outside the l a w
98
Subjection, Resistance, Resignification
Between Freud and Foucault
99
i n a n o t h e r r e g i s t e r (the i m a g i n a r y ) o r i n that w h i c h e l u d e s the
p o w e r a n d u n d e r s t a n d s r e s i s t a n c e a s a n effect o f p o w e r . F o u -
c o n s t i t u t i v e p o w e r o f the l a w .
c a u l t ' s c o n c e p t i o n i n i t i a t e s a shift f r o m a d i s c o u r s e o n l a w , c o n -
there is no single locus of great Refusal, no soul of revolt, source of all rebellions, or pure law of the revolutionary. Instead there is a p l u rality of resistances, each of them a special case: resistances that are possible, necessary, improbable; others that are spontaneous, savage, solitary, concerted, rampant, or violent; still others that are quick to compromise, interested, or sacrificial; by definition, they can only exist in the strategic field of power relations. But this does not mean that they are only a reaction or rebound, forming w i t h respect to the basic domination an underside that is in the end always passive, doomed to perpetual defeat. 19
c e i v e d a s j u r i d i c a l ( a n d p r e s u p p o s i n g a subject s u b o r d i n a t e d by power), to a discourse on power, w h i c h is a field of p r o d u c t i v e , r e g u l a t o r y , a n d c o n t e s t a t o r y r e l a t i o n s . F o r F o u c a u l t , the s y m b o l i c p r o d u c e s the p o s s i b i l i t y o f its o w n s u b v e r s i o n s , a n d these s u b v e r s i o n s are u n a n t i c i p a t e d effects o f s y m b o l i c i n t e r pellations. T h e n o t i o n o f "the s y m b o l i c " d o e s n o t a d d r e s s the m u l t i p l i c i t y o f p o w e r v e c t o r s u p o n w h i c h F o u c a u l t i n s i s t s , for p o w e r i n F o u c a u l t n o t o n l y c o n s i s t s i n the r e i t e r a t e d e l a b o r a tion of norms or interpellating demands, but is formative or
T h i s last c a r i c a t u r e o f p o w e r , a l t h o u g h c l e a r l y w r i t t e n w i t h
productive, malleable, multiple, proliferative, a n d conflictual.
M a r c u s e i n m i n d , r e c a l l s the effect o f the L a c a n i a n l a w , w h i c h
M o r e o v e r , i n its r e s i g n i f i c a t i o n s , the l a w itself i s t r a n s m u t e d
p r o d u c e s its o w n " f a i l u r e " a t the l e v e l o f the p s y c h e , b u t w h i c h
i n t o that w h i c h o p p o s e s a n d exceeds its o r i g i n a l p u r p o s e s . I n
c a n n e v e r b e d i s p l a c e d o r r e f o r m u l a t e d b y that p s y c h i c r e -
t h i s sense, d i s c i p l i n a r y d i s c o u r s e d o e s n o t u n i l a t e r a l l y c o n s t i -
sistance. T h e i m a g i n a r y t h w a r t s the efficacy o f the s y m b o l i c
tute a subject in F o u c a u l t , or rather, if it does, it simultaneously
l a w b u t c a n n o t t u r n b a c k u p o n the l a w , d e m a n d i n g o r effect-
c o n s t i t u t e s the c o n d i t i o n for the subject's d e - c o n s t i t u t i o n .
i n g its r e f o r m u l a t i o n . I n t h i s sense, p s y c h i c r e s i s t a n c e t h w a r t s
W h a t i s b r o u g h t i n t o b e i n g t h r o u g h the p e r f o r m a t i v e effect o f
the l a w i n its effects, b u t c a n n o t r e d i r e c t the l a w o r its effects.
the i n t e r p e l l a t i n g d e m a n d i s m u c h m o r e t h a n a "subject," f o r
R e s i s t a n c e i s t h u s l o c a t e d i n a d o m a i n that i s v i r t u a l l y p o w e r -
the "subject" c r e a t e d i s n o t for that r e a s o n f i x e d i n p l a c e : i t
less t o alter the l a w that i t o p p o s e s . H e n c e , p s y c h i c r e s i s t a n c e
b e c o m e s the o c c a s i o n for a f u r t h e r m a k i n g . I n d e e d , I w o u l d
p r e s u m e s the c o n t i n u a t i o n o f the l a w i n its a n t e r i o r , s y m b o l i c
a d d , a subject o n l y r e m a i n s a subject t h r o u g h a r e i t e r a t i o n or
f o r m a n d , i n that sense, c o n t r i b u t e s t o its status q u o . I n s u c h a
r e a r t i c u l a t i o n of itself as a subject, a n d t h i s d e p e n d e n c y of the
v i e w , r e s i s t a n c e a p p e a r s d o o m e d t o p e r p e t u a l defeat.
subject o n r e p e t i t i o n for c o h e r e n c e m a y c o n s t i t u t e that s u b -
I n c o n t r a s t , F o u c a u l t f o r m u l a t e s r e s i s t a n c e a s a n effect o f
ject's i n c o h e r e n c e , its i n c o m p l e t e character. T h i s r e p e t i t i o n or,
the v e r y p o w e r that i t i s s a i d t o o p p o s e . T h i s i n s i s t e n c e o n
better, i t e r a b i l i t y t h u s b e c o m e s the n o n - p l a c e o f s u b v e r s i o n ,
the d u a l p o s s i b i l i t y o f b e i n g b o t h constituted b y the l a w a n d
the p o s s i b i l i t y o f a r e - e m b o d y i n g o f the s u b j e c t i v a t i n g n o r m
an effect of resistance to the l a w m a r k s a d e p a r t u r e f r o m the
that c a n r e d i r e c t its n o r m a t i v i t y .
L a c a n i a n f r a m e w o r k , f o r w h e r e L a c a n r e s t r i c t s the n o t i o n o f
C o n s i d e r the i n v e r s i o n s o f " w o m a n " a n d " w o m a n , " d e -
s o c i a l p o w e r t o the s y m b o l i c d o m a i n a n d delegates r e s i s t a n c e
p e n d i n g o n the s t a g i n g a n d a d d r e s s o f t h e i r p e r f o r m a n c e , o f
to the i m a g i n a r y , F o u c a u l t recasts the s y m b o l i c as r e l a t i o n s of
" q u e e r " a n d "queer," d e p e n d i n g o n p a t h o l o g i z i n g o r contes-
98
Subjection, Resistance, Resignification
Between Freud and Foucault
99
i n a n o t h e r r e g i s t e r (the i m a g i n a r y ) o r i n that w h i c h e l u d e s the
p o w e r a n d u n d e r s t a n d s r e s i s t a n c e a s a n effect o f p o w e r . F o u -
c o n s t i t u t i v e p o w e r o f the l a w .
c a u l t ' s c o n c e p t i o n i n i t i a t e s a shift f r o m a d i s c o u r s e o n l a w , c o n -
there is no single locus of great Refusal, no soul of revolt, source of all rebellions, or pure law of the revolutionary. Instead there is a p l u rality of resistances, each of them a special case: resistances that are possible, necessary, improbable; others that are spontaneous, savage, solitary, concerted, rampant, or violent; still others that are quick to compromise, interested, or sacrificial; by definition, they can only exist in the strategic field of power relations. But this does not mean that they are only a reaction or rebound, forming w i t h respect to the basic domination an underside that is in the end always passive, doomed to perpetual defeat. 19
c e i v e d a s j u r i d i c a l ( a n d p r e s u p p o s i n g a subject s u b o r d i n a t e d by power), to a discourse on power, w h i c h is a field of p r o d u c t i v e , r e g u l a t o r y , a n d c o n t e s t a t o r y r e l a t i o n s . F o r F o u c a u l t , the s y m b o l i c p r o d u c e s the p o s s i b i l i t y o f its o w n s u b v e r s i o n s , a n d these s u b v e r s i o n s are u n a n t i c i p a t e d effects o f s y m b o l i c i n t e r pellations. T h e n o t i o n o f "the s y m b o l i c " d o e s n o t a d d r e s s the m u l t i p l i c i t y o f p o w e r v e c t o r s u p o n w h i c h F o u c a u l t i n s i s t s , for p o w e r i n F o u c a u l t n o t o n l y c o n s i s t s i n the r e i t e r a t e d e l a b o r a tion of norms or interpellating demands, but is formative or
T h i s last c a r i c a t u r e o f p o w e r , a l t h o u g h c l e a r l y w r i t t e n w i t h
productive, malleable, multiple, proliferative, a n d conflictual.
M a r c u s e i n m i n d , r e c a l l s the effect o f the L a c a n i a n l a w , w h i c h
M o r e o v e r , i n its r e s i g n i f i c a t i o n s , the l a w itself i s t r a n s m u t e d
p r o d u c e s its o w n " f a i l u r e " a t the l e v e l o f the p s y c h e , b u t w h i c h
i n t o that w h i c h o p p o s e s a n d exceeds its o r i g i n a l p u r p o s e s . I n
c a n n e v e r b e d i s p l a c e d o r r e f o r m u l a t e d b y that p s y c h i c r e -
t h i s sense, d i s c i p l i n a r y d i s c o u r s e d o e s n o t u n i l a t e r a l l y c o n s t i -
sistance. T h e i m a g i n a r y t h w a r t s the efficacy o f the s y m b o l i c
tute a subject in F o u c a u l t , or rather, if it does, it simultaneously
l a w b u t c a n n o t t u r n b a c k u p o n the l a w , d e m a n d i n g o r effect-
c o n s t i t u t e s the c o n d i t i o n for the subject's d e - c o n s t i t u t i o n .
i n g its r e f o r m u l a t i o n . I n t h i s sense, p s y c h i c r e s i s t a n c e t h w a r t s
W h a t i s b r o u g h t i n t o b e i n g t h r o u g h the p e r f o r m a t i v e effect o f
the l a w i n its effects, b u t c a n n o t r e d i r e c t the l a w o r its effects.
the i n t e r p e l l a t i n g d e m a n d i s m u c h m o r e t h a n a "subject," f o r
R e s i s t a n c e i s t h u s l o c a t e d i n a d o m a i n that i s v i r t u a l l y p o w e r -
the "subject" c r e a t e d i s n o t for that r e a s o n f i x e d i n p l a c e : i t
less t o alter the l a w that i t o p p o s e s . H e n c e , p s y c h i c r e s i s t a n c e
b e c o m e s the o c c a s i o n for a f u r t h e r m a k i n g . I n d e e d , I w o u l d
p r e s u m e s the c o n t i n u a t i o n o f the l a w i n its a n t e r i o r , s y m b o l i c
a d d , a subject o n l y r e m a i n s a subject t h r o u g h a r e i t e r a t i o n or
f o r m a n d , i n that sense, c o n t r i b u t e s t o its status q u o . I n s u c h a
r e a r t i c u l a t i o n of itself as a subject, a n d t h i s d e p e n d e n c y of the
v i e w , r e s i s t a n c e a p p e a r s d o o m e d t o p e r p e t u a l defeat.
subject o n r e p e t i t i o n for c o h e r e n c e m a y c o n s t i t u t e that s u b -
I n c o n t r a s t , F o u c a u l t f o r m u l a t e s r e s i s t a n c e a s a n effect o f
ject's i n c o h e r e n c e , its i n c o m p l e t e character. T h i s r e p e t i t i o n or,
the v e r y p o w e r that i t i s s a i d t o o p p o s e . T h i s i n s i s t e n c e o n
better, i t e r a b i l i t y t h u s b e c o m e s the n o n - p l a c e o f s u b v e r s i o n ,
the d u a l p o s s i b i l i t y o f b e i n g b o t h constituted b y the l a w a n d
the p o s s i b i l i t y o f a r e - e m b o d y i n g o f the s u b j e c t i v a t i n g n o r m
an effect of resistance to the l a w m a r k s a d e p a r t u r e f r o m the
that c a n r e d i r e c t its n o r m a t i v i t y .
L a c a n i a n f r a m e w o r k , f o r w h e r e L a c a n r e s t r i c t s the n o t i o n o f
C o n s i d e r the i n v e r s i o n s o f " w o m a n " a n d " w o m a n , " d e -
s o c i a l p o w e r t o the s y m b o l i c d o m a i n a n d delegates r e s i s t a n c e
p e n d i n g o n the s t a g i n g a n d a d d r e s s o f t h e i r p e r f o r m a n c e , o f
to the i m a g i n a r y , F o u c a u l t recasts the s y m b o l i c as r e l a t i o n s of
" q u e e r " a n d "queer," d e p e n d i n g o n p a t h o l o g i z i n g o r contes-
100
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Between
Freud
and
Foucault
101
tatory modes. B o t h examples concern, not an o p p o s i t i o n be-
o f s u b j e c t i v i t y f o r m e d i n a n d against the h i s t o r i c a l h e g e m o n y
t w e e n r e a c t i o n a r y a n d p r o g r e s s i v e usage, b u t r a t h e r a p r o -
of the j u r i d i c a l subject:
g r e s s i v e u s a g e that r e q u i r e s a n d r e p e a t s the r e a c t i o n a r y i n o r d e r to effect a s u b v e r s i v e r e t e r r i t o r i a l i z a t i o n . F o r F o u c a u l t , t h e n , the d i s c i p l i n a r y a p p a r a t u s p r o d u c e s subjects, b u t as a c o n s e q u e n c e o f that p r o d u c t i o n , i t b r i n g s i n t o d i s c o u r s e the c o n d i t i o n s for s u b v e r t i n g that a p p a r a t u s itself. I n o t h e r w o r d s , the l a w t u r n s a g a i n s t itself a n d s p a w n s v e r s i o n s o f itself w h i c h o p p o s e a n d p r o l i f e r a t e its a n i m a t i n g p u r p o s e s . T h e strategic q u e s t i o n for F o u c a u l t is, t h e n , h o w c a n w e w o r k the p o w e r r e l a t i o n s b y w h i c h w e are w o r k e d , a n d i n w h a t d i r e c t i o n ? I n h i s later i n t e r v i e w s , F o u c a u l t suggests that i d e n t i t i e s are
Maybe the target nowadays is not to discover what we are, but to refuse what we are. We have to imagine and b u i l d up what we could be to get r i d of this k i n d of political "double b i n d , " w h i c h is the simultaneous individualization and totalization of modern power structures. . . . The conclusion w o u l d be that the political, ethical, social, philosophical problem of our days is not to try to liberate us both from the state, and from the state's institutions, but to liberate us from the state and the type of individualization w h i c h is linked to the state. We have to promote new forms of subjectivity through the refusal of this k i n d of individuality w h i c h has been imposed on us for several centuries. 20
formed w i t h i n contemporary political arrangements in relat i o n t o c e r t a i n r e q u i r e m e n t s o f the l i b e r a l state, ones w h i c h
T w o sets o f q u e s t i o n s e m e r g e f r o m the a b o v e a n a l y s i s . F i r s t ,
p r e s u m e that the a s s e r t i o n o f r i g h t s a n d c l a i m s t o e n t i t l e m e n t
w h y c a n F o u c a u l t f o r m u l a t e r e s i s t a n c e i n r e l a t i o n t o the d i s c i -
c a n o n l y b e m a d e o n the basis o f a s i n g u l a r a n d i n j u r e d i d e n -
p l i n a r y p o w e r of s e x u a l i t y in The History of Sexuality, w h e r e a s
tity. T h e m o r e specific i d e n t i t i e s b e c o m e , the m o r e t o t a l i z e d
in Discipline and Punish d i s c i p l i n a r y p o w e r a p p e a r s to deter-
a n i d e n t i t y b e c o m e s b y that v e r y s p e c i f i c i t y . I n d e e d , w e m i g h t
m i n e d o c i l e b o d i e s i n c a p a b l e o f resistance? I s there s o m e t h i n g
u n d e r s t a n d t h i s c o n t e m p o r a r y p h e n o m e n o n a s the m o v e m e n t
a b o u t the r e l a t i o n s h i p of sexuality to p o w e r that c o n d i t i o n s the
b y w h i c h a j u r i d i c a l a p p a r a t u s p r o d u c e s the f i e l d o f p o s s i b l e
p o s s i b i l i t y o f r e s i s t a n c e i n the f i r s t text, a n d a n o t e d absence
p o l i t i c a l subjects. B e c a u s e for F o u c a u l t the d i s c i p l i n a r y a p p a -
o f a c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f s e x u a l i t y f r o m the d i s c u s s i o n o f p o w e r
r a t u s o f the state operates t h r o u g h the t o t a l i z i n g p r o d u c t i o n
a n d b o d i e s in the s e c o n d ? N o t e that in the History of Sexuality
o f i n d i v i d u a l s , a n d b e c a u s e t h i s t o t a l i z a t i o n o f the i n d i v i d u a l
the r e p r e s s i v e f u n c t i o n o f the l a w i s u n d e r m i n e d p r e c i s e l y
e x t e n d s the j u r i s d i c t i o n o f the state (i.e., b y t r a n s f o r m i n g i n d i -
t h r o u g h b e c o m i n g itself the object o f e r o t i c i n v e s t m e n t a n d ex-
v i d u a l s i n t o subjects o f the state), F o u c a u l t w i l l c a l l for a r e -
c i t a t i o n . D i s c i p l i n a r y a p p a r a t u s fails t o r e p r e s s s e x u a l i t y p r e -
m a k i n g o f s u b j e c t i v i t y b e y o n d the s h a c k l e s o f the j u r i d i c a l law.
c i s e l y b e c a u s e the a p p a r a t u s i s itself e r o t i c i z e d , b e c o m i n g the
I n t h i s sense, w h a t w e c a l l i d e n t i t y p o l i t i c s i s p r o d u c e d b y a
o c c a s i o n for the incitement of sexuality a n d , therefore, u n d o i n g
state w h i c h c a n o n l y a l l o c a t e r e c o g n i t i o n a n d r i g h t s t o s u b jects t o t a l i z e d b y the p a r t i c u l a r i t y that c o n s t i t u t e s t h e i r p l a i n tiff status. I n c a l l i n g for a n o v e r t h r o w , a s i t w e r e , o f s u c h a n a r r a n g e m e n t , F o u c a u l t i s n o t c a l l i n g f o r the release o f a h i d d e n o r r e p r e s s e d s u b j e c t i v i t y , b u t rather, for a r a d i c a l m a k i n g
its o w n r e p r e s s i v e a i m s . Second, w i t h this transferable p r o p e r t y of sexual investm e n t s i n m i n d , w e m i g h t ask w h a t c o n d i t i o n s the p o s s i b i l i t y F o u c a u l t i n v i t e s , that o f r e f u s i n g the t y p e o f i n d i v i d u a l i t y c o r r e l a t e d w i t h the d i s c i p l i n a r y a p p a r a t u s o f the m o d e r n state?
100
Subjection, Resistance, Resignification
T
Between
Freud
and
Foucault
101
tatory modes. B o t h examples concern, not an o p p o s i t i o n be-
o f s u b j e c t i v i t y f o r m e d i n a n d against the h i s t o r i c a l h e g e m o n y
t w e e n r e a c t i o n a r y a n d p r o g r e s s i v e usage, b u t r a t h e r a p r o -
of the j u r i d i c a l subject:
g r e s s i v e u s a g e that r e q u i r e s a n d r e p e a t s the r e a c t i o n a r y i n o r d e r to effect a s u b v e r s i v e r e t e r r i t o r i a l i z a t i o n . F o r F o u c a u l t , t h e n , the d i s c i p l i n a r y a p p a r a t u s p r o d u c e s subjects, b u t as a c o n s e q u e n c e o f that p r o d u c t i o n , i t b r i n g s i n t o d i s c o u r s e the c o n d i t i o n s for s u b v e r t i n g that a p p a r a t u s itself. I n o t h e r w o r d s , the l a w t u r n s a g a i n s t itself a n d s p a w n s v e r s i o n s o f itself w h i c h o p p o s e a n d p r o l i f e r a t e its a n i m a t i n g p u r p o s e s . T h e strategic q u e s t i o n for F o u c a u l t is, t h e n , h o w c a n w e w o r k the p o w e r r e l a t i o n s b y w h i c h w e are w o r k e d , a n d i n w h a t d i r e c t i o n ? I n h i s later i n t e r v i e w s , F o u c a u l t suggests that i d e n t i t i e s are
Maybe the target nowadays is not to discover what we are, but to refuse what we are. We have to imagine and b u i l d up what we could be to get r i d of this k i n d of political "double b i n d , " w h i c h is the simultaneous individualization and totalization of modern power structures. . . . The conclusion w o u l d be that the political, ethical, social, philosophical problem of our days is not to try to liberate us both from the state, and from the state's institutions, but to liberate us from the state and the type of individualization w h i c h is linked to the state. We have to promote new forms of subjectivity through the refusal of this k i n d of individuality w h i c h has been imposed on us for several centuries. 20
formed w i t h i n contemporary political arrangements in relat i o n t o c e r t a i n r e q u i r e m e n t s o f the l i b e r a l state, ones w h i c h
T w o sets o f q u e s t i o n s e m e r g e f r o m the a b o v e a n a l y s i s . F i r s t ,
p r e s u m e that the a s s e r t i o n o f r i g h t s a n d c l a i m s t o e n t i t l e m e n t
w h y c a n F o u c a u l t f o r m u l a t e r e s i s t a n c e i n r e l a t i o n t o the d i s c i -
c a n o n l y b e m a d e o n the basis o f a s i n g u l a r a n d i n j u r e d i d e n -
p l i n a r y p o w e r of s e x u a l i t y in The History of Sexuality, w h e r e a s
tity. T h e m o r e specific i d e n t i t i e s b e c o m e , the m o r e t o t a l i z e d
in Discipline and Punish d i s c i p l i n a r y p o w e r a p p e a r s to deter-
a n i d e n t i t y b e c o m e s b y that v e r y s p e c i f i c i t y . I n d e e d , w e m i g h t
m i n e d o c i l e b o d i e s i n c a p a b l e o f resistance? I s there s o m e t h i n g
u n d e r s t a n d t h i s c o n t e m p o r a r y p h e n o m e n o n a s the m o v e m e n t
a b o u t the r e l a t i o n s h i p of sexuality to p o w e r that c o n d i t i o n s the
b y w h i c h a j u r i d i c a l a p p a r a t u s p r o d u c e s the f i e l d o f p o s s i b l e
p o s s i b i l i t y o f r e s i s t a n c e i n the f i r s t text, a n d a n o t e d absence
p o l i t i c a l subjects. B e c a u s e for F o u c a u l t the d i s c i p l i n a r y a p p a -
o f a c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f s e x u a l i t y f r o m the d i s c u s s i o n o f p o w e r
r a t u s o f the state operates t h r o u g h the t o t a l i z i n g p r o d u c t i o n
a n d b o d i e s in the s e c o n d ? N o t e that in the History of Sexuality
o f i n d i v i d u a l s , a n d b e c a u s e t h i s t o t a l i z a t i o n o f the i n d i v i d u a l
the r e p r e s s i v e f u n c t i o n o f the l a w i s u n d e r m i n e d p r e c i s e l y
e x t e n d s the j u r i s d i c t i o n o f the state (i.e., b y t r a n s f o r m i n g i n d i -
t h r o u g h b e c o m i n g itself the object o f e r o t i c i n v e s t m e n t a n d ex-
v i d u a l s i n t o subjects o f the state), F o u c a u l t w i l l c a l l for a r e -
c i t a t i o n . D i s c i p l i n a r y a p p a r a t u s fails t o r e p r e s s s e x u a l i t y p r e -
m a k i n g o f s u b j e c t i v i t y b e y o n d the s h a c k l e s o f the j u r i d i c a l law.
c i s e l y b e c a u s e the a p p a r a t u s i s itself e r o t i c i z e d , b e c o m i n g the
I n t h i s sense, w h a t w e c a l l i d e n t i t y p o l i t i c s i s p r o d u c e d b y a
o c c a s i o n for the incitement of sexuality a n d , therefore, u n d o i n g
state w h i c h c a n o n l y a l l o c a t e r e c o g n i t i o n a n d r i g h t s t o s u b jects t o t a l i z e d b y the p a r t i c u l a r i t y that c o n s t i t u t e s t h e i r p l a i n tiff status. I n c a l l i n g for a n o v e r t h r o w , a s i t w e r e , o f s u c h a n a r r a n g e m e n t , F o u c a u l t i s n o t c a l l i n g f o r the release o f a h i d d e n o r r e p r e s s e d s u b j e c t i v i t y , b u t rather, for a r a d i c a l m a k i n g
its o w n r e p r e s s i v e a i m s . Second, w i t h this transferable p r o p e r t y of sexual investm e n t s i n m i n d , w e m i g h t ask w h a t c o n d i t i o n s the p o s s i b i l i t y F o u c a u l t i n v i t e s , that o f r e f u s i n g the t y p e o f i n d i v i d u a l i t y c o r r e l a t e d w i t h the d i s c i p l i n a r y a p p a r a t u s o f the m o d e r n state?
r 102
Subjection, Resistance, Resignification
Between Freud and Foucault
103
A n d h o w d o w e a c c o u n t for attachment t o p r e c i s e l y the k i n d
r e s i d u e o f d e s i r e , the effect o f i n c o r p o r a t i o n s w h i c h , F r e u d ar-
o f s t a t e - l i n k e d i n d i v i d u a l i t y that r e c o n s o l i d a t e s the j u r i d i c a l
gues in The Ego and the Id, trace a l i n e a g e of a t t a c h m e n t a n d
l a w ? T o w h a t extent h a s the d i s c i p l i n a r y a p p a r a t u s that at-
loss.
tempts to produce a n d totalize identity become an abiding
I n F r e u d ' s v i e w , the f o r m a t i o n o f c o n s c i e n c e enacts a n at-
object o f p a s s i o n a t e a t t a c h m e n t ? W e c a n n o t s i m p l y t h r o w off
t a c h m e n t t o p r o h i b i t i o n w h i c h f o u n d s the subject i n its reflex-
the i d e n t i t i e s w e h a v e b e c o m e , a n d F o u c a u l t ' s c a l l t o " r e f u s e "
i v i t y . U n d e r the p r e s s u r e of the e t h i c a l l a w , a subject e m e r g e s
those i d e n t i t i e s w i l l c e r t a i n l y b e m e t w i t h resistance. I f w e r e -
w h o i s c a p a b l e o f r e f l e x i v i t y , that is, w h o takes h i m / h e r s e l f
ject t h e o r e t i c a l l y the s o u r c e o f r e s i s t a n c e i n a p s y c h i c d o m a i n
a s a n object, a n d s o m i s t a k e s h i m / h e r s e l f , s i n c e he/she is, b y
that i s s a i d t o p r e c e d e o r e x c e e d the s o c i a l ,
as we must, can
v i r t u e o f that f o u n d i n g p r o h i b i t i o n , a t a n i n f i n i t e d i s t a n c e f r o m
we r e f o r m u l a t e p s y c h i c r e s i s t a n c e in terms of the social w i t h o u t
h i s / h e r o r i g i n . O n l y o n the c o n d i t i o n o f a s e p a r a t i o n e n f o r c e d
that r e f o r m u l a t i o n b e c o m i n g a d o m e s t i c a t i o n o r n o r m a l i z a -
t h r o u g h p r o h i b i t i o n d o e s a subject e m e r g e , f o r m e d t h r o u g h
t i o n ? ( M u s t the s o c i a l a l w a y s b e e q u a t e d w i t h the g i v e n a n d
the a t t a c h m e n t t o p r o h i b i t i o n ( i n o b e d i e n c e t o i t , b u t a l s o e r o t i -
the n o r m a l i z a b l e ? ) I n p a r t i c u l a r , h o w are w e t o u n d e r s t a n d ,
c i z i n g it). A n d t h i s p r o h i b i t i o n i s a l l the m o r e s a v o r y p r e c i s e l y
n o t m e r e l y the d i s c i p l i n a r y p r o d u c t i o n o f the subject, b u t the
b e c a u s e i t i s b o u n d u p i n the n a r c i s s i s t i c c i r c u i t that w a r d s off
d i s c i p l i n a r y c u l t i v a t i o n of an attachment to subjection?
the d i s s o l u t i o n o f the subject i n t o p s y c h o s i s .
21
22
S u c h a p o s t u l a t i o n m a y raise the q u e s t i o n o f m a s o c h i s m —
F o r F o u c a u l t , a subject i s f o r m e d a n d t h e n i n v e s t e d w i t h a
i n d e e d , the q u e s t i o n o f m a s o c h i s m i n s u b j e c t - f o r m a t i o n — y e t
s e x u a l i t y by a r e g i m e of p o w e r . If the v e r y p r o c e s s of subject-
i t d o e s n o t a n s w e r the q u e s t i o n o f the status o f " a t t a c h m e n t "
f o r m a t i o n , h o w e v e r , r e q u i r e s a p r e e m p t i o n of s e x u a l i t y , a
o r " i n v e s t m e n t . " H e r e e m e r g e s the g r a m m a t i c a l p r o b l e m b y
f o u n d i n g p r o h i b i t i o n that p r o h i b i t s a c e r t a i n d e s i r e b u t itself
w h i c h a n a t t a c h m e n t a p p e a r s t o p r e c e d e the subject w h o
b e c o m e s a f o c u s of d e s i r e , t h e n a subject is f o r m e d t h r o u g h the
m i g h t b e s a i d t o " h a v e " it. Yet i t s e e m s c r u c i a l t o s u s p e n d the
p r o h i b i t i o n of a s e x u a l i t y , a p r o h i b i t i o n that at the s a m e t i m e
usual grammatical requirements a n d consider an inversion of
f o r m s t h i s s e x u a l i t y — a n d the subject w h o i s s a i d t o b e a r it.
t e r m s s u c h that c e r t a i n a t t a c h m e n t s p r e c e d e a n d c o n d i t i o n the
T h i s v i e w d i s p u t e s the F o u c a u l t i a n n o t i o n that p s y c h o a n a l y s i s
f o r m a t i o n o f subjects (the v i s u a l i z a t i o n o f l i b i d o i n the m i r r o r
p r e s u m e s the e x t e r i o r i t y o f the l a w t o d e s i r e , f o r i t m a i n t a i n s
stage, the s u s t a i n i n g o f that p r o j e c t e d i m a g e t h r o u g h t i m e a s
that there i s n o d e s i r e w i t h o u t the l a w that f o r m s a n d s u s -
the d i s c u r s i v e f u n c t i o n o f the n a m e ) . I s t h i s t h e n a n o n t o l o g y
t a i n s the v e r y d e s i r e i t p r o h i b i t s . I n d e e d , p r o h i b i t i o n b e c o m e s
o f l i b i d o o r i n v e s t m e n t that i s i n s o m e sense p r i o r t o a n d sepa-
a n o d d f o r m o f p r e s e r v a t i o n , a w a y o f e r o t i c i z i n g the l a w that
r a b l e f r o m a subject, o r i s e v e r y s u c h i n v e s t m e n t f r o m the start
w o u l d abolish eroticism, but w h i c h only works by compelling
b o u n d u p w i t h a r e f l e x i v i t y that i s s t a b i l i z e d ( w i t h i n the i m a g i -
e r o t i c i z a t i o n . In t h i s sense, a " s e x u a l i d e n t i t y " is a p r o d u c t i v e
n a r y ) as the ego? If the ego is c o m p o s e d of i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s , a n d
contradiction in terms, for identity is f o r m e d t h r o u g h a p r o -
i d e n t i f i c a t i o n is the r e s o l u t i o n of d e s i r e , t h e n the ego is the
h i b i t i o n o n s o m e d i m e n s i o n o f the v e r y s e x u a l i t y i t i s s a i d t o
r 102
Subjection, Resistance, Resignification
Between Freud and Foucault
103
A n d h o w d o w e a c c o u n t for attachment t o p r e c i s e l y the k i n d
r e s i d u e o f d e s i r e , the effect o f i n c o r p o r a t i o n s w h i c h , F r e u d ar-
o f s t a t e - l i n k e d i n d i v i d u a l i t y that r e c o n s o l i d a t e s the j u r i d i c a l
gues in The Ego and the Id, trace a l i n e a g e of a t t a c h m e n t a n d
l a w ? T o w h a t extent h a s the d i s c i p l i n a r y a p p a r a t u s that at-
loss.
tempts to produce a n d totalize identity become an abiding
I n F r e u d ' s v i e w , the f o r m a t i o n o f c o n s c i e n c e enacts a n at-
object o f p a s s i o n a t e a t t a c h m e n t ? W e c a n n o t s i m p l y t h r o w off
t a c h m e n t t o p r o h i b i t i o n w h i c h f o u n d s the subject i n its reflex-
the i d e n t i t i e s w e h a v e b e c o m e , a n d F o u c a u l t ' s c a l l t o " r e f u s e "
i v i t y . U n d e r the p r e s s u r e of the e t h i c a l l a w , a subject e m e r g e s
those i d e n t i t i e s w i l l c e r t a i n l y b e m e t w i t h resistance. I f w e r e -
w h o i s c a p a b l e o f r e f l e x i v i t y , that is, w h o takes h i m / h e r s e l f
ject t h e o r e t i c a l l y the s o u r c e o f r e s i s t a n c e i n a p s y c h i c d o m a i n
a s a n object, a n d s o m i s t a k e s h i m / h e r s e l f , s i n c e he/she is, b y
that i s s a i d t o p r e c e d e o r e x c e e d the s o c i a l ,
as we must, can
v i r t u e o f that f o u n d i n g p r o h i b i t i o n , a t a n i n f i n i t e d i s t a n c e f r o m
we r e f o r m u l a t e p s y c h i c r e s i s t a n c e in terms of the social w i t h o u t
h i s / h e r o r i g i n . O n l y o n the c o n d i t i o n o f a s e p a r a t i o n e n f o r c e d
that r e f o r m u l a t i o n b e c o m i n g a d o m e s t i c a t i o n o r n o r m a l i z a -
t h r o u g h p r o h i b i t i o n d o e s a subject e m e r g e , f o r m e d t h r o u g h
t i o n ? ( M u s t the s o c i a l a l w a y s b e e q u a t e d w i t h the g i v e n a n d
the a t t a c h m e n t t o p r o h i b i t i o n ( i n o b e d i e n c e t o i t , b u t a l s o e r o t i -
the n o r m a l i z a b l e ? ) I n p a r t i c u l a r , h o w are w e t o u n d e r s t a n d ,
c i z i n g it). A n d t h i s p r o h i b i t i o n i s a l l the m o r e s a v o r y p r e c i s e l y
n o t m e r e l y the d i s c i p l i n a r y p r o d u c t i o n o f the subject, b u t the
b e c a u s e i t i s b o u n d u p i n the n a r c i s s i s t i c c i r c u i t that w a r d s off
d i s c i p l i n a r y c u l t i v a t i o n of an attachment to subjection?
the d i s s o l u t i o n o f the subject i n t o p s y c h o s i s .
21
22
S u c h a p o s t u l a t i o n m a y raise the q u e s t i o n o f m a s o c h i s m —
F o r F o u c a u l t , a subject i s f o r m e d a n d t h e n i n v e s t e d w i t h a
i n d e e d , the q u e s t i o n o f m a s o c h i s m i n s u b j e c t - f o r m a t i o n — y e t
s e x u a l i t y by a r e g i m e of p o w e r . If the v e r y p r o c e s s of subject-
i t d o e s n o t a n s w e r the q u e s t i o n o f the status o f " a t t a c h m e n t "
f o r m a t i o n , h o w e v e r , r e q u i r e s a p r e e m p t i o n of s e x u a l i t y , a
o r " i n v e s t m e n t . " H e r e e m e r g e s the g r a m m a t i c a l p r o b l e m b y
f o u n d i n g p r o h i b i t i o n that p r o h i b i t s a c e r t a i n d e s i r e b u t itself
w h i c h a n a t t a c h m e n t a p p e a r s t o p r e c e d e the subject w h o
b e c o m e s a f o c u s of d e s i r e , t h e n a subject is f o r m e d t h r o u g h the
m i g h t b e s a i d t o " h a v e " it. Yet i t s e e m s c r u c i a l t o s u s p e n d the
p r o h i b i t i o n of a s e x u a l i t y , a p r o h i b i t i o n that at the s a m e t i m e
usual grammatical requirements a n d consider an inversion of
f o r m s t h i s s e x u a l i t y — a n d the subject w h o i s s a i d t o b e a r it.
t e r m s s u c h that c e r t a i n a t t a c h m e n t s p r e c e d e a n d c o n d i t i o n the
T h i s v i e w d i s p u t e s the F o u c a u l t i a n n o t i o n that p s y c h o a n a l y s i s
f o r m a t i o n o f subjects (the v i s u a l i z a t i o n o f l i b i d o i n the m i r r o r
p r e s u m e s the e x t e r i o r i t y o f the l a w t o d e s i r e , f o r i t m a i n t a i n s
stage, the s u s t a i n i n g o f that p r o j e c t e d i m a g e t h r o u g h t i m e a s
that there i s n o d e s i r e w i t h o u t the l a w that f o r m s a n d s u s -
the d i s c u r s i v e f u n c t i o n o f the n a m e ) . I s t h i s t h e n a n o n t o l o g y
t a i n s the v e r y d e s i r e i t p r o h i b i t s . I n d e e d , p r o h i b i t i o n b e c o m e s
o f l i b i d o o r i n v e s t m e n t that i s i n s o m e sense p r i o r t o a n d sepa-
a n o d d f o r m o f p r e s e r v a t i o n , a w a y o f e r o t i c i z i n g the l a w that
r a b l e f r o m a subject, o r i s e v e r y s u c h i n v e s t m e n t f r o m the start
w o u l d abolish eroticism, but w h i c h only works by compelling
b o u n d u p w i t h a r e f l e x i v i t y that i s s t a b i l i z e d ( w i t h i n the i m a g i -
e r o t i c i z a t i o n . In t h i s sense, a " s e x u a l i d e n t i t y " is a p r o d u c t i v e
n a r y ) as the ego? If the ego is c o m p o s e d of i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s , a n d
contradiction in terms, for identity is f o r m e d t h r o u g h a p r o -
i d e n t i f i c a t i o n is the r e s o l u t i o n of d e s i r e , t h e n the ego is the
h i b i t i o n o n s o m e d i m e n s i o n o f the v e r y s e x u a l i t y i t i s s a i d t o
104
Subjection, Resistance, Resignification
Between Freud and Foucault
105
bear, a n d s e x u a l i t y , w h e n i t i s t i e d t o i d e n t i t y , i s a l w a y s i n
i d e n t i t y t h r o u g h i n j u r y . T h i s i s n o t the s a m e a s s a y i n g that
s o m e sense u n d e r c u t t i n g itself.
s u c h a n i d e n t i t y w i l l r e m a i n a l w a y s a n d f o r e v e r r o o t e d i n its
T h i s is n o t n e c e s s a r i l y a static c o n t r a d i c t i o n , f o r the s i g n i -
i n j u r y a s l o n g a s i t r e m a i n s a n i d e n t i t y , b u t i t does i m p l y that
fiers o f i d e n t i t y are n o t s t r u c t u r a l l y d e t e r m i n e d i n a d v a n c e . I f
the p o s s i b i l i t i e s o f r e s i g n i f i c a t i o n w i l l r e w o r k a n d u n s e t t l e the
F o u c a u l t c o u l d a r g u e that a s i g n c o u l d b e t a k e n u p , u s e d f o r
p a s s i o n a t e a t t a c h m e n t t o s u b j e c t i o n w i t h o u t w h i c h subject for-
p u r p o s e s c o u n t e r t o t h o s e for w h i c h i t w a s d e s i g n e d , t h e n h e
m a t i o n — a n d r e - f o r m a t i o n — c a n n o t succeed.
u n d e r s t o o d that e v e n the m o s t n o x i o u s t e r m s c o u l d b e o w n e d , that the m o s t i n j u r i o u s i n t e r p e l l a t i o n s c o u l d also b e the site o f r a d i c a l r e o c c u p a t i o n a n d r e s i g n i f i c a t i o n . B u t w h a t lets u s o c c u p y the d i s c u r s i v e site o f i n j u r y ? H o w are w e a n i m a t e d a n d m o b i l i z e d b y that d i s c u r s i v e site a n d its i n j u r y , s u c h that o u r v e r y a t t a c h m e n t t o i t b e c o m e s the c o n d i t i o n for o u r r e s i g n i f i c a t i o n o f it? C a l l e d b y a n i n j u r i o u s n a m e , I c o m e i n t o s o c i a l b e i n g , a n d b e c a u s e I h a v e a c e r t a i n i n e v i t a b l e attachm e n t t o m y existence, b e c a u s e a c e r t a i n n a r c i s s i s m takes h o l d o f a n y t e r m that confers existence, I a m l e d t o e m b r a c e the t e r m s that i n j u r e m e b e c a u s e t h e y c o n s t i t u t e m e s o c i a l l y . T h e s e l f - c o l o n i z i n g trajectory o f c e r t a i n f o r m s o f i d e n t i t y p o l i t i c s are s y m p t o m a t i c o f this p a r a d o x i c a l e m b r a c e o f the i n j u r i o u s term. As a further paradox, then, only by o c c u p y i n g — b e i n g o c c u p i e d b y — t h a t i n j u r i o u s t e r m c a n I resist a n d o p p o s e i t , r e c a s t i n g the p o w e r that c o n s t i t u t e s me as the p o w e r I o p p o s e . I n t h i s w a y , a c e r t a i n p l a c e for p s y c h o a n a l y s i s i s s e c u r e d i n that a n y m o b i l i z a t i o n against s u b j e c t i o n w i l l t a k e s u b j e c t i o n a s its r e s o u r c e , a n d that a t t a c h m e n t t o a n i n j u r i o u s i n t e r p e l l a tion w i l l , by w a y of a necessarily alienated narcissism, become the c o n d i t i o n u n d e r w h i c h r e s i g n i f y i n g that i n t e r p e l l a t i o n b e comes possible. This w i l l not be an unconscious outside of p o w e r , b u t rather s o m e t h i n g l i k e the u n c o n s c i o u s o f p o w e r itself, i n its t r a u m a t i c a n d p r o d u c t i v e i t e r a b i l i t y . If, t h e n , w e u n d e r s t a n d c e r t a i n k i n d s o f i n t e r p e l l a t i o n s t o c o n f e r i d e n t i t y , those i n j u r i o u s i n t e r p e l l a t i o n s w i l l c o n s t i t u t e
104
Subjection, Resistance, Resignification
Between Freud and Foucault
105
bear, a n d s e x u a l i t y , w h e n i t i s t i e d t o i d e n t i t y , i s a l w a y s i n
i d e n t i t y t h r o u g h i n j u r y . T h i s i s n o t the s a m e a s s a y i n g that
s o m e sense u n d e r c u t t i n g itself.
s u c h a n i d e n t i t y w i l l r e m a i n a l w a y s a n d f o r e v e r r o o t e d i n its
T h i s is n o t n e c e s s a r i l y a static c o n t r a d i c t i o n , f o r the s i g n i -
i n j u r y a s l o n g a s i t r e m a i n s a n i d e n t i t y , b u t i t does i m p l y that
fiers o f i d e n t i t y are n o t s t r u c t u r a l l y d e t e r m i n e d i n a d v a n c e . I f
the p o s s i b i l i t i e s o f r e s i g n i f i c a t i o n w i l l r e w o r k a n d u n s e t t l e the
F o u c a u l t c o u l d a r g u e that a s i g n c o u l d b e t a k e n u p , u s e d f o r
p a s s i o n a t e a t t a c h m e n t t o s u b j e c t i o n w i t h o u t w h i c h subject for-
p u r p o s e s c o u n t e r t o t h o s e for w h i c h i t w a s d e s i g n e d , t h e n h e
m a t i o n — a n d r e - f o r m a t i o n — c a n n o t succeed.
u n d e r s t o o d that e v e n the m o s t n o x i o u s t e r m s c o u l d b e o w n e d , that the m o s t i n j u r i o u s i n t e r p e l l a t i o n s c o u l d also b e the site o f r a d i c a l r e o c c u p a t i o n a n d r e s i g n i f i c a t i o n . B u t w h a t lets u s o c c u p y the d i s c u r s i v e site o f i n j u r y ? H o w are w e a n i m a t e d a n d m o b i l i z e d b y that d i s c u r s i v e site a n d its i n j u r y , s u c h that o u r v e r y a t t a c h m e n t t o i t b e c o m e s the c o n d i t i o n for o u r r e s i g n i f i c a t i o n o f it? C a l l e d b y a n i n j u r i o u s n a m e , I c o m e i n t o s o c i a l b e i n g , a n d b e c a u s e I h a v e a c e r t a i n i n e v i t a b l e attachm e n t t o m y existence, b e c a u s e a c e r t a i n n a r c i s s i s m takes h o l d o f a n y t e r m that confers existence, I a m l e d t o e m b r a c e the t e r m s that i n j u r e m e b e c a u s e t h e y c o n s t i t u t e m e s o c i a l l y . T h e s e l f - c o l o n i z i n g trajectory o f c e r t a i n f o r m s o f i d e n t i t y p o l i t i c s are s y m p t o m a t i c o f this p a r a d o x i c a l e m b r a c e o f the i n j u r i o u s term. As a further paradox, then, only by o c c u p y i n g — b e i n g o c c u p i e d b y — t h a t i n j u r i o u s t e r m c a n I resist a n d o p p o s e i t , r e c a s t i n g the p o w e r that c o n s t i t u t e s me as the p o w e r I o p p o s e . I n t h i s w a y , a c e r t a i n p l a c e for p s y c h o a n a l y s i s i s s e c u r e d i n that a n y m o b i l i z a t i o n against s u b j e c t i o n w i l l t a k e s u b j e c t i o n a s its r e s o u r c e , a n d that a t t a c h m e n t t o a n i n j u r i o u s i n t e r p e l l a tion w i l l , by w a y of a necessarily alienated narcissism, become the c o n d i t i o n u n d e r w h i c h r e s i g n i f y i n g that i n t e r p e l l a t i o n b e comes possible. This w i l l not be an unconscious outside of p o w e r , b u t rather s o m e t h i n g l i k e the u n c o n s c i o u s o f p o w e r itself, i n its t r a u m a t i c a n d p r o d u c t i v e i t e r a b i l i t y . If, t h e n , w e u n d e r s t a n d c e r t a i n k i n d s o f i n t e r p e l l a t i o n s t o c o n f e r i d e n t i t y , those i n j u r i o u s i n t e r p e l l a t i o n s w i l l c o n s t i t u t e
Althusser's
107
Subjection
event, b u t a c e r t a i n w a y of staging the call, w h e r e the c a l l , as staged, b e c o m e s d e l i t e r a l i z e d i n the c o u r s e o f its e x p o s i t i o n o r darstellung. T h e c a l l itself is a l s o f i g u r e d as a d e m a n d to a l i g n oneself w i t h the l a w , a t u r n i n g a r o u n d (to face the l a w , t o f i n d
'Conscience Doth Make Subjects of Us A l l " Althusser's
Subjection
a face for the l a w ? ) , a n d an e n t r a n c e i n t o the l a n g u a g e of selfa s c r i p t i o n — " H e r e I a m " — t h r o u g h the a p p r o p r i a t i o n o f g u i l t . W h y d o e s subject f o r m a t i o n a p p e a r t o t a k e p l a c e o n l y u p o n the a c c e p t a n c e o f g u i l t , s o that there i s n o " I " w h o m i g h t asc r i b e a p l a c e t o itself, w h o m i g h t b e a n n o u n c e d i n s p e e c h , w i t h o u t first a s e l f - a t t r i b u t i o n of g u i l t , a s u b m i s s i o n to the l a w t h r o u g h a n a c c e p t a n c e o f its d e m a n d for c o n f o r m i t y ? T h e o n e w h o t u r n s a r o u n d i n r e s p o n s e t o the c a l l does n o t r e s p o n d t o a d e m a n d t o t u r n a r o u n d . T h e t u r n i n g a r o u n d i s a n act that
A l t h u s s e r ' s d o c t r i n e of i n t e r p e l l a t i o n c o n t i n u e s to s t r u c t u r e
is, a s i t w e r e , c o n d i t i o n e d b o t h b y the " v o i c e " o f the l a w a n d
c o n t e m p o r a r y debate o n subject f o r m a t i o n , o f f e r i n g a
b y the r e s p o n s i v e n e s s o f the o n e h a i l e d b y the law. T h e " t u r n -
w a y to account for à subject w h o c o m e s i n t o b e i n g as a c o n s e -
i n g a r o u n d " i s a s t r a n g e sort o f m i d d l e g r o u n d ( t a k i n g p l a c e ,
q u e n c e o f l a n g u a g e , yet a l w a y s w i t h i n its t e r m s . T h e t h e o r y o f
p e r h a p s , i n a s t r a n g e sort o f " m i d d l e v o i c e " ) ,
2
w h i c h is de-
i n t e r p e l l a t i o n a p p e a r s to stage a s o c i a l scene in w h i c h a s u b -
t e r m i n e d b o t h b y the l a w a n d the a d d r e s s e e , b u t b y n e i t h e r
ject i s h a i l e d , the subject t u r n s a r o u n d , a n d the subject t h e n
u n i l a t e r a l l y o r e x h a u s t i v e l y . A l t h o u g h there w o u l d b e n o t u r n -
accepts the t e r m s b y w h i c h h e o r she i s h a i l e d . T h i s is, n o
i n g a r o u n d w i t h o u t first h a v i n g b e e n h a i l e d , n e i t h e r w o u l d
d o u b t , a scene b o t h p u n i t i v e a n d r e d u c e d , for the c a l l i s m a d e
there b e a t u r n i n g a r o u n d w i t h o u t s o m e r e a d i n e s s t o t u r n .
b y a n officer o f "the L a w , " a n d t h i s officer i s cast a s s i n g u l a r
B u t w h e r e a n d w h e n d o e s the c a l l i n g o f the n a m e s o l i c i t the
a n d s p e a k i n g . C l e a r l y w e m i g h t object that the " c a l l " a r r i v e s
t u r n i n g a r o u n d , the a n t i c i p a t o r y m o v e t o w a r d i d e n t i t y ? H o w
s e v e r a l l y a n d i n i m p l i c i t a n d u n s p o k e n w a y s , that the scene
a n d w h y does the subject t u r n , a n t i c i p a t i n g the c o n f e r r a l o f
i s n e v e r q u i t e a s d y a d i c a s A l t h u s s e r c l a i m s , b u t these objec-
i d e n t i t y t h r o u g h the s e l f - a s c r i p t i o n o f g u i l t ? W h a t k i n d o f r e -
tions have been rehearsed, a n d " i n t e r p e l l a t i o n " as a doctrine
l a t i o n a l r e a d y b i n d s these t w o s u c h that the subject k n o w s t o
c o n t i n u e s t o s u r v i v e its c r i t i q u e . I f w e a c c e p t that the scene
t u r n , k n o w s that s o m e t h i n g i s t o b e g a i n e d f r o m s u c h a t u r n ?
i s e x e m p l a r y a n d a l l e g o r i c a l , t h e n i t n e v e r needs t o h a p p e n
H o w m i g h t w e t h i n k o f t h i s " t u r n " a s p r i o r t o subject f o r m a -
for its e f f e c t i v i t y t o b e p r e s u m e d . I n d e e d , i f i t i s a l l e g o r i c a l i n
t i o n , a p r i o r c o m p l i c i t y w i t h the l a w w i t h o u t w h i c h n o subject
B e n j a m i n ' s sense, t h e n the p r o c e s s l i t e r a l i z e d b y the a l l e g o r y
e m e r g e s ? T h e t u r n t o w a r d the l a w i s t h u s a t u r n a g a i n s t o n e -
i s p r e c i s e l y w h a t resists n a r r a t i o n , w h a t exceeds the n a r r a -
self, a t u r n i n g b a c k o n o n e s e l f that c o n s t i t u t e s the m o v e m e n t
t i v i z a b i l i t y o f events. I n t e r p e l l a t i o n , o n t h i s a c c o u n t , i s n o t a n
o f c o n s c i e n c e . B u t h o w d o e s the reflex o f c o n s c i e n c e p a r a l y z e
1
Althusser's
107
Subjection
event, b u t a c e r t a i n w a y of staging the call, w h e r e the c a l l , as staged, b e c o m e s d e l i t e r a l i z e d i n the c o u r s e o f its e x p o s i t i o n o r darstellung. T h e c a l l itself is a l s o f i g u r e d as a d e m a n d to a l i g n oneself w i t h the l a w , a t u r n i n g a r o u n d (to face the l a w , t o f i n d
'Conscience Doth Make Subjects of Us A l l " Althusser's
Subjection
a face for the l a w ? ) , a n d an e n t r a n c e i n t o the l a n g u a g e of selfa s c r i p t i o n — " H e r e I a m " — t h r o u g h the a p p r o p r i a t i o n o f g u i l t . W h y d o e s subject f o r m a t i o n a p p e a r t o t a k e p l a c e o n l y u p o n the a c c e p t a n c e o f g u i l t , s o that there i s n o " I " w h o m i g h t asc r i b e a p l a c e t o itself, w h o m i g h t b e a n n o u n c e d i n s p e e c h , w i t h o u t first a s e l f - a t t r i b u t i o n of g u i l t , a s u b m i s s i o n to the l a w t h r o u g h a n a c c e p t a n c e o f its d e m a n d for c o n f o r m i t y ? T h e o n e w h o t u r n s a r o u n d i n r e s p o n s e t o the c a l l does n o t r e s p o n d t o a d e m a n d t o t u r n a r o u n d . T h e t u r n i n g a r o u n d i s a n act that
A l t h u s s e r ' s d o c t r i n e of i n t e r p e l l a t i o n c o n t i n u e s to s t r u c t u r e
is, a s i t w e r e , c o n d i t i o n e d b o t h b y the " v o i c e " o f the l a w a n d
c o n t e m p o r a r y debate o n subject f o r m a t i o n , o f f e r i n g a
b y the r e s p o n s i v e n e s s o f the o n e h a i l e d b y the law. T h e " t u r n -
w a y to account for à subject w h o c o m e s i n t o b e i n g as a c o n s e -
i n g a r o u n d " i s a s t r a n g e sort o f m i d d l e g r o u n d ( t a k i n g p l a c e ,
q u e n c e o f l a n g u a g e , yet a l w a y s w i t h i n its t e r m s . T h e t h e o r y o f
p e r h a p s , i n a s t r a n g e sort o f " m i d d l e v o i c e " ) ,
2
w h i c h is de-
i n t e r p e l l a t i o n a p p e a r s to stage a s o c i a l scene in w h i c h a s u b -
t e r m i n e d b o t h b y the l a w a n d the a d d r e s s e e , b u t b y n e i t h e r
ject i s h a i l e d , the subject t u r n s a r o u n d , a n d the subject t h e n
u n i l a t e r a l l y o r e x h a u s t i v e l y . A l t h o u g h there w o u l d b e n o t u r n -
accepts the t e r m s b y w h i c h h e o r she i s h a i l e d . T h i s is, n o
i n g a r o u n d w i t h o u t first h a v i n g b e e n h a i l e d , n e i t h e r w o u l d
d o u b t , a scene b o t h p u n i t i v e a n d r e d u c e d , for the c a l l i s m a d e
there b e a t u r n i n g a r o u n d w i t h o u t s o m e r e a d i n e s s t o t u r n .
b y a n officer o f "the L a w , " a n d t h i s officer i s cast a s s i n g u l a r
B u t w h e r e a n d w h e n d o e s the c a l l i n g o f the n a m e s o l i c i t the
a n d s p e a k i n g . C l e a r l y w e m i g h t object that the " c a l l " a r r i v e s
t u r n i n g a r o u n d , the a n t i c i p a t o r y m o v e t o w a r d i d e n t i t y ? H o w
s e v e r a l l y a n d i n i m p l i c i t a n d u n s p o k e n w a y s , that the scene
a n d w h y does the subject t u r n , a n t i c i p a t i n g the c o n f e r r a l o f
i s n e v e r q u i t e a s d y a d i c a s A l t h u s s e r c l a i m s , b u t these objec-
i d e n t i t y t h r o u g h the s e l f - a s c r i p t i o n o f g u i l t ? W h a t k i n d o f r e -
tions have been rehearsed, a n d " i n t e r p e l l a t i o n " as a doctrine
l a t i o n a l r e a d y b i n d s these t w o s u c h that the subject k n o w s t o
c o n t i n u e s t o s u r v i v e its c r i t i q u e . I f w e a c c e p t that the scene
t u r n , k n o w s that s o m e t h i n g i s t o b e g a i n e d f r o m s u c h a t u r n ?
i s e x e m p l a r y a n d a l l e g o r i c a l , t h e n i t n e v e r needs t o h a p p e n
H o w m i g h t w e t h i n k o f t h i s " t u r n " a s p r i o r t o subject f o r m a -
for its e f f e c t i v i t y t o b e p r e s u m e d . I n d e e d , i f i t i s a l l e g o r i c a l i n
t i o n , a p r i o r c o m p l i c i t y w i t h the l a w w i t h o u t w h i c h n o subject
B e n j a m i n ' s sense, t h e n the p r o c e s s l i t e r a l i z e d b y the a l l e g o r y
e m e r g e s ? T h e t u r n t o w a r d the l a w i s t h u s a t u r n a g a i n s t o n e -
i s p r e c i s e l y w h a t resists n a r r a t i o n , w h a t exceeds the n a r r a -
self, a t u r n i n g b a c k o n o n e s e l f that c o n s t i t u t e s the m o v e m e n t
t i v i z a b i l i t y o f events. I n t e r p e l l a t i o n , o n t h i s a c c o u n t , i s n o t a n
o f c o n s c i e n c e . B u t h o w d o e s the reflex o f c o n s c i e n c e p a r a l y z e
1
io8
"Conscience D o t h M a k e Subjects o f U s A l l "
Althusser's Subjection
109
the c r i t i c a l i n t e r r o g a t i o n o f the l a w a t the s a m e t i m e that i t
p r e c e d e s a n d a n t i c i p a t e s the a c c e p t a n c e o f g u i l t , a t u r n that
figures the subject's u n c r i t i c a l r e l a t i o n to the l a w as a c o n d i -
e l u d e s s u b j e c t i v a t i o n e v e n a s i t c o n d i t i o n s it? H o w d o e s t h i s
t i o n of subjectivation? T h e one addressed is c o m p e l l e d to t u r n
" t u r n " f i g u r e a c o n s c i e n c e that m i g h t b e r e n d e r e d less c o n -
t o w a r d the l a w p r i o r t o a n y p o s s i b i l i t y o f a s k i n g a set o f c r i t i -
s c i e n t i o u s t h a n A l t h u s s e r w o u l d r e n d e r it? A n d h o w d o e s
cal questions: W h o is speaking? W h y s h o u l d I t u r n around?
A l t h u s s e r ' s s a n c t i f i c a t i o n o f the scene o f i n t e r p e l l a t i o n m a k e
W h y s h o u l d I a c c e p t the t e r m s b y w h i c h I a m h a i l e d ?
the p o s s i b i l i t y o f b e c o m i n g a " b a d " subject m o r e r e m o t e a n d
T h i s m e a n s that p r i o r t o a n y p o s s i b i l i t y o f a c r i t i c a l u n d e r -
less i n c e n d i a r y t h a n i t m i g h t w e l l b e ?
s t a n d i n g o f the l a w i s a n o p e n n e s s o r v u l n e r a b i l i t y t o the l a w ,
The doctrine of interpellation appears to presuppose a p r i o r
e x e m p l i f i e d i n the t u r n t o w a r d the l a w , i n the a n t i c i p a t i o n o f
a n d unelaborated doctrine of conscience, a t u r n i n g back u p o n
c u l l i n g a n i d e n t i t y t h r o u g h i d e n t i f y i n g w i t h the o n e w h o has
o n e s e l f in the sense that N i e t z s c h e d e s c r i b e d in On the Geneal-
b r o k e n the law. I n d e e d , the l a w i s b r o k e n p r i o r t o a n y p o s -
ogy of Morals. T h i s r e a d i n e s s to accept g u i l t to g a i n a p u r c h a s e
s i b i l i t y o f h a v i n g access t o the l a w , a n d s o " g u i l t " i s p r i o r t o
on identity is l i n k e d to a h i g h l y religious scenario of a n o m i -
3
k n o w l e d g e o f the l a w a n d is, i n t h i s sense, a l w a y s s t r a n g e l y
n a t i n g c a l l that c o m e s f r o m G o d a n d that c o n s t i t u t e s the s u b -
i n n o c e n t . T h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f a c r i t i c a l v i e w o f the l a w i s t h u s
ject b y a p p e a l i n g t o a n e e d f o r the l a w , a n o r i g i n a l g u i l t that
l i m i t e d b y w h a t m i g h t b e u n d e r s t o o d a s a p r i o r d e s i r e for the
the l a w p r o m i s e s t o assuage t h r o u g h the c o n f e r r a l o f i d e n t i t y .
law, a passionate c o m p l i c i t y w i t h law, w i t h o u t w h i c h no sub-
H o w does t h i s r e l i g i o u s f i g u r a t i o n o f i n t e r p e l l a t i o n r e s t r a i n i n
ject c a n exist. F o r the "I" to l a u n c h its c r i t i q u e , it m u s t first
a d v a n c e a n y p o s s i b i l i t y o f c r i t i c a l i n t e r v e n t i o n i n the w o r k -
u n d e r s t a n d that the "I" itself i s d e p e n d e n t u p o n its c o m p l i c i -
i n g s o f the l a w , a n y u n d o i n g o f the subject w i t h o u t w h i c h the
t o u s d e s i r e for the l a w t o m a k e p o s s i b l e its o w n existence. A
l a w cannot proceed?
c r i t i c a l r e v i e w o f the l a w w i l l n o t , therefore, u n d o the force o f
The m e n t i o n of conscience in Althusser's "Ideology a n d
c o n s c i e n c e u n l e s s the o n e w h o offers that c r i t i q u e i s w i l l i n g , a s
I d e o l o g i c a l State A p p a r a t u s e s " has r e c e i v e d l i t t l e c r i t i c a l at-
i t w e r e , t o b e u n d o n e b y the c r i t i q u e that h e o r she p e r f o r m s .
t e n t i o n , e v e n t h o u g h the t e r m , t a k e n together w i t h the ex-
4
I t i s i m p o r t a n t t o r e m e m b e r that the t u r n t o w a r d the l a w i s
a m p l e o f r e l i g i o u s a u t h o r i t y t o i l l u s t r a t e the force o f i d e o l -
n o t necessitated b y the h a i l i n g ; i t i s c o m p e l l i n g , i n a less t h a n
ogy, suggests that the t h e o r y of i d e o l o g y is s u p p o r t e d by a
l o g i c a l sense, b e c a u s e i t p r o m i s e s i d e n t i t y . I f the l a w speaks i n
c o m p l i c a t e d set o f t h e o l o g i c a l m e t a p h o r s . A l t h o u g h A l t h u s -
the n a m e of a s e l f - i d e n t i c a l subject ( A l t h u s s e r cites the utter-
ser e x p l i c i t l y i n t r o d u c e s "the C h u r c h " m e r e l y a s a n example o f
ance o f the H e b r e w G o d : " I a m that I a m " ) , h o w i s i t that c o n -
i d e o l o g i c a l i n t e r p e l l a t i o n , i t a p p e a r s that i d e o l o g y i n h i s t e r m s
s c i e n c e m i g h t d e l i v e r or restore a self to oneness w i t h itself, to
c a n n o t b e t h o u g h t e x c e p t t h r o u g h the m e t a p h o r i c s o f r e l i g i o u s
the p o s t u l a t i o n o f s e l f - i d e n t i t y that b e c o m e s the p r e c o n d i t i o n
authority. The final section of "Ideology" is entitled " A n Ex-
o f the l i n g u i s t i c c o n s o l i d a t i o n " H e r e I a m " ?
ample: The Christian Religious Ideology" and makes explicit
Yet h o w m i g h t w e site the v u l n e r a b i l i t y o f s u b j e c t i v a t i o n
the e x e m p l a r y status that r e l i g i o u s i n s t i t u t i o n s h a v e o c c u p i e d
p r e c i s e l y i n that t u r n ( t o w a r d the l a w , a g a i n s t the self), w h i c h
i n the p r e c e d i n g s e c t i o n o f the essay. T h o s e e x a m p l e s i n c l u d e :
io8
"Conscience D o t h M a k e Subjects o f U s A l l "
Althusser's Subjection
109
the c r i t i c a l i n t e r r o g a t i o n o f the l a w a t the s a m e t i m e that i t
p r e c e d e s a n d a n t i c i p a t e s the a c c e p t a n c e o f g u i l t , a t u r n that
figures the subject's u n c r i t i c a l r e l a t i o n to the l a w as a c o n d i -
e l u d e s s u b j e c t i v a t i o n e v e n a s i t c o n d i t i o n s it? H o w d o e s t h i s
t i o n of subjectivation? T h e one addressed is c o m p e l l e d to t u r n
" t u r n " f i g u r e a c o n s c i e n c e that m i g h t b e r e n d e r e d less c o n -
t o w a r d the l a w p r i o r t o a n y p o s s i b i l i t y o f a s k i n g a set o f c r i t i -
s c i e n t i o u s t h a n A l t h u s s e r w o u l d r e n d e r it? A n d h o w d o e s
cal questions: W h o is speaking? W h y s h o u l d I t u r n around?
A l t h u s s e r ' s s a n c t i f i c a t i o n o f the scene o f i n t e r p e l l a t i o n m a k e
W h y s h o u l d I a c c e p t the t e r m s b y w h i c h I a m h a i l e d ?
the p o s s i b i l i t y o f b e c o m i n g a " b a d " subject m o r e r e m o t e a n d
T h i s m e a n s that p r i o r t o a n y p o s s i b i l i t y o f a c r i t i c a l u n d e r -
less i n c e n d i a r y t h a n i t m i g h t w e l l b e ?
s t a n d i n g o f the l a w i s a n o p e n n e s s o r v u l n e r a b i l i t y t o the l a w ,
The doctrine of interpellation appears to presuppose a p r i o r
e x e m p l i f i e d i n the t u r n t o w a r d the l a w , i n the a n t i c i p a t i o n o f
a n d unelaborated doctrine of conscience, a t u r n i n g back u p o n
c u l l i n g a n i d e n t i t y t h r o u g h i d e n t i f y i n g w i t h the o n e w h o has
o n e s e l f in the sense that N i e t z s c h e d e s c r i b e d in On the Geneal-
b r o k e n the law. I n d e e d , the l a w i s b r o k e n p r i o r t o a n y p o s -
ogy of Morals. T h i s r e a d i n e s s to accept g u i l t to g a i n a p u r c h a s e
s i b i l i t y o f h a v i n g access t o the l a w , a n d s o " g u i l t " i s p r i o r t o
on identity is l i n k e d to a h i g h l y religious scenario of a n o m i -
3
k n o w l e d g e o f the l a w a n d is, i n t h i s sense, a l w a y s s t r a n g e l y
n a t i n g c a l l that c o m e s f r o m G o d a n d that c o n s t i t u t e s the s u b -
i n n o c e n t . T h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f a c r i t i c a l v i e w o f the l a w i s t h u s
ject b y a p p e a l i n g t o a n e e d f o r the l a w , a n o r i g i n a l g u i l t that
l i m i t e d b y w h a t m i g h t b e u n d e r s t o o d a s a p r i o r d e s i r e for the
the l a w p r o m i s e s t o assuage t h r o u g h the c o n f e r r a l o f i d e n t i t y .
law, a passionate c o m p l i c i t y w i t h law, w i t h o u t w h i c h no sub-
H o w does t h i s r e l i g i o u s f i g u r a t i o n o f i n t e r p e l l a t i o n r e s t r a i n i n
ject c a n exist. F o r the "I" to l a u n c h its c r i t i q u e , it m u s t first
a d v a n c e a n y p o s s i b i l i t y o f c r i t i c a l i n t e r v e n t i o n i n the w o r k -
u n d e r s t a n d that the "I" itself i s d e p e n d e n t u p o n its c o m p l i c i -
i n g s o f the l a w , a n y u n d o i n g o f the subject w i t h o u t w h i c h the
t o u s d e s i r e for the l a w t o m a k e p o s s i b l e its o w n existence. A
l a w cannot proceed?
c r i t i c a l r e v i e w o f the l a w w i l l n o t , therefore, u n d o the force o f
The m e n t i o n of conscience in Althusser's "Ideology a n d
c o n s c i e n c e u n l e s s the o n e w h o offers that c r i t i q u e i s w i l l i n g , a s
I d e o l o g i c a l State A p p a r a t u s e s " has r e c e i v e d l i t t l e c r i t i c a l at-
i t w e r e , t o b e u n d o n e b y the c r i t i q u e that h e o r she p e r f o r m s .
t e n t i o n , e v e n t h o u g h the t e r m , t a k e n together w i t h the ex-
4
I t i s i m p o r t a n t t o r e m e m b e r that the t u r n t o w a r d the l a w i s
a m p l e o f r e l i g i o u s a u t h o r i t y t o i l l u s t r a t e the force o f i d e o l -
n o t necessitated b y the h a i l i n g ; i t i s c o m p e l l i n g , i n a less t h a n
ogy, suggests that the t h e o r y of i d e o l o g y is s u p p o r t e d by a
l o g i c a l sense, b e c a u s e i t p r o m i s e s i d e n t i t y . I f the l a w speaks i n
c o m p l i c a t e d set o f t h e o l o g i c a l m e t a p h o r s . A l t h o u g h A l t h u s -
the n a m e of a s e l f - i d e n t i c a l subject ( A l t h u s s e r cites the utter-
ser e x p l i c i t l y i n t r o d u c e s "the C h u r c h " m e r e l y a s a n example o f
ance o f the H e b r e w G o d : " I a m that I a m " ) , h o w i s i t that c o n -
i d e o l o g i c a l i n t e r p e l l a t i o n , i t a p p e a r s that i d e o l o g y i n h i s t e r m s
s c i e n c e m i g h t d e l i v e r or restore a self to oneness w i t h itself, to
c a n n o t b e t h o u g h t e x c e p t t h r o u g h the m e t a p h o r i c s o f r e l i g i o u s
the p o s t u l a t i o n o f s e l f - i d e n t i t y that b e c o m e s the p r e c o n d i t i o n
authority. The final section of "Ideology" is entitled " A n Ex-
o f the l i n g u i s t i c c o n s o l i d a t i o n " H e r e I a m " ?
ample: The Christian Religious Ideology" and makes explicit
Yet h o w m i g h t w e site the v u l n e r a b i l i t y o f s u b j e c t i v a t i o n
the e x e m p l a r y status that r e l i g i o u s i n s t i t u t i o n s h a v e o c c u p i e d
p r e c i s e l y i n that t u r n ( t o w a r d the l a w , a g a i n s t the self), w h i c h
i n the p r e c e d i n g s e c t i o n o f the essay. T h o s e e x a m p l e s i n c l u d e :
110
"Conscience Doth M a k e Subjects of Us A l l "
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m
the p u t a t i v e " e t e r n i t y " o f i d e o l o g y ; the e x p l i c i t a n a l o g y b e -
c o n s t i t u t i o n o f the subject. B a p t i s m e x e m p l i f i e s the l i n g u i s t i c
t w e e n the " o b v i o u s n e s s o f i d e o l o g y " a n d St. P a u l ' s n o t i o n o f
m e a n s b y w h i c h the subject i s c o m p e l l e d i n t o s o c i a l b e i n g .
the " L o g o s " i n w h i c h w e are s a i d t o " l i v e , m o v e a n d h a v e o u r
G o d n a m e s "Peter," a n d t h i s a d d r e s s establishes G o d a s the
b e i n g " ; P a s c a l ' s p r a y e r a s a n i n s t a n c e o f r i t u a l i n w h i c h as-
o r i g i n o f P e t e r ; the n a m e r e m a i n s a t t a c h e d t o Peter p e r m a 6
s u m i n g the p o s t u r e o f k n e e l i n g g i v e s r i s e o v e r t i m e t o belief;
n e n t l y b y v i r t u e o f the i m p l i e d a n d c o n t i n u o u s p r e s e n c e i n the
b e l i e f i t s e l f a s the i n s t i t u t i o n a l l y r e p r o d u c e d c o n d i t i o n o f i d e -
n a m e o f the o n e w h o n a m e s h i m . W i t h i n the t e r m s o f A l t h u s -
o l o g y ; a n d the d e i f y i n g c a p i t a l i z a t i o n o f " F a m i l y , " " C h u r c h , "
ser's e x a m p l e s , h o w e v e r , t h i s n a m i n g c a n n o t b e a c c o m p l i s h e d
" S c h o o l , " a n d "State."
w i t h o u t a c e r t a i n r e a d i n e s s o r a n t i c i p a t o r y d e s i r e o n the p a r t
A l t h o u g h the last s e c t i o n o f the essay seeks t o e x p l i c a t e
o f the o n e a d d r e s s e d . T o the extent that the n a m i n g i s a n a d -
a n d e x p o s e the e x a m p l e o f r e l i g i o u s a u t h o r i t y , t h i s e x p o s u r e
dress, there i s a n a d d r e s s e e p r i o r t o the a d d r e s s ; b u t g i v e n that
l a c k s the p o w e r t o defuse the f o r c e o f i d e o l o g y . A l t h u s s e r ' s
the a d d r e s s i s a n a m e w h i c h creates w h a t i t n a m e s , there a p -
o w n w r i t i n g , h e c o n c e d e s , i n v a r i a b l y enacts w h a t i t t h e m a -
p e a r s t o b e n o " P e t e r " w i t h o u t the n a m e "Peter."
tizes, a n d t h u s p r o m i s e s n o e n l i g h t e n e d escape f r o m i d e o l o g y
I n d e e d , " P e t e r " d o e s n o t exist w i t h o u t the n a m e that s u p -
5
t h r o u g h t h i s a r t i c u l a t i o n . T o i l l u s t r a t e the p o w e r o f i d e o l o g y
p l i e s the l i n g u i s t i c g u a r a n t e e of existence. In t h i s sense, as a
t o c o n s t i t u t e subjects, A l t h u s s e r has r e c o u r s e t o the e x a m p l e
p r i o r a n d e s s e n t i a l c o n d i t i o n o f the f o r m a t i o n o f the subject,
o f the d i v i n e v o i c e that n a m e s , a n d i n n a m i n g , b r i n g s its s u b -
there i s a c e r t a i n r e a d i n e s s t o b e c o m p e l l e d b y the a u t h o r i t a -
jects i n t o b e i n g . I n c l a i m i n g that s o c i a l i d e o l o g y o p e r a t e s i n
t i v e i n t e r p e l l a t i o n , a r e a d i n e s s w h i c h suggests that o n e is, as
an analogous way, A l t h u s s e r inadvertently assimilates social
i t w e r e , a l r e a d y i n r e l a t i o n t o the v o i c e b e f o r e the r e s p o n s e ,
i n t e r p e l l a t i o n t o the d i v i n e p e r f o r m a t i v e . T h e e x a m p l e o f i d e -
a l r e a d y i m p l i c a t e d i n the t e r m s o f the a n i m a t i n g m i s r e c o g -
o l o g y t h u s a s s u m e s the status o f a p a r a d i g m for t h i n k i n g i d e -
n i t i o n b y a n a u t h o r i t y t o w h i c h one subsequently yields. O r
o l o g y a s s u c h , w h e r e b y the i n e v i t a b l e s t r u c t u r e s o f i d e o l o g y
perhaps one has already y i e l d e d before one turns a r o u n d , a n d
are e s t a b l i s h e d t e x t u a l l y t h r o u g h r e l i g i o u s m e t a p h o r : the a u -
that t u r n i n g i s m e r e l y a s i g n o f a n i n e v i t a b l e s u b m i s s i o n b y
t h o r i t y o f the " v o i c e " o f i d e o l o g y , the " v o i c e " o f i n t e r p e l l a t i o n ,
w h i c h o n e i s e s t a b l i s h e d a s a subject p o s i t i o n e d i n l a n g u a g e a s
is f i g u r e d as a v o i c e a l m o s t i m p o s s i b l e to refuse. T h e f o r c e of
a p o s s i b l e addressee. I n t h i s sense, the scene w i t h the p o l i c e
i n t e r p e l l a t i o n i n A l t h u s s e r i s d e r i v e d f r o m the e x a m p l e s b y
i s a b e l a t e d a n d r e d o u b l e d scene, o n e w h i c h r e n d e r s e x p l i c i t
w h i c h it is ostensibly illustrated, most notably, G o d ' s voice in
a f o u n d i n g s u b m i s s i o n for w h i c h n o s u c h scene w o u l d p r o v e
the n a m i n g o f Peter ( a n d M o s e s ) a n d its s e c u l a r i z a t i o n i n the
a d e q u a t e . I f that s u b m i s s i o n b r i n g s the subject i n t o b e i n g , t h e n
p o s t u l a t e d v o i c e o f the r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f state a u t h o r i t y : the
the n a r r a t i v e that seeks t o t e l l the s t o r y o f that s u b m i s s i o n c a n
p o l i c e m a n ' s v o i c e i n the h a i l i n g o f the w a y w a r d p e d e s t r i a n
p r o c e e d o n l y b y e x p l o i t i n g g r a m m a r f o r its f i c t i o n a l effects.
w i t h " H e y y o u there!"
T h e n a r r a t i v e that seeks t o a c c o u n t f o r h o w the subject c o m e s
I n o t h e r w o r d s , the d i v i n e p o w e r o f n a m i n g s t r u c t u r e s
i n t o b e i n g p r e s u m e s the g r a m m a t i c a l "subject" p r i o r t o the
the t h e o r y o f i n t e r p e l l a t i o n that a c c o u n t s for the i d e o l o g i c a l
a c c o u n t o f its genesis. Yet the f o u n d i n g s u b m i s s i o n that has
110
"Conscience Doth M a k e Subjects of Us A l l "
Althusser's Subjection
m
the p u t a t i v e " e t e r n i t y " o f i d e o l o g y ; the e x p l i c i t a n a l o g y b e -
c o n s t i t u t i o n o f the subject. B a p t i s m e x e m p l i f i e s the l i n g u i s t i c
t w e e n the " o b v i o u s n e s s o f i d e o l o g y " a n d St. P a u l ' s n o t i o n o f
m e a n s b y w h i c h the subject i s c o m p e l l e d i n t o s o c i a l b e i n g .
the " L o g o s " i n w h i c h w e are s a i d t o " l i v e , m o v e a n d h a v e o u r
G o d n a m e s "Peter," a n d t h i s a d d r e s s establishes G o d a s the
b e i n g " ; P a s c a l ' s p r a y e r a s a n i n s t a n c e o f r i t u a l i n w h i c h as-
o r i g i n o f P e t e r ; the n a m e r e m a i n s a t t a c h e d t o Peter p e r m a 6
s u m i n g the p o s t u r e o f k n e e l i n g g i v e s r i s e o v e r t i m e t o belief;
n e n t l y b y v i r t u e o f the i m p l i e d a n d c o n t i n u o u s p r e s e n c e i n the
b e l i e f i t s e l f a s the i n s t i t u t i o n a l l y r e p r o d u c e d c o n d i t i o n o f i d e -
n a m e o f the o n e w h o n a m e s h i m . W i t h i n the t e r m s o f A l t h u s -
o l o g y ; a n d the d e i f y i n g c a p i t a l i z a t i o n o f " F a m i l y , " " C h u r c h , "
ser's e x a m p l e s , h o w e v e r , t h i s n a m i n g c a n n o t b e a c c o m p l i s h e d
" S c h o o l , " a n d "State."
w i t h o u t a c e r t a i n r e a d i n e s s o r a n t i c i p a t o r y d e s i r e o n the p a r t
A l t h o u g h the last s e c t i o n o f the essay seeks t o e x p l i c a t e
o f the o n e a d d r e s s e d . T o the extent that the n a m i n g i s a n a d -
a n d e x p o s e the e x a m p l e o f r e l i g i o u s a u t h o r i t y , t h i s e x p o s u r e
dress, there i s a n a d d r e s s e e p r i o r t o the a d d r e s s ; b u t g i v e n that
l a c k s the p o w e r t o defuse the f o r c e o f i d e o l o g y . A l t h u s s e r ' s
the a d d r e s s i s a n a m e w h i c h creates w h a t i t n a m e s , there a p -
o w n w r i t i n g , h e c o n c e d e s , i n v a r i a b l y enacts w h a t i t t h e m a -
p e a r s t o b e n o " P e t e r " w i t h o u t the n a m e "Peter."
tizes, a n d t h u s p r o m i s e s n o e n l i g h t e n e d escape f r o m i d e o l o g y
I n d e e d , " P e t e r " d o e s n o t exist w i t h o u t the n a m e that s u p -
5
t h r o u g h t h i s a r t i c u l a t i o n . T o i l l u s t r a t e the p o w e r o f i d e o l o g y
p l i e s the l i n g u i s t i c g u a r a n t e e of existence. In t h i s sense, as a
t o c o n s t i t u t e subjects, A l t h u s s e r has r e c o u r s e t o the e x a m p l e
p r i o r a n d e s s e n t i a l c o n d i t i o n o f the f o r m a t i o n o f the subject,
o f the d i v i n e v o i c e that n a m e s , a n d i n n a m i n g , b r i n g s its s u b -
there i s a c e r t a i n r e a d i n e s s t o b e c o m p e l l e d b y the a u t h o r i t a -
jects i n t o b e i n g . I n c l a i m i n g that s o c i a l i d e o l o g y o p e r a t e s i n
t i v e i n t e r p e l l a t i o n , a r e a d i n e s s w h i c h suggests that o n e is, as
an analogous way, A l t h u s s e r inadvertently assimilates social
i t w e r e , a l r e a d y i n r e l a t i o n t o the v o i c e b e f o r e the r e s p o n s e ,
i n t e r p e l l a t i o n t o the d i v i n e p e r f o r m a t i v e . T h e e x a m p l e o f i d e -
a l r e a d y i m p l i c a t e d i n the t e r m s o f the a n i m a t i n g m i s r e c o g -
o l o g y t h u s a s s u m e s the status o f a p a r a d i g m for t h i n k i n g i d e -
n i t i o n b y a n a u t h o r i t y t o w h i c h one subsequently yields. O r
o l o g y a s s u c h , w h e r e b y the i n e v i t a b l e s t r u c t u r e s o f i d e o l o g y
perhaps one has already y i e l d e d before one turns a r o u n d , a n d
are e s t a b l i s h e d t e x t u a l l y t h r o u g h r e l i g i o u s m e t a p h o r : the a u -
that t u r n i n g i s m e r e l y a s i g n o f a n i n e v i t a b l e s u b m i s s i o n b y
t h o r i t y o f the " v o i c e " o f i d e o l o g y , the " v o i c e " o f i n t e r p e l l a t i o n ,
w h i c h o n e i s e s t a b l i s h e d a s a subject p o s i t i o n e d i n l a n g u a g e a s
is f i g u r e d as a v o i c e a l m o s t i m p o s s i b l e to refuse. T h e f o r c e of
a p o s s i b l e addressee. I n t h i s sense, the scene w i t h the p o l i c e
i n t e r p e l l a t i o n i n A l t h u s s e r i s d e r i v e d f r o m the e x a m p l e s b y
i s a b e l a t e d a n d r e d o u b l e d scene, o n e w h i c h r e n d e r s e x p l i c i t
w h i c h it is ostensibly illustrated, most notably, G o d ' s voice in
a f o u n d i n g s u b m i s s i o n for w h i c h n o s u c h scene w o u l d p r o v e
the n a m i n g o f Peter ( a n d M o s e s ) a n d its s e c u l a r i z a t i o n i n the
a d e q u a t e . I f that s u b m i s s i o n b r i n g s the subject i n t o b e i n g , t h e n
p o s t u l a t e d v o i c e o f the r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f state a u t h o r i t y : the
the n a r r a t i v e that seeks t o t e l l the s t o r y o f that s u b m i s s i o n c a n
p o l i c e m a n ' s v o i c e i n the h a i l i n g o f the w a y w a r d p e d e s t r i a n
p r o c e e d o n l y b y e x p l o i t i n g g r a m m a r f o r its f i c t i o n a l effects.
w i t h " H e y y o u there!"
T h e n a r r a t i v e that seeks t o a c c o u n t f o r h o w the subject c o m e s
I n o t h e r w o r d s , the d i v i n e p o w e r o f n a m i n g s t r u c t u r e s
i n t o b e i n g p r e s u m e s the g r a m m a t i c a l "subject" p r i o r t o the
the t h e o r y o f i n t e r p e l l a t i o n that a c c o u n t s for the i d e o l o g i c a l
a c c o u n t o f its genesis. Yet the f o u n d i n g s u b m i s s i o n that has
112
"Conscience Doth M a k e Subjects of Us A l l "
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113
n o t yet r e s o l v e d i n t o the subject w o u l d b e p r e c i s e l y the n o n -
be r e a d as the c o m p e l l e d c o n s e q u e n c e of a n a r c i s s i s t i c a t t a c h -
n a r r a t i v i z a b l e p r e h i s t o r y o f the subject, a p a r a d o x w h i c h calls
m e n t t o one's c o n t i n u i n g existence.
the v e r y n a r r a t i v e o f subject f o r m a t i o n i n t o q u e s t i o n . I f there
A l t h u s s e r takes u p g u i l t e x p l i c i t l y i n the n a r r a t i v e , h o w e v e r
is no subject e x c e p t as a c o n s e q u e n c e of this s u b j e c t i o n , the
reliable, of his m u r d e r of Hélène, his wife, in w h i c h he nar-
n a r r a t i v e that w o u l d e x p l a i n t h i s r e q u i r e s that the t e m p o r a l i t y
rates, i n a t e l l i n g r e v e r s a l o f the p o l i c e scene i n " I d e o l o g y , "
n o t b e t r u e , for the g r a m m a r o f that n a r r a t i v e p r e s u p p o s e s
h o w h e r u s h e d i n t o the street c a l l i n g for the p o l i c e i n o r d e r
that there i s n o s u b j e c t i o n w i t h o u t a subject w h o u n d e r g o e s it.
t o d e l i v e r h i m s e l f u p t o the law. T h i s c a l l i n g for the p o l i c e i s 8
Is this f o u n d i n g s u b m i s s i o n a k i n d of y i e l d i n g p r i o r to any
a peculiar inversion of hailing w h i c h "Ideology" presupposes
q u e s t i o n o f p s y c h o l o g i c a l m o t i v a t i o n ? H o w are w e t o u n d e r -
w i t h o u t e x p l i c i t l y t h e m a t i z i n g . W i t h o u t e x p l o i t i n g the b i o -
s t a n d the p s y c h i c d i s p o s i t i o n a t w o r k a t the m o m e n t i n w h i c h
g r a p h i c a l , I w a n t t o p u r s u e the t h e o r e t i c a l i m p o r t a n c e o f t h i s
the p e d e s t r i a n r e s p o n d s t o the l a w ? W h a t c o n d i t i o n s a n d i n -
r e v e r s a l o f the scene w i t h the p o l i c e , i n w h i c h the m a n o n the
f o r m s that r e s p o n s e ? W h y w o u l d the p e r s o n o n the street r e -
street calls f o r the p o l i c e r a t h e r t h a n r e s p o n d i n g t o the p o l i c e ' s
s p o n d t o " H e y y o u t h e r e ! " b y t u r n i n g a r o u n d ? W h a t i s the
call. In "Ideology," guilt a n d conscience operate i m p l i c i t l y in
s i g n i f i c a n c e of t u r n i n g to face a v o i c e that calls f r o m b e h i n d ?
relation to an ideological demand, an animating reprimand, in
T h i s t u r n i n g t o w a r d the v o i c e of the l a w is a s i g n of a c e r t a i n
the a c c o u n t o f subject f o r m a t i o n . T h e p r e s e n t c h a p t e r a t t e m p t s
d e s i r e t o b e b e h e l d b y a n d p e r h a p s also t o b e h o l d the face o f
t o r e r e a d that essay t o u n d e r s t a n d h o w i n t e r p e l l a t i o n i s essen-
authority, a visual rendering of an auditory scene—a m i r r o r
t i a l l y f i g u r e d t h r o u g h the r e l i g i o u s e x a m p l e . T h e e x e m p l a r y
stage or, p e r h a p s m o r e a p p r o p r i a t e l y , a n " a c o u s t i c m i r r o r " —
status o f r e l i g i o u s a u t h o r i t y u n d e r s c o r e s the p a r a d o x o f h o w
that p e r m i t s the m i s r e c o g n i t i o n w i t h o u t w h i c h the s o c i a l i t y
the v e r y p o s s i b i l i t y o f subject f o r m a t i o n d e p e n d s u p o n a p a s -
o f the subject c a n n o t b e a c h i e v e d . T h i s s u b j e c t i v a t i o n is, ac-
sionate p u r s u i t o f a r e c o g n i t i o n w h i c h , w i t h i n the t e r m s o f the
c o r d i n g to A l t h u s s e r , a m i s r e c o g n i t i o n , a false a n d p r o v i s i o n a l
religious example, is inseparable f r o m a c o n d e m n a t i o n .
7
t o t a l i z a t i o n ; w h a t p r e c i p i t a t e s t h i s d e s i r e for the l a w , t h i s l u r e
A n o t h e r w a y o f p o s i n g t h i s q u e s t i o n w o u l d b e t o ask: H o w
o f m i s r e c o g n i t i o n o f f e r e d i n the r e p r i m a n d that establishes
i s A l t h u s s e r ' s text i m p l i c a t e d i n the " c o n s c i e n c e " that i t seeks
s u b o r d i n a t i o n a s the p r i c e o f s u b j e c t i v a t i o n ? T h i s a c c o u n t a p -
to e x p l a i n ? To w h a t extent is the p e r s i s t e n c e of the t h e o -
p e a r s to i m p l y that s o c i a l existence, existence as a subject, c a n
l o g i c a l m o d e l a s y m p t o m , o n e that c o m p e l s a s y m p t o m a t i c
b e p u r c h a s e d o n l y t h r o u g h a g u i l t y e m b r a c e o f the l a w , w h e r e
r e a d i n g ? In h i s i n t r o d u c t o r y essay to Reading Capital, A l t h u s -
g u i l t g u a r a n t e e s the i n t e r v e n t i o n o f the l a w a n d , hence, the
ser suggests that e v e r y text m u s t b e r e a d f o r the " i n v i s i b l e "
c o n t i n u a t i o n of the subject's existence. If the subject c a n o n l y
that a p p e a r s w i t h i n the w o r l d that t h e o r y r e n d e r s v i s i b l e . I n 9
assure h i s / h e r existence i n t e r m s o f the l a w , a n d the l a w r e -
a recent c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f A l t h u s s e r ' s n o t i o n o f " s y m p t o m a t i c
quires subjection for subjectivation, then, perversely, one m a y
r e a d i n g , " J e a n - M a r i e V i n c e n t r e m a r k s that " a text i s n o t i n t e r -
( a l w a y s a l r e a d y ) y i e l d t o the l a w i n o r d e r t o c o n t i n u e t o as-
e s t i n g o n l y b e c a u s e i t i s o r g a n i z e d l o g i c a l l y , b e c a u s e o f the
s u r e o n e ' s o w n existence. T h e y i e l d i n g t o the l a w m i g h t t h e n
a p p a r e n t l y r i g o r o u s w a y i n w h i c h i t d e v e l o p s its a r g u m e n t s ,
112
"Conscience Doth M a k e Subjects of Us A l l "
Althusser's Subjection
113
n o t yet r e s o l v e d i n t o the subject w o u l d b e p r e c i s e l y the n o n -
be r e a d as the c o m p e l l e d c o n s e q u e n c e of a n a r c i s s i s t i c a t t a c h -
n a r r a t i v i z a b l e p r e h i s t o r y o f the subject, a p a r a d o x w h i c h calls
m e n t t o one's c o n t i n u i n g existence.
the v e r y n a r r a t i v e o f subject f o r m a t i o n i n t o q u e s t i o n . I f there
A l t h u s s e r takes u p g u i l t e x p l i c i t l y i n the n a r r a t i v e , h o w e v e r
is no subject e x c e p t as a c o n s e q u e n c e of this s u b j e c t i o n , the
reliable, of his m u r d e r of Hélène, his wife, in w h i c h he nar-
n a r r a t i v e that w o u l d e x p l a i n t h i s r e q u i r e s that the t e m p o r a l i t y
rates, i n a t e l l i n g r e v e r s a l o f the p o l i c e scene i n " I d e o l o g y , "
n o t b e t r u e , for the g r a m m a r o f that n a r r a t i v e p r e s u p p o s e s
h o w h e r u s h e d i n t o the street c a l l i n g for the p o l i c e i n o r d e r
that there i s n o s u b j e c t i o n w i t h o u t a subject w h o u n d e r g o e s it.
t o d e l i v e r h i m s e l f u p t o the law. T h i s c a l l i n g for the p o l i c e i s 8
Is this f o u n d i n g s u b m i s s i o n a k i n d of y i e l d i n g p r i o r to any
a peculiar inversion of hailing w h i c h "Ideology" presupposes
q u e s t i o n o f p s y c h o l o g i c a l m o t i v a t i o n ? H o w are w e t o u n d e r -
w i t h o u t e x p l i c i t l y t h e m a t i z i n g . W i t h o u t e x p l o i t i n g the b i o -
s t a n d the p s y c h i c d i s p o s i t i o n a t w o r k a t the m o m e n t i n w h i c h
g r a p h i c a l , I w a n t t o p u r s u e the t h e o r e t i c a l i m p o r t a n c e o f t h i s
the p e d e s t r i a n r e s p o n d s t o the l a w ? W h a t c o n d i t i o n s a n d i n -
r e v e r s a l o f the scene w i t h the p o l i c e , i n w h i c h the m a n o n the
f o r m s that r e s p o n s e ? W h y w o u l d the p e r s o n o n the street r e -
street calls f o r the p o l i c e r a t h e r t h a n r e s p o n d i n g t o the p o l i c e ' s
s p o n d t o " H e y y o u t h e r e ! " b y t u r n i n g a r o u n d ? W h a t i s the
call. In "Ideology," guilt a n d conscience operate i m p l i c i t l y in
s i g n i f i c a n c e of t u r n i n g to face a v o i c e that calls f r o m b e h i n d ?
relation to an ideological demand, an animating reprimand, in
T h i s t u r n i n g t o w a r d the v o i c e of the l a w is a s i g n of a c e r t a i n
the a c c o u n t o f subject f o r m a t i o n . T h e p r e s e n t c h a p t e r a t t e m p t s
d e s i r e t o b e b e h e l d b y a n d p e r h a p s also t o b e h o l d the face o f
t o r e r e a d that essay t o u n d e r s t a n d h o w i n t e r p e l l a t i o n i s essen-
authority, a visual rendering of an auditory scene—a m i r r o r
t i a l l y f i g u r e d t h r o u g h the r e l i g i o u s e x a m p l e . T h e e x e m p l a r y
stage or, p e r h a p s m o r e a p p r o p r i a t e l y , a n " a c o u s t i c m i r r o r " —
status o f r e l i g i o u s a u t h o r i t y u n d e r s c o r e s the p a r a d o x o f h o w
that p e r m i t s the m i s r e c o g n i t i o n w i t h o u t w h i c h the s o c i a l i t y
the v e r y p o s s i b i l i t y o f subject f o r m a t i o n d e p e n d s u p o n a p a s -
o f the subject c a n n o t b e a c h i e v e d . T h i s s u b j e c t i v a t i o n is, ac-
sionate p u r s u i t o f a r e c o g n i t i o n w h i c h , w i t h i n the t e r m s o f the
c o r d i n g to A l t h u s s e r , a m i s r e c o g n i t i o n , a false a n d p r o v i s i o n a l
religious example, is inseparable f r o m a c o n d e m n a t i o n .
7
t o t a l i z a t i o n ; w h a t p r e c i p i t a t e s t h i s d e s i r e for the l a w , t h i s l u r e
A n o t h e r w a y o f p o s i n g t h i s q u e s t i o n w o u l d b e t o ask: H o w
o f m i s r e c o g n i t i o n o f f e r e d i n the r e p r i m a n d that establishes
i s A l t h u s s e r ' s text i m p l i c a t e d i n the " c o n s c i e n c e " that i t seeks
s u b o r d i n a t i o n a s the p r i c e o f s u b j e c t i v a t i o n ? T h i s a c c o u n t a p -
to e x p l a i n ? To w h a t extent is the p e r s i s t e n c e of the t h e o -
p e a r s to i m p l y that s o c i a l existence, existence as a subject, c a n
l o g i c a l m o d e l a s y m p t o m , o n e that c o m p e l s a s y m p t o m a t i c
b e p u r c h a s e d o n l y t h r o u g h a g u i l t y e m b r a c e o f the l a w , w h e r e
r e a d i n g ? In h i s i n t r o d u c t o r y essay to Reading Capital, A l t h u s -
g u i l t g u a r a n t e e s the i n t e r v e n t i o n o f the l a w a n d , hence, the
ser suggests that e v e r y text m u s t b e r e a d f o r the " i n v i s i b l e "
c o n t i n u a t i o n of the subject's existence. If the subject c a n o n l y
that a p p e a r s w i t h i n the w o r l d that t h e o r y r e n d e r s v i s i b l e . I n 9
assure h i s / h e r existence i n t e r m s o f the l a w , a n d the l a w r e -
a recent c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f A l t h u s s e r ' s n o t i o n o f " s y m p t o m a t i c
quires subjection for subjectivation, then, perversely, one m a y
r e a d i n g , " J e a n - M a r i e V i n c e n t r e m a r k s that " a text i s n o t i n t e r -
( a l w a y s a l r e a d y ) y i e l d t o the l a w i n o r d e r t o c o n t i n u e t o as-
e s t i n g o n l y b e c a u s e i t i s o r g a n i z e d l o g i c a l l y , b e c a u s e o f the
s u r e o n e ' s o w n existence. T h e y i e l d i n g t o the l a w m i g h t t h e n
a p p a r e n t l y r i g o r o u s w a y i n w h i c h i t d e v e l o p s its a r g u m e n t s ,
ii
4
"Conscience D o t h M a k e Subjects of Us A l l "
T
Althusser's
Subjection
"5
b u t a l s o b e c a u s e o f w h a t d i s o r g a n i z e s its o r d e r , b e c a u s e o f
a r e f l e x i v i t y — w h i c h c o n s t i t u t e s the c o n d i t i o n o f p o s s i b i l i t y
a l l that w e a k e n s i t . "
Neither Althusser nor Vincent considers
for the subject t o f o r m . R e f l e x i v i t y i s c o n s t i t u t e d t h r o u g h t h i s
the p o s s i b i l i t y that the e x e m p l a r y status o f c e r t a i n m e t a p h o r s
m o m e n t o f c o n s c i e n c e , t h i s t u r n i n g b a c k u p o n oneself, w h i c h
m a y o c c a s i o n a s y m p t o m a t i c r e a d i n g that " w e a k e n s " r i g o r o u s
i s s i m u l t a n e o u s w i t h a t u r n i n g t o w a r d the law. T h i s self-
a r g u m e n t . Yet i n A l t h u s s e r ' s o w n text, r e c o n s i d e r i n g the c e n -
r e s t r i c t i o n d o e s n o t i n t e r n a l i z e a n e x t e r n a l l a w : the m o d e l o f
1 0
t r a l r e l i g i o u s t r o p e s o f the v o i c e o f the l a w a n d c o n s c i e n c e e n -
i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n takes for g r a n t e d that a n " i n t e r n a l " a n d "exter-
ables o n e t o q u e s t i o n w h a t has b e c o m e , w i t h i n recent l i t e r a r y
n a l " h a v e a l r e a d y b e e n f o r m e d . Instead, t h i s s e l f - r e s t r i c t i o n i s
s t u d i e s , a n u n n e c e s s a r y t e n s i o n b e t w e e n the r e a d i n g o f m e t a -
p r i o r to the subject. It c o n s t i t u t e s the i n a u g u r a t i n g r e f l e x i v e
p h o r a n d the r e a d i n g o f i d e o l o g y . T o the extent that A l t h u s s e r ' s
t u r n o f the subject, e n a c t e d i n a n t i c i p a t i o n o f the l a w a n d
r e l i g i o u s a n a l o g i e s are u n d e r s t o o d a s m e r e l y i l l u s t r a t i v e , t h e y
hence d e t e r m i n e d by, h a v i n g p r e j u d i c a t i v e f o r e k n o w l e d g e of,
are set a p a r t f r o m the r i g o r o u s a r g u m e n t a t i o n of the text itself,
the l a w . C o n s c i e n c e i s f u n d a m e n t a l t o the p r o d u c t i o n a n d
o f f e r e d i n p e d a g o g i c a l p a r a p h r a s i s . Yet the p e r f o r m a t i v e force
r e g u l a t i o n o f the c i t i z e n - s u b j e c t , for c o n s c i e n c e t u r n s the i n d i -
o f the v o i c e o f r e l i g i o u s a u t h o r i t y b e c o m e s e x e m p l a r y f o r the
v i d u a l a r o u n d , m a k e s h i m / h e r a v a i l a b l e t o the s u b j e c t i v a t i n g
t h e o r y o f i n t e r p e l l a t i o n , t h u s e x t e n d i n g t h r o u g h e x a m p l e the
r e p r i m a n d . T h e l a w r e d o u b l e s that r e p r i m a n d , h o w e v e r : the
p u t a t i v e force o f d i v i n e n a m i n g t o the s o c i a l a u t h o r i t i e s b y
t u r n i n g b a c k i s a t u r n i n g t o w a r d . H o w are these t u r n s t o b e
w h i c h the subject i s h a i l e d i n t o s o c i a l b e i n g . I d o n o t m e a n t o
t h o u g h t together, w i t h o u t r e d u c i n g o n e t o the o t h e r ?
suggest that the " t r u t h " o f A l t h u s s e r ' s text c a n b e d i s c o v e r e d
B e f o r e the p o l i c e o r the c h u r c h a u t h o r i t i e s a r r i v e o n the
i n h o w the f i g u r a i d i s r u p t s " r i g o r o u s " c o n c e p t u a l i z a t i o n . S u c h
A l t h u s s e r i a n scene, there is a reference to p r o h i b i t i o n w h i c h ,
a n a p p r o a c h r o m a n t i c i z e s the f i g u r a i a s e s s e n t i a l l y d i s r u p t i v e ,
i n a L a c a n i a n v e i n , i s l i n k e d w i t h the v e r y p o s s i b i l i t y o f
whereas figures m a y w e l l c o m p o u n d a n d intensify concep-
s p e e c h . A l t h u s s e r l i n k s the e m e r g e n c e o f a c o n s c i o u s n e s s —
t u a l c l a i m s . T h e c o n c e r n here has a m o r e s p e c i f i c t e x t u a l a i m ,
a n d a c o n s c i e n c e ("la c o n s c i e n c e c i v i q u e et p r o f e s s i o n e l l e " ) —
namely, to show h o w figures—examples and analogies—in-
w i t h the p r o b l e m of s p e a k i n g p r o p e r l y (bien parler)}
f o r m a n d e x t e n d c o n c e p t u a l i z a t i o n s , i m p l i c a t i n g the text i n a n
i n g p r o p e r l y " a p p e a r s t o b e a n i n s t a n c e o f the i d e o l o g i c a l
ideological sanctification of religious authority w h i c h it can
w o r k o f a c q u i r i n g s k i l l s , a p r o c e s s c e n t r a l t o the f o r m a t i o n o f
e x p o s e o n l y b y r e e n a c t i n g that a u t h o r i t y .
1
"Speak-
the subject. T h e " d i v e r s e s k i l l s " o f l a b o r p o w e r m u s t b e r e p r o -
F o r A l t h u s s e r , the efficacy o f i d e o l o g y consists i n p a r t i n
d u c e d , a n d increasingly this r e p r o d u c t i o n happens "outside
the f o r m a t i o n of conscience, w h e r e the n o t i o n " c o n s c i e n c e " is
the f i r m " a n d i n school, that is, o u t s i d e p r o d u c t i o n a n d i n e d u -
u n d e r s t o o d t o p l a c e r e s t r i c t i o n s o n w h a t i s s p e a k a b l e or, m o r e
c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s . T h e s k i l l s t o b e l e a r n e d are, a b o v e a l l , the
generally, representable. Conscience cannot be conceptualized
skills of speech. T h e first m e n t i o n of "conscience," w h i c h w i l l
as a s e l f - r e s t r i c t i o n , if that r e l a t i o n is c o n s t r u e d as a p r e g i v e n
t u r n o u t t o b e c e n t r a l t o the success o r efficacy o f i n t e r p e l l a -
r e f l e x i v i t y , a t u r n i n g b a c k u p o n itself p e r f o r m e d b y a r e a d y -
t i o n , i s l i n k e d t o the a c q u i s i t i o n o f m a s t e r y , t o l e a r n i n g h o w t o
m a d e subject. I n s t e a d , it d e s i g n a t e s a k i n d of t u r n i n g b a c k —
"speak p r o p e r l y . " T h e r e p r o d u c t i o n o f the subject takes p l a c e
ii
4
"Conscience D o t h M a k e Subjects of Us A l l "
T
Althusser's
Subjection
"5
b u t a l s o b e c a u s e o f w h a t d i s o r g a n i z e s its o r d e r , b e c a u s e o f
a r e f l e x i v i t y — w h i c h c o n s t i t u t e s the c o n d i t i o n o f p o s s i b i l i t y
a l l that w e a k e n s i t . "
Neither Althusser nor Vincent considers
for the subject t o f o r m . R e f l e x i v i t y i s c o n s t i t u t e d t h r o u g h t h i s
the p o s s i b i l i t y that the e x e m p l a r y status o f c e r t a i n m e t a p h o r s
m o m e n t o f c o n s c i e n c e , t h i s t u r n i n g b a c k u p o n oneself, w h i c h
m a y o c c a s i o n a s y m p t o m a t i c r e a d i n g that " w e a k e n s " r i g o r o u s
i s s i m u l t a n e o u s w i t h a t u r n i n g t o w a r d the law. T h i s self-
a r g u m e n t . Yet i n A l t h u s s e r ' s o w n text, r e c o n s i d e r i n g the c e n -
r e s t r i c t i o n d o e s n o t i n t e r n a l i z e a n e x t e r n a l l a w : the m o d e l o f
1 0
t r a l r e l i g i o u s t r o p e s o f the v o i c e o f the l a w a n d c o n s c i e n c e e n -
i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n takes for g r a n t e d that a n " i n t e r n a l " a n d "exter-
ables o n e t o q u e s t i o n w h a t has b e c o m e , w i t h i n recent l i t e r a r y
n a l " h a v e a l r e a d y b e e n f o r m e d . Instead, t h i s s e l f - r e s t r i c t i o n i s
s t u d i e s , a n u n n e c e s s a r y t e n s i o n b e t w e e n the r e a d i n g o f m e t a -
p r i o r to the subject. It c o n s t i t u t e s the i n a u g u r a t i n g r e f l e x i v e
p h o r a n d the r e a d i n g o f i d e o l o g y . T o the extent that A l t h u s s e r ' s
t u r n o f the subject, e n a c t e d i n a n t i c i p a t i o n o f the l a w a n d
r e l i g i o u s a n a l o g i e s are u n d e r s t o o d a s m e r e l y i l l u s t r a t i v e , t h e y
hence d e t e r m i n e d by, h a v i n g p r e j u d i c a t i v e f o r e k n o w l e d g e of,
are set a p a r t f r o m the r i g o r o u s a r g u m e n t a t i o n of the text itself,
the l a w . C o n s c i e n c e i s f u n d a m e n t a l t o the p r o d u c t i o n a n d
o f f e r e d i n p e d a g o g i c a l p a r a p h r a s i s . Yet the p e r f o r m a t i v e force
r e g u l a t i o n o f the c i t i z e n - s u b j e c t , for c o n s c i e n c e t u r n s the i n d i -
o f the v o i c e o f r e l i g i o u s a u t h o r i t y b e c o m e s e x e m p l a r y f o r the
v i d u a l a r o u n d , m a k e s h i m / h e r a v a i l a b l e t o the s u b j e c t i v a t i n g
t h e o r y o f i n t e r p e l l a t i o n , t h u s e x t e n d i n g t h r o u g h e x a m p l e the
r e p r i m a n d . T h e l a w r e d o u b l e s that r e p r i m a n d , h o w e v e r : the
p u t a t i v e force o f d i v i n e n a m i n g t o the s o c i a l a u t h o r i t i e s b y
t u r n i n g b a c k i s a t u r n i n g t o w a r d . H o w are these t u r n s t o b e
w h i c h the subject i s h a i l e d i n t o s o c i a l b e i n g . I d o n o t m e a n t o
t h o u g h t together, w i t h o u t r e d u c i n g o n e t o the o t h e r ?
suggest that the " t r u t h " o f A l t h u s s e r ' s text c a n b e d i s c o v e r e d
B e f o r e the p o l i c e o r the c h u r c h a u t h o r i t i e s a r r i v e o n the
i n h o w the f i g u r a i d i s r u p t s " r i g o r o u s " c o n c e p t u a l i z a t i o n . S u c h
A l t h u s s e r i a n scene, there is a reference to p r o h i b i t i o n w h i c h ,
a n a p p r o a c h r o m a n t i c i z e s the f i g u r a i a s e s s e n t i a l l y d i s r u p t i v e ,
i n a L a c a n i a n v e i n , i s l i n k e d w i t h the v e r y p o s s i b i l i t y o f
whereas figures m a y w e l l c o m p o u n d a n d intensify concep-
s p e e c h . A l t h u s s e r l i n k s the e m e r g e n c e o f a c o n s c i o u s n e s s —
t u a l c l a i m s . T h e c o n c e r n here has a m o r e s p e c i f i c t e x t u a l a i m ,
a n d a c o n s c i e n c e ("la c o n s c i e n c e c i v i q u e et p r o f e s s i o n e l l e " ) —
namely, to show h o w figures—examples and analogies—in-
w i t h the p r o b l e m of s p e a k i n g p r o p e r l y (bien parler)}
f o r m a n d e x t e n d c o n c e p t u a l i z a t i o n s , i m p l i c a t i n g the text i n a n
i n g p r o p e r l y " a p p e a r s t o b e a n i n s t a n c e o f the i d e o l o g i c a l
ideological sanctification of religious authority w h i c h it can
w o r k o f a c q u i r i n g s k i l l s , a p r o c e s s c e n t r a l t o the f o r m a t i o n o f
e x p o s e o n l y b y r e e n a c t i n g that a u t h o r i t y .
1
"Speak-
the subject. T h e " d i v e r s e s k i l l s " o f l a b o r p o w e r m u s t b e r e p r o -
F o r A l t h u s s e r , the efficacy o f i d e o l o g y consists i n p a r t i n
d u c e d , a n d increasingly this r e p r o d u c t i o n happens "outside
the f o r m a t i o n of conscience, w h e r e the n o t i o n " c o n s c i e n c e " is
the f i r m " a n d i n school, that is, o u t s i d e p r o d u c t i o n a n d i n e d u -
u n d e r s t o o d t o p l a c e r e s t r i c t i o n s o n w h a t i s s p e a k a b l e or, m o r e
c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s . T h e s k i l l s t o b e l e a r n e d are, a b o v e a l l , the
generally, representable. Conscience cannot be conceptualized
skills of speech. T h e first m e n t i o n of "conscience," w h i c h w i l l
as a s e l f - r e s t r i c t i o n , if that r e l a t i o n is c o n s t r u e d as a p r e g i v e n
t u r n o u t t o b e c e n t r a l t o the success o r efficacy o f i n t e r p e l l a -
r e f l e x i v i t y , a t u r n i n g b a c k u p o n itself p e r f o r m e d b y a r e a d y -
t i o n , i s l i n k e d t o the a c q u i s i t i o n o f m a s t e r y , t o l e a r n i n g h o w t o
m a d e subject. I n s t e a d , it d e s i g n a t e s a k i n d of t u r n i n g b a c k —
"speak p r o p e r l y . " T h e r e p r o d u c t i o n o f the subject takes p l a c e
n6
Althusser's Subjection
"Conscience D o t h M a k e Subjects o f U s A l l "
t h r o u g h the r e p r o d u c t i o n o f l i n g u i s t i c s k i l l s , c o n s t i t u t i n g , a s i t
117
o f m a s t e r y / s u b m i s s i o n i s f o r f e i t e d b y A l t h u s s e r a s h e recasts
w e r e , the r u l e s a n d a t t i t u d e s o b s e r v e d " b y e v e r y agent i n the
submission precisely a n d p a r a d o x i c a l l y as a k i n d of mastery.
d i v i s i o n o f l a b o u r . " I n t h i s sense the r u l e s o f p r o p e r s p e e c h
In t h i s v i e w , n e i t h e r s u b m i s s i o n n o r m a s t e r y is performed by a
are also the r u l e s b y w h i c h respect i s p r o f e r r e d o r w i t h h e l d .
subject; the l i v e d s i m u l t a n e i t y of s u b m i s s i o n as m a s t e r y , a n d
W o r k e r s are t a u g h t t o speak p r o p e r l y a n d m a n a g e r s l e a r n t o
m a s t e r y a s s u b m i s s i o n , i s the c o n d i t i o n o f p o s s i b i l i t y for the
s p e a k to w o r k e r s " i n the r i g h t w a y [bien commander]" (131-
e m e r g e n c e of the subject. The conceptual p r o b l e m here is u n d e r s c o r e d by a g r a m -
32/72). L a n g u a g e s k i l l s are s a i d t o b e m a s t e r e d a n d m a s t e r a b l e , yet
m a t i c a l o n e i n w h i c h there c a n b e n o subject p r i o r t o a s u b m i s -
this mastery is figured by Althusser quite clearly as a k i n d
s i o n , a n d yet there i s a g r a m m a t i c a l l y i n d u c e d " n e e d t o k n o w "
o f s u b m i s s i o n : "the r e p r o d u c t i o n o f l a b o r p o w e r r e q u i r e s n o t
who u n d e r g o e s t h i s s u b m i s s i o n in o r d e r to b e c o m e a subject.
o n l y a r e p r o d u c t i o n of (the l a b o r e r ' s ) s k i l l s , b u t also, at the
A l t h u s s e r i n t r o d u c e s the t e r m " i n d i v i d u a l " a s a p l a c e - h o l d e r
s a m e t i m e , a r e p r o d u c t i o n of its s u b m i s s i o n to the r u l e s of the
t o satisfy p r o v i s i o n a l l y t h i s g r a m m a t i c a l n e e d , b u t w h a t m i g h t
established order
(132/72).
u l t i m a t e l y fit the g r a m m a t i c a l r e q u i r e m e n t w i l l n o t b e a static
T h i s s u b m i s s i o n t o the r u l e s o f the d o m i n a n t i d e o l o g y l e a d s
g r a m m a t i c a l subject. T h e g r a m m a r o f the subject e m e r g e s o n l y
i n the n e x t p a r a g r a p h t o the p r o b l e m a t i c o f subjection, w h i c h
as a c o n s e q u e n c e of the p r o c e s s we are t r y i n g to d e s c r i b e .
c a r r i e s the d o u b l e m e a n i n g o f h a v i n g s u b m i t t e d t o these r u l e s
B e c a u s e w e are, a s i t w e r e , t r a p p e d w i t h i n the g r a m m a t i c a l
a n d b e c o m i n g constituted w i t h i n sociality b y v i r t u e o f this
t i m e o f the subject (e.g., " w e are t r y i n g t o d e s c r i b e , " " w e are
submission.
t r a p p e d " ) , it is a l m o s t i m p o s s i b l e to ask after the g e n e a l o g y
[soumission à l'idéologie dominante]"
A l t h u s s e r w r i t e s that "the s c h o o l . . . teaches ' k n o w - h o w ' [ s k i l l s ; des 'savoir-faire'] . . . in f o r m s w h i c h e n s u r e subjection to
o f its c o n s t r u c t i o n w i t h o u t p r e s u p p o s i n g that c o n s t r u c t i o n i n a s k i n g the q u e s t i o n .
[l'assujetissement à l ' i d é o l o g i e d o m i n a n t e ]
W h a t , p r i o r t o the subject, a c c o u n t s f o r its f o r m a t i o n ? A l -
or [ou] the m a s t e r y of its ' p r a c t i c e ' " (133/73). C o n s i d e r the
t h u s s e r b e g i n s " I d e o l o g y a n d I d e o l o g i c a l State A p p a r a t u s e s "
l o g i c a l effect o f the d i s j u n c t i v e " o r " i n the m i d d l e o f t h i s for-
b y r e f e r r i n g t o the r e p r o d u c t i o n o f s o c i a l r e l a t i o n s , s p e c i f i e d
m u l a t i o n : " s u b j e c t i o n t o the r u l i n g i d e o l o g y o r " — p u t i n differ-
a s the r e p r o d u c t i o n o f s o c i a l s k i l l s . H e t h e n d i s t i n g u i s h e s b e -
ent, yet e q u i v a l e n t t e r m s — " t h e m a s t e r y o f its ' p r a c t i c e ' " ( m y
t w e e n s k i l l s r e p r o d u c e d i n the f i r m a n d those r e p r o d u c e d i n
e m p h a s i s ) . T h e m o r e a p r a c t i c e i s m a s t e r e d , the m o r e f u l l y
e d u c a t i o n . T h e subject is f o r m e d w i t h respect to the latter. In a
subjection is achieved. S u b m i s s i o n a n d mastery take place
sense, t h i s r e p r o d u c t i o n o f r e l a t i o n s i s p r i o r t o the subject w h o
simultaneously, a n d this p a r a d o x i c a l s i m u l t a n e i t y constitutes
i s f o r m e d i n its c o u r s e . Yet the t w o c a n n o t , s t r i c t l y s p e a k i n g ,
the a m b i v a l e n c e o f s u b j e c t i o n . T h o u g h o n e m i g h t e x p e c t s u b -
b e t h o u g h t w i t h o u t e a c h other.
the ruling ideology
m i s s i o n to consist in y i e l d i n g to an externally i m p o s e d d o m i -
T h e r e p r o d u c t i o n o f s o c i a l r e l a t i o n s , the r e p r o d u c t i o n o f
n a n t o r d e r a n d t o b e m a r k e d b y a loss o f c o n t r o l a n d m a s t e r y ,
s k i l l s , i s the r e p r o d u c t i o n o f s u b j e c t i o n . B u t the r e p r o d u c t i o n
p a r a d o x i c a l l y , i t i s itself m a r k e d b y m a s t e r y . T h e b i n a r y f r a m e
o f l a b o r i s not c e n t r a l h e r e — t h e c e n t r a l r e p r o d u c t i o n i s o n e
n6
Althusser's Subjection
"Conscience D o t h M a k e Subjects o f U s A l l "
t h r o u g h the r e p r o d u c t i o n o f l i n g u i s t i c s k i l l s , c o n s t i t u t i n g , a s i t
117
o f m a s t e r y / s u b m i s s i o n i s f o r f e i t e d b y A l t h u s s e r a s h e recasts
w e r e , the r u l e s a n d a t t i t u d e s o b s e r v e d " b y e v e r y agent i n the
submission precisely a n d p a r a d o x i c a l l y as a k i n d of mastery.
d i v i s i o n o f l a b o u r . " I n t h i s sense the r u l e s o f p r o p e r s p e e c h
In t h i s v i e w , n e i t h e r s u b m i s s i o n n o r m a s t e r y is performed by a
are also the r u l e s b y w h i c h respect i s p r o f e r r e d o r w i t h h e l d .
subject; the l i v e d s i m u l t a n e i t y of s u b m i s s i o n as m a s t e r y , a n d
W o r k e r s are t a u g h t t o speak p r o p e r l y a n d m a n a g e r s l e a r n t o
m a s t e r y a s s u b m i s s i o n , i s the c o n d i t i o n o f p o s s i b i l i t y for the
s p e a k to w o r k e r s " i n the r i g h t w a y [bien commander]" (131-
e m e r g e n c e of the subject. The conceptual p r o b l e m here is u n d e r s c o r e d by a g r a m -
32/72). L a n g u a g e s k i l l s are s a i d t o b e m a s t e r e d a n d m a s t e r a b l e , yet
m a t i c a l o n e i n w h i c h there c a n b e n o subject p r i o r t o a s u b m i s -
this mastery is figured by Althusser quite clearly as a k i n d
s i o n , a n d yet there i s a g r a m m a t i c a l l y i n d u c e d " n e e d t o k n o w "
o f s u b m i s s i o n : "the r e p r o d u c t i o n o f l a b o r p o w e r r e q u i r e s n o t
who u n d e r g o e s t h i s s u b m i s s i o n in o r d e r to b e c o m e a subject.
o n l y a r e p r o d u c t i o n of (the l a b o r e r ' s ) s k i l l s , b u t also, at the
A l t h u s s e r i n t r o d u c e s the t e r m " i n d i v i d u a l " a s a p l a c e - h o l d e r
s a m e t i m e , a r e p r o d u c t i o n of its s u b m i s s i o n to the r u l e s of the
t o satisfy p r o v i s i o n a l l y t h i s g r a m m a t i c a l n e e d , b u t w h a t m i g h t
established order
(132/72).
u l t i m a t e l y fit the g r a m m a t i c a l r e q u i r e m e n t w i l l n o t b e a static
T h i s s u b m i s s i o n t o the r u l e s o f the d o m i n a n t i d e o l o g y l e a d s
g r a m m a t i c a l subject. T h e g r a m m a r o f the subject e m e r g e s o n l y
i n the n e x t p a r a g r a p h t o the p r o b l e m a t i c o f subjection, w h i c h
as a c o n s e q u e n c e of the p r o c e s s we are t r y i n g to d e s c r i b e .
c a r r i e s the d o u b l e m e a n i n g o f h a v i n g s u b m i t t e d t o these r u l e s
B e c a u s e w e are, a s i t w e r e , t r a p p e d w i t h i n the g r a m m a t i c a l
a n d b e c o m i n g constituted w i t h i n sociality b y v i r t u e o f this
t i m e o f the subject (e.g., " w e are t r y i n g t o d e s c r i b e , " " w e are
submission.
t r a p p e d " ) , it is a l m o s t i m p o s s i b l e to ask after the g e n e a l o g y
[soumission à l'idéologie dominante]"
A l t h u s s e r w r i t e s that "the s c h o o l . . . teaches ' k n o w - h o w ' [ s k i l l s ; des 'savoir-faire'] . . . in f o r m s w h i c h e n s u r e subjection to
o f its c o n s t r u c t i o n w i t h o u t p r e s u p p o s i n g that c o n s t r u c t i o n i n a s k i n g the q u e s t i o n .
[l'assujetissement à l ' i d é o l o g i e d o m i n a n t e ]
W h a t , p r i o r t o the subject, a c c o u n t s f o r its f o r m a t i o n ? A l -
or [ou] the m a s t e r y of its ' p r a c t i c e ' " (133/73). C o n s i d e r the
t h u s s e r b e g i n s " I d e o l o g y a n d I d e o l o g i c a l State A p p a r a t u s e s "
l o g i c a l effect o f the d i s j u n c t i v e " o r " i n the m i d d l e o f t h i s for-
b y r e f e r r i n g t o the r e p r o d u c t i o n o f s o c i a l r e l a t i o n s , s p e c i f i e d
m u l a t i o n : " s u b j e c t i o n t o the r u l i n g i d e o l o g y o r " — p u t i n differ-
a s the r e p r o d u c t i o n o f s o c i a l s k i l l s . H e t h e n d i s t i n g u i s h e s b e -
ent, yet e q u i v a l e n t t e r m s — " t h e m a s t e r y o f its ' p r a c t i c e ' " ( m y
t w e e n s k i l l s r e p r o d u c e d i n the f i r m a n d those r e p r o d u c e d i n
e m p h a s i s ) . T h e m o r e a p r a c t i c e i s m a s t e r e d , the m o r e f u l l y
e d u c a t i o n . T h e subject is f o r m e d w i t h respect to the latter. In a
subjection is achieved. S u b m i s s i o n a n d mastery take place
sense, t h i s r e p r o d u c t i o n o f r e l a t i o n s i s p r i o r t o the subject w h o
simultaneously, a n d this p a r a d o x i c a l s i m u l t a n e i t y constitutes
i s f o r m e d i n its c o u r s e . Yet the t w o c a n n o t , s t r i c t l y s p e a k i n g ,
the a m b i v a l e n c e o f s u b j e c t i o n . T h o u g h o n e m i g h t e x p e c t s u b -
b e t h o u g h t w i t h o u t e a c h other.
the ruling ideology
m i s s i o n to consist in y i e l d i n g to an externally i m p o s e d d o m i -
T h e r e p r o d u c t i o n o f s o c i a l r e l a t i o n s , the r e p r o d u c t i o n o f
n a n t o r d e r a n d t o b e m a r k e d b y a loss o f c o n t r o l a n d m a s t e r y ,
s k i l l s , i s the r e p r o d u c t i o n o f s u b j e c t i o n . B u t the r e p r o d u c t i o n
p a r a d o x i c a l l y , i t i s itself m a r k e d b y m a s t e r y . T h e b i n a r y f r a m e
o f l a b o r i s not c e n t r a l h e r e — t h e c e n t r a l r e p r o d u c t i o n i s o n e
ii8
"Conscience Doth M a k e Subjects of Us A l l "
p r o p e r t o the subject a n d takes p l a c e i n r e l a t i o n t o l a n g u a g e
Althusser
s
Subjection
119
that the r e a s o n there are so f e w references to " b a d subjects"
a n d t o the f o r m a t i o n o f c o n s c i e n c e . F o r A l t h u s s e r , t o p e r f o r m
i n A l t h u s s e r i s that the t e r m t e n d s t o w a r d the o x y m o r o n i c . T o
tasks " c o n s c i e n t i o u s l y " i s t o p e r f o r m t h e m , a s i t w e r e , a g a i n
be " b a d " is not yet to be a subject, n o t yet to h a v e a c q u i t t e d
a n d a g a i n , t o r e p r o d u c e those s k i l l s a n d , i n r e p r o d u c i n g t h e m ,
oneself o f the a l l e g a t i o n o f g u i l t .
12
to acquire mastery. A l t h u s s e r places "conscientiously" in q u o -
T h i s p e r f o r m a n c e i s n o t s i m p l y i n accord w i t h these s k i l l s ,
tation m a r k s ("pour s'acquitter 'consciencieusement' de leur
for there i s n o subject p r i o r t o t h e i r p e r f o r m i n g ; p e r f o r m i n g
tâche," 73), t h u s b r i n g i n g i n t o r e l i e f the w a y i n w h i c h l a b o r
s k i l l s l a b o r i o u s l y w o r k s the subject i n t o its status as a s o c i a l
i s m o r a l i z e d . T h e m o r a l sense o f s'acquitter i s lost i n its t r a n s -
being. There is guilt, a n d then a repetitive practice by w h i c h
l a t i o n as "to p e r f o r m " : if the m a s t e r y of a set of s k i l l s is to
s k i l l s are a c q u i r e d , a n d t h e n a n d o n l y t h e n a n a s s u m p t i o n o f
be c o n s t r u e d as an acquitting of oneself, t h e n t h i s m a s t e r y of
the g r a m m a t i c a l p l a c e w i t h i n the s o c i a l as a subject.
savoir-faire d e f e n d s o n e a g a i n s t a n a c c u s a t i o n ; q u i t e l i t e r a l l y ,
To say that the subject p e r f o r m s a c c o r d i n g to a set of s k i l l s
it is the a c c u s e d ' s d e c l a r a t i o n of i n n o c e n c e . To a c q u i t oneself
is, as it w e r e , to t a k e g r a m m a r at its w o r d : there is a subject
" c o n s c i e n t i o u s l y " is, t h e n , to c o n s t r u e l a b o r as a c o n f e s s i o n of
w h o e n c o u n t e r s a set o f s k i l l s t o b e l e a r n e d , l e a r n s t h e m o r
i n n o c e n c e , a d i s p l a y o r p r o o f o f g u i l t l e s s n e s s i n the face o f the
fails t o l e a r n t h e m , a n d t h e n a n d o n l y t h e n c a n i t b e s a i d e i t h e r
d e m a n d for confession i m p l i e d by an insistent accusation.
to h a v e m a s t e r e d those s k i l l s or n o t . To m a s t e r a set of s k i l l s is
" S u b m i s s i o n " t o the r u l e s o f the d o m i n a n t i d e o l o g y m i g h t
n o t s i m p l y t o accept a set o f s k i l l s , b u t t o r e p r o d u c e t h e m i n
t h e n be u n d e r s t o o d as a s u b m i s s i o n to the n e c e s s i t y to p r o v e
a n d a s one's o w n a c t i v i t y . T h i s i s not s i m p l y t o act a c c o r d i n g
i n n o c e n c e i n the face o f a c c u s a t i o n , a s u b m i s s i o n t o the d e -
to a set of r u l e s , b u t to e m b o d y r u l e s in the c o u r s e of a c t i o n
m a n d f o r p r o o f , a n e x e c u t i o n o f that p r o o f , a n d a c q u i s i t i o n o f
a n d to r e p r o d u c e those rules in e m b o d i e d rituals of a c t i o n .
13
the status o f the subject i n a n d t h r o u g h c o m p l i a n c e w i t h the
W h a t leads t o t h i s r e p r o d u c t i o n ? C l e a r l y , i t i s n o t m e r e l y
t e r m s of the i n t e r r o g a t i v e law. To b e c o m e a "subject" is t h u s
a m e c h a n i s t i c a p p r o p r i a t i o n of n o r m s , n o r is it a v o l u n t a r i s t i c
to have been p r e s u m e d guilty, then tried a n d declared i n n o -
a p p r o p r i a t i o n . It is neither s i m p l e b e h a v i o r i s m n o r a delib-
cent. B e c a u s e t h i s d e c l a r a t i o n is n o t a s i n g l e act b u t a status
erate project. To the extent that it p r e c e d e s the f o r m a t i o n of
i n c e s s a n t l y reproduced, to b e c o m e a "subject" is to be c o n t i n u -
the subject, it is n o t yet of the o r d e r of c o n s c i o u s n e s s , a n d
o u s l y i n the p r o c e s s o f a c q u i t t i n g oneself o f the a c c u s a t i o n o f
yet t h i s i n v o l u n t a r y c o m p u l s i o n i s n o t a m e c h a n i s t i c a l l y i n -
g u i l t . It is to h a v e b e c o m e an e m b l e m of l a w f u l n e s s , a c i t i z e n
d u c e d effect. T h e n o t i o n o f r i t u a l suggests that i t i s p e r f o r m e d ,
i n g o o d s t a n d i n g , b u t o n e for w h o m that status i s t e n u o u s ,
a n d that i n the r e p e t i t i o n o f p e r f o r m a n c e a b e l i e f i s s p a w n e d ,
i n d e e d , one w h o has k n o w n — s o m e h o w , s o m e w h e r e — w h a t i t
w h i c h i s t h e n i n c o r p o r a t e d i n t o the p e r f o r m a n c e i n its subse-
is not to h a v e that s t a n d i n g a n d h e n c e to h a v e b e e n cast o u t
quent operations. But inherent to any performance is a c o m -
a s g u i l t y Yet b e c a u s e t h i s g u i l t c o n d i t i o n s the subject, i t c o n -
p u l s i o n t o " a c q u i t oneself," a n d s o p r i o r t o a n y p e r f o r m a n c e i s
stitutes the p r e h i s t o r y o f the s u b j e c t i o n t o the l a w b y w h i c h
an anxiety a n d a knowingness w h i c h becomes articulate a n d
the subject i s p r o d u c e d . H e r e o n e m i g h t u s e f u l l y conjecture
a n i m a t i n g o n l y o n the o c c a s i o n o f the r e p r i m a n d .
ii8
"Conscience Doth M a k e Subjects of Us A l l "
p r o p e r t o the subject a n d takes p l a c e i n r e l a t i o n t o l a n g u a g e
Althusser
s
Subjection
119
that the r e a s o n there are so f e w references to " b a d subjects"
a n d t o the f o r m a t i o n o f c o n s c i e n c e . F o r A l t h u s s e r , t o p e r f o r m
i n A l t h u s s e r i s that the t e r m t e n d s t o w a r d the o x y m o r o n i c . T o
tasks " c o n s c i e n t i o u s l y " i s t o p e r f o r m t h e m , a s i t w e r e , a g a i n
be " b a d " is not yet to be a subject, n o t yet to h a v e a c q u i t t e d
a n d a g a i n , t o r e p r o d u c e those s k i l l s a n d , i n r e p r o d u c i n g t h e m ,
oneself o f the a l l e g a t i o n o f g u i l t .
12
to acquire mastery. A l t h u s s e r places "conscientiously" in q u o -
T h i s p e r f o r m a n c e i s n o t s i m p l y i n accord w i t h these s k i l l s ,
tation m a r k s ("pour s'acquitter 'consciencieusement' de leur
for there i s n o subject p r i o r t o t h e i r p e r f o r m i n g ; p e r f o r m i n g
tâche," 73), t h u s b r i n g i n g i n t o r e l i e f the w a y i n w h i c h l a b o r
s k i l l s l a b o r i o u s l y w o r k s the subject i n t o its status as a s o c i a l
i s m o r a l i z e d . T h e m o r a l sense o f s'acquitter i s lost i n its t r a n s -
being. There is guilt, a n d then a repetitive practice by w h i c h
l a t i o n as "to p e r f o r m " : if the m a s t e r y of a set of s k i l l s is to
s k i l l s are a c q u i r e d , a n d t h e n a n d o n l y t h e n a n a s s u m p t i o n o f
be c o n s t r u e d as an acquitting of oneself, t h e n t h i s m a s t e r y of
the g r a m m a t i c a l p l a c e w i t h i n the s o c i a l as a subject.
savoir-faire d e f e n d s o n e a g a i n s t a n a c c u s a t i o n ; q u i t e l i t e r a l l y ,
To say that the subject p e r f o r m s a c c o r d i n g to a set of s k i l l s
it is the a c c u s e d ' s d e c l a r a t i o n of i n n o c e n c e . To a c q u i t oneself
is, as it w e r e , to t a k e g r a m m a r at its w o r d : there is a subject
" c o n s c i e n t i o u s l y " is, t h e n , to c o n s t r u e l a b o r as a c o n f e s s i o n of
w h o e n c o u n t e r s a set o f s k i l l s t o b e l e a r n e d , l e a r n s t h e m o r
i n n o c e n c e , a d i s p l a y o r p r o o f o f g u i l t l e s s n e s s i n the face o f the
fails t o l e a r n t h e m , a n d t h e n a n d o n l y t h e n c a n i t b e s a i d e i t h e r
d e m a n d for confession i m p l i e d by an insistent accusation.
to h a v e m a s t e r e d those s k i l l s or n o t . To m a s t e r a set of s k i l l s is
" S u b m i s s i o n " t o the r u l e s o f the d o m i n a n t i d e o l o g y m i g h t
n o t s i m p l y t o accept a set o f s k i l l s , b u t t o r e p r o d u c e t h e m i n
t h e n be u n d e r s t o o d as a s u b m i s s i o n to the n e c e s s i t y to p r o v e
a n d a s one's o w n a c t i v i t y . T h i s i s not s i m p l y t o act a c c o r d i n g
i n n o c e n c e i n the face o f a c c u s a t i o n , a s u b m i s s i o n t o the d e -
to a set of r u l e s , b u t to e m b o d y r u l e s in the c o u r s e of a c t i o n
m a n d f o r p r o o f , a n e x e c u t i o n o f that p r o o f , a n d a c q u i s i t i o n o f
a n d to r e p r o d u c e those rules in e m b o d i e d rituals of a c t i o n .
13
the status o f the subject i n a n d t h r o u g h c o m p l i a n c e w i t h the
W h a t leads t o t h i s r e p r o d u c t i o n ? C l e a r l y , i t i s n o t m e r e l y
t e r m s of the i n t e r r o g a t i v e law. To b e c o m e a "subject" is t h u s
a m e c h a n i s t i c a p p r o p r i a t i o n of n o r m s , n o r is it a v o l u n t a r i s t i c
to have been p r e s u m e d guilty, then tried a n d declared i n n o -
a p p r o p r i a t i o n . It is neither s i m p l e b e h a v i o r i s m n o r a delib-
cent. B e c a u s e t h i s d e c l a r a t i o n is n o t a s i n g l e act b u t a status
erate project. To the extent that it p r e c e d e s the f o r m a t i o n of
i n c e s s a n t l y reproduced, to b e c o m e a "subject" is to be c o n t i n u -
the subject, it is n o t yet of the o r d e r of c o n s c i o u s n e s s , a n d
o u s l y i n the p r o c e s s o f a c q u i t t i n g oneself o f the a c c u s a t i o n o f
yet t h i s i n v o l u n t a r y c o m p u l s i o n i s n o t a m e c h a n i s t i c a l l y i n -
g u i l t . It is to h a v e b e c o m e an e m b l e m of l a w f u l n e s s , a c i t i z e n
d u c e d effect. T h e n o t i o n o f r i t u a l suggests that i t i s p e r f o r m e d ,
i n g o o d s t a n d i n g , b u t o n e for w h o m that status i s t e n u o u s ,
a n d that i n the r e p e t i t i o n o f p e r f o r m a n c e a b e l i e f i s s p a w n e d ,
i n d e e d , one w h o has k n o w n — s o m e h o w , s o m e w h e r e — w h a t i t
w h i c h i s t h e n i n c o r p o r a t e d i n t o the p e r f o r m a n c e i n its subse-
is not to h a v e that s t a n d i n g a n d h e n c e to h a v e b e e n cast o u t
quent operations. But inherent to any performance is a c o m -
a s g u i l t y Yet b e c a u s e t h i s g u i l t c o n d i t i o n s the subject, i t c o n -
p u l s i o n t o " a c q u i t oneself," a n d s o p r i o r t o a n y p e r f o r m a n c e i s
stitutes the p r e h i s t o r y o f the s u b j e c t i o n t o the l a w b y w h i c h
an anxiety a n d a knowingness w h i c h becomes articulate a n d
the subject i s p r o d u c e d . H e r e o n e m i g h t u s e f u l l y conjecture
a n i m a t i n g o n l y o n the o c c a s i o n o f the r e p r i m a n d .
120
"Conscience D o t h M a k e Subjects of Us A H "
Althusser's
Subjection
121
I s i t p o s s i b l e t o separate the p s y c h i c d i m e n s i o n o f t h i s r i t u -
ance w i t h i n m a t e r i a l i t y . A c c o r d i n g t o D o l a r , i n t e r p e l l a t i o n c a n
a l i s t i c r e p e t i t i o n f r o m the "acts" b y w h i c h i t i s a n i m a t e d a n d
o n l y e x p l a i n the f o r m a t i o n o f the subject i n a p a r t i a l w a y :
reanimated? The v e r y n o t i o n of r i t u a l is meant to render be-
"for A l t h u s s e r , the subject i s w h a t m a k e s i d e o l o g y w o r k ; for
lief a n d p r a c t i c e i n s e p a r a b l e . Yet the S l o v e n i a n c r i t i c M l a d e n
p s y c h o a n a l y s i s , the subject e m e r g e s w h e r e i d e o l o g y fails. . . .
D o l a r a r g u e s that A l t h u s s e r fails t o a c c o u n t for the p s y c h e a s
The r e m a i n d e r p r o d u c e d by subjectivation is also invisible
a separate d i m e n s i o n . D o l a r c o u n s e l s a r e t u r n t o L a c a n , m u c h
f r o m the p o i n t o f v i e w o f i n t e r p e l l a t i o n . " " I n t e r p e l l a t i o n " h e
i n the s a m e w a y that S l a v o j Z i z e k suggests a n e c e s s a r y c o m -
w r i t e s , " i s a w a y o f a v o i d i n g [that r e m a i n d e r ] " (76). A t stake
plementarity between Althusser and Lacan.
T o insist o n the
for D o l a r i s the n e e d t o s t r e n g t h e n the d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n the
s e p a r a b i l i t y o f the p s y c h e f r o m s o c i a l p r a c t i c e i s t o i n t e n s i f y
d o m a i n o f the s y m b o l i c , u n d e r s t o o d a s c o m m u n i c a b l e s p e e c h
the r e l i g i o u s m e t a p h o r i c s i n A l t h u s s e r , that is, t o f i g u r e the
a n d s o c i a l b o n d s , a n d that o f the p s y c h i c , w h i c h i s o n t o l o g i -
p s y c h e as p u r e i d e a l i t y , not u n l i k e the i d e a l i t y of the s o u l . I
c a l l y d i s t i n c t f r o m the s o c i a l a n d i s d e n n e d a s the r e m a i n d e r
turn, then, to D o l a r ' s reading of Althusser in order to consider
that the n o t i o n o f the s o c i a l c a n n o t t a k e i n t o a c c o u n t .
1 4
the t e n s i o n b e t w e e n the p u t a t i v e i d e a l i t y o f s u b j e c t i v i t y a n d
Dolar distinguishes between materiality and inferiority,
the c l a i m that i d e o l o g y , i n c l u d i n g p s y c h i c r e a l i t y , i s p a r t o f the
t h e n l o o s e l y a l i g n s that d i s t i n c t i o n w i t h the A l t h u s s e r i a n d i v i -
e x p a n d e d d o m a i n o f m a t e r i a l i t y i n the A l t h u s s e r i a n sense.
s i o n b e t w e e n the m a t e r i a l i t y o f the state a p p a r a t u s a n d the
M l a d e n D o l a r ' s essay " B e y o n d I n t e r p e l l a t i o n "
suggests
putative ideality of subjectivity. In a f o r m u l a t i o n w i t h strong
that A l t h u s s e r , d e s p i t e h i s o c c a s i o n a l u s e o f L a c a n ' s t h e o r y o f
C a r t e s i a n r e s o n a n c e , D o l a r defines s u b j e c t i v i t y t h r o u g h the
the i m a g i n a r y , fails t o a p p r e c i a t e the d i s r u p t i v e p o t e n t i a l o f
n o t i o n o f i n f e r i o r i t y a n d i d e n t i f i e s a s m a t e r i a l the d o m a i n o f
p s y c h o a n a l y s i s , i n p a r t i c u l a r , the n o t i o n o f the R e a l a s d e s i g -
e x t e r i o r i t y (i.e., e x t e r i o r t o the subject). H e p r e s u p p o s e s that
1 5
n a t i n g that w h i c h n e v e r b e c o m e s a v a i l a b l e t o s u b j e c t i v a t i o n .
s u b j e c t i v i t y consists i n b o t h i n f e r i o r i t y a n d i d e a l i t y , w h e r e a s
D o l a r w r i t e s , " T o p u t it the s i m p l e s t w a y , there is a p a r t of the
m a t e r i a l i t y b e l o n g s t o its o p p o s i t e , the c o u n t e r v a i l i n g e x t e r i o r
i n d i v i d u a l that c a n n o t s u c c e s s f u l l y pass i n t o the subject, a n
world.
e l e m e n t of ' p r e - i d e o l o g i c a l ' a n d ' p r e s u b j e c t i v e ' materia prima
This manner of distinguishing interior from exterior m a y
that c o m e s t o h a u n t s u b j e c t i v i t y o n c e i t i s c o n s t i t u t e d a s s u c h "
w e l l s e e m strange as a c h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n of or e x t r a p o l a t i o n
(75). T h e u s e of "materia prima" h e r e is s i g n i f i c a n t , for w i t h
from Althusser's position. Althusser's distinctive contribution
t h i s p h r a s e D o l a r e x p l i c i t l y contests the s o c i a l a c c o u n t o f m a -
is, after a l l , t o u n d e r m i n e the o n t o l o g i c a l d u a l i s m p r e s u p p o s e d
t e r i a l i t y that A l t h u s s e r p r o v i d e s . In fact, t h i s "materia prima"
b y the c o n v e n t i o n a l M a r x i s t d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n a m a t e r i a l
n e v e r materializes in the A l t h u s s e r i a n sense, n e v e r e m e r g e s as
base a n d a n i d e a l o r i d e o l o g i c a l s u p e r s t r u c t u r e . H e d o e s s o
a p r a c t i c e , a r i t u a l , or a s o c i a l r e l a t i o n ; f r o m the p o i n t of v i e w
b y a s s e r t i n g the m a t e r i a l i t y o f the i d e o l o g i c a l : " a n i d e o l o g y
o f the s o c i a l , the " m a t e r i a p r i m a " i s r a d i c a l l y immaterial. D o l a r
a l w a y s exists i n a n a p p a r a t u s , a n d its p r a c t i c e , o r p r a c t i c e s .
t h u s c r i t i c i z e s A l t h u s s e r for e l i d i n g the d i m e n s i o n o f subjec-
T h i s existence i s m a t e r i a l . "
t i v i t y that r e m a i n s r a d i c a l l y i m m a t e r i a l , b a r r e d f r o m a p p e a r -
1 6
T h e c o n s t i t u t i o n of the subject is material to the extent that
120
"Conscience D o t h M a k e Subjects of Us A H "
Althusser's
Subjection
121
I s i t p o s s i b l e t o separate the p s y c h i c d i m e n s i o n o f t h i s r i t u -
ance w i t h i n m a t e r i a l i t y . A c c o r d i n g t o D o l a r , i n t e r p e l l a t i o n c a n
a l i s t i c r e p e t i t i o n f r o m the "acts" b y w h i c h i t i s a n i m a t e d a n d
o n l y e x p l a i n the f o r m a t i o n o f the subject i n a p a r t i a l w a y :
reanimated? The v e r y n o t i o n of r i t u a l is meant to render be-
"for A l t h u s s e r , the subject i s w h a t m a k e s i d e o l o g y w o r k ; for
lief a n d p r a c t i c e i n s e p a r a b l e . Yet the S l o v e n i a n c r i t i c M l a d e n
p s y c h o a n a l y s i s , the subject e m e r g e s w h e r e i d e o l o g y fails. . . .
D o l a r a r g u e s that A l t h u s s e r fails t o a c c o u n t for the p s y c h e a s
The r e m a i n d e r p r o d u c e d by subjectivation is also invisible
a separate d i m e n s i o n . D o l a r c o u n s e l s a r e t u r n t o L a c a n , m u c h
f r o m the p o i n t o f v i e w o f i n t e r p e l l a t i o n . " " I n t e r p e l l a t i o n " h e
i n the s a m e w a y that S l a v o j Z i z e k suggests a n e c e s s a r y c o m -
w r i t e s , " i s a w a y o f a v o i d i n g [that r e m a i n d e r ] " (76). A t stake
plementarity between Althusser and Lacan.
T o insist o n the
for D o l a r i s the n e e d t o s t r e n g t h e n the d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n the
s e p a r a b i l i t y o f the p s y c h e f r o m s o c i a l p r a c t i c e i s t o i n t e n s i f y
d o m a i n o f the s y m b o l i c , u n d e r s t o o d a s c o m m u n i c a b l e s p e e c h
the r e l i g i o u s m e t a p h o r i c s i n A l t h u s s e r , that is, t o f i g u r e the
a n d s o c i a l b o n d s , a n d that o f the p s y c h i c , w h i c h i s o n t o l o g i -
p s y c h e as p u r e i d e a l i t y , not u n l i k e the i d e a l i t y of the s o u l . I
c a l l y d i s t i n c t f r o m the s o c i a l a n d i s d e n n e d a s the r e m a i n d e r
turn, then, to D o l a r ' s reading of Althusser in order to consider
that the n o t i o n o f the s o c i a l c a n n o t t a k e i n t o a c c o u n t .
1 4
the t e n s i o n b e t w e e n the p u t a t i v e i d e a l i t y o f s u b j e c t i v i t y a n d
Dolar distinguishes between materiality and inferiority,
the c l a i m that i d e o l o g y , i n c l u d i n g p s y c h i c r e a l i t y , i s p a r t o f the
t h e n l o o s e l y a l i g n s that d i s t i n c t i o n w i t h the A l t h u s s e r i a n d i v i -
e x p a n d e d d o m a i n o f m a t e r i a l i t y i n the A l t h u s s e r i a n sense.
s i o n b e t w e e n the m a t e r i a l i t y o f the state a p p a r a t u s a n d the
M l a d e n D o l a r ' s essay " B e y o n d I n t e r p e l l a t i o n "
suggests
putative ideality of subjectivity. In a f o r m u l a t i o n w i t h strong
that A l t h u s s e r , d e s p i t e h i s o c c a s i o n a l u s e o f L a c a n ' s t h e o r y o f
C a r t e s i a n r e s o n a n c e , D o l a r defines s u b j e c t i v i t y t h r o u g h the
the i m a g i n a r y , fails t o a p p r e c i a t e the d i s r u p t i v e p o t e n t i a l o f
n o t i o n o f i n f e r i o r i t y a n d i d e n t i f i e s a s m a t e r i a l the d o m a i n o f
p s y c h o a n a l y s i s , i n p a r t i c u l a r , the n o t i o n o f the R e a l a s d e s i g -
e x t e r i o r i t y (i.e., e x t e r i o r t o the subject). H e p r e s u p p o s e s that
1 5
n a t i n g that w h i c h n e v e r b e c o m e s a v a i l a b l e t o s u b j e c t i v a t i o n .
s u b j e c t i v i t y consists i n b o t h i n f e r i o r i t y a n d i d e a l i t y , w h e r e a s
D o l a r w r i t e s , " T o p u t it the s i m p l e s t w a y , there is a p a r t of the
m a t e r i a l i t y b e l o n g s t o its o p p o s i t e , the c o u n t e r v a i l i n g e x t e r i o r
i n d i v i d u a l that c a n n o t s u c c e s s f u l l y pass i n t o the subject, a n
world.
e l e m e n t of ' p r e - i d e o l o g i c a l ' a n d ' p r e s u b j e c t i v e ' materia prima
This manner of distinguishing interior from exterior m a y
that c o m e s t o h a u n t s u b j e c t i v i t y o n c e i t i s c o n s t i t u t e d a s s u c h "
w e l l s e e m strange as a c h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n of or e x t r a p o l a t i o n
(75). T h e u s e of "materia prima" h e r e is s i g n i f i c a n t , for w i t h
from Althusser's position. Althusser's distinctive contribution
t h i s p h r a s e D o l a r e x p l i c i t l y contests the s o c i a l a c c o u n t o f m a -
is, after a l l , t o u n d e r m i n e the o n t o l o g i c a l d u a l i s m p r e s u p p o s e d
t e r i a l i t y that A l t h u s s e r p r o v i d e s . In fact, t h i s "materia prima"
b y the c o n v e n t i o n a l M a r x i s t d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n a m a t e r i a l
n e v e r materializes in the A l t h u s s e r i a n sense, n e v e r e m e r g e s as
base a n d a n i d e a l o r i d e o l o g i c a l s u p e r s t r u c t u r e . H e d o e s s o
a p r a c t i c e , a r i t u a l , or a s o c i a l r e l a t i o n ; f r o m the p o i n t of v i e w
b y a s s e r t i n g the m a t e r i a l i t y o f the i d e o l o g i c a l : " a n i d e o l o g y
o f the s o c i a l , the " m a t e r i a p r i m a " i s r a d i c a l l y immaterial. D o l a r
a l w a y s exists i n a n a p p a r a t u s , a n d its p r a c t i c e , o r p r a c t i c e s .
t h u s c r i t i c i z e s A l t h u s s e r for e l i d i n g the d i m e n s i o n o f subjec-
T h i s existence i s m a t e r i a l . "
t i v i t y that r e m a i n s r a d i c a l l y i m m a t e r i a l , b a r r e d f r o m a p p e a r -
1 6
T h e c o n s t i t u t i o n of the subject is material to the extent that
122
"Conscience D o t h M a k e Subjects of Us A l l "
Althusser's
Subjection
123
t h i s c o n s t i t u t i o n takes p l a c e t h r o u g h rituals, a n d these r i t u a l s
l i m i t to b o t h materialization a n d subjectivation; it constitutes
m a t e r i a l i z e "the i d e a s o f the subject" (169). W h a t i s c a l l e d "sub-
the c o n s t i t u t i v e l a c k o r the n o n - s y m b o l i z a b l e R e a l . A s fore-
j e c t i v i t y , " u n d e r s t o o d a s the l i v e d a n d i m a g i n a r y e x p e r i e n c e o f
c l o s e d o r i n t r o j e c t e d , the p r i m a r y object i s lost a n d i d e a l i z e d a t
the subject, i s itself d e r i v e d f r o m the m a t e r i a l r i t u a l s b y w h i c h
once; the i d e a l i t y a c q u i r e d b y t h i s object t h r o u g h i n t r o j e c t i o n
subjects are c o n s t i t u t e d . P a s c a l ' s b e l i e v e r k n e e l s m o r e t h a n
c o n s t i t u t e s the f o u n d i n g i d e a l i t y o f s u b j e c t i v i t y . T h i s i n s i g h t
once, n e c e s s a r i l y r e p e a t i n g the g e s t u r e b y w h i c h b e l i e f i s c o n -
i s the o n e that A l t h u s s e r a p p e a r s t o m i s s , a n d yet D o l a r a p -
j u r e d . T o u n d e r s t a n d , m o r e b r o a d l y , "the r i t u a l s o f i d e o l o g i c a l
p e a r s t o a t t r i b u t e t o h i m the v e r y d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n m a t e r i -
r e c o g n i t i o n " ' (173) b y w h i c h the subject i s c o n s t i t u t e d i s c e n -
a l i t y a n d i d e a l i t y that i s i n s u f f i c i e n t l y r e a l i z e d i n A l t h u s s e r ' s
t r a l t o the v e r y n o t i o n o f i d e o l o g y . B u t i f b e l i e f f o l l o w s f r o m
theory:
the p o s t u r e o f p r a y e r , i f that p o s t u r e c o n d i t i o n s a n d reiterates belief, t h e n h o w are w e t o separate the i d e a t i o n a l s p h e r e f r o m the r i t u a l p r a c t i c e s b y w h i c h i t i s i n c e s s a n t l y r e i n s t i t u t e d ? A l t h o u g h the q u e s t i o n of the subject is n o t the s a m e as the q u e s t i o n o f s u b j e c t i v i t y , i n D o l a r ' s essay i t n e v e r t h e l e s s r e m a i n s u n c l e a r h o w t h o s e t w o n o t i o n s are t o b e t h o u g h t together. T h e n o t i o n o f " s u b j e c t i v i t y " d o e s n o t h a v e m u c h p l a y i n A l t h u s s e r , e x c e p t p e r h a p s i n the c r i t i q u e o f s u b j e c t i v i s m ,
there is a step in the emergence of both the subject and the Other that Althusser leaves out and that can perhaps be best illustrated by Althusser's o w n example. To elucidate the transition between the external materiality of state apparatuses (institutions, practices, rituals, etc.) and the inferiority of ideological subjectivity, Althusser borrows a famous suggestion from Pascal, namely his scandalous piece of advice that the best way to become a believer is to follow the religious rituals. (88)
a n d i t i s u n c l e a r h o w that t e r m m i g h t b e t r a n s p o s e d o n t o
D o l a r refers to t h i s as a "senseless r i t u a l , " a n d t h e n reverses
the t e r m s h e uses. T h i s m a y b e D o l a r ' s c r i t i c a l p o i n t , n a m e l y ,
the A l t h u s s e r i a n a c c o u n t i n o r d e r t o e s t a b l i s h that the c r e e d
that there i s n o t e n o u g h o f a p l a c e f o r s u b j e c t i v i t y i n A l t h u s -
a n d the r i t u a l are the effects o f " a s u p p o s i t i o n , " that r i t u a l
ser's text. D o l a r ' s p r i m a r y c r i t i c a l c o n c e r n i s that A l t h u s s e r
f o l l o w s belief, b u t i s n o t its c o n d i t i o n o f p r o d u c t i o n . D o l a r
c a n n o t f u l l y t a k e i n t o a c c o u n t the " r e m a i n d e r " p r o d u c e d b y
u n d e r s c o r e s the i n a b i l i t y o f A l t h u s s e r ' s t h e o r y o f r i t u a l p r a c -
s u b j e c t i v a t i o n , the n o n - p h e n o m e n a l " k e r n e l o f i n f e r i o r i t y . "
tice t o a c c o u n t for the m o t i v a t i o n t o p r a y : " W h a t m a d e h i m
1 7
I n fact, D o l a r w i l l a r g u e that the d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n the i n -
f o l l o w the r i t u a l ? W h y d i d he/she c o n s e n t t o repeat a series o f
t e r i o r a n d the e x t e r i o r i s p r o d u c e d t h r o u g h "the i n t r o j e c t i o n
senseless g e s t u r e s ? " (89).
of the object" (79). H e n c e , a p r i m a r y object is i n t r o j e c t e d , a n d
D o l a r ' s q u e s t i o n s are i m p o s s i b l e t o satisfy i n A l t h u s s e r ' s
that i n t r o j e c t i o n b e c o m e s the c o n d i t i o n o f p o s s i b i l i t y for the
t e r m s , b u t the v e r y p r e s u p p o s i t i o n s o f D o l a r ' s q u e s t i o n s c a n
subject. T h e i r r e c o v e r a b i l i t y o f that object is, thus, n o t o n l y the
be countered w i t h an Althusserian explanation. That Dolar
s u p p o r t i n g c o n d i t i o n o f the subject b u t the p e r s i s t e n t threat
p r e s u m e s a c o n s e n t i n g subject p r i o r to the p e r f o r m a n c e of
to its coherence. T h e L a c a n i a n n o t i o n of the R e a l is cast as the
a r i t u a l suggests that he p r e s u m e s a v o l i t i o n a l subject m u s t
first act of i n t r o j e c t i o n as w e l l as the subject's r a d i c a l l i m i t .
already be in place to give an account of motivation. But h o w
I n D o l a r , the i d e a l i t y o f t h i s k e r n e l o f i n f e r i o r i t y sets the
d o e s this c o n s e n t i n g subject c o m e t o be? T h i s s u p p o s i n g a n d
122
"Conscience D o t h M a k e Subjects of Us A l l "
Althusser's
Subjection
123
t h i s c o n s t i t u t i o n takes p l a c e t h r o u g h rituals, a n d these r i t u a l s
l i m i t to b o t h materialization a n d subjectivation; it constitutes
m a t e r i a l i z e "the i d e a s o f the subject" (169). W h a t i s c a l l e d "sub-
the c o n s t i t u t i v e l a c k o r the n o n - s y m b o l i z a b l e R e a l . A s fore-
j e c t i v i t y , " u n d e r s t o o d a s the l i v e d a n d i m a g i n a r y e x p e r i e n c e o f
c l o s e d o r i n t r o j e c t e d , the p r i m a r y object i s lost a n d i d e a l i z e d a t
the subject, i s itself d e r i v e d f r o m the m a t e r i a l r i t u a l s b y w h i c h
once; the i d e a l i t y a c q u i r e d b y t h i s object t h r o u g h i n t r o j e c t i o n
subjects are c o n s t i t u t e d . P a s c a l ' s b e l i e v e r k n e e l s m o r e t h a n
c o n s t i t u t e s the f o u n d i n g i d e a l i t y o f s u b j e c t i v i t y . T h i s i n s i g h t
once, n e c e s s a r i l y r e p e a t i n g the g e s t u r e b y w h i c h b e l i e f i s c o n -
i s the o n e that A l t h u s s e r a p p e a r s t o m i s s , a n d yet D o l a r a p -
j u r e d . T o u n d e r s t a n d , m o r e b r o a d l y , "the r i t u a l s o f i d e o l o g i c a l
p e a r s t o a t t r i b u t e t o h i m the v e r y d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n m a t e r i -
r e c o g n i t i o n " ' (173) b y w h i c h the subject i s c o n s t i t u t e d i s c e n -
a l i t y a n d i d e a l i t y that i s i n s u f f i c i e n t l y r e a l i z e d i n A l t h u s s e r ' s
t r a l t o the v e r y n o t i o n o f i d e o l o g y . B u t i f b e l i e f f o l l o w s f r o m
theory:
the p o s t u r e o f p r a y e r , i f that p o s t u r e c o n d i t i o n s a n d reiterates belief, t h e n h o w are w e t o separate the i d e a t i o n a l s p h e r e f r o m the r i t u a l p r a c t i c e s b y w h i c h i t i s i n c e s s a n t l y r e i n s t i t u t e d ? A l t h o u g h the q u e s t i o n of the subject is n o t the s a m e as the q u e s t i o n o f s u b j e c t i v i t y , i n D o l a r ' s essay i t n e v e r t h e l e s s r e m a i n s u n c l e a r h o w t h o s e t w o n o t i o n s are t o b e t h o u g h t together. T h e n o t i o n o f " s u b j e c t i v i t y " d o e s n o t h a v e m u c h p l a y i n A l t h u s s e r , e x c e p t p e r h a p s i n the c r i t i q u e o f s u b j e c t i v i s m ,
there is a step in the emergence of both the subject and the Other that Althusser leaves out and that can perhaps be best illustrated by Althusser's o w n example. To elucidate the transition between the external materiality of state apparatuses (institutions, practices, rituals, etc.) and the inferiority of ideological subjectivity, Althusser borrows a famous suggestion from Pascal, namely his scandalous piece of advice that the best way to become a believer is to follow the religious rituals. (88)
a n d i t i s u n c l e a r h o w that t e r m m i g h t b e t r a n s p o s e d o n t o
D o l a r refers to t h i s as a "senseless r i t u a l , " a n d t h e n reverses
the t e r m s h e uses. T h i s m a y b e D o l a r ' s c r i t i c a l p o i n t , n a m e l y ,
the A l t h u s s e r i a n a c c o u n t i n o r d e r t o e s t a b l i s h that the c r e e d
that there i s n o t e n o u g h o f a p l a c e f o r s u b j e c t i v i t y i n A l t h u s -
a n d the r i t u a l are the effects o f " a s u p p o s i t i o n , " that r i t u a l
ser's text. D o l a r ' s p r i m a r y c r i t i c a l c o n c e r n i s that A l t h u s s e r
f o l l o w s belief, b u t i s n o t its c o n d i t i o n o f p r o d u c t i o n . D o l a r
c a n n o t f u l l y t a k e i n t o a c c o u n t the " r e m a i n d e r " p r o d u c e d b y
u n d e r s c o r e s the i n a b i l i t y o f A l t h u s s e r ' s t h e o r y o f r i t u a l p r a c -
s u b j e c t i v a t i o n , the n o n - p h e n o m e n a l " k e r n e l o f i n f e r i o r i t y . "
tice t o a c c o u n t for the m o t i v a t i o n t o p r a y : " W h a t m a d e h i m
1 7
I n fact, D o l a r w i l l a r g u e that the d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n the i n -
f o l l o w the r i t u a l ? W h y d i d he/she c o n s e n t t o repeat a series o f
t e r i o r a n d the e x t e r i o r i s p r o d u c e d t h r o u g h "the i n t r o j e c t i o n
senseless g e s t u r e s ? " (89).
of the object" (79). H e n c e , a p r i m a r y object is i n t r o j e c t e d , a n d
D o l a r ' s q u e s t i o n s are i m p o s s i b l e t o satisfy i n A l t h u s s e r ' s
that i n t r o j e c t i o n b e c o m e s the c o n d i t i o n o f p o s s i b i l i t y for the
t e r m s , b u t the v e r y p r e s u p p o s i t i o n s o f D o l a r ' s q u e s t i o n s c a n
subject. T h e i r r e c o v e r a b i l i t y o f that object is, thus, n o t o n l y the
be countered w i t h an Althusserian explanation. That Dolar
s u p p o r t i n g c o n d i t i o n o f the subject b u t the p e r s i s t e n t threat
p r e s u m e s a c o n s e n t i n g subject p r i o r to the p e r f o r m a n c e of
to its coherence. T h e L a c a n i a n n o t i o n of the R e a l is cast as the
a r i t u a l suggests that he p r e s u m e s a v o l i t i o n a l subject m u s t
first act of i n t r o j e c t i o n as w e l l as the subject's r a d i c a l l i m i t .
already be in place to give an account of motivation. But h o w
I n D o l a r , the i d e a l i t y o f t h i s k e r n e l o f i n f e r i o r i t y sets the
d o e s this c o n s e n t i n g subject c o m e t o be? T h i s s u p p o s i n g a n d
124
"Conscience D o t h M a k e Subjects of Us A l l "
Althusser's Subjection
125
c o n s e n t i n g subject a p p e a r s t o p r e c e d e a n d c o n d i t i o n the "en-
D o l a r m a k e s h i s o b j e c t i o n e x p l i c i t l y t h e o l o g i c a l b y suggest-
t r a n c e " i n t o the s y m b o l i c a n d , hence, the b e c o m i n g o f a s u b -
i n g that A l t h u s s e r ' s r e f o r m u l a t i o n o f the n o t i o n o f m a t e r i a l i t y
ject. T h e c i r c u l a r i t y i s clear, b u t h o w i s i t t o b e u n d e r s t o o d ? I s
t o i n c l u d e the d o m a i n o f i d e o l o g y i s t o o i n c l u s i v e , that i t leaves
it a f a i l i n g of A l t h u s s e r n o t to p r o v i d e the subject p r i o r to the
n o r o o m for a n o n - m a t e r i a l i z a b l e i d e a l i t y , the lost a n d i n t r o -
f o r m a t i o n o f the subject, o r d o e s h i s " f a i l u r e " i n d i c a t e o n l y that
jected object that i n a u g u r a t e s the f o r m a t i o n of the subject. It
the g r a m m a t i c a l r e q u i r e m e n t s o f the n a r r a t i v e w o r k a g a i n s t
remains unclear, however, precisely h o w D o l a r reads "materi-
the a c c o u n t of subject f o r m a t i o n that the n a r r a t i v e a t t e m p t s to
a l i t y " i n A l t h u s s e r , a n d w h e t h e r the r i t u a l a n d h e n c e temporal
p r o v i d e ? T o l i t e r a l i z e o r t o a s c r i b e a n o n t o l o g i c a l status t o the
d i m e n s i o n o f m a t e r i a l i t y i n A l t h u s s e r i s effaced i n f a v o r o f a
g r a m m a t i c a l r e q u i r e m e n t o f "the subject" i s t o p r e s u m e a m i -
r e d u c t i o n o f m a t e r i a l i t y t o the e m p i r i c a l l y o r s o c i a l l y g i v e n :
metic relation between g r a m m a r a n d ontology w h i c h misses the p o i n t , b o t h A l t h u s s e r i a n a n d L a c a n i a n , that the a n t i c i p a t i o n s o f g r a m m a r are a l w a y s a n d o n l y r e t r o a c t i v e l y i n s t a l l e d . T h e g r a m m a r that g o v e r n s the n a r r a t i o n o f subject f o r m a t i o n p r e s u m e s that the g r a m m a t i c a l p l a c e f o r the subject has a l r e a d y b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d . I n a n i m p o r t a n t sense, t h e n , the g r a m m a r that the n a r r a t i v e r e q u i r e s r e s u l t s f r o m the n a r r a t i v e itself. T h e a c c o u n t of subject f o r m a t i o n is t h u s a d o u b l e fict i o n a t c r o s s - p u r p o s e s w i t h itself, r e p e a t e d l y s y m p t o m a t i z i n g
This is also w h y Althusser's ardent insistence on materiality is i n sufficient: the Other that emerges here, the Other of the symbolic order, is not material, and Althusser covers up this non-materiality by talking about the materiality of institutions and practices. If subjectivity can spring up from materially following certain rituals, it is only insofar as those rituals function as a symbolic automatism, that is, insofar as they are governed by an "immaterial" logic supported by the Other. That Other cannot be discovered by scrutinizing materiality . . . what counts is ultimately not that they are material, but that they are ruled by a code and by a repetition. (89)
w h a t resists n a r r a t i o n . W i t t g e n s t e i n r e m a r k s , " W e s p e a k , w e utter w o r d s , a n d o n l y
T h i s last r e m a r k f o r m u l a t e s a n o p p o s i t i o n b e t w e e n m a t e r i -
later get a sense of t h e i r l i f e . " A n t i c i p a t i o n of s u c h sense g o v -
a l i t y a n d r e p e t i t i o n that a p p e a r s t o b e i n d i r e c t t e n s i o n w i t h
erns the " e m p t y " r i t u a l that i s s p e e c h , a n d e n s u r e s its i t e r -
A l t h u s s e r ' s o w n a r g u m e n t a t i o n . I f i d e o l o g y i s m a t e r i a l t o the
a b i l i t y . I n t h i s sense, t h e n , w e m u s t n e i t h e r first b e l i e v e b e f o r e
extent that it consists in a set of p r a c t i c e s , a n d p r a c t i c e s are
w e k n e e l n o r k n o w the sense o f w o r d s b e f o r e w e speak. O n the
governed by rituals, then materiality is defined as m u c h by
c o n t r a r y , b o t h are p e r f o r m e d " o n f a i t h " that sense w i l l a r r i v e
ritual and repetition as it is by more narrowly empiricist con-
i n a n d t h r o u g h a r t i c u l a t i o n i t s e l f — a n a n t i c i p a t i o n that i s n o t
c e p t i o n s . M o r e o v e r , the r i t u a l s o f i d e o l o g y are m a t e r i a l t o the
t h e r e b y g o v e r n e d by a g u a r a n t e e of n o e m a t i c s a t i s f a c t i o n . If
extent that t h e y a c q u i r e a productive c a p a c i t y a n d , in A l t h u s -
s u p p o s i n g a n d c o n s e n t i n g are u n t h i n k a b l e o u t s i d e o f the l a n -
ser's text, w h a t r i t u a l s p r o d u c e are subjects.
g u a g e o f s u p p o s i n g a n d c o n s e n t i n g , a n d t h i s l a n g u a g e i s itself
D o l a r e x p l a i n s that r i t u a l s p r o d u c e n o t subjects, b u t subjec-
a sedimentation of ritual forms —the rituals of C a r t e s i a n i s m —
t i v i t y , a n d c a n d o s o o n l y t o the extent that t h e y are t h e m s e l v e s
t h e n the act b y w h i c h w e m i g h t " c o n s e n t " t o k n e e l i s n o m o r e
governed by a s y m b o l i c or reiterative logic, a logic w h i c h is
a n d n o less r i t u a l i s t i c t h a n the k n e e l i n g itself.
i m m a t e r i a l . S u b j e c t i v i t y for D o l a r i s s a i d t o " s p r i n g u p f r o m
124
"Conscience D o t h M a k e Subjects of Us A l l "
Althusser's Subjection
125
c o n s e n t i n g subject a p p e a r s t o p r e c e d e a n d c o n d i t i o n the "en-
D o l a r m a k e s h i s o b j e c t i o n e x p l i c i t l y t h e o l o g i c a l b y suggest-
t r a n c e " i n t o the s y m b o l i c a n d , hence, the b e c o m i n g o f a s u b -
i n g that A l t h u s s e r ' s r e f o r m u l a t i o n o f the n o t i o n o f m a t e r i a l i t y
ject. T h e c i r c u l a r i t y i s clear, b u t h o w i s i t t o b e u n d e r s t o o d ? I s
t o i n c l u d e the d o m a i n o f i d e o l o g y i s t o o i n c l u s i v e , that i t leaves
it a f a i l i n g of A l t h u s s e r n o t to p r o v i d e the subject p r i o r to the
n o r o o m for a n o n - m a t e r i a l i z a b l e i d e a l i t y , the lost a n d i n t r o -
f o r m a t i o n o f the subject, o r d o e s h i s " f a i l u r e " i n d i c a t e o n l y that
jected object that i n a u g u r a t e s the f o r m a t i o n of the subject. It
the g r a m m a t i c a l r e q u i r e m e n t s o f the n a r r a t i v e w o r k a g a i n s t
remains unclear, however, precisely h o w D o l a r reads "materi-
the a c c o u n t of subject f o r m a t i o n that the n a r r a t i v e a t t e m p t s to
a l i t y " i n A l t h u s s e r , a n d w h e t h e r the r i t u a l a n d h e n c e temporal
p r o v i d e ? T o l i t e r a l i z e o r t o a s c r i b e a n o n t o l o g i c a l status t o the
d i m e n s i o n o f m a t e r i a l i t y i n A l t h u s s e r i s effaced i n f a v o r o f a
g r a m m a t i c a l r e q u i r e m e n t o f "the subject" i s t o p r e s u m e a m i -
r e d u c t i o n o f m a t e r i a l i t y t o the e m p i r i c a l l y o r s o c i a l l y g i v e n :
metic relation between g r a m m a r a n d ontology w h i c h misses the p o i n t , b o t h A l t h u s s e r i a n a n d L a c a n i a n , that the a n t i c i p a t i o n s o f g r a m m a r are a l w a y s a n d o n l y r e t r o a c t i v e l y i n s t a l l e d . T h e g r a m m a r that g o v e r n s the n a r r a t i o n o f subject f o r m a t i o n p r e s u m e s that the g r a m m a t i c a l p l a c e f o r the subject has a l r e a d y b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d . I n a n i m p o r t a n t sense, t h e n , the g r a m m a r that the n a r r a t i v e r e q u i r e s r e s u l t s f r o m the n a r r a t i v e itself. T h e a c c o u n t of subject f o r m a t i o n is t h u s a d o u b l e fict i o n a t c r o s s - p u r p o s e s w i t h itself, r e p e a t e d l y s y m p t o m a t i z i n g
This is also w h y Althusser's ardent insistence on materiality is i n sufficient: the Other that emerges here, the Other of the symbolic order, is not material, and Althusser covers up this non-materiality by talking about the materiality of institutions and practices. If subjectivity can spring up from materially following certain rituals, it is only insofar as those rituals function as a symbolic automatism, that is, insofar as they are governed by an "immaterial" logic supported by the Other. That Other cannot be discovered by scrutinizing materiality . . . what counts is ultimately not that they are material, but that they are ruled by a code and by a repetition. (89)
w h a t resists n a r r a t i o n . W i t t g e n s t e i n r e m a r k s , " W e s p e a k , w e utter w o r d s , a n d o n l y
T h i s last r e m a r k f o r m u l a t e s a n o p p o s i t i o n b e t w e e n m a t e r i -
later get a sense of t h e i r l i f e . " A n t i c i p a t i o n of s u c h sense g o v -
a l i t y a n d r e p e t i t i o n that a p p e a r s t o b e i n d i r e c t t e n s i o n w i t h
erns the " e m p t y " r i t u a l that i s s p e e c h , a n d e n s u r e s its i t e r -
A l t h u s s e r ' s o w n a r g u m e n t a t i o n . I f i d e o l o g y i s m a t e r i a l t o the
a b i l i t y . I n t h i s sense, t h e n , w e m u s t n e i t h e r first b e l i e v e b e f o r e
extent that it consists in a set of p r a c t i c e s , a n d p r a c t i c e s are
w e k n e e l n o r k n o w the sense o f w o r d s b e f o r e w e speak. O n the
governed by rituals, then materiality is defined as m u c h by
c o n t r a r y , b o t h are p e r f o r m e d " o n f a i t h " that sense w i l l a r r i v e
ritual and repetition as it is by more narrowly empiricist con-
i n a n d t h r o u g h a r t i c u l a t i o n i t s e l f — a n a n t i c i p a t i o n that i s n o t
c e p t i o n s . M o r e o v e r , the r i t u a l s o f i d e o l o g y are m a t e r i a l t o the
t h e r e b y g o v e r n e d by a g u a r a n t e e of n o e m a t i c s a t i s f a c t i o n . If
extent that t h e y a c q u i r e a productive c a p a c i t y a n d , in A l t h u s -
s u p p o s i n g a n d c o n s e n t i n g are u n t h i n k a b l e o u t s i d e o f the l a n -
ser's text, w h a t r i t u a l s p r o d u c e are subjects.
g u a g e o f s u p p o s i n g a n d c o n s e n t i n g , a n d t h i s l a n g u a g e i s itself
D o l a r e x p l a i n s that r i t u a l s p r o d u c e n o t subjects, b u t subjec-
a sedimentation of ritual forms —the rituals of C a r t e s i a n i s m —
t i v i t y , a n d c a n d o s o o n l y t o the extent that t h e y are t h e m s e l v e s
t h e n the act b y w h i c h w e m i g h t " c o n s e n t " t o k n e e l i s n o m o r e
governed by a s y m b o l i c or reiterative logic, a logic w h i c h is
a n d n o less r i t u a l i s t i c t h a n the k n e e l i n g itself.
i m m a t e r i a l . S u b j e c t i v i t y for D o l a r i s s a i d t o " s p r i n g u p f r o m
126
"Conscience D o t h M a k e Subjects of Us A l l "
Althusser's Subjection
127
m a t e r i a l l y f o l l o w i n g c e r t a i n r i t u a l s , " w h e r e the " s p r i n g i n g u p "
w o u l d w e p l a c e " i n t e r p e l l a t i o n " o n t h i s m a p p i n g o f the d i v i d e ?
i s n o t itself m a t e r i a l , b u t w h e r e the n o t i o n o f " f o l l o w i n g " a
Is it the v o i c e of the s y m b o l i c , is it the r i t u a l i z e d v o i c e of the
r i t u a l does h a v e a m a t e r i a l d i m e n s i o n . S u b j e c t i v i t y arises i m -
state, o r h a v e the t w o b e c o m e i n d i s s o l u b l e ? If, t o u s e D o l a r ' s
m a t e r i a l l y f r o m a material r i t u a l performance, but this can
t e r m , the s y m b o l i c a c q u i r e s its "existence" o n l y i n r i t u a l , t h e n
h a p p e n o n l y o n the c o n d i t i o n that a l o g i c p r e c e d e s a n d s u p -
w h a t establishes the i d e a l i t y o f that s y m b o l i c d o m a i n a p a r t
ports this r i t u a l performance, a n i m m a t e r i a l logic, one w h i c h
f r o m the v a r i o u s m o d e s o f its a p p e a r a n c e a n d i t e r a b i l i t y ?
e n c o d e s a n d reenacts the i d e a l i z i n g effects o f i n t r o j e c t i o n . B u t
R i t u a l takes p l a c e t h r o u g h r e p e t i t i o n , a n d r e p e t i t i o n i m p l i e s
h o w are w e t o d i s t i n g u i s h the r e p e t i t i o n p r o p e r t o r i t u a l a n d
the d i s c o n t i n u i t y o f the m a t e r i a l , the i r r e d u c i b i l i t y o r m a t e r i -
the r e p e t i t i o n p r o p e r t o the " s y m b o l i c a u t o m a t i s m " ?
ality to phenomenality. The interval by w h i c h any repetition
C o n s i d e r the i n s e p a r a b i l i t y o f t h o s e t w o r e p e t i t i o n s i n A l -
takes p l a c e d o e s not, s t r i c t l y s p e a k i n g , appear; it is, as it w e r e ,
t h u s s e r ' s d e s c r i p t i o n o f the m a t e r i a l i t y o f i d e a s a n d the i d e a l
the absence b y w h i c h the p h e n o m e n a l i s a r t i c u l a t e d . B u t t h i s
in ideology:
n o n - a p p e a r a n c e o r absence i s n o t f o r that r e a s o n a n " i d e a l i t y , "
Ideas have disappeared as such (insofar as they are endowed w i t h an ideal or spiritual existence), to the precise extent that it has emerged that their existence is inscribed in the actions of practices governed by rituals defined in the last instance by an ideological apparatus. It therefore appears that the subject acts insofar as he is acted by the following system (set out in the order of its real determination): ideology existing in a material ideological apparatus, prescribing material practices governed by a material ritual, w h i c h practices exist in the material actions of a subject acting in all consciousness according to his belief. 18
for it is b o u n d to the a r t i c u l a t i o n as its c o n s t i t u t i v e a n d absent necessity. T h e o l o g i c a l resistance to m a t e r i a l i s m is exemplified in D o l a r ' s e x p l i c i t defense o f L a c a n ' s C a r t e s i a n i n h e r i t a n c e ,
19
his i n -
sistance u p o n the p u r e i d e a l i t y o f the s o u l , yet the t h e o l o g i c a l i m p u l s e a l s o s t r u c t u r e s A l t h u s s e r ' s w o r k i n the f i g u r e o f the p u n i t i v e law. D o l a r suggests that, t h o u g h the l a w s u c c e s s f u l l y regulates its subjects, it c a n n o t t o u c h a c e r t a i n i n t e r i o r r e g i s ter o f l o v e : "there i s a r e m a i n d e r i n v o l v e d i n the m e c h a n i s m of i n t e r p e l l a t i o n , the left-over of the c l e a n c u t , a n d . . . t h i s r e -
Ideas exist " i n s c r i b e d " i n acts that are p r a c t i c e s r e g u l a t e d
m a i n d e r c a n b e p i n p o i n t e d i n the e x p e r i e n c e o f l o v e " (85). A
by rituals. C a n they appear any other way, a n d can they have
b i t f u r t h e r o n , h e asks, " C o u l d o n e say that l o v e i s w h a t w e
an "existence" outside of ritual? W h a t m i g h t it m e a n to re-
find beyond interpellation?"
t h i n k the m a t e r i a l n o t o n l y as r e g u l a t e d r e p e t i t i o n , b u t as a
H e r e l o v e is, i n D o l a r ' s w o r d s , a " f o r c e d c h o i c e , " s u g g e s t i n g
r e p e t i t i o n that p r o d u c e s a subject a c t i n g i n f u l l c o n s c i o u s n e s s
that w h a t h e e x p e c t e d f r o m the n o t i o n o f a subject w h o " c o n -
a c c o r d i n g t o h i s b e l i e f ? T h e subject's b e l i e f i s n o different f r o m
sents" t o k n e e l a n d p r a y i s a n a c c o u n t o f a " f o r c e d c o n s e n t " o f
P a s c a l ' s ; t h e y are b o t h the r e s u l t o f the r e p e t i t i o u s c o n j u r i n g
some k i n d . L o v e is b e y o n d interpellation precisely because it
that A l t h u s s e r calls " m a t e r i a l i t y . "
is understood to be compelled by an immaterial law —the sym-
D o l a r a r g u e s that A l t h u s s e r fails t o t a k e i n t o a c c o u n t the
b o l i c — o v e r a n d a b o v e the r i t u a l i s t i c l a w s that g o v e r n the v a r i -
d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n m a t e r i a l i t y a n d the s y m b o l i c , b u t w h e r e
o u s p r a c t i c e s o f l o v e : " T h e O t h e r that e m e r g e s here, the O t h e r
126
"Conscience D o t h M a k e Subjects of Us A l l "
Althusser's Subjection
127
m a t e r i a l l y f o l l o w i n g c e r t a i n r i t u a l s , " w h e r e the " s p r i n g i n g u p "
w o u l d w e p l a c e " i n t e r p e l l a t i o n " o n t h i s m a p p i n g o f the d i v i d e ?
i s n o t itself m a t e r i a l , b u t w h e r e the n o t i o n o f " f o l l o w i n g " a
Is it the v o i c e of the s y m b o l i c , is it the r i t u a l i z e d v o i c e of the
r i t u a l does h a v e a m a t e r i a l d i m e n s i o n . S u b j e c t i v i t y arises i m -
state, o r h a v e the t w o b e c o m e i n d i s s o l u b l e ? If, t o u s e D o l a r ' s
m a t e r i a l l y f r o m a material r i t u a l performance, but this can
t e r m , the s y m b o l i c a c q u i r e s its "existence" o n l y i n r i t u a l , t h e n
h a p p e n o n l y o n the c o n d i t i o n that a l o g i c p r e c e d e s a n d s u p -
w h a t establishes the i d e a l i t y o f that s y m b o l i c d o m a i n a p a r t
ports this r i t u a l performance, a n i m m a t e r i a l logic, one w h i c h
f r o m the v a r i o u s m o d e s o f its a p p e a r a n c e a n d i t e r a b i l i t y ?
e n c o d e s a n d reenacts the i d e a l i z i n g effects o f i n t r o j e c t i o n . B u t
R i t u a l takes p l a c e t h r o u g h r e p e t i t i o n , a n d r e p e t i t i o n i m p l i e s
h o w are w e t o d i s t i n g u i s h the r e p e t i t i o n p r o p e r t o r i t u a l a n d
the d i s c o n t i n u i t y o f the m a t e r i a l , the i r r e d u c i b i l i t y o r m a t e r i -
the r e p e t i t i o n p r o p e r t o the " s y m b o l i c a u t o m a t i s m " ?
ality to phenomenality. The interval by w h i c h any repetition
C o n s i d e r the i n s e p a r a b i l i t y o f t h o s e t w o r e p e t i t i o n s i n A l -
takes p l a c e d o e s not, s t r i c t l y s p e a k i n g , appear; it is, as it w e r e ,
t h u s s e r ' s d e s c r i p t i o n o f the m a t e r i a l i t y o f i d e a s a n d the i d e a l
the absence b y w h i c h the p h e n o m e n a l i s a r t i c u l a t e d . B u t t h i s
in ideology:
n o n - a p p e a r a n c e o r absence i s n o t f o r that r e a s o n a n " i d e a l i t y , "
Ideas have disappeared as such (insofar as they are endowed w i t h an ideal or spiritual existence), to the precise extent that it has emerged that their existence is inscribed in the actions of practices governed by rituals defined in the last instance by an ideological apparatus. It therefore appears that the subject acts insofar as he is acted by the following system (set out in the order of its real determination): ideology existing in a material ideological apparatus, prescribing material practices governed by a material ritual, w h i c h practices exist in the material actions of a subject acting in all consciousness according to his belief. 18
for it is b o u n d to the a r t i c u l a t i o n as its c o n s t i t u t i v e a n d absent necessity. T h e o l o g i c a l resistance to m a t e r i a l i s m is exemplified in D o l a r ' s e x p l i c i t defense o f L a c a n ' s C a r t e s i a n i n h e r i t a n c e ,
19
his i n -
sistance u p o n the p u r e i d e a l i t y o f the s o u l , yet the t h e o l o g i c a l i m p u l s e a l s o s t r u c t u r e s A l t h u s s e r ' s w o r k i n the f i g u r e o f the p u n i t i v e law. D o l a r suggests that, t h o u g h the l a w s u c c e s s f u l l y regulates its subjects, it c a n n o t t o u c h a c e r t a i n i n t e r i o r r e g i s ter o f l o v e : "there i s a r e m a i n d e r i n v o l v e d i n the m e c h a n i s m of i n t e r p e l l a t i o n , the left-over of the c l e a n c u t , a n d . . . t h i s r e -
Ideas exist " i n s c r i b e d " i n acts that are p r a c t i c e s r e g u l a t e d
m a i n d e r c a n b e p i n p o i n t e d i n the e x p e r i e n c e o f l o v e " (85). A
by rituals. C a n they appear any other way, a n d can they have
b i t f u r t h e r o n , h e asks, " C o u l d o n e say that l o v e i s w h a t w e
an "existence" outside of ritual? W h a t m i g h t it m e a n to re-
find beyond interpellation?"
t h i n k the m a t e r i a l n o t o n l y as r e g u l a t e d r e p e t i t i o n , b u t as a
H e r e l o v e is, i n D o l a r ' s w o r d s , a " f o r c e d c h o i c e , " s u g g e s t i n g
r e p e t i t i o n that p r o d u c e s a subject a c t i n g i n f u l l c o n s c i o u s n e s s
that w h a t h e e x p e c t e d f r o m the n o t i o n o f a subject w h o " c o n -
a c c o r d i n g t o h i s b e l i e f ? T h e subject's b e l i e f i s n o different f r o m
sents" t o k n e e l a n d p r a y i s a n a c c o u n t o f a " f o r c e d c o n s e n t " o f
P a s c a l ' s ; t h e y are b o t h the r e s u l t o f the r e p e t i t i o u s c o n j u r i n g
some k i n d . L o v e is b e y o n d interpellation precisely because it
that A l t h u s s e r calls " m a t e r i a l i t y . "
is understood to be compelled by an immaterial law —the sym-
D o l a r a r g u e s that A l t h u s s e r fails t o t a k e i n t o a c c o u n t the
b o l i c — o v e r a n d a b o v e the r i t u a l i s t i c l a w s that g o v e r n the v a r i -
d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n m a t e r i a l i t y a n d the s y m b o l i c , b u t w h e r e
o u s p r a c t i c e s o f l o v e : " T h e O t h e r that e m e r g e s here, the O t h e r
128
Althusser's Subjection
"Conscience Doth M a k e Subjects of Us A l l "
129
o f the s y m b o l i c o r d e r , i s n o t m a t e r i a l , a n d A l t h u s s e r c o v e r s u p
d r i v e n b y a l o v e o f the l a w w h i c h c a n b e satisfied o n l y b y r i t u a l
t h i s n o n - m a t e r i a l i t y b y t a l k i n g a b o u t the m a t e r i a l i t y o f i n s t i -
p u n i s h m e n t . T o the extent that A l t h u s s e r gestures t o w a r d t h i s
t u t i o n s a n d p r a c t i c e s " (89). T h e O t h e r w h o i s lost, i n t r o j e c t e d ,
a n a l y s i s , h e b e g i n s t o e x p l a i n h o w a subject i s f o r m e d t h r o u g h
w h o i s s a i d t o b e c o m e the i m m a t e r i a l c o n d i t i o n o f the subject,
the p a s s i o n a t e p u r s u i t o f the r e p r i m a n d i n g r e c o g n i t i o n o f the
i n a u g u r a t e s the r e p e t i t i o n specific t o the s y m b o l i c , the p u n c -
state. T h a t the subject t u r n s r o u n d o r r u s h e s t o w a r d the l a w
t u a t e d f a n t a s y o f a r e t u r n that n e v e r i s o r c o u l d b e c o m p l e t e d .
suggests that the subject l i v e s in p a s s i o n a t e e x p e c t a t i o n of the
Let us p r o v i s i o n a l l y accept this p s y c h o a n a l y t i c account of
law. S u c h l o v e i s n o t b e y o n d i n t e r p e l l a t i o n ; rather, i t f o r m s the
subject f o r m a t i o n , c o n c e d e that the subject c a n n o t f o r m e x c e p t
p a s s i o n a t e c i r c l e i n w h i c h the subject b e c o m e s e n s n a r e d b y its
t h r o u g h a b a r r e d r e l a t i o n t o the O t h e r , a n d e v e n c o n s i d e r t h i s
o w n state.
b a r r e d O t h e r t o r e a p p e a r a s the i n t r o j e c t e d c o n d i t i o n o f s u b -
The failure of interpellation is clearly to be v a l u e d , but
ject f o r m a t i o n , s p l i t t i n g the subject at its i n c e p t i o n . E v e n so,
to f i g u r e that f a i l u r e in t e r m s that r e h a b i l i t a t e a s t r u c t u r e of
are there o t h e r f o r m s o f " l o s i n g " the O t h e r that are n o t i n t r o -
l o v e o u t s i d e the d o m a i n o f the s o c i a l r i s k s r e i f y i n g p a r t i c u -
j e c t i o n , a n d are there v a r i o u s w a y s o f i n t r o j e c t i n g that O t h e r ?
l a r s o c i a l f o r m s of l o v e as e t e r n a l p s y c h i c facts. It a l s o leaves
A r e these t e r m s n o t c u l t u r a l l y e l a b o r a t e d , i n d e e d , r i t u a l i z e d ,
u n e x p l a i n e d the p a s s i o n that p r e c e d e s a n d f o r m s c o n s c i e n c e ,
to s u c h a degree that no m e t a - s c h e m e of s y m b o l i c l o g i c es-
that p r e c e d e s a n d f o r m s the p o s s i b i l i t y o f l o v e , o n e that ac-
capes the h e r m e n e u t i c s o f s o c i a l d e s c r i p t i o n ?
c o u n t s for the f a i l u r e o f i n t e r p e l l a t i o n f u l l y t o c o n s t i t u t e the
S i g n i f i c a n t l y , t h o u g h s o c i a l i n t e r p e l l a t i o n s are d e s c r i b e d b y
subject i t n a m e s . I n t e r p e l l a t i o n i s " b a r r e d " f r o m success n o t
D o l a r a s a l w a y s " f a i l i n g " f u l l y t o c o n s t i t u t e subjects, n o s u c h
b y a s t r u c t u r a l l y p e r m a n e n t f o r m o f p r o h i b i t i o n (or f o r e c l o -
" f a i l u r e " seems a t w o r k i n the c o m p u l s o r y c h a r a c t e r o f l o v e .
sure), b u t b y its i n a b i l i t y t o d e t e r m i n e the c o n s t i t u t i v e h e l d o f
To the extent that p r i m a r y i n t r o j e c t i o n is an act of l o v e , it is,
the h u m a n . If c o n s c i e n c e is one f o r m that the p a s s i o n a t e at-
I w o u l d suggest, n o t a n act p e r f o r m e d o n l y once, b u t a r e -
t a c h m e n t t o existence takes, t h e n the f a i l u r e o f i n t e r p e l l a t i o n
i t e r a t e d a n d i n d e e d r i t u a l affair. B u t w h a t i s t o k e e p u s f r o m
i s t o b e f o u n d p r e c i s e l y i n the p a s s i o n a t e a t t a c h m e n t that a l s o
m a k i n g the a n a l o g y that w e f a l l i n l o v e i n m u c h the s a m e w a y
a l l o w s i t t o w o r k . A c c o r d i n g t o the l o g i c o f c o n s c i e n c e , w h i c h
w e k n e e l a n d p r a y , o r that w e m a y w e l l b e d o i n g o n e w h e n w e
f u l l y c o n s t r a i n s A l t h u s s e r , the subject's existence c a n n o t b e
t h i n k w e are d o i n g the o t h e r ?
l i n g u i s t i c a l l y g u a r a n t e e d w i t h o u t p a s s i o n a t e a t t a c h m e n t t o the
Yet D o l a r ' s s u g g e s t i o n that l o v e m i g h t b e " b e y o n d " i n t e r -
l a w . T h i s c o m p l i c i t y a t o n c e c o n d i t i o n s a n d l i m i t s the v i a b i l i t y
p e l l a t i o n i s a n i m p o r t a n t one. A l t h u s s e r w o u l d h a v e b e n e f i t e d
o f a c r i t i c a l i n t e r r o g a t i o n o f the l a w . O n e c a n n o t c r i t i c i z e t o o
f r o m a better u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f h o w the l a w b e c o m e s the o b -
far the t e r m s b y w h i c h one's existence i s s e c u r e d .
ject of p a s s i o n a t e a t t a c h m e n t , a s t r a n g e scene of l o v e . F o r the
B u t i f the d i s c u r s i v e p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r existence e x c e e d the
c o n s c i e n c e w h i c h c o m p e l s the w a y w a r d p e d e s t r i a n t o t u r n
r e p r i m a n d v o i c e d b y the l a w , w o u l d that n o t l e s s e n the n e e d
a r o u n d u p o n h e a r i n g the p o l i c e m a n ' s a d d r e s s o r u r g e s the
t o c o n f i r m one's g u i l t a n d e m b a r k o n a p a t h o f c o n s c i e n t i o u s -
m u r d e r e r i n t o the streets i n s e a r c h o f the p o l i c e a p p e a r s t o b e
ness as a w a y to g a i n a p u r c h a s e on i d e n t i t y ? W h a t are the
128
Althusser's Subjection
"Conscience Doth M a k e Subjects of Us A l l "
129
o f the s y m b o l i c o r d e r , i s n o t m a t e r i a l , a n d A l t h u s s e r c o v e r s u p
d r i v e n b y a l o v e o f the l a w w h i c h c a n b e satisfied o n l y b y r i t u a l
t h i s n o n - m a t e r i a l i t y b y t a l k i n g a b o u t the m a t e r i a l i t y o f i n s t i -
p u n i s h m e n t . T o the extent that A l t h u s s e r gestures t o w a r d t h i s
t u t i o n s a n d p r a c t i c e s " (89). T h e O t h e r w h o i s lost, i n t r o j e c t e d ,
a n a l y s i s , h e b e g i n s t o e x p l a i n h o w a subject i s f o r m e d t h r o u g h
w h o i s s a i d t o b e c o m e the i m m a t e r i a l c o n d i t i o n o f the subject,
the p a s s i o n a t e p u r s u i t o f the r e p r i m a n d i n g r e c o g n i t i o n o f the
i n a u g u r a t e s the r e p e t i t i o n specific t o the s y m b o l i c , the p u n c -
state. T h a t the subject t u r n s r o u n d o r r u s h e s t o w a r d the l a w
t u a t e d f a n t a s y o f a r e t u r n that n e v e r i s o r c o u l d b e c o m p l e t e d .
suggests that the subject l i v e s in p a s s i o n a t e e x p e c t a t i o n of the
Let us p r o v i s i o n a l l y accept this p s y c h o a n a l y t i c account of
law. S u c h l o v e i s n o t b e y o n d i n t e r p e l l a t i o n ; rather, i t f o r m s the
subject f o r m a t i o n , c o n c e d e that the subject c a n n o t f o r m e x c e p t
p a s s i o n a t e c i r c l e i n w h i c h the subject b e c o m e s e n s n a r e d b y its
t h r o u g h a b a r r e d r e l a t i o n t o the O t h e r , a n d e v e n c o n s i d e r t h i s
o w n state.
b a r r e d O t h e r t o r e a p p e a r a s the i n t r o j e c t e d c o n d i t i o n o f s u b -
The failure of interpellation is clearly to be v a l u e d , but
ject f o r m a t i o n , s p l i t t i n g the subject at its i n c e p t i o n . E v e n so,
to f i g u r e that f a i l u r e in t e r m s that r e h a b i l i t a t e a s t r u c t u r e of
are there o t h e r f o r m s o f " l o s i n g " the O t h e r that are n o t i n t r o -
l o v e o u t s i d e the d o m a i n o f the s o c i a l r i s k s r e i f y i n g p a r t i c u -
j e c t i o n , a n d are there v a r i o u s w a y s o f i n t r o j e c t i n g that O t h e r ?
l a r s o c i a l f o r m s of l o v e as e t e r n a l p s y c h i c facts. It a l s o leaves
A r e these t e r m s n o t c u l t u r a l l y e l a b o r a t e d , i n d e e d , r i t u a l i z e d ,
u n e x p l a i n e d the p a s s i o n that p r e c e d e s a n d f o r m s c o n s c i e n c e ,
to s u c h a degree that no m e t a - s c h e m e of s y m b o l i c l o g i c es-
that p r e c e d e s a n d f o r m s the p o s s i b i l i t y o f l o v e , o n e that ac-
capes the h e r m e n e u t i c s o f s o c i a l d e s c r i p t i o n ?
c o u n t s for the f a i l u r e o f i n t e r p e l l a t i o n f u l l y t o c o n s t i t u t e the
S i g n i f i c a n t l y , t h o u g h s o c i a l i n t e r p e l l a t i o n s are d e s c r i b e d b y
subject i t n a m e s . I n t e r p e l l a t i o n i s " b a r r e d " f r o m success n o t
D o l a r a s a l w a y s " f a i l i n g " f u l l y t o c o n s t i t u t e subjects, n o s u c h
b y a s t r u c t u r a l l y p e r m a n e n t f o r m o f p r o h i b i t i o n (or f o r e c l o -
" f a i l u r e " seems a t w o r k i n the c o m p u l s o r y c h a r a c t e r o f l o v e .
sure), b u t b y its i n a b i l i t y t o d e t e r m i n e the c o n s t i t u t i v e h e l d o f
To the extent that p r i m a r y i n t r o j e c t i o n is an act of l o v e , it is,
the h u m a n . If c o n s c i e n c e is one f o r m that the p a s s i o n a t e at-
I w o u l d suggest, n o t a n act p e r f o r m e d o n l y once, b u t a r e -
t a c h m e n t t o existence takes, t h e n the f a i l u r e o f i n t e r p e l l a t i o n
i t e r a t e d a n d i n d e e d r i t u a l affair. B u t w h a t i s t o k e e p u s f r o m
i s t o b e f o u n d p r e c i s e l y i n the p a s s i o n a t e a t t a c h m e n t that a l s o
m a k i n g the a n a l o g y that w e f a l l i n l o v e i n m u c h the s a m e w a y
a l l o w s i t t o w o r k . A c c o r d i n g t o the l o g i c o f c o n s c i e n c e , w h i c h
w e k n e e l a n d p r a y , o r that w e m a y w e l l b e d o i n g o n e w h e n w e
f u l l y c o n s t r a i n s A l t h u s s e r , the subject's existence c a n n o t b e
t h i n k w e are d o i n g the o t h e r ?
l i n g u i s t i c a l l y g u a r a n t e e d w i t h o u t p a s s i o n a t e a t t a c h m e n t t o the
Yet D o l a r ' s s u g g e s t i o n that l o v e m i g h t b e " b e y o n d " i n t e r -
l a w . T h i s c o m p l i c i t y a t o n c e c o n d i t i o n s a n d l i m i t s the v i a b i l i t y
p e l l a t i o n i s a n i m p o r t a n t one. A l t h u s s e r w o u l d h a v e b e n e f i t e d
o f a c r i t i c a l i n t e r r o g a t i o n o f the l a w . O n e c a n n o t c r i t i c i z e t o o
f r o m a better u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f h o w the l a w b e c o m e s the o b -
far the t e r m s b y w h i c h one's existence i s s e c u r e d .
ject of p a s s i o n a t e a t t a c h m e n t , a s t r a n g e scene of l o v e . F o r the
B u t i f the d i s c u r s i v e p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r existence e x c e e d the
c o n s c i e n c e w h i c h c o m p e l s the w a y w a r d p e d e s t r i a n t o t u r n
r e p r i m a n d v o i c e d b y the l a w , w o u l d that n o t l e s s e n the n e e d
a r o u n d u p o n h e a r i n g the p o l i c e m a n ' s a d d r e s s o r u r g e s the
t o c o n f i r m one's g u i l t a n d e m b a r k o n a p a t h o f c o n s c i e n t i o u s -
m u r d e r e r i n t o the streets i n s e a r c h o f the p o l i c e a p p e a r s t o b e
ness as a w a y to g a i n a p u r c h a s e on i d e n t i t y ? W h a t are the
T 130
Althusser's
"Conscience Doth M a k e Subjects of Us A l l "
131
Subjection
c o n d i t i o n s u n d e r w h i c h o u r v e r y sense o f l i n g u i s t i c s u r v i v a l
I n c o n c l u s i o n , A g a m b e n offers u s one d i r e c t i o n f o r r e t h i n k -
depends u p o n our willingness to t u r n back u p o n ourselves,
i n g ethics a l o n g the l i n e s of the d e s i r e to be, h e n c e , at a d i s -
that is, i n w h i c h a t t a i n i n g r e c o g n i z a b l e b e i n g r e q u i r e s self-
tance f r o m a n y p a r t i c u l a r f o r m a t i o n o f c o n s c i e n c e :
negation, requires existing as a self-negating b e i n g in order to a t t a i n a n d p r e s e r v e a status as " b e i n g " at a l l ? I n a N i e t z s c h e a n v e i n , s u c h a slave m o r a l i t y m a y b e p r e d i cated u p o n the s o b e r c a l c u l a t i o n that i t i s better t o " b e " e n s l a v e d i n s u c h a w a y t h a n n o t t o " b e " a t a l l . B u t the t e r m s that c o n s t r a i n the o p t i o n t o b e i n g v e r s u s n o t b e i n g " c a l l f o r " a n o t h e r k i n d o f r e s p o n s e . U n d e r w h a t c o n d i t i o n s does a l a w m o n o p o l i z e the t e r m s o f existence i n s o t h o r o u g h a w a y ? O r is t h i s a t h e o l o g i c a l f a n t a s y of the l a w ? Is there a p o s s i b i l i t y of
if human beings were or had to be this or that substance, this or that destiny, no ethical experience w o u l d be p o s s i b l e . . . . This does not mean, however, that humans are not, and do not have to be, something, that they are simply consigned to nothingness and therefore can freely decide whether to be or not to be, to adopt or not to adopt this or that destiny (nihilism and decisionism coincide at this point). There is in effect something that humans are and have to be, but this is not an essence nor properly a thing: It is the simple fact
of
one's
own
existence
as
possibility
or
potentiality.
20
being elsewhere or otherwise, w i t h o u t d e n y i n g our c o m p l i c i t y
A g a m b e n m i g h t b e r e a d a s c l a i m i n g that t h i s p o s s i b i l i t y
i n the l a w that w e o p p o s e ? S u c h p o s s i b i l i t y w o u l d r e q u i r e
m u s t r e s o l v e itself i n t o s o m e t h i n g , b u t c a n n o t u n d o its o w n
a different k i n d o f t u r n , o n e that, e n a b l e d b y the l a w , t u r n s
status a s p o s s i b i l i t y t h r o u g h s u c h a r e s o l u t i o n . O r , rather, w e
a w a y f r o m the l a w , r e s i s t i n g its l u r e o f i d e n t i t y , a n a g e n c y that
m i g h t r e r e a d " b e i n g " a s p r e c i s e l y the p o t e n t i a l i t y that r e m a i n s
o u t r u n s a n d c o u n t e r s the c o n d i t i o n s o f its e m e r g e n c e . S u c h
unexhausted by any particular interpellation. S u c h a failure of
a t u r n d e m a n d s a w i l l i n g n e s s not to b e — a c r i t i c a l desubjec-
i n t e r p e l l a t i o n m a y w e l l u n d e r m i n e the c a p a c i t y o f the subject
t i v a t i o n — i n o r d e r t o e x p o s e the l a w a s less p o w e r f u l t h a n i t
t o " b e " i n a s e l f - i d e n t i c a l sense, b u t i t m a y a l s o m a r k the p a t h
seems. W h a t f o r m s m i g h t l i n g u i s t i c s u r v i v a l t a k e i n t h i s d e -
t o w a r d a m o r e o p e n , even m o r e ethical, k i n d of b e i n g , one of
s u b j e c t i v i z e d d o m a i n ? H o w w o u l d one k n o w one's existence?
o r for the f u t u r e .
T h r o u g h what terms w o u l d it be recognized a n d recognizable? S u c h q u e s t i o n s c a n n o t b e a n s w e r e d here, b u t t h e y i n d i c a t e a d i r e c t i o n for t h i n k i n g that i s p e r h a p s p r i o r t o the q u e s t i o n o f c o n s c i e n c e , n a m e l y , the q u e s t i o n that p r e o c c u p i e d S p i n o z a , N i e t z s c h e , a n d m o s t r e c e n t l y , G i o r g i o A g a m b e n : H o w are w e to u n d e r s t a n d the d e s i r e to be as a c o n s t i t u t i v e d e s i r e ? R e s i t u ating conscience a n d interpellation w i t h i n such an account, we m i g h t then a d d to this question another: H o w is such a d e s i r e e x p l o i t e d n o t o n l y b y a l a w i n the s i n g u l a r , b u t b y l a w s o f v a r i o u s k i n d s s u c h that w e y i e l d t o s u b o r d i n a t i o n i n o r d e r t o m a i n t a i n s o m e sense o f s o c i a l " b e i n g " ?
T 130
Althusser's
"Conscience Doth M a k e Subjects of Us A l l "
131
Subjection
c o n d i t i o n s u n d e r w h i c h o u r v e r y sense o f l i n g u i s t i c s u r v i v a l
I n c o n c l u s i o n , A g a m b e n offers u s one d i r e c t i o n f o r r e t h i n k -
depends u p o n our willingness to t u r n back u p o n ourselves,
i n g ethics a l o n g the l i n e s of the d e s i r e to be, h e n c e , at a d i s -
that is, i n w h i c h a t t a i n i n g r e c o g n i z a b l e b e i n g r e q u i r e s self-
tance f r o m a n y p a r t i c u l a r f o r m a t i o n o f c o n s c i e n c e :
negation, requires existing as a self-negating b e i n g in order to a t t a i n a n d p r e s e r v e a status as " b e i n g " at a l l ? I n a N i e t z s c h e a n v e i n , s u c h a slave m o r a l i t y m a y b e p r e d i cated u p o n the s o b e r c a l c u l a t i o n that i t i s better t o " b e " e n s l a v e d i n s u c h a w a y t h a n n o t t o " b e " a t a l l . B u t the t e r m s that c o n s t r a i n the o p t i o n t o b e i n g v e r s u s n o t b e i n g " c a l l f o r " a n o t h e r k i n d o f r e s p o n s e . U n d e r w h a t c o n d i t i o n s does a l a w m o n o p o l i z e the t e r m s o f existence i n s o t h o r o u g h a w a y ? O r is t h i s a t h e o l o g i c a l f a n t a s y of the l a w ? Is there a p o s s i b i l i t y of
if human beings were or had to be this or that substance, this or that destiny, no ethical experience w o u l d be p o s s i b l e . . . . This does not mean, however, that humans are not, and do not have to be, something, that they are simply consigned to nothingness and therefore can freely decide whether to be or not to be, to adopt or not to adopt this or that destiny (nihilism and decisionism coincide at this point). There is in effect something that humans are and have to be, but this is not an essence nor properly a thing: It is the simple fact
of
one's
own
existence
as
possibility
or
potentiality.
20
being elsewhere or otherwise, w i t h o u t d e n y i n g our c o m p l i c i t y
A g a m b e n m i g h t b e r e a d a s c l a i m i n g that t h i s p o s s i b i l i t y
i n the l a w that w e o p p o s e ? S u c h p o s s i b i l i t y w o u l d r e q u i r e
m u s t r e s o l v e itself i n t o s o m e t h i n g , b u t c a n n o t u n d o its o w n
a different k i n d o f t u r n , o n e that, e n a b l e d b y the l a w , t u r n s
status a s p o s s i b i l i t y t h r o u g h s u c h a r e s o l u t i o n . O r , rather, w e
a w a y f r o m the l a w , r e s i s t i n g its l u r e o f i d e n t i t y , a n a g e n c y that
m i g h t r e r e a d " b e i n g " a s p r e c i s e l y the p o t e n t i a l i t y that r e m a i n s
o u t r u n s a n d c o u n t e r s the c o n d i t i o n s o f its e m e r g e n c e . S u c h
unexhausted by any particular interpellation. S u c h a failure of
a t u r n d e m a n d s a w i l l i n g n e s s not to b e — a c r i t i c a l desubjec-
i n t e r p e l l a t i o n m a y w e l l u n d e r m i n e the c a p a c i t y o f the subject
t i v a t i o n — i n o r d e r t o e x p o s e the l a w a s less p o w e r f u l t h a n i t
t o " b e " i n a s e l f - i d e n t i c a l sense, b u t i t m a y a l s o m a r k the p a t h
seems. W h a t f o r m s m i g h t l i n g u i s t i c s u r v i v a l t a k e i n t h i s d e -
t o w a r d a m o r e o p e n , even m o r e ethical, k i n d of b e i n g , one of
s u b j e c t i v i z e d d o m a i n ? H o w w o u l d one k n o w one's existence?
o r for the f u t u r e .
T h r o u g h what terms w o u l d it be recognized a n d recognizable? S u c h q u e s t i o n s c a n n o t b e a n s w e r e d here, b u t t h e y i n d i c a t e a d i r e c t i o n for t h i n k i n g that i s p e r h a p s p r i o r t o the q u e s t i o n o f c o n s c i e n c e , n a m e l y , the q u e s t i o n that p r e o c c u p i e d S p i n o z a , N i e t z s c h e , a n d m o s t r e c e n t l y , G i o r g i o A g a m b e n : H o w are w e to u n d e r s t a n d the d e s i r e to be as a c o n s t i t u t i v e d e s i r e ? R e s i t u ating conscience a n d interpellation w i t h i n such an account, we m i g h t then a d d to this question another: H o w is such a d e s i r e e x p l o i t e d n o t o n l y b y a l a w i n the s i n g u l a r , b u t b y l a w s o f v a r i o u s k i n d s s u c h that w e y i e l d t o s u b o r d i n a t i o n i n o r d e r t o m a i n t a i n s o m e sense o f s o c i a l " b e i n g " ?
Refused
Identification
133
c h o l i c i d e n t i f i c a t i o n i s c e n t r a l t o the p r o c e s s w h e r e b y the ego a s s u m e s a g e n d e r e d character. S e c o n d , I w a n t to e x p l o r e h o w t h i s a n a l y s i s o f the m e l a n c h o l i c f o r m a t i o n o f g e n d e r sheds l i g h t o n the p r e d i c a m e n t o f l i v i n g w i t h i n a c u l t u r e w h i c h c a n
Melancholy Gender / Refused Identification
m o u r n the loss o f h o m o s e x u a l a t t a c h m e n t o n l y w i t h great difficulty. Reflecting on his speculations in " M o u r n i n g and M e l a n c h o l i a , " F r e u d w r i t e s in The Ego and the Id that in the e a r l i e r essay h e h a d s u p p o s e d that " a n object w h i c h w a s lost has b e e n set u p a g a i n i n s i d e the e g o — t h a t is, that a n object-cathexis h a d b e e n r e p l a c e d b y a n i d e n t i f i c a t i o n . A t that t i m e , h o w e v e r , " h e c o n t i n u e d , " w e d i d n o t a p p r e c i a t e the f u l l s i g n i f i c a n c e o f this
I n grief the w o r l d b e c o m e s p o o r a n d e m p t y ; i n m e l a n c h o l i a i t i s the ego itself.
— Freud, "Mourning and Melancholia"
H o w i s i t t h e n that i n m e l a n c h o l i a the s u p e r - e g o c a n b e c o m e a gathering-place for the death instincts? — F r e u d , The Ego and the Id
p r o c e s s a n d d i d n o t k n o w h o w c o m m o n a n d h o w t y p i c a l i t is. S i n c e t h e n w e h a v e c o m e t o u n d e r s t a n d that t h i s k i n d o f s u b s t i t u t i o n has a great s h a r e i n d e t e r m i n i n g the f o r m t a k e n b y the ego a n d that i t m a k e s a n e s s e n t i a l c o n t r i b u t i o n t o w a r d b u i l d i n g u p w h a t i s c a l l e d its ' c h a r a c t e r ' " (p. 28). S l i g h t l y later i n the s a m e text, F r e u d e x p a n d s t h i s v i e w : " w h e n i t h a p p e n s that a
I
t m a y at first s e e m strange to t h i n k of g e n d e r as a k i n d of m e l a n c h o l y , or as o n e of m e l a n c h o l y ' s effects. B u t let us
r e m e m b e r that in The Ego and the Id F r e u d h i m s e l f a c k n o w l e d g e d that m e l a n c h o l y , the u n f i n i s h e d p r o c e s s o f g r i e v i n g , i s c e n t r a l t o the f o r m a t i o n o f the i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s that f o r m the ego. I n d e e d , i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s f o r m e d f r o m u n f i n i s h e d g r i e f are the m o d e s i n w h i c h the lost object i s i n c o r p o r a t e d a n d p h a n t a s m a t i c a l l y p r e s e r v e d i n a n d a s the ego. C o n s i d e r i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h t h i s i n s i g h t F r e u d ' s f u r t h e r r e m a r k that "the ego i s first a n d f o r e m o s t a b o d i l y e g o , "
1
not m e r e l y a surface, b u t
"the p r o j e c t i o n of a surface." F u r t h e r , t h i s b o d i l y ego a s s u m e s a g e n d e r e d m o r p h o l o g y , so that the b o d i l y ego is a l s o a g e n d e r e d ego. I h o p e first to e x p l a i n the sense in w h i c h a m e l a n -
p e r s o n has to g i v e up a s e x u a l object, there q u i t e o f t e n ensues an a l t e r a t i o n of h i s ego w h i c h c a n o n l y be d e s c r i b e d as a sett i n g u p o f the object i n s i d e the ego, a s i t o c c u r s i n m e l a n c h o l i a " (29). H e c o n c l u d e s t h i s d i s c u s s i o n b y s p e c u l a t i n g that " i t m a y b e that t h i s i d e n t i f i c a t i o n i s the sole c o n d i t i o n u n d e r w h i c h the i d c a n g i v e u p its objects . . . i t m a k e s i t p o s s i b l e t o s u p p o s e that the c h a r a c t e r of the ego is a p r e c i p i t a t e of a b a n d o n e d object-cathexes a n d that it c o n t a i n s the h i s t o r y of t h o s e objectc h o i c e s " (29). W h a t F r e u d h e r e calls the "character o f the e g o " a p p e a r s t o b e the s e d i m e n t a t i o n o f objects l o v e d a n d lost, the a r c h a e l o g i c a l r e m a i n d e r , as it w e r e , of u n r e s o l v e d grief. W h a t i s p e r h a p s m o s t s t r i k i n g a b o u t h i s f o r m u l a t i o n here i s h o w i t reverses h i s p o s i t i o n i n " M o u r n i n g a n d M e l a n c h o l i a " o n w h a t i t m e a n s t o r e s o l v e grief. I n the e a r l i e r essay, F r e u d
Refused
Identification
133
c h o l i c i d e n t i f i c a t i o n i s c e n t r a l t o the p r o c e s s w h e r e b y the ego a s s u m e s a g e n d e r e d character. S e c o n d , I w a n t to e x p l o r e h o w t h i s a n a l y s i s o f the m e l a n c h o l i c f o r m a t i o n o f g e n d e r sheds l i g h t o n the p r e d i c a m e n t o f l i v i n g w i t h i n a c u l t u r e w h i c h c a n
Melancholy Gender / Refused Identification
m o u r n the loss o f h o m o s e x u a l a t t a c h m e n t o n l y w i t h great difficulty. Reflecting on his speculations in " M o u r n i n g and M e l a n c h o l i a , " F r e u d w r i t e s in The Ego and the Id that in the e a r l i e r essay h e h a d s u p p o s e d that " a n object w h i c h w a s lost has b e e n set u p a g a i n i n s i d e the e g o — t h a t is, that a n object-cathexis h a d b e e n r e p l a c e d b y a n i d e n t i f i c a t i o n . A t that t i m e , h o w e v e r , " h e c o n t i n u e d , " w e d i d n o t a p p r e c i a t e the f u l l s i g n i f i c a n c e o f this
I n grief the w o r l d b e c o m e s p o o r a n d e m p t y ; i n m e l a n c h o l i a i t i s the ego itself.
— Freud, "Mourning and Melancholia"
H o w i s i t t h e n that i n m e l a n c h o l i a the s u p e r - e g o c a n b e c o m e a gathering-place for the death instincts? — F r e u d , The Ego and the Id
p r o c e s s a n d d i d n o t k n o w h o w c o m m o n a n d h o w t y p i c a l i t is. S i n c e t h e n w e h a v e c o m e t o u n d e r s t a n d that t h i s k i n d o f s u b s t i t u t i o n has a great s h a r e i n d e t e r m i n i n g the f o r m t a k e n b y the ego a n d that i t m a k e s a n e s s e n t i a l c o n t r i b u t i o n t o w a r d b u i l d i n g u p w h a t i s c a l l e d its ' c h a r a c t e r ' " (p. 28). S l i g h t l y later i n the s a m e text, F r e u d e x p a n d s t h i s v i e w : " w h e n i t h a p p e n s that a
I
t m a y at first s e e m strange to t h i n k of g e n d e r as a k i n d of m e l a n c h o l y , or as o n e of m e l a n c h o l y ' s effects. B u t let us
r e m e m b e r that in The Ego and the Id F r e u d h i m s e l f a c k n o w l e d g e d that m e l a n c h o l y , the u n f i n i s h e d p r o c e s s o f g r i e v i n g , i s c e n t r a l t o the f o r m a t i o n o f the i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s that f o r m the ego. I n d e e d , i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s f o r m e d f r o m u n f i n i s h e d g r i e f are the m o d e s i n w h i c h the lost object i s i n c o r p o r a t e d a n d p h a n t a s m a t i c a l l y p r e s e r v e d i n a n d a s the ego. C o n s i d e r i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h t h i s i n s i g h t F r e u d ' s f u r t h e r r e m a r k that "the ego i s first a n d f o r e m o s t a b o d i l y e g o , "
1
not m e r e l y a surface, b u t
"the p r o j e c t i o n of a surface." F u r t h e r , t h i s b o d i l y ego a s s u m e s a g e n d e r e d m o r p h o l o g y , so that the b o d i l y ego is a l s o a g e n d e r e d ego. I h o p e first to e x p l a i n the sense in w h i c h a m e l a n -
p e r s o n has to g i v e up a s e x u a l object, there q u i t e o f t e n ensues an a l t e r a t i o n of h i s ego w h i c h c a n o n l y be d e s c r i b e d as a sett i n g u p o f the object i n s i d e the ego, a s i t o c c u r s i n m e l a n c h o l i a " (29). H e c o n c l u d e s t h i s d i s c u s s i o n b y s p e c u l a t i n g that " i t m a y b e that t h i s i d e n t i f i c a t i o n i s the sole c o n d i t i o n u n d e r w h i c h the i d c a n g i v e u p its objects . . . i t m a k e s i t p o s s i b l e t o s u p p o s e that the c h a r a c t e r of the ego is a p r e c i p i t a t e of a b a n d o n e d object-cathexes a n d that it c o n t a i n s the h i s t o r y of t h o s e objectc h o i c e s " (29). W h a t F r e u d h e r e calls the "character o f the e g o " a p p e a r s t o b e the s e d i m e n t a t i o n o f objects l o v e d a n d lost, the a r c h a e l o g i c a l r e m a i n d e r , as it w e r e , of u n r e s o l v e d grief. W h a t i s p e r h a p s m o s t s t r i k i n g a b o u t h i s f o r m u l a t i o n here i s h o w i t reverses h i s p o s i t i o n i n " M o u r n i n g a n d M e l a n c h o l i a " o n w h a t i t m e a n s t o r e s o l v e grief. I n the e a r l i e r essay, F r e u d
134
Melancholy Gender
Refused
Identification
135
a s s u m e s that g r i e f c a n be r e s o l v e d t h r o u g h a d e - c a t h e x i s , a
g e n d e r , are p r o d u c e d t h r o u g h m e l a n c h o l i c i d e n t i f i c a t i o n ? I t
b r e a k i n g o f a t t a c h m e n t , a s w e l l a s the s u b s e q u e n t m a k i n g o f
s e e m s clear that the p o s i t i o n s o f " m a s c u l i n e " a n d " f e m i n i n e , "
n e w a t t a c h m e n t s . In The Ego and the Id, he m a k e s r o o m f o r
w h i c h F r e u d , in Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality (1905),
the n o t i o n that m e l a n c h o l i c i d e n t i f i c a t i o n m a y be a prerequisite
u n d e r s t o o d a s the effects o f l a b o r i o u s a n d u n c e r t a i n a c c o m -
for l e t t i n g the object go. B y c l a i m i n g t h i s , h e c h a n g e s w h a t i t
p l i s h m e n t , are e s t a b l i s h e d i n p a r t t h r o u g h p r o h i b i t i o n s w h i c h
m e a n s t o "let a n object go," for there i s n o f i n a l b r e a k i n g o f the
demand the loss of c e r t a i n s e x u a l a t t a c h m e n t s , a n d d e m a n d as
a t t a c h m e n t . T h e r e is, rather, the i n c o r p o r a t i o n o f the attach-
w e l l that those losses not be a v o w e d , a n d not be g r i e v e d . If the
m e n t as i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , w h e r e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n b e c o m e s a m a g i c a l ,
a s s u m p t i o n o f f e m i n i n i t y a n d the a s s u m p t i o n o f m a s c u l i n i t y
a p s y c h i c f o r m of p r e s e r v i n g the object. Insofar as i d e n t i f i c a -
p r o c e e d t h r o u g h the a c c o m p l i s h m e n t o f a n a l w a y s t e n u o u s
t i o n i s the p s y c h i c p r e s e r v e o f the object a n d s u c h i d e n t i f i c a -
h e t e r o s e x u a l i t y , w e m i g h t u n d e r s t a n d the force o f t h i s a c -
t i o n s c o m e t o f o r m the ego, the lost object c o n t i n u e s t o h a u n t
c o m p l i s h m e n t a s m a n d a t i n g the a b a n d o n m e n t o f h o m o s e x u a l
a n d i n h a b i t the ego a s o n e o f its c o n s t i t u t i v e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s .
a t t a c h m e n t s or, p e r h a p s m o r e t r e n c h a n t l y , preempting the p o s -
T h e lost object is, i n that sense, m a d e c o e x t e n s i v e w i t h the ego
sibility of h o m o s e x u a l attachment, a foreclosure of p o s s i b i l i t y
itself. I n d e e d , o n e m i g h t c o n c l u d e that m e l a n c h o l i c i d e n t i f i c a -
w h i c h produces a d o m a i n of homosexuality understood as
t i o n p e r m i t s the loss o f the object i n the e x t e r n a l w o r l d p r e -
u n l i v a b l e p a s s i o n a n d u n g r i e v a b l e loss. T h i s h e t e r o s e x u a l i t y
c i s e l y b e c a u s e it p r o v i d e s a w a y to preserve the object as p a r t
i s p r o d u c e d n o t o n l y t h r o u g h i m p l e m e n t i n g the p r o h i b i t i o n
of the ego a n d , h e n c e , to avert the loss as a c o m p l e t e loss. H e r e
o n incest b u t , p r i o r t o that, b y e n f o r c i n g the p r o h i b i t i o n o n
w e see that l e t t i n g the object g o m e a n s , p a r a d o x i c a l l y , n o t f u l l
h o m o s e x u a l i t y . T h e o e d i p a l c o n f l i c t p r e s u m e s that h e t e r o -
a b a n d o n m e n t of the object b u t t r a n s f e r r i n g the status of the
s e x u a l d e s i r e has a l r e a d y b e e n accomplished, that the d i s t i n c t i o n
object f r o m e x t e r n a l t o i n t e r n a l . G i v i n g u p the object b e c o m e s
b e t w e e n h e t e r o s e x u a l a n d h o m o s e x u a l has b e e n e n f o r c e d ( a
p o s s i b l e o n l y o n the c o n d i t i o n o f a m e l a n c h o l i c i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n
d i s t i n c t i o n w h i c h , after a l l , has n o n e c e s s i t y ) ; i n t h i s sense, the
or, w h a t m i g h t f o r o u r p u r p o s e s t u r n o u t t o b e e v e n m o r e i m -
p r o h i b i t i o n o n incest p r e s u p p o s e s the p r o h i b i t i o n o n h o m o -
p o r t a n t , a m e l a n c h o l i c incorporation.
s e x u a l i t y , f o r it p r e s u m e s the h e t e r o s e x u a l i z a t i o n of desire.
If in m e l a n c h o l i a a loss is r e f u s e d , it is n o t f o r that r e a s o n
T o a c c e p t t h i s v i e w w e m u s t b e g i n b y p r e s u p p o s i n g that
a b o l i s h e d . I n t e r n a l i z a t i o n p r e s e r v e s loss i n the p s y c h e ; m o r e
m a s c u l i n e a n d f e m i n i n e are n o t d i s p o s i t i o n s , a s F r e u d s o m e -
p r e c i s e l y , the i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n o f loss i s p a r t o f the m e c h a n i s m
t i m e s a r g u e s , b u t i n d e e d a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s , ones w h i c h e m e r g e
o f its r e f u s a l . I f the object c a n n o l o n g e r exist i n the e x t e r n a l
i n t a n d e m w i t h the a c h i e v e m e n t o f h e t e r o s e x u a l i t y .
w o r l d , i t w i l l t h e n exist i n t e r n a l l y , a n d that i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n w i l l
F r e u d articulates a c u l t u r a l logic w h e r e b y gender is achieved
Here
be a w a y to d i s a v o w the loss, to k e e p it at bay, to stay or p o s t -
a n d stabilized through heterosexual positioning, and where
p o n e the r e c o g n i t i o n a n d s u f f e r i n g o f loss.
threats to h e t e r o s e x u a l i t y t h u s b e c o m e threats to g e n d e r itself.
Is there a w a y in w h i c h gender i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s or, rather,
T h e p r e v a l e n c e o f t h i s h e t e r o s e x u a l m a t r i x i n the c o n s t r u c t i o n
the i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s that b e c o m e c e n t r a l t o the f o r m a t i o n o f
o f g e n d e r e m e r g e s n o t o n l y i n F r e u d ' s text, b u t i n the c u l t u r a l
134
Melancholy Gender
Refused
Identification
135
a s s u m e s that g r i e f c a n be r e s o l v e d t h r o u g h a d e - c a t h e x i s , a
g e n d e r , are p r o d u c e d t h r o u g h m e l a n c h o l i c i d e n t i f i c a t i o n ? I t
b r e a k i n g o f a t t a c h m e n t , a s w e l l a s the s u b s e q u e n t m a k i n g o f
s e e m s clear that the p o s i t i o n s o f " m a s c u l i n e " a n d " f e m i n i n e , "
n e w a t t a c h m e n t s . In The Ego and the Id, he m a k e s r o o m f o r
w h i c h F r e u d , in Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality (1905),
the n o t i o n that m e l a n c h o l i c i d e n t i f i c a t i o n m a y be a prerequisite
u n d e r s t o o d a s the effects o f l a b o r i o u s a n d u n c e r t a i n a c c o m -
for l e t t i n g the object go. B y c l a i m i n g t h i s , h e c h a n g e s w h a t i t
p l i s h m e n t , are e s t a b l i s h e d i n p a r t t h r o u g h p r o h i b i t i o n s w h i c h
m e a n s t o "let a n object go," for there i s n o f i n a l b r e a k i n g o f the
demand the loss of c e r t a i n s e x u a l a t t a c h m e n t s , a n d d e m a n d as
a t t a c h m e n t . T h e r e is, rather, the i n c o r p o r a t i o n o f the attach-
w e l l that those losses not be a v o w e d , a n d not be g r i e v e d . If the
m e n t as i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , w h e r e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n b e c o m e s a m a g i c a l ,
a s s u m p t i o n o f f e m i n i n i t y a n d the a s s u m p t i o n o f m a s c u l i n i t y
a p s y c h i c f o r m of p r e s e r v i n g the object. Insofar as i d e n t i f i c a -
p r o c e e d t h r o u g h the a c c o m p l i s h m e n t o f a n a l w a y s t e n u o u s
t i o n i s the p s y c h i c p r e s e r v e o f the object a n d s u c h i d e n t i f i c a -
h e t e r o s e x u a l i t y , w e m i g h t u n d e r s t a n d the force o f t h i s a c -
t i o n s c o m e t o f o r m the ego, the lost object c o n t i n u e s t o h a u n t
c o m p l i s h m e n t a s m a n d a t i n g the a b a n d o n m e n t o f h o m o s e x u a l
a n d i n h a b i t the ego a s o n e o f its c o n s t i t u t i v e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s .
a t t a c h m e n t s or, p e r h a p s m o r e t r e n c h a n t l y , preempting the p o s -
T h e lost object is, i n that sense, m a d e c o e x t e n s i v e w i t h the ego
sibility of h o m o s e x u a l attachment, a foreclosure of p o s s i b i l i t y
itself. I n d e e d , o n e m i g h t c o n c l u d e that m e l a n c h o l i c i d e n t i f i c a -
w h i c h produces a d o m a i n of homosexuality understood as
t i o n p e r m i t s the loss o f the object i n the e x t e r n a l w o r l d p r e -
u n l i v a b l e p a s s i o n a n d u n g r i e v a b l e loss. T h i s h e t e r o s e x u a l i t y
c i s e l y b e c a u s e it p r o v i d e s a w a y to preserve the object as p a r t
i s p r o d u c e d n o t o n l y t h r o u g h i m p l e m e n t i n g the p r o h i b i t i o n
of the ego a n d , h e n c e , to avert the loss as a c o m p l e t e loss. H e r e
o n incest b u t , p r i o r t o that, b y e n f o r c i n g the p r o h i b i t i o n o n
w e see that l e t t i n g the object g o m e a n s , p a r a d o x i c a l l y , n o t f u l l
h o m o s e x u a l i t y . T h e o e d i p a l c o n f l i c t p r e s u m e s that h e t e r o -
a b a n d o n m e n t of the object b u t t r a n s f e r r i n g the status of the
s e x u a l d e s i r e has a l r e a d y b e e n accomplished, that the d i s t i n c t i o n
object f r o m e x t e r n a l t o i n t e r n a l . G i v i n g u p the object b e c o m e s
b e t w e e n h e t e r o s e x u a l a n d h o m o s e x u a l has b e e n e n f o r c e d ( a
p o s s i b l e o n l y o n the c o n d i t i o n o f a m e l a n c h o l i c i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n
d i s t i n c t i o n w h i c h , after a l l , has n o n e c e s s i t y ) ; i n t h i s sense, the
or, w h a t m i g h t f o r o u r p u r p o s e s t u r n o u t t o b e e v e n m o r e i m -
p r o h i b i t i o n o n incest p r e s u p p o s e s the p r o h i b i t i o n o n h o m o -
p o r t a n t , a m e l a n c h o l i c incorporation.
s e x u a l i t y , f o r it p r e s u m e s the h e t e r o s e x u a l i z a t i o n of desire.
If in m e l a n c h o l i a a loss is r e f u s e d , it is n o t f o r that r e a s o n
T o a c c e p t t h i s v i e w w e m u s t b e g i n b y p r e s u p p o s i n g that
a b o l i s h e d . I n t e r n a l i z a t i o n p r e s e r v e s loss i n the p s y c h e ; m o r e
m a s c u l i n e a n d f e m i n i n e are n o t d i s p o s i t i o n s , a s F r e u d s o m e -
p r e c i s e l y , the i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n o f loss i s p a r t o f the m e c h a n i s m
t i m e s a r g u e s , b u t i n d e e d a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s , ones w h i c h e m e r g e
o f its r e f u s a l . I f the object c a n n o l o n g e r exist i n the e x t e r n a l
i n t a n d e m w i t h the a c h i e v e m e n t o f h e t e r o s e x u a l i t y .
w o r l d , i t w i l l t h e n exist i n t e r n a l l y , a n d that i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n w i l l
F r e u d articulates a c u l t u r a l logic w h e r e b y gender is achieved
Here
be a w a y to d i s a v o w the loss, to k e e p it at bay, to stay or p o s t -
a n d stabilized through heterosexual positioning, and where
p o n e the r e c o g n i t i o n a n d s u f f e r i n g o f loss.
threats to h e t e r o s e x u a l i t y t h u s b e c o m e threats to g e n d e r itself.
Is there a w a y in w h i c h gender i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s or, rather,
T h e p r e v a l e n c e o f t h i s h e t e r o s e x u a l m a t r i x i n the c o n s t r u c t i o n
the i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s that b e c o m e c e n t r a l t o the f o r m a t i o n o f
o f g e n d e r e m e r g e s n o t o n l y i n F r e u d ' s text, b u t i n the c u l t u r a l
i 6
Melancholy Gender
3
f o r m s o f life that h a v e a b s o r b e d t h i s m a t r i x a n d are i n h a b -
Refused
Identification
t a c h m e n t s , t h e r e b y f o r c i n g the loss of those a t t a c h m e n t s .
137 2
If
i t e d b y e v e r y d a y f o r m s o f g e n d e r a n x i e t y H e n c e , the fear o f
the g i r l is to t r a n s f e r l o v e f r o m h e r father to a s u b s t i t u t e o b -
h o m o s e x u a l d e s i r e i n a w o m a n m a y i n d u c e a p a n i c that she i s
ject, she m u s t , a c c o r d i n g t o F r e u d i a n l o g i c , first r e n o u n c e l o v e
l o s i n g h e r f e m i n i n i t y , that she is n o t a w o m a n , that she is no
for h e r m o t h e r , a n d r e n o u n c e i t i n s u c h a w a y that b o t h the
l o n g e r a p r o p e r w o m a n , that if she is n o t q u i t e a m a n , she is
a i m a n d the object are f o r e c l o s e d . She m u s t n o t transfer that
l i k e one, a n d h e n c e m o n s t r o u s i n s o m e w a y . O r i n a m a n , the
h o m o s e x u a l l o v e o n t o a s u b s t i t u t e f e m i n i n e figure, b u t r e -
terror of h o m o s e x u a l desire m a y lead to a terror of being con-
n o u n c e the p o s s i b i l i t y o f h o m o s e x u a l a t t a c h m e n t itself. O n l y
strued as feminine, f e m i n i z e d , of no longer b e i n g p r o p e r l y a
o n t h i s c o n d i t i o n does a h e t e r o s e x u a l a i m b e c o m e e s t a b l i s h e d
m a n , o f b e i n g a " f a i l e d " m a n , o r b e i n g i n s o m e sense a f i g u r e
a s w h a t s o m e c a l l a s e x u a l o r i e n t a t i o n . O n l y o n the c o n d i t i o n
o f m o n s t r o s i t y o r abjection.
o f t h i s f o r e c l o s u r e o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y c a n the father a n d s u b s t i -
I w o u l d a r g u e that p h e n o m e n o l o g i c a l l y there are m a n y w a y s o f e x p e r i e n c i n g g e n d e r a n d s e x u a l i t y that d o n o t r e d u c e
tutes for h i m b e c o m e objects o f d e s i r e , a n d the m o t h e r b e c o m e the u n e a s y site of i d e n t i f i c a t i o n .
t o t h i s e q u a t i o n , that d o n o t p r e s u m e that g e n d e r i s s t a b i l i z e d
B e c o m i n g a " m a n " w i t h i n this l o g i c r e q u i r e s r e p u d i a t i n g
t h r o u g h the i n s t a l l a t i o n of a f i r m h e t e r o s e x u a l i t y , b u t for the
f e m i n i n i t y as a p r e c o n d i t i o n for the h e t e r o s e x u a l i z a t i o n of
m o m e n t I w a n t to i n v o k e this stark a n d h y p e r b o l i c construc-
s e x u a l d e s i r e a n d its f u n d a m e n t a l a m b i v a l e n c e . I f a m a n b e -
t i o n o f the r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n g e n d e r a n d s e x u a l i t y i n o r d e r t o
c o m e s h e t e r o s e x u a l b y r e p u d i a t i n g the f e m i n i n e , w h e r e c o u l d
t h i n k t h r o u g h the q u e s t i o n o f u n g r i e v e d a n d u n g r e i v a b l e loss
that r e p u d i a t i o n l i v e e x c e p t i n a n i d e n t i f i c a t i o n w h i c h h i s
i n the f o r m a t i o n o f w h a t w e m i g h t c a l l the g e n d e r e d c h a r a c t e r
h e t e r o s e x u a l career seeks t o d e n y ? I n d e e d , the d e s i r e for the
of the ego.
f e m i n i n e i s m a r k e d b y that r e p u d i a t i o n : h e w a n t s the w o m a n
C o n s i d e r that g e n d e r i s a c q u i r e d a t least i n p a r t t h r o u g h
h e w o u l d n e v e r be. H e w o u l d n ' t b e c a u g h t d e a d b e i n g her:
the r e p u d i a t i o n o f h o m o s e x u a l a t t a c h m e n t s ; the g i r l b e c o m e s
t h e r e f o r e he w a n t s her. She is h i s r e p u d i a t e d i d e n t i f i c a t i o n (a
a g i r l t h r o u g h b e i n g subject t o a p r o h i b i t i o n w h i c h b a r s the
r e p u d i a t i o n he s u s t a i n s as at o n c e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n a n d the object
m o t h e r a s a n object o f d e s i r e a n d i n s t a l l s that b a r r e d object a s
o f h i s desire). O n e o f the m o s t a n x i o u s a i m s o f h i s d e s i r e w i l l
a p a r t of the ego, i n d e e d , as a m e l a n c h o l i c i d e n t i f i c a t i o n . T h u s
b e t o elaborate the d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n h i m a n d her, a n d h e
the i d e n t i f i c a t i o n c o n t a i n s w i t h i n i t b o t h the p r o h i b i t i o n a n d
w i l l seek t o d i s c o v e r a n d i n s t a l l p r o o f o f that difference. H i s
the d e s i r e , a n d s o e m b o d i e s the u n g r i e v e d loss o f the h o m o -
w a n t i n g w i l l be haunted by a dread of being what he wants,
s e x u a l cathexis. If o n e is a g i r l to the extent that one does n o t
s o that h i s w a n t i n g w i l l a l s o a l w a y s b e a k i n d o f d r e a d . P r e -
want a girl, then wanting a g i r l w i l l bring being a girl into
cisely because what is r e p u d i a t e d a n d hence lost is preserved
question; w i t h i n this m a t r i x , h o m o s e x u a l desire thus panics
as a r e p u d i a t e d identification, this desire w i l l attempt to over-
gender.
come an identification w h i c h can never be complete.
Heterosexuality is cultivated through prohibitions, and
I n d e e d , h e w i l l n o t i d e n t i f y w i t h her, a n d h e w i l l n o t d e s i r e
these p r o h i b i t i o n s t a k e as one of t h e i r objects h o m o s e x u a l at-
a n o t h e r m a n . T h a t r e f u s a l t o d e s i r e , that s a c r i f i c e o f d e s i r e
i 6
Melancholy Gender
3
f o r m s o f life that h a v e a b s o r b e d t h i s m a t r i x a n d are i n h a b -
Refused
Identification
t a c h m e n t s , t h e r e b y f o r c i n g the loss of those a t t a c h m e n t s .
137 2
If
i t e d b y e v e r y d a y f o r m s o f g e n d e r a n x i e t y H e n c e , the fear o f
the g i r l is to t r a n s f e r l o v e f r o m h e r father to a s u b s t i t u t e o b -
h o m o s e x u a l d e s i r e i n a w o m a n m a y i n d u c e a p a n i c that she i s
ject, she m u s t , a c c o r d i n g t o F r e u d i a n l o g i c , first r e n o u n c e l o v e
l o s i n g h e r f e m i n i n i t y , that she is n o t a w o m a n , that she is no
for h e r m o t h e r , a n d r e n o u n c e i t i n s u c h a w a y that b o t h the
l o n g e r a p r o p e r w o m a n , that if she is n o t q u i t e a m a n , she is
a i m a n d the object are f o r e c l o s e d . She m u s t n o t transfer that
l i k e one, a n d h e n c e m o n s t r o u s i n s o m e w a y . O r i n a m a n , the
h o m o s e x u a l l o v e o n t o a s u b s t i t u t e f e m i n i n e figure, b u t r e -
terror of h o m o s e x u a l desire m a y lead to a terror of being con-
n o u n c e the p o s s i b i l i t y o f h o m o s e x u a l a t t a c h m e n t itself. O n l y
strued as feminine, f e m i n i z e d , of no longer b e i n g p r o p e r l y a
o n t h i s c o n d i t i o n does a h e t e r o s e x u a l a i m b e c o m e e s t a b l i s h e d
m a n , o f b e i n g a " f a i l e d " m a n , o r b e i n g i n s o m e sense a f i g u r e
a s w h a t s o m e c a l l a s e x u a l o r i e n t a t i o n . O n l y o n the c o n d i t i o n
o f m o n s t r o s i t y o r abjection.
o f t h i s f o r e c l o s u r e o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y c a n the father a n d s u b s t i -
I w o u l d a r g u e that p h e n o m e n o l o g i c a l l y there are m a n y w a y s o f e x p e r i e n c i n g g e n d e r a n d s e x u a l i t y that d o n o t r e d u c e
tutes for h i m b e c o m e objects o f d e s i r e , a n d the m o t h e r b e c o m e the u n e a s y site of i d e n t i f i c a t i o n .
t o t h i s e q u a t i o n , that d o n o t p r e s u m e that g e n d e r i s s t a b i l i z e d
B e c o m i n g a " m a n " w i t h i n this l o g i c r e q u i r e s r e p u d i a t i n g
t h r o u g h the i n s t a l l a t i o n of a f i r m h e t e r o s e x u a l i t y , b u t for the
f e m i n i n i t y as a p r e c o n d i t i o n for the h e t e r o s e x u a l i z a t i o n of
m o m e n t I w a n t to i n v o k e this stark a n d h y p e r b o l i c construc-
s e x u a l d e s i r e a n d its f u n d a m e n t a l a m b i v a l e n c e . I f a m a n b e -
t i o n o f the r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n g e n d e r a n d s e x u a l i t y i n o r d e r t o
c o m e s h e t e r o s e x u a l b y r e p u d i a t i n g the f e m i n i n e , w h e r e c o u l d
t h i n k t h r o u g h the q u e s t i o n o f u n g r i e v e d a n d u n g r e i v a b l e loss
that r e p u d i a t i o n l i v e e x c e p t i n a n i d e n t i f i c a t i o n w h i c h h i s
i n the f o r m a t i o n o f w h a t w e m i g h t c a l l the g e n d e r e d c h a r a c t e r
h e t e r o s e x u a l career seeks t o d e n y ? I n d e e d , the d e s i r e for the
of the ego.
f e m i n i n e i s m a r k e d b y that r e p u d i a t i o n : h e w a n t s the w o m a n
C o n s i d e r that g e n d e r i s a c q u i r e d a t least i n p a r t t h r o u g h
h e w o u l d n e v e r be. H e w o u l d n ' t b e c a u g h t d e a d b e i n g her:
the r e p u d i a t i o n o f h o m o s e x u a l a t t a c h m e n t s ; the g i r l b e c o m e s
t h e r e f o r e he w a n t s her. She is h i s r e p u d i a t e d i d e n t i f i c a t i o n (a
a g i r l t h r o u g h b e i n g subject t o a p r o h i b i t i o n w h i c h b a r s the
r e p u d i a t i o n he s u s t a i n s as at o n c e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n a n d the object
m o t h e r a s a n object o f d e s i r e a n d i n s t a l l s that b a r r e d object a s
o f h i s desire). O n e o f the m o s t a n x i o u s a i m s o f h i s d e s i r e w i l l
a p a r t of the ego, i n d e e d , as a m e l a n c h o l i c i d e n t i f i c a t i o n . T h u s
b e t o elaborate the d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n h i m a n d her, a n d h e
the i d e n t i f i c a t i o n c o n t a i n s w i t h i n i t b o t h the p r o h i b i t i o n a n d
w i l l seek t o d i s c o v e r a n d i n s t a l l p r o o f o f that difference. H i s
the d e s i r e , a n d s o e m b o d i e s the u n g r i e v e d loss o f the h o m o -
w a n t i n g w i l l be haunted by a dread of being what he wants,
s e x u a l cathexis. If o n e is a g i r l to the extent that one does n o t
s o that h i s w a n t i n g w i l l a l s o a l w a y s b e a k i n d o f d r e a d . P r e -
want a girl, then wanting a g i r l w i l l bring being a girl into
cisely because what is r e p u d i a t e d a n d hence lost is preserved
question; w i t h i n this m a t r i x , h o m o s e x u a l desire thus panics
as a r e p u d i a t e d identification, this desire w i l l attempt to over-
gender.
come an identification w h i c h can never be complete.
Heterosexuality is cultivated through prohibitions, and
I n d e e d , h e w i l l n o t i d e n t i f y w i t h her, a n d h e w i l l n o t d e s i r e
these p r o h i b i t i o n s t a k e as one of t h e i r objects h o m o s e x u a l at-
a n o t h e r m a n . T h a t r e f u s a l t o d e s i r e , that s a c r i f i c e o f d e s i r e
i 8 3
Melancholy Gender
Refused
Identification
139
u n d e r the force o f p r o h i b i t i o n , w i l l i n c o r p o r a t e h o m o s e x u a l i t y
loss b y w h i c h s e x u a l f o r m a t i o n , i n c l u d i n g g a y s e x u a l f o r m a -
as an identification w i t h m a s c u l i n i t y But this m a s c u l i n i t y w i l l
tion, proceeds?
b e h a u n t e d b y the l o v e i t c a n n o t g r i e v e , a n d b e f o r e I suggest
I f w e a c c e p t the n o t i o n that the p r o h i b i t i o n o n h o m o s e x u -
h o w t h i s m i g h t b e t r u e , I ' d l i k e t o situate the k i n d o f w r i t i n g
a l i t y operates t h r o u g h o u t a l a r g e l y h e t e r o s e x u a l c u l t u r e as
that I h a v e b e e n o f f e r i n g as a c e r t a i n c u l t u r a l e n g a g e m e n t w i t h
one o f its d e f i n i n g o p e r a t i o n s , t h e n the loss o f h o m o s e x u a l o b -
p s y c h o a n a l y t i c t h e o r y that b e l o n g s n e i t h e r t o the fields o f p s y -
jects a n d a i m s (not s i m p l y t h i s p e r s o n o f the s a m e g e n d e r ,
c h o l o g y n o r t o p s y c h o a n a l y s i s , b u t w h i c h n e v e r t h e l e s s seeks
b u t any p e r s o n o f the s a m e g e n d e r ) w o u l d a p p e a r t o b e f o r e -
t o e s t a b l i s h a n i n t e l l e c t u a l r e l a t i o n s h i p t o those e n t e r p r i s e s .
c l o s e d f r o m the start. I say " f o r e c l o s e d " to suggest that t h i s is
T h u s far, I h a v e b e e n o f f e r i n g s o m e t h i n g l i k e a n exegesis
a p r e e m p t i v e loss, a m o u r n i n g for u n l i v e d p o s s i b i l i t i e s . If t h i s
o f a c e r t a i n p s y c h o a n a l y t i c l o g i c , o n e that a p p e a r s i n s o m e
l o v e i s f r o m the start o u t o f the q u e s t i o n , t h e n i t c a n n o t h a p -
p s y c h o a n a l y t i c texts b u t w h i c h these texts a n d others a l s o
p e n , a n d i f i t does, i t c e r t a i n l y d i d n o t . I f i t does, i t h a p p e n s
s o m e t i m e s contest. I m a k e n o e m p i r i c a l c l a i m s , n o r a t t e m p t a
o n l y u n d e r the o f f i c i a l s i g n o f its p r o h i b i t i o n a n d d i s a v o w a l .
survey of current psychoanalytic scholarship on gender, sexu-
W h e n c e r t a i n k i n d s o f losses are c o m p e l l e d b y a set o f c u l -
a l i t y , or m e l a n c h o l y . I w a n t m e r e l y to suggest w h a t I t a k e to be
t u r a l l y prevalent p r o h i b i t i o n s , we m i g h t expect a c u l t u r a l l y
3
some p r o d u c t i v e convergences between Freud's t h i n k i n g on
p r e v a l e n t f o r m o f m e l a n c h o l i a , o n e w h i c h s i g n a l s the i n t e r -
u n g r i e v e d a n d u n g r i e v a b l e loss a n d the p r e d i c a m e n t o f l i v i n g
n a l i z a t i o n o f the u n g r i e v e d a n d u n g r i e v a b l e h o m o s e x u a l ca-
i n a c u l t u r e w h i c h c a n m o u r n the loss o f h o m o s e x u a l attach-
thexis. A n d w h e r e there i s n o p u b l i c r e c o g n i t i o n o r d i s c o u r s e
m e n t o n l y w i t h great d i f f i c u l t y
t h r o u g h w h i c h s u c h a loss m i g h t b e n a m e d a n d m o u r n e d ,
T h i s p r o b l e m a t i c i s m a d e a l l the m o r e a c u t e w h e n w e c o n -
t h e n m e l a n c h o l i a takes o n c u l t u r a l d i m e n s i o n s o f c o n t e m p o -
s i d e r the r a v a g e s o f A I D S , a n d the task o f f i n d i n g a p u b l i c
r a r y c o n s e q u e n c e . O f c o u r s e , i t c o m e s a s n o s u r p r i s e that the
occasion a n d language in w h i c h to grieve this seemingly end-
m o r e h y p e r b o l i c a n d d e f e n s i v e a m a s c u l i n e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , the
less n u m b e r o f deaths. M o r e g e n e r a l l y , t h i s p r o b l e m m a k e s
m o r e fierce the u n g r i e v e d h o m o s e x u a l cathexis. I n t h i s sense,
itself felt i n the u n c e r t a i n t y w i t h w h i c h h o m o s e x u a l l o v e a n d
we might understand both "masculinity" and "femininity" as
loss is r e g a r d e d : is it r e g a r d e d as a " t r u e " l o v e , a " t r u e " loss,
f o r m e d a n d c o n s o l i d a t e d t h r o u g h i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s w h i c h are i n
a l o v e a n d loss w o r t h y a n d c a p a b l e o f b e i n g g r i e v e d , a n d t h u s
p a r t c o m p o s e d o f d i s a v o w e d grief.
w o r t h y a n d capable of h a v i n g been lived? Or is it a love a n d
I f w e a c c e p t the n o t i o n that h e t e r o s e x u a l i t y n a t u r a l i z e s
a loss h a u n t e d by the s p e c t e r of a c e r t a i n u n r e a l i t y , a c e r t a i n
itself b y i n s i s t i n g o n the r a d i c a l o t h e r n e s s o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y ,
u n t h i n k a b i l i t y , the d o u b l e d i s a v o w a l o f the " I n e v e r l o v e d her,
then heterosexual identity is purchased through a melancholic
a n d I n e v e r lost her," u t t e r e d b y a w o m a n , the " I n e v e r l o v e d
i n c o r p o r a t i o n o f the l o v e that i t d i s a v o w s : the m a n w h o i n s i s t s
h i m , I n e v e r lost h i m , " u t t e r e d b y a m a n ? I s t h i s the " n e v e r -
u p o n the c o h e r e n c e o f h i s h e t e r o s e x u a l i t y w i l l c l a i m that h e
n e v e r " that s u p p o r t s the n a t u r a l i z e d s u r f a c e o f h e t e r o s e x u a l
n e v e r l o v e d a n o t h e r m a n , a n d hence n e v e r lost a n o t h e r m a n .
life as w e l l as its p e r v a s i v e m e l a n c h o l i a ? Is it the d i s a v o w a l of
T h a t l o v e , that a t t a c h m e n t b e c o m e s subject to a d o u b l e d i s -
i 8 3
Melancholy Gender
Refused
Identification
139
u n d e r the force o f p r o h i b i t i o n , w i l l i n c o r p o r a t e h o m o s e x u a l i t y
loss b y w h i c h s e x u a l f o r m a t i o n , i n c l u d i n g g a y s e x u a l f o r m a -
as an identification w i t h m a s c u l i n i t y But this m a s c u l i n i t y w i l l
tion, proceeds?
b e h a u n t e d b y the l o v e i t c a n n o t g r i e v e , a n d b e f o r e I suggest
I f w e a c c e p t the n o t i o n that the p r o h i b i t i o n o n h o m o s e x u -
h o w t h i s m i g h t b e t r u e , I ' d l i k e t o situate the k i n d o f w r i t i n g
a l i t y operates t h r o u g h o u t a l a r g e l y h e t e r o s e x u a l c u l t u r e as
that I h a v e b e e n o f f e r i n g as a c e r t a i n c u l t u r a l e n g a g e m e n t w i t h
one o f its d e f i n i n g o p e r a t i o n s , t h e n the loss o f h o m o s e x u a l o b -
p s y c h o a n a l y t i c t h e o r y that b e l o n g s n e i t h e r t o the fields o f p s y -
jects a n d a i m s (not s i m p l y t h i s p e r s o n o f the s a m e g e n d e r ,
c h o l o g y n o r t o p s y c h o a n a l y s i s , b u t w h i c h n e v e r t h e l e s s seeks
b u t any p e r s o n o f the s a m e g e n d e r ) w o u l d a p p e a r t o b e f o r e -
t o e s t a b l i s h a n i n t e l l e c t u a l r e l a t i o n s h i p t o those e n t e r p r i s e s .
c l o s e d f r o m the start. I say " f o r e c l o s e d " to suggest that t h i s is
T h u s far, I h a v e b e e n o f f e r i n g s o m e t h i n g l i k e a n exegesis
a p r e e m p t i v e loss, a m o u r n i n g for u n l i v e d p o s s i b i l i t i e s . If t h i s
o f a c e r t a i n p s y c h o a n a l y t i c l o g i c , o n e that a p p e a r s i n s o m e
l o v e i s f r o m the start o u t o f the q u e s t i o n , t h e n i t c a n n o t h a p -
p s y c h o a n a l y t i c texts b u t w h i c h these texts a n d others a l s o
p e n , a n d i f i t does, i t c e r t a i n l y d i d n o t . I f i t does, i t h a p p e n s
s o m e t i m e s contest. I m a k e n o e m p i r i c a l c l a i m s , n o r a t t e m p t a
o n l y u n d e r the o f f i c i a l s i g n o f its p r o h i b i t i o n a n d d i s a v o w a l .
survey of current psychoanalytic scholarship on gender, sexu-
W h e n c e r t a i n k i n d s o f losses are c o m p e l l e d b y a set o f c u l -
a l i t y , or m e l a n c h o l y . I w a n t m e r e l y to suggest w h a t I t a k e to be
t u r a l l y prevalent p r o h i b i t i o n s , we m i g h t expect a c u l t u r a l l y
3
some p r o d u c t i v e convergences between Freud's t h i n k i n g on
p r e v a l e n t f o r m o f m e l a n c h o l i a , o n e w h i c h s i g n a l s the i n t e r -
u n g r i e v e d a n d u n g r i e v a b l e loss a n d the p r e d i c a m e n t o f l i v i n g
n a l i z a t i o n o f the u n g r i e v e d a n d u n g r i e v a b l e h o m o s e x u a l ca-
i n a c u l t u r e w h i c h c a n m o u r n the loss o f h o m o s e x u a l attach-
thexis. A n d w h e r e there i s n o p u b l i c r e c o g n i t i o n o r d i s c o u r s e
m e n t o n l y w i t h great d i f f i c u l t y
t h r o u g h w h i c h s u c h a loss m i g h t b e n a m e d a n d m o u r n e d ,
T h i s p r o b l e m a t i c i s m a d e a l l the m o r e a c u t e w h e n w e c o n -
t h e n m e l a n c h o l i a takes o n c u l t u r a l d i m e n s i o n s o f c o n t e m p o -
s i d e r the r a v a g e s o f A I D S , a n d the task o f f i n d i n g a p u b l i c
r a r y c o n s e q u e n c e . O f c o u r s e , i t c o m e s a s n o s u r p r i s e that the
occasion a n d language in w h i c h to grieve this seemingly end-
m o r e h y p e r b o l i c a n d d e f e n s i v e a m a s c u l i n e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , the
less n u m b e r o f deaths. M o r e g e n e r a l l y , t h i s p r o b l e m m a k e s
m o r e fierce the u n g r i e v e d h o m o s e x u a l cathexis. I n t h i s sense,
itself felt i n the u n c e r t a i n t y w i t h w h i c h h o m o s e x u a l l o v e a n d
we might understand both "masculinity" and "femininity" as
loss is r e g a r d e d : is it r e g a r d e d as a " t r u e " l o v e , a " t r u e " loss,
f o r m e d a n d c o n s o l i d a t e d t h r o u g h i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s w h i c h are i n
a l o v e a n d loss w o r t h y a n d c a p a b l e o f b e i n g g r i e v e d , a n d t h u s
p a r t c o m p o s e d o f d i s a v o w e d grief.
w o r t h y a n d capable of h a v i n g been lived? Or is it a love a n d
I f w e a c c e p t the n o t i o n that h e t e r o s e x u a l i t y n a t u r a l i z e s
a loss h a u n t e d by the s p e c t e r of a c e r t a i n u n r e a l i t y , a c e r t a i n
itself b y i n s i s t i n g o n the r a d i c a l o t h e r n e s s o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y ,
u n t h i n k a b i l i t y , the d o u b l e d i s a v o w a l o f the " I n e v e r l o v e d her,
then heterosexual identity is purchased through a melancholic
a n d I n e v e r lost her," u t t e r e d b y a w o m a n , the " I n e v e r l o v e d
i n c o r p o r a t i o n o f the l o v e that i t d i s a v o w s : the m a n w h o i n s i s t s
h i m , I n e v e r lost h i m , " u t t e r e d b y a m a n ? I s t h i s the " n e v e r -
u p o n the c o h e r e n c e o f h i s h e t e r o s e x u a l i t y w i l l c l a i m that h e
n e v e r " that s u p p o r t s the n a t u r a l i z e d s u r f a c e o f h e t e r o s e x u a l
n e v e r l o v e d a n o t h e r m a n , a n d hence n e v e r lost a n o t h e r m a n .
life as w e l l as its p e r v a s i v e m e l a n c h o l i a ? Is it the d i s a v o w a l of
T h a t l o v e , that a t t a c h m e n t b e c o m e s subject to a d o u b l e d i s -
140
Melancholy Gender
Refused
141
Identification
a v o w a l , a n e v e r h a v i n g l o v e d , a n d a n e v e r h a v i n g lost. T h i s
F r e u d goes o n t o c o n j e c t u r e that the c o n f l i c t w i t h the o t h e r
" n e v e r - n e v e r " t h u s f o u n d s the h e t e r o s e x u a l subject, as it w e r e ;
w h i c h r e m a i n s u n r e s o l v e d a t the t i m e the o t h e r i s lost r e -
i t i s a n i d e n t i t y b a s e d u p o n the r e f u s a l t o a v o w a n a t t a c h m e n t
e m e r g e s i n the p s y c h e a s a w a y o f c o n t i n u i n g the q u a r r e l . I n -
a n d , h e n c e , the r e f u s a l t o g r i e v e .
d e e d , anger at the o t h e r is d o u b t l e s s e x a c e r b a t e d by the d e a t h
There is perhaps a more culturally instructive w a y of des c r i b i n g this scenario, for it is not s i m p l y a matter of an
o r d e p a r t u r e w h i c h o c c a s i o n s the loss. B u t t h i s anger i s t u r n e d i n w a r d a n d b e c o m e s the s u b s t a n c e o f self-beratement.
i n d i v i d u a l ' s u n w i l l i n g n e s s t o a v o w a n d hence t o g r i e v e h o m o -
I n " O n N a r c i s s i s m , " F r e u d l i n k s the e x p e r i e n c e o f g u i l t w i t h
s e x u a l a t t a c h m e n t s . W h e n the p r o h i b i t i o n against h o m o s e x u -
the t u r n i n g b a c k i n t o the ego o f h o m o s e x u a l l i b i d o . P u t t i n g
a l i t y i s c u l t u r a l l y p e r v a s i v e , t h e n the " l o s s " o f h o m o s e x u a l
a s i d e the q u e s t i o n o f w h e t h e r l i b i d o c a n b e h o m o s e x u a l o r
love is precipitated through a p r o h i b i t i o n w h i c h is repeated
heterosexual, we m i g h t rephrase F r e u d a n d consider guilt as
a n d r i t u a l i z e d t h r o u g h o u t the c u l t u r e . W h a t ensues i s a c u l t u r e
the t u r n i n g b a c k i n t o the ego of h o m o s e x u a l a t t a c h m e n t . If the
of gender melancholy in w h i c h masculinity and femininity
loss b e c o m e s a r e n e w e d scene of c o n f l i c t , a n d if the a g g r e s s i o n
e m e r g e a s the traces o f a n u n g r i e v e d a n d u n g r i e v a b l e l o v e ;
that f o l l o w s f r o m that loss c a n n o t b e a r t i c u l a t e d o r e x t e r n a l -
i n d e e d , w h e r e m a s c u l i n i t y a n d f e m i n i n i t y w i t h i n the h e t e r o -
i z e d , t h e n i t r e b o u n d s u p o n the ego itself, i n the f o r m o f a
s e x u a l m a t r i x are s t r e n g t h e n e d t h r o u g h the r e p u d i a t i o n s that
super-ego. T h i s w i l l eventually lead F r e u d t o l i n k melancholic
they p e r f o r m . In opposition to a conception of sexuality w h i c h
i d e n t i f i c a t i o n w i t h the a g e n c y of the s u p e r - e g o in The Ego and
is s a i d to " e x p r e s s " a g e n d e r , g e n d e r itself is h e r e u n d e r s t o o d
the Id, b u t a l r e a d y i n " O n N a r c i s s i s m " w e h a v e s o m e sense o f
to be c o m p o s e d of precisely what remains inarticulate in sexu-
h o w guilt is wrought f r o m ungrievable homosexuality.
ality.
5
T h e ego i s s a i d t o b e c o m e i m p o v e r i s h e d i n m e l a n c h o l i a ,
If we u n d e r s t a n d gender m e l a n c h o l y in this way, then per-
b u t i t a p p e a r s a s p o o r p r e c i s e l y t h r o u g h the w o r k i n g s o f self-
h a p s w e c a n m a k e sense o f the p e c u l i a r p h e n o m e n o n w h e r e b y
b e r a t e m e n t . T h e e g o - i d e a l , w h a t F r e u d calls the " m e a s u r e "
h o m o s e x u a l desire becomes a source of guilt. In " M o u r n i n g
a g a i n s t w h i c h the ego i s j u d g e d b y the s u p e r - e g o , i s p r e c i s e l y
a n d M e l a n c h o l i a " F r e u d a r g u e s that m e l a n c h o l y i s m a r k e d
the i d e a l o f s o c i a l r e c t i t u d e d e n n e d o v e r a n d against h o m o -
b y the e x p e r i e n c e o f self-beratement. H e w r i t e s , "If o n e l i s -
s e x u a l i t y . " T h i s i d e a l , " F r e u d w r i t e s , "has a s o c i a l s i d e : i t i s
tens c a r e f u l l y t o the m a n y a n d v a r i o u s self-accusations o f the
a l s o the c o m m o n i d e a l of a f a m i l y , a class or a n a t i o n . It
m e l a n c h o l i c , o n e c a n n o t i n the e n d a v o i d the i m p r e s s i o n that
n o t o n l y b i n d s the n a r c i s s i s t i c l i b i d o , b u t a l s o a c o n s i d e r a b l e
often the m o s t v i o l e n t o f t h e m are h a r d l y a t a l l a p p l i c a b l e t o
a m o u n t o f the p e r s o n ' s h o m o s e x u a l l i b i d o , w h i c h i n t h i s w a y
the p a t i e n t h i m s e l f , b u t that w i t h i n s i g n i f i c a n t m o d i f i c a t i o n s
b e c o m e s t u r n e d b a c k i n t o the ego. T h e d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n d u e t o
t h e y d o fit s o m e o n e else, s o m e p e r s o n w h o m the p a t i e n t l o v e s ,
the n o n - f u l f i l l m e n t o f t h i s i d e a l liberates h o m o s e x u a l l i b i d o ,
has l o v e d or o u g h t to l o v e . . . the s e l f - r e p r o a c h e s are r e -
w h i c h i s t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o a sense o f g u i l t ( d r e a d o f the c o m -
p r o a c h e s a g a i n s t a l o v e d object w h i c h h a v e b e e n s h i f t e d o n t o
m u n i t y ) " (81).
the p a t i e n t ' s o w n e g o . "
4
B u t the m o v e m e n t o f t h i s " t r a n s f o r m a t i o n " i s n o t a l t o g e t h e r
140
Melancholy Gender
Refused
141
Identification
a v o w a l , a n e v e r h a v i n g l o v e d , a n d a n e v e r h a v i n g lost. T h i s
F r e u d goes o n t o c o n j e c t u r e that the c o n f l i c t w i t h the o t h e r
" n e v e r - n e v e r " t h u s f o u n d s the h e t e r o s e x u a l subject, as it w e r e ;
w h i c h r e m a i n s u n r e s o l v e d a t the t i m e the o t h e r i s lost r e -
i t i s a n i d e n t i t y b a s e d u p o n the r e f u s a l t o a v o w a n a t t a c h m e n t
e m e r g e s i n the p s y c h e a s a w a y o f c o n t i n u i n g the q u a r r e l . I n -
a n d , h e n c e , the r e f u s a l t o g r i e v e .
d e e d , anger at the o t h e r is d o u b t l e s s e x a c e r b a t e d by the d e a t h
There is perhaps a more culturally instructive w a y of des c r i b i n g this scenario, for it is not s i m p l y a matter of an
o r d e p a r t u r e w h i c h o c c a s i o n s the loss. B u t t h i s anger i s t u r n e d i n w a r d a n d b e c o m e s the s u b s t a n c e o f self-beratement.
i n d i v i d u a l ' s u n w i l l i n g n e s s t o a v o w a n d hence t o g r i e v e h o m o -
I n " O n N a r c i s s i s m , " F r e u d l i n k s the e x p e r i e n c e o f g u i l t w i t h
s e x u a l a t t a c h m e n t s . W h e n the p r o h i b i t i o n against h o m o s e x u -
the t u r n i n g b a c k i n t o the ego o f h o m o s e x u a l l i b i d o . P u t t i n g
a l i t y i s c u l t u r a l l y p e r v a s i v e , t h e n the " l o s s " o f h o m o s e x u a l
a s i d e the q u e s t i o n o f w h e t h e r l i b i d o c a n b e h o m o s e x u a l o r
love is precipitated through a p r o h i b i t i o n w h i c h is repeated
heterosexual, we m i g h t rephrase F r e u d a n d consider guilt as
a n d r i t u a l i z e d t h r o u g h o u t the c u l t u r e . W h a t ensues i s a c u l t u r e
the t u r n i n g b a c k i n t o the ego of h o m o s e x u a l a t t a c h m e n t . If the
of gender melancholy in w h i c h masculinity and femininity
loss b e c o m e s a r e n e w e d scene of c o n f l i c t , a n d if the a g g r e s s i o n
e m e r g e a s the traces o f a n u n g r i e v e d a n d u n g r i e v a b l e l o v e ;
that f o l l o w s f r o m that loss c a n n o t b e a r t i c u l a t e d o r e x t e r n a l -
i n d e e d , w h e r e m a s c u l i n i t y a n d f e m i n i n i t y w i t h i n the h e t e r o -
i z e d , t h e n i t r e b o u n d s u p o n the ego itself, i n the f o r m o f a
s e x u a l m a t r i x are s t r e n g t h e n e d t h r o u g h the r e p u d i a t i o n s that
super-ego. T h i s w i l l eventually lead F r e u d t o l i n k melancholic
they p e r f o r m . In opposition to a conception of sexuality w h i c h
i d e n t i f i c a t i o n w i t h the a g e n c y of the s u p e r - e g o in The Ego and
is s a i d to " e x p r e s s " a g e n d e r , g e n d e r itself is h e r e u n d e r s t o o d
the Id, b u t a l r e a d y i n " O n N a r c i s s i s m " w e h a v e s o m e sense o f
to be c o m p o s e d of precisely what remains inarticulate in sexu-
h o w guilt is wrought f r o m ungrievable homosexuality.
ality.
5
T h e ego i s s a i d t o b e c o m e i m p o v e r i s h e d i n m e l a n c h o l i a ,
If we u n d e r s t a n d gender m e l a n c h o l y in this way, then per-
b u t i t a p p e a r s a s p o o r p r e c i s e l y t h r o u g h the w o r k i n g s o f self-
h a p s w e c a n m a k e sense o f the p e c u l i a r p h e n o m e n o n w h e r e b y
b e r a t e m e n t . T h e e g o - i d e a l , w h a t F r e u d calls the " m e a s u r e "
h o m o s e x u a l desire becomes a source of guilt. In " M o u r n i n g
a g a i n s t w h i c h the ego i s j u d g e d b y the s u p e r - e g o , i s p r e c i s e l y
a n d M e l a n c h o l i a " F r e u d a r g u e s that m e l a n c h o l y i s m a r k e d
the i d e a l o f s o c i a l r e c t i t u d e d e n n e d o v e r a n d against h o m o -
b y the e x p e r i e n c e o f self-beratement. H e w r i t e s , "If o n e l i s -
s e x u a l i t y . " T h i s i d e a l , " F r e u d w r i t e s , "has a s o c i a l s i d e : i t i s
tens c a r e f u l l y t o the m a n y a n d v a r i o u s self-accusations o f the
a l s o the c o m m o n i d e a l of a f a m i l y , a class or a n a t i o n . It
m e l a n c h o l i c , o n e c a n n o t i n the e n d a v o i d the i m p r e s s i o n that
n o t o n l y b i n d s the n a r c i s s i s t i c l i b i d o , b u t a l s o a c o n s i d e r a b l e
often the m o s t v i o l e n t o f t h e m are h a r d l y a t a l l a p p l i c a b l e t o
a m o u n t o f the p e r s o n ' s h o m o s e x u a l l i b i d o , w h i c h i n t h i s w a y
the p a t i e n t h i m s e l f , b u t that w i t h i n s i g n i f i c a n t m o d i f i c a t i o n s
b e c o m e s t u r n e d b a c k i n t o the ego. T h e d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n d u e t o
t h e y d o fit s o m e o n e else, s o m e p e r s o n w h o m the p a t i e n t l o v e s ,
the n o n - f u l f i l l m e n t o f t h i s i d e a l liberates h o m o s e x u a l l i b i d o ,
has l o v e d or o u g h t to l o v e . . . the s e l f - r e p r o a c h e s are r e -
w h i c h i s t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o a sense o f g u i l t ( d r e a d o f the c o m -
p r o a c h e s a g a i n s t a l o v e d object w h i c h h a v e b e e n s h i f t e d o n t o
m u n i t y ) " (81).
the p a t i e n t ' s o w n e g o . "
4
B u t the m o v e m e n t o f t h i s " t r a n s f o r m a t i o n " i s n o t a l t o g e t h e r
142
Melancholy Gender
Refused Identification
143
clear. A f t e r a l l , F r e u d w i l l a r g u e in Civilization and Its Dis-
tion, but is paradoxically strengthened ("renunciation breeds
contents that these s o c i a l i d e a l s are t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o a sense
i n t o l e r a n c e " ) . R e n u n c i a t i o n d o e s n o t a b o l i s h the i n s t i n c t ; i t
of guilt t h r o u g h a k i n d of internalization w h i c h is not, u l t i -
d e p l o y s the i n s t i n c t for its o w n p u r p o s e s , s o that p r o h i b i t i o n ,
m a t e l y , m i m e t i c . I n " O n N a r c i s s i s m , " i t i s n o t that o n e treats
a n d the l i v e d e x p e r i e n c e o f p r o h i b i t i o n a s r e p e a t e d r e n u n c i a -
6
oneself as h a r s h l y as o n e w a s t r e a t e d b u t r a t h e r that the ag-
t i o n , i s n o u r i s h e d p r e c i s e l y b y the i n s t i n c t that i t r e n o u n c e s .
g r e s s i o n t o w a r d the i d e a l a n d its u n f u l f i l l a b i l i t y i s t u r n e d i n -
I n this s c e n a r i o , r e n u n c i a t i o n r e q u i r e s the v e r y h o m o s e x u a l i t y
w a r d , a n d t h i s s e l f - a g g r e s s i o n b e c o m e s the p r i m a r y s t r u c t u r e
that i t c o n d e m n s , n o t a s its e x t e r n a l object, b u t a s its o w n m o s t
o f c o n s c i e n c e : " b y m e a n s o f i d e n t i f i c a t i o n [the c h i l d ] takes the
t r e a s u r e d s o u r c e o f sustenance. T h e act o f r e n o u n c i n g h o m o -
u n a t t a c k a b l e a u t h o r i t y i n t o h i m s e l f " (86). I n this sense, i n m e l a n c h o l i a the s u p e r - e g o c a n b e c o m e a g a t h e r i n g p l a c e f o r the d e a t h i n s t i n c t s . A s s u c h , i t i s n o t n e c e s s a r i l y the s a m e as those i n s t i n c t s or t h e i r effect. In t h i s w a y , m e l a n c h o l i a attracts the d e a t h i n s t i n c t s t o the s u p e r - e g o , the d e a t h i n s t i n c t s b e i n g u n d e r s t o o d as a r e g r e s s i v e s t r i v i n g t o w a r d o r g a n i c e q u i l i b r i u m , a n d the self-beratement o f the s u p e r - e g o b e i n g u n d e r s t o o d t o m a k e u s e o f that r e g r e s s i v e s t r i v i n g for its o w n p u r p o s e s . M e l a n c h o l y i s b o t h the r e f u s a l o f g r i e f a n d the i n c o r p o r a t i o n o f loss, a m i m i n g o f the d e a t h i t c a n n o t m o u r n . Yet the i n c o r p o r a t i o n o f d e a t h d r a w s u p o n the
sexuality thus paradoxically strengthens homosexuality, but it s t r e n g t h e n s h o m o s e x u a l i t y p r e c i s e l y a s the p o w e r o f r e n u n c i a t i o n . R e n u n c i a t i o n b e c o m e s the a i m a n d v e h i c l e o f satisfact i o n . A n d i t is, w e m i g h t conjecture, p r e c i s e l y the fear o f sett i n g h o m o s e x u a l i t y l o o s e f r o m t h i s c i r c u i t o f r e n u n c i a t i o n that s o terrifies the g u a r d i a n s o f m a s c u l i n i t y i n the U . S . m i l i t a r y . W h a t w o u l d m a s c u l i n i t y " b e " w i t h o u t this aggressive circuit o f r e n u n c i a t i o n f r o m w h i c h i t i s w r o u g h t ? G a y s i n the m i l i t a r y threaten to u n d o m a s c u l i n i t y o n l y because this m a s c u l i n i t y is made of repudiated homosexuality.
7
S o m e s u g g e s t i o n s I m a d e in Bodies That Matter c a n f a c i l i 6
d e a t h i n s t i n c t s t o s u c h a d e g r e e that w e m i g h t w e l l w o n d e r
tate the t r a n s i t i o n f r o m the c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f m e l a n c h o l i a a s
w h e t h e r the t w o c a n b e s e p a r a t e d f r o m o n e a n o t h e r , w h e t h e r
a s p e c i f i c a l l y p s y c h i c e c o n o m y t o the p r o d u c t i o n o f the c i r -
analytically or phenomenologically.
c u i t r y o f m e l a n c h o l i a a s p a r t o f the o p e r a t i o n o f r e g u l a t o r y
T h e p r o h i b i t i o n o n h o m o s e x u a l i t y p r e e m p t s the p r o c e s s o f
p o w e r . If m e l a n c h o l i a d e s i g n a t e s a s p h e r e of a t t a c h m e n t that
g r i e f a n d p r o m p t s a m e l a n c h o l i c i d e n t i f i c a t i o n w h i c h effec-
i s n o t e x p l i c i t l y p r o d u c e d a s a n object o f d i s c o u r s e , t h e n i t
t i v e l y t u r n s h o m o s e x u a l d e s i r e b a c k u p o n itself. T h i s t u r n -
e r o d e s the o p e r a t i o n o f l a n g u a g e that n o t o n l y p o s i t s objects,
i n g b a c k u p o n itself i s p r e c i s e l y the a c t i o n o f self-beratement
b u t r e g u l a t e s a n d n o r m a l i z e s objects t h r o u g h that p o s i t i n g .
a n d g u i l t . S i g n i f i c a n t l y , h o m o s e x u a l i t y i s not a b o l i s h e d b u t p r e s e r v e d , t h o u g h p r e s e r v e d p r e c i s e l y i n the p r o h i b i t i o n o n h o m o s e x u a l i t y . In Civilization and Its Discontents, F r e u d m a k e s c l e a r that c o n s c i e n c e r e q u i r e s the c o n t i n u o u s sacrifice o r r e n u n c i a t i o n o f i n s t i n c t t o p r o d u c e the p e c u l i a r s a t i s f a c t i o n that conscience requires; conscience is never assuaged by renuncia-
If m e l a n c h o l i a a p p e a r s at first to be a f o r m of c o n t a i n m e n t , a w a y o f i n t e r n a l i z i n g a n a t t a c h m e n t that i s b a r r e d f r o m the w o r l d , i t a l s o establishes the p s y c h i c c o n d i t i o n s for r e g a r d i n g "the w o r l d " itself a s c o n t i n g e n t l y o r g a n i z e d t h r o u g h c e r t a i n k i n d s of foreclosures.
9
H a v i n g d e s c r i b e d a m e l a n c h o l y p r o d u c e d t h r o u g h the c o m -
142
Melancholy Gender
Refused Identification
143
clear. A f t e r a l l , F r e u d w i l l a r g u e in Civilization and Its Dis-
tion, but is paradoxically strengthened ("renunciation breeds
contents that these s o c i a l i d e a l s are t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o a sense
i n t o l e r a n c e " ) . R e n u n c i a t i o n d o e s n o t a b o l i s h the i n s t i n c t ; i t
of guilt t h r o u g h a k i n d of internalization w h i c h is not, u l t i -
d e p l o y s the i n s t i n c t for its o w n p u r p o s e s , s o that p r o h i b i t i o n ,
m a t e l y , m i m e t i c . I n " O n N a r c i s s i s m , " i t i s n o t that o n e treats
a n d the l i v e d e x p e r i e n c e o f p r o h i b i t i o n a s r e p e a t e d r e n u n c i a -
6
oneself as h a r s h l y as o n e w a s t r e a t e d b u t r a t h e r that the ag-
t i o n , i s n o u r i s h e d p r e c i s e l y b y the i n s t i n c t that i t r e n o u n c e s .
g r e s s i o n t o w a r d the i d e a l a n d its u n f u l f i l l a b i l i t y i s t u r n e d i n -
I n this s c e n a r i o , r e n u n c i a t i o n r e q u i r e s the v e r y h o m o s e x u a l i t y
w a r d , a n d t h i s s e l f - a g g r e s s i o n b e c o m e s the p r i m a r y s t r u c t u r e
that i t c o n d e m n s , n o t a s its e x t e r n a l object, b u t a s its o w n m o s t
o f c o n s c i e n c e : " b y m e a n s o f i d e n t i f i c a t i o n [the c h i l d ] takes the
t r e a s u r e d s o u r c e o f sustenance. T h e act o f r e n o u n c i n g h o m o -
u n a t t a c k a b l e a u t h o r i t y i n t o h i m s e l f " (86). I n this sense, i n m e l a n c h o l i a the s u p e r - e g o c a n b e c o m e a g a t h e r i n g p l a c e f o r the d e a t h i n s t i n c t s . A s s u c h , i t i s n o t n e c e s s a r i l y the s a m e as those i n s t i n c t s or t h e i r effect. In t h i s w a y , m e l a n c h o l i a attracts the d e a t h i n s t i n c t s t o the s u p e r - e g o , the d e a t h i n s t i n c t s b e i n g u n d e r s t o o d as a r e g r e s s i v e s t r i v i n g t o w a r d o r g a n i c e q u i l i b r i u m , a n d the self-beratement o f the s u p e r - e g o b e i n g u n d e r s t o o d t o m a k e u s e o f that r e g r e s s i v e s t r i v i n g for its o w n p u r p o s e s . M e l a n c h o l y i s b o t h the r e f u s a l o f g r i e f a n d the i n c o r p o r a t i o n o f loss, a m i m i n g o f the d e a t h i t c a n n o t m o u r n . Yet the i n c o r p o r a t i o n o f d e a t h d r a w s u p o n the
sexuality thus paradoxically strengthens homosexuality, but it s t r e n g t h e n s h o m o s e x u a l i t y p r e c i s e l y a s the p o w e r o f r e n u n c i a t i o n . R e n u n c i a t i o n b e c o m e s the a i m a n d v e h i c l e o f satisfact i o n . A n d i t is, w e m i g h t conjecture, p r e c i s e l y the fear o f sett i n g h o m o s e x u a l i t y l o o s e f r o m t h i s c i r c u i t o f r e n u n c i a t i o n that s o terrifies the g u a r d i a n s o f m a s c u l i n i t y i n the U . S . m i l i t a r y . W h a t w o u l d m a s c u l i n i t y " b e " w i t h o u t this aggressive circuit o f r e n u n c i a t i o n f r o m w h i c h i t i s w r o u g h t ? G a y s i n the m i l i t a r y threaten to u n d o m a s c u l i n i t y o n l y because this m a s c u l i n i t y is made of repudiated homosexuality.
7
S o m e s u g g e s t i o n s I m a d e in Bodies That Matter c a n f a c i l i 6
d e a t h i n s t i n c t s t o s u c h a d e g r e e that w e m i g h t w e l l w o n d e r
tate the t r a n s i t i o n f r o m the c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f m e l a n c h o l i a a s
w h e t h e r the t w o c a n b e s e p a r a t e d f r o m o n e a n o t h e r , w h e t h e r
a s p e c i f i c a l l y p s y c h i c e c o n o m y t o the p r o d u c t i o n o f the c i r -
analytically or phenomenologically.
c u i t r y o f m e l a n c h o l i a a s p a r t o f the o p e r a t i o n o f r e g u l a t o r y
T h e p r o h i b i t i o n o n h o m o s e x u a l i t y p r e e m p t s the p r o c e s s o f
p o w e r . If m e l a n c h o l i a d e s i g n a t e s a s p h e r e of a t t a c h m e n t that
g r i e f a n d p r o m p t s a m e l a n c h o l i c i d e n t i f i c a t i o n w h i c h effec-
i s n o t e x p l i c i t l y p r o d u c e d a s a n object o f d i s c o u r s e , t h e n i t
t i v e l y t u r n s h o m o s e x u a l d e s i r e b a c k u p o n itself. T h i s t u r n -
e r o d e s the o p e r a t i o n o f l a n g u a g e that n o t o n l y p o s i t s objects,
i n g b a c k u p o n itself i s p r e c i s e l y the a c t i o n o f self-beratement
b u t r e g u l a t e s a n d n o r m a l i z e s objects t h r o u g h that p o s i t i n g .
a n d g u i l t . S i g n i f i c a n t l y , h o m o s e x u a l i t y i s not a b o l i s h e d b u t p r e s e r v e d , t h o u g h p r e s e r v e d p r e c i s e l y i n the p r o h i b i t i o n o n h o m o s e x u a l i t y . In Civilization and Its Discontents, F r e u d m a k e s c l e a r that c o n s c i e n c e r e q u i r e s the c o n t i n u o u s sacrifice o r r e n u n c i a t i o n o f i n s t i n c t t o p r o d u c e the p e c u l i a r s a t i s f a c t i o n that conscience requires; conscience is never assuaged by renuncia-
If m e l a n c h o l i a a p p e a r s at first to be a f o r m of c o n t a i n m e n t , a w a y o f i n t e r n a l i z i n g a n a t t a c h m e n t that i s b a r r e d f r o m the w o r l d , i t a l s o establishes the p s y c h i c c o n d i t i o n s for r e g a r d i n g "the w o r l d " itself a s c o n t i n g e n t l y o r g a n i z e d t h r o u g h c e r t a i n k i n d s of foreclosures.
9
H a v i n g d e s c r i b e d a m e l a n c h o l y p r o d u c e d t h r o u g h the c o m -
144
Melancholy Gender
Refused Identification
145
p u l s o r y p r o d u c t i o n of heterosexuality, thus, a heterosexual
to what is barred f r o m performance, what cannot or w i l l not
m e l a n c h o l y that o n e m i g h t r e a d i n the w o r k i n g s o f g e n d e r
be performed.
itself, I w a n t n o w t o suggest that r i g i d f o r m s o f g e n d e r a n d
The relation between drag performances a n d gender per-
sexual identification, whether homosexual or heterosexual,
f o r m a t i v i t y in Gender Trouble goes s o m e t h i n g l i k e t h i s : w h e n a
a p p e a r t o s p a w n f o r m s o f m e l a n c h o l y . I w o u l d l i k e first t o re-
m a n i s p e r f o r m i n g d r a g a s a w o m a n , the " i m i t a t i o n " that d r a g
c o n s i d e r the t h e o r y of g e n d e r as p e r f o r m a t i v e that I e l a b o r a t e d
i s s a i d t o b e i s t a k e n a s a n " i m i t a t i o n " o f f e m i n i n i t y , b u t the
i n Gender Trouble, a n d t h e n t o t u r n t o the q u e s t i o n o f g a y m e l -
" f e m i n i n i t y " that h e i m i t a t e s i s n o t u n d e r s t o o d a s b e i n g itself
a n c h o l i a a n d the p o l i t i c a l c o n s e q u e n c e s o f u n g r i e v a b l e loss.
a n i m i t a t i o n . Yet i f o n e c o n s i d e r s that g e n d e r i s a c q u i r e d , that
T h e r e I a r g u e d that g e n d e r is p e r f o r m a t i v e , by w h i c h I
i t i s a s s u m e d i n r e l a t i o n t o i d e a l s w h i c h are n e v e r q u i t e i n -
m e a n t that n o g e n d e r i s " e x p r e s s e d " b y a c t i o n s , gestures, o r
habited by anyone, then f e m i n i n i t y is an ideal w h i c h everyone
s p e e c h , b u t that the p e r f o r m a n c e o f g e n d e r p r o d u c e s r e t r o -
a l w a y s a n d o n l y " i m i t a t e s . " T h u s , d r a g i m i t a t e s the i m i t a t i v e
a c t i v e l y the i l l u s i o n that there i s a n i n n e r g e n d e r core. T h a t is,
s t r u c t u r e o f g e n d e r , r e v e a l i n g g e n d e r itself t o b e a n i m i t a -
the p e r f o r m a n c e of g e n d e r r e t r o a c t i v e l y p r o d u c e s the effect of
tion. H o w e v e r attractive this f o r m u l a t i o n m a y have seemed, it
s o m e t r u e o r a b i d i n g f e m i n i n e essence o r d i s p o s i t i o n , s o that
d i d n ' t a d d r e s s the q u e s t i o n o f h o w c e r t a i n f o r m s o f d i s a v o w a l
o n e c a n n o t use a n e x p r e s s i v e m o d e l f o r t h i n k i n g a b o u t gen-
a n d r e p u d i a t i o n c o m e t o o r g a n i z e the p e r f o r m a n c e o f gender.
der. M o r e o v e r , I a r g u e d that g e n d e r is p r o d u c e d as a r i t u a l i z e d
H o w i s the p h e n o m e n o n o f g e n d e r m e l a n c h o l i a t o b e r e l a t e d
r e p e t i t i o n o f c o n v e n t i o n s , a n d that t h i s r i t u a l i s s o c i a l l y c o m -
t o the p r a c t i c e o f g e n d e r p e r f o r m a t i v i t y ?
p e l l e d i n p a r t b y the force o f a c o m p u l s o r y h e t e r o s e x u a l i t y . I n
M o r e o v e r , g i v e n the i c o n o g r a p h i e f i g u r e o f the m e l a n c h o l i c
t h i s c o n t e x t , I w o u l d l i k e t o r e t u r n t o the q u e s t i o n o f d r a g t o
d r a g q u e e n , o n e m i g h t ask w h e t h e r there i s n o t a d i s s a t i s f i e d
e x p l a i n i n clearer t e r m s h o w I u n d e r s t a n d p s y c h o a n a l y s i s t o
l o n g i n g i n the m i m e t i c i n c o r p o r a t i o n o f g e n d e r that i s d r a g .
b e l i n k e d w i t h g e n d e r p e r f o r m a t i v i t y , a n d h o w I take p e r f o r -
H e r e o n e m i g h t ask also after the d i s a v o w a l w h i c h o c c a s i o n s
mativity to be linked w i t h melancholia.
the p e r f o r m a n c e a n d w h i c h p e r f o r m a n c e m i g h t b e s a i d t o
It is n o t e n o u g h to say that g e n d e r is p e r f o r m e d , or that
enact, w h e r e p e r f o r m a n c e engages " a c t i n g o u t " i n the p s y c h o -
the m e a n i n g o f g e n d e r c a n b e d e r i v e d f r o m its p e r f o r m a n c e ,
a n a l y t i c sense. If m e l a n c h o l i a in F r e u d ' s sense is the effect of
w h e t h e r o r n o t one w a n t s t o r e t h i n k p e r f o r m a n c e a s a c o m -
an ungrieved loss,
10
performance, understood as "acting out,"
p u l s o r y s o c i a l r i t u a l . C l e a r l y there are w o r k i n g s o f g e n d e r that
m a y b e r e l a t e d t o the p r o b l e m o f u n a c k n o w l e d g e d loss. I f there
do not " s h o w " in what is p e r f o r m e d as gender, a n d to reduce
i s a n u n g r i e v e d loss i n d r a g p e r f o r m a n c e , p e r h a p s i t i s a loss
the p s y c h i c w o r k i n g s o f g e n d e r t o the l i t e r a l p e r f o r m a n c e o f
that i s r e f u s e d a n d i n c o r p o r a t e d i n the p e r f o r m e d i d e n t i f i c a -
g e n d e r w o u l d b e a m i s t a k e . P s y c h o a n a l y s i s i n s i s t s that the
t i o n , o n e w h i c h reiterates a g e n d e r e d i d e a l i z a t i o n a n d its r a d i -
o p a c i t y o f the u n c o n s c i o u s sets l i m i t s t o the e x t e r i o r i z a t i o n o f
c a l u n i n h a b i t a b i l i t y . T h i s is, t h e n , n e i t h e r a t e r r i t o r i a l i z a t i o n o f
the p s y c h e . It also a r g u e s — r i g h t l y , I t h i n k — t h a t w h a t is ex-
the f e m i n i n e b y the m a s c u l i n e n o r a s i g n o f the e s s e n t i a l p l a s -
t e r i o r i z e d o r p e r f o r m e d c a n o n l y b e u n d e r s t o o d b y reference
t i c i t y of gender. It suggests that the p e r f o r m a n c e a l l e g o r i z e s a
144
Melancholy Gender
Refused Identification
145
p u l s o r y p r o d u c t i o n of heterosexuality, thus, a heterosexual
to what is barred f r o m performance, what cannot or w i l l not
m e l a n c h o l y that o n e m i g h t r e a d i n the w o r k i n g s o f g e n d e r
be performed.
itself, I w a n t n o w t o suggest that r i g i d f o r m s o f g e n d e r a n d
The relation between drag performances a n d gender per-
sexual identification, whether homosexual or heterosexual,
f o r m a t i v i t y in Gender Trouble goes s o m e t h i n g l i k e t h i s : w h e n a
a p p e a r t o s p a w n f o r m s o f m e l a n c h o l y . I w o u l d l i k e first t o re-
m a n i s p e r f o r m i n g d r a g a s a w o m a n , the " i m i t a t i o n " that d r a g
c o n s i d e r the t h e o r y of g e n d e r as p e r f o r m a t i v e that I e l a b o r a t e d
i s s a i d t o b e i s t a k e n a s a n " i m i t a t i o n " o f f e m i n i n i t y , b u t the
i n Gender Trouble, a n d t h e n t o t u r n t o the q u e s t i o n o f g a y m e l -
" f e m i n i n i t y " that h e i m i t a t e s i s n o t u n d e r s t o o d a s b e i n g itself
a n c h o l i a a n d the p o l i t i c a l c o n s e q u e n c e s o f u n g r i e v a b l e loss.
a n i m i t a t i o n . Yet i f o n e c o n s i d e r s that g e n d e r i s a c q u i r e d , that
T h e r e I a r g u e d that g e n d e r is p e r f o r m a t i v e , by w h i c h I
i t i s a s s u m e d i n r e l a t i o n t o i d e a l s w h i c h are n e v e r q u i t e i n -
m e a n t that n o g e n d e r i s " e x p r e s s e d " b y a c t i o n s , gestures, o r
habited by anyone, then f e m i n i n i t y is an ideal w h i c h everyone
s p e e c h , b u t that the p e r f o r m a n c e o f g e n d e r p r o d u c e s r e t r o -
a l w a y s a n d o n l y " i m i t a t e s . " T h u s , d r a g i m i t a t e s the i m i t a t i v e
a c t i v e l y the i l l u s i o n that there i s a n i n n e r g e n d e r core. T h a t is,
s t r u c t u r e o f g e n d e r , r e v e a l i n g g e n d e r itself t o b e a n i m i t a -
the p e r f o r m a n c e of g e n d e r r e t r o a c t i v e l y p r o d u c e s the effect of
tion. H o w e v e r attractive this f o r m u l a t i o n m a y have seemed, it
s o m e t r u e o r a b i d i n g f e m i n i n e essence o r d i s p o s i t i o n , s o that
d i d n ' t a d d r e s s the q u e s t i o n o f h o w c e r t a i n f o r m s o f d i s a v o w a l
o n e c a n n o t use a n e x p r e s s i v e m o d e l f o r t h i n k i n g a b o u t gen-
a n d r e p u d i a t i o n c o m e t o o r g a n i z e the p e r f o r m a n c e o f gender.
der. M o r e o v e r , I a r g u e d that g e n d e r is p r o d u c e d as a r i t u a l i z e d
H o w i s the p h e n o m e n o n o f g e n d e r m e l a n c h o l i a t o b e r e l a t e d
r e p e t i t i o n o f c o n v e n t i o n s , a n d that t h i s r i t u a l i s s o c i a l l y c o m -
t o the p r a c t i c e o f g e n d e r p e r f o r m a t i v i t y ?
p e l l e d i n p a r t b y the force o f a c o m p u l s o r y h e t e r o s e x u a l i t y . I n
M o r e o v e r , g i v e n the i c o n o g r a p h i e f i g u r e o f the m e l a n c h o l i c
t h i s c o n t e x t , I w o u l d l i k e t o r e t u r n t o the q u e s t i o n o f d r a g t o
d r a g q u e e n , o n e m i g h t ask w h e t h e r there i s n o t a d i s s a t i s f i e d
e x p l a i n i n clearer t e r m s h o w I u n d e r s t a n d p s y c h o a n a l y s i s t o
l o n g i n g i n the m i m e t i c i n c o r p o r a t i o n o f g e n d e r that i s d r a g .
b e l i n k e d w i t h g e n d e r p e r f o r m a t i v i t y , a n d h o w I take p e r f o r -
H e r e o n e m i g h t ask also after the d i s a v o w a l w h i c h o c c a s i o n s
mativity to be linked w i t h melancholia.
the p e r f o r m a n c e a n d w h i c h p e r f o r m a n c e m i g h t b e s a i d t o
It is n o t e n o u g h to say that g e n d e r is p e r f o r m e d , or that
enact, w h e r e p e r f o r m a n c e engages " a c t i n g o u t " i n the p s y c h o -
the m e a n i n g o f g e n d e r c a n b e d e r i v e d f r o m its p e r f o r m a n c e ,
a n a l y t i c sense. If m e l a n c h o l i a in F r e u d ' s sense is the effect of
w h e t h e r o r n o t one w a n t s t o r e t h i n k p e r f o r m a n c e a s a c o m -
an ungrieved loss,
10
performance, understood as "acting out,"
p u l s o r y s o c i a l r i t u a l . C l e a r l y there are w o r k i n g s o f g e n d e r that
m a y b e r e l a t e d t o the p r o b l e m o f u n a c k n o w l e d g e d loss. I f there
do not " s h o w " in what is p e r f o r m e d as gender, a n d to reduce
i s a n u n g r i e v e d loss i n d r a g p e r f o r m a n c e , p e r h a p s i t i s a loss
the p s y c h i c w o r k i n g s o f g e n d e r t o the l i t e r a l p e r f o r m a n c e o f
that i s r e f u s e d a n d i n c o r p o r a t e d i n the p e r f o r m e d i d e n t i f i c a -
g e n d e r w o u l d b e a m i s t a k e . P s y c h o a n a l y s i s i n s i s t s that the
t i o n , o n e w h i c h reiterates a g e n d e r e d i d e a l i z a t i o n a n d its r a d i -
o p a c i t y o f the u n c o n s c i o u s sets l i m i t s t o the e x t e r i o r i z a t i o n o f
c a l u n i n h a b i t a b i l i t y . T h i s is, t h e n , n e i t h e r a t e r r i t o r i a l i z a t i o n o f
the p s y c h e . It also a r g u e s — r i g h t l y , I t h i n k — t h a t w h a t is ex-
the f e m i n i n e b y the m a s c u l i n e n o r a s i g n o f the e s s e n t i a l p l a s -
t e r i o r i z e d o r p e r f o r m e d c a n o n l y b e u n d e r s t o o d b y reference
t i c i t y of gender. It suggests that the p e r f o r m a n c e a l l e g o r i z e s a
146
Melancholy Gender
Refused
Identification
147
loss i t c a n n o t g r i e v e , a l l e g o r i z e s the i n c o r p o r a t i v e f a n t a s y o f
l e s b i a n m e l a n c h o l i c i s the s t r i c t l y s t r a i g h t w o m a n , a n d the
m e l a n c h o l i a w h e r e b y a n object i s p h a n t a s m a t i c a l l y t a k e n i n
" t r u e s t " g a y m a l e m e l a n c h o l i c i s the s t r i c t l y s t r a i g h t m a n .
or on as a w a y of r e f u s i n g to let it go. G e n d e r itself m i g h t be u n d e r s t o o d i n p a r t a s the " a c t i n g o u t " o f u n r e s o l v e d grief.
W h a t d r a g d o e s e x p o s e , h o w e v e r , i s that i n the " n o r m a l " c o n s t i t u t i o n o f g e n d e r p r e s e n t a t i o n , the g e n d e r that i s p e r -
T h e a b o v e a n a l y s i s is a r i s k y o n e b e c a u s e it suggests that
f o r m e d i s c o n s t i t u t e d b y a set o f d i s a v o w e d a t t a c h m e n t s ,
f o r a " m a n " p e r f o r m i n g f e m i n i n i t y , o r for a " w o m a n " p e r f o r m -
i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s w h i c h c o n s t i t u t e a different d o m a i n o f the
i n g m a s c u l i n i t y (the latter is a l w a y s , in effect, to p e r f o r m a
" u n p e r f o r m a b l e . " I n d e e d , w h a t c o n s t i t u t e s the sexually u n p e r -
l i t t l e less, g i v e n that f e m i n i n i t y is cast as the s p e c t a c u l a r g e n -
f o r m a b l e m a y — b u t n e e d n o t — b e p e r f o r m e d as gender identifi-
d e r ) , there i s a n a t t a c h m e n t t o — a n d a loss a n d r e f u s a l o f — t h e
cation. T o the extent that h o m o s e x u a l a t t a c h m e n t s r e m a i n u n -
f i g u r e o f f e m i n i n i t y b y the m a n , o r the f i g u r e o f m a s c u l i n i t y b y
a c k n o w l e d g e d w i t h i n n o r m a t i v e h e t e r o s e x u a l i t y , t h e y are n o t
11
the w o m a n . I t i s i m p o r t a n t t o u n d e r s c o r e that, a l t h o u g h d r a g
m e r e l y constituted as desires w h i c h emerge a n d subsequently
i s a n effort t o n e g o t i a t e c r o s s - g e n d e r e d i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , c r o s s -
b e c o m e p r o h i b i t e d ; rather, these d e s i r e s are p r o s c r i b e d f r o m
g e n d e r e d i d e n t i f i c a t i o n i s n o t the o n l y p a r a d i g m for t h i n k i n g
the start. A n d w h e n t h e y d o e m e r g e o n the far s i d e o f the
about homosexuality, m e r e l y one a m o n g others. D r a g allego-
censor, t h e y m a y w e l l c a r r y the m a r k o f i m p o s s i b i l i t y w i t h
r i z e s s o m e set of m e l a n c h o l i c i n c o r p o r a t i v e fantasies that sta-
t h e m , p e r f o r m i n g , a s i t w e r e , a s the i m p o s s i b l e w i t h i n the p o s -
b i l i z e gender. N o t o n l y are a vast n u m b e r o f d r a g p e r f o r m e r s
sible. A s s u c h , t h e y w i l l n o t b e a t t a c h m e n t s that c a n b e o p e n l y
s t r a i g h t , b u t i t w o u l d b e a m i s t a k e t o t h i n k that h o m o s e x u -
g r i e v e d . T h i s is, t h e n , less a refusal to g r i e v e (the M i t s c h e r l i c h
a l i t y i s best e x p l a i n e d t h r o u g h the p e r f o r m a t i v i t y that i s d r a g .
f o r m u l a t i o n that accents the c h o i c e i n v o l v e d ) t h a n a p r e e m p -
W h a t d o e s s e e m u s e f u l i n t h i s a n a l y s i s , h o w e v e r , i s that d r a g
t i o n o f g r i e f p e r f o r m e d b y the absence o f c u l t u r a l c o n v e n t i o n s
e x p o s e s o r a l l e g o r i z e s the m u n d a n e p s y c h i c a n d p e r f o r m a t i v e
for a v o w i n g the loss o f h o m o s e x u a l l o v e . A n d this absence
practices by w h i c h heterosexualized genders f o r m themselves
p r o d u c e s a c u l t u r e o f h e t e r o s e x u a l m e l a n c h o l y , one w h i c h c a n
t h r o u g h r e n o u n c i n g the possibility of h o m o s e x u a l i t y , a fore-
b e r e a d i n the h y p e r b o l i c i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s b y w h i c h m u n d a n e
c l o s u r e w h i c h p r o d u c e s b o t h a f i e l d o f h e t e r o s e x u a l objects
heterosexual m a s c u l i n i t y a n d f e m i n i n i t y confirm themselves.
a n d a d o m a i n o f those w h o m i t w o u l d b e i m p o s s i b l e t o l o v e .
T h e s t r a i g h t m a n becomes ( m i m e s , cites, a p p r o p r i a t e s , a s s u m e s
D r a g t h u s a l l e g o r i z e s heterosexual melancholy, the m e l a n c h o l y
the status of) the m a n h e " n e v e r " l o v e d a n d " n e v e r " g r i e v e d ;
b y w h i c h a m a s c u l i n e g e n d e r i s f o r m e d f r o m the r e f u s a l t o
the s t r a i g h t w o m a n becomes the w o m a n she " n e v e r " l o v e d a n d
g r i e v e the m a s c u l i n e as a p o s s i b i l i t y of l o v e ; a f e m i n i n e g e n -
" n e v e r " g r i e v e d . I t i s i n t h i s sense, t h e n , that w h a t i s m o s t a p -
d e r i s f o r m e d ( t a k e n o n , a s s u m e d ) t h r o u g h the i n c o r p o r a t i v e
p a r e n t l y p e r f o r m e d a s g e n d e r i s the s i g n a n d s y m p t o m o f a
f a n t a s y b y w h i c h the f e m i n i n e i s e x c l u d e d a s a p o s s i b l e object
pervasive disavowal.
of love, an exclusion never grieved, but "preserved" t h r o u g h
G a y m e l a n c h o l i a , h o w e v e r , also c o n t a i n s a n g e r that c a n b e
h e i g h t e n e d f e m i n i n e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n . I n t h i s sense, the " t r u e s t "
t r a n s l a t e d i n t o p o l i t i c a l e x p r e s s i o n . It is p r e c i s e l y to c o u n t e r
146
Melancholy Gender
Refused
Identification
147
loss i t c a n n o t g r i e v e , a l l e g o r i z e s the i n c o r p o r a t i v e f a n t a s y o f
l e s b i a n m e l a n c h o l i c i s the s t r i c t l y s t r a i g h t w o m a n , a n d the
m e l a n c h o l i a w h e r e b y a n object i s p h a n t a s m a t i c a l l y t a k e n i n
" t r u e s t " g a y m a l e m e l a n c h o l i c i s the s t r i c t l y s t r a i g h t m a n .
or on as a w a y of r e f u s i n g to let it go. G e n d e r itself m i g h t be u n d e r s t o o d i n p a r t a s the " a c t i n g o u t " o f u n r e s o l v e d grief.
W h a t d r a g d o e s e x p o s e , h o w e v e r , i s that i n the " n o r m a l " c o n s t i t u t i o n o f g e n d e r p r e s e n t a t i o n , the g e n d e r that i s p e r -
T h e a b o v e a n a l y s i s is a r i s k y o n e b e c a u s e it suggests that
f o r m e d i s c o n s t i t u t e d b y a set o f d i s a v o w e d a t t a c h m e n t s ,
f o r a " m a n " p e r f o r m i n g f e m i n i n i t y , o r for a " w o m a n " p e r f o r m -
i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s w h i c h c o n s t i t u t e a different d o m a i n o f the
i n g m a s c u l i n i t y (the latter is a l w a y s , in effect, to p e r f o r m a
" u n p e r f o r m a b l e . " I n d e e d , w h a t c o n s t i t u t e s the sexually u n p e r -
l i t t l e less, g i v e n that f e m i n i n i t y is cast as the s p e c t a c u l a r g e n -
f o r m a b l e m a y — b u t n e e d n o t — b e p e r f o r m e d as gender identifi-
d e r ) , there i s a n a t t a c h m e n t t o — a n d a loss a n d r e f u s a l o f — t h e
cation. T o the extent that h o m o s e x u a l a t t a c h m e n t s r e m a i n u n -
f i g u r e o f f e m i n i n i t y b y the m a n , o r the f i g u r e o f m a s c u l i n i t y b y
a c k n o w l e d g e d w i t h i n n o r m a t i v e h e t e r o s e x u a l i t y , t h e y are n o t
11
the w o m a n . I t i s i m p o r t a n t t o u n d e r s c o r e that, a l t h o u g h d r a g
m e r e l y constituted as desires w h i c h emerge a n d subsequently
i s a n effort t o n e g o t i a t e c r o s s - g e n d e r e d i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , c r o s s -
b e c o m e p r o h i b i t e d ; rather, these d e s i r e s are p r o s c r i b e d f r o m
g e n d e r e d i d e n t i f i c a t i o n i s n o t the o n l y p a r a d i g m for t h i n k i n g
the start. A n d w h e n t h e y d o e m e r g e o n the far s i d e o f the
about homosexuality, m e r e l y one a m o n g others. D r a g allego-
censor, t h e y m a y w e l l c a r r y the m a r k o f i m p o s s i b i l i t y w i t h
r i z e s s o m e set of m e l a n c h o l i c i n c o r p o r a t i v e fantasies that sta-
t h e m , p e r f o r m i n g , a s i t w e r e , a s the i m p o s s i b l e w i t h i n the p o s -
b i l i z e gender. N o t o n l y are a vast n u m b e r o f d r a g p e r f o r m e r s
sible. A s s u c h , t h e y w i l l n o t b e a t t a c h m e n t s that c a n b e o p e n l y
s t r a i g h t , b u t i t w o u l d b e a m i s t a k e t o t h i n k that h o m o s e x u -
g r i e v e d . T h i s is, t h e n , less a refusal to g r i e v e (the M i t s c h e r l i c h
a l i t y i s best e x p l a i n e d t h r o u g h the p e r f o r m a t i v i t y that i s d r a g .
f o r m u l a t i o n that accents the c h o i c e i n v o l v e d ) t h a n a p r e e m p -
W h a t d o e s s e e m u s e f u l i n t h i s a n a l y s i s , h o w e v e r , i s that d r a g
t i o n o f g r i e f p e r f o r m e d b y the absence o f c u l t u r a l c o n v e n t i o n s
e x p o s e s o r a l l e g o r i z e s the m u n d a n e p s y c h i c a n d p e r f o r m a t i v e
for a v o w i n g the loss o f h o m o s e x u a l l o v e . A n d this absence
practices by w h i c h heterosexualized genders f o r m themselves
p r o d u c e s a c u l t u r e o f h e t e r o s e x u a l m e l a n c h o l y , one w h i c h c a n
t h r o u g h r e n o u n c i n g the possibility of h o m o s e x u a l i t y , a fore-
b e r e a d i n the h y p e r b o l i c i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s b y w h i c h m u n d a n e
c l o s u r e w h i c h p r o d u c e s b o t h a f i e l d o f h e t e r o s e x u a l objects
heterosexual m a s c u l i n i t y a n d f e m i n i n i t y confirm themselves.
a n d a d o m a i n o f those w h o m i t w o u l d b e i m p o s s i b l e t o l o v e .
T h e s t r a i g h t m a n becomes ( m i m e s , cites, a p p r o p r i a t e s , a s s u m e s
D r a g t h u s a l l e g o r i z e s heterosexual melancholy, the m e l a n c h o l y
the status of) the m a n h e " n e v e r " l o v e d a n d " n e v e r " g r i e v e d ;
b y w h i c h a m a s c u l i n e g e n d e r i s f o r m e d f r o m the r e f u s a l t o
the s t r a i g h t w o m a n becomes the w o m a n she " n e v e r " l o v e d a n d
g r i e v e the m a s c u l i n e as a p o s s i b i l i t y of l o v e ; a f e m i n i n e g e n -
" n e v e r " g r i e v e d . I t i s i n t h i s sense, t h e n , that w h a t i s m o s t a p -
d e r i s f o r m e d ( t a k e n o n , a s s u m e d ) t h r o u g h the i n c o r p o r a t i v e
p a r e n t l y p e r f o r m e d a s g e n d e r i s the s i g n a n d s y m p t o m o f a
f a n t a s y b y w h i c h the f e m i n i n e i s e x c l u d e d a s a p o s s i b l e object
pervasive disavowal.
of love, an exclusion never grieved, but "preserved" t h r o u g h
G a y m e l a n c h o l i a , h o w e v e r , also c o n t a i n s a n g e r that c a n b e
h e i g h t e n e d f e m i n i n e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n . I n t h i s sense, the " t r u e s t "
t r a n s l a t e d i n t o p o l i t i c a l e x p r e s s i o n . It is p r e c i s e l y to c o u n t e r
148
Melancholy Gender
Refused
149
Identification
t h i s p e r v a s i v e c u l t u r a l r i s k o f gay m e l a n c h o l i a ( w h a t the n e w s -
a l i t y that is to s o m e d e g r e e an i d e n t i f i c a t i o n with a rejected
p a p e r s g e n e r a l i z e a s " d e p r e s s i o n " ) that there has b e e n a n i n -
h e t e r o s e x u a l i t y . I m p o r t a n t t o t h i s e c o n o m y , h o w e v e r , i s the r e -
sistent p u b l i c i z a t i o n a n d p o l i t i c i z a t i o n o f g r i e f o v e r t h o s e w h o
f u s a l to r e c o g n i z e t h i s i d e n t i f i c a t i o n that is, as it w e r e , a l r e a d y
h a v e d i e d f r o m A I D S . T h e N a m e s Project Q u i l t is e x e m p l a r y ,
m a d e , a r e f u s a l w h i c h a b s e n t l y designates the d o m a i n of a
r i t u a l i z i n g a n d r e p e a t i n g the n a m e itself a s a w a y o f p u b l i c a l l y
s p e c i f i c a l l y g a y m e l a n c h o l i a , a loss w h i c h c a n n o t b e r e c o g -
a v o w i n g limitless loss.
n i z e d a n d , hence, c a n n o t b e m o u r n e d . F o r a g a y o r l e s b i a n
12
Insofar as the g r i e f r e m a i n s u n s p e a k a b l e , the rage o v e r
i d e n t i t y p o s i t i o n t o s u s t a i n its a p p e a r a n c e a s c o h e r e n t , h e t e r o -
the loss c a n r e d o u b l e b y v i r t u e o f r e m a i n i n g u n a v o w e d . A n d
s e x u a l i t y m u s t r e m a i n i n that rejected a n d r e p u d i a t e d p l a c e .
i f that rage i s p u b l i c a l l y p r o s c r i b e d , the m e l a n c h o l i c effects
P a r a d o x i c a l l y , its h e t e r o s e x u a l remains m u s t be sustained p r e -
of such a p r o s c r i p t i o n can achieve suicidal proportions. The
c i s e l y t h r o u g h i n s i s t i n g o n the seamless c o h e r e n c e o f a s p e c i f i -
e m e r g e n c e o f c o l l e c t i v e i n s t i t u t i o n s for g r i e v i n g are t h u s c r u -
c a l l y g a y i d e n t i t y . H e r e i t s h o u l d b e c o m e c l e a r that a r a d i c a l
cial to s u r v i v a l , to reassembling c o m m u n i t y , to rearticulat-
r e f u s a l t o i d e n t i f y suggests that o n s o m e l e v e l a n i d e n t i f i c a t i o n
i n g k i n s h i p , t o r e w e a v i n g s u s t a i n i n g r e l a t i o n s . Insofar a s t h e y
has a l r e a d y t a k e n p l a c e , a n i d e n t i f i c a t i o n h a s b e e n m a d e a n d
i n v o l v e the p u b l i c i z a t i o n a n d d r a m a t i z a t i o n o f d e a t h — a s i n
d i s a v o w e d , w h o s e s y m p t o m a t i c a p p e a r a n c e i s the i n s i s t e n c e ,
the case o f " d i e - i n s " b y Q u e e r N a t i o n — t h e y c a l l for b e i n g
the o v e r d e t e r m i n a t i o n of the i d e n t i f i c a t i o n that is, as it w e r e ,
r e a d a s l i f e - a f f i r m i n g r e j o i n d e r s t o the d i r e p s y c h i c c o n s e -
w o r n o n the b o d y that s h o w s .
quences of a g r i e v i n g process c u l t u r a l l y thwarted a n d p r o scribed. M e l a n c h o l y can work, however, w i t h i n homosexuality in
T h i s raises the p o l i t i c a l q u e s t i o n o f the cost o f a r t i c u l a t i n g a coherent i d e n t i t y p o s i t i o n by p r o d u c i n g , e x c l u d i n g , a n d r e p u d i a t i n g a d o m a i n of abjected specters that t h r e a t e n the
specific w a y s that c a l l for r e t h i n k i n g . W i t h i n the f o r m a t i o n o f
a r b i t r a r i l y c l o s e d d o m a i n o f subject p o s i t i o n s . P e r h a p s o n l y
g a y a n d l e s b i a n i d e n t i t y , there m a y b e a n effort t o d i s a v o w
by r i s k i n g the incoherence of i d e n t i t y is c o n n e c t i o n p o s s i b l e , a
a constitutive relationship to heterosexuality. W h e n this dis-
p o l i t i c a l p o i n t that c o r r e l a t e s w i t h L e o B e r s a n i ' s i n s i g h t that
a v o w a l is u n d e r s t o o d as a p o l i t i c a l n e c e s s i t y in o r d e r to specify
o n l y the d e c e n t e r e d subject i s a v a i l a b l e t o d e s i r e .
g a y a n d l e s b i a n i d e n t i t y o v e r a n d against its o s t e n s i b l e o p p o -
not b e a v o w e d a s a c o n s t i t u t i v e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n for a n y g i v e n
site, h e t e r o s e x u a l i t y , that c u l t u r a l p r a c t i c e p a r a d o x i c a l l y c u l -
subject p o s i t i o n r u n s the r i s k n o t o n l y o f b e c o m i n g e x t e r n a l -
13
W h a t can-
m i n a t e s i n a w e a k e n i n g o f the v e r y c o n s t i t u e n c y i t i s m e a n t
ized in a degraded form, but repeatedly repudiated a n d sub-
to u n i t e . N o t o n l y does s u c h a strategy a t t r i b u t e a false a n d
ject to a p o l i c y of d i s a v o w a l .
m o n o l i t h i c status t o h e t e r o s e x u a l i t y , b u t i t m i s s e s the p o l i t i -
T h e l o g i c o f r e p u d i a t i o n that I've c h a r t e d h e r e i s i n s o m e
c a l o p p o r t u n i t y t o w o r k o n the w e a k n e s s i n h e t e r o s e x u a l
w a y s a h y p e r b o l i c theory, a logic in d r a g , as it were, w h i c h
s u b j e c t i v a t i o n a n d t o refute the l o g i c o f m u t u a l e x c l u s i o n b y
overstates the case, b u t overstates it f o r a r e a s o n . T h e r e is
w h i c h heterosexism proceeds. M o r e o v e r , a full-scale d e n i a l of
n o n e c e s s a r y r e a s o n for i d e n t i f i c a t i o n t o o p p o s e d e s i r e , o r
the i n t e r r e l a t i o n s h i p c a n c o n s t i t u t e a r e j e c t i o n of h e t e r o s e x u -
for d e s i r e t o b e f u e l e d b y r e p u d i a t i o n . T h i s r e m a i n s t r u e for
148
Melancholy Gender
Refused
149
Identification
t h i s p e r v a s i v e c u l t u r a l r i s k o f gay m e l a n c h o l i a ( w h a t the n e w s -
a l i t y that is to s o m e d e g r e e an i d e n t i f i c a t i o n with a rejected
p a p e r s g e n e r a l i z e a s " d e p r e s s i o n " ) that there has b e e n a n i n -
h e t e r o s e x u a l i t y . I m p o r t a n t t o t h i s e c o n o m y , h o w e v e r , i s the r e -
sistent p u b l i c i z a t i o n a n d p o l i t i c i z a t i o n o f g r i e f o v e r t h o s e w h o
f u s a l to r e c o g n i z e t h i s i d e n t i f i c a t i o n that is, as it w e r e , a l r e a d y
h a v e d i e d f r o m A I D S . T h e N a m e s Project Q u i l t is e x e m p l a r y ,
m a d e , a r e f u s a l w h i c h a b s e n t l y designates the d o m a i n of a
r i t u a l i z i n g a n d r e p e a t i n g the n a m e itself a s a w a y o f p u b l i c a l l y
s p e c i f i c a l l y g a y m e l a n c h o l i a , a loss w h i c h c a n n o t b e r e c o g -
a v o w i n g limitless loss.
n i z e d a n d , hence, c a n n o t b e m o u r n e d . F o r a g a y o r l e s b i a n
12
Insofar as the g r i e f r e m a i n s u n s p e a k a b l e , the rage o v e r
i d e n t i t y p o s i t i o n t o s u s t a i n its a p p e a r a n c e a s c o h e r e n t , h e t e r o -
the loss c a n r e d o u b l e b y v i r t u e o f r e m a i n i n g u n a v o w e d . A n d
s e x u a l i t y m u s t r e m a i n i n that rejected a n d r e p u d i a t e d p l a c e .
i f that rage i s p u b l i c a l l y p r o s c r i b e d , the m e l a n c h o l i c effects
P a r a d o x i c a l l y , its h e t e r o s e x u a l remains m u s t be sustained p r e -
of such a p r o s c r i p t i o n can achieve suicidal proportions. The
c i s e l y t h r o u g h i n s i s t i n g o n the seamless c o h e r e n c e o f a s p e c i f i -
e m e r g e n c e o f c o l l e c t i v e i n s t i t u t i o n s for g r i e v i n g are t h u s c r u -
c a l l y g a y i d e n t i t y . H e r e i t s h o u l d b e c o m e c l e a r that a r a d i c a l
cial to s u r v i v a l , to reassembling c o m m u n i t y , to rearticulat-
r e f u s a l t o i d e n t i f y suggests that o n s o m e l e v e l a n i d e n t i f i c a t i o n
i n g k i n s h i p , t o r e w e a v i n g s u s t a i n i n g r e l a t i o n s . Insofar a s t h e y
has a l r e a d y t a k e n p l a c e , a n i d e n t i f i c a t i o n h a s b e e n m a d e a n d
i n v o l v e the p u b l i c i z a t i o n a n d d r a m a t i z a t i o n o f d e a t h — a s i n
d i s a v o w e d , w h o s e s y m p t o m a t i c a p p e a r a n c e i s the i n s i s t e n c e ,
the case o f " d i e - i n s " b y Q u e e r N a t i o n — t h e y c a l l for b e i n g
the o v e r d e t e r m i n a t i o n of the i d e n t i f i c a t i o n that is, as it w e r e ,
r e a d a s l i f e - a f f i r m i n g r e j o i n d e r s t o the d i r e p s y c h i c c o n s e -
w o r n o n the b o d y that s h o w s .
quences of a g r i e v i n g process c u l t u r a l l y thwarted a n d p r o scribed. M e l a n c h o l y can work, however, w i t h i n homosexuality in
T h i s raises the p o l i t i c a l q u e s t i o n o f the cost o f a r t i c u l a t i n g a coherent i d e n t i t y p o s i t i o n by p r o d u c i n g , e x c l u d i n g , a n d r e p u d i a t i n g a d o m a i n of abjected specters that t h r e a t e n the
specific w a y s that c a l l for r e t h i n k i n g . W i t h i n the f o r m a t i o n o f
a r b i t r a r i l y c l o s e d d o m a i n o f subject p o s i t i o n s . P e r h a p s o n l y
g a y a n d l e s b i a n i d e n t i t y , there m a y b e a n effort t o d i s a v o w
by r i s k i n g the incoherence of i d e n t i t y is c o n n e c t i o n p o s s i b l e , a
a constitutive relationship to heterosexuality. W h e n this dis-
p o l i t i c a l p o i n t that c o r r e l a t e s w i t h L e o B e r s a n i ' s i n s i g h t that
a v o w a l is u n d e r s t o o d as a p o l i t i c a l n e c e s s i t y in o r d e r to specify
o n l y the d e c e n t e r e d subject i s a v a i l a b l e t o d e s i r e .
g a y a n d l e s b i a n i d e n t i t y o v e r a n d against its o s t e n s i b l e o p p o -
not b e a v o w e d a s a c o n s t i t u t i v e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n for a n y g i v e n
site, h e t e r o s e x u a l i t y , that c u l t u r a l p r a c t i c e p a r a d o x i c a l l y c u l -
subject p o s i t i o n r u n s the r i s k n o t o n l y o f b e c o m i n g e x t e r n a l -
13
W h a t can-
m i n a t e s i n a w e a k e n i n g o f the v e r y c o n s t i t u e n c y i t i s m e a n t
ized in a degraded form, but repeatedly repudiated a n d sub-
to u n i t e . N o t o n l y does s u c h a strategy a t t r i b u t e a false a n d
ject to a p o l i c y of d i s a v o w a l .
m o n o l i t h i c status t o h e t e r o s e x u a l i t y , b u t i t m i s s e s the p o l i t i -
T h e l o g i c o f r e p u d i a t i o n that I've c h a r t e d h e r e i s i n s o m e
c a l o p p o r t u n i t y t o w o r k o n the w e a k n e s s i n h e t e r o s e x u a l
w a y s a h y p e r b o l i c theory, a logic in d r a g , as it were, w h i c h
s u b j e c t i v a t i o n a n d t o refute the l o g i c o f m u t u a l e x c l u s i o n b y
overstates the case, b u t overstates it f o r a r e a s o n . T h e r e is
w h i c h heterosexism proceeds. M o r e o v e r , a full-scale d e n i a l of
n o n e c e s s a r y r e a s o n for i d e n t i f i c a t i o n t o o p p o s e d e s i r e , o r
the i n t e r r e l a t i o n s h i p c a n c o n s t i t u t e a r e j e c t i o n of h e t e r o s e x u -
for d e s i r e t o b e f u e l e d b y r e p u d i a t i o n . T h i s r e m a i n s t r u e for
150
Melancholy Gender
heterosexuality a n d h o m o s e x u a l i t y alike, a n d for forms of b i s e x u a l i t y that t a k e t h e m s e l v e s t o b e c o m p o s i t e f o r m s o f e a c h . I n d e e d , w e are m a d e a l l the m o r e f r a g i l e u n d e r the p r e s s u r e o f s u c h r u l e s , a n d a l l the m o r e m o b i l e w h e n a m b i v a l e n c e a n d loss
| Keeping It M o v i n g
are g i v e n a d r a m a t i c l a n g u a g e i n w h i c h to d o t h e i r a c t i n g o u t .
Commentary on Judith Butler's "Melancholy Gender / Refused Identification" A D A M PHILLIPS
E n d s o f sentences a n d other pauses o n l y c o m e w h e n w e r u n out of time or hope. —Carolyn Creedon,
I
The Best American Poetry
f , a s F r e u d suggests, c h a r a c t e r i s c o n s t i t u t e d b y i d e n t i f i c a t i o n — t h e ego l i k e n i n g itself t o w h a t i t o n c e l o v e d — t h e n
character is close to caricature, an i m i t a t i o n of an i m i t a t i o n .
1
L i k e the artists P l a t o w a n t e d t o b a n , w e are m a k i n g c o p i e s o f c o p i e s , b u t u n l i k e P l a t o ' s artists w e h a v e n o o r i g i n a l , o n l y a n infinite succession of likenesses to someone w h o , to a l l intents a n d p u r p o s e s , does n o t exist. F r e u d ' s n o t i o n o f c h a r a c t e r i s a p a r o d y o f a P l a t o n i c w o r k o f art; h i s t h e o r y o f c h a r a c t e r form a t i o n through identification makes a m o c k e r y of character a s i n a n y w a y s u b s t a n t i v e . T h e ego i s a l w a y s d r e s s i n g u p for s o m e w h e r e t o go. Insofar a s b e i n g i s b e i n g l i k e , there c a n b e
150
Melancholy Gender
heterosexuality a n d h o m o s e x u a l i t y alike, a n d for forms of b i s e x u a l i t y that t a k e t h e m s e l v e s t o b e c o m p o s i t e f o r m s o f e a c h . I n d e e d , w e are m a d e a l l the m o r e f r a g i l e u n d e r the p r e s s u r e o f s u c h r u l e s , a n d a l l the m o r e m o b i l e w h e n a m b i v a l e n c e a n d loss
| Keeping It M o v i n g
are g i v e n a d r a m a t i c l a n g u a g e i n w h i c h to d o t h e i r a c t i n g o u t .
Commentary on Judith Butler's "Melancholy Gender / Refused Identification" A D A M PHILLIPS
E n d s o f sentences a n d other pauses o n l y c o m e w h e n w e r u n out of time or hope. —Carolyn Creedon,
I
The Best American Poetry
f , a s F r e u d suggests, c h a r a c t e r i s c o n s t i t u t e d b y i d e n t i f i c a t i o n — t h e ego l i k e n i n g itself t o w h a t i t o n c e l o v e d — t h e n
character is close to caricature, an i m i t a t i o n of an i m i t a t i o n .
1
L i k e the artists P l a t o w a n t e d t o b a n , w e are m a k i n g c o p i e s o f c o p i e s , b u t u n l i k e P l a t o ' s artists w e h a v e n o o r i g i n a l , o n l y a n infinite succession of likenesses to someone w h o , to a l l intents a n d p u r p o s e s , does n o t exist. F r e u d ' s n o t i o n o f c h a r a c t e r i s a p a r o d y o f a P l a t o n i c w o r k o f art; h i s t h e o r y o f c h a r a c t e r form a t i o n through identification makes a m o c k e r y of character a s i n a n y w a y s u b s t a n t i v e . T h e ego i s a l w a y s d r e s s i n g u p for s o m e w h e r e t o go. Insofar a s b e i n g i s b e i n g l i k e , there c a n b e
152
Melancholy Gender
Refused Identification
n o p l a c e for T r u e selves o r c o r e g e n d e r i d e n t i t i e s . A f t e r a l l ,
153
lief that F r e u d t u r n e d t o m o u r n i n g , w h i c h s e e m e d t o r e v e a l
m y sense o f a u t h e n t i c i t y c a n c o m e o n l y f r o m the senses o f a u -
that the ego i s g r o u n d e d i n its r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h l o v e d a n d
t h e n t i c i t y i n m y c u l t u r e . I n t h i s context, m y T r u e Self i s m o r e
hated others. M o u r n i n g is i m m e n s e l y reassuring because it
a c c u r a t e l y d e s c r i b e d a s m y P r e f e r r e d Self (or Selves). I a m the
c o n v i n c e s u s o f s o m e t h i n g w e m i g h t o t h e r w i s e d o u b t ; o u r at-
p e r f o r m e r o f m y c o n s c i o u s a n d u n c o n s c i o u s preferences.
t a c h m e n t t o others. T h e p r o t r a c t e d p a i n f u l n e s s o f m o u r n i n g
4
L a c a n ' s m i r r o r - s t a g e is a t e s t a m e n t to the h a v o c w r e a k e d
c o n f i r m s s o m e t h i n g that p s y c h o a n a l y s i s h a d p u t i n t o q u e s t i o n :
by m i m e t i c forms of development; a n d M i k k e l Borch-Jacobsen
h o w i n t r a n s i g e n t l y d e v o t e d w e are t o the p e o p l e w e l o v e a n d
a n d L e o B e r s a n i i n p a r t i c u l a r h a v e e x p o s e d the v i o l e n c e a n d
hate. D e s p i t e the e v i d e n c e o f o u r d r e a m s , o u r c a p a c i t y for i n -
t a u t o l o g y o f F r e u d ' s t h e o r y o f i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , the m u t u a l i m -
finite s u b s t i t u t i o n i s meager. I n t h i s sense, m o u r n i n g has b e e n
plication and complicity involved in being like. As Judith
a b a l l a s t for the m o r e r a d i c a l p o s s i b i l i t i e s of p s y c h o a n a l y s i s . It
B u t l e r ' s s o b e r i n g essay s h o w s , t h i s c r i t i c a l c o n c e p t o f i d e n t i f i -
i s the r o c k , s o t o s p e a k , o n w h i c h P r o m e t h e u s f o u n d e r s .
2
c a t i o n i s the n e x u s for a n u m b e r o f c o n t e n t i o u s issues i n c o n -
It m i g h t at first s e e m m o r e a c c u r a t e to say that, f o r F r e u d , it
t e m p o r a r y theory; it invites us to w o n d e r what we use other
w a s the O e d i p u s c o m p l e x that b o t h c o n s t i t u t e d a n d set l i m i t s
p e o p l e for a n d h o w o t h e r t h e y are. I n fact, i t forces u s t o c o n -
t o the e x o r b i t a n c e o f the ego. B u t i t is, a s K l e i n has s h o w n ,
f r o n t the q u e s t i o n that e x e r c i s e d F r e u d a n d that object r e l a -
the m o u r n i n g e n t a i l e d i n the s o - c a l l e d r e s o l u t i o n o f the O e d i -
t i o n s a n d r e l a t i o n a l p s y c h o a n a l y s i s take for g r a n t e d ; i n w h a t
p u s c o m p l e x that c o n s o l i d a t e s the ego. W i t h o u t m o u r n i n g f o r
sense d o w e h a v e w h a t w e p r e f e r t o c a l l r e l a t i o n s h i p s w i t h
p r i m a r y objects t h e r e i s n o w a y o u t o f the m a g i c c i r c l e o f the
each other?
f a m i l y . I n d e e d , p a r t l y t h r o u g h the w o r k o f K l e i n , m o u r n i n g
W h e n F r e u d p r o p o s e d that the object w a s m e r e l y " s o l -
has p r o v i d e d the f o u n d a t i o n f o r d e v e l o p m e n t i n m o s t v e r s i o n s
d e r e d " o n t o the i n s t i n c t , that o u r p r i m a r y c o m m i t m e n t w a s
o f p s y c h o a n a l y s i s ; s o m u c h so, i n fact, that m o u r n i n g has ac-
t o o u r d e s i r e a n d n o t t o its target, h e i m p l i e d that w e are
q u i r e d the status o f a q u a s i - r e l i g i o u s c o n c e p t i n p s y c h o a n a l y -
n o t a t t a c h e d t o e a c h o t h e r i n the w a y s w e l i k e t o t h i n k .
3
sis. A n a l y s t s b e l i e v e i n m o u r n i n g ; i f a p a t i e n t w e r e t o c l a i m ,
F r e u d g l i m p s e d in the Interpretation of Dreams the ego's p o t e n -
a s E m e r s o n o n c e d i d , that m o u r n i n g w a s " s h a l l o w " h e o r she
tial for p r o m i s c u o u s m o b i l i t y ; dreams i n particular revealed
w o u l d be c o n s i d e r e d to be "out of t o u c h " w i t h s o m e t h i n g or
that p s y c h i c life w a s a s t o n i s h i n g l y m o b i l e a n d a d v e n t u r o u s
other. It is as t h o u g h a c a p a c i t y f o r m o u r n i n g , w i t h a l l that it
e v e n i f l i v e d life w a s n o t . ( V e r y f e w p e o p l e are a c t i v e l y b i -
i m p l i e s , c o n s t i t u t e s the h u m a n c o m m u n i t y . W e c a n n o m o r e
sexual yet everyone is p s y c h i c a l l y bisexual.) F r e u d h a d b o t h
imagine a w o r l d w i t h o u t bereavement than we can imagine a
t o e x p l a i n t h i s d i s p a r i t y — t h a t w e d o n o t h a v e the c o u r a g e ,
world without punishment.
as it were, of o u r p r i m a r y p r o c e s s — a n d also to f i n d a way,
I t h i n k that, s o m e w h a t a l o n g these l i n e s , J u d i t h B u t l e r i s
i n theory, o f g r o u n d i n g the F a u s t i a n ego, d e f i n i n g its l o y a l t i e s
t r y i n g t o u s e m o u r n i n g t o g i v e s o m e g r a v i t y , i n b o t h senses,
w h e n t h e y s o m e t i m e s s e e m e d u n r e l i a b l e . T h e ego c e r t a i n l y
to her exhilarating n o t i o n of gender as performative. W h a t
s e e m e d s h i f t y i n its a l l e g i a n c e s , a n d s o i t w a s w i t h s o m e r e -
is r e m a r k a b l e a b o u t h e r essay is that she m a n a g e s to do t h i s
152
Melancholy Gender
Refused Identification
n o p l a c e for T r u e selves o r c o r e g e n d e r i d e n t i t i e s . A f t e r a l l ,
153
lief that F r e u d t u r n e d t o m o u r n i n g , w h i c h s e e m e d t o r e v e a l
m y sense o f a u t h e n t i c i t y c a n c o m e o n l y f r o m the senses o f a u -
that the ego i s g r o u n d e d i n its r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h l o v e d a n d
t h e n t i c i t y i n m y c u l t u r e . I n t h i s context, m y T r u e Self i s m o r e
hated others. M o u r n i n g is i m m e n s e l y reassuring because it
a c c u r a t e l y d e s c r i b e d a s m y P r e f e r r e d Self (or Selves). I a m the
c o n v i n c e s u s o f s o m e t h i n g w e m i g h t o t h e r w i s e d o u b t ; o u r at-
p e r f o r m e r o f m y c o n s c i o u s a n d u n c o n s c i o u s preferences.
t a c h m e n t t o others. T h e p r o t r a c t e d p a i n f u l n e s s o f m o u r n i n g
4
L a c a n ' s m i r r o r - s t a g e is a t e s t a m e n t to the h a v o c w r e a k e d
c o n f i r m s s o m e t h i n g that p s y c h o a n a l y s i s h a d p u t i n t o q u e s t i o n :
by m i m e t i c forms of development; a n d M i k k e l Borch-Jacobsen
h o w i n t r a n s i g e n t l y d e v o t e d w e are t o the p e o p l e w e l o v e a n d
a n d L e o B e r s a n i i n p a r t i c u l a r h a v e e x p o s e d the v i o l e n c e a n d
hate. D e s p i t e the e v i d e n c e o f o u r d r e a m s , o u r c a p a c i t y for i n -
t a u t o l o g y o f F r e u d ' s t h e o r y o f i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , the m u t u a l i m -
finite s u b s t i t u t i o n i s meager. I n t h i s sense, m o u r n i n g has b e e n
plication and complicity involved in being like. As Judith
a b a l l a s t for the m o r e r a d i c a l p o s s i b i l i t i e s of p s y c h o a n a l y s i s . It
B u t l e r ' s s o b e r i n g essay s h o w s , t h i s c r i t i c a l c o n c e p t o f i d e n t i f i -
i s the r o c k , s o t o s p e a k , o n w h i c h P r o m e t h e u s f o u n d e r s .
2
c a t i o n i s the n e x u s for a n u m b e r o f c o n t e n t i o u s issues i n c o n -
It m i g h t at first s e e m m o r e a c c u r a t e to say that, f o r F r e u d , it
t e m p o r a r y theory; it invites us to w o n d e r what we use other
w a s the O e d i p u s c o m p l e x that b o t h c o n s t i t u t e d a n d set l i m i t s
p e o p l e for a n d h o w o t h e r t h e y are. I n fact, i t forces u s t o c o n -
t o the e x o r b i t a n c e o f the ego. B u t i t is, a s K l e i n has s h o w n ,
f r o n t the q u e s t i o n that e x e r c i s e d F r e u d a n d that object r e l a -
the m o u r n i n g e n t a i l e d i n the s o - c a l l e d r e s o l u t i o n o f the O e d i -
t i o n s a n d r e l a t i o n a l p s y c h o a n a l y s i s take for g r a n t e d ; i n w h a t
p u s c o m p l e x that c o n s o l i d a t e s the ego. W i t h o u t m o u r n i n g f o r
sense d o w e h a v e w h a t w e p r e f e r t o c a l l r e l a t i o n s h i p s w i t h
p r i m a r y objects t h e r e i s n o w a y o u t o f the m a g i c c i r c l e o f the
each other?
f a m i l y . I n d e e d , p a r t l y t h r o u g h the w o r k o f K l e i n , m o u r n i n g
W h e n F r e u d p r o p o s e d that the object w a s m e r e l y " s o l -
has p r o v i d e d the f o u n d a t i o n f o r d e v e l o p m e n t i n m o s t v e r s i o n s
d e r e d " o n t o the i n s t i n c t , that o u r p r i m a r y c o m m i t m e n t w a s
o f p s y c h o a n a l y s i s ; s o m u c h so, i n fact, that m o u r n i n g has ac-
t o o u r d e s i r e a n d n o t t o its target, h e i m p l i e d that w e are
q u i r e d the status o f a q u a s i - r e l i g i o u s c o n c e p t i n p s y c h o a n a l y -
n o t a t t a c h e d t o e a c h o t h e r i n the w a y s w e l i k e t o t h i n k .
3
sis. A n a l y s t s b e l i e v e i n m o u r n i n g ; i f a p a t i e n t w e r e t o c l a i m ,
F r e u d g l i m p s e d in the Interpretation of Dreams the ego's p o t e n -
a s E m e r s o n o n c e d i d , that m o u r n i n g w a s " s h a l l o w " h e o r she
tial for p r o m i s c u o u s m o b i l i t y ; dreams i n particular revealed
w o u l d be c o n s i d e r e d to be "out of t o u c h " w i t h s o m e t h i n g or
that p s y c h i c life w a s a s t o n i s h i n g l y m o b i l e a n d a d v e n t u r o u s
other. It is as t h o u g h a c a p a c i t y f o r m o u r n i n g , w i t h a l l that it
e v e n i f l i v e d life w a s n o t . ( V e r y f e w p e o p l e are a c t i v e l y b i -
i m p l i e s , c o n s t i t u t e s the h u m a n c o m m u n i t y . W e c a n n o m o r e
sexual yet everyone is p s y c h i c a l l y bisexual.) F r e u d h a d b o t h
imagine a w o r l d w i t h o u t bereavement than we can imagine a
t o e x p l a i n t h i s d i s p a r i t y — t h a t w e d o n o t h a v e the c o u r a g e ,
world without punishment.
as it were, of o u r p r i m a r y p r o c e s s — a n d also to f i n d a way,
I t h i n k that, s o m e w h a t a l o n g these l i n e s , J u d i t h B u t l e r i s
i n theory, o f g r o u n d i n g the F a u s t i a n ego, d e f i n i n g its l o y a l t i e s
t r y i n g t o u s e m o u r n i n g t o g i v e s o m e g r a v i t y , i n b o t h senses,
w h e n t h e y s o m e t i m e s s e e m e d u n r e l i a b l e . T h e ego c e r t a i n l y
to her exhilarating n o t i o n of gender as performative. W h a t
s e e m e d s h i f t y i n its a l l e g i a n c e s , a n d s o i t w a s w i t h s o m e r e -
is r e m a r k a b l e a b o u t h e r essay is that she m a n a g e s to do t h i s
154
M e l a n c h o l y Gender
Refused
Identification
*55
w i t h o u t the a r g u m e n t ' s d e g e n e r a t i n g i n t o the m o r e c o e r c i v e
p s y c h o a n a l y t i c c o m m u n i t y f o r a n ethos t o b e c r e a t e d i n w h i c h
p i e t i e s that t a l k a b o u t g r i e f u s u a l l y b r i n g s i n its w a k e . M o u r n -
p a t i e n t s w e r e e n c o u r a g e d t o m o u r n the loss o f a l l t h e i r r e -
ing makes moralists of us all. There w i l l never be m o r e gender
pressed gender identities?
identities than we can invent a n d p e r f o r m . We s h o u l d not be
T h e s e s e e m t o m e t o b e q u e s t i o n s o f c o n s i d e r a b l e interest,
c e l e b r a t i n g t h o s e p e o p l e , m a n y o f w h o m are p s y c h o a n a l y s t s ,
p r o v i d e d t h e y d o n o t e n t a i l the i d e a l i z a t i o n o f m o u r n i n g — i t s
w h o , i n the n a m e o f T r u t h , o r P s y c h i c H e a l t h , o r M a t u r i t y ,
u s e as a s p u r i o u s r e d e m p t i v e p r a c t i c e , as a k i n d of ersatz c u r e
seek t o l i m i t the r e p e r t o i r e .
for r e p r e s s i o n o r the a n g u i s h e s o f u n c e r t a i n t y . I f the c o n v i n c e d
I t i s n o w a c l i c h é , i n t h e o r y i f n o t i n p r a c t i c e , that a l l v e r -
h e t e r o s e x u a l m a n , i n B u t l e r ' s w o r d s , " b e c o m e s subject t o a
s i o n s o f g e n d e r i d e n t i t y are c o n f l i c t u a l a n d t h e r e f o r e p r o b l e m -
double disavowal, a never-having-loved and a never-having-
atic. W h a t B u t l e r i s p r o p o s i n g w i t h h e r n o t i o n o f a m e l a n c h o l i c
lost," the h o m o s e x u a l a t t a c h m e n t , i s i t t h e r e f o r e t o b e c o m e
identification, a "culture of gender melancholy in w h i c h mas-
i n t e g r a l t o the p s y c h o a n a l y t i c p r o j e c t t o a n a l y z e , o r e n g i n e e r
c u l i n i t y a n d f e m i n i n i t y e m e r g e a s the traces o f a n u n g r i e v e d
the u n d o i n g o f t h i s d i s a v o w a l i f the h e t e r o s e x u a l m a n c l a i m s
a n d ungrievable love," is a n e w version of an o l d question
t o b e r e l a t i v e l y u n t r o u b l e d b y it? T o m e , the a b s o l u t e p l a u s i -
a b o u t g e n d e r i d e n t i t y . W h y are h o m o s e x u a l a t t a c h m e n t s —
b i l i t y of Butler's argument poses some telling c l i n i c a l q u a n -
the i n a p p r o p r i a t e l y n a m e d " n e g a t i v e " O e d i p u s c o m p l e x — d e -
d a r i e s . W h o , for e x a m p l e , d e c i d e s w h a t c o n s t i t u t e s a p r o b l e m
scribed, even if not o r i g i n a l l y experienced, aversively? W h y
f o r the p a t i e n t ? A n d b y w h a t c r i t e r i a ? A s s u m e d h e t e r o s e x u -
are these m a n i f e s t l y p a s s i o n a t e l o v e s d i s a v o w e d , m a d e u n -
ality is every bit as m u c h of a " p r o b l e m " as any other a s s u m e d
mournable, repudiated, a n d then punished w h e n witnessed
p o s i t i o n (all s y m p t o m s , after a l l , are states o f c o n v i c t i o n ) . C e r -
i n others? A t the least, i t s e e m s c l e a r f r o m B u t l e r ' s c o n v i n c -
t a i n l y B u t l e r ' s p a p e r r e m i n d s u s o f the cost, the d e p r i v a t i o n , i n
i n g a c c o u n t that the c u l t u r a l l y p e r v a s i v e h o s t i l i t y — b o t h i n t e r -
a l l g e n d e r i d e n t i t i e s , n o t t o m e n t i o n the t e r r o r i n f o r m i n g these
a n d i n t r a p s y c h i c a l l y — t o h o m o s e x u a l i t y i s b a s e d o n envy. I f
desperate measures. "There is," Butler writes, "no necessary
some heterosexuals in p r e - A i D S times were explicitly envious
r e a s o n for i d e n t i f i c a t i o n t o o p p o s e d e s i r e , o r f o r d e s i r e t o b e
o f the p r o m i s c u i t y o f h o m o s e x u a l s — w h y c a n ' t W E c r u i s e ? —
f u e l e d b y r e p u d i a t i o n . " B u t t h e r e is, o f c o u r s e , a n e c e s s a r y r e a -
h e t e r o s e x u a l s n o w m a y b e m o r e l i k e l y t o e n v y s i m p l y the i n t i -
son by a certain k i n d of psychoanalytic logic. In Freud's view,
m a c y that s o m e p e o p l e are free t o i n d u l g e a n d elaborate w i t h
we become what we cannot have, a n d we desire (and punish)
p e o p l e o f the s a m e sex. B u t if, a s B u t l e r suggests, " m a s c u -
w h a t w e are c o m p e l l e d t o d i s o w n . B u t w h y these c h o i c e s —
l i n i t y " a n d " f e m i n i n i t y " are f o r m e d a n d c o n s o l i d a t e d t h r o u g h
w h y c a n ' t w e d o b o t h a n d s o m e t h i n g else a s w e l l ? — a n d w h y
i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s that are c o m p o s e d i n p a r t o f d i s a v o w e d grief,
are t h e y the c h o i c e s ?
w h a t w o u l d i t b e l i k e t o l i v e i n a w o r l d that a c k n o w l e d g e d
T h e s e are the i s s u e s o p e n e d u p i n B u t l e r ' s Gender Trouble.
a n d s a n c t i o n e d s u c h grief, that a l l o w e d us, a s i t w e r e , the f u l l
The essentially performative, constructed nature of gender
course of our bereavement of d i s o w n e d or renounced gen-
i d e n t i t y m a k e s a l l c o n s t r a i n t s o f the r e p e r t o i r e s e e m f a c t i t i o u s
d e r i d e n t i t i e s ? W h a t w o u l d h a v e t o h a p p e n i n the s o - c a l l e d
a n d u n n e c e s s a r i l y o p p r e s s i v e . B u t just a s e v e r y p e r f o r m a n c e i s
154
M e l a n c h o l y Gender
Refused
Identification
*55
w i t h o u t the a r g u m e n t ' s d e g e n e r a t i n g i n t o the m o r e c o e r c i v e
p s y c h o a n a l y t i c c o m m u n i t y f o r a n ethos t o b e c r e a t e d i n w h i c h
p i e t i e s that t a l k a b o u t g r i e f u s u a l l y b r i n g s i n its w a k e . M o u r n -
p a t i e n t s w e r e e n c o u r a g e d t o m o u r n the loss o f a l l t h e i r r e -
ing makes moralists of us all. There w i l l never be m o r e gender
pressed gender identities?
identities than we can invent a n d p e r f o r m . We s h o u l d not be
T h e s e s e e m t o m e t o b e q u e s t i o n s o f c o n s i d e r a b l e interest,
c e l e b r a t i n g t h o s e p e o p l e , m a n y o f w h o m are p s y c h o a n a l y s t s ,
p r o v i d e d t h e y d o n o t e n t a i l the i d e a l i z a t i o n o f m o u r n i n g — i t s
w h o , i n the n a m e o f T r u t h , o r P s y c h i c H e a l t h , o r M a t u r i t y ,
u s e as a s p u r i o u s r e d e m p t i v e p r a c t i c e , as a k i n d of ersatz c u r e
seek t o l i m i t the r e p e r t o i r e .
for r e p r e s s i o n o r the a n g u i s h e s o f u n c e r t a i n t y . I f the c o n v i n c e d
I t i s n o w a c l i c h é , i n t h e o r y i f n o t i n p r a c t i c e , that a l l v e r -
h e t e r o s e x u a l m a n , i n B u t l e r ' s w o r d s , " b e c o m e s subject t o a
s i o n s o f g e n d e r i d e n t i t y are c o n f l i c t u a l a n d t h e r e f o r e p r o b l e m -
double disavowal, a never-having-loved and a never-having-
atic. W h a t B u t l e r i s p r o p o s i n g w i t h h e r n o t i o n o f a m e l a n c h o l i c
lost," the h o m o s e x u a l a t t a c h m e n t , i s i t t h e r e f o r e t o b e c o m e
identification, a "culture of gender melancholy in w h i c h mas-
i n t e g r a l t o the p s y c h o a n a l y t i c p r o j e c t t o a n a l y z e , o r e n g i n e e r
c u l i n i t y a n d f e m i n i n i t y e m e r g e a s the traces o f a n u n g r i e v e d
the u n d o i n g o f t h i s d i s a v o w a l i f the h e t e r o s e x u a l m a n c l a i m s
a n d ungrievable love," is a n e w version of an o l d question
t o b e r e l a t i v e l y u n t r o u b l e d b y it? T o m e , the a b s o l u t e p l a u s i -
a b o u t g e n d e r i d e n t i t y . W h y are h o m o s e x u a l a t t a c h m e n t s —
b i l i t y of Butler's argument poses some telling c l i n i c a l q u a n -
the i n a p p r o p r i a t e l y n a m e d " n e g a t i v e " O e d i p u s c o m p l e x — d e -
d a r i e s . W h o , for e x a m p l e , d e c i d e s w h a t c o n s t i t u t e s a p r o b l e m
scribed, even if not o r i g i n a l l y experienced, aversively? W h y
f o r the p a t i e n t ? A n d b y w h a t c r i t e r i a ? A s s u m e d h e t e r o s e x u -
are these m a n i f e s t l y p a s s i o n a t e l o v e s d i s a v o w e d , m a d e u n -
ality is every bit as m u c h of a " p r o b l e m " as any other a s s u m e d
mournable, repudiated, a n d then punished w h e n witnessed
p o s i t i o n (all s y m p t o m s , after a l l , are states o f c o n v i c t i o n ) . C e r -
i n others? A t the least, i t s e e m s c l e a r f r o m B u t l e r ' s c o n v i n c -
t a i n l y B u t l e r ' s p a p e r r e m i n d s u s o f the cost, the d e p r i v a t i o n , i n
i n g a c c o u n t that the c u l t u r a l l y p e r v a s i v e h o s t i l i t y — b o t h i n t e r -
a l l g e n d e r i d e n t i t i e s , n o t t o m e n t i o n the t e r r o r i n f o r m i n g these
a n d i n t r a p s y c h i c a l l y — t o h o m o s e x u a l i t y i s b a s e d o n envy. I f
desperate measures. "There is," Butler writes, "no necessary
some heterosexuals in p r e - A i D S times were explicitly envious
r e a s o n for i d e n t i f i c a t i o n t o o p p o s e d e s i r e , o r f o r d e s i r e t o b e
o f the p r o m i s c u i t y o f h o m o s e x u a l s — w h y c a n ' t W E c r u i s e ? —
f u e l e d b y r e p u d i a t i o n . " B u t t h e r e is, o f c o u r s e , a n e c e s s a r y r e a -
h e t e r o s e x u a l s n o w m a y b e m o r e l i k e l y t o e n v y s i m p l y the i n t i -
son by a certain k i n d of psychoanalytic logic. In Freud's view,
m a c y that s o m e p e o p l e are free t o i n d u l g e a n d elaborate w i t h
we become what we cannot have, a n d we desire (and punish)
p e o p l e o f the s a m e sex. B u t if, a s B u t l e r suggests, " m a s c u -
w h a t w e are c o m p e l l e d t o d i s o w n . B u t w h y these c h o i c e s —
l i n i t y " a n d " f e m i n i n i t y " are f o r m e d a n d c o n s o l i d a t e d t h r o u g h
w h y c a n ' t w e d o b o t h a n d s o m e t h i n g else a s w e l l ? — a n d w h y
i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s that are c o m p o s e d i n p a r t o f d i s a v o w e d grief,
are t h e y the c h o i c e s ?
w h a t w o u l d i t b e l i k e t o l i v e i n a w o r l d that a c k n o w l e d g e d
T h e s e are the i s s u e s o p e n e d u p i n B u t l e r ' s Gender Trouble.
a n d s a n c t i o n e d s u c h grief, that a l l o w e d us, a s i t w e r e , the f u l l
The essentially performative, constructed nature of gender
course of our bereavement of d i s o w n e d or renounced gen-
i d e n t i t y m a k e s a l l c o n s t r a i n t s o f the r e p e r t o i r e s e e m f a c t i t i o u s
d e r i d e n t i t i e s ? W h a t w o u l d h a v e t o h a p p e n i n the s o - c a l l e d
a n d u n n e c e s s a r i l y o p p r e s s i v e . B u t just a s e v e r y p e r f o r m a n c e i s
Melancholy Gender
i 6 5
Refused
Identification
*57
s u b s i d i z e d b y a n i n h i b i t i o n e l s e w h e r e , s o there i s n o i d e n t i t y ,
too c o n s c i o u s o f the c o n s t r a i n t s , the u n c o n s c i o u s c o n s t r a i n t s ,
h o w e v e r c o m p e l l i n g the p e r f o r m a n c e , w i t h o u t s u f f e r i n g . I f the
o n p o s s i b i l i t y that are c a l l e d s y m p t o m s ( a n d f r o m a different
i d e a o f p e r f o r m a n c e frees i d e n t i t y i n t o states o f ( s o m e t i m e s
p e r s p e c t i v e are c a l l e d the O e d i p u s c o m p l e x ) . B u t , o f c o u r s e ,
w i l l e d ) p o s s i b i l i t y , m o u r n i n g refers those s a m e i d e n t i t i e s b a c k
w h a t i s p o s s i b l e i n a n a l y s i s , o r a n y w h e r e else, i s d i c t a t e d
to their unconscious histories, w i t h their repetitions a n d their
b y o u r t h e o r e t i c a l p a r a d i g m s , b y the l a n g u a g e s w e c h o o s e
w a s t e ; those p a r a m e t e r s that s e e m i n g l y t h w a r t o u r o p t i o n s .
t o s p e a k a b o u t o u r p r a c t i c e . D e s p i t e boasts t o the c o n t r a r y
M o u r n i n g a n d p e r f o r m a n c e — a n d the p e r f o r m a n c e s that c o n -
— p s y c h o a n a l y s i s , the I m p o s s i b l e P r o f e s s i o n a n d the l i k e —
s t i t u t e o u r sense o f m o u r n i n g — s e e m u s e f u l l y t w i n n e d . W i t h -
p s y c h o a n a l y s i s i s o n l y a s d i f f i c u l t a s w e m a k e it.
o u t the i d e a o f p e r f o r m a n c e , m o u r n i n g b e c o m e s l i t e r a l i z e d a s
F r o m a clinical point of view, Butler's initial political vol-
T r u t h — o u r d e e p e s t act; w i t h o u t the i d e a o f m o u r n i n g , p e r -
u n t a r i s m i n Gender Trouble w o u l d h a v e m a d e a n a l y s t s w a r y .
f o r m a n c e b e c o m e s a n e x c e s s i v e d e m a n d — p r e t e n d there's n o
B u t there i s n o o b v i o u s r e a s o n w h y a n a l y s t s i n t h e i r p r a c t i c e
unconscious, then pretend what y o u like. "I believe in all sin-
h a v e t o b e less i m a g i n a t i v e t h a n B u t l e r i s a s k i n g t h e m t o b e
cerity," V a l é r y w r o t e , "that i f e a c h m a n w e r e n o t able t o l i v e a
i n " M e l a n c h o l y G e n d e r . " T h e a n a l y s t w h o b e l i e v e s i n the u n -
n u m b e r o f l i v e s b e s i d e h i s o w n , h e w o u l d n o t b e able t o l i v e h i s
c o n s c i o u s c a n h a r d l y set h i m s e l f up as a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of the
o w n life." Valéry 's ironic s i n c e r i t y — f r o m w h i c h of his lives is
a u t h e n t i c life e v e n t h o u g h the l a n g u a g e h e uses t o t a l k a b o u t
he s p e a k i n g ? — i n v i t e s us, l i k e Butler, to m u l t i p l y o u r versions
h i s job i s f u l l o f the j a r g o n o f a u t h e n t i c i t y ( i n t e g r i t y , h o n e s t y ,
o f self a s s o m e k i n d o f p s y c h i c n e c e s s i t y ; a s t h o u g h w e m i g h t
t r u t h , self, i n s t i n c t ) . T h e l a n g u a g e o f p e r f o r m a n c e m a y b e too
n o t b e able t o bear the loss o f n o t d o i n g so. B u t h o w m a n y
easy t o d i s m i s s c l i n i c a l l y a s e v a s i v e , i n a w a y that i s b l i n d t o
5
l i v e s c a n the a n a l y s t r e c o g n i z e i n , o r d e m a n d of, h i s p a t i e n t ,
the t h e a t r i c a l i t y o f the a n a l y t i c s i t u a t i o n . B u t l e r ' s u s e o f i d e n t i -
a n d w h a t are the c o n s t r a i n t s o n t h i s r e c o g n i t i o n that s o e a s i l y
f i c a t i o n p u t s the n o t i o n o f the p e r f o r m a t i v e b a c k i n t o the a n a -
becomes a demand?
l y t i c f r a m e ; w h a t i s m o r e s u r p r i s i n g i s that she has b e e n able
I n a n a l y s i s , o f c o u r s e , i t i s n o t o n l y the p a t i e n t ' s g e n d e r
to use m o u r n i n g as a w a y of n u a n c i n g the t h e a t r i c a l i t y that
i d e n t i t i e s that are a t stake. B o t h the a n a l y s t a n d h e r p a t i e n t are
is integral to our m a k i n g of identities, our m a k i n g ourselves
w o r k i n g to sustain their desire, a n d d e s i r e — b o t h i n t r a - a n d
u p t h r o u g h loss. I t i s f o r t u n a t e that w r i t e r s are i n t e r e s t e d i n
i n t e r p s y c h i c a l l y — d e p e n d s o n difference. T h e r e a l w a y s has
p s y c h o a n a l y s i s because, u n l i k e a n a l y s t s , t h e y are free t o t h i n k
t o b e s o m e t h i n g else, s o m e t h i n g s u f f i c i e n t l y (or a p p a r e n t l y )
u p t h o u g h t s u n c o n s t r a i n e d b y the h y p n o t i c effect o f c l i n i c a l
other. T h e s p e c t e r o f A p h a n i s i s , Jones's r e p r e s s e d c o n c e p t o f
practice. G o o d performers, like musicians or sportspeople or
the d e a t h o f d e s i r e , h a u n t s the p r o c e s s . B u t t h o u g h d e s i r e d e -
a n a l y s t s , are often n o t that g o o d a t t a l k i n g a b o u t w h a t t h e y d o ,
p e n d s o n difference, w e o n l y l i k e the d i f f e r e n c e s w e l i k e ; the
p a r t l y b e c a u s e they are the ones w h o d o it.
set of d e s i r a b l e or t o l e r a b l e differences, d e s i r e - s u s t a i n i n g dif-
A n d the d o i n g i t , o f c o u r s e , l i k e the l i v i n g o f a n y life, i n -
ference, i s n e v e r i n f i n i t e for a n y o n e . P s y c h o a n a l y s i s i s a b o u t
v o l v e s a c k n o w l e d g i n g , i n o n e w a y o r a n o t h e r , that there are
w h e r e w e d r a w these c o n s t i t u t i v e l i n e s . A n y c l i n i c i a n i s o n l y
o n l y t w o sexes. T h o u g h this, i n a n d o f itself, says n o t h i n g a b o u t
Melancholy Gender
i 6 5
Refused
Identification
*57
s u b s i d i z e d b y a n i n h i b i t i o n e l s e w h e r e , s o there i s n o i d e n t i t y ,
too c o n s c i o u s o f the c o n s t r a i n t s , the u n c o n s c i o u s c o n s t r a i n t s ,
h o w e v e r c o m p e l l i n g the p e r f o r m a n c e , w i t h o u t s u f f e r i n g . I f the
o n p o s s i b i l i t y that are c a l l e d s y m p t o m s ( a n d f r o m a different
i d e a o f p e r f o r m a n c e frees i d e n t i t y i n t o states o f ( s o m e t i m e s
p e r s p e c t i v e are c a l l e d the O e d i p u s c o m p l e x ) . B u t , o f c o u r s e ,
w i l l e d ) p o s s i b i l i t y , m o u r n i n g refers those s a m e i d e n t i t i e s b a c k
w h a t i s p o s s i b l e i n a n a l y s i s , o r a n y w h e r e else, i s d i c t a t e d
to their unconscious histories, w i t h their repetitions a n d their
b y o u r t h e o r e t i c a l p a r a d i g m s , b y the l a n g u a g e s w e c h o o s e
w a s t e ; those p a r a m e t e r s that s e e m i n g l y t h w a r t o u r o p t i o n s .
t o s p e a k a b o u t o u r p r a c t i c e . D e s p i t e boasts t o the c o n t r a r y
M o u r n i n g a n d p e r f o r m a n c e — a n d the p e r f o r m a n c e s that c o n -
— p s y c h o a n a l y s i s , the I m p o s s i b l e P r o f e s s i o n a n d the l i k e —
s t i t u t e o u r sense o f m o u r n i n g — s e e m u s e f u l l y t w i n n e d . W i t h -
p s y c h o a n a l y s i s i s o n l y a s d i f f i c u l t a s w e m a k e it.
o u t the i d e a o f p e r f o r m a n c e , m o u r n i n g b e c o m e s l i t e r a l i z e d a s
F r o m a clinical point of view, Butler's initial political vol-
T r u t h — o u r d e e p e s t act; w i t h o u t the i d e a o f m o u r n i n g , p e r -
u n t a r i s m i n Gender Trouble w o u l d h a v e m a d e a n a l y s t s w a r y .
f o r m a n c e b e c o m e s a n e x c e s s i v e d e m a n d — p r e t e n d there's n o
B u t there i s n o o b v i o u s r e a s o n w h y a n a l y s t s i n t h e i r p r a c t i c e
unconscious, then pretend what y o u like. "I believe in all sin-
h a v e t o b e less i m a g i n a t i v e t h a n B u t l e r i s a s k i n g t h e m t o b e
cerity," V a l é r y w r o t e , "that i f e a c h m a n w e r e n o t able t o l i v e a
i n " M e l a n c h o l y G e n d e r . " T h e a n a l y s t w h o b e l i e v e s i n the u n -
n u m b e r o f l i v e s b e s i d e h i s o w n , h e w o u l d n o t b e able t o l i v e h i s
c o n s c i o u s c a n h a r d l y set h i m s e l f up as a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of the
o w n life." Valéry 's ironic s i n c e r i t y — f r o m w h i c h of his lives is
a u t h e n t i c life e v e n t h o u g h the l a n g u a g e h e uses t o t a l k a b o u t
he s p e a k i n g ? — i n v i t e s us, l i k e Butler, to m u l t i p l y o u r versions
h i s job i s f u l l o f the j a r g o n o f a u t h e n t i c i t y ( i n t e g r i t y , h o n e s t y ,
o f self a s s o m e k i n d o f p s y c h i c n e c e s s i t y ; a s t h o u g h w e m i g h t
t r u t h , self, i n s t i n c t ) . T h e l a n g u a g e o f p e r f o r m a n c e m a y b e too
n o t b e able t o bear the loss o f n o t d o i n g so. B u t h o w m a n y
easy t o d i s m i s s c l i n i c a l l y a s e v a s i v e , i n a w a y that i s b l i n d t o
5
l i v e s c a n the a n a l y s t r e c o g n i z e i n , o r d e m a n d of, h i s p a t i e n t ,
the t h e a t r i c a l i t y o f the a n a l y t i c s i t u a t i o n . B u t l e r ' s u s e o f i d e n t i -
a n d w h a t are the c o n s t r a i n t s o n t h i s r e c o g n i t i o n that s o e a s i l y
f i c a t i o n p u t s the n o t i o n o f the p e r f o r m a t i v e b a c k i n t o the a n a -
becomes a demand?
l y t i c f r a m e ; w h a t i s m o r e s u r p r i s i n g i s that she has b e e n able
I n a n a l y s i s , o f c o u r s e , i t i s n o t o n l y the p a t i e n t ' s g e n d e r
to use m o u r n i n g as a w a y of n u a n c i n g the t h e a t r i c a l i t y that
i d e n t i t i e s that are a t stake. B o t h the a n a l y s t a n d h e r p a t i e n t are
is integral to our m a k i n g of identities, our m a k i n g ourselves
w o r k i n g to sustain their desire, a n d d e s i r e — b o t h i n t r a - a n d
u p t h r o u g h loss. I t i s f o r t u n a t e that w r i t e r s are i n t e r e s t e d i n
i n t e r p s y c h i c a l l y — d e p e n d s o n difference. T h e r e a l w a y s has
p s y c h o a n a l y s i s because, u n l i k e a n a l y s t s , t h e y are free t o t h i n k
t o b e s o m e t h i n g else, s o m e t h i n g s u f f i c i e n t l y (or a p p a r e n t l y )
u p t h o u g h t s u n c o n s t r a i n e d b y the h y p n o t i c effect o f c l i n i c a l
other. T h e s p e c t e r o f A p h a n i s i s , Jones's r e p r e s s e d c o n c e p t o f
practice. G o o d performers, like musicians or sportspeople or
the d e a t h o f d e s i r e , h a u n t s the p r o c e s s . B u t t h o u g h d e s i r e d e -
a n a l y s t s , are often n o t that g o o d a t t a l k i n g a b o u t w h a t t h e y d o ,
p e n d s o n difference, w e o n l y l i k e the d i f f e r e n c e s w e l i k e ; the
p a r t l y b e c a u s e they are the ones w h o d o it.
set of d e s i r a b l e or t o l e r a b l e differences, d e s i r e - s u s t a i n i n g dif-
A n d the d o i n g i t , o f c o u r s e , l i k e the l i v i n g o f a n y life, i n -
ference, i s n e v e r i n f i n i t e for a n y o n e . P s y c h o a n a l y s i s i s a b o u t
v o l v e s a c k n o w l e d g i n g , i n o n e w a y o r a n o t h e r , that there are
w h e r e w e d r a w these c o n s t i t u t i v e l i n e s . A n y c l i n i c i a n i s o n l y
o n l y t w o sexes. T h o u g h this, i n a n d o f itself, says n o t h i n g a b o u t
158
Melancholy Gender
Refused Identification
159
the p o s s i b l e r e p e r t o i r e o f g e n d e r i d e n t i t i e s . T h e l o g i c o f B u t -
I n t h i n k i n g a b o u t g e n d e r , o r a n y o f the s o - c a l l e d i d e n t i t i e s ,
l e r ' s a r g u m e n t , the k i n d o f i n s t r u c t i v e i n c o h e r e n c e she f i n d s
it seems to be e x t r e m e l y d i f f i c u l t to f i n d a p i c t u r e or a s t o r y
i n F r e u d , r e c u p e r a t e s a sense o f p o s s i b i l i t y for a n a l y t i c p r a c -
that n o l o n g e r n e e d s the i d e a o f e x c l u s i o n . A n d B u t l e r ' s t h e o -
tice. A n d y e t the v e r y l u c i d i t y o f B u t l e r ' s essay a l s o p r o m p t s
r e t i c a l d e s c r i p t i o n s reflect this. T h e r e s e e m s t o b e s o m e t h i n g
a n o t h e r k i n d o f r e f l e c t i o n . I t c a n s o m e t i m e s s e e m a s h a m e that
b e w i t c h i n g , c e r t a i n l y i n p s y c h o a n a l y t i c theory, a b o u t the i d e a
there are o n l y t w o sexes, n o t least b e c a u s e w e u s e t h i s differ-
— a n d the e x p e r i e n c e — o f e v a c u a t i o n a n d o f the k i n d s o f d e f i -
ence a s a p a r a d i g m t o d o s o m u c h w o r k for u s (the differences
n i t i o n that the i d e a o f i n s i d e a n d o u t s i d e c a n g i v e u s ( i n r e l a -
b e t w e e n the sexes are, o f c o u r s e , m o r e e x c i t i n g , o r m o r e ar-
t i v e l y recent p s y c h o a n a l y t i c h i s t o r y Balint w a s a s k i n g w h e t h e r
t i c u l a b l e , t h a n the differences b e t w e e n a l i v e b o d y a n d a d e a d
the f i s h w a s i n the w a t e r o r the w a t e r i n the fish). O b v i o u s l y ,
b o d y ) . T h e r e i s a k i n d o f i n t e l l e c t u a l m e l a n c h o l y i n the loss o f a
the v o c a b u l a r y o f d i f f e r e n c e — t h e m e a n s o f e s t a b l i s h i n g those
t h i r d sex that n e v e r e x i s t e d a n d s o c a n n e v e r b e m o u r n e d ; t h i s
intra- and interpsychic boundaries and limits w h i c h psycho-
t h i r d , i r r a t i o n a l sex that w o u l d b r e a k the s p e l l (or the l o g i c ) o f
a n a l y s i s p r o m o t e s — i s , b y d e f i n i t i o n , far m o r e e x t e n s i v e t h a n
the t w o , a n d that i s o n e o f the c h i l d ' s f o r m a t i v e a n d r e p r e s s e d
the l a n g u a g e o f s a m e n e s s (the s a m e , o f c o u r s e , i s n o t o n l y
fantasies a b o u t h i m s e l f o r herself. ( T h e r e i s a l i n k b e t w e e n t h i s
the i d e n t i c a l ) . W e c a n t a l k a b o u t d i f f e r e n c e — i n a sense, that's
m a g i c a l s o l u t i o n t o the p r i m a l scene a n d fantasies o f s y n t h e s i s
what talk is a b o u t — b u t sameness makes us mute, d u l l , or re-
a n d r e d e m p t i o n . ) W h a t F r e u d c a l l e d p r i m a r y p r o c e s s is, after
petitive. A n d t o talk about h o m o s e x u a l i t y exclusively i n terms
a l l , the e r a s i n g o f m u t u a l e x c l u s i o n , a l o g i c d e f y i n g l o g i c . T h i s
o f s a m e n e s s i s t o c o m p o u n d the m u d d l e . S a m e n e s s , l i k e differ-
f o r m of generosity (and radicalism) is not always available, it
ence, is a ( m o t i v a t e d ) fantasy, n o t a n a t u r a l fact. T h e l a n g u a g e
seems, t o o u r s e c o n d a r y - p r o c e s s selves.
o f b o u n d a r i e s that p s y c h o a n a l y s i s i s s o i n t e n t o n , a n d that
S t a r t i n g w i t h t w o sexes, a s w e m u s t — d e s c r i b e d a s o p p o -
makes possible notions of identification and m o u r n i n g , p r o -
sites or a l t e r n a t i v e s or c o m p l e m e n t s — l o c k s us i n t o a l o g i c , a
m o t e s a specific set of a s s u m p t i o n s a b o u t w h a t a p e r s o n is a n d
b i n a r y s y s t e m that o f t e n s e e m s r e m o t e f r o m l i v e d a n d s p o -
c a n be. It is a p i c t u r e of a p e r s o n i n f o r m e d by the l a n g u a g e s of
k e n e x p e r i e n c e a n d i s c o m p l i c i t w i t h the o t h e r b i n a r y p a i r s —
p u r i t y and property, what M a r y Douglas more exactly called
inside/outside, p r i m a r y process/secondary process, sadism/
p u r i t y a n d danger. I t m a y b e m o r e u s e f u l t o t a l k a b o u t g r a -
m a s o c h i s m , a n d s o o n — t h a t are s u c h a m i s l e a d i n g p a r t o f
dations a n d b l u r r i n g rather than contours a n d outlines w h e n
psychoanalytic language. We s h o u l d be speaking of para-
w e p l o t o u r stories a b o u t g e n d e r .
doxes a n d spectrums, not contradictions a n d m u t u a l exclu-
f o r m a n c e k e e p s d e f i n i t i o n o n the m o v e , w h i c h i s w h e r e i t i s
s i o n . E v e r y c h i l d r i g h t l y w a n t s t o k n o w w h e t h e r there i s a
anyway. M o u r n i n g slows things d o w n .
p o s i t i o n b e y o n d exclusion or difference or separateness—a w o r l d i n w h i c h l e a v i n g a n d b e i n g left o u t d i s a p p e a r s , a n i d e a taken up at a different level in U t o p i a n socialism, w h i c h aims at a s o c i e t y w i t h o u t m a r g i n s a n d therefore w i t h o u t h u m i l i a t i o n .
6
Butler's language of per-
158
Melancholy Gender
Refused Identification
159
the p o s s i b l e r e p e r t o i r e o f g e n d e r i d e n t i t i e s . T h e l o g i c o f B u t -
I n t h i n k i n g a b o u t g e n d e r , o r a n y o f the s o - c a l l e d i d e n t i t i e s ,
l e r ' s a r g u m e n t , the k i n d o f i n s t r u c t i v e i n c o h e r e n c e she f i n d s
it seems to be e x t r e m e l y d i f f i c u l t to f i n d a p i c t u r e or a s t o r y
i n F r e u d , r e c u p e r a t e s a sense o f p o s s i b i l i t y for a n a l y t i c p r a c -
that n o l o n g e r n e e d s the i d e a o f e x c l u s i o n . A n d B u t l e r ' s t h e o -
tice. A n d y e t the v e r y l u c i d i t y o f B u t l e r ' s essay a l s o p r o m p t s
r e t i c a l d e s c r i p t i o n s reflect this. T h e r e s e e m s t o b e s o m e t h i n g
a n o t h e r k i n d o f r e f l e c t i o n . I t c a n s o m e t i m e s s e e m a s h a m e that
b e w i t c h i n g , c e r t a i n l y i n p s y c h o a n a l y t i c theory, a b o u t the i d e a
there are o n l y t w o sexes, n o t least b e c a u s e w e u s e t h i s differ-
— a n d the e x p e r i e n c e — o f e v a c u a t i o n a n d o f the k i n d s o f d e f i -
ence a s a p a r a d i g m t o d o s o m u c h w o r k for u s (the differences
n i t i o n that the i d e a o f i n s i d e a n d o u t s i d e c a n g i v e u s ( i n r e l a -
b e t w e e n the sexes are, o f c o u r s e , m o r e e x c i t i n g , o r m o r e ar-
t i v e l y recent p s y c h o a n a l y t i c h i s t o r y Balint w a s a s k i n g w h e t h e r
t i c u l a b l e , t h a n the differences b e t w e e n a l i v e b o d y a n d a d e a d
the f i s h w a s i n the w a t e r o r the w a t e r i n the fish). O b v i o u s l y ,
b o d y ) . T h e r e i s a k i n d o f i n t e l l e c t u a l m e l a n c h o l y i n the loss o f a
the v o c a b u l a r y o f d i f f e r e n c e — t h e m e a n s o f e s t a b l i s h i n g those
t h i r d sex that n e v e r e x i s t e d a n d s o c a n n e v e r b e m o u r n e d ; t h i s
intra- and interpsychic boundaries and limits w h i c h psycho-
t h i r d , i r r a t i o n a l sex that w o u l d b r e a k the s p e l l (or the l o g i c ) o f
a n a l y s i s p r o m o t e s — i s , b y d e f i n i t i o n , far m o r e e x t e n s i v e t h a n
the t w o , a n d that i s o n e o f the c h i l d ' s f o r m a t i v e a n d r e p r e s s e d
the l a n g u a g e o f s a m e n e s s (the s a m e , o f c o u r s e , i s n o t o n l y
fantasies a b o u t h i m s e l f o r herself. ( T h e r e i s a l i n k b e t w e e n t h i s
the i d e n t i c a l ) . W e c a n t a l k a b o u t d i f f e r e n c e — i n a sense, that's
m a g i c a l s o l u t i o n t o the p r i m a l scene a n d fantasies o f s y n t h e s i s
what talk is a b o u t — b u t sameness makes us mute, d u l l , or re-
a n d r e d e m p t i o n . ) W h a t F r e u d c a l l e d p r i m a r y p r o c e s s is, after
petitive. A n d t o talk about h o m o s e x u a l i t y exclusively i n terms
a l l , the e r a s i n g o f m u t u a l e x c l u s i o n , a l o g i c d e f y i n g l o g i c . T h i s
o f s a m e n e s s i s t o c o m p o u n d the m u d d l e . S a m e n e s s , l i k e differ-
f o r m of generosity (and radicalism) is not always available, it
ence, is a ( m o t i v a t e d ) fantasy, n o t a n a t u r a l fact. T h e l a n g u a g e
seems, t o o u r s e c o n d a r y - p r o c e s s selves.
o f b o u n d a r i e s that p s y c h o a n a l y s i s i s s o i n t e n t o n , a n d that
S t a r t i n g w i t h t w o sexes, a s w e m u s t — d e s c r i b e d a s o p p o -
makes possible notions of identification and m o u r n i n g , p r o -
sites or a l t e r n a t i v e s or c o m p l e m e n t s — l o c k s us i n t o a l o g i c , a
m o t e s a specific set of a s s u m p t i o n s a b o u t w h a t a p e r s o n is a n d
b i n a r y s y s t e m that o f t e n s e e m s r e m o t e f r o m l i v e d a n d s p o -
c a n be. It is a p i c t u r e of a p e r s o n i n f o r m e d by the l a n g u a g e s of
k e n e x p e r i e n c e a n d i s c o m p l i c i t w i t h the o t h e r b i n a r y p a i r s —
p u r i t y and property, what M a r y Douglas more exactly called
inside/outside, p r i m a r y process/secondary process, sadism/
p u r i t y a n d danger. I t m a y b e m o r e u s e f u l t o t a l k a b o u t g r a -
m a s o c h i s m , a n d s o o n — t h a t are s u c h a m i s l e a d i n g p a r t o f
dations a n d b l u r r i n g rather than contours a n d outlines w h e n
psychoanalytic language. We s h o u l d be speaking of para-
w e p l o t o u r stories a b o u t g e n d e r .
doxes a n d spectrums, not contradictions a n d m u t u a l exclu-
f o r m a n c e k e e p s d e f i n i t i o n o n the m o v e , w h i c h i s w h e r e i t i s
s i o n . E v e r y c h i l d r i g h t l y w a n t s t o k n o w w h e t h e r there i s a
anyway. M o u r n i n g slows things d o w n .
p o s i t i o n b e y o n d exclusion or difference or separateness—a w o r l d i n w h i c h l e a v i n g a n d b e i n g left o u t d i s a p p e a r s , a n i d e a taken up at a different level in U t o p i a n socialism, w h i c h aims at a s o c i e t y w i t h o u t m a r g i n s a n d therefore w i t h o u t h u m i l i a t i o n .
6
Butler's language of per-
Refused
Identification
161
der performativity, a n d second, on whether sexual difference is an o p p o s i t i o n that is as stable as it m i g h t a p p e a r . P h i l l i p s suggests that the c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f m e l a n c h o l i c i n c o r p o r a t i o n t e m p e r s the v o l u n t a r i s m o f the p o s i t i o n a s s o c i a t e d
Reply to A d a m Phillips's Commentary on "Melancholy Gender / Refused Identification"
w i t h g e n d e r p e r f o r m a t i v i t y that has e m e r g e d i n the r e c e p t i o n of Gender Trouble. On the o n e h a n d , there a p p e a r s to be a r e p u d i a t e d a n d u n r e s o l v e d k n o t o f grief, a n d o n the other, a selfc o n s c i o u s subject w h o , i n a S a r t r i a n v e i n , creates itself a n e w a g a i n a n d a g a i n . B u t w h a t i f the t e r m s o f t h i s o p p o s i t i o n are n o t q u i t e a s stable a s t h e y seem? C o n s i d e r that the i r r e s o l u t i o n o f m e l a n c h o l i a i s t i e d t o the c h e c k p l a c e d u p o n a g g r e s s i o n against the lost other, that the i d e a l i z a t i o n of the o t h e r that a c c o m p a n i e s s e l f - b e r a t e m e n t i n m e l a n c h o l i a i s p r e c i s e l y the r o u t i n g a g a i n s t the ego o f a g g r e s s i o n t o w a r d the o t h e r w h i c h
A d a m P h i l l i p s ' s w e l c o m e c o m m e n t a r y c o n f i r m s that there i l m i g h t b e a d i a l o g u e , e v e n p e r h a p s a p s y c h o a n a l y t i c one, between a c l i n i c a l a n d a speculative perspective on questions o f g e n d e r , m e l a n c h o l i a , a n d p e r f o r m a t i v i t y . C l e a r l y the p o s i t i o n s here are n o t as " s t a k e d o u t " as is o f t e n the case, f o r P h i l l i p s is himself b o t h a c l i n i c i a n a n d a speculative thinker, a n d t h u s f u r t h e r s the d o u b l y d i m e n s i o n e d w r i t i n g i n a u g u r a t e d b y F r e u d . I n d e e d , w h a t m i g h t a t first s e e m a s t r i c t o p p o s i t i o n — t h e c l i n i c i a n , o n the o n e h a n d , a n d the c u l t u r a l t h e o r i s t o f g e n d e r , o n the o t h e r — i s b r o k e n d o w n a n d r e c o n f i g u r e d i n the c o u r s e o f t h i s e x c h a n g e , a n d i t i s a s m u c h the content o f h i s c l a i m s a s the m o v e m e n t o f his o w n t h i n k i n g w h i c h m a k e s m e w a n t t o r e c o n s i d e r the o p p o s i t i o n a l f r a m i n g a n d t h i n k i n g
is prohibited f r o m being expressed directly. The p r o h i b i t i o n w o r k s i n the s e r v i c e o f a n i d e a l i z a t i o n , b u t i t a l s o w o r k s i n the service of an i d e a l i z a t i o n of grief as a p u r e or sacred practice. The melancholic, b a r r e d f r o m aggressive expression, begins to m i m e a n d i n c o r p o r a t e the lost one, r e f u s i n g the loss t h r o u g h that i n c o r p o r a t i v e strategy, " c o n t i n u i n g the q u a r r e l " w i t h the other, b u t n o w i n the f o r m o f a n i n t r a p s y c h i c self-beratement. B u t t h i s p r o c e s s i s n o t o n l y i n t r a p s y c h i c , f o r s y m p t o m a t i c exp r e s s i o n i s p r e c i s e l y the r e t u r n o f w h a t i s e x c l u d e d i n the p r o c e s s o f i d e a l i z a t i o n . W h a t i s the p l a c e o f " a c t i n g o u t " i n r e l a t i o n t o s y m p t o m a t i c e x p r e s s i o n , e s p e c i a l l y w h e n beratem e n t escapes the i n t r a p s y c h i c c i r c u i t t o e m e r g e i n d i s p l a c e d a n d externalized forms? Is this k i n d of "acting out," w h i c h
w h i c h seems, l u c k i l y , n o t t o b e able t o s u s t a i n itself here. M y
often takes the f o r m o f a p a n t o m i m e , n o t the v e r y v e n u e f o r
r e p l y w i l l f o c u s first o n the q u e s t i o n o f w h e t h e r m e l a n c h o l y
a n a g g r e s s i o n that refuses t o r e m a i n l o c k e d u p i n the c i r c u i t o f
is rightly u n d e r s t o o d to oppose or to temper notions of gen-
self-beratement, a n a g g r e s s i o n that b r e a k s o u t o f that c i r c u i t o n l y t o h e a p itself, t h r o u g h d i s p l a c e m e n t , o n objects w h i c h
Refused
Identification
161
der performativity, a n d second, on whether sexual difference is an o p p o s i t i o n that is as stable as it m i g h t a p p e a r . P h i l l i p s suggests that the c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f m e l a n c h o l i c i n c o r p o r a t i o n t e m p e r s the v o l u n t a r i s m o f the p o s i t i o n a s s o c i a t e d
Reply to A d a m Phillips's Commentary on "Melancholy Gender / Refused Identification"
w i t h g e n d e r p e r f o r m a t i v i t y that has e m e r g e d i n the r e c e p t i o n of Gender Trouble. On the o n e h a n d , there a p p e a r s to be a r e p u d i a t e d a n d u n r e s o l v e d k n o t o f grief, a n d o n the other, a selfc o n s c i o u s subject w h o , i n a S a r t r i a n v e i n , creates itself a n e w a g a i n a n d a g a i n . B u t w h a t i f the t e r m s o f t h i s o p p o s i t i o n are n o t q u i t e a s stable a s t h e y seem? C o n s i d e r that the i r r e s o l u t i o n o f m e l a n c h o l i a i s t i e d t o the c h e c k p l a c e d u p o n a g g r e s s i o n against the lost other, that the i d e a l i z a t i o n of the o t h e r that a c c o m p a n i e s s e l f - b e r a t e m e n t i n m e l a n c h o l i a i s p r e c i s e l y the r o u t i n g a g a i n s t the ego o f a g g r e s s i o n t o w a r d the o t h e r w h i c h
A d a m P h i l l i p s ' s w e l c o m e c o m m e n t a r y c o n f i r m s that there i l m i g h t b e a d i a l o g u e , e v e n p e r h a p s a p s y c h o a n a l y t i c one, between a c l i n i c a l a n d a speculative perspective on questions o f g e n d e r , m e l a n c h o l i a , a n d p e r f o r m a t i v i t y . C l e a r l y the p o s i t i o n s here are n o t as " s t a k e d o u t " as is o f t e n the case, f o r P h i l l i p s is himself b o t h a c l i n i c i a n a n d a speculative thinker, a n d t h u s f u r t h e r s the d o u b l y d i m e n s i o n e d w r i t i n g i n a u g u r a t e d b y F r e u d . I n d e e d , w h a t m i g h t a t first s e e m a s t r i c t o p p o s i t i o n — t h e c l i n i c i a n , o n the o n e h a n d , a n d the c u l t u r a l t h e o r i s t o f g e n d e r , o n the o t h e r — i s b r o k e n d o w n a n d r e c o n f i g u r e d i n the c o u r s e o f t h i s e x c h a n g e , a n d i t i s a s m u c h the content o f h i s c l a i m s a s the m o v e m e n t o f his o w n t h i n k i n g w h i c h m a k e s m e w a n t t o r e c o n s i d e r the o p p o s i t i o n a l f r a m i n g a n d t h i n k i n g
is prohibited f r o m being expressed directly. The p r o h i b i t i o n w o r k s i n the s e r v i c e o f a n i d e a l i z a t i o n , b u t i t a l s o w o r k s i n the service of an i d e a l i z a t i o n of grief as a p u r e or sacred practice. The melancholic, b a r r e d f r o m aggressive expression, begins to m i m e a n d i n c o r p o r a t e the lost one, r e f u s i n g the loss t h r o u g h that i n c o r p o r a t i v e strategy, " c o n t i n u i n g the q u a r r e l " w i t h the other, b u t n o w i n the f o r m o f a n i n t r a p s y c h i c self-beratement. B u t t h i s p r o c e s s i s n o t o n l y i n t r a p s y c h i c , f o r s y m p t o m a t i c exp r e s s i o n i s p r e c i s e l y the r e t u r n o f w h a t i s e x c l u d e d i n the p r o c e s s o f i d e a l i z a t i o n . W h a t i s the p l a c e o f " a c t i n g o u t " i n r e l a t i o n t o s y m p t o m a t i c e x p r e s s i o n , e s p e c i a l l y w h e n beratem e n t escapes the i n t r a p s y c h i c c i r c u i t t o e m e r g e i n d i s p l a c e d a n d externalized forms? Is this k i n d of "acting out," w h i c h
w h i c h seems, l u c k i l y , n o t t o b e able t o s u s t a i n itself here. M y
often takes the f o r m o f a p a n t o m i m e , n o t the v e r y v e n u e f o r
r e p l y w i l l f o c u s first o n the q u e s t i o n o f w h e t h e r m e l a n c h o l y
a n a g g r e s s i o n that refuses t o r e m a i n l o c k e d u p i n the c i r c u i t o f
is rightly u n d e r s t o o d to oppose or to temper notions of gen-
self-beratement, a n a g g r e s s i o n that b r e a k s o u t o f that c i r c u i t o n l y t o h e a p itself, t h r o u g h d i s p l a c e m e n t , o n objects w h i c h
Melancholy Gender
1Ô2
s i g n i f y the r e s o n a n c e , the r e m a i n s , of the lost o t h e r ? In t h i s
Refused
Identification
163
a g g r e s s i o n t o w a r d w h a t i s l o s t — i n p a r t because that lost o n e
sense, w h a t is p e r f o r m e d as a c o n s e q u e n c e of m e l a n c h o l i a is
has a b a n d o n e d u s , a n d i n the s a c r a l i z a t i o n o f the object, w e
n o t a v o l u n t a r y act, b u t a n a c t i n g o u t m o t i v a t e d — i n p a r t — b y
e x c l u d e the p o s s i b i l i t y o f r a g i n g a g a i n s t that a b a n d o n m e n t .
an u n o w n e d aggression.
W h a t are the a f f i r m a t i v e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f m i m e t i c a c t i n g o u t
H o w d o e s t h i s a c c o u n t w o r k i n the c o n t e x t o f g e n d e r m e l -
as it w o r k s , w i t h i n a p s y c h o a n a l y t i c f r a m e , to t h e a t r i c a l i z e that
ancholia? If I acquire my gender by r e p u d i a t i n g my love for
a g g r e s s i o n w i t h o u t e t h i c a l c o n s e q u e n c e , a n d t o a r t i c u l a t e , for
o n e o f m y o w n g e n d e r , t h e n that r e p u d i a t i o n l i v e s o n i n the
the p u r p o s e s of s e l f - r e f l e c t i o n , t h r o u g h a set of "acts" the l o g i c
a c t i n g o u t o f m y g e n d e r a n d a s k s t o b e r e a d a s r i v a l r y , ag-
o f r e p u d i a t i o n b y w h i c h t h e y are m o t i v a t e d ? Isn't i t t h e n the
gression, i d e a l i z a t i o n , a n d m e l a n c h o l i a . If I am a w o m a n to
case that s u c h t h e a t r i c a l i t y m i g h t w o r k a s a p s y c h o a n a l y t i c
the extent that I h a v e n e v e r l o v e d o n e , b o t h a g g r e s s i o n a n d
n o t i o n a n d n o t o n l y a s that w h i c h m u s t b e c o r r e c t e d o r t e m -
s h a m e a r e l o c k e d i n t o that "never," that " n o w a y , " w h i c h s u g -
p e r e d b y p s y c h o a n a l y s i s ? W o u l d n ' t that b e o n e w a y t o c o u n t e r
gests that w h a t e v e r g e n d e r I a m i s t h r e a t e n e d f u n d a m e n t a l l y
the i d e a l i z a t i o n o f m o u r n i n g (itself a s y m p t o m o f m o u r n i n g )
b y the r e t u r n o f the l o v e r e n d e r e d u n t h i n k a b l e b y that d e f e n -
w h i c h c o m m i t s p s y c h o a n a l y s i s t o the s o b e r w o r k o f p e r m a -
s i v e "never." T h e r e f o r e w h a t I act, i n d e e d , w h a t I "choose,"
n e n t m o u r n i n g ? T o w h a t extent i s that effect o f " p e r m a n e n c e "
has s o m e t h i n g p r o f o u n d l y u n c h o s e n i n i t that r u n s t h r o u g h
the r e s u l t o f the force o f r e p u d i a t i o n itself, a g g r e s s i o n i n the
the c o u r s e o f that " p e r f o r m a n c e . " H e r e the n o t i o n o f g e n d e r
service of a self-berating b i n d t y p i c a l of melancholia?
p e r f o r m a t i v i t y c a l l s f o r p s y c h o a n a l y t i c r e t h i n k i n g t h r o u g h the
P h i l l i p s asks a n o t h e r set o f q u e s t i o n s , w h i c h s e e m a l s o t o
n o t i o n o f " a c t i n g o u t , " a s i t e m e r g e s i n the a r t i c u l a t i o n o f m e l -
w o r k w i t h i n a c e r t a i n o p p o s i t i o n a l f r a m e w h i c h m a y b e less
a n c h o l i a a n d i n the p a n t o m i m i c r e s p o n s e t o loss w h e r e b y the
o p p o s i t i o n a l t h a n a t first a p p e a r s . H e r e p h r a s e s m y q u e s t i o n
lost o t h e r i s i n c o r p o r a t e d i n the f o r m a t i v e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s o f
a p p r o p r i a t e l y w h e n h e q u e r i e s w h e t h e r there i s a n e c e s s a r y
the ego.
r e a s o n for i d e n t i f i c a t i o n t o o p p o s e d e s i r e o r for d e s i r e t o b e
P h i l l i p s is right to w a r n psychoanalysis against an idealiza-
f u e l e d b y r e p u d i a t i o n . H e c l a i m s that w i t h i n the p s y c h o a n a -
t i o n o f m o u r n i n g itself, the s a c r a l i z a t i o n o f m o u r n i n g a s the
l y t i c f r a m e w o r k there are g o o d reasons, a n d that e v e r y p o s i -
c o n s u m m a t e p s y c h o a n a l y t i c r i t u a l . It is as if psychoanalysis
t i o n t a k e n u p a n d e v e r y d e s i r e d e t e r m i n e d engages a p s y c h i c
a s a p r a c t i c e r i s k s b e c o m i n g a f f l i c t e d w i t h the v e r y s u f f e r i n g
c o n f l i c t . T h i s f o l l o w s f r o m the fact that there are a l w a y s losses,
i t seeks t o k n o w . T h e r e s o l u t i o n o f g r i e f b e c o m e s u n t h i n k a b l e
refusals, a n d sacrifices t o b e m a d e a l o n g the w a y t o h a v i n g the
i n a s i t u a t i o n i n w h i c h o u r v a r i o u s losses b e c o m e the c o n d i -
ego o r c h a r a c t e r f o r m e d o r h a v i n g d e s i r e d i s p o s e d i n a n y d e -
t i o n for p s y c h o a n a l y s i s a s a p r a c t i c e o f i n t e r m i n a b l e m o u r n -
t e r m i n a t e d i r e c t i o n . T h i s s e e m s r i g h t . B u t p e r h a p s there i s a
i n g . B u t w h a t b r e a k s the h o l d o f g r i e f e x c e p t the c u l t i v a t i o n o f
w a y o f d e v e l o p i n g a t y p o l o g y o f " r e f u s a l " a n d " e x c l u s i o n " that
the a g g r e s s i o n g r i e f h o l d s a t b a y against the m e a n s b y w h i c h
might help us distinguish between what is rigorously repudi-
i t i s h e l d a t b a y ? P a r t o f w h a t s u s t a i n s a n d e x t e n d s the p e r i o d
a t e d a n d f o r e c l o s e d , a n d w h a t h a p p e n s t o b e less r i g i d l y o r
o f m o u r n i n g i s p r e c i s e l y the p r o h i b i t i o n a g a i n s t e x p r e s s i n g
p e r m a n e n t l y d e c l i n e d . S u r e l y there is, say, a w a y o f a c c o u n t -
Melancholy Gender
1Ô2
s i g n i f y the r e s o n a n c e , the r e m a i n s , of the lost o t h e r ? In t h i s
Refused
Identification
163
a g g r e s s i o n t o w a r d w h a t i s l o s t — i n p a r t because that lost o n e
sense, w h a t is p e r f o r m e d as a c o n s e q u e n c e of m e l a n c h o l i a is
has a b a n d o n e d u s , a n d i n the s a c r a l i z a t i o n o f the object, w e
n o t a v o l u n t a r y act, b u t a n a c t i n g o u t m o t i v a t e d — i n p a r t — b y
e x c l u d e the p o s s i b i l i t y o f r a g i n g a g a i n s t that a b a n d o n m e n t .
an u n o w n e d aggression.
W h a t are the a f f i r m a t i v e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f m i m e t i c a c t i n g o u t
H o w d o e s t h i s a c c o u n t w o r k i n the c o n t e x t o f g e n d e r m e l -
as it w o r k s , w i t h i n a p s y c h o a n a l y t i c f r a m e , to t h e a t r i c a l i z e that
ancholia? If I acquire my gender by r e p u d i a t i n g my love for
a g g r e s s i o n w i t h o u t e t h i c a l c o n s e q u e n c e , a n d t o a r t i c u l a t e , for
o n e o f m y o w n g e n d e r , t h e n that r e p u d i a t i o n l i v e s o n i n the
the p u r p o s e s of s e l f - r e f l e c t i o n , t h r o u g h a set of "acts" the l o g i c
a c t i n g o u t o f m y g e n d e r a n d a s k s t o b e r e a d a s r i v a l r y , ag-
o f r e p u d i a t i o n b y w h i c h t h e y are m o t i v a t e d ? Isn't i t t h e n the
gression, i d e a l i z a t i o n , a n d m e l a n c h o l i a . If I am a w o m a n to
case that s u c h t h e a t r i c a l i t y m i g h t w o r k a s a p s y c h o a n a l y t i c
the extent that I h a v e n e v e r l o v e d o n e , b o t h a g g r e s s i o n a n d
n o t i o n a n d n o t o n l y a s that w h i c h m u s t b e c o r r e c t e d o r t e m -
s h a m e a r e l o c k e d i n t o that "never," that " n o w a y , " w h i c h s u g -
p e r e d b y p s y c h o a n a l y s i s ? W o u l d n ' t that b e o n e w a y t o c o u n t e r
gests that w h a t e v e r g e n d e r I a m i s t h r e a t e n e d f u n d a m e n t a l l y
the i d e a l i z a t i o n o f m o u r n i n g (itself a s y m p t o m o f m o u r n i n g )
b y the r e t u r n o f the l o v e r e n d e r e d u n t h i n k a b l e b y that d e f e n -
w h i c h c o m m i t s p s y c h o a n a l y s i s t o the s o b e r w o r k o f p e r m a -
s i v e "never." T h e r e f o r e w h a t I act, i n d e e d , w h a t I "choose,"
n e n t m o u r n i n g ? T o w h a t extent i s that effect o f " p e r m a n e n c e "
has s o m e t h i n g p r o f o u n d l y u n c h o s e n i n i t that r u n s t h r o u g h
the r e s u l t o f the force o f r e p u d i a t i o n itself, a g g r e s s i o n i n the
the c o u r s e o f that " p e r f o r m a n c e . " H e r e the n o t i o n o f g e n d e r
service of a self-berating b i n d t y p i c a l of melancholia?
p e r f o r m a t i v i t y c a l l s f o r p s y c h o a n a l y t i c r e t h i n k i n g t h r o u g h the
P h i l l i p s asks a n o t h e r set o f q u e s t i o n s , w h i c h s e e m a l s o t o
n o t i o n o f " a c t i n g o u t , " a s i t e m e r g e s i n the a r t i c u l a t i o n o f m e l -
w o r k w i t h i n a c e r t a i n o p p o s i t i o n a l f r a m e w h i c h m a y b e less
a n c h o l i a a n d i n the p a n t o m i m i c r e s p o n s e t o loss w h e r e b y the
o p p o s i t i o n a l t h a n a t first a p p e a r s . H e r e p h r a s e s m y q u e s t i o n
lost o t h e r i s i n c o r p o r a t e d i n the f o r m a t i v e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s o f
a p p r o p r i a t e l y w h e n h e q u e r i e s w h e t h e r there i s a n e c e s s a r y
the ego.
r e a s o n for i d e n t i f i c a t i o n t o o p p o s e d e s i r e o r for d e s i r e t o b e
P h i l l i p s is right to w a r n psychoanalysis against an idealiza-
f u e l e d b y r e p u d i a t i o n . H e c l a i m s that w i t h i n the p s y c h o a n a -
t i o n o f m o u r n i n g itself, the s a c r a l i z a t i o n o f m o u r n i n g a s the
l y t i c f r a m e w o r k there are g o o d reasons, a n d that e v e r y p o s i -
c o n s u m m a t e p s y c h o a n a l y t i c r i t u a l . It is as if psychoanalysis
t i o n t a k e n u p a n d e v e r y d e s i r e d e t e r m i n e d engages a p s y c h i c
a s a p r a c t i c e r i s k s b e c o m i n g a f f l i c t e d w i t h the v e r y s u f f e r i n g
c o n f l i c t . T h i s f o l l o w s f r o m the fact that there are a l w a y s losses,
i t seeks t o k n o w . T h e r e s o l u t i o n o f g r i e f b e c o m e s u n t h i n k a b l e
refusals, a n d sacrifices t o b e m a d e a l o n g the w a y t o h a v i n g the
i n a s i t u a t i o n i n w h i c h o u r v a r i o u s losses b e c o m e the c o n d i -
ego o r c h a r a c t e r f o r m e d o r h a v i n g d e s i r e d i s p o s e d i n a n y d e -
t i o n for p s y c h o a n a l y s i s a s a p r a c t i c e o f i n t e r m i n a b l e m o u r n -
t e r m i n a t e d i r e c t i o n . T h i s s e e m s r i g h t . B u t p e r h a p s there i s a
i n g . B u t w h a t b r e a k s the h o l d o f g r i e f e x c e p t the c u l t i v a t i o n o f
w a y o f d e v e l o p i n g a t y p o l o g y o f " r e f u s a l " a n d " e x c l u s i o n " that
the a g g r e s s i o n g r i e f h o l d s a t b a y against the m e a n s b y w h i c h
might help us distinguish between what is rigorously repudi-
i t i s h e l d a t b a y ? P a r t o f w h a t s u s t a i n s a n d e x t e n d s the p e r i o d
a t e d a n d f o r e c l o s e d , a n d w h a t h a p p e n s t o b e less r i g i d l y o r
o f m o u r n i n g i s p r e c i s e l y the p r o h i b i t i o n a g a i n s t e x p r e s s i n g
p e r m a n e n t l y d e c l i n e d . S u r e l y there is, say, a w a y o f a c c o u n t -
164
Melancholy Gender
i n g for h o m o s e x u a l i t y w h i c h p r e s u p p o s e s that i t i s r o o t e d i n
Refused
Identification
165
guarantor o f loss i n o u r p s y c h i c l i v e s ? A n d c a n a l l s e p a r a t i o n
an unconscious repudiation of heterosexuality a n d w h i c h , in
a n d loss b e t r a c e d b a c k t o that s t r u c t u r i n g loss o f the o t h e r sex
m a k i n g that p r e s u m p t i o n , d e t e r m i n e s r e p u d i a t e d h e t e r o s e x u -
b y w h i c h w e e m e r g e a s t h i s s e x e d b e i n g i n the w o r l d ?
a l i t y t o b e the u n c o n s c i o u s " t r u t h " o f l i v e d h o m o s e x u a l i t y .
P e r h a p s t h i s a s s u m p t i o n i s t r o u b l e d i f w e take s e r i o u s l y the
B u t i s s u c h a p r e s u m p t i o n a b o u t r e p u d i a t i o n n e c e s s a r y t o ac-
n o t i o n that sex i s a t o n c e g i v e n a n d a c c o m p l i s h e d — g i v e n a s
c o u n t for the trajectory o f l i v e d h o m o s e x u a l i t y ? C o u l d there
that w h i c h i s (always) yet t o b e a c c o m p l i s h e d — a n d that i t i s
be equally compelling accounts of unconscious motivations
accomplished in part through a heterosexualization of l i b i d i -
that a c c o u n t for h o m o s e x u a l i t y w h i c h d o n o t a s s u m e the r e -
n a l a i m s . T h i s a p p e a r e d t o b e F r e u d ' s a r g u m e n t i n the o p e n i n g
p u d i a t e d status o f h e t e r o s e x u a l i t y i n its f o r m a t i o n ? A n d w h a t
c h a p t e r s of Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality. To w h a t ex-
o f those h o m o s e x u a l s w h o d o n o t r i g o r o u s l y o p p o s e h e t e r o -
tent does the h e t e r o s e x u a l f r a m e for d e s i r e a n d loss cast the
s e x u a l i t y either i n t r a p s y c h i c a l l y o r i n t e r p s y c h i c a l l y , b u t w h o
p r o b l e m o f s e p a r a t i o n a n d loss first a n d f o r e m o s t a s a p r o b -
are n e v e r t h e l e s s r e l a t i v e l y d e t e r m i n e d i n the d i r e c t i o n a l i t y o f
l e m o f s e x u a l difference?
t h e i r d e s i r e ? P e r h a p s the e c o n o m y o f d e s i r e a l w a y s w o r k s
C o n s i d e r the f o l l o w i n g p r o b l e m a t i c , w h i c h i s n o t q u i t e i n
t h r o u g h r e f u s a l a n d loss o f s o m e k i n d , b u t i t i s n o t a s a c o n s e -
P h i l l i p s ' s l a n g u a g e , b u t t o u c h e s o n the f r a m e w o r k that h e es-
quence an economy structured by a logic of non-contradiction.
p o u s e s . D o e s it f o l l o w that if o n e d e s i r e s a w o m a n , o n e is
Isn't t h i s k i n d o f p o s t c o n t r a d i c t o r y p s y c h i c m o b i l i t y w h a t i s
d e s i r i n g f r o m a m a s c u l i n e d i s p o s i t i o n , o r i s that d i s p o s i t i o n
desired psychoanalytically, a n d what F r e u d sought to c i r c u m -
r e t r o a c t i v e l y a t t r i b u t e d to the d e s i r i n g p o s i t i o n as a w a y of r e -
s c r i b e t h r o u g h reference to the b i s e x e d n e s s of the p s y c h e ? Is
t a i n i n g h e t e r o s e x u a l i t y a s the w a y o f u n d e r s t a n d i n g the s e p a -
t h i s m o b i l i t y n o t a s i g n that a r i g o r o u s l y i n s t i t u t e d l o g i c of r e -
rateness o r a l t e r i t y that c o n d i t i o n s d e s i r e ? F o r i f that c l a i m
p u d i a t i o n i s n o t , after a l l , n e c e s s a r y for p s y c h i c s u r v i v a l ?
were true, every w o m a n w h o desires another w o m a n desires
I t s e e m s t o m e that w e m u s t accept, a s P h i l l i p s r i g h t l y c o u n -
her f r o m a m a s c u l i n e d i s p o s i t i o n a n d i s " h e t e r o s e x u a l " t o
sels u s t o d o , that there i s n o " p o s i t i o n b e y o n d e x c l u s i o n — o r
that degree; o d d l y , t h o u g h , i f the o t h e r w o m a n desires h e r i n
difference, o r separateness" a n d n o " w o r l d i n w h i c h l e a v i n g
r e t u r n , the e c o n o m y b e c o m e s o n e o f m a l e h o m o s e x u a l i t y ^ ) .
a n d b e i n g left o u t d i s a p p e a r s . " B u t d o e s t h i s a c c e p t a n c e c o m -
D o e s t h i s t h e o r e t i c a l f r a m e n o t m i s u n d e r s t a n d the m o d e s o f
m i t us to the p o s i t i o n that "sex" is a stable c a t e g o r y or that
a l t e r i t y that p e r s i s t w i t h i n h o m o s e x u a l i t y , r e d u c i n g the h o m o -
objects o f h o m o s e x u a l l o v e m u s t d i s a p p e a r t h r o u g h the force
s e x u a l t o a p u r s u i t o f s a m e n e s s w h i c h is, i n fact, v e r y r a r e l y
o f r e p u d i a t i o n a n d p r o h i b i t i o n ? T o w h a t extent m u s t w e a l i g n
the case (or is as often the case in h e t e r o s e x u a l p u r s u i t ) ?
this m o r e g e n e r a l a n d i n e v i t a b l e s e p a r a t i o n a n d loss w i t h a
Is this explanation t h r o u g h recourse to masculine disposi-
repudiation of homosexual love w h i c h makes gender melan-
t i o n n o t a n i n s t a n c e o f the t h e o r e t i c a l c o n s t r u c t i o n o f " m a s c u -
c h o l i e s o f u s all? T h e " g i v e n n e s s " o f s e x u a l d i f f e r e n c e i s c l e a r l y
l i n i t y " o r o f the m a s c u l i n e "sex" w h i c h c o v e r s o v e r — o r f o r e -
n o t to be d e n i e d , a n d I agree that there is no " t h i r d s e x " to be
closes—the possibility of another t e r m i n o l o g y w h i c h w o u l d
f o u n d o r p u r s u e d . B u t w h y i s s e x u a l d i f f e r e n c e the p r i m a r y
a v o w a r i c h p s y c h i c w o r l d o f a t t a c h m e n t a n d loss w h i c h i s
164
Melancholy Gender
i n g for h o m o s e x u a l i t y w h i c h p r e s u p p o s e s that i t i s r o o t e d i n
Refused
Identification
165
guarantor o f loss i n o u r p s y c h i c l i v e s ? A n d c a n a l l s e p a r a t i o n
an unconscious repudiation of heterosexuality a n d w h i c h , in
a n d loss b e t r a c e d b a c k t o that s t r u c t u r i n g loss o f the o t h e r sex
m a k i n g that p r e s u m p t i o n , d e t e r m i n e s r e p u d i a t e d h e t e r o s e x u -
b y w h i c h w e e m e r g e a s t h i s s e x e d b e i n g i n the w o r l d ?
a l i t y t o b e the u n c o n s c i o u s " t r u t h " o f l i v e d h o m o s e x u a l i t y .
P e r h a p s t h i s a s s u m p t i o n i s t r o u b l e d i f w e take s e r i o u s l y the
B u t i s s u c h a p r e s u m p t i o n a b o u t r e p u d i a t i o n n e c e s s a r y t o ac-
n o t i o n that sex i s a t o n c e g i v e n a n d a c c o m p l i s h e d — g i v e n a s
c o u n t for the trajectory o f l i v e d h o m o s e x u a l i t y ? C o u l d there
that w h i c h i s (always) yet t o b e a c c o m p l i s h e d — a n d that i t i s
be equally compelling accounts of unconscious motivations
accomplished in part through a heterosexualization of l i b i d i -
that a c c o u n t for h o m o s e x u a l i t y w h i c h d o n o t a s s u m e the r e -
n a l a i m s . T h i s a p p e a r e d t o b e F r e u d ' s a r g u m e n t i n the o p e n i n g
p u d i a t e d status o f h e t e r o s e x u a l i t y i n its f o r m a t i o n ? A n d w h a t
c h a p t e r s of Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality. To w h a t ex-
o f those h o m o s e x u a l s w h o d o n o t r i g o r o u s l y o p p o s e h e t e r o -
tent does the h e t e r o s e x u a l f r a m e for d e s i r e a n d loss cast the
s e x u a l i t y either i n t r a p s y c h i c a l l y o r i n t e r p s y c h i c a l l y , b u t w h o
p r o b l e m o f s e p a r a t i o n a n d loss first a n d f o r e m o s t a s a p r o b -
are n e v e r t h e l e s s r e l a t i v e l y d e t e r m i n e d i n the d i r e c t i o n a l i t y o f
l e m o f s e x u a l difference?
t h e i r d e s i r e ? P e r h a p s the e c o n o m y o f d e s i r e a l w a y s w o r k s
C o n s i d e r the f o l l o w i n g p r o b l e m a t i c , w h i c h i s n o t q u i t e i n
t h r o u g h r e f u s a l a n d loss o f s o m e k i n d , b u t i t i s n o t a s a c o n s e -
P h i l l i p s ' s l a n g u a g e , b u t t o u c h e s o n the f r a m e w o r k that h e es-
quence an economy structured by a logic of non-contradiction.
p o u s e s . D o e s it f o l l o w that if o n e d e s i r e s a w o m a n , o n e is
Isn't t h i s k i n d o f p o s t c o n t r a d i c t o r y p s y c h i c m o b i l i t y w h a t i s
d e s i r i n g f r o m a m a s c u l i n e d i s p o s i t i o n , o r i s that d i s p o s i t i o n
desired psychoanalytically, a n d what F r e u d sought to c i r c u m -
r e t r o a c t i v e l y a t t r i b u t e d to the d e s i r i n g p o s i t i o n as a w a y of r e -
s c r i b e t h r o u g h reference to the b i s e x e d n e s s of the p s y c h e ? Is
t a i n i n g h e t e r o s e x u a l i t y a s the w a y o f u n d e r s t a n d i n g the s e p a -
t h i s m o b i l i t y n o t a s i g n that a r i g o r o u s l y i n s t i t u t e d l o g i c of r e -
rateness o r a l t e r i t y that c o n d i t i o n s d e s i r e ? F o r i f that c l a i m
p u d i a t i o n i s n o t , after a l l , n e c e s s a r y for p s y c h i c s u r v i v a l ?
were true, every w o m a n w h o desires another w o m a n desires
I t s e e m s t o m e that w e m u s t accept, a s P h i l l i p s r i g h t l y c o u n -
her f r o m a m a s c u l i n e d i s p o s i t i o n a n d i s " h e t e r o s e x u a l " t o
sels u s t o d o , that there i s n o " p o s i t i o n b e y o n d e x c l u s i o n — o r
that degree; o d d l y , t h o u g h , i f the o t h e r w o m a n desires h e r i n
difference, o r separateness" a n d n o " w o r l d i n w h i c h l e a v i n g
r e t u r n , the e c o n o m y b e c o m e s o n e o f m a l e h o m o s e x u a l i t y ^ ) .
a n d b e i n g left o u t d i s a p p e a r s . " B u t d o e s t h i s a c c e p t a n c e c o m -
D o e s t h i s t h e o r e t i c a l f r a m e n o t m i s u n d e r s t a n d the m o d e s o f
m i t us to the p o s i t i o n that "sex" is a stable c a t e g o r y or that
a l t e r i t y that p e r s i s t w i t h i n h o m o s e x u a l i t y , r e d u c i n g the h o m o -
objects o f h o m o s e x u a l l o v e m u s t d i s a p p e a r t h r o u g h the force
s e x u a l t o a p u r s u i t o f s a m e n e s s w h i c h is, i n fact, v e r y r a r e l y
o f r e p u d i a t i o n a n d p r o h i b i t i o n ? T o w h a t extent m u s t w e a l i g n
the case (or is as often the case in h e t e r o s e x u a l p u r s u i t ) ?
this m o r e g e n e r a l a n d i n e v i t a b l e s e p a r a t i o n a n d loss w i t h a
Is this explanation t h r o u g h recourse to masculine disposi-
repudiation of homosexual love w h i c h makes gender melan-
t i o n n o t a n i n s t a n c e o f the t h e o r e t i c a l c o n s t r u c t i o n o f " m a s c u -
c h o l i e s o f u s all? T h e " g i v e n n e s s " o f s e x u a l d i f f e r e n c e i s c l e a r l y
l i n i t y " o r o f the m a s c u l i n e "sex" w h i c h c o v e r s o v e r — o r f o r e -
n o t to be d e n i e d , a n d I agree that there is no " t h i r d s e x " to be
closes—the possibility of another t e r m i n o l o g y w h i c h w o u l d
f o u n d o r p u r s u e d . B u t w h y i s s e x u a l d i f f e r e n c e the p r i m a r y
a v o w a r i c h p s y c h i c w o r l d o f a t t a c h m e n t a n d loss w h i c h i s
i66
Melancholy Gender
n o t f i n a l l y r e d u c i b l e t o a g i v e n n o t i o n o f s e x u a l difference? I n d e e d , t o w h a t extent are o u r n o t i o n s o f the m a s c u l i n e a n d the f e m i n i n e f o r m e d t h r o u g h the lost a t t a c h m e n t s w h i c h t h e y are s a i d t o o c c a s i o n ? C a n w e f i n a l l y e v e r r e s o l v e the q u e s t i o n o f w h e t h e r s e x u a l d i f f e r e n c e is the a c c o m p l i s h m e n t of a m e l a n -
Psychic Inceptions
c h o l i c h e t e r o s e x u a l i t y , s a c r a l i z e d a s t h e o r y , o r w h e t h e r i t i s the g i v e n c o n d i t i o n o f loss a n d a t t a c h m e n t i n a n y set o f h u m a n
Melancholy,
Ambivalence,
Rage
r e l a t i o n s ? It seems clear that in s o m e cases it is b o t h , b u t that w e w o u l d l o s e a v i t a l t e r m i n o l o g y for u n d e r s t a n d i n g loss a n d its f o r m a t i v e effects i f w e w e r e t o a s s u m e f r o m the outset that w e o n l y a n d a l w a y s lose the o t h e r sex, for i t i s a s o f t e n the case that w e are often i n the m e l a n c h o l i c b i n d o f h a v i n g lost o u r o w n sex i n o r d e r , p a r a d o x i c a l l y , t o b e c o m e it.
C o n f l i c t s b e t w e e n the ego a n d the i d e a l . . . u l t i m a t e l y reflect the contrast b e t w e e n w h a t is real a n d w h a t is p s y c h i c a l , b e t w e e n the external w o r l d a n d the i n t e r n a l w o r l d . — F r e u d , The Ego and the Id
I
n " M o u r n i n g a n d M e l a n c h o l i a , " m e l a n c h o l y a t first a p p e a r s to be an aberrant f o r m of m o u r n i n g , in w h i c h one denies
the loss o f a n object (an o t h e r o r a n i d e a l ) a n d refuses the task
o f grief, u n d e r s t o o d a s b r e a k i n g a t t a c h m e n t t o the o n e w h o i s lost. T h i s lost object i s m a g i c a l l y r e t a i n e d a s p a r t o f o n e ' s p s y c h i c life. T h e s o c i a l w o r l d a p p e a r s t o b e e c l i p s e d i n m e l a n c h o l y , a n d an internal w o r l d structured in ambivalence emerges as the c o n s e q u e n c e . I t i s n o t i m m e d i a t e l y clear h o w m e l a n c h o l y m i g h t b e r e a d , t h e n , i n t e r m s o f s o c i a l life, i n p a r t i c u l a r , i n 1
t e r m s o f the s o c i a l r e g u l a t i o n o f p s y c h i c life. Yet the a c c o u n t o f melancholy is an account of h o w psychic and social domains are p r o d u c e d i n r e l a t i o n t o o n e another. A s s u c h , m e l a n c h o l y offers p o t e n t i a l i n s i g h t i n t o h o w the b o u n d a r i e s o f the s o c i a l are i n s t i t u t e d a n d m a i n t a i n e d , n o t o n l y a t the e x p e n s e o f p s y -
i66
Melancholy Gender
n o t f i n a l l y r e d u c i b l e t o a g i v e n n o t i o n o f s e x u a l difference? I n d e e d , t o w h a t extent are o u r n o t i o n s o f the m a s c u l i n e a n d the f e m i n i n e f o r m e d t h r o u g h the lost a t t a c h m e n t s w h i c h t h e y are s a i d t o o c c a s i o n ? C a n w e f i n a l l y e v e r r e s o l v e the q u e s t i o n o f w h e t h e r s e x u a l d i f f e r e n c e is the a c c o m p l i s h m e n t of a m e l a n -
Psychic Inceptions
c h o l i c h e t e r o s e x u a l i t y , s a c r a l i z e d a s t h e o r y , o r w h e t h e r i t i s the g i v e n c o n d i t i o n o f loss a n d a t t a c h m e n t i n a n y set o f h u m a n
Melancholy,
Ambivalence,
Rage
r e l a t i o n s ? It seems clear that in s o m e cases it is b o t h , b u t that w e w o u l d l o s e a v i t a l t e r m i n o l o g y for u n d e r s t a n d i n g loss a n d its f o r m a t i v e effects i f w e w e r e t o a s s u m e f r o m the outset that w e o n l y a n d a l w a y s lose the o t h e r sex, for i t i s a s o f t e n the case that w e are often i n the m e l a n c h o l i c b i n d o f h a v i n g lost o u r o w n sex i n o r d e r , p a r a d o x i c a l l y , t o b e c o m e it.
C o n f l i c t s b e t w e e n the ego a n d the i d e a l . . . u l t i m a t e l y reflect the contrast b e t w e e n w h a t is real a n d w h a t is p s y c h i c a l , b e t w e e n the external w o r l d a n d the i n t e r n a l w o r l d . — F r e u d , The Ego and the Id
I
n " M o u r n i n g a n d M e l a n c h o l i a , " m e l a n c h o l y a t first a p p e a r s to be an aberrant f o r m of m o u r n i n g , in w h i c h one denies
the loss o f a n object (an o t h e r o r a n i d e a l ) a n d refuses the task
o f grief, u n d e r s t o o d a s b r e a k i n g a t t a c h m e n t t o the o n e w h o i s lost. T h i s lost object i s m a g i c a l l y r e t a i n e d a s p a r t o f o n e ' s p s y c h i c life. T h e s o c i a l w o r l d a p p e a r s t o b e e c l i p s e d i n m e l a n c h o l y , a n d an internal w o r l d structured in ambivalence emerges as the c o n s e q u e n c e . I t i s n o t i m m e d i a t e l y clear h o w m e l a n c h o l y m i g h t b e r e a d , t h e n , i n t e r m s o f s o c i a l life, i n p a r t i c u l a r , i n 1
t e r m s o f the s o c i a l r e g u l a t i o n o f p s y c h i c life. Yet the a c c o u n t o f melancholy is an account of h o w psychic and social domains are p r o d u c e d i n r e l a t i o n t o o n e another. A s s u c h , m e l a n c h o l y offers p o t e n t i a l i n s i g h t i n t o h o w the b o u n d a r i e s o f the s o c i a l are i n s t i t u t e d a n d m a i n t a i n e d , n o t o n l y a t the e x p e n s e o f p s y -
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Psychic Inceptions
Melancholy,
Ambivalence,
Rage
169
c h i c life, b u t t h r o u g h b i n d i n g p s y c h i c life i n t o f o r m s o f m e l a n -
g e n e r a t i o n a n d f o l l o w s f r o m the p s y c h i c c o m p u l s i o n t o s u b -
cholic ambivalence.
s t i t u t e f o r objects lost. T h u s , i n m e l a n c h o l i a n o t o n l y d o e s the
M e l a n c h o l i a t h u s r e t u r n s us to the f i g u r e of the " t u r n " as a
ego s u b s t i t u t e for the object, b u t t h i s act of s u b s t i t u t i o n insti-
f o u n d i n g t r o p e i n the d i s c o u r s e o f the p s y c h e . I n H e g e l , t u r n -
tutes the ego as a n e c e s s a r y r e s p o n s e to or "defense" a g a i n s t
i n g b a c k u p o n oneself c o m e s t o s i g n i f y the ascetic a n d s k e p t i -
loss. To the extent that the ego is "the p r e c i p i t a t e of its a b a n -
c a l m o d e s o f r e f l e x i v i t y that m a r k the u n h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s ;
d o n e d object-cathexes," it is the c o n g e a l m e n t of a h i s t o r y of
i n N i e t z s c h e , t u r n i n g b a c k o n oneself suggests a r e t r a c t i n g o f
loss, the s e d i m e n t a t i o n o f r e l a t i o n s o f s u b s t i t u t i o n o v e r t i m e ,
w h a t o n e h a s s a i d o r d o n e , o r a r e c o i l i n g i n s h a m e i n the face
the r e s o l u t i o n o f a t r o p o l o g i c a l f u n c t i o n i n t o the o n t o l o g i c a l
o f w h a t o n e has done. I n A l t h u s s e r , the t u r n that the p e d e s -
effect of the self.
t r i a n m a k e s t o w a r d the v o i c e o f the l a w i s a t o n c e r e f l e x i v e
M o r e o v e r , t h i s s u b s t i t u t i o n o f ego for object d o e s n o t q u i t e
(the m o m e n t of b e c o m i n g a subject w h o s e s e l f - c o n s c i o u s n e s s
w o r k . T h e ego i s a p o o r s u b s t i t u t e for the lost object, a n d its
i s m e d i a t e d b y the l a w ) a n d s e l f - s u b j u g a t i n g .
f a i l u r e to s u b s t i t u t e in a w a y that satisfies (that is, to o v e r c o m e
A c c o r d i n g t o the n a r r a t i v e o f m e l a n c h o l i a that F r e u d p r o -
its status as a s u b s t i t u t i o n ) , l e a d s to the a m b i v a l e n c e that d i s -
v i d e s , the ego i s s a i d t o " t u r n b a c k u p o n i t s e l f " o n c e l o v e fails
t i n g u i s h e s m e l a n c h o l i a . T h e t u r n f r o m the object t o the ego c a n
t o f i n d its object a n d i n s t e a d takes itself a s n o t o n l y a n object o f
n e v e r q u i t e b e a c c o m p l i s h e d ; i t i n v o l v e s f i g u r i n g the ego o n
l o v e , b u t o f a g g r e s s i o n a n d hate a s w e l l . B u t w h a t i s t h i s "self"
the m o d e l o f the object (as s u g g e s t e d i n the i n t r o d u c t o r y p a r a -
that takes itself as its o w n object? Is the o n e w h o " t a k e s " itself
g r a p h s o f " O n N a r c i s s i s m " ) ; i t a l s o i n v o l v e s the u n c o n s c i o u s
a n d the o n e w h o i s " t a k e n " the s a m e ? T h i s s e d u c t i o n o f reflex-
b e l i e f that the ego m i g h t c o m p e n s a t e f o r the loss that is suf-
i v i t y s e e m s t o f o u n d e r l o g i c a l l y , s i n c e i t i s u n c l e a r that t h i s ego
fered. T o the extent that the ego fails t o p r o v i d e s u c h c o m p e n -
c a n exist p r i o r t o its m e l a n c h o l i a . T h e " t u r n " that m a r k s the
s a t i o n , i t e x p o s e s the f a u l t l i n e s i n its o w n t e n u o u s f o u n d a t i o n s .
m e l a n c h o l i c r e s p o n s e t o loss a p p e a r s t o i n i t i a t e the r e d o u b l i n g
A r e w e t o accept that the ego t u r n s f r o m the object t o the
o f the ego a s a n object; o n l y b y t u r n i n g b a c k o n itself d o e s the
ego, or that the ego t u r n s its p a s s i o n , as o n e m i g h t r e d i r e c t a
ego a c q u i r e the status of a p e r c e p t u a l object. M o r e o v e r , the at-
w h e e l , f r o m the object to itself 1 D o e s the s a m e ego t u r n its i n -
t a c h m e n t t o the object that i s u n d e r s t o o d i n m e l a n c h o l i a t o b e
v e s t m e n t f r o m the object t o itself, o r i s the ego f u n d a m e n t a l l y
r e d i r e c t e d t o w a r d the ego u n d e r g o e s a f u n d a m e n t a l t r a n s f o r -
a l t e r e d b y v i r t u e o f b e c o m i n g the object o f s u c h a t u r n ? W h a t
m a t i o n i n the c o u r s e o f that r e d i r e c t i o n . N o t o n l y i s the attach-
i s the status o f " i n v e s t m e n t " a n d " a t t a c h m e n t " ? D o t h e y i n d i -
m e n t s a i d t o g o f r o m l o v e t o hate a s i t m o v e s f r o m the object
cate a f r e e - f l o a t i n g d e s i r e that r e m a i n s the s a m e r e g a r d l e s s of
to the ego, b u t the ego itself is p r o d u c e d as a psychic object; in
the k i n d o f object t o w h i c h i t i s d i r e c t e d ? D o e s the t u r n n o t
fact, the v e r y a r t i c u l a t i o n o f t h i s p s y c h i c space, s o m e t i m e s f i g -
o n l y p r o d u c e the ego b y w h i c h i t i s o s t e n s i b l y i n i t i a t e d b u t
u r e d as " i n t e r n a l , " depends on this m e l a n c h o l i c t u r n .
a l s o s t r u c t u r e the a t t a c h m e n t i t i s s a i d t o r e d i r e c t ?
T h e t u r n f r o m the object t o the ego p r o d u c e s the ego, w h i c h
I s s u c h a t u r n o r r e d i r e c t i o n e v e n p o s s i b l e ? T h e loss f o r
s u b s t i t u t e s for the object lost. T h i s p r o d u c t i o n is a t r o p o l o g i c a l
w h i c h the t u r n seeks t o c o m p e n s a t e i s n o t o v e r c o m e , a n d the
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c h i c life, b u t t h r o u g h b i n d i n g p s y c h i c life i n t o f o r m s o f m e l a n -
g e n e r a t i o n a n d f o l l o w s f r o m the p s y c h i c c o m p u l s i o n t o s u b -
cholic ambivalence.
s t i t u t e f o r objects lost. T h u s , i n m e l a n c h o l i a n o t o n l y d o e s the
M e l a n c h o l i a t h u s r e t u r n s us to the f i g u r e of the " t u r n " as a
ego s u b s t i t u t e for the object, b u t t h i s act of s u b s t i t u t i o n insti-
f o u n d i n g t r o p e i n the d i s c o u r s e o f the p s y c h e . I n H e g e l , t u r n -
tutes the ego as a n e c e s s a r y r e s p o n s e to or "defense" a g a i n s t
i n g b a c k u p o n oneself c o m e s t o s i g n i f y the ascetic a n d s k e p t i -
loss. To the extent that the ego is "the p r e c i p i t a t e of its a b a n -
c a l m o d e s o f r e f l e x i v i t y that m a r k the u n h a p p y c o n s c i o u s n e s s ;
d o n e d object-cathexes," it is the c o n g e a l m e n t of a h i s t o r y of
i n N i e t z s c h e , t u r n i n g b a c k o n oneself suggests a r e t r a c t i n g o f
loss, the s e d i m e n t a t i o n o f r e l a t i o n s o f s u b s t i t u t i o n o v e r t i m e ,
w h a t o n e h a s s a i d o r d o n e , o r a r e c o i l i n g i n s h a m e i n the face
the r e s o l u t i o n o f a t r o p o l o g i c a l f u n c t i o n i n t o the o n t o l o g i c a l
o f w h a t o n e has done. I n A l t h u s s e r , the t u r n that the p e d e s -
effect of the self.
t r i a n m a k e s t o w a r d the v o i c e o f the l a w i s a t o n c e r e f l e x i v e
M o r e o v e r , t h i s s u b s t i t u t i o n o f ego for object d o e s n o t q u i t e
(the m o m e n t of b e c o m i n g a subject w h o s e s e l f - c o n s c i o u s n e s s
w o r k . T h e ego i s a p o o r s u b s t i t u t e for the lost object, a n d its
i s m e d i a t e d b y the l a w ) a n d s e l f - s u b j u g a t i n g .
f a i l u r e to s u b s t i t u t e in a w a y that satisfies (that is, to o v e r c o m e
A c c o r d i n g t o the n a r r a t i v e o f m e l a n c h o l i a that F r e u d p r o -
its status as a s u b s t i t u t i o n ) , l e a d s to the a m b i v a l e n c e that d i s -
v i d e s , the ego i s s a i d t o " t u r n b a c k u p o n i t s e l f " o n c e l o v e fails
t i n g u i s h e s m e l a n c h o l i a . T h e t u r n f r o m the object t o the ego c a n
t o f i n d its object a n d i n s t e a d takes itself a s n o t o n l y a n object o f
n e v e r q u i t e b e a c c o m p l i s h e d ; i t i n v o l v e s f i g u r i n g the ego o n
l o v e , b u t o f a g g r e s s i o n a n d hate a s w e l l . B u t w h a t i s t h i s "self"
the m o d e l o f the object (as s u g g e s t e d i n the i n t r o d u c t o r y p a r a -
that takes itself as its o w n object? Is the o n e w h o " t a k e s " itself
g r a p h s o f " O n N a r c i s s i s m " ) ; i t a l s o i n v o l v e s the u n c o n s c i o u s
a n d the o n e w h o i s " t a k e n " the s a m e ? T h i s s e d u c t i o n o f reflex-
b e l i e f that the ego m i g h t c o m p e n s a t e f o r the loss that is suf-
i v i t y s e e m s t o f o u n d e r l o g i c a l l y , s i n c e i t i s u n c l e a r that t h i s ego
fered. T o the extent that the ego fails t o p r o v i d e s u c h c o m p e n -
c a n exist p r i o r t o its m e l a n c h o l i a . T h e " t u r n " that m a r k s the
s a t i o n , i t e x p o s e s the f a u l t l i n e s i n its o w n t e n u o u s f o u n d a t i o n s .
m e l a n c h o l i c r e s p o n s e t o loss a p p e a r s t o i n i t i a t e the r e d o u b l i n g
A r e w e t o accept that the ego t u r n s f r o m the object t o the
o f the ego a s a n object; o n l y b y t u r n i n g b a c k o n itself d o e s the
ego, or that the ego t u r n s its p a s s i o n , as o n e m i g h t r e d i r e c t a
ego a c q u i r e the status of a p e r c e p t u a l object. M o r e o v e r , the at-
w h e e l , f r o m the object to itself 1 D o e s the s a m e ego t u r n its i n -
t a c h m e n t t o the object that i s u n d e r s t o o d i n m e l a n c h o l i a t o b e
v e s t m e n t f r o m the object t o itself, o r i s the ego f u n d a m e n t a l l y
r e d i r e c t e d t o w a r d the ego u n d e r g o e s a f u n d a m e n t a l t r a n s f o r -
a l t e r e d b y v i r t u e o f b e c o m i n g the object o f s u c h a t u r n ? W h a t
m a t i o n i n the c o u r s e o f that r e d i r e c t i o n . N o t o n l y i s the attach-
i s the status o f " i n v e s t m e n t " a n d " a t t a c h m e n t " ? D o t h e y i n d i -
m e n t s a i d t o g o f r o m l o v e t o hate a s i t m o v e s f r o m the object
cate a f r e e - f l o a t i n g d e s i r e that r e m a i n s the s a m e r e g a r d l e s s of
to the ego, b u t the ego itself is p r o d u c e d as a psychic object; in
the k i n d o f object t o w h i c h i t i s d i r e c t e d ? D o e s the t u r n n o t
fact, the v e r y a r t i c u l a t i o n o f t h i s p s y c h i c space, s o m e t i m e s f i g -
o n l y p r o d u c e the ego b y w h i c h i t i s o s t e n s i b l y i n i t i a t e d b u t
u r e d as " i n t e r n a l , " depends on this m e l a n c h o l i c t u r n .
a l s o s t r u c t u r e the a t t a c h m e n t i t i s s a i d t o r e d i r e c t ?
T h e t u r n f r o m the object t o the ego p r o d u c e s the ego, w h i c h
I s s u c h a t u r n o r r e d i r e c t i o n e v e n p o s s i b l e ? T h e loss f o r
s u b s t i t u t e s for the object lost. T h i s p r o d u c t i o n is a t r o p o l o g i c a l
w h i c h the t u r n seeks t o c o m p e n s a t e i s n o t o v e r c o m e , a n d the
Psychic Inceptions
Melancholy,
Ambivalence,
Rage
171
object i s n o t r e s t o r e d ; rather, the loss b e c o m e s the o p a q u e c o n -
that s u c h a d i v i s i o n c a n b e u n d e r s t o o d a p a r t f r o m its c o n t e x t
d i t i o n f o r the e m e r g e n c e of the ego, a loss that h a u n t s it f r o m
in melancholia. In what follows, I hope to clarify h o w m e l -
the start a s c o n s t i t u t i v e a n d a v o w a b l e . F r e u d r e m a r k s that i n
a n c h o l i a i n v o l v e s the p r o d u c t i o n o f a n i n t e r n a l w o r l d a s w e l l
m o u r n i n g the object i s " d e c l a r e d " lost o r d e a d , b u t i n m e l a n -
as a t o p o g r a p h i c a l set of f i c t i o n s that s t r u c t u r e s the p s y c h e . If
cholia, it follows, no such declaration is possible. M e l a n c h o -
the m e l a n c h o l i c t u r n i s the m e c h a n i s m b y w h i c h the d i s t i n c -
l i a is p r e c i s e l y the effect of u n a v o w a b l e loss. A loss p r i o r to
tion between internal a n d external w o r l d s is instituted, then
s p e e c h a n d d e c l a r a t i o n , i t i s the l i m i t i n g c o n d i t i o n o f its p o s -
m e l a n c h o l i a i n i t i a t e s a v a r i a b l e b o u n d a r y b e t w e e n the p s y c h i c
s i b i l i t y : a w i t h d r a w a l o r r e t r a c t i o n f r o m s p e e c h that m a k e s
a n d the s o c i a l , a b o u n d a r y , I h o p e to s h o w , that d i s t r i b u t e s a n d
s p e e c h p o s s i b l e . I n this sense, m e l a n c h o l i a m a k e s m o u r n i n g
r e g u l a t e s the p s y c h i c s p h e r e i n r e l a t i o n t o p r e v a i l i n g n o r m s o f
p o s s i b l e , a v i e w that F r e u d c a m e to a c c e p t in The Ego and the Id.
social regulation.
2
T h e i n a b i l i t y t o d e c l a r e s u c h a loss s i g n i f i e s the " r e t r a c t i o n "
That a love or desire or l i b i d i n a l attachment is under-
o r " a b s o r p t i o n " o f the loss b y the ego. C l e a r l y , the ego d o e s n o t
s t o o d to take itself as its object, a n d to do t h i s t h r o u g h the
l i t e r a l l y t a k e a n object i n s i d e itself, a s i f the ego w e r e a k i n d o f
f i g u r e o f the t u r n , suggests o n c e a g a i n the t r o p o l o g i c a l b e g i n -
shelter p r i o r t o its m e l a n c h o l y . T h e p s y c h o l o g i c a l d i s c o u r s e s
n i n g s o f subject f o r m a t i o n . F r e u d ' s essay p r e s u m e s that l o v e
that p r e s u m e the t o p o g r a p h i c a l s t a b i l i t y o f a n " i n t e r n a l w o r l d "
o f the object c o m e s first, a n d o n l y u p o n the loss o f the o b -
a n d its v a r i o u s " p a r t s " m i s s the c r u c i a l p o i n t that m e l a n c h o l y
ject does m e l a n c h o l y e m e r g e . C o n s i d e r e d closely, h o w e v e r ,
i s p r e c i s e l y w h a t i n t e r i o r i z e s the p s y c h e , that is, m a k e s i t p o s -
F r e u d ' s essay m a k e s c l e a r that there c a n b e n o ego w i t h o u t
s i b l e t o refer t o the p s y c h e t h r o u g h s u c h t o p o g r a p h i c a l t r o p e s .
m e l a n c h o l i a , that the ego's loss i s c o n s t i t u t i v e . T h e n a r r a t i v e
T h e t u r n f r o m object t o ego i s the m o v e m e n t that m a k e s the
g r a m m a r that m i g h t a c c o u n t for this r e l a t i o n s h i p i s n e c e s s a r i l y
d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n t h e m p o s s i b l e , that m a r k s the d i v i s i o n ,
c o n f o u n d e d f r o m the start.
the s e p a r a t i o n o r loss, that f o r m s the ego t o b e g i n w i t h . I n t h i s
M e l a n c h o l i a does n o t n a m e a p s y c h i c p r o c e s s that m i g h t b e
sense, the t u r n f r o m the object to the ego fails s u c c e s s f u l l y to
recounted t h r o u g h an adequate explanatory scheme. It tends
s u b s t i t u t e the latter f o r the f o r m e r , b u t d o e s s u c c e e d i n m a r k -
t o c o n f o u n d a n y e x p l a n a t i o n o f p s y c h i c p r o c e s s that w e m i g h t
i n g a n d p e r p e t u a t i n g the p a r t i t i o n b e t w e e n the t w o . T h e t u r n
b e i n c l i n e d t o offer. A n d the r e a s o n i t c o n f o u n d s a n y s u c h
t h u s p r o d u c e s the d i v i d e b e t w e e n ego a n d object, the i n t e r n a l
effort is that it m a k e s c l e a r that o u r a b i l i t y to refer to the
a n d e x t e r n a l w o r l d s that i t a p p e a r s t o p r e s u m e .
p s y c h e t h r o u g h t r o p e s o f i n t e r n a l i t y are t h e m s e l v e s effects o f
If a p r e c o n s t i t u t e d ego w e r e able to m a k e s u c h a t u r n f r o m
a m e l a n c h o l i c c o n d i t i o n . M e l a n c h o l i a p r o d u c e s a set of s p a -
an object to itself, it a p p e a r s that it w o u l d h a v e to t u r n f r o m a
t i a l i z i n g t r o p e s f o r p s y c h i c life, d o m i c i l e s o f p r e s e r v a t i o n a n d
p r e c o n s t i t u t e d e x t e r n a l r e a l i t y t o a n i n t e r n a l one. B u t s u c h a n
s h e l t e r a s w e l l a s arenas for s t r u g g l e a n d p e r s e c u t i o n . S u c h
e x p l a n a t i o n c o u l d n o t a c c o u n t for the v e r y d i v i s i o n b e t w e e n
tropes do not " e x p l a i n " m e l a n c h o l i a : they constitute some of
internal a n d external on w h i c h it depends. Indeed, it is unclear
its t a b u l a r d i s c u r s i v e effects. In a m a n n e r that r e c a l l s N i e t z 3
Psychic Inceptions
Melancholy,
Ambivalence,
Rage
171
object i s n o t r e s t o r e d ; rather, the loss b e c o m e s the o p a q u e c o n -
that s u c h a d i v i s i o n c a n b e u n d e r s t o o d a p a r t f r o m its c o n t e x t
d i t i o n f o r the e m e r g e n c e of the ego, a loss that h a u n t s it f r o m
in melancholia. In what follows, I hope to clarify h o w m e l -
the start a s c o n s t i t u t i v e a n d a v o w a b l e . F r e u d r e m a r k s that i n
a n c h o l i a i n v o l v e s the p r o d u c t i o n o f a n i n t e r n a l w o r l d a s w e l l
m o u r n i n g the object i s " d e c l a r e d " lost o r d e a d , b u t i n m e l a n -
as a t o p o g r a p h i c a l set of f i c t i o n s that s t r u c t u r e s the p s y c h e . If
cholia, it follows, no such declaration is possible. M e l a n c h o -
the m e l a n c h o l i c t u r n i s the m e c h a n i s m b y w h i c h the d i s t i n c -
l i a is p r e c i s e l y the effect of u n a v o w a b l e loss. A loss p r i o r to
tion between internal a n d external w o r l d s is instituted, then
s p e e c h a n d d e c l a r a t i o n , i t i s the l i m i t i n g c o n d i t i o n o f its p o s -
m e l a n c h o l i a i n i t i a t e s a v a r i a b l e b o u n d a r y b e t w e e n the p s y c h i c
s i b i l i t y : a w i t h d r a w a l o r r e t r a c t i o n f r o m s p e e c h that m a k e s
a n d the s o c i a l , a b o u n d a r y , I h o p e to s h o w , that d i s t r i b u t e s a n d
s p e e c h p o s s i b l e . I n this sense, m e l a n c h o l i a m a k e s m o u r n i n g
r e g u l a t e s the p s y c h i c s p h e r e i n r e l a t i o n t o p r e v a i l i n g n o r m s o f
p o s s i b l e , a v i e w that F r e u d c a m e to a c c e p t in The Ego and the Id.
social regulation.
2
T h e i n a b i l i t y t o d e c l a r e s u c h a loss s i g n i f i e s the " r e t r a c t i o n "
That a love or desire or l i b i d i n a l attachment is under-
o r " a b s o r p t i o n " o f the loss b y the ego. C l e a r l y , the ego d o e s n o t
s t o o d to take itself as its object, a n d to do t h i s t h r o u g h the
l i t e r a l l y t a k e a n object i n s i d e itself, a s i f the ego w e r e a k i n d o f
f i g u r e o f the t u r n , suggests o n c e a g a i n the t r o p o l o g i c a l b e g i n -
shelter p r i o r t o its m e l a n c h o l y . T h e p s y c h o l o g i c a l d i s c o u r s e s
n i n g s o f subject f o r m a t i o n . F r e u d ' s essay p r e s u m e s that l o v e
that p r e s u m e the t o p o g r a p h i c a l s t a b i l i t y o f a n " i n t e r n a l w o r l d "
o f the object c o m e s first, a n d o n l y u p o n the loss o f the o b -
a n d its v a r i o u s " p a r t s " m i s s the c r u c i a l p o i n t that m e l a n c h o l y
ject does m e l a n c h o l y e m e r g e . C o n s i d e r e d closely, h o w e v e r ,
i s p r e c i s e l y w h a t i n t e r i o r i z e s the p s y c h e , that is, m a k e s i t p o s -
F r e u d ' s essay m a k e s c l e a r that there c a n b e n o ego w i t h o u t
s i b l e t o refer t o the p s y c h e t h r o u g h s u c h t o p o g r a p h i c a l t r o p e s .
m e l a n c h o l i a , that the ego's loss i s c o n s t i t u t i v e . T h e n a r r a t i v e
T h e t u r n f r o m object t o ego i s the m o v e m e n t that m a k e s the
g r a m m a r that m i g h t a c c o u n t for this r e l a t i o n s h i p i s n e c e s s a r i l y
d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n t h e m p o s s i b l e , that m a r k s the d i v i s i o n ,
c o n f o u n d e d f r o m the start.
the s e p a r a t i o n o r loss, that f o r m s the ego t o b e g i n w i t h . I n t h i s
M e l a n c h o l i a does n o t n a m e a p s y c h i c p r o c e s s that m i g h t b e
sense, the t u r n f r o m the object to the ego fails s u c c e s s f u l l y to
recounted t h r o u g h an adequate explanatory scheme. It tends
s u b s t i t u t e the latter f o r the f o r m e r , b u t d o e s s u c c e e d i n m a r k -
t o c o n f o u n d a n y e x p l a n a t i o n o f p s y c h i c p r o c e s s that w e m i g h t
i n g a n d p e r p e t u a t i n g the p a r t i t i o n b e t w e e n the t w o . T h e t u r n
b e i n c l i n e d t o offer. A n d the r e a s o n i t c o n f o u n d s a n y s u c h
t h u s p r o d u c e s the d i v i d e b e t w e e n ego a n d object, the i n t e r n a l
effort is that it m a k e s c l e a r that o u r a b i l i t y to refer to the
a n d e x t e r n a l w o r l d s that i t a p p e a r s t o p r e s u m e .
p s y c h e t h r o u g h t r o p e s o f i n t e r n a l i t y are t h e m s e l v e s effects o f
If a p r e c o n s t i t u t e d ego w e r e able to m a k e s u c h a t u r n f r o m
a m e l a n c h o l i c c o n d i t i o n . M e l a n c h o l i a p r o d u c e s a set of s p a -
an object to itself, it a p p e a r s that it w o u l d h a v e to t u r n f r o m a
t i a l i z i n g t r o p e s f o r p s y c h i c life, d o m i c i l e s o f p r e s e r v a t i o n a n d
p r e c o n s t i t u t e d e x t e r n a l r e a l i t y t o a n i n t e r n a l one. B u t s u c h a n
s h e l t e r a s w e l l a s arenas for s t r u g g l e a n d p e r s e c u t i o n . S u c h
e x p l a n a t i o n c o u l d n o t a c c o u n t for the v e r y d i v i s i o n b e t w e e n
tropes do not " e x p l a i n " m e l a n c h o l i a : they constitute some of
internal a n d external on w h i c h it depends. Indeed, it is unclear
its t a b u l a r d i s c u r s i v e effects. In a m a n n e r that r e c a l l s N i e t z 3
172
Psychic Inceptions
Melancholy,
Ambivalence,
Rage
173
sche's a c c o u n t of the f a b r i c a t i o n of c o n s c i e n c e , F r e u d offers a
tutes for the p e r s o n a n d that, p r e s u m a b l y , r e n d e r s the p e r s o n
v i e w of conscience as an agency a n d " i n s t i t u t i o n " p r o d u c e d
lost, i s u n k n o w a b l e .
and maintained by melancholy.
F r e u d says m e l a n c h o l i a i s r e l a t e d t o " a n object-loss w i t h -
A l t h o u g h F r e u d seeks t o d i s t i n g u i s h m o u r n i n g a n d m e l a n -
d r a w n f r o m c o n s c i o u s n e s s , " b u t t o the extent that m o u r n i n g
c h o l i a i n t h i s essay, h e offers a p o r t r a i t o f m e l a n c h o l i a that
is related to substitute ideals a n d abstractions such as "coun-
c o n t i n u a l l y blurs into his v i e w of m o u r n i n g . He begins his de-
t r y a n d l i b e r t y , " i t t o o i s c l e a r l y c o n s t i t u t e d t h r o u g h the loss o f
s c r i p t i o n , for i n s t a n c e , b y r e m a r k i n g that m o u r n i n g m a y b e a
the object, a d o u b l e loss that i n v o l v e s b o t h the s u b s t i t u t e i d e a l
" r e a c t i o n to the loss of a l o v e d p e r s o n , or to the loss of s o m e
a n d the p e r s o n . W h e r e a s i n m e l a n c h o l i a the i d e a l i s o c c l u d e d
a b s t r a c t i o n that has t a k e n the p l a c e o f o n e , s u c h a s one's c o u n -
a n d o n e does n o t k n o w w h a t o n e has lost " i n " the p e r s o n lost,
try, l i b e r t y , a n i d e a l , a n d s o o n " (243). A t first, m o u r n i n g seems
i n m o u r n i n g o n e r i s k s n o t k n o w i n g w h o m o n e has lost " i n "
t o h a v e t w o f o r m s , o n e i n w h i c h s o m e o n e i s lost, s o m e o n e r e a l
l o s i n g the i d e a l .
i s lost, a n d a n o t h e r , i n w h i c h w h a t i s lost i n the s o m e o n e r e a l
L a t e r i n the essay F r e u d specifies the p s y c h i c s y s t e m s i n
i s i d e a l , the loss o f a n i d e a l . A s the essay p r o g r e s s e s , i t a p p e a r s
w h i c h m e l a n c h o l y takes p l a c e a n d w h a t i t m e a n s for m e l a n -
that the loss o f the i d e a l , "the loss o f a m o r e i d e a l k i n d " i s
c h o l y t o b e r e l a t e d t o " a n object-loss w i t h d r a w n f r o m c o n -
correlated w i t h melancholia. A l r e a d y w i t h i n m o u r n i n g , h o w -
s c i o u s n e s s . " H e w r i t e s that "the u n c o n s c i o u s [ t h i n g - ] p r e s e n -
ever, the loss m a y b e o f a n a b s t r a c t i o n o r a n i d e a l , o n e that
t a t i o n [Dingvorstellung] of the object has b e e n a b a n d o n e d by
has t a k e n the p l a c e o f the o n e w h o i s lost. A f e w p a r a g r a p h s
the l i b i d o " (256)." T h e " t h i n g - p r e s e n t a t i o n " of the object is
later, h e notes that " m e l a n c h o l i a t o o m a y b e the r e a c t i o n t o
n o t the object itself, b u t a c a t h e c t e d trace, o n e that is, in r e -
the loss of a l o v e d object" a n d that " w h e r e the e x c i t i n g causes
l a t i o n to the object, a l r e a d y a s u b s t i t u t e a n d a d e r i v a t i v e . In
are d i f f e r e n t [ f r o m m o u r n i n g ] o n e c a n r e c o g n i z e that there i s
m o u r n i n g , the traces o f the object, its i n n u m e r a b l e " l i n k s , " are
a loss of a m o r e i d e a l k i n d . " If o n e m o u r n s f o r the loss of
o v e r c o m e p i e c e m e a l o v e r t i m e . I n m e l a n c h o l i a , the p r e s e n c e
a n i d e a l , a n d that i d e a l m a y s u b s t i t u t e for a p e r s o n w h o has
o f a m b i v a l e n c e i n r e l a t i o n t o the object m a k e s a n y s u c h p r o -
b e e n lost, o r w h o s e l o v e i s b e l i e v e d t o b e lost, t h e n i t m a k e s
g r e s s i v e d e - l i n k i n g o f l i b i d i n a l a t t a c h m e n t i m p o s s i b l e . Rather,
no sense to c l a i m that m e l a n c h o l i a is d i s t i n g u i s h e d as a loss
" c o u n t l e s s separate s t r u g g l e s are c a r r i e d o n o v e r the object, i n
o f " a m o r e i d e a l k i n d . " A n d yet, a different k i n d o f d i s t i n c t i o n
w h i c h l o v e a n d hate c o n t e n d w i t h e a c h o t h e r ; the o n e seeks
b e t w e e n the t w o e m e r g e s w h e n F r e u d c l a i m s , w i t h reference
t o d e t a c h the l i b i d o f r o m the object, the o t h e r t o m a i n t a i n this
t o m o u r n i n g , that the i d e a l m a y h a v e s u b s t i t u t e d for the p e r -
p o s i t i o n o f the l i b i d o a g a i n s t the assault." T h i s s t r a n g e battle-
s o n a n d , w i t h reference t o m e l a n c h o l i a , that the m e l a n c h o l i c
f i e l d i s t o b e f o u n d , F r e u d m a i n t a i n s , i n "the r e g i o n o f the
" k n o w s w h o m h e has lost b u t n o t what h e h a s lost i n h i m . " I n
m e m o r y - t r a c e s of things."
m e l a n c h o l i a , the i d e a l that the p e r s o n r e p r e s e n t s a p p e a r s t o b e
A m b i v a l e n c e m a y b e a c h a r a c t e r i s t i c feature o f e v e r y l o v e
u n k n o w a b l e ; i n m o u r n i n g , the p e r s o n , o r the i d e a l that s u b s t i -
a t t a c h m e n t that a p a r t i c u l a r ego m a k e s , o r i t m a y " p r o c e e d
172
Psychic Inceptions
Melancholy,
Ambivalence,
Rage
173
sche's a c c o u n t of the f a b r i c a t i o n of c o n s c i e n c e , F r e u d offers a
tutes for the p e r s o n a n d that, p r e s u m a b l y , r e n d e r s the p e r s o n
v i e w of conscience as an agency a n d " i n s t i t u t i o n " p r o d u c e d
lost, i s u n k n o w a b l e .
and maintained by melancholy.
F r e u d says m e l a n c h o l i a i s r e l a t e d t o " a n object-loss w i t h -
A l t h o u g h F r e u d seeks t o d i s t i n g u i s h m o u r n i n g a n d m e l a n -
d r a w n f r o m c o n s c i o u s n e s s , " b u t t o the extent that m o u r n i n g
c h o l i a i n t h i s essay, h e offers a p o r t r a i t o f m e l a n c h o l i a that
is related to substitute ideals a n d abstractions such as "coun-
c o n t i n u a l l y blurs into his v i e w of m o u r n i n g . He begins his de-
t r y a n d l i b e r t y , " i t t o o i s c l e a r l y c o n s t i t u t e d t h r o u g h the loss o f
s c r i p t i o n , for i n s t a n c e , b y r e m a r k i n g that m o u r n i n g m a y b e a
the object, a d o u b l e loss that i n v o l v e s b o t h the s u b s t i t u t e i d e a l
" r e a c t i o n to the loss of a l o v e d p e r s o n , or to the loss of s o m e
a n d the p e r s o n . W h e r e a s i n m e l a n c h o l i a the i d e a l i s o c c l u d e d
a b s t r a c t i o n that has t a k e n the p l a c e o f o n e , s u c h a s one's c o u n -
a n d o n e does n o t k n o w w h a t o n e has lost " i n " the p e r s o n lost,
try, l i b e r t y , a n i d e a l , a n d s o o n " (243). A t first, m o u r n i n g seems
i n m o u r n i n g o n e r i s k s n o t k n o w i n g w h o m o n e has lost " i n "
t o h a v e t w o f o r m s , o n e i n w h i c h s o m e o n e i s lost, s o m e o n e r e a l
l o s i n g the i d e a l .
i s lost, a n d a n o t h e r , i n w h i c h w h a t i s lost i n the s o m e o n e r e a l
L a t e r i n the essay F r e u d specifies the p s y c h i c s y s t e m s i n
i s i d e a l , the loss o f a n i d e a l . A s the essay p r o g r e s s e s , i t a p p e a r s
w h i c h m e l a n c h o l y takes p l a c e a n d w h a t i t m e a n s for m e l a n -
that the loss o f the i d e a l , "the loss o f a m o r e i d e a l k i n d " i s
c h o l y t o b e r e l a t e d t o " a n object-loss w i t h d r a w n f r o m c o n -
correlated w i t h melancholia. A l r e a d y w i t h i n m o u r n i n g , h o w -
s c i o u s n e s s . " H e w r i t e s that "the u n c o n s c i o u s [ t h i n g - ] p r e s e n -
ever, the loss m a y b e o f a n a b s t r a c t i o n o r a n i d e a l , o n e that
t a t i o n [Dingvorstellung] of the object has b e e n a b a n d o n e d by
has t a k e n the p l a c e o f the o n e w h o i s lost. A f e w p a r a g r a p h s
the l i b i d o " (256)." T h e " t h i n g - p r e s e n t a t i o n " of the object is
later, h e notes that " m e l a n c h o l i a t o o m a y b e the r e a c t i o n t o
n o t the object itself, b u t a c a t h e c t e d trace, o n e that is, in r e -
the loss of a l o v e d object" a n d that " w h e r e the e x c i t i n g causes
l a t i o n to the object, a l r e a d y a s u b s t i t u t e a n d a d e r i v a t i v e . In
are d i f f e r e n t [ f r o m m o u r n i n g ] o n e c a n r e c o g n i z e that there i s
m o u r n i n g , the traces o f the object, its i n n u m e r a b l e " l i n k s , " are
a loss of a m o r e i d e a l k i n d . " If o n e m o u r n s f o r the loss of
o v e r c o m e p i e c e m e a l o v e r t i m e . I n m e l a n c h o l i a , the p r e s e n c e
a n i d e a l , a n d that i d e a l m a y s u b s t i t u t e for a p e r s o n w h o has
o f a m b i v a l e n c e i n r e l a t i o n t o the object m a k e s a n y s u c h p r o -
b e e n lost, o r w h o s e l o v e i s b e l i e v e d t o b e lost, t h e n i t m a k e s
g r e s s i v e d e - l i n k i n g o f l i b i d i n a l a t t a c h m e n t i m p o s s i b l e . Rather,
no sense to c l a i m that m e l a n c h o l i a is d i s t i n g u i s h e d as a loss
" c o u n t l e s s separate s t r u g g l e s are c a r r i e d o n o v e r the object, i n
o f " a m o r e i d e a l k i n d . " A n d yet, a different k i n d o f d i s t i n c t i o n
w h i c h l o v e a n d hate c o n t e n d w i t h e a c h o t h e r ; the o n e seeks
b e t w e e n the t w o e m e r g e s w h e n F r e u d c l a i m s , w i t h reference
t o d e t a c h the l i b i d o f r o m the object, the o t h e r t o m a i n t a i n this
t o m o u r n i n g , that the i d e a l m a y h a v e s u b s t i t u t e d for the p e r -
p o s i t i o n o f the l i b i d o a g a i n s t the assault." T h i s s t r a n g e battle-
s o n a n d , w i t h reference t o m e l a n c h o l i a , that the m e l a n c h o l i c
f i e l d i s t o b e f o u n d , F r e u d m a i n t a i n s , i n "the r e g i o n o f the
" k n o w s w h o m h e has lost b u t n o t what h e h a s lost i n h i m . " I n
m e m o r y - t r a c e s of things."
m e l a n c h o l i a , the i d e a l that the p e r s o n r e p r e s e n t s a p p e a r s t o b e
A m b i v a l e n c e m a y b e a c h a r a c t e r i s t i c feature o f e v e r y l o v e
u n k n o w a b l e ; i n m o u r n i n g , the p e r s o n , o r the i d e a l that s u b s t i -
a t t a c h m e n t that a p a r t i c u l a r ego m a k e s , o r i t m a y " p r o c e e d
Psychic Inceptions
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Ambivalence,
Rage
175
p r e c i s e l y f r o m those e x p e r i e n c e s that i n v o l v e d the threat o f
T h e a m b i v a l e n c e that i s w i t h d r a w n f r o m c o n s c i o u s n e s s r e -
l o s i n g the object" (256). T h i s last r e m a r k suggests, h o w e v e r ,
m a i n s w i t h d r a w n " n o t u n t i l the o u t c o m e characteristic o f
that ambivalence may well be a result of loss, that the loss of an
m e l a n c h o l y h a s set i n " (257; " b i s n i c h t d e r f u r d i e M e l a n c h o l i e
object p r e c i p i t a t e s a n a m b i v a l e n c e t o w a r d i t a s p a r t o f the
c h a r a k t e r i s t i s c h e A u s g a n g e i n g e t r e t e n i s t " [211]). W h a t i s t h i s
p r o c e s s of l e t t i n g it go. If so, t h e n m e l a n c h o l i a , d e n n e d as the
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c " e x i t " o r " p o i n t o f d e p a r t u r e " that m e l a n c h o l y
a m b i v a l e n t r e a c t i o n t o loss, m a y b e c o e x t e n s i v e w i t h loss, s o
takes? F r e u d w r i t e s , " t h i s , a s w e k n o w , consists i n the threat-
that m o u r n i n g i s s u b s u m e d i n m e l a n c h o l i a . F r e u d ' s s t a t e m e n t
e n e d l i b i d i n a l c a t h e x i s a t l e n g t h a b a n d o n i n g the object, o n l y ,
that m e l a n c h o l i a arises f r o m " a n object-loss w i t h d r a w n f r o m
h o w e v e r , t o d r a w b a c k t o the p l a c e i n the ego f r o m w h i c h i t
consciousness" is thus specified in relation to ambivalence:
has p r o c e e d e d . " A m o r e p r e c i s e t r a n s l a t i o n w o u l d c l a r i f y that
5
" e v e r y t h i n g t o d o w i t h these s t r u g g l e s d u e t o a m b i v a l e n c e r e -
m e l a n c h o l i a i n v o l v e s a n a t t e m p t t o s u b s t i t u t e the ego f o r that
m a i n s w i t h d r a w n f r o m c o n s c i o u s n e s s , u n t i l the o u t c o m e c h a r -
cathexis, o n e that i n v o l v e s a r e t u r n of the cathexis to its p o i n t
a c t e r i s t i c o f m e l a n c h o l i a h a s set i n . " T h e a m b i v a l e n c e r e m a i n s
o f o r i g i n : the t h r e a t e n e d c a t h e x i s i s a b a n d o n e d , b u t o n l y t o
entzogen—withdrawn—only to
take on a s p e c i f i c f o r m in m e l -
pull itself back onto the place of the ego ("aber n u r , um s i c h a u f
a n c h o l i a , o n e i n w h i c h different aspects o f the p s y c h e a r e a c -
d i e S t e l l e des Ichs . . . z u r ù c k z u z i e h e n " ) , a p l a c e f r o m w h i c h
c o r d e d o p p o s i n g p o s i t i o n s w i t h i n the r e l a t i o n o f a m b i v a l e n c e .
the t h r e a t e n e d a t t a c h m e n t has d e p a r t e d ( " v o n d e r sie a u s g e -
F r e u d offers t h i s p s y c h i c a r t i c u l a t i o n o f a m b i v a l e n c e a s " a c o n -
gangen war").
flict b e t w e e n o n e p a r t o f the ego a n d the c r i t i c a l a g e n c y " a s a n
I n m e l a n c h o l i a , c a t h e x i s i s u n d e r s t o o d t o engage reflex-
a c c o u n t o f the f o r m a t i o n o f the s u p e r - e g o i n its c r i t i c a l r e l a t i o n
i v e l y w i t h itself ( " u m s i c h a u f d i e Stelle des Ichs . . . z u r ù c k -
t o the ego. A m b i v a l e n c e t h u s p r e c e d e s the p s y c h i c t o p o g r a -
z u z i e h e n " ) a n d , s p e c i f i c a l l y , t o d r a w o r p u l l itself i n a n d b a c k
p h y o f s u p e r - e g o / e g o ; its m e l a n c h o l i c a r t i c u l a t i o n i s offered
t o the p l a c e o f its o w n d e p a r t u r e o r g o i n g - o u t . T h i s " p l a c e "
a s the c o n d i t i o n o f p o s s i b i l i t y o f that v e r y t o p o g r a p h y . T h u s ,
of the ego is n o t q u i t e the s a m e as the ego itself, b u t s e e m s
i t w o u l d m a k e n o sense t o seek r e c o u r s e t o s u c h a t o p o g r a p h y
to r e p r e s e n t a p o i n t of d e p a r t u r e , an Ausgangspunkt, for the
to explain m e l a n c h o l i a , if the a m b i v a l e n c e that is s a i d to d i s -
l i b i d o , a s w e l l a s the m e l a n c h o l i c site o f its r e t u r n . I n t h i s r e -
tinguish melancholia is what then becomes articulated—after
t u r n of l i b i d o to its p l a c e of d e p a r t u r e , a p l a c e of the ego, a
a p e r i o d o f b e i n g w i t h d r a w n f r o m c o n s c i o u s n e s s — a s ego a n d
m e l a n c h o l i c c i r c u m s c r i p t i o n o f l i b i d o takes p l a c e .
super-ego. T h e internal topography by w h i c h melancholia is
T h i s r e t u r n is described as a w i t h d r a w a l , a d r a w i n g or p u l l -
p a r t i a l l y e x p l a i n e d i s itself the effect o f that m e l a n c h o l i a . W a l -
i n g b a c k (zuriickziehung), b u t also, in the n e x t l i n e , as a flight:
ter B e n j a m i n r e m a r k s that m e l a n c h o l i a s p a t i a l i z e s , a n d that
" D i e L i e b e hat s i c h s o d u r c h i h r e F l u c h t i n s I c h d e r A u f h e b u n g
its effort t o r e v e r s e o r s u s p e n d t i m e p r o d u c e s " l a n d s c a p e s " a s
e n t z o g e n " (210). A l t h o u g h t h i s l i n e i s t r a n s l a t e d i n f a m o u s l y
its s i g n a t u r e effect. O n e m i g h t p r o f i t a b l y r e a d the F r e u d i a n
a s " S o b y t a k i n g f l i g h t i n t o the ego l o v e escapes e x t i n c t i o n "
t o p o g r a p h y that m e l a n c h o l y o c c a s i o n s as p r e c i s e l y s u c h a s p a -
(257), the sense o f e s c a p i n g e x t i n c t i o n i s n o t p r e c i s e l y r i g h t .
t i a l i z e d l a n d s c a p e o f the m i n d .
T h e w o r d entzogen, for i n s t a n c e , w a s p r e v i o u s l y t r a n s l a t e d a s
6
7
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Melancholy,
Ambivalence,
Rage
175
p r e c i s e l y f r o m those e x p e r i e n c e s that i n v o l v e d the threat o f
T h e a m b i v a l e n c e that i s w i t h d r a w n f r o m c o n s c i o u s n e s s r e -
l o s i n g the object" (256). T h i s last r e m a r k suggests, h o w e v e r ,
m a i n s w i t h d r a w n " n o t u n t i l the o u t c o m e characteristic o f
that ambivalence may well be a result of loss, that the loss of an
m e l a n c h o l y h a s set i n " (257; " b i s n i c h t d e r f u r d i e M e l a n c h o l i e
object p r e c i p i t a t e s a n a m b i v a l e n c e t o w a r d i t a s p a r t o f the
c h a r a k t e r i s t i s c h e A u s g a n g e i n g e t r e t e n i s t " [211]). W h a t i s t h i s
p r o c e s s of l e t t i n g it go. If so, t h e n m e l a n c h o l i a , d e n n e d as the
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c " e x i t " o r " p o i n t o f d e p a r t u r e " that m e l a n c h o l y
a m b i v a l e n t r e a c t i o n t o loss, m a y b e c o e x t e n s i v e w i t h loss, s o
takes? F r e u d w r i t e s , " t h i s , a s w e k n o w , consists i n the threat-
that m o u r n i n g i s s u b s u m e d i n m e l a n c h o l i a . F r e u d ' s s t a t e m e n t
e n e d l i b i d i n a l c a t h e x i s a t l e n g t h a b a n d o n i n g the object, o n l y ,
that m e l a n c h o l i a arises f r o m " a n object-loss w i t h d r a w n f r o m
h o w e v e r , t o d r a w b a c k t o the p l a c e i n the ego f r o m w h i c h i t
consciousness" is thus specified in relation to ambivalence:
has p r o c e e d e d . " A m o r e p r e c i s e t r a n s l a t i o n w o u l d c l a r i f y that
5
" e v e r y t h i n g t o d o w i t h these s t r u g g l e s d u e t o a m b i v a l e n c e r e -
m e l a n c h o l i a i n v o l v e s a n a t t e m p t t o s u b s t i t u t e the ego f o r that
m a i n s w i t h d r a w n f r o m c o n s c i o u s n e s s , u n t i l the o u t c o m e c h a r -
cathexis, o n e that i n v o l v e s a r e t u r n of the cathexis to its p o i n t
a c t e r i s t i c o f m e l a n c h o l i a h a s set i n . " T h e a m b i v a l e n c e r e m a i n s
o f o r i g i n : the t h r e a t e n e d c a t h e x i s i s a b a n d o n e d , b u t o n l y t o
entzogen—withdrawn—only to
take on a s p e c i f i c f o r m in m e l -
pull itself back onto the place of the ego ("aber n u r , um s i c h a u f
a n c h o l i a , o n e i n w h i c h different aspects o f the p s y c h e a r e a c -
d i e S t e l l e des Ichs . . . z u r ù c k z u z i e h e n " ) , a p l a c e f r o m w h i c h
c o r d e d o p p o s i n g p o s i t i o n s w i t h i n the r e l a t i o n o f a m b i v a l e n c e .
the t h r e a t e n e d a t t a c h m e n t has d e p a r t e d ( " v o n d e r sie a u s g e -
F r e u d offers t h i s p s y c h i c a r t i c u l a t i o n o f a m b i v a l e n c e a s " a c o n -
gangen war").
flict b e t w e e n o n e p a r t o f the ego a n d the c r i t i c a l a g e n c y " a s a n
I n m e l a n c h o l i a , c a t h e x i s i s u n d e r s t o o d t o engage reflex-
a c c o u n t o f the f o r m a t i o n o f the s u p e r - e g o i n its c r i t i c a l r e l a t i o n
i v e l y w i t h itself ( " u m s i c h a u f d i e Stelle des Ichs . . . z u r ù c k -
t o the ego. A m b i v a l e n c e t h u s p r e c e d e s the p s y c h i c t o p o g r a -
z u z i e h e n " ) a n d , s p e c i f i c a l l y , t o d r a w o r p u l l itself i n a n d b a c k
p h y o f s u p e r - e g o / e g o ; its m e l a n c h o l i c a r t i c u l a t i o n i s offered
t o the p l a c e o f its o w n d e p a r t u r e o r g o i n g - o u t . T h i s " p l a c e "
a s the c o n d i t i o n o f p o s s i b i l i t y o f that v e r y t o p o g r a p h y . T h u s ,
of the ego is n o t q u i t e the s a m e as the ego itself, b u t s e e m s
i t w o u l d m a k e n o sense t o seek r e c o u r s e t o s u c h a t o p o g r a p h y
to r e p r e s e n t a p o i n t of d e p a r t u r e , an Ausgangspunkt, for the
to explain m e l a n c h o l i a , if the a m b i v a l e n c e that is s a i d to d i s -
l i b i d o , a s w e l l a s the m e l a n c h o l i c site o f its r e t u r n . I n t h i s r e -
tinguish melancholia is what then becomes articulated—after
t u r n of l i b i d o to its p l a c e of d e p a r t u r e , a p l a c e of the ego, a
a p e r i o d o f b e i n g w i t h d r a w n f r o m c o n s c i o u s n e s s — a s ego a n d
m e l a n c h o l i c c i r c u m s c r i p t i o n o f l i b i d o takes p l a c e .
super-ego. T h e internal topography by w h i c h melancholia is
T h i s r e t u r n is described as a w i t h d r a w a l , a d r a w i n g or p u l l -
p a r t i a l l y e x p l a i n e d i s itself the effect o f that m e l a n c h o l i a . W a l -
i n g b a c k (zuriickziehung), b u t also, in the n e x t l i n e , as a flight:
ter B e n j a m i n r e m a r k s that m e l a n c h o l i a s p a t i a l i z e s , a n d that
" D i e L i e b e hat s i c h s o d u r c h i h r e F l u c h t i n s I c h d e r A u f h e b u n g
its effort t o r e v e r s e o r s u s p e n d t i m e p r o d u c e s " l a n d s c a p e s " a s
e n t z o g e n " (210). A l t h o u g h t h i s l i n e i s t r a n s l a t e d i n f a m o u s l y
its s i g n a t u r e effect. O n e m i g h t p r o f i t a b l y r e a d the F r e u d i a n
a s " S o b y t a k i n g f l i g h t i n t o the ego l o v e escapes e x t i n c t i o n "
t o p o g r a p h y that m e l a n c h o l y o c c a s i o n s as p r e c i s e l y s u c h a s p a -
(257), the sense o f e s c a p i n g e x t i n c t i o n i s n o t p r e c i s e l y r i g h t .
t i a l i z e d l a n d s c a p e o f the m i n d .
T h e w o r d entzogen, for i n s t a n c e , w a s p r e v i o u s l y t r a n s l a t e d a s
6
7
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Ambivalence,
Rage
177
" w i t h d r a w n " a n d Aufhebung c a r r i e s a n o t o r i o u s l y a m b i g u o u s
r e p r e s e n t e d to c o n s c i o u s n e s s as a c o n f l i c t b e t w e e n p a r t s of the
set o f m e a n i n g s f r o m its c i r c u l a t i o n w i t h i n H e g e l i a n d i s c o u r s e :
ego; i n d e e d , the ego c o m e s t o b e r e p r e s e n t e d i n p a r t s o n l y o n
cancellation but not quite extinction; suspension, preserva-
the c o n d i t i o n that s u c h a w i t h d r a w a l o r r e g r e s s i o n has t a k e n
t i o n , a n d o v e r c o m i n g . T h r o u g h its f l i g h t i n t o the ego, o r i n the
p l a c e . I f m e l a n c h o l i a c o n s t i t u t e s the w i t h d r a w a l o r r e g r e s s i o n
ego, l o v e has w i t h d r a w n o r t a k e n a w a y its o w n o v e r c o m i n g ,
o f a m b i v a l e n c e , a n d i f that a m b i v a l e n c e b e c o m e s c o n s c i o u s
w i t h d r a w n a transformation, rendered it psychic. H e r e it is
t h r o u g h b e i n g r e p r e s e n t e d a s o p p o s i t i o n a l p a r t s o f the ego,
not a question of love "escaping an extinction" mandated f r o m
a n d that r e p r e s e n t a t i o n i s m a d e p o s s i b l e o n the c o n d i t i o n o f
e l s e w h e r e ; rather, l o v e i t s e l f w i t h d r a w s o r takes a w a y the d e -
that w i t h d r a w a l , t h e n i t f o l l o w s that t h i s p r é f i g u r a t i o n o f the
s t r u c t i o n o f the object, takes i t o n a s its o w n d e s t r u c t i v e n e s s .
t o p o g r a p h i c a l d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n ego a n d s u p e r - e g o i s i t s e l f
I n s t e a d o f b r e a k i n g w i t h the object, o r t r a n s f o r m i n g the object
d e p e n d e n t u p o n m e l a n c h o l i a . M e l a n c h o l i a p r o d u c e s the p o s -
t h r o u g h m o u r n i n g , t h i s Aufhebung—this a c t i v e , n e g a t i n g , a n d
s i b i l i t y for the r e p r e s e n t a t i o n of p s y c h i c life. T h e Aufhebung
t r a n s f o r m a t i v e m o v e m e n t — i s t a k e n i n t o the ego. T h e " f l i g h t "
that i s w i t h d r a w n — o n e that m i g h t h a v e m e a n t the o v e r c o m i n g
of l o v e i n t o the ego is t h i s effort to s q u i r r e l the Aufhebung a w a y
of loss t h r o u g h a t t a c h m e n t to a s u b s t i t u t e o b j e c t — i s an Auf-
inside, to w i t h d r a w it f r o m external reality, a n d to institute an
hebung that r e e m e r g e s w i t h i n a n d as r e p r e s e n t a t i o n , a c a n c e l -
i n t e r n a l t o p o g r a p h y i n w h i c h the a m b i v a l e n c e m i g h t f i n d a n
l a t i o n a n d p r e s e r v a t i o n of the object, a set of " w o r d - t r a c e s " (to
altered articulation. The w i t h d r a w a l of ambivalence thus p r o -
u s e F r e u d ' s t e r m ) that b e c o m e s the p s y c h o a n a l y t i c r e p r e s e n -
d u c e s the p o s s i b i l i t y of a p s y c h i c t r a n s f o r m a t i o n , i n d e e d , a
t a t i o n o f p s y c h i c life.
fabulation of psychic topography.
T o w h a t extent d o e s m e l a n c h o l i a r e p r e s e n t a n o t h e r w i s e
T h i s f l i g h t a n d w i t h d r a w a l i s n a m e d , i n the n e x t l i n e , a s a
unrepresentable ambivalence by fabulating psychic topogra-
r e g r e s s i o n , o n e that m a k e s p o s s i b l e the c o n s c i o u s r e p r e s e n t a -
p h i e s ? R e p r e s e n t a t i o n i s itself i m p l i c a t e d i n m e l a n c h o l i a , that
t i o n o f m e l a n c h o l i a : " A f t e r t h i s r e g r e s s i o n o f the l i b i d o the p r o -
is, the effort to r e - p r e s e n t that is at an i n f i n i t e d i s t a n c e f r o m its
cess c a n b e c o m e c o n s c i o u s , and it is represented to consciousness
object. M o r e s p e c i f i c a l l y , m e l a n c h o l i a p r o v i d e s the c o n d i t i o n
as a conflict between one part of the ego and the critical agency [ u n d
o f p o s s i b i l i t y for the a r t i c u l a t i o n o f p s y c h i c t o p o g r a p h i e s , o f
r e p r a s e n t i e r t s i c h d e m B e w u s s t s e i n als e i n K o n f l i k t z w i s c h e n
the ego i n its c o n s t i t u t i v e r e l a t i o n t o the s u p e r - e g o a n d t h u s o f
e i n e m T e i l des Ichs a n d d e r k r i t i s c h e n I n s t a n z ; m y e m p h a s i s ] . "
the ego itself. A l t h o u g h the ego i s s a i d t o b e the p o i n t o f d e p a r -
W h e r e a s o n e m i g h t e x p e c t that the r e g r e s s i o n o f the l i b i d o ,
t u r e for a l i b i d o that i s s u b s e q u e n t l y w i t h d r a w n i n t o the ego,
its b e i n g w i t h d r a w n i n t o c o n s c i o u s n e s s (as w e l l a s the w i t h -
i t n o w a p p e a r s that o n l y u p o n s u c h a w i t h d r a w a l c a n the ego
d r a w a l o f a m b i v a l e n c e i n t o c o n s c i o u s n e s s ) i s the f a i l u r e o f its
e m e r g e a s a n object for c o n s c i o u s n e s s , s o m e t h i n g that m i g h t
a r t i c u l a t i o n , the o p p o s i t e a p p e a r s t o b e the case. O n l y u p o n
be r e p r e s e n t e d at a l l , w h e t h e r as a p o i n t of d e p a r t u r e or a site
the c o n d i t i o n o f s u c h a w i t h d r a w a l d o e s m e l a n c h o l i a t a k e
o f r e t u r n . I n d e e d , the p h r a s e " w i t h d r a w n i n t o the e g o " i s the
a conscious f o r m . The w i t h d r a w a l or regression of libido is
r e t r o a c t i v e p r o d u c t o f the m e l a n c h o l i c p r o c e s s i t p u r p o r t s t o
176
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177
" w i t h d r a w n " a n d Aufhebung c a r r i e s a n o t o r i o u s l y a m b i g u o u s
r e p r e s e n t e d to c o n s c i o u s n e s s as a c o n f l i c t b e t w e e n p a r t s of the
set o f m e a n i n g s f r o m its c i r c u l a t i o n w i t h i n H e g e l i a n d i s c o u r s e :
ego; i n d e e d , the ego c o m e s t o b e r e p r e s e n t e d i n p a r t s o n l y o n
cancellation but not quite extinction; suspension, preserva-
the c o n d i t i o n that s u c h a w i t h d r a w a l o r r e g r e s s i o n has t a k e n
t i o n , a n d o v e r c o m i n g . T h r o u g h its f l i g h t i n t o the ego, o r i n the
p l a c e . I f m e l a n c h o l i a c o n s t i t u t e s the w i t h d r a w a l o r r e g r e s s i o n
ego, l o v e has w i t h d r a w n o r t a k e n a w a y its o w n o v e r c o m i n g ,
o f a m b i v a l e n c e , a n d i f that a m b i v a l e n c e b e c o m e s c o n s c i o u s
w i t h d r a w n a transformation, rendered it psychic. H e r e it is
t h r o u g h b e i n g r e p r e s e n t e d a s o p p o s i t i o n a l p a r t s o f the ego,
not a question of love "escaping an extinction" mandated f r o m
a n d that r e p r e s e n t a t i o n i s m a d e p o s s i b l e o n the c o n d i t i o n o f
e l s e w h e r e ; rather, l o v e i t s e l f w i t h d r a w s o r takes a w a y the d e -
that w i t h d r a w a l , t h e n i t f o l l o w s that t h i s p r é f i g u r a t i o n o f the
s t r u c t i o n o f the object, takes i t o n a s its o w n d e s t r u c t i v e n e s s .
t o p o g r a p h i c a l d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n ego a n d s u p e r - e g o i s i t s e l f
I n s t e a d o f b r e a k i n g w i t h the object, o r t r a n s f o r m i n g the object
d e p e n d e n t u p o n m e l a n c h o l i a . M e l a n c h o l i a p r o d u c e s the p o s -
t h r o u g h m o u r n i n g , t h i s Aufhebung—this a c t i v e , n e g a t i n g , a n d
s i b i l i t y for the r e p r e s e n t a t i o n of p s y c h i c life. T h e Aufhebung
t r a n s f o r m a t i v e m o v e m e n t — i s t a k e n i n t o the ego. T h e " f l i g h t "
that i s w i t h d r a w n — o n e that m i g h t h a v e m e a n t the o v e r c o m i n g
of l o v e i n t o the ego is t h i s effort to s q u i r r e l the Aufhebung a w a y
of loss t h r o u g h a t t a c h m e n t to a s u b s t i t u t e o b j e c t — i s an Auf-
inside, to w i t h d r a w it f r o m external reality, a n d to institute an
hebung that r e e m e r g e s w i t h i n a n d as r e p r e s e n t a t i o n , a c a n c e l -
i n t e r n a l t o p o g r a p h y i n w h i c h the a m b i v a l e n c e m i g h t f i n d a n
l a t i o n a n d p r e s e r v a t i o n of the object, a set of " w o r d - t r a c e s " (to
altered articulation. The w i t h d r a w a l of ambivalence thus p r o -
u s e F r e u d ' s t e r m ) that b e c o m e s the p s y c h o a n a l y t i c r e p r e s e n -
d u c e s the p o s s i b i l i t y of a p s y c h i c t r a n s f o r m a t i o n , i n d e e d , a
t a t i o n o f p s y c h i c life.
fabulation of psychic topography.
T o w h a t extent d o e s m e l a n c h o l i a r e p r e s e n t a n o t h e r w i s e
T h i s f l i g h t a n d w i t h d r a w a l i s n a m e d , i n the n e x t l i n e , a s a
unrepresentable ambivalence by fabulating psychic topogra-
r e g r e s s i o n , o n e that m a k e s p o s s i b l e the c o n s c i o u s r e p r e s e n t a -
p h i e s ? R e p r e s e n t a t i o n i s itself i m p l i c a t e d i n m e l a n c h o l i a , that
t i o n o f m e l a n c h o l i a : " A f t e r t h i s r e g r e s s i o n o f the l i b i d o the p r o -
is, the effort to r e - p r e s e n t that is at an i n f i n i t e d i s t a n c e f r o m its
cess c a n b e c o m e c o n s c i o u s , and it is represented to consciousness
object. M o r e s p e c i f i c a l l y , m e l a n c h o l i a p r o v i d e s the c o n d i t i o n
as a conflict between one part of the ego and the critical agency [ u n d
o f p o s s i b i l i t y for the a r t i c u l a t i o n o f p s y c h i c t o p o g r a p h i e s , o f
r e p r a s e n t i e r t s i c h d e m B e w u s s t s e i n als e i n K o n f l i k t z w i s c h e n
the ego i n its c o n s t i t u t i v e r e l a t i o n t o the s u p e r - e g o a n d t h u s o f
e i n e m T e i l des Ichs a n d d e r k r i t i s c h e n I n s t a n z ; m y e m p h a s i s ] . "
the ego itself. A l t h o u g h the ego i s s a i d t o b e the p o i n t o f d e p a r -
W h e r e a s o n e m i g h t e x p e c t that the r e g r e s s i o n o f the l i b i d o ,
t u r e for a l i b i d o that i s s u b s e q u e n t l y w i t h d r a w n i n t o the ego,
its b e i n g w i t h d r a w n i n t o c o n s c i o u s n e s s (as w e l l a s the w i t h -
i t n o w a p p e a r s that o n l y u p o n s u c h a w i t h d r a w a l c a n the ego
d r a w a l o f a m b i v a l e n c e i n t o c o n s c i o u s n e s s ) i s the f a i l u r e o f its
e m e r g e a s a n object for c o n s c i o u s n e s s , s o m e t h i n g that m i g h t
a r t i c u l a t i o n , the o p p o s i t e a p p e a r s t o b e the case. O n l y u p o n
be r e p r e s e n t e d at a l l , w h e t h e r as a p o i n t of d e p a r t u r e or a site
the c o n d i t i o n o f s u c h a w i t h d r a w a l d o e s m e l a n c h o l i a t a k e
o f r e t u r n . I n d e e d , the p h r a s e " w i t h d r a w n i n t o the e g o " i s the
a conscious f o r m . The w i t h d r a w a l or regression of libido is
r e t r o a c t i v e p r o d u c t o f the m e l a n c h o l i c p r o c e s s i t p u r p o r t s t o
178
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Ambivalence,
Rage
179
describe. T h u s it does not, strictly speaking, describe a pre-
ego, s u g g e s t i n g that i n s o m e p r i o r state, t h i s c r i t i c a l f a c u l t y
constituted psychic process but emerges in a belated fashion
w a s n o t yet separate. H o w , p r e c i s e l y , this s p l i t t i n g o f the ego
as a representation c o n d i t i o n e d by m e l a n c h o l i c w i t h d r a w a l .
i n t o p a r t s o c c u r s is, i t seems, p a r t o f the strange, f a b u l a t i n g
T h i s last p o i n t raises the q u e s t i o n o f the status o f the p s y -
scene i n i t i a t e d b y m e l a n c h o l y , the w i t h d r a w a l o f c a t h e x i s f r o m
c h i c t o p o g r a p h i e s that p r e d o m i n a t e i n this a n d o t h e r essays
the object to the ego, a n d the s u b s e q u e n t e m e r g e n c e of a r e p -
b y F r e u d . A l t h o u g h o n e m i g h t e x p e c t that s u c h t o p o g r a p h i e s
r e s e n t a t i o n o f the p s y c h e i n t e r m s o f s p l i t s a n d parts, a r t i c u l a t -
are to be r e a d as the e x p l a n a t o r y a p p a r a t u s of p s y c h o a n a l y -
i n g ambivalence a n d internal antagonism. Is this t o p o g r a p h y
sis a n d n o t , a s i t w e r e , o n e o f its t e x t u a l i z e d s y m p t o m s , F r e u d
n o t s y m p t o m a t i c o f w h a t i t seeks t o e x p l a i n ? H o w else d o w e
suggests that the v e r y d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n ego a n d s u p e r - e g o
e x p l a i n this i n t e r i o r i z a t i o n o f the p s y c h e a n d its e x p r e s s i o n
c a n b e t r a c e d t o a n a m b i v a l e n c e that i s first w i t h d r a w n f r o m
h e r e as a scene of p a r t i t i o n a n d c o n f r o n t a t i o n ? Is there an i m -
consciousness a n d then reemerges as a p s y c h i c topography
p l i c i t s o c i a l text i n this t o p o g r a p h i c a l r e n d i t i o n o f p s y c h i c life,
i n w h i c h " c r i t i c a l a g e n c y " i s s p l i t off f r o m the ego. S i m i l a r l y ,
o n e that i n s t a l l s a n t a g o n i s m (the threat of j u d g m e n t ) as the
i n h i s d i s c u s s i o n o f the self-beratements o f the s u p e r - e g o , h e
s t r u c t u r a l n e c e s s i t y o f the t o p o g r a p h i c a l m o d e l , o n e that f o l -
refers t e l l i n g l y to c o n s c i e n c e as "one of the m a j o r i n s t i t u t i o n s
lows f r o m melancholia a n d f r o m a w i t h d r a w a l of attachment?
of the ego."
M e l a n c h o l i a d e s c r i b e s a p r o c e s s b y w h i c h a n o r i g i n a l l y ex-
C l e a r l y p l a y i n g on a metaphor of a socially constructed d o -
t e r n a l object i s lost, o r a n i d e a l i s lost, a n d the r e f u s a l t o b r e a k
m a i n o f p o w e r , F r e u d ' s reference t o c o n s c i e n c e a s " a m o n g the
the a t t a c h m e n t t o s u c h a n object o r i d e a l l e a d s t o the w i t h -
m a j o r i n s t i t u t i o n s of the ego [Ichinstitutionen]" (247) suggests
d r a w a l of the object i n t o the ego, the r e p l a c e m e n t of the object
n o t o n l y that c o n s c i e n c e i s i n s t i t u t e d , p r o d u c e d , a n d m a i n -
b y the ego, a n d the s e t t i n g u p o f a n i n n e r w o r l d i n w h i c h a
t a i n e d w i t h i n a l a r g e r p o l i t y a n d its o r g a n i z a t i o n , b u t that the
c r i t i c a l a g e n c y i s s p l i t off f r o m the ego a n d p r o c e e d s t o take
ego a n d its v a r i o u s p a r t s are accessible t h r o u g h a m e t a p h o r i c a l
the ego as its object. In a w e l l - k n o w n passage, F r e u d m a k e s
l a n g u a g e that attributes a s o c i a l c o n t e n t a n d s t r u c t u r e to these
c l e a r that the a c c u s a t i o n s that the c r i t i c a l a g e n c y is s a i d to l e v e l
p r e s u m a b l y psychic phenomena. A l t h o u g h F r e u d begins his
against the ego t u r n o u t t o b e v e r y m u c h l i k e the a c c u s a t i o n s
essay b y i n s i s t i n g o n the i n d i s p u t a b l y " p s y c h o g e n i c n a t u r e "
that the ego w o u l d h a v e l e v e l e d a g a i n s t the object o r the i d e a l .
(243) o f the m e l a n c h o l i a a n d m o u r n i n g u n d e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n
T h u s , the ego a b s o r b s b o t h l o v e a n d rage a g a i n s t the object.
i n the essay, h e also p r o v i d e s s o c i a l m e t a p h o r s that n o t o n l y
M e l a n c h o l i a appears to be a process of internalization, a n d one
g o v e r n the t o p o g r a p h i c d e s c r i p t i o n s o f m e l a n c h o l y ' s o p e r a -
m i g h t w e l l r e a d its effects as a p s y c h i c state that has e f f e c t i v e l y
tion, but i m p l i c i t l y u n d o his o w n c l a i m to p r o v i d e a specifi-
s u b s t i t u t e d itself for the w o r l d i n w h i c h i t d w e l l s . T h e effect o f
c a l l y p s y c h o g e n i c e x p l a n a t i o n o f these p s y c h i c states. F r e u d
m e l a n c h o l i a , t h e n , a p p e a r s t o b e the loss o f the s o c i a l w o r l d ,
d e s c r i b e s "one p a r t of the ego [that] sets itself o v e r against the
the s u b s t i t u t i o n o f p s y c h i c p a r t s a n d a n t a g o n i s m s f o r e x t e r n a l
other, j u d g e s it c r i t i c a l l y , a n d , as it w e r e , takes it as its object."
r e l a t i o n s a m o n g s o c i a l actors: " a n object-loss w a s t r a n s f o r m e d
A c r i t i c a l a g e n c y is s a i d to be " s p l i t off" (abgespalten) f r o m the
i n t o a n ego-loss a n d the c o n f l i c t b e t w e e n the ego a n d the l o v e d
178
Psychic Inceptions
Melancholy,
Ambivalence,
Rage
179
describe. T h u s it does not, strictly speaking, describe a pre-
ego, s u g g e s t i n g that i n s o m e p r i o r state, t h i s c r i t i c a l f a c u l t y
constituted psychic process but emerges in a belated fashion
w a s n o t yet separate. H o w , p r e c i s e l y , this s p l i t t i n g o f the ego
as a representation c o n d i t i o n e d by m e l a n c h o l i c w i t h d r a w a l .
i n t o p a r t s o c c u r s is, i t seems, p a r t o f the strange, f a b u l a t i n g
T h i s last p o i n t raises the q u e s t i o n o f the status o f the p s y -
scene i n i t i a t e d b y m e l a n c h o l y , the w i t h d r a w a l o f c a t h e x i s f r o m
c h i c t o p o g r a p h i e s that p r e d o m i n a t e i n this a n d o t h e r essays
the object to the ego, a n d the s u b s e q u e n t e m e r g e n c e of a r e p -
b y F r e u d . A l t h o u g h o n e m i g h t e x p e c t that s u c h t o p o g r a p h i e s
r e s e n t a t i o n o f the p s y c h e i n t e r m s o f s p l i t s a n d parts, a r t i c u l a t -
are to be r e a d as the e x p l a n a t o r y a p p a r a t u s of p s y c h o a n a l y -
i n g ambivalence a n d internal antagonism. Is this t o p o g r a p h y
sis a n d n o t , a s i t w e r e , o n e o f its t e x t u a l i z e d s y m p t o m s , F r e u d
n o t s y m p t o m a t i c o f w h a t i t seeks t o e x p l a i n ? H o w else d o w e
suggests that the v e r y d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n ego a n d s u p e r - e g o
e x p l a i n this i n t e r i o r i z a t i o n o f the p s y c h e a n d its e x p r e s s i o n
c a n b e t r a c e d t o a n a m b i v a l e n c e that i s first w i t h d r a w n f r o m
h e r e as a scene of p a r t i t i o n a n d c o n f r o n t a t i o n ? Is there an i m -
consciousness a n d then reemerges as a p s y c h i c topography
p l i c i t s o c i a l text i n this t o p o g r a p h i c a l r e n d i t i o n o f p s y c h i c life,
i n w h i c h " c r i t i c a l a g e n c y " i s s p l i t off f r o m the ego. S i m i l a r l y ,
o n e that i n s t a l l s a n t a g o n i s m (the threat of j u d g m e n t ) as the
i n h i s d i s c u s s i o n o f the self-beratements o f the s u p e r - e g o , h e
s t r u c t u r a l n e c e s s i t y o f the t o p o g r a p h i c a l m o d e l , o n e that f o l -
refers t e l l i n g l y to c o n s c i e n c e as "one of the m a j o r i n s t i t u t i o n s
lows f r o m melancholia a n d f r o m a w i t h d r a w a l of attachment?
of the ego."
M e l a n c h o l i a d e s c r i b e s a p r o c e s s b y w h i c h a n o r i g i n a l l y ex-
C l e a r l y p l a y i n g on a metaphor of a socially constructed d o -
t e r n a l object i s lost, o r a n i d e a l i s lost, a n d the r e f u s a l t o b r e a k
m a i n o f p o w e r , F r e u d ' s reference t o c o n s c i e n c e a s " a m o n g the
the a t t a c h m e n t t o s u c h a n object o r i d e a l l e a d s t o the w i t h -
m a j o r i n s t i t u t i o n s of the ego [Ichinstitutionen]" (247) suggests
d r a w a l of the object i n t o the ego, the r e p l a c e m e n t of the object
n o t o n l y that c o n s c i e n c e i s i n s t i t u t e d , p r o d u c e d , a n d m a i n -
b y the ego, a n d the s e t t i n g u p o f a n i n n e r w o r l d i n w h i c h a
t a i n e d w i t h i n a l a r g e r p o l i t y a n d its o r g a n i z a t i o n , b u t that the
c r i t i c a l a g e n c y i s s p l i t off f r o m the ego a n d p r o c e e d s t o take
ego a n d its v a r i o u s p a r t s are accessible t h r o u g h a m e t a p h o r i c a l
the ego as its object. In a w e l l - k n o w n passage, F r e u d m a k e s
l a n g u a g e that attributes a s o c i a l c o n t e n t a n d s t r u c t u r e to these
c l e a r that the a c c u s a t i o n s that the c r i t i c a l a g e n c y is s a i d to l e v e l
p r e s u m a b l y psychic phenomena. A l t h o u g h F r e u d begins his
against the ego t u r n o u t t o b e v e r y m u c h l i k e the a c c u s a t i o n s
essay b y i n s i s t i n g o n the i n d i s p u t a b l y " p s y c h o g e n i c n a t u r e "
that the ego w o u l d h a v e l e v e l e d a g a i n s t the object o r the i d e a l .
(243) o f the m e l a n c h o l i a a n d m o u r n i n g u n d e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n
T h u s , the ego a b s o r b s b o t h l o v e a n d rage a g a i n s t the object.
i n the essay, h e also p r o v i d e s s o c i a l m e t a p h o r s that n o t o n l y
M e l a n c h o l i a appears to be a process of internalization, a n d one
g o v e r n the t o p o g r a p h i c d e s c r i p t i o n s o f m e l a n c h o l y ' s o p e r a -
m i g h t w e l l r e a d its effects as a p s y c h i c state that has e f f e c t i v e l y
tion, but i m p l i c i t l y u n d o his o w n c l a i m to p r o v i d e a specifi-
s u b s t i t u t e d itself for the w o r l d i n w h i c h i t d w e l l s . T h e effect o f
c a l l y p s y c h o g e n i c e x p l a n a t i o n o f these p s y c h i c states. F r e u d
m e l a n c h o l i a , t h e n , a p p e a r s t o b e the loss o f the s o c i a l w o r l d ,
d e s c r i b e s "one p a r t of the ego [that] sets itself o v e r against the
the s u b s t i t u t i o n o f p s y c h i c p a r t s a n d a n t a g o n i s m s f o r e x t e r n a l
other, j u d g e s it c r i t i c a l l y , a n d , as it w e r e , takes it as its object."
r e l a t i o n s a m o n g s o c i a l actors: " a n object-loss w a s t r a n s f o r m e d
A c r i t i c a l a g e n c y is s a i d to be " s p l i t off" (abgespalten) f r o m the
i n t o a n ego-loss a n d the c o n f l i c t b e t w e e n the ego a n d the l o v e d
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p e r s o n i n t o a c l e a v a g e b e t w e e n the c r i t i c a l a c t i v i t y o f the ego
p r o c e s s ) t r a n s f o r m s the object (one m i g h t e v e n u s e the t e r m
a n d the ego a s a l t e r e d b y i d e n t i f i c a t i o n " (249).
Aufhebung for s u c h a t r a n s f o r m a t i o n ) ; the o t h e r is t a k e n in
8
T h e object i s lost, a n d the ego i s s a i d t o w i t h d r a w the o b -
a n d t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o a n ego, b u t a n ego t o b e r e v i l e d , t h e r e b y
ject i n t o itself. T h e "object" t h u s w i t h d r a w n i s a l r e a d y m a g i c a l ,
b o t h p r o d u c i n g a n d s t r e n g t h e n i n g the c r i t i c a l " a g e n c y . . .
a trace of s o m e k i n d , a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of the object, b u t n o t
c o m m o n l y called conscience." A f o r m of m o r a l reflexivity is
the object itself, w h i c h is, after a l l , gone. T h e ego i n t o w h i c h
p r o d u c e d i n w h i c h the ego s p l i t s itself t o f u r n i s h a n i n t e r -
t h i s r e m n a n t i s " b r o u g h t " i s n o t e x a c t l y a s h e l t e r f o r lost p a r t -
n a l p e r s p e c t i v e b y w h i c h t o j u d g e itself. T h i s r e f l e x i v e r e l a -
objects, a l t h o u g h i t i s s o m e t i m e s d e s c r i b e d that w a y . T h e ego
t i o n b y w h i c h the ego b e c o m e s a n object f o r itself t u r n s o u t
i s " a l t e r e d b y i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , " that is, a l t e r e d b y v i r t u e o f ab-
to be a w i t h d r a w n a n d t r a n s f o r m e d (entzogen a n d aufgehoben)
s o r b i n g the object o r p u l l i n g b a c k its o w n c a t h e x i s o n t o itself.
r e l a t i o n t o the lost o t h e r ; i n t h i s sense, r e f l e x i v i t y a p p e a r s t o
T h e " p r i c e " o f s u c h a n i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , h o w e v e r , i s that the ego
d e p e n d u p o n the p r i o r o p e r a t i o n o f m e l a n c h o l i a . T h e ego i s
s p l i t s i n t o the c r i t i c a l a g e n c y a n d the ego a s object o f c r i t i c i s m
a l s o f i g u r e d as h a v i n g a voice t h r o u g h this p r o c e s s , a n d it a p -
a n d j u d g m e n t . T h u s the r e l a t i o n t o the object r e a p p e a r s " i n "
p e a r s i m p e r a t i v e w i t h i n m e l a n c h o l i a that s e l f - b e r a t e m e n t b e
the ego, n o t m e r e l y as a m e n t a l e v e n t or s i n g u l a r r e p r e s e n -
v o i c e d , n o t m e r e l y t o oneself, b u t i n the p r e s e n c e o f others.
t a t i o n , b u t as a scene of s e l f - b e r a t e m e n t that r e c o n f i g u r e s the
T h e s e l f - r e p r o a c h e s o f the ego are n o t s i m p l y the i m i t a t i o n
t o p o g r a p h y o f the ego, a f a n t a s y o f i n t e r n a l p a r t i t i o n a n d j u d g -
o f r e p r o a c h e s o n c e l e v e l e d a g a i n s t the ego f r o m the o n e lost,
m e n t that c o m e s t o s t r u c t u r e the r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f p s y c h i c life
a s i s c o m m o n l y a s s u m e d ; rather, t h e y are r e p r o a c h e s l e v e l e d
tout court. T h e ego n o w s t a n d s for the object, a n d the c r i t i c a l
a g a i n s t the o t h e r that n o w t u r n b a c k u p o n the ego.
a g e n c y c o m e s to r e p r e s e n t the ego's d i s o w n e d rage, r e i f i e d as
Before we consider m o r e closely what it means for some-
a p s y c h i c a g e n c y separate f r o m the ego itself. T h a t rage, a n d
t h i n g to " t u r n back u p o n itself" in this way, it seems i m p o r -
the a t t a c h m e n t i t i m p l i e s , are " t u r n e d b a c k u p o n " the ego, b u t
tant t o n o t e that the p s y c h i c f o r m o f r e f l e x i v i t y m e l a n c h o l i a
from where?
elaborates c a r r i e s the trace of the o t h e r w i t h i n it as a d i s s i m u -
Yet c e r t a i n s o c i a l l y i d e n t i f i a b l e features o f the m e l a n c h o l i c ,
l a t e d s o c i a l i t y , a n d that the p e r f o r m a n c e o f m e l a n c h o l i a a s the
i n c l u d i n g " c o m m u n i c a t i v e n e s s , " suggest that m e l a n c h o l i a i s
s h a m e l e s s v o i c i n g o f s e l f - b e r a t e m e n t i n f r o n t o f o t h e r s effects
n o t a n a s o c i a l p s y c h i c state. I n fact, m e l a n c h o l i a i s p r o d u c e d
a d e t o u r that rejoins m e l a n c h o l i a t o its lost o r w i t h d r a w n s o c i -
t o the extent that the s o c i a l w o r l d i s e c l i p s e d b y the p s y c h i c ,
ality. I n m e l a n c h o l i a , n o t o n l y i s the loss o f a n o t h e r o r a n i d e a l
that a c e r t a i n transfer of a t t a c h m e n t f r o m objects to ego takes
lost t o c o n s c i o u s n e s s , b u t the s o c i a l w o r l d i n w h i c h s u c h a loss
p l a c e , n o t w i t h o u t a c o n t a m i n a t i o n o f the p s y c h i c s p h e r e b y
b e c a m e p o s s i b l e i s a l s o lost. T h e m e l a n c h o l i c d o e s n o t m e r e l y
the s o c i a l s p h e r e that i s a b a n d o n e d . F r e u d suggests a s m u c h
w i t h d r a w the lost object f r o m c o n s c i o u s n e s s , b u t w i t h d r a w s
w h e n h e e x p l a i n s that the lost o t h e r i s n o t s i m p l y b r o u g h t i n -
i n t o the p s y c h e a c o n f i g u r a t i o n o f the s o c i a l w o r l d a s w e l l . T h e
s i d e the ego, a s o n e m i g h t shelter a w a y w a r d d o g . T h e act o f
ego thus b e c o m e s a " p o l i t y " a n d c o n s c i e n c e o n e of its " m a j o r
i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n (to be c o n s t r u e d as a f a n t a s y r a t h e r t h a n as a
i n s t i t u t i o n s , " p r e c i s e l y b e c a u s e p s y c h i c life w i t h d r a w s a s o c i a l
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181
p e r s o n i n t o a c l e a v a g e b e t w e e n the c r i t i c a l a c t i v i t y o f the ego
p r o c e s s ) t r a n s f o r m s the object (one m i g h t e v e n u s e the t e r m
a n d the ego a s a l t e r e d b y i d e n t i f i c a t i o n " (249).
Aufhebung for s u c h a t r a n s f o r m a t i o n ) ; the o t h e r is t a k e n in
8
T h e object i s lost, a n d the ego i s s a i d t o w i t h d r a w the o b -
a n d t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o a n ego, b u t a n ego t o b e r e v i l e d , t h e r e b y
ject i n t o itself. T h e "object" t h u s w i t h d r a w n i s a l r e a d y m a g i c a l ,
b o t h p r o d u c i n g a n d s t r e n g t h e n i n g the c r i t i c a l " a g e n c y . . .
a trace of s o m e k i n d , a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of the object, b u t n o t
c o m m o n l y called conscience." A f o r m of m o r a l reflexivity is
the object itself, w h i c h is, after a l l , gone. T h e ego i n t o w h i c h
p r o d u c e d i n w h i c h the ego s p l i t s itself t o f u r n i s h a n i n t e r -
t h i s r e m n a n t i s " b r o u g h t " i s n o t e x a c t l y a s h e l t e r f o r lost p a r t -
n a l p e r s p e c t i v e b y w h i c h t o j u d g e itself. T h i s r e f l e x i v e r e l a -
objects, a l t h o u g h i t i s s o m e t i m e s d e s c r i b e d that w a y . T h e ego
t i o n b y w h i c h the ego b e c o m e s a n object f o r itself t u r n s o u t
i s " a l t e r e d b y i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , " that is, a l t e r e d b y v i r t u e o f ab-
to be a w i t h d r a w n a n d t r a n s f o r m e d (entzogen a n d aufgehoben)
s o r b i n g the object o r p u l l i n g b a c k its o w n c a t h e x i s o n t o itself.
r e l a t i o n t o the lost o t h e r ; i n t h i s sense, r e f l e x i v i t y a p p e a r s t o
T h e " p r i c e " o f s u c h a n i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , h o w e v e r , i s that the ego
d e p e n d u p o n the p r i o r o p e r a t i o n o f m e l a n c h o l i a . T h e ego i s
s p l i t s i n t o the c r i t i c a l a g e n c y a n d the ego a s object o f c r i t i c i s m
a l s o f i g u r e d as h a v i n g a voice t h r o u g h this p r o c e s s , a n d it a p -
a n d j u d g m e n t . T h u s the r e l a t i o n t o the object r e a p p e a r s " i n "
p e a r s i m p e r a t i v e w i t h i n m e l a n c h o l i a that s e l f - b e r a t e m e n t b e
the ego, n o t m e r e l y as a m e n t a l e v e n t or s i n g u l a r r e p r e s e n -
v o i c e d , n o t m e r e l y t o oneself, b u t i n the p r e s e n c e o f others.
t a t i o n , b u t as a scene of s e l f - b e r a t e m e n t that r e c o n f i g u r e s the
T h e s e l f - r e p r o a c h e s o f the ego are n o t s i m p l y the i m i t a t i o n
t o p o g r a p h y o f the ego, a f a n t a s y o f i n t e r n a l p a r t i t i o n a n d j u d g -
o f r e p r o a c h e s o n c e l e v e l e d a g a i n s t the ego f r o m the o n e lost,
m e n t that c o m e s t o s t r u c t u r e the r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f p s y c h i c life
a s i s c o m m o n l y a s s u m e d ; rather, t h e y are r e p r o a c h e s l e v e l e d
tout court. T h e ego n o w s t a n d s for the object, a n d the c r i t i c a l
a g a i n s t the o t h e r that n o w t u r n b a c k u p o n the ego.
a g e n c y c o m e s to r e p r e s e n t the ego's d i s o w n e d rage, r e i f i e d as
Before we consider m o r e closely what it means for some-
a p s y c h i c a g e n c y separate f r o m the ego itself. T h a t rage, a n d
t h i n g to " t u r n back u p o n itself" in this way, it seems i m p o r -
the a t t a c h m e n t i t i m p l i e s , are " t u r n e d b a c k u p o n " the ego, b u t
tant t o n o t e that the p s y c h i c f o r m o f r e f l e x i v i t y m e l a n c h o l i a
from where?
elaborates c a r r i e s the trace of the o t h e r w i t h i n it as a d i s s i m u -
Yet c e r t a i n s o c i a l l y i d e n t i f i a b l e features o f the m e l a n c h o l i c ,
l a t e d s o c i a l i t y , a n d that the p e r f o r m a n c e o f m e l a n c h o l i a a s the
i n c l u d i n g " c o m m u n i c a t i v e n e s s , " suggest that m e l a n c h o l i a i s
s h a m e l e s s v o i c i n g o f s e l f - b e r a t e m e n t i n f r o n t o f o t h e r s effects
n o t a n a s o c i a l p s y c h i c state. I n fact, m e l a n c h o l i a i s p r o d u c e d
a d e t o u r that rejoins m e l a n c h o l i a t o its lost o r w i t h d r a w n s o c i -
t o the extent that the s o c i a l w o r l d i s e c l i p s e d b y the p s y c h i c ,
ality. I n m e l a n c h o l i a , n o t o n l y i s the loss o f a n o t h e r o r a n i d e a l
that a c e r t a i n transfer of a t t a c h m e n t f r o m objects to ego takes
lost t o c o n s c i o u s n e s s , b u t the s o c i a l w o r l d i n w h i c h s u c h a loss
p l a c e , n o t w i t h o u t a c o n t a m i n a t i o n o f the p s y c h i c s p h e r e b y
b e c a m e p o s s i b l e i s a l s o lost. T h e m e l a n c h o l i c d o e s n o t m e r e l y
the s o c i a l s p h e r e that i s a b a n d o n e d . F r e u d suggests a s m u c h
w i t h d r a w the lost object f r o m c o n s c i o u s n e s s , b u t w i t h d r a w s
w h e n h e e x p l a i n s that the lost o t h e r i s n o t s i m p l y b r o u g h t i n -
i n t o the p s y c h e a c o n f i g u r a t i o n o f the s o c i a l w o r l d a s w e l l . T h e
s i d e the ego, a s o n e m i g h t shelter a w a y w a r d d o g . T h e act o f
ego thus b e c o m e s a " p o l i t y " a n d c o n s c i e n c e o n e of its " m a j o r
i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n (to be c o n s t r u e d as a f a n t a s y r a t h e r t h a n as a
i n s t i t u t i o n s , " p r e c i s e l y b e c a u s e p s y c h i c life w i t h d r a w s a s o c i a l
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Ambivalence,
Rage
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w o r l d i n t o itself i n a n effort t o a n n u l the losses that w o r l d d e -
self a n d r e h a b i l i t a t e the o t h e r i n the f o r m o f m y o w n i n t e r n a l
m a n d s . W i t h i n m e l a n c h o l i a , the p s y c h e b e c o m e s the t o p o s i n
a m b i v a l e n c e . I refuse to s p e a k to or of the other, b u t I s p e a k
w h i c h there i s n o loss a n d , i n d e e d , n o n e g a t i o n . M e l a n c h o l i a
v o l u m i n o u s l y a b o u t m y s e l f , l e a v i n g a r e f r a c t e d t r a i l of w h a t I
refuses t o a c k n o w l e d g e loss, a n d i n t h i s sense " p r e s e r v e s " its
d i d n o t say t o o r a b o u t the other. T h e s t r o n g e r the i n h i b i t i o n
lost objects as p s y c h i c effects.
a g a i n s t e x p r e s s i o n , the s t r o n g e r the e x p r e s s i o n o f c o n s c i e n c e .
F r e u d r e m a r k s the s o c i a l c o n d u c t o f the m e l a n c h o l i c , e m -
H o w d o e s t h i s p r o b l e m o f the u n c o n s c i o u s loss, the r e f u s e d
p h a s i z i n g h i s o r her s h a m e l e s s s e l f - e x p o s u r e : "the m e l a n c h o l i c
loss, that m a r k s m e l a n c h o l i a r e t u r n u s t o the p r o b l e m o f the r e -
does n o t b e h a v e i n q u i t e the s a m e w a y a s a p e r s o n w h o i s
l a t i o n b e t w e e n the p s y c h i c a n d the s o c i a l ? I n m o u r n i n g , F r e u d
crushed by remorse a n d self-reproach in a n o r m a l fashion.
tells us, there is n o t h i n g a b o u t the loss that is u n c o n s c i o u s . In
F e e l i n g s o f s h a m e are l a c k i n g . . . o r . . . are n o t p r o m i n e n t . . . .
m e l a n c h o l i a , h e m a i n t a i n s , "the object-loss i s w i t h d r a w n f r o m
O n e m i g h t e m p h a s i z e the p r e s e n c e i n h i m o f a n a l m o s t o p p o -
c o n s c i o u s n e s s " : the object i s n o t o n l y lost, b u t that loss itself i s
site t r a i t o f i n s i s t e n t c o m m u n i c a t i v e n e s s w h i c h f i n d s satisfac-
lost, w i t h d r a w n a n d p r e s e r v e d i n the s u s p e n d e d t i m e o f p s y -
t i o n i n s e l f - e x p o s u r e " (247). T h e m e l a n c h o l i c s u s t a i n s a n i n -
c h i c life. I n o t h e r w o r d s , a c c o r d i n g t o the m e l a n c h o l i c , " I h a v e
d i r e c t a n d d e f l e c t e d r e l a t i o n s h i p t o the s o c i a l i t y f r o m w h i c h
lost n o t h i n g . "
he or she has w i t h d r a w n . O n e would have d e n o u n c e d the lost
T h e u n s p e a k a b i l i t y a n d u n r e p r e s e n t a b i l i t y o f t h i s loss t r a n s -
other if one c o u l d — f o r departing, if for no other reason. F u l -
lates d i r e c t l y i n t o a h e i g h t e n i n g o f c o n s c i e n c e . W h e r e o n e
f i l l i n g a w i s h w h o s e f o r m , the past s u b j u n c t i v e , p r e c l u d e s
m i g h t e x p e c t that c o n s c i e n c e w o u l d w a x a n d w a n e a c c o r d i n g
a n y s u c h f u l f i l l m e n t , the m e l a n c h o l i c seeks n o t o n l y t o r e -
t o the s t r e n g t h o f e x t e r n a l l y i m p o s e d p r o h i b i t i o n s , i t a p p e a r s
verse t i m e , r e i n s t a t i n g the i m a g i n a r y past a s the p r e s e n t , b u t
that its s t r e n g t h has m o r e t o d o w i t h m a r s h a l l i n g aggres-
t o o c c u p y e v e r y p o s i t i o n a n d t h e r e b y t o p r e c l u d e the loss o f
s i o n i n the s e r v i c e o f r e f u s i n g t o a c k n o w l e d g e a loss that h a s
the addressee. T h e m e l a n c h o l i c w o u l d h a v e said something, if
a l r e a d y t a k e n p l a c e , a r e f u s a l to lose a t i m e that is a l r e a d y
h e o r she c o u l d , b u t d i d n o t , a n d n o w b e l i e v e s i n the s u s -
gone. O d d l y , the p s y c h e ' s m o r a l i s m a p p e a r s t o b e a n i n d e x o f
t a i n i n g p o w e r o f the v o i c e . V a i n l y , the m e l a n c h o l i c n o w says
its o w n t h w a r t e d g r i e f a n d i l l e g i b l e rage. T h u s , i f the r e l a t i o n
w h a t h e o r she w o u l d h a v e s a i d , a d d r e s s e d o n l y t o h i m s e l f , a s
b e t w e e n m e l a n c h o l i a a n d s o c i a l life i s t o b e r e e s t a b l i s h e d , i t i s
o n e w h o i s a l r e a d y s p l i t off f r o m h i m s e l f , b u t w h o s e p o w e r o f self-address d e p e n d s u p o n this self-forfeiture. T h e m e l a n c h o l i c t h u s b u r r o w s i n a d i r e c t i o n o p p o s i t e t o that i n w h i c h h e m i g h t f i n d a fresher trace of the lost other, a t t e m p t i n g to r e s o l v e the loss t h r o u g h p s y c h i c s u b s t i t u t i o n s a n d c o m p o u n d i n g the loss as he goes. A f a i l u r e of address, a f a i l u r e to s u s t a i n the o t h e r t h r o u g h the v o i c e that addresses, m e l a n c h o l i a e m e r g e s as a c o m p e n s a t o r y f o r m of n e g a t i v e n a r c i s s i s m : I r e v i l e m y -
n o t t o b e m e a s u r e d b y r e g a r d i n g the self-beratements o f c o n science a s m i m e t i c i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n s o f the b e r a t e m e n t s l e v e l e d b y s o c i a l agencies o f j u d g m e n t o r p r o h i b i t i o n . R a t h e r , f o r m s o f s o c i a l p o w e r e m e r g e that r e g u l a t e w h a t losses w i l l a n d w i l l n o t b e g r i e v e d ; i n the s o c i a l f o r e c l o s u r e o f g r i e f w e m i g h t f i n d w h a t fuels the i n t e r n a l v i o l e n c e o f c o n s c i e n c e . A l t h o u g h s o c i a l p o w e r r e g u l a t e s w h a t losses c a n b e g r i e v e d , it is n o t a l w a y s as effective as it a i m s to be. T h e loss c a n -
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Melancholy,
Ambivalence,
Rage
183
w o r l d i n t o itself i n a n effort t o a n n u l the losses that w o r l d d e -
self a n d r e h a b i l i t a t e the o t h e r i n the f o r m o f m y o w n i n t e r n a l
m a n d s . W i t h i n m e l a n c h o l i a , the p s y c h e b e c o m e s the t o p o s i n
a m b i v a l e n c e . I refuse to s p e a k to or of the other, b u t I s p e a k
w h i c h there i s n o loss a n d , i n d e e d , n o n e g a t i o n . M e l a n c h o l i a
v o l u m i n o u s l y a b o u t m y s e l f , l e a v i n g a r e f r a c t e d t r a i l of w h a t I
refuses t o a c k n o w l e d g e loss, a n d i n t h i s sense " p r e s e r v e s " its
d i d n o t say t o o r a b o u t the other. T h e s t r o n g e r the i n h i b i t i o n
lost objects as p s y c h i c effects.
a g a i n s t e x p r e s s i o n , the s t r o n g e r the e x p r e s s i o n o f c o n s c i e n c e .
F r e u d r e m a r k s the s o c i a l c o n d u c t o f the m e l a n c h o l i c , e m -
H o w d o e s t h i s p r o b l e m o f the u n c o n s c i o u s loss, the r e f u s e d
p h a s i z i n g h i s o r her s h a m e l e s s s e l f - e x p o s u r e : "the m e l a n c h o l i c
loss, that m a r k s m e l a n c h o l i a r e t u r n u s t o the p r o b l e m o f the r e -
does n o t b e h a v e i n q u i t e the s a m e w a y a s a p e r s o n w h o i s
l a t i o n b e t w e e n the p s y c h i c a n d the s o c i a l ? I n m o u r n i n g , F r e u d
crushed by remorse a n d self-reproach in a n o r m a l fashion.
tells us, there is n o t h i n g a b o u t the loss that is u n c o n s c i o u s . In
F e e l i n g s o f s h a m e are l a c k i n g . . . o r . . . are n o t p r o m i n e n t . . . .
m e l a n c h o l i a , h e m a i n t a i n s , "the object-loss i s w i t h d r a w n f r o m
O n e m i g h t e m p h a s i z e the p r e s e n c e i n h i m o f a n a l m o s t o p p o -
c o n s c i o u s n e s s " : the object i s n o t o n l y lost, b u t that loss itself i s
site t r a i t o f i n s i s t e n t c o m m u n i c a t i v e n e s s w h i c h f i n d s satisfac-
lost, w i t h d r a w n a n d p r e s e r v e d i n the s u s p e n d e d t i m e o f p s y -
t i o n i n s e l f - e x p o s u r e " (247). T h e m e l a n c h o l i c s u s t a i n s a n i n -
c h i c life. I n o t h e r w o r d s , a c c o r d i n g t o the m e l a n c h o l i c , " I h a v e
d i r e c t a n d d e f l e c t e d r e l a t i o n s h i p t o the s o c i a l i t y f r o m w h i c h
lost n o t h i n g . "
he or she has w i t h d r a w n . O n e would have d e n o u n c e d the lost
T h e u n s p e a k a b i l i t y a n d u n r e p r e s e n t a b i l i t y o f t h i s loss t r a n s -
other if one c o u l d — f o r departing, if for no other reason. F u l -
lates d i r e c t l y i n t o a h e i g h t e n i n g o f c o n s c i e n c e . W h e r e o n e
f i l l i n g a w i s h w h o s e f o r m , the past s u b j u n c t i v e , p r e c l u d e s
m i g h t e x p e c t that c o n s c i e n c e w o u l d w a x a n d w a n e a c c o r d i n g
a n y s u c h f u l f i l l m e n t , the m e l a n c h o l i c seeks n o t o n l y t o r e -
t o the s t r e n g t h o f e x t e r n a l l y i m p o s e d p r o h i b i t i o n s , i t a p p e a r s
verse t i m e , r e i n s t a t i n g the i m a g i n a r y past a s the p r e s e n t , b u t
that its s t r e n g t h has m o r e t o d o w i t h m a r s h a l l i n g aggres-
t o o c c u p y e v e r y p o s i t i o n a n d t h e r e b y t o p r e c l u d e the loss o f
s i o n i n the s e r v i c e o f r e f u s i n g t o a c k n o w l e d g e a loss that h a s
the addressee. T h e m e l a n c h o l i c w o u l d h a v e said something, if
a l r e a d y t a k e n p l a c e , a r e f u s a l to lose a t i m e that is a l r e a d y
h e o r she c o u l d , b u t d i d n o t , a n d n o w b e l i e v e s i n the s u s -
gone. O d d l y , the p s y c h e ' s m o r a l i s m a p p e a r s t o b e a n i n d e x o f
t a i n i n g p o w e r o f the v o i c e . V a i n l y , the m e l a n c h o l i c n o w says
its o w n t h w a r t e d g r i e f a n d i l l e g i b l e rage. T h u s , i f the r e l a t i o n
w h a t h e o r she w o u l d h a v e s a i d , a d d r e s s e d o n l y t o h i m s e l f , a s
b e t w e e n m e l a n c h o l i a a n d s o c i a l life i s t o b e r e e s t a b l i s h e d , i t i s
o n e w h o i s a l r e a d y s p l i t off f r o m h i m s e l f , b u t w h o s e p o w e r o f self-address d e p e n d s u p o n this self-forfeiture. T h e m e l a n c h o l i c t h u s b u r r o w s i n a d i r e c t i o n o p p o s i t e t o that i n w h i c h h e m i g h t f i n d a fresher trace of the lost other, a t t e m p t i n g to r e s o l v e the loss t h r o u g h p s y c h i c s u b s t i t u t i o n s a n d c o m p o u n d i n g the loss as he goes. A f a i l u r e of address, a f a i l u r e to s u s t a i n the o t h e r t h r o u g h the v o i c e that addresses, m e l a n c h o l i a e m e r g e s as a c o m p e n s a t o r y f o r m of n e g a t i v e n a r c i s s i s m : I r e v i l e m y -
n o t t o b e m e a s u r e d b y r e g a r d i n g the self-beratements o f c o n science a s m i m e t i c i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n s o f the b e r a t e m e n t s l e v e l e d b y s o c i a l agencies o f j u d g m e n t o r p r o h i b i t i o n . R a t h e r , f o r m s o f s o c i a l p o w e r e m e r g e that r e g u l a t e w h a t losses w i l l a n d w i l l n o t b e g r i e v e d ; i n the s o c i a l f o r e c l o s u r e o f g r i e f w e m i g h t f i n d w h a t fuels the i n t e r n a l v i o l e n c e o f c o n s c i e n c e . A l t h o u g h s o c i a l p o w e r r e g u l a t e s w h a t losses c a n b e g r i e v e d , it is n o t a l w a y s as effective as it a i m s to be. T h e loss c a n -
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n o t f u l l y b e d e n i e d , b u t n e i t h e r does i t a p p e a r i n a w a y that
Melancholy, Ambivalence, Rage
185
science w o r k i n s u c h a w a y that the s u p e r - e g o gauges the ego
c a n d i r e c t l y b e a f f i r m e d . T h e " p l a i n t s " o f the m e l a n c h o l i c are
against the " e g o - i d e a l . " T h e ego i s f o u n d t o b e i m p o v e r i s h e d
i n v a r i a b l y m i s d i r e c t e d , yet i n t h i s m i s d i r e c t i o n r e s i d e s a n a -
b e s i d e t h i s i d e a l , a n d the " l o s s " that the ego suffers is a loss
scent p o l i t i c a l text. T h e p r o h i b i t i o n on g r i e f registers as a loss
o f c o m m e n s u r a b i l i t y b e t w e e n itself a n d the i d e a l b y w h i c h i t
o f s p e e c h for its addressee. T h e p a i n o f loss i s " c r e d i t e d " t o
is judged. W h e r e does this i d e a l emerge from? Is it a r b i t r a r i l y
the o n e w h o suffers it, a t w h i c h p o i n t the loss i s u n d e r s t o o d
m a n u f a c t u r e d b y the ego, o r d o s u c h i d e a l s r e t a i n the t r a c e o f
as a f a u l t or i n j u r y d e s e r v i n g of redress; o n e seeks r e d r e s s f o r
s o c i a l r e g u l a t i o n a n d n o r m a t i v i t y ? F r e u d r e m a r k s that m e l a n -
h a r m s d o n e t o oneself, b u t f r o m n o o n e e x c e p t oneself.
c h o l i a is a r e s p o n s e n o t just to d e a t h , b u t to o t h e r o r d e r s of
T h e v i o l e n c e o f s o c i a l r e g u l a t i o n i s n o t t o b e f o u n d i n its
loss, i n c l u d i n g "slights a n d d i s a p p o i n t m e n t s " (250). A n d w h e n
u n i l a t e r a l a c t i o n , b u t i n the c i r c u i t o u s r o u t e b y w h i c h the p s y -
h e i n t r o d u c e s the n o t i o n that b o t h m o u r n i n g a n d m e l a n c h o l i a
che accuses itself o f its o w n w o r t h l e s s n e s s . N o d o u b t , t h i s i s a
c a n b e r e s p o n s e s t o the loss o f a n i d e a l , s u c h a s " c o u n t r y " o r
strange a n d o p a q u e s y m p t o m o f u n r e s o l v e d grief. W h y does
" l i b e r t y , " h e m a k e s c l e a r b y h i s e x a m p l e s that s u c h i d e a l s are
the r e t r a c t i o n of the lost o t h e r i n t o the ego, the r e f u s a l to ac-
s o c i a l i n character.
k n o w l e d g e loss, c u l m i n a t e in a d e p r i v a t i o n of the ego? Is the
T h e i d e a l s b y w h i c h the ego j u d g e s itself c l e a r l y are ones b y
loss r e s i t u a t e d i n a w a y that n u l l i f i e s the ego i n o r d e r , p s y -
w h i c h the ego w i l l b e f o u n d w a n t i n g . T h e m e l a n c h o l i c c o m -
c h i c a l l y , to save the object? T h e decrease in self-esteem that is
p a r e s h i m - o r herself i n v i d i o u s l y w i t h s u c h s o c i a l i d e a l s . I f
said to distinguish melancholia f r o m m o u r n i n g appears to re-
t h e y are the p s y c h i c s a n c t i f i c a t i o n o f o n c e - e x t e r n a l objects o r
sult f r o m p r o d i g i o u s efforts b y the c r i t i c a l a g e n c y t o d e p r i v e
i d e a l s , t h e n they are s e e m i n g l y a l s o the target o f a g g r e s s i o n .
the ego of its esteem. B u t o n e c o u l d e q u a l l y say that there is no
I n d e e d , w e m i g h t w e l l ask w h e t h e r the s i t u a t i o n i n w h i c h the
q u e s t i o n o f h i g h o r l o w self-esteem p r i o r t o the o p e r a t i o n o f
ego is, as it w e r e , b e r a t e d by the i d e a l is n o t the i n v e r s i o n of
t h i s c r i t i c a l agency, n o " e s t e e m " that b e l o n g s t o the ego p r i o r t o
a p r i o r s i t u a t i o n i n w h i c h the ego w o u l d , i f i t c o u l d , h a v e b e -
its p a r t i t i o n i n t o ego a n d s u p e r - e g o . P r i o r t o the o p e r a t i o n o f
r a t e d the i d e a l . Is the p s y c h i c v i o l e n c e of c o n s c i e n c e n o t a r e -
a c r i t i c a l agency, it w o u l d be d i f f i c u l t to g a u g e the ego against
f r a c t e d i n d i c t m e n t o f the s o c i a l f o r m s that h a v e m a d e c e r t a i n
an i d e a l , a j u d g m e n t that p r e s u p p o s e s a c r i t i c a l a g e n c y that
k i n d s o f losses u n g r i e v a b l e ?
m i g h t a p p r o v e o r d i s a p p r o v e o f the ego's m o r a l state. I n t h i s
T h u s , a loss i n the w o r l d that c a n n o t b e d e c l a r e d enrages,
sense, self-esteem a p p e a r s t o b e p r o d u c e d b y the v e r y c r i t i c a l
generates a m b i v a l e n c e , a n d b e c o m e s the loss " i n " the ego that
agency by w h i c h it is potentially destroyed.
i s n a m e l e s s a n d d i f f u s e a n d that p r o m p t s p u b l i c r i t u a l s o f self-
F r e u d d o e s refer t o t h i s r e s i t u a t i n g o f loss i n the ego w h e n
b e r a t e m e n t . O f m o u r n i n g , F r e u d w r i t e s that i t " i m p e l s the
he refers to the ego as i m p o v e r i s h e d , as h a v i n g b e c o m e p o o r ,
ego to g i v e up the object by declaring the object to be d e a d "
a n d " a n object-loss . . . t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o an e g o - l o s s " (249).
(257, m y e m p h a s i s ) . M e l a n c h o l i a , i t w o u l d f o l l o w , refuses t o
T h i s loss i n the ego i s a p p a r e n t l y a loss o f a n i d e a l o f itself, a n d
m a k e a n y s u c h d e c l a r a t i o n , d e c l i n e s s p e e c h , s u s p e n d i n g the
i n F r e u d ' s later w o r k , h e specifies that the j u d g m e n t s o f c o n -
" v e r d i c t o f r e a l i t y that the object n o l o n g e r e x i s t s " (255). W e
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n o t f u l l y b e d e n i e d , b u t n e i t h e r does i t a p p e a r i n a w a y that
Melancholy, Ambivalence, Rage
185
science w o r k i n s u c h a w a y that the s u p e r - e g o gauges the ego
c a n d i r e c t l y b e a f f i r m e d . T h e " p l a i n t s " o f the m e l a n c h o l i c are
against the " e g o - i d e a l . " T h e ego i s f o u n d t o b e i m p o v e r i s h e d
i n v a r i a b l y m i s d i r e c t e d , yet i n t h i s m i s d i r e c t i o n r e s i d e s a n a -
b e s i d e t h i s i d e a l , a n d the " l o s s " that the ego suffers is a loss
scent p o l i t i c a l text. T h e p r o h i b i t i o n on g r i e f registers as a loss
o f c o m m e n s u r a b i l i t y b e t w e e n itself a n d the i d e a l b y w h i c h i t
o f s p e e c h for its addressee. T h e p a i n o f loss i s " c r e d i t e d " t o
is judged. W h e r e does this i d e a l emerge from? Is it a r b i t r a r i l y
the o n e w h o suffers it, a t w h i c h p o i n t the loss i s u n d e r s t o o d
m a n u f a c t u r e d b y the ego, o r d o s u c h i d e a l s r e t a i n the t r a c e o f
as a f a u l t or i n j u r y d e s e r v i n g of redress; o n e seeks r e d r e s s f o r
s o c i a l r e g u l a t i o n a n d n o r m a t i v i t y ? F r e u d r e m a r k s that m e l a n -
h a r m s d o n e t o oneself, b u t f r o m n o o n e e x c e p t oneself.
c h o l i a is a r e s p o n s e n o t just to d e a t h , b u t to o t h e r o r d e r s of
T h e v i o l e n c e o f s o c i a l r e g u l a t i o n i s n o t t o b e f o u n d i n its
loss, i n c l u d i n g "slights a n d d i s a p p o i n t m e n t s " (250). A n d w h e n
u n i l a t e r a l a c t i o n , b u t i n the c i r c u i t o u s r o u t e b y w h i c h the p s y -
h e i n t r o d u c e s the n o t i o n that b o t h m o u r n i n g a n d m e l a n c h o l i a
che accuses itself o f its o w n w o r t h l e s s n e s s . N o d o u b t , t h i s i s a
c a n b e r e s p o n s e s t o the loss o f a n i d e a l , s u c h a s " c o u n t r y " o r
strange a n d o p a q u e s y m p t o m o f u n r e s o l v e d grief. W h y does
" l i b e r t y , " h e m a k e s c l e a r b y h i s e x a m p l e s that s u c h i d e a l s are
the r e t r a c t i o n of the lost o t h e r i n t o the ego, the r e f u s a l to ac-
s o c i a l i n character.
k n o w l e d g e loss, c u l m i n a t e in a d e p r i v a t i o n of the ego? Is the
T h e i d e a l s b y w h i c h the ego j u d g e s itself c l e a r l y are ones b y
loss r e s i t u a t e d i n a w a y that n u l l i f i e s the ego i n o r d e r , p s y -
w h i c h the ego w i l l b e f o u n d w a n t i n g . T h e m e l a n c h o l i c c o m -
c h i c a l l y , to save the object? T h e decrease in self-esteem that is
p a r e s h i m - o r herself i n v i d i o u s l y w i t h s u c h s o c i a l i d e a l s . I f
said to distinguish melancholia f r o m m o u r n i n g appears to re-
t h e y are the p s y c h i c s a n c t i f i c a t i o n o f o n c e - e x t e r n a l objects o r
sult f r o m p r o d i g i o u s efforts b y the c r i t i c a l a g e n c y t o d e p r i v e
i d e a l s , t h e n they are s e e m i n g l y a l s o the target o f a g g r e s s i o n .
the ego of its esteem. B u t o n e c o u l d e q u a l l y say that there is no
I n d e e d , w e m i g h t w e l l ask w h e t h e r the s i t u a t i o n i n w h i c h the
q u e s t i o n o f h i g h o r l o w self-esteem p r i o r t o the o p e r a t i o n o f
ego is, as it w e r e , b e r a t e d by the i d e a l is n o t the i n v e r s i o n of
t h i s c r i t i c a l agency, n o " e s t e e m " that b e l o n g s t o the ego p r i o r t o
a p r i o r s i t u a t i o n i n w h i c h the ego w o u l d , i f i t c o u l d , h a v e b e -
its p a r t i t i o n i n t o ego a n d s u p e r - e g o . P r i o r t o the o p e r a t i o n o f
r a t e d the i d e a l . Is the p s y c h i c v i o l e n c e of c o n s c i e n c e n o t a r e -
a c r i t i c a l agency, it w o u l d be d i f f i c u l t to g a u g e the ego against
f r a c t e d i n d i c t m e n t o f the s o c i a l f o r m s that h a v e m a d e c e r t a i n
an i d e a l , a j u d g m e n t that p r e s u p p o s e s a c r i t i c a l a g e n c y that
k i n d s o f losses u n g r i e v a b l e ?
m i g h t a p p r o v e o r d i s a p p r o v e o f the ego's m o r a l state. I n t h i s
T h u s , a loss i n the w o r l d that c a n n o t b e d e c l a r e d enrages,
sense, self-esteem a p p e a r s t o b e p r o d u c e d b y the v e r y c r i t i c a l
generates a m b i v a l e n c e , a n d b e c o m e s the loss " i n " the ego that
agency by w h i c h it is potentially destroyed.
i s n a m e l e s s a n d d i f f u s e a n d that p r o m p t s p u b l i c r i t u a l s o f self-
F r e u d d o e s refer t o t h i s r e s i t u a t i n g o f loss i n the ego w h e n
b e r a t e m e n t . O f m o u r n i n g , F r e u d w r i t e s that i t " i m p e l s the
he refers to the ego as i m p o v e r i s h e d , as h a v i n g b e c o m e p o o r ,
ego to g i v e up the object by declaring the object to be d e a d "
a n d " a n object-loss . . . t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o an e g o - l o s s " (249).
(257, m y e m p h a s i s ) . M e l a n c h o l i a , i t w o u l d f o l l o w , refuses t o
T h i s loss i n the ego i s a p p a r e n t l y a loss o f a n i d e a l o f itself, a n d
m a k e a n y s u c h d e c l a r a t i o n , d e c l i n e s s p e e c h , s u s p e n d i n g the
i n F r e u d ' s later w o r k , h e specifies that the j u d g m e n t s o f c o n -
" v e r d i c t o f r e a l i t y that the object n o l o n g e r e x i s t s " (255). W e
•
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k n o w , h o w e v e r , that the m e l a n c h o l i c i s also " c o m m u n i c a t i v e , "
(246). T h e a g g r e s s i o n t u r n e d against the ego has the p o w e r
w h i c h suggests that h i s o r h e r s p e e c h i s n e i t h e r v e r d i c t i v e
t o contest a n d o v e r c o m e the d e s i r e t o l i v e . A t t h i s p o i n t i n
n o r d e c l a r a t i v e (assertoric), b u t i n e v i t a b l y i n d i r e c t a n d c i r c u -
F r e u d ' s theory, a g g r e s s i o n against o n e s e l f i s d e r i v e d f r o m a n
i t o u s . W h a t c a n n o t b e d e c l a r e d b y the m e l a n c h o l i c i s n e v e r -
o u t w a r d l y d i r e c t e d a g g r e s s i o n against a n other. B u t o n e c a n
theless w h a t g o v e r n s m e l a n c h o l i c s p e e c h — a n u n s p e a k a b i l i t y
d i s c e r n i n this f o r m u l a t i o n the b e g i n n i n g s o f r e f l e c t i o n o n a
that o r g a n i z e s the f i e l d of the s p e a k a b l e .
d r i v e that m i g h t b e s a i d t o c o u n t e r the p l e a s u r e p r i n c i p l e ,
" T h e loss o f the m e l a n c h o l i c seems p u z z l i n g t o u s b e c a u s e
w h a t is later r e f e r r e d to as the d e a t h d r i v e .
we cannot see what it is that is a b s o r b i n g h i m so e n t i r e l y " (247).
I n m e l a n c h o l i a , the ego c o n t r a c t s s o m e t h i n g o f the loss o r
W h a t c a n n o t b e d i r e c t l y s p o k e n i s also w h a t i s o c c l u d e d f r o m
a b a n d o n m e n t b y w h i c h the object i s n o w m a r k e d , a n a b a n -
sight, absent f r o m the v i s u a l f i e l d that o r g a n i z e d m e l a n c h o -
d o n m e n t that i s r e f u s e d a n d , a s r e f u s e d , i s i n c o r p o r a t e d . I n
lia. Melancholia is kept from view; it is an absorption by
this sense, to refuse a loss is to b e c o m e it. If the ego c a n n o t
s o m e t h i n g that c a n n o t b e a c c o m m o d a t e d b y v i s i o n , that re-
accept the loss of the other, t h e n the loss that the o t h e r c o m e s
sists b e i n g b r o u g h t i n t o the o p e n , n e i t h e r seen n o r d e c l a r e d .
t o r e p r e s e n t b e c o m e s the loss that n o w c h a r a c t e r i z e s the ego:
A s p r i v a t e a n d i r r e c o v e r a b l e a s t h i s loss seems, the m e l a n -
the ego b e c o m e s p o o r a n d i m p o v e r i s h e d . A loss s u f f e r e d i n
cholic is strangely outgoing, p u r s u i n g an "insistent c o m m u n i -
the w o r l d b e c o m e s n o w the c h a r a c t e r i s t i c l a c k i n the ego ( a
cativeness w h i c h f i n d s s a t i s f a c t i o n i n s e l f - e x p o s u r e " (247). T h e
s p l i t that is, a s i t w e r e , i m p o r t e d t h r o u g h the n e c e s s a r y w o r k
w o r t h l e s s n e s s o f the ego i s i n s i s t e n t l y c o m m u n i c a t e d . M e l -
of internalization).
ancholic speech, neither verdictive nor declarative, remains
I n t h i s w a y , m e l a n c h o l i a operates i n a d i r e c t i o n d i r e c t l y
u n a b l e t o s p e a k its loss. W h a t the m e l a n c h o l i c does d e c l a r e ,
c o u n t e r t o n a r c i s s i s m . E c h o i n g the b i b l i c a l c a d e n c e o f "the
n a m e l y , h i s o w n w o r t h l e s s n e s s , i d e n t i f i e s the loss a t the s i g h t
s h a d o w o f d e a t h , " a w a y i n w h i c h d e a t h i m p o s e s its p r e s e n c e
of the ego a n d , hence, c o n t i n u e s to f a i l to i d e n t i f y the loss. S e l f - b e r a t e m e n t takes the p l a c e o f a b a n d o n m e n t , a n d b e c o m e s the t o k e n of its r e f u s a l .
o n life, F r e u d r e m a r k s that i n m e l a n c h o l i a "the s h a d o w o f the object fell u p o n the e g o " (249). I n L a c a n ' s essays o n n a r c i s s i s m , the f o r m u l a t i o n i s i m p o r t a n t l y r e v e r s e d : the s h a d o w o f
The heightening of conscience under such circumstances
the ego falls u p o n the object. N a r c i s s i s m c o n t i n u e s t o c o n t r o l
attests to the u n a v o w e d status of the loss. T h e ego b e c o m e s
l o v e , e v e n w h e n that n a r c i s s i s m a p p e a r s t o g i v e w a y t o object-
m o r a l i z e d o n the c o n d i t i o n o f u n g r i e v e d loss. B u t w h a t c o n d i -
l o v e : it is s t i l l m y s e l f that I f i n d there at the site of the object,
t i o n s m a k e i t p o s s i b l e t o g r i e v e , o r n o t t o g r i e v e , loss?
9
m y absence. I n m e l a n c h o l i a t h i s f o r m u l a t i o n i s r e v e r s e d : i n the
T h e ego n o t o n l y b r i n g s the object i n s i d e b u t b r i n g s ag-
p l a c e of the loss that the o t h e r c o m e s to r e p r e s e n t , I f i n d m y -
g r e s s i o n against the object a l o n g w i t h it. T h e m o r e t h i s object
self t o b e that loss, i m p o v e r i s h e d , w a n t i n g . I n n a r c i s s i s t i c l o v e ,
is b r o u g h t i n s i d e , as it w e r e , the h i g h e r the s e l f - d e b a s e m e n t ,
the o t h e r c o n t r a c t s m y a b u n d a n c e . I n m e l a n c h o l i a , I c o n t r a c t
the p o o r e r the ego b e c o m e s : d e l u s i o n a l self-abasement "over-
the o t h e r ' s absence.
c o m e s the i n s t i n c t w h i c h c o m p e l s e v e r y l i v i n g t h i n g t o l i f e "
T h i s o p p o s i t i o n b e t w e e n m e l a n c h o l i a a n d n a r c i s s i s m ges-
•
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k n o w , h o w e v e r , that the m e l a n c h o l i c i s also " c o m m u n i c a t i v e , "
(246). T h e a g g r e s s i o n t u r n e d against the ego has the p o w e r
w h i c h suggests that h i s o r h e r s p e e c h i s n e i t h e r v e r d i c t i v e
t o contest a n d o v e r c o m e the d e s i r e t o l i v e . A t t h i s p o i n t i n
n o r d e c l a r a t i v e (assertoric), b u t i n e v i t a b l y i n d i r e c t a n d c i r c u -
F r e u d ' s theory, a g g r e s s i o n against o n e s e l f i s d e r i v e d f r o m a n
i t o u s . W h a t c a n n o t b e d e c l a r e d b y the m e l a n c h o l i c i s n e v e r -
o u t w a r d l y d i r e c t e d a g g r e s s i o n against a n other. B u t o n e c a n
theless w h a t g o v e r n s m e l a n c h o l i c s p e e c h — a n u n s p e a k a b i l i t y
d i s c e r n i n this f o r m u l a t i o n the b e g i n n i n g s o f r e f l e c t i o n o n a
that o r g a n i z e s the f i e l d of the s p e a k a b l e .
d r i v e that m i g h t b e s a i d t o c o u n t e r the p l e a s u r e p r i n c i p l e ,
" T h e loss o f the m e l a n c h o l i c seems p u z z l i n g t o u s b e c a u s e
w h a t is later r e f e r r e d to as the d e a t h d r i v e .
we cannot see what it is that is a b s o r b i n g h i m so e n t i r e l y " (247).
I n m e l a n c h o l i a , the ego c o n t r a c t s s o m e t h i n g o f the loss o r
W h a t c a n n o t b e d i r e c t l y s p o k e n i s also w h a t i s o c c l u d e d f r o m
a b a n d o n m e n t b y w h i c h the object i s n o w m a r k e d , a n a b a n -
sight, absent f r o m the v i s u a l f i e l d that o r g a n i z e d m e l a n c h o -
d o n m e n t that i s r e f u s e d a n d , a s r e f u s e d , i s i n c o r p o r a t e d . I n
lia. Melancholia is kept from view; it is an absorption by
this sense, to refuse a loss is to b e c o m e it. If the ego c a n n o t
s o m e t h i n g that c a n n o t b e a c c o m m o d a t e d b y v i s i o n , that re-
accept the loss of the other, t h e n the loss that the o t h e r c o m e s
sists b e i n g b r o u g h t i n t o the o p e n , n e i t h e r seen n o r d e c l a r e d .
t o r e p r e s e n t b e c o m e s the loss that n o w c h a r a c t e r i z e s the ego:
A s p r i v a t e a n d i r r e c o v e r a b l e a s t h i s loss seems, the m e l a n -
the ego b e c o m e s p o o r a n d i m p o v e r i s h e d . A loss s u f f e r e d i n
cholic is strangely outgoing, p u r s u i n g an "insistent c o m m u n i -
the w o r l d b e c o m e s n o w the c h a r a c t e r i s t i c l a c k i n the ego ( a
cativeness w h i c h f i n d s s a t i s f a c t i o n i n s e l f - e x p o s u r e " (247). T h e
s p l i t that is, a s i t w e r e , i m p o r t e d t h r o u g h the n e c e s s a r y w o r k
w o r t h l e s s n e s s o f the ego i s i n s i s t e n t l y c o m m u n i c a t e d . M e l -
of internalization).
ancholic speech, neither verdictive nor declarative, remains
I n t h i s w a y , m e l a n c h o l i a operates i n a d i r e c t i o n d i r e c t l y
u n a b l e t o s p e a k its loss. W h a t the m e l a n c h o l i c does d e c l a r e ,
c o u n t e r t o n a r c i s s i s m . E c h o i n g the b i b l i c a l c a d e n c e o f "the
n a m e l y , h i s o w n w o r t h l e s s n e s s , i d e n t i f i e s the loss a t the s i g h t
s h a d o w o f d e a t h , " a w a y i n w h i c h d e a t h i m p o s e s its p r e s e n c e
of the ego a n d , hence, c o n t i n u e s to f a i l to i d e n t i f y the loss. S e l f - b e r a t e m e n t takes the p l a c e o f a b a n d o n m e n t , a n d b e c o m e s the t o k e n of its r e f u s a l .
o n life, F r e u d r e m a r k s that i n m e l a n c h o l i a "the s h a d o w o f the object fell u p o n the e g o " (249). I n L a c a n ' s essays o n n a r c i s s i s m , the f o r m u l a t i o n i s i m p o r t a n t l y r e v e r s e d : the s h a d o w o f
The heightening of conscience under such circumstances
the ego falls u p o n the object. N a r c i s s i s m c o n t i n u e s t o c o n t r o l
attests to the u n a v o w e d status of the loss. T h e ego b e c o m e s
l o v e , e v e n w h e n that n a r c i s s i s m a p p e a r s t o g i v e w a y t o object-
m o r a l i z e d o n the c o n d i t i o n o f u n g r i e v e d loss. B u t w h a t c o n d i -
l o v e : it is s t i l l m y s e l f that I f i n d there at the site of the object,
t i o n s m a k e i t p o s s i b l e t o g r i e v e , o r n o t t o g r i e v e , loss?
9
m y absence. I n m e l a n c h o l i a t h i s f o r m u l a t i o n i s r e v e r s e d : i n the
T h e ego n o t o n l y b r i n g s the object i n s i d e b u t b r i n g s ag-
p l a c e of the loss that the o t h e r c o m e s to r e p r e s e n t , I f i n d m y -
g r e s s i o n against the object a l o n g w i t h it. T h e m o r e t h i s object
self t o b e that loss, i m p o v e r i s h e d , w a n t i n g . I n n a r c i s s i s t i c l o v e ,
is b r o u g h t i n s i d e , as it w e r e , the h i g h e r the s e l f - d e b a s e m e n t ,
the o t h e r c o n t r a c t s m y a b u n d a n c e . I n m e l a n c h o l i a , I c o n t r a c t
the p o o r e r the ego b e c o m e s : d e l u s i o n a l self-abasement "over-
the o t h e r ' s absence.
c o m e s the i n s t i n c t w h i c h c o m p e l s e v e r y l i v i n g t h i n g t o l i f e "
T h i s o p p o s i t i o n b e t w e e n m e l a n c h o l i a a n d n a r c i s s i s m ges-
i88
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Melancholy,
Ambivalence,
Rage
189
t u r e s t o w a r d the d u a l - d r i v e theory. F r e u d i s c l e a r that m e l a n -
b e e n e x p e r i e n c e d a s " t u r n e d a r o u n d u p o n the subject's o w n
cholia must be u n d e r s t o o d in part as a narcissistic disturbance.
self" (251) — " e i n e W e n d u n g g e g e n d i e eigene P e r s o n e r f a h r e n
S o m e o f its features c o m e f r o m n a r c i s s i s m , b u t s o m e c o m e
h a b e n . " T h e a m b i v a l e n c e that c o n t a i n s t h i s a g g r e s s i o n s p l i t s
f r o m m o u r n i n g . I n m a k i n g t h i s c l a i m , F r e u d a p p e a r s t o set
the cathexis, w h i c h i s t h e n d i s t r i b u t e d i n t o "parts": p a r t o f
m o u r n i n g as a l i m i t to n a r c i s s i s m , or p e r h a p s , as its c o u n t e r -
the e r o t i c cathexis regresses to i d e n t i f i c a t i o n ; the other p a r t to
d i r e c t i o n . W h a t e r o d e s the ego i n m e l a n c h o l i a i s u n d e r s t o o d
s a d i s m . Set up as i n t e r n a l p a r t s of the ego, the s a d i s t i c p a r t
to be a loss that w a s o r i g i n a l l y e x t e r n a l , b u t by The Ego and
takes a i m a t the p a r t that i d e n t i f i e s , a n d the p s y c h i c a l l y v i o l e n t
the Id F r e u d c o m e s to r e c o g n i z e that the w o r k of m e l a n c h o -
d r a m a o f the s u p e r - e g o p r o c e e d s . F r e u d a p p e a r s t o a s s u m e
l i a m a y w e l l b e i n the s e r v i c e o f the d e a t h d r i v e . H e asks,
a m b i v a l e n c e at the scene of loss: a w i s h for the o t h e r to d i e or
" H o w i s i t t h e n that i n m e l a n c h o l i a the s u p e r - e g o c a n b e -
to go (a w i s h that is s o m e t i m e s i n s t i g a t e d by the d e s i r e of the
c o m e a g a t h e r i n g - p l a c e for the d e a t h i n s t i n c t s ? "
H o w is it
ego t o l i v e a n d , hence, b r e a k its a t t a c h m e n t t o w h a t has gone
that the e g o - e r o d i n g effects of m e l a n c h o l i a , the ones that o v e r -
or died). F r e u d interprets this ambivalence as at once an i n -
1 0
c o m e "the i n s t i n c t w h i c h c o m p e l s e v e r y l i v i n g t h i n g t o life,"
stance of s a d i s m a n d a w i s h to p r e s e r v e the other as oneself.
c o m e t o w o r k i n the s e r v i c e o f a d r i v e that seeks t o o v e r c o m e
S e l f - t o r m e n t i s t h i s s a d i s m t u r n e d b a c k o n the ego, e n c o d i n g
life? F r e u d goes f u r t h e r a n d r e m a r k s that the " m e r c i l e s s v i o -
a n d d i s s i m u l a t i n g the d u a l d e s i r e t o v a n q u i s h a n d t o save the
l e n c e " o f c o n s c i e n c e s h o w s that " w h a t i s n o w h o l d i n g s w a y
object. S e l f - p u n i s h m e n t , h e notes, i s "the c i r c u i t o u s p a t h " o f
in the s u p e r - e g o is, as it w e r e , a p u r e c u l t u r e of the d e a t h
s a d i s m ; w e m i g h t a d d , i t i s the c i r c u i t o u s p a t h o f i d e n t i f i c a -
i n s t i n c t [Todestrieb]" (53). In m e l a n c h o l i a , t h e n , a c c o r d i n g to
tion as w e l l .
this r e v i s e d t h e o r y p u b l i s h e d in The Ego and the Id, it w o u l d
F r e u d a p p e a r s clear h e r e that s a d i s m p r e c e d e s m a s o c h i s m .
b e i m p o s s i b l e t o separate the d e a t h d r i v e f r o m the c o n s c i e n c e
( H i s later e m p h a s i s o n the d e a t h d r i v e w i l l i n v e r t t h i s p r i o r i t y . )
h e i g h t e n e d t h r o u g h m e l a n c h o l i a . I n e i t h e r case, the ego r i s k s
R e f l e x i v e a r t i c u l a t i o n s o f a g g r e s s i o n are a l w a y s d e r i v e d f r o m
its life i n the face o f its f a i l u r e t o l i v e u p t o the s t a n d a r d s e n -
o u t w a r d l y d i r e c t e d ones. W e h a v e k n o w n f o r s o m e t i m e , h e
c o d e d i n the e g o - i d e a l . A n d the a g g r e s s i o n i t takes u p o n itself
w r i t e s , that "no n e u r o t i c h a r b o r s t h o u g h t s o f s u i c i d e w h i c h h e
i s i n p a r t p r o p o r t i o n a l t o the a g g r e s s i o n against the other that
has n o t t u r n e d b a c k u p o n h i m s e l f [auf sich zuruckwendet] f r o m
i t has m a n a g e d t o b r i n g u n d e r c o n t r o l .
m u r d e r o u s i m p u l s e s t o w a r d o t h e r s " (252). T h e ego takes itself
In t h i s a c c o u n t of m e l a n c h o l i a , r e f l e x i v i t y e m e r g e s , as it
as an object in the p l a c e of t a k i n g the other as an object. I n d e e d ,
does for N i e t z s c h e , a s a t r a n s p o s e d a g g r e s s i v i t y . A s w e h a v e
the ego first takes itself as an object on the c o n d i t i o n that it has
seen, for F r e u d i n " M o u r n i n g a n d M e l a n c h o l i a , " a g g r e s s i o n
already t a k e n the other as an object, a n d that the other b e c o m e s
is p r i m a r i l y a r e l a t i o n to others a n d o n l y s e c o n d a r i l y a r e l a -
the m o d e l b y w h i c h the ego a s s u m e s its b o u n d a r y a s a n o b -
t i o n t o oneself. H e r e m a r k s that the s u i c i d a l p e r s o n m u s t first
ject for i t s e l f — a k i n d o f m i m e s i s , n o t u n l i k e that d e s c r i b e d b y
h a v e u n d e r g o n e m u r d e r o u s i m p u l s e s , a n d suggests that self-
M i k k e l Borch-Jacobsen,
t o r m e n t satisfies s a d i s m a n d hate. B o t h o f these i m p u l s e s h a v e
the ego a s a n object o n the m o d e l o f the other. M i m e s i s w i t h i n
11
in w h i c h mimetic activity produces
i88
Psychic Inceptions
Melancholy,
Ambivalence,
Rage
189
t u r e s t o w a r d the d u a l - d r i v e theory. F r e u d i s c l e a r that m e l a n -
b e e n e x p e r i e n c e d a s " t u r n e d a r o u n d u p o n the subject's o w n
cholia must be u n d e r s t o o d in part as a narcissistic disturbance.
self" (251) — " e i n e W e n d u n g g e g e n d i e eigene P e r s o n e r f a h r e n
S o m e o f its features c o m e f r o m n a r c i s s i s m , b u t s o m e c o m e
h a b e n . " T h e a m b i v a l e n c e that c o n t a i n s t h i s a g g r e s s i o n s p l i t s
f r o m m o u r n i n g . I n m a k i n g t h i s c l a i m , F r e u d a p p e a r s t o set
the cathexis, w h i c h i s t h e n d i s t r i b u t e d i n t o "parts": p a r t o f
m o u r n i n g as a l i m i t to n a r c i s s i s m , or p e r h a p s , as its c o u n t e r -
the e r o t i c cathexis regresses to i d e n t i f i c a t i o n ; the other p a r t to
d i r e c t i o n . W h a t e r o d e s the ego i n m e l a n c h o l i a i s u n d e r s t o o d
s a d i s m . Set up as i n t e r n a l p a r t s of the ego, the s a d i s t i c p a r t
to be a loss that w a s o r i g i n a l l y e x t e r n a l , b u t by The Ego and
takes a i m a t the p a r t that i d e n t i f i e s , a n d the p s y c h i c a l l y v i o l e n t
the Id F r e u d c o m e s to r e c o g n i z e that the w o r k of m e l a n c h o -
d r a m a o f the s u p e r - e g o p r o c e e d s . F r e u d a p p e a r s t o a s s u m e
l i a m a y w e l l b e i n the s e r v i c e o f the d e a t h d r i v e . H e asks,
a m b i v a l e n c e at the scene of loss: a w i s h for the o t h e r to d i e or
" H o w i s i t t h e n that i n m e l a n c h o l i a the s u p e r - e g o c a n b e -
to go (a w i s h that is s o m e t i m e s i n s t i g a t e d by the d e s i r e of the
c o m e a g a t h e r i n g - p l a c e for the d e a t h i n s t i n c t s ? "
H o w is it
ego t o l i v e a n d , hence, b r e a k its a t t a c h m e n t t o w h a t has gone
that the e g o - e r o d i n g effects of m e l a n c h o l i a , the ones that o v e r -
or died). F r e u d interprets this ambivalence as at once an i n -
1 0
c o m e "the i n s t i n c t w h i c h c o m p e l s e v e r y l i v i n g t h i n g t o life,"
stance of s a d i s m a n d a w i s h to p r e s e r v e the other as oneself.
c o m e t o w o r k i n the s e r v i c e o f a d r i v e that seeks t o o v e r c o m e
S e l f - t o r m e n t i s t h i s s a d i s m t u r n e d b a c k o n the ego, e n c o d i n g
life? F r e u d goes f u r t h e r a n d r e m a r k s that the " m e r c i l e s s v i o -
a n d d i s s i m u l a t i n g the d u a l d e s i r e t o v a n q u i s h a n d t o save the
l e n c e " o f c o n s c i e n c e s h o w s that " w h a t i s n o w h o l d i n g s w a y
object. S e l f - p u n i s h m e n t , h e notes, i s "the c i r c u i t o u s p a t h " o f
in the s u p e r - e g o is, as it w e r e , a p u r e c u l t u r e of the d e a t h
s a d i s m ; w e m i g h t a d d , i t i s the c i r c u i t o u s p a t h o f i d e n t i f i c a -
i n s t i n c t [Todestrieb]" (53). In m e l a n c h o l i a , t h e n , a c c o r d i n g to
tion as w e l l .
this r e v i s e d t h e o r y p u b l i s h e d in The Ego and the Id, it w o u l d
F r e u d a p p e a r s clear h e r e that s a d i s m p r e c e d e s m a s o c h i s m .
b e i m p o s s i b l e t o separate the d e a t h d r i v e f r o m the c o n s c i e n c e
( H i s later e m p h a s i s o n the d e a t h d r i v e w i l l i n v e r t t h i s p r i o r i t y . )
h e i g h t e n e d t h r o u g h m e l a n c h o l i a . I n e i t h e r case, the ego r i s k s
R e f l e x i v e a r t i c u l a t i o n s o f a g g r e s s i o n are a l w a y s d e r i v e d f r o m
its life i n the face o f its f a i l u r e t o l i v e u p t o the s t a n d a r d s e n -
o u t w a r d l y d i r e c t e d ones. W e h a v e k n o w n f o r s o m e t i m e , h e
c o d e d i n the e g o - i d e a l . A n d the a g g r e s s i o n i t takes u p o n itself
w r i t e s , that "no n e u r o t i c h a r b o r s t h o u g h t s o f s u i c i d e w h i c h h e
i s i n p a r t p r o p o r t i o n a l t o the a g g r e s s i o n against the other that
has n o t t u r n e d b a c k u p o n h i m s e l f [auf sich zuruckwendet] f r o m
i t has m a n a g e d t o b r i n g u n d e r c o n t r o l .
m u r d e r o u s i m p u l s e s t o w a r d o t h e r s " (252). T h e ego takes itself
In t h i s a c c o u n t of m e l a n c h o l i a , r e f l e x i v i t y e m e r g e s , as it
as an object in the p l a c e of t a k i n g the other as an object. I n d e e d ,
does for N i e t z s c h e , a s a t r a n s p o s e d a g g r e s s i v i t y . A s w e h a v e
the ego first takes itself as an object on the c o n d i t i o n that it has
seen, for F r e u d i n " M o u r n i n g a n d M e l a n c h o l i a , " a g g r e s s i o n
already t a k e n the other as an object, a n d that the other b e c o m e s
is p r i m a r i l y a r e l a t i o n to others a n d o n l y s e c o n d a r i l y a r e l a -
the m o d e l b y w h i c h the ego a s s u m e s its b o u n d a r y a s a n o b -
t i o n t o oneself. H e r e m a r k s that the s u i c i d a l p e r s o n m u s t first
ject for i t s e l f — a k i n d o f m i m e s i s , n o t u n l i k e that d e s c r i b e d b y
h a v e u n d e r g o n e m u r d e r o u s i m p u l s e s , a n d suggests that self-
M i k k e l Borch-Jacobsen,
t o r m e n t satisfies s a d i s m a n d hate. B o t h o f these i m p u l s e s h a v e
the ego a s a n object o n the m o d e l o f the other. M i m e s i s w i t h i n
11
in w h i c h mimetic activity produces
Psychic Inceptions
190
Melancholy,
Ambivalence,
Rage
191
m e l a n c h o l i a p e r f o r m s t h i s a c t i v i t y a s the i n c o r p o r a t i o n o f the
social a n d psychic instrument. This super-egoic conscience is
other " i n t o the ego." T h i s i s a n effort t o p r e s e r v e the other a n d
n o t s i m p l y a n a l o g o u s t o the state's m i l i t a r y p o w e r o v e r its c i t i -
a t the s a m e t i m e t o d i s s i m u l a t e a g g r e s s i o n t o w a r d the other.
z e n r y ; the state c u l t i v a t e s m e l a n c h o l i a a m o n g its c i t i z e n r y p r e -
C l e a r l y n o F r e u d i a n t h e o r y that takes the ego a s p r i m a r y
c i s e l y a s a w a y o f d i s s i m u l a t i n g a n d d i s p l a c i n g its o w n i d e a l
o r p r e g i v e n c a n a c c o u n t for the w a y i n w h i c h the ego first
a u t h o r i t y . T h i s is n o t to suggest that c o n s c i e n c e is a s i m p l e
b e c o m e s a n object o n the c o n d i t i o n o f the i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n o f
i n s t a n t i a t i o n of the state; on the c o n t r a r y , it is the v a n i s h i n g
a g g r e s s i o n a n d the r e f u s a l o f loss. M e l a n c h o l i a establishes the
p o i n t o f the state's a u t h o r i t y , its p s y c h i c i d e a l i z a t i o n , a n d , i n
t e n u o u s basis of the ego, a n d i n d i c a t e s s o m e t h i n g of its status
that sense, its d i s a p p e a r a n c e as an e x t e r n a l object. T h e p r o c e s s
as an i n s t r u m e n t of containment. T h e s i g n i f i c a n c e of the ego
of f o r m i n g the subject is a p r o c e s s of r e n d e r i n g the t e r r o r i z -
a s c o n t a i n i n g a g g r e s s i o n b e c o m e s clear w h e n w e c o n s i d e r
i n g p o w e r o f the state i n v i s i b l e — a n d e f f e c t i v e — a s the i d e a l i t y
F r e u d ' s e x p l i c i t l y s o c i a l m e t a p h o r i c s i n these d e s c r i p t i o n s . O n e passage, n o t e d b y H o m i B h a b h a ,
12
suggests s o m e t h i n g o f
the p o l i t i c a l a n a l o g y at issue. " M e l a n c h o l i c . . . r e a c t i o n . . . p r o c e e d s f r o m a m e n t a l c o n s t e l l a t i o n of r e v o l t [seelischen Konstellation der Auflehnung], w h i c h has t h e n , by a c e r t a i n p r o c e s s , p a s s e d o v e r i n t o the c r u s h e d state of m e l a n c h o l i a [die melancholische
Zerknirschung]"
(248).
B h a b h a a r g u e s that m e l a n c h o l i a is n o t a f o r m of p a s s i v i t y , b u t a f o r m o f r e v o l t that takes p l a c e t h r o u g h r e p e t i t i o n a n d m e t o n y m y . T h e m e l a n c h o l i c i n v e r t s against itself the i n d i c t m e n t i t w o u l d l e v e l against the other; t h i s " i n c o r p o r a t i o n " o f
o f c o n s c i e n c e . F u r t h e r m o r e , the i n c o r p o r a t i o n o f the i d e a l o f " L a w " u n d e r s c o r e s the c o n t i n g e n t r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n a g i v e n state a n d the i d e a l i t y o f its p o w e r . T h i s i d e a l i t y c a n a l w a y s b e incorporated elsewhere a n d remains incommensurable w i t h a n y o f its g i v e n i n c o r p o r a t i o n s . T h a t t h i s i d e a l i t y c a n n o t b e r e d u c e d t o a n y o f its i n c o r p o r a t i o n s does n o t m e a n , h o w e v e r , that i t subsists i n a n o u m e n a l s p h e r e b e y o n d a l l e m b o d i m e n t s . R a t h e r , the i n c o r p o r a t i o n s are sites o f r e a r t i c u l a t i o n , c o n d i tions for a " w o r k i n g t h r o u g h " a n d , potentially, a " t h r o w i n g off"
(Auflehnung).
The revolt in melancholia can be distilled by marshalling
the o t h e r is also, B h a b h a notes, a " d i s i n c o r p o r a t i o n of the M a s -
a g g r e s s i o n i n the s e r v i c e o f m o u r n i n g , b u t also, n e c e s s a r i l y , o f
ter." U n d e r s c o r i n g that "the L a w is e n t o m b e d as loss at the
life. A s a n i n s t r u m e n t o f p s y c h i c t e r r o r , c o n s c i e n c e w i e l d s the
p o i n t o f its i d e a l a u t h o r i t y , " h e a r g u e s that m e l a n c h o l i a c o n -
p o w e r of c o n d e m n a t i o n that, q u i t e l i t e r a l l y , p o s e s a threat to
tests the i d e a l i t y o f that a u t h o r i t y p r e c i s e l y b y i n c o r p o r a t i n g
one's life. F r e u d notes that i t "often e n o u g h s u c c e e d s i n d r i v -
it.
i n g the ego i n t o d e a t h , if the latter d o e s n o t fend off its tyrant in
1 3
A u t h o r i t y ' s ideality is incorporable elsewhere, no longer
t i e d i n a n y a b s o l u t e sense t o one f i g u r e o f the l a w . M e l a n c h o l i a i s a r e b e l l i o n that has b e e n p u t d o w n , c r u s h e d . Yet it is n o t a static affair; it c o n t i n u e s as a k i n d of " w o r k " that takes p l a c e b y d e f l e c t i o n . F i g u r e d w i t h i n the w o r k i n g s o f the p s y c h e i s the p o w e r o f the state t o p r e e m p t a n i n s u r r e c t i o n a r y rage. T h e " c r i t i c a l a g e n c y " of the m e l a n c h o l i c is at o n c e a
t i m e b y the c h a n g e r o u n d i n t o m a n i a . "
1 4
M a n i a appears to be
the e n e r g e t i c t h r o w i n g off of the a t t a c h m e n t to the lost object, e n s h r i n e d i n the w o r k i n g s o f c o n s c i e n c e . Yet i n m a n i a , " w h a t the ego has s u r m o u n t e d a n d w h a t i t i s t r i u m p h i n g o v e r r e main hidden from it."
1 5
I n m a n i a , the t y r a n t i s f e n d e d off, b u t
n o t t h r o w n off o r o v e r c o m e . M a n i a m a r k s a t e m p o r a r y s u s -
Psychic Inceptions
190
Melancholy,
Ambivalence,
Rage
191
m e l a n c h o l i a p e r f o r m s t h i s a c t i v i t y a s the i n c o r p o r a t i o n o f the
social a n d psychic instrument. This super-egoic conscience is
other " i n t o the ego." T h i s i s a n effort t o p r e s e r v e the other a n d
n o t s i m p l y a n a l o g o u s t o the state's m i l i t a r y p o w e r o v e r its c i t i -
a t the s a m e t i m e t o d i s s i m u l a t e a g g r e s s i o n t o w a r d the other.
z e n r y ; the state c u l t i v a t e s m e l a n c h o l i a a m o n g its c i t i z e n r y p r e -
C l e a r l y n o F r e u d i a n t h e o r y that takes the ego a s p r i m a r y
c i s e l y a s a w a y o f d i s s i m u l a t i n g a n d d i s p l a c i n g its o w n i d e a l
o r p r e g i v e n c a n a c c o u n t for the w a y i n w h i c h the ego first
a u t h o r i t y . T h i s is n o t to suggest that c o n s c i e n c e is a s i m p l e
b e c o m e s a n object o n the c o n d i t i o n o f the i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n o f
i n s t a n t i a t i o n of the state; on the c o n t r a r y , it is the v a n i s h i n g
a g g r e s s i o n a n d the r e f u s a l o f loss. M e l a n c h o l i a establishes the
p o i n t o f the state's a u t h o r i t y , its p s y c h i c i d e a l i z a t i o n , a n d , i n
t e n u o u s basis of the ego, a n d i n d i c a t e s s o m e t h i n g of its status
that sense, its d i s a p p e a r a n c e as an e x t e r n a l object. T h e p r o c e s s
as an i n s t r u m e n t of containment. T h e s i g n i f i c a n c e of the ego
of f o r m i n g the subject is a p r o c e s s of r e n d e r i n g the t e r r o r i z -
a s c o n t a i n i n g a g g r e s s i o n b e c o m e s clear w h e n w e c o n s i d e r
i n g p o w e r o f the state i n v i s i b l e — a n d e f f e c t i v e — a s the i d e a l i t y
F r e u d ' s e x p l i c i t l y s o c i a l m e t a p h o r i c s i n these d e s c r i p t i o n s . O n e passage, n o t e d b y H o m i B h a b h a ,
12
suggests s o m e t h i n g o f
the p o l i t i c a l a n a l o g y at issue. " M e l a n c h o l i c . . . r e a c t i o n . . . p r o c e e d s f r o m a m e n t a l c o n s t e l l a t i o n of r e v o l t [seelischen Konstellation der Auflehnung], w h i c h has t h e n , by a c e r t a i n p r o c e s s , p a s s e d o v e r i n t o the c r u s h e d state of m e l a n c h o l i a [die melancholische
Zerknirschung]"
(248).
B h a b h a a r g u e s that m e l a n c h o l i a is n o t a f o r m of p a s s i v i t y , b u t a f o r m o f r e v o l t that takes p l a c e t h r o u g h r e p e t i t i o n a n d m e t o n y m y . T h e m e l a n c h o l i c i n v e r t s against itself the i n d i c t m e n t i t w o u l d l e v e l against the other; t h i s " i n c o r p o r a t i o n " o f
o f c o n s c i e n c e . F u r t h e r m o r e , the i n c o r p o r a t i o n o f the i d e a l o f " L a w " u n d e r s c o r e s the c o n t i n g e n t r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n a g i v e n state a n d the i d e a l i t y o f its p o w e r . T h i s i d e a l i t y c a n a l w a y s b e incorporated elsewhere a n d remains incommensurable w i t h a n y o f its g i v e n i n c o r p o r a t i o n s . T h a t t h i s i d e a l i t y c a n n o t b e r e d u c e d t o a n y o f its i n c o r p o r a t i o n s does n o t m e a n , h o w e v e r , that i t subsists i n a n o u m e n a l s p h e r e b e y o n d a l l e m b o d i m e n t s . R a t h e r , the i n c o r p o r a t i o n s are sites o f r e a r t i c u l a t i o n , c o n d i tions for a " w o r k i n g t h r o u g h " a n d , potentially, a " t h r o w i n g off"
(Auflehnung).
The revolt in melancholia can be distilled by marshalling
the o t h e r is also, B h a b h a notes, a " d i s i n c o r p o r a t i o n of the M a s -
a g g r e s s i o n i n the s e r v i c e o f m o u r n i n g , b u t also, n e c e s s a r i l y , o f
ter." U n d e r s c o r i n g that "the L a w is e n t o m b e d as loss at the
life. A s a n i n s t r u m e n t o f p s y c h i c t e r r o r , c o n s c i e n c e w i e l d s the
p o i n t o f its i d e a l a u t h o r i t y , " h e a r g u e s that m e l a n c h o l i a c o n -
p o w e r of c o n d e m n a t i o n that, q u i t e l i t e r a l l y , p o s e s a threat to
tests the i d e a l i t y o f that a u t h o r i t y p r e c i s e l y b y i n c o r p o r a t i n g
one's life. F r e u d notes that i t "often e n o u g h s u c c e e d s i n d r i v -
it.
i n g the ego i n t o d e a t h , if the latter d o e s n o t fend off its tyrant in
1 3
A u t h o r i t y ' s ideality is incorporable elsewhere, no longer
t i e d i n a n y a b s o l u t e sense t o one f i g u r e o f the l a w . M e l a n c h o l i a i s a r e b e l l i o n that has b e e n p u t d o w n , c r u s h e d . Yet it is n o t a static affair; it c o n t i n u e s as a k i n d of " w o r k " that takes p l a c e b y d e f l e c t i o n . F i g u r e d w i t h i n the w o r k i n g s o f the p s y c h e i s the p o w e r o f the state t o p r e e m p t a n i n s u r r e c t i o n a r y rage. T h e " c r i t i c a l a g e n c y " of the m e l a n c h o l i c is at o n c e a
t i m e b y the c h a n g e r o u n d i n t o m a n i a . "
1 4
M a n i a appears to be
the e n e r g e t i c t h r o w i n g off of the a t t a c h m e n t to the lost object, e n s h r i n e d i n the w o r k i n g s o f c o n s c i e n c e . Yet i n m a n i a , " w h a t the ego has s u r m o u n t e d a n d w h a t i t i s t r i u m p h i n g o v e r r e main hidden from it."
1 5
I n m a n i a , the t y r a n t i s f e n d e d off, b u t
n o t t h r o w n off o r o v e r c o m e . M a n i a m a r k s a t e m p o r a r y s u s -
192
Psychic Inceptions
Melancholy,
Ambivalence,
Rage
193
p e n s i o n o r m a s t e r i n g o f the t y r a n t b y the ego, b u t the t y r a n t
psychic survival. Whereas melancholia involves a "delusional
r e m a i n s s t r u c t u r a l l y e n s c o n c e d f o r that p s y c h e — a n d u n k n o w -
s e l f - a b a s e m e n t . . . that o v e r c o m e s the i n s t i n c t w h i c h c o m p e l s
able. F o r a r e s o l u t i o n o f m e l a n c h o l i a that i s m o r e t h o r o u g h
e v e r y l i v i n g t h i n g t o l i f e , " the b r e a k w i t h m e l a n c h o l i a i n v o l v e s
t h a n a n y m a n i a c a n p r o v i d e , F r e u d suggests that " a v e r d i c t o f
t u r n i n g against the a l r e a d y " t u r n e d b a c k " a g g r e s s i o n that c o n -
r e a l i t y " m u s t b e a c c e p t e d for m e l a n c h o l i a t o b e c o m e m o u r n -
stitutes c o n s c i e n c e . S u r v i v a l , n o t p r e c i s e l y the o p p o s i t e o f m e l -
i n g , a n d f o r the a t t a c h m e n t t o the lost object t o b e s e v e r e d .
ancholia, but what melancholia puts in suspension—requires
I n d e e d , the a g g r e s s i o n i n s t r u m e n t a l i z e d b y c o n s c i e n c e a g a i n s t
r e d i r e c t i n g rage a g a i n s t the lost other, d e f i l i n g the s a n c t i t y o f
the ego i s p r e c i s e l y w h a t m u s t b e r e a p p r o p r i a t e d i n the ser-
the d e a d f o r the p u r p o s e s o f life, r a g i n g a g a i n s t the d e a d i n
v i c e of the d e s i r e to l i v e : "the l i b i d o ' s a t t a c h m e n t to the lost
order not to join them.
object i s m e t b y the v e r d i c t o f r e a l i t y that the object n o l o n g e r
A l t h o u g h s u c h rage m a y b e r e q u i r e d t o b r e a k the m e l -
exists; a n d the ego, c o n f r o n t e d a s i t w e r e w i t h the q u e s t i o n
a n c h o l i c b i n d , t h e r e i s n o f i n a l r e p r i e v e f r o m the a m b i v a -
w h e t h e r i t s h a l l s h a r e t h i s fate, i s p e r s u a d e d b y the s u m o f the
lence a n d no final separation of m o u r n i n g f r o m m e l a n c h o l i a .
n a r c i s s i s t i c s a t i s f a c t i o n s i t d e r i v e s f r o m b e i n g a l i v e t o sever its
F r e u d ' s v i e w that m o u r n i n g a n d m e l a n c h o l i a m i g h t b e d i s t i n -
a t t a c h m e n t to the object that has b e e n a b o l i s h e d " (255).
g u i s h e d i s c h a l l e n g e d n o t o n l y i n h i s o w n essay b y that n a m e ,
F o r the m e l a n c h o l i c , b r e a k i n g the a t t a c h m e n t c o n s t i t u t e s
b u t e x p l i c i t l y in The Ego and the Id. A m b i v a l e n c e , w h i c h is first
a s e c o n d loss of the object. If the object l o s t its e x t e r n a l i t y
i d e n t i f i e d a s a p o s s i b l e r e s p o n s e t o loss i n " M o u r n i n g a n d M e l -
w h e n i t b e c a m e a p s y c h i c i d e a l , i t n o w loses its i d e a l i t y a s the
a n c h o l i a , " b e c o m e s , t o w a r d the e n d o f the essay, the s t r u g g l e
ego t u r n s a g a i n s t c o n s c i e n c e , t h u s d e c e n t e r i n g itself. T h e j u d g -
that loss o c c a s i o n s b e t w e e n the d e s i r e t o l i v e a n d the d e s i r e
m e n t s o f c o n s c i e n c e are e x c h a n g e d f o r the v e r d i c t o f r e a l i t y ,
t o die. A s s u c h , b o t h a m b i v a l e n c e a n d the s t r u g g l e o f life a n d
a n d t h i s v e r d i c t p o s e s a d i l e m m a for the m e l a n c h o l i c , n a m e l y ,
d e a t h , t o b o r r o w H e g e l i a n p a r l a n c e , are o c c a s i o n e d b y loss,
w h e t h e r t o f o l l o w the l o s t object i n t o d e a t h o r t o s e i z e the
i n d e e d , i n s t i g a t e d b y loss. I f a m b i v a l e n c e d i s t i n g u i s h e s m e l -
o p p o r t u n i t y t o l i v e . L a t e r , F r e u d r e m a r k s that there c a n b e
ancholia f r o m m o u r n i n g , a n d i f m o u r n i n g entails a m b i v a l e n c e
no s e v e r i n g of t h i s a t t a c h m e n t to the object w i t h o u t a d i r e c t
a s p a r t o f the p r o c e s s o f " w o r k i n g t h r o u g h , " t h e n t h e r e i s n o
" d e c l a r a t i o n " o f loss a n d the d e s a n c t i f i c a t i o n o f the object b y
w o r k o f m o u r n i n g that d o e s n o t engage m e l a n c h o l i a . A s w a s
e x t e r n a l i z i n g a g g r e s s i o n against it: "Just a s m o u r n i n g i m p e l s
r e m a r k e d i n the p r e v i o u s chapter, F r e u d a r g u e s i n The Ego
the ego t o g i v e u p the object b y d e c l a r i n g the object t o b e
and the Id that the ego is c o m p o s e d of its l o s t a t t a c h m e n t s a n d
d e a d a n d o f f e r i n g the ego the i n d u c e m e n t t o l i v e , s o d o e s e a c h
that there w o u l d b e n o ego w e r e there n o i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n o f
s i n g l e s t r u g g l e o f a m b i v a l e n c e l o o s e n the f i x a t i o n o f the l i b i d o
loss a l o n g m e l a n c h o l i c l i n e s . T h e i n v e r s e o f t h i s p o s i t i o n , h o w -
t o the object b y d i s p a r a g i n g i t , d e n i g r a t i n g i t a n d e v e n a s i t
ever, i s n o t p u r s u e d b y F r e u d , a l t h o u g h h i s t h e o r y p o i n t s the
w e r e k i l l i n g it off [entwertet, herabsetzt, gleichsam audi erschlagt]"
w a y : i f the ego c o n t a i n s a g g r e s s i o n a g a i n s t the o t h e r w h o i s
(257). " K i l l i n g off" the c r i t i c a l a g e n c y reverses a n d d i s p l a c e s
gone, t h e n i t f o l l o w s that r e e x t e r n a l i z i n g that a g g r e s s i o n " u n -
the i n t e r i o r i z e d scene o f c o n s c i e n c e a n d c l e a r s the w a y f o r
c o n t a i n s " the ego. T h e d e s i r e t o l i v e i s n o t the d e s i r e o f the
192
Psychic Inceptions
Melancholy,
Ambivalence,
Rage
193
p e n s i o n o r m a s t e r i n g o f the t y r a n t b y the ego, b u t the t y r a n t
psychic survival. Whereas melancholia involves a "delusional
r e m a i n s s t r u c t u r a l l y e n s c o n c e d f o r that p s y c h e — a n d u n k n o w -
s e l f - a b a s e m e n t . . . that o v e r c o m e s the i n s t i n c t w h i c h c o m p e l s
able. F o r a r e s o l u t i o n o f m e l a n c h o l i a that i s m o r e t h o r o u g h
e v e r y l i v i n g t h i n g t o l i f e , " the b r e a k w i t h m e l a n c h o l i a i n v o l v e s
t h a n a n y m a n i a c a n p r o v i d e , F r e u d suggests that " a v e r d i c t o f
t u r n i n g against the a l r e a d y " t u r n e d b a c k " a g g r e s s i o n that c o n -
r e a l i t y " m u s t b e a c c e p t e d for m e l a n c h o l i a t o b e c o m e m o u r n -
stitutes c o n s c i e n c e . S u r v i v a l , n o t p r e c i s e l y the o p p o s i t e o f m e l -
i n g , a n d f o r the a t t a c h m e n t t o the lost object t o b e s e v e r e d .
ancholia, but what melancholia puts in suspension—requires
I n d e e d , the a g g r e s s i o n i n s t r u m e n t a l i z e d b y c o n s c i e n c e a g a i n s t
r e d i r e c t i n g rage a g a i n s t the lost other, d e f i l i n g the s a n c t i t y o f
the ego i s p r e c i s e l y w h a t m u s t b e r e a p p r o p r i a t e d i n the ser-
the d e a d f o r the p u r p o s e s o f life, r a g i n g a g a i n s t the d e a d i n
v i c e of the d e s i r e to l i v e : "the l i b i d o ' s a t t a c h m e n t to the lost
order not to join them.
object i s m e t b y the v e r d i c t o f r e a l i t y that the object n o l o n g e r
A l t h o u g h s u c h rage m a y b e r e q u i r e d t o b r e a k the m e l -
exists; a n d the ego, c o n f r o n t e d a s i t w e r e w i t h the q u e s t i o n
a n c h o l i c b i n d , t h e r e i s n o f i n a l r e p r i e v e f r o m the a m b i v a -
w h e t h e r i t s h a l l s h a r e t h i s fate, i s p e r s u a d e d b y the s u m o f the
lence a n d no final separation of m o u r n i n g f r o m m e l a n c h o l i a .
n a r c i s s i s t i c s a t i s f a c t i o n s i t d e r i v e s f r o m b e i n g a l i v e t o sever its
F r e u d ' s v i e w that m o u r n i n g a n d m e l a n c h o l i a m i g h t b e d i s t i n -
a t t a c h m e n t to the object that has b e e n a b o l i s h e d " (255).
g u i s h e d i s c h a l l e n g e d n o t o n l y i n h i s o w n essay b y that n a m e ,
F o r the m e l a n c h o l i c , b r e a k i n g the a t t a c h m e n t c o n s t i t u t e s
b u t e x p l i c i t l y in The Ego and the Id. A m b i v a l e n c e , w h i c h is first
a s e c o n d loss of the object. If the object l o s t its e x t e r n a l i t y
i d e n t i f i e d a s a p o s s i b l e r e s p o n s e t o loss i n " M o u r n i n g a n d M e l -
w h e n i t b e c a m e a p s y c h i c i d e a l , i t n o w loses its i d e a l i t y a s the
a n c h o l i a , " b e c o m e s , t o w a r d the e n d o f the essay, the s t r u g g l e
ego t u r n s a g a i n s t c o n s c i e n c e , t h u s d e c e n t e r i n g itself. T h e j u d g -
that loss o c c a s i o n s b e t w e e n the d e s i r e t o l i v e a n d the d e s i r e
m e n t s o f c o n s c i e n c e are e x c h a n g e d f o r the v e r d i c t o f r e a l i t y ,
t o die. A s s u c h , b o t h a m b i v a l e n c e a n d the s t r u g g l e o f life a n d
a n d t h i s v e r d i c t p o s e s a d i l e m m a for the m e l a n c h o l i c , n a m e l y ,
d e a t h , t o b o r r o w H e g e l i a n p a r l a n c e , are o c c a s i o n e d b y loss,
w h e t h e r t o f o l l o w the l o s t object i n t o d e a t h o r t o s e i z e the
i n d e e d , i n s t i g a t e d b y loss. I f a m b i v a l e n c e d i s t i n g u i s h e s m e l -
o p p o r t u n i t y t o l i v e . L a t e r , F r e u d r e m a r k s that there c a n b e
ancholia f r o m m o u r n i n g , a n d i f m o u r n i n g entails a m b i v a l e n c e
no s e v e r i n g of t h i s a t t a c h m e n t to the object w i t h o u t a d i r e c t
a s p a r t o f the p r o c e s s o f " w o r k i n g t h r o u g h , " t h e n t h e r e i s n o
" d e c l a r a t i o n " o f loss a n d the d e s a n c t i f i c a t i o n o f the object b y
w o r k o f m o u r n i n g that d o e s n o t engage m e l a n c h o l i a . A s w a s
e x t e r n a l i z i n g a g g r e s s i o n against it: "Just a s m o u r n i n g i m p e l s
r e m a r k e d i n the p r e v i o u s chapter, F r e u d a r g u e s i n The Ego
the ego t o g i v e u p the object b y d e c l a r i n g the object t o b e
and the Id that the ego is c o m p o s e d of its l o s t a t t a c h m e n t s a n d
d e a d a n d o f f e r i n g the ego the i n d u c e m e n t t o l i v e , s o d o e s e a c h
that there w o u l d b e n o ego w e r e there n o i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n o f
s i n g l e s t r u g g l e o f a m b i v a l e n c e l o o s e n the f i x a t i o n o f the l i b i d o
loss a l o n g m e l a n c h o l i c l i n e s . T h e i n v e r s e o f t h i s p o s i t i o n , h o w -
t o the object b y d i s p a r a g i n g i t , d e n i g r a t i n g i t a n d e v e n a s i t
ever, i s n o t p u r s u e d b y F r e u d , a l t h o u g h h i s t h e o r y p o i n t s the
w e r e k i l l i n g it off [entwertet, herabsetzt, gleichsam audi erschlagt]"
w a y : i f the ego c o n t a i n s a g g r e s s i o n a g a i n s t the o t h e r w h o i s
(257). " K i l l i n g off" the c r i t i c a l a g e n c y reverses a n d d i s p l a c e s
gone, t h e n i t f o l l o w s that r e e x t e r n a l i z i n g that a g g r e s s i o n " u n -
the i n t e r i o r i z e d scene o f c o n s c i e n c e a n d c l e a r s the w a y f o r
c o n t a i n s " the ego. T h e d e s i r e t o l i v e i s n o t the d e s i r e o f the
194
Psychic Inceptions
Melancholy,
Ambivalence,
Rage
195
ego, b u t a d e s i r e that u n d o e s the ego in the c o u r s e of its e m e r -
i s b o u n d t o take. " L i b i d o " a n d " a t t a c h m e n t " i n s u c h a v i e w
gence. T h e " m a s t e r y " o f the ego w o u l d t h e n b e i d e n t i f i e d a s
c o u l d not be conceived as free-floating energies, but as h a v i n g
the effect of the d e a t h d r i v e , a n d life, in a N i e t z s c h e a n sense,
a h i s t o r i c i t y that c o u l d n e v e r f u l l y b e r e c o v e r e d .
w o u l d b r e a k a p a r t that m a s t e r y , i n i t i a t i n g a l i v e d m o d e o f b e -
I f i n " M o u r n i n g a n d M e l a n c h o l i a , " F r e u d t h o u g h t that o n e
c o m i n g that contests the stasis a n d d e f e n s i v e status of the ego.
m u s t s e v e r o n e a t t a c h m e n t to m a k e a n o t h e r , in The Ego and the
B u t the s t o r y o f m o u r n i n g c a n n o t b e r e d u c e d t o o n e i n
Id, he is clear that o n l y u p o n the c o n d i t i o n that the lost o t h e r
w h i c h life t r i u m p h s o v e r d e a t h . T h e d y n a m i c i s m o r e c o m -
b e c o m e s i n t e r n a l i z e d c a n m o u r n i n g ever b e a c c o m p l i s h e d a n d
p l i c a t e d . A l t h o u g h i n 1917 F r e u d does n o t yet d i s t i n g u i s h b e -
n e w attachments begun. H e r e , of course, an u n e x p l o r e d p o i n t
t w e e n the p l e a s u r e p r i n c i p l e a n d the d e a t h d r i v e , h e d o e s note
d e s e r v e s r e m a r k : i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n does n o t h a v e t o t a k e the
that m e l a n c h o l y has the p o w e r t o force the ego i n t o d e a t h .
f o r m of a mercilessly violent conscience, a n d certain k i n d s of
B y 1923, h e e x p l i c i t l y c l a i m s that c o n s c i e n c e , a s i t f u n c t i o n s
i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n , w h i c h are n o t a l w a y s i n c o r p o r a t i o n s , are n e c -
i n m e l a n c h o l i a , i s " a g a t h e r i n g p l a c e " for the d e a t h d r i v e s . I n
essary f o r s u r v i v a l .
m o u r n i n g , the c l a i m o f life does n o t t r i u m p h o v e r the l u r e o f
F r e u d , that " m o u r n i n g i s the a f f i r m a t i v e i n c o r p o r a t i o n o f the
d e a t h ; o n the c o n t r a r y , the "death d r i v e s " are m a r s h a l l e d i n the
O t h e r " a n d that, i n p r i n c i p l e , there c a n b e n o e n d t o m o u r n -
s e r v i c e o f b r e a k i n g w i t h the object, " k i l l i n g " the object i n o r d e r
ing.
1 6
I n d e e d , D e r r i d a insists, w i t h the later
1 7
to l i v e . F u r t h e r , i n s o f a r as the object r e s i d e s as the i d e a l i t y of
I n d e e d , o n e m a y rage a g a i n s t one's a t t a c h m e n t t o s o m e
c o n s c i e n c e , a n d the ego i s s i t u a t e d w i t h i n that t o p o g r a p h i c a l
o t h e r s ( w h i c h i s s i m p l y t o alter the t e r m s o f the a t t a c h m e n t ) ,
scene, b o t h c o n s c i e n c e a n d the ego are n e c e s s a r i l y u n d o n e b y
b u t n o rage c a n s e v e r the a t t a c h m e n t t o alterity, e x c e p t p e r -
that m u r d e r o u s c l a i m o n life. T h e "death d r i v e " i s t h u s p a r a -
h a p s a s u i c i d a l rage that u s u a l l y s t i l l leaves b e h i n d a note, a
d o x i c a l l y n e c e s s a r y for s u r v i v a l ; i n m o u r n i n g , the b r e a k i n g o f
f i n a l a d d r e s s , t h u s c o n f i r m i n g that a l l o c u t o r y b o n d . S u r v i v a l
a t t a c h m e n t i n a u g u r a t e s life. B u t t h i s " b r e a k " i s n e v e r f i n a l o r
d o e s n o t t a k e p l a c e b e c a u s e a n a u t o n o m o u s ego exercises a u -
f u l l . O n e does n o t r e t r a c t a q u a n t i t y o f l i b i d o f r o m o n e object
t o n o m y i n c o n f r o n t a t i o n w i t h a c o u n t e r v a i l i n g w o r l d ; o n the
i n o r d e r t o i n v e s t i t i n another. T o the extent that m e l a n c h o l y
c o n t r a r y , n o ego c a n e m e r g e except t h r o u g h a n i m a t i n g ref-
establishes the p o s i t i o n a l i t y o f the ego, the d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n
e r e n c e to s u c h a w o r l d . S u r v i v a l is a m a t t e r of a v o w i n g the
the p s y c h i c a n d the s o c i a l , i t also f u n c t i o n s t o m a k e p o s s i b l e
trace o f loss that i n a u g u r a t e s one's o w n e m e r g e n c e . T o m a k e
a n e p i s t e m o l o g i c a l e n c o u n t e r w i t h alterity. T h e c o n c l u s i o n o f
of m e l a n c h o l i a a s i m p l e " r e f u s a l " to g r i e v e its losses c o n j u r e s
g r i e f m a y u n d o the ego ( i n the sense o f " u n b i n d i n g " i t f r o m its
a subject w h o m i g h t a l r e a d y b e s o m e t h i n g w i t h o u t its losses,
c a t h e x i s i n c o n s c i e n c e ) , b u t i t does n o t d e s t r o y it. T h e r e i s n o
that is, o n e w h o v o l u n t a r i l y e x t e n d s a n d retracts h i s o r h e r
b r e a k w i t h the c o n s t i t u t i v e h i s t o r i c i t y o f loss t o w h i c h m e l a n -
w i l l . Yet the subject w h o m i g h t g r i e v e i s i m p l i c a t e d i n a loss
c h o l y attests (except p e r h a p s i n the m a n i c r e s p o n s e , w h i c h i s
o f a u t o n o m y that i s m a n d a t e d b y l i n g u i s t i c a n d s o c i a l life; i t
a l w a y s t e m p o r a r y ) . T h e h i s t o r i c i t y o f loss i s t o b e f o u n d i n
c a n n e v e r p r o d u c e itself a u t o n o m o u s l y . F r o m the start, t h i s
i d e n t i f i c a t i o n a n d , h e n c e , i n the v e r y f o r m s that a t t a c h m e n t
ego i s o t h e r t h a n itself; w h a t m e l a n c h o l i a s h o w s i s that o n l y
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ego, b u t a d e s i r e that u n d o e s the ego in the c o u r s e of its e m e r -
i s b o u n d t o take. " L i b i d o " a n d " a t t a c h m e n t " i n s u c h a v i e w
gence. T h e " m a s t e r y " o f the ego w o u l d t h e n b e i d e n t i f i e d a s
c o u l d not be conceived as free-floating energies, but as h a v i n g
the effect of the d e a t h d r i v e , a n d life, in a N i e t z s c h e a n sense,
a h i s t o r i c i t y that c o u l d n e v e r f u l l y b e r e c o v e r e d .
w o u l d b r e a k a p a r t that m a s t e r y , i n i t i a t i n g a l i v e d m o d e o f b e -
I f i n " M o u r n i n g a n d M e l a n c h o l i a , " F r e u d t h o u g h t that o n e
c o m i n g that contests the stasis a n d d e f e n s i v e status of the ego.
m u s t s e v e r o n e a t t a c h m e n t to m a k e a n o t h e r , in The Ego and the
B u t the s t o r y o f m o u r n i n g c a n n o t b e r e d u c e d t o o n e i n
Id, he is clear that o n l y u p o n the c o n d i t i o n that the lost o t h e r
w h i c h life t r i u m p h s o v e r d e a t h . T h e d y n a m i c i s m o r e c o m -
b e c o m e s i n t e r n a l i z e d c a n m o u r n i n g ever b e a c c o m p l i s h e d a n d
p l i c a t e d . A l t h o u g h i n 1917 F r e u d does n o t yet d i s t i n g u i s h b e -
n e w attachments begun. H e r e , of course, an u n e x p l o r e d p o i n t
t w e e n the p l e a s u r e p r i n c i p l e a n d the d e a t h d r i v e , h e d o e s note
d e s e r v e s r e m a r k : i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n does n o t h a v e t o t a k e the
that m e l a n c h o l y has the p o w e r t o force the ego i n t o d e a t h .
f o r m of a mercilessly violent conscience, a n d certain k i n d s of
B y 1923, h e e x p l i c i t l y c l a i m s that c o n s c i e n c e , a s i t f u n c t i o n s
i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n , w h i c h are n o t a l w a y s i n c o r p o r a t i o n s , are n e c -
i n m e l a n c h o l i a , i s " a g a t h e r i n g p l a c e " for the d e a t h d r i v e s . I n
essary f o r s u r v i v a l .
m o u r n i n g , the c l a i m o f life does n o t t r i u m p h o v e r the l u r e o f
F r e u d , that " m o u r n i n g i s the a f f i r m a t i v e i n c o r p o r a t i o n o f the
d e a t h ; o n the c o n t r a r y , the "death d r i v e s " are m a r s h a l l e d i n the
O t h e r " a n d that, i n p r i n c i p l e , there c a n b e n o e n d t o m o u r n -
s e r v i c e o f b r e a k i n g w i t h the object, " k i l l i n g " the object i n o r d e r
ing.
1 6
I n d e e d , D e r r i d a insists, w i t h the later
1 7
to l i v e . F u r t h e r , i n s o f a r as the object r e s i d e s as the i d e a l i t y of
I n d e e d , o n e m a y rage a g a i n s t one's a t t a c h m e n t t o s o m e
c o n s c i e n c e , a n d the ego i s s i t u a t e d w i t h i n that t o p o g r a p h i c a l
o t h e r s ( w h i c h i s s i m p l y t o alter the t e r m s o f the a t t a c h m e n t ) ,
scene, b o t h c o n s c i e n c e a n d the ego are n e c e s s a r i l y u n d o n e b y
b u t n o rage c a n s e v e r the a t t a c h m e n t t o alterity, e x c e p t p e r -
that m u r d e r o u s c l a i m o n life. T h e "death d r i v e " i s t h u s p a r a -
h a p s a s u i c i d a l rage that u s u a l l y s t i l l leaves b e h i n d a note, a
d o x i c a l l y n e c e s s a r y for s u r v i v a l ; i n m o u r n i n g , the b r e a k i n g o f
f i n a l a d d r e s s , t h u s c o n f i r m i n g that a l l o c u t o r y b o n d . S u r v i v a l
a t t a c h m e n t i n a u g u r a t e s life. B u t t h i s " b r e a k " i s n e v e r f i n a l o r
d o e s n o t t a k e p l a c e b e c a u s e a n a u t o n o m o u s ego exercises a u -
f u l l . O n e does n o t r e t r a c t a q u a n t i t y o f l i b i d o f r o m o n e object
t o n o m y i n c o n f r o n t a t i o n w i t h a c o u n t e r v a i l i n g w o r l d ; o n the
i n o r d e r t o i n v e s t i t i n another. T o the extent that m e l a n c h o l y
c o n t r a r y , n o ego c a n e m e r g e except t h r o u g h a n i m a t i n g ref-
establishes the p o s i t i o n a l i t y o f the ego, the d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n
e r e n c e to s u c h a w o r l d . S u r v i v a l is a m a t t e r of a v o w i n g the
the p s y c h i c a n d the s o c i a l , i t also f u n c t i o n s t o m a k e p o s s i b l e
trace o f loss that i n a u g u r a t e s one's o w n e m e r g e n c e . T o m a k e
a n e p i s t e m o l o g i c a l e n c o u n t e r w i t h alterity. T h e c o n c l u s i o n o f
of m e l a n c h o l i a a s i m p l e " r e f u s a l " to g r i e v e its losses c o n j u r e s
g r i e f m a y u n d o the ego ( i n the sense o f " u n b i n d i n g " i t f r o m its
a subject w h o m i g h t a l r e a d y b e s o m e t h i n g w i t h o u t its losses,
c a t h e x i s i n c o n s c i e n c e ) , b u t i t does n o t d e s t r o y it. T h e r e i s n o
that is, o n e w h o v o l u n t a r i l y e x t e n d s a n d retracts h i s o r h e r
b r e a k w i t h the c o n s t i t u t i v e h i s t o r i c i t y o f loss t o w h i c h m e l a n -
w i l l . Yet the subject w h o m i g h t g r i e v e i s i m p l i c a t e d i n a loss
c h o l y attests (except p e r h a p s i n the m a n i c r e s p o n s e , w h i c h i s
o f a u t o n o m y that i s m a n d a t e d b y l i n g u i s t i c a n d s o c i a l life; i t
a l w a y s t e m p o r a r y ) . T h e h i s t o r i c i t y o f loss i s t o b e f o u n d i n
c a n n e v e r p r o d u c e itself a u t o n o m o u s l y . F r o m the start, t h i s
i d e n t i f i c a t i o n a n d , h e n c e , i n the v e r y f o r m s that a t t a c h m e n t
ego i s o t h e r t h a n itself; w h a t m e l a n c h o l i a s h o w s i s that o n l y
196
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Rage
197
b y a b s o r b i n g the o t h e r a s o n e s e l f does o n e b e c o m e s o m e t h i n g
r e g u l a t i o n ; rather, i t i s the i n s t r u m e n t o f its d i s s i m u l a t i o n . T o
at all. The social terms w h i c h make survival possible, w h i c h
c l a i m life i n s u c h c i r c u m s t a n c e s i s t o contest the r i g h t e o u s p s y -
i n t e r p e l l a t e s o c i a l existence, n e v e r reflect the a u t o n o m y o f the
che, n o t b y a n act o f w i l l , b u t b y s u b m i s s i o n t o a s o c i a l i t y a n d
one w h o comes to recognize h i m - or herself in t h e m arid, thus,
l i n g u i s t i c life that m a k e s s u c h acts p o s s i b l e , o n e that exceeds
s t a n d s a c h a n c e "to b e " w i t h i n l a n g u a g e . I n d e e d , b y f o r f e i t i n g
the b o u n d s o f the ego a n d its " a u t o n o m y . " T o p e r s i s t i n one's
that n o t i o n o f a u t o n o m y s u r v i v a l b e c o m e s p o s s i b l e ; the "ego"
b e i n g m e a n s t o b e g i v e n o v e r f r o m the start t o s o c i a l t e r m s
i s r e l e a s e d f r o m its m e l a n c h o l i c f o r e c l o s u r e o f the s o c i a l . T h e
that are n e v e r f u l l y o n e ' s o w n . T h o s e t e r m s i n s t i t u t e a l i n g u i s -
ego c o m e s i n t o b e i n g o n the c o n d i t i o n o f the " t r a c e " o f the
tic life f o r the " o n e " w h o s p e a k s p r i o r t o a n y act o f agency,
other, w h o is, at that m o m e n t of e m e r g e n c e , a l r e a d y at a d i s -
a n d t h e y r e m a i n b o t h i r r e d u c i b l e t o the o n e w h o s p e a k s a n d
tance. To a c c e p t the a u t o n o m y of the ego is to forget that trace;
the n e c e s s a r y c o n d i t i o n s o f s u c h s p e e c h . I n t h i s sense, i n t e r -
a n d t o a c c e p t that trace i s t o e m b a r k u p o n a p r o c e s s o f m o u r n -
p e l l a t i o n w o r k s b y f a i l i n g , that is, i t i n s t i t u t e s its subject a s a n
i n g that c a n n e v e r b e c o m p l e t e , for n o f i n a l s e v e r a n c e c o u l d
agent p r e c i s e l y to the extent that it fails to d e t e r m i n e s u c h a
t a k e p l a c e w i t h o u t d i s s o l v i n g the ego.
subject e x h a u s t i v e l y i n t i m e .
T h i s i n s i g h t that m e l a n c h o l i a offers i n t o the p o w e r o f the
T h e i n a u g u r a t i v e scene o f i n t e r p e l l a t i o n i s o n e i n w h i c h a
trace of a l t e r i t y to p r o d u c e the ego " a l o n g a f i c t i o n a l l i n e , " as
c e r t a i n f a i l u r e t o b e c o n s t i t u t e d b e c o m e s the c o n d i t i o n o f p o s -
L a c a n has p u t i t , i s n o t r e s t r i c t e d t o the trace o f s o m e s p e c i f i c
s i b i l i t y for c o n s t i t u t i n g oneself. S o c i a l d i s c o u r s e w i e l d s the
set o f others, that is, t o the c h i l d a n d its m o t h e r o r t o o t h e r
p o w e r t o f o r m a n d r e g u l a t e a subject t h r o u g h the i m p o s i t i o n
d y a d i c p a i r s . I n d e e d , the " o t h e r " m a y b e a n i d e a l , a c o u n t r y , a
o f its o w n t e r m s . T h o s e t e r m s , h o w e v e r , are n o t s i m p l y ac-
c o n c e p t o f l i b e r t y , i n w h i c h the loss o f s u c h i d e a l s i s c o m p e n -
c e p t e d o r i n t e r n a l i z e d ; t h e y b e c o m e p s y c h i c o n l y t h r o u g h the
sated b y the i n t e r i o r i z e d i d e a l i t y o f c o n s c i e n c e . A n o t h e r o r a n
m o v e m e n t b y w h i c h t h e y are d i s s i m u l a t e d a n d " t u r n e d . " I n
i d e a l m a y b e " l o s t " b y b e i n g r e n d e r e d u n s p e a k a b l e , that is, lost
the absence of e x p l i c i t r e g u l a t i o n , the subject e m e r g e s as o n e
through p r o h i b i t i o n or foreclosure: unspeakable, impossible
for w h o m p o w e r h a s b e c o m e v o i c e , a n d v o i c e , the r e g u l a t o r y
t o d e c l a r e , b u t e m e r g i n g i n the i n d i r e c t i o n o f c o m p l a i n t a n d
i n s t r u m e n t o f the p s y c h e . T h e s p e e c h acts o f p o w e r — t h e d e c -
the h e i g h t e n e d j u d g m e n t s o f c o n s c i e n c e . C o n t a i n e d w i t h i n the p s y c h i c t o p o g r a p h y o f a m b i v a l e n c e , the f a d e d s o c i a l text r e q u i r e s a d i f f e r e n t sort o f g e n e a l o g y i n the f o r m a t i o n o f the subject, o n e w h i c h takes i n t o a c c o u n t h o w w h a t r e m a i n s u n s p e a k a b l y absent i n h a b i t s the p s y c h i c v o i c e o f the o n e w h o r e m a i n s . T h e v i o l e n c e o f the loss i s r e d o u b l e d a n d r e f r a c t e d i n a v i o l e n c e o f the p s y c h i c a g e n c y that threatens d e a t h ; the s o c i a l i s " t u r n e d b a c k " i n t o the p s y c h i c , o n l y t o leave its trace i n the v o i c e o f c o n s c i e n c e . C o n s c i e n c e t h u s fails t o i n s t a n t i a t e s o c i a l
l a r a t i o n o f g u i l t , the j u d g m e n t o f w o r t h l e s s n e s s , the v e r d i c t s o f reality—are topographically rendered as psychic instruments a n d i n s t i t u t i o n s w i t h i n a p s y c h i c l a n d s c a p e that d e p e n d s o n its m e t a p h o r i c i t y f o r its p l a u s i b i l i t y . R e g u l a t o r y p o w e r b e c o m e s " i n t e r n a l " o n l y t h r o u g h the m e l a n c h o l i c p r o d u c t i o n o f the f i g u r e o f i n t e r n a l space, o n e that f o l l o w s f r o m the w i t h d r a w i n g of resources —a w i t h d r a w a l a n d t u r n i n g of language, a s w e l l . B y w i t h d r a w i n g its o w n p r e s e n c e , p o w e r b e c o m e s a n object l o s t — " a loss o f a m o r e i d e a l k i n d . " E l i g i b l e f o r m e l a n -
196
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b y a b s o r b i n g the o t h e r a s o n e s e l f does o n e b e c o m e s o m e t h i n g
r e g u l a t i o n ; rather, i t i s the i n s t r u m e n t o f its d i s s i m u l a t i o n . T o
at all. The social terms w h i c h make survival possible, w h i c h
c l a i m life i n s u c h c i r c u m s t a n c e s i s t o contest the r i g h t e o u s p s y -
i n t e r p e l l a t e s o c i a l existence, n e v e r reflect the a u t o n o m y o f the
che, n o t b y a n act o f w i l l , b u t b y s u b m i s s i o n t o a s o c i a l i t y a n d
one w h o comes to recognize h i m - or herself in t h e m arid, thus,
l i n g u i s t i c life that m a k e s s u c h acts p o s s i b l e , o n e that exceeds
s t a n d s a c h a n c e "to b e " w i t h i n l a n g u a g e . I n d e e d , b y f o r f e i t i n g
the b o u n d s o f the ego a n d its " a u t o n o m y . " T o p e r s i s t i n one's
that n o t i o n o f a u t o n o m y s u r v i v a l b e c o m e s p o s s i b l e ; the "ego"
b e i n g m e a n s t o b e g i v e n o v e r f r o m the start t o s o c i a l t e r m s
i s r e l e a s e d f r o m its m e l a n c h o l i c f o r e c l o s u r e o f the s o c i a l . T h e
that are n e v e r f u l l y o n e ' s o w n . T h o s e t e r m s i n s t i t u t e a l i n g u i s -
ego c o m e s i n t o b e i n g o n the c o n d i t i o n o f the " t r a c e " o f the
tic life f o r the " o n e " w h o s p e a k s p r i o r t o a n y act o f agency,
other, w h o is, at that m o m e n t of e m e r g e n c e , a l r e a d y at a d i s -
a n d t h e y r e m a i n b o t h i r r e d u c i b l e t o the o n e w h o s p e a k s a n d
tance. To a c c e p t the a u t o n o m y of the ego is to forget that trace;
the n e c e s s a r y c o n d i t i o n s o f s u c h s p e e c h . I n t h i s sense, i n t e r -
a n d t o a c c e p t that trace i s t o e m b a r k u p o n a p r o c e s s o f m o u r n -
p e l l a t i o n w o r k s b y f a i l i n g , that is, i t i n s t i t u t e s its subject a s a n
i n g that c a n n e v e r b e c o m p l e t e , for n o f i n a l s e v e r a n c e c o u l d
agent p r e c i s e l y to the extent that it fails to d e t e r m i n e s u c h a
t a k e p l a c e w i t h o u t d i s s o l v i n g the ego.
subject e x h a u s t i v e l y i n t i m e .
T h i s i n s i g h t that m e l a n c h o l i a offers i n t o the p o w e r o f the
T h e i n a u g u r a t i v e scene o f i n t e r p e l l a t i o n i s o n e i n w h i c h a
trace of a l t e r i t y to p r o d u c e the ego " a l o n g a f i c t i o n a l l i n e , " as
c e r t a i n f a i l u r e t o b e c o n s t i t u t e d b e c o m e s the c o n d i t i o n o f p o s -
L a c a n has p u t i t , i s n o t r e s t r i c t e d t o the trace o f s o m e s p e c i f i c
s i b i l i t y for c o n s t i t u t i n g oneself. S o c i a l d i s c o u r s e w i e l d s the
set o f others, that is, t o the c h i l d a n d its m o t h e r o r t o o t h e r
p o w e r t o f o r m a n d r e g u l a t e a subject t h r o u g h the i m p o s i t i o n
d y a d i c p a i r s . I n d e e d , the " o t h e r " m a y b e a n i d e a l , a c o u n t r y , a
o f its o w n t e r m s . T h o s e t e r m s , h o w e v e r , are n o t s i m p l y ac-
c o n c e p t o f l i b e r t y , i n w h i c h the loss o f s u c h i d e a l s i s c o m p e n -
c e p t e d o r i n t e r n a l i z e d ; t h e y b e c o m e p s y c h i c o n l y t h r o u g h the
sated b y the i n t e r i o r i z e d i d e a l i t y o f c o n s c i e n c e . A n o t h e r o r a n
m o v e m e n t b y w h i c h t h e y are d i s s i m u l a t e d a n d " t u r n e d . " I n
i d e a l m a y b e " l o s t " b y b e i n g r e n d e r e d u n s p e a k a b l e , that is, lost
the absence of e x p l i c i t r e g u l a t i o n , the subject e m e r g e s as o n e
through p r o h i b i t i o n or foreclosure: unspeakable, impossible
for w h o m p o w e r h a s b e c o m e v o i c e , a n d v o i c e , the r e g u l a t o r y
t o d e c l a r e , b u t e m e r g i n g i n the i n d i r e c t i o n o f c o m p l a i n t a n d
i n s t r u m e n t o f the p s y c h e . T h e s p e e c h acts o f p o w e r — t h e d e c -
the h e i g h t e n e d j u d g m e n t s o f c o n s c i e n c e . C o n t a i n e d w i t h i n the p s y c h i c t o p o g r a p h y o f a m b i v a l e n c e , the f a d e d s o c i a l text r e q u i r e s a d i f f e r e n t sort o f g e n e a l o g y i n the f o r m a t i o n o f the subject, o n e w h i c h takes i n t o a c c o u n t h o w w h a t r e m a i n s u n s p e a k a b l y absent i n h a b i t s the p s y c h i c v o i c e o f the o n e w h o r e m a i n s . T h e v i o l e n c e o f the loss i s r e d o u b l e d a n d r e f r a c t e d i n a v i o l e n c e o f the p s y c h i c a g e n c y that threatens d e a t h ; the s o c i a l i s " t u r n e d b a c k " i n t o the p s y c h i c , o n l y t o leave its trace i n the v o i c e o f c o n s c i e n c e . C o n s c i e n c e t h u s fails t o i n s t a n t i a t e s o c i a l
l a r a t i o n o f g u i l t , the j u d g m e n t o f w o r t h l e s s n e s s , the v e r d i c t s o f reality—are topographically rendered as psychic instruments a n d i n s t i t u t i o n s w i t h i n a p s y c h i c l a n d s c a p e that d e p e n d s o n its m e t a p h o r i c i t y f o r its p l a u s i b i l i t y . R e g u l a t o r y p o w e r b e c o m e s " i n t e r n a l " o n l y t h r o u g h the m e l a n c h o l i c p r o d u c t i o n o f the f i g u r e o f i n t e r n a l space, o n e that f o l l o w s f r o m the w i t h d r a w i n g of resources —a w i t h d r a w a l a n d t u r n i n g of language, a s w e l l . B y w i t h d r a w i n g its o w n p r e s e n c e , p o w e r b e c o m e s a n object l o s t — " a loss o f a m o r e i d e a l k i n d . " E l i g i b l e f o r m e l a n -
198
Psychic Inceptions
c h o l i c i n c o r p o r a t i o n , p o w e r n o l o n g e r acts u n i l a t e r a l l y o n its subject. R a t h e r , the subject i s p r o d u c e d , p a r a d o x i c a l l y , t h r o u g h t h i s w i t h d r a w a l o f p o w e r , its d i s s i m u l a t i o n a n d f a b u l a t i o n o f the p s y c h e as a s p e a k i n g t o p o s . S o c i a l p o w e r v a n i s h e s , b e c o m i n g the object lost, o r s o c i a l p o w e r m a k e s v a n i s h , effecting a m a n d a t o r y set of losses. T h u s , it effects a m e l a n c h o l i a that r e p r o d u c e s p o w e r a s the p s y c h i c v o i c e o f j u d g m e n t a d d r e s s e d t o ( t u r n e d u p o n ) oneself, t h u s m o d e l i n g r e f l e x i v i t y o n s u b j e c t i o n . S o m e p s y c h o a n a l y t i c t h e o r i s t s o f the s o c i a l h a v e a r g u e d that s o c i a l i n t e r p e l l a t i o n a l w a y s p r o d u c e s a p s y c h i c excess i t c a n n o t c o n t r o l . Yet the p r o d u c t i o n of the p s y c h i c as a d i s t i n c t d o m a i n c a n n o t o b l i t e r a t e the s o c i a l o c c a s i o n o f t h i s p r o d u c t i o n . T h e " i n s t i t u t i o n " o f the ego c a n n o t f u l l y o v e r c o m e its s o c i a l r e s i d u e , g i v e n that its " v o i c e " i s f r o m the start b o r r o w e d f r o m e l s e w h e r e , a r e c a s t i n g of a s o c i a l " p l a i n t " as p s y c h i c selfjudgment. T h e p o w e r i m p o s e d u p o n o n e i s the p o w e r that a n i m a t e s one's e m e r g e n c e , a n d t h e r e a p p e a r s t o b e n o e s c a p i n g t h i s a m b i v a l e n c e . I n d e e d , there a p p e a r s t o b e n o " o n e " w i t h o u t a m b i v a l e n c e , w h i c h i s t o say that the f i c t i v e r e d o u b l i n g necess a r y to b e c o m e a self r u l e s o u t the p o s s i b i l i t y of strict i d e n t i t y . F i n a l l y , t h e n , there i s n o a m b i v a l e n c e w i t h o u t loss a s the v e r d i c t of s o c i a l i t y , o n e that leaves the t r a c e of its t u r n at the scene of one's e m e r g e n c e .
Notes
INTRODUCTION I. H a y d e n White remarks i n Tropics of Discourse (Baltimore: Johns H o p k i n s University Press, 1978) that "the w o r d tropic derives from tropikos, tropos, w h i c h i n classical Greek meant 'turn' and i n Koine 'way' or 'manner.' It comes into modern Indo-European languages by way of tropus, w h i c h i n Classical Latin meant 'metaphor' or 'figure of speech' and in Late L a t i n , especially as applied to music theory, 'mood' or 'measure' " (p. 2). White goes on to associate the notion of trope w i t h style, a term that he understands to distinguish the study of discourse from both the study of fiction and logic. Tropes are "deviations" from customary language, but they also generate figures of speech or thought (a distinction crucial to Quintillian's account as well). In this sense, a trope can produce a connection between terms that is not considered either customary or logical. For our purposes, this means that a trope operates in a way that is not restricted to accepted versions of reality. At the same time, a trope cannot operate, that is, generate new meanings or connections, if its departure from custom and logic is not recognized as such a departure. In this sense, a trope presupposes an accepted version of reality for its operation.
For Nietzsche, however, the recirculation and sedimentation of tropes is the condition of possibility for the customary use of language. Indeed, he argues that tropes are the stuff out of w h i c h literal and conceptual language emerges. O n l y through a k i n d of forgetfulness of the tropological status of language does something like customary language take hold. Customary language is the sedimentation
202
Notes to Pages 7-14
Notes
to
Pages
203
16-28
or "deadening" effect of tropes. This suggestion is made clear, both
in its persistence and instability" (p. 9). This statement was not meant
argumentatively and rhetorically, in his essay " O n Truth and Lie in an
to suggest that power acts without the subject. On the contrary, for
Extra-Moral Sense," in Friedrich Nietzsche, On Rhetoric and Language,
power to act, there must be a subject, but that necessity does not
ed. Sander G i l m a n et al. (New York: O x f o r d University Press, 1989).
make the subject into the origin of power.
" T u r n " was an English term for "trope" in the seventeenth and
6.
Michel
eighteenth centuries, used in referring to several syntactical figures
(New York:
of speech. Richard L a n h a m writes that a trope is a specific k i n d of
(Paris:
figure, one w h i c h changes the meaning of a w o r d (A Handlist of Rhe-
duction,
torical Terms, Berkeley: University of California Press,
1991). Some ar-
gue for retaining the term "figure" for terms that change the meaning
la
Foucault,
Discipline
1977), 1975); The
Pantheon,
Gallimard,
and
Punish:
Surveiller History
The
et of
Birth
the
Prison
Naissance
de
la
prison
Sexuality,
Volume
1:
An
Intro-
trans. Robert H u r l e y (New York: Vintage, 1978), Histoire de
sexualité
Pleasure:
1:
Volonté
Volume
2
de of
savoir The
(Paris:
History
Gallimard,
of
Sexuality
(New
1978);
of more than one w o r d . Quintillian objects to this distinction, insist-
1985),
Power/Knowledge:
cible to single or plural words, and then defines a trope as a change
C o l i n G o r d o n (New York: Pantheon, 1980), pp. 78-108.
L'usage
des
plaisirs, Selected
(Paris: G a l l i m a r d , Interviews
and
The
York:
ing that this change of meaning happens in ways that are not reduof meaning, whereas "figure" is used for a change in form (i.e., the
of
punir:
Use
of
Pantheon,
1984); "Two Lectures,"
Other
Writings,
19J2-J7,
ed.
7. Lacan refers to the subject as excrescence.
form of a pattern of speech or even a genre of writing). That this turn
8. Nietzsche develops the notion of the sign-chain (Zeichenkette) in
is considered generative or productive seems especially relevant to
On the Genealogy of Morals, trans. Walter K a u f m a n n (New York: R a n -
our consideration of the production or generation of the subject. Not
d o m House, 1967), pp. 77-78; Zur Généalogie der Moral, i n Nietzsche,
only is generation what a trope does, but the explanation of gen-
Samtliche
eration seems to require the use of tropes, an operation of language
C o l l i and M a z z i n o Montinari, vol. 5 (Berlin: de Gruyter, 1988), pp.
that both reflects and enacts the generativity it seeks to explain, irre-
314-15. H e remarks that the origin of a w o r d or an instrument may
ducibly mimetic and performative.
come to assume purposes and produce effects for w h i c h it was never
2. My discussion of "attachment" is indebted to W e n d y Brown's
Werke:
Kritische
Studienausgabe
in
15
Einzelbànden,
ed.
Giorgio
originally intended or fashioned.
essay " W o u n d e d Attachments," in her States of Injury: Freedom and
9. I distinguish between internal and interior, according to conven-
Princeton University Press, 1995).
tions within phenomenology: "internal" designates a contingent rela-
3. In " O n Narcissism," F r e u d distinguishes between narcissistic
tion; "interior," a constitutive relation. This terminology also under-
Power in Late Modernity (Princeton:
and anaclitic forms of love, arguing that the former enhance or i n flate the ego, and the latter lead to its diminution or impoverishment. 4. On the notion that repetition, signifying the death drive, marks
scores the phenomenological register of the latter. 10. Both authors use the w o r d Trieb for drive. In addition, both figure this drive as what can and does turn back u p o n itself.
the limit of the ego's mastery, see Jacques Lacan, Four Fundamental
11.
Concepts of Psychoanalysis, ed. J.-A. Miller, trans. A l a n Sheridan (New
12. For a discussion of the lack of originary violence in F o u -
York: Norton, 1978), pp. 40-49. F r e u d makes the argument i n Beyond
cauldian notions of discursive productivity, see Gayatri Chakravorty
the
Spivak's provocative essay " M o r e on Power/Knowledge," in her Out-
Pleasure
Principle
(The
Standard
Edition
of
the
Complete
Psychological
Works of Sigmund Freud, ed. and trans. James Strachey, 24 vols. [London: H o g a r t h , 1953-74], Ï8: 20-23). On
the
Discursive
Limits
of
"Sex" ( N e w York:
the Teaching Machine (New York:
Routledge, 1993), p. 33.
13. Freud's reflections on " M o u r n i n g and Melancholia" in The Ego
5. This discussion continues arguments that I made in Bodies That Matter:
side in
See Chapter 5 for a more detailed examination of this notion.
Routledge,
1993):
"There is no power that acts, but only a reiterated acting that is power
and the Id become important for Melanie Klein's observations on i n corporation. 14.
Spinoza argues that "everything insofar as it is in itself, en-
202
Notes to Pages 7-14
Notes
to
Pages
203
16-28
or "deadening" effect of tropes. This suggestion is made clear, both
in its persistence and instability" (p. 9). This statement was not meant
argumentatively and rhetorically, in his essay " O n Truth and Lie in an
to suggest that power acts without the subject. On the contrary, for
Extra-Moral Sense," in Friedrich Nietzsche, On Rhetoric and Language,
power to act, there must be a subject, but that necessity does not
ed. Sander G i l m a n et al. (New York: O x f o r d University Press, 1989).
make the subject into the origin of power.
" T u r n " was an English term for "trope" in the seventeenth and
6.
Michel
eighteenth centuries, used in referring to several syntactical figures
(New York:
of speech. Richard L a n h a m writes that a trope is a specific k i n d of
(Paris:
figure, one w h i c h changes the meaning of a w o r d (A Handlist of Rhe-
duction,
torical Terms, Berkeley: University of California Press,
1991). Some ar-
gue for retaining the term "figure" for terms that change the meaning
la
Foucault,
Discipline
1977), 1975); The
Pantheon,
Gallimard,
and
Punish:
Surveiller History
The
et of
Birth
the
Prison
Naissance
de
la
prison
Sexuality,
Volume
1:
An
Intro-
trans. Robert H u r l e y (New York: Vintage, 1978), Histoire de
sexualité
Pleasure:
1:
Volonté
Volume
2
de of
savoir The
(Paris:
History
Gallimard,
of
Sexuality
(New
1978);
of more than one w o r d . Quintillian objects to this distinction, insist-
1985),
Power/Knowledge:
cible to single or plural words, and then defines a trope as a change
C o l i n G o r d o n (New York: Pantheon, 1980), pp. 78-108.
L'usage
des
plaisirs, Selected
(Paris: G a l l i m a r d , Interviews
and
The
York:
ing that this change of meaning happens in ways that are not reduof meaning, whereas "figure" is used for a change in form (i.e., the
of
punir:
Use
of
Pantheon,
1984); "Two Lectures,"
Other
Writings,
19J2-J7,
ed.
7. Lacan refers to the subject as excrescence.
form of a pattern of speech or even a genre of writing). That this turn
8. Nietzsche develops the notion of the sign-chain (Zeichenkette) in
is considered generative or productive seems especially relevant to
On the Genealogy of Morals, trans. Walter K a u f m a n n (New York: R a n -
our consideration of the production or generation of the subject. Not
d o m House, 1967), pp. 77-78; Zur Généalogie der Moral, i n Nietzsche,
only is generation what a trope does, but the explanation of gen-
Samtliche
eration seems to require the use of tropes, an operation of language
C o l l i and M a z z i n o Montinari, vol. 5 (Berlin: de Gruyter, 1988), pp.
that both reflects and enacts the generativity it seeks to explain, irre-
314-15. H e remarks that the origin of a w o r d or an instrument may
ducibly mimetic and performative.
come to assume purposes and produce effects for w h i c h it was never
2. My discussion of "attachment" is indebted to W e n d y Brown's
Werke:
Kritische
Studienausgabe
in
15
Einzelbànden,
ed.
Giorgio
originally intended or fashioned.
essay " W o u n d e d Attachments," in her States of Injury: Freedom and
9. I distinguish between internal and interior, according to conven-
Princeton University Press, 1995).
tions within phenomenology: "internal" designates a contingent rela-
3. In " O n Narcissism," F r e u d distinguishes between narcissistic
tion; "interior," a constitutive relation. This terminology also under-
Power in Late Modernity (Princeton:
and anaclitic forms of love, arguing that the former enhance or i n flate the ego, and the latter lead to its diminution or impoverishment. 4. On the notion that repetition, signifying the death drive, marks
scores the phenomenological register of the latter. 10. Both authors use the w o r d Trieb for drive. In addition, both figure this drive as what can and does turn back u p o n itself.
the limit of the ego's mastery, see Jacques Lacan, Four Fundamental
11.
Concepts of Psychoanalysis, ed. J.-A. Miller, trans. A l a n Sheridan (New
12. For a discussion of the lack of originary violence in F o u -
York: Norton, 1978), pp. 40-49. F r e u d makes the argument i n Beyond
cauldian notions of discursive productivity, see Gayatri Chakravorty
the
Spivak's provocative essay " M o r e on Power/Knowledge," in her Out-
Pleasure
Principle
(The
Standard
Edition
of
the
Complete
Psychological
Works of Sigmund Freud, ed. and trans. James Strachey, 24 vols. [London: H o g a r t h , 1953-74], Ï8: 20-23). On
the
Discursive
Limits
of
"Sex" ( N e w York:
the Teaching Machine (New York:
Routledge, 1993), p. 33.
13. Freud's reflections on " M o u r n i n g and Melancholia" in The Ego
5. This discussion continues arguments that I made in Bodies That Matter:
side in
See Chapter 5 for a more detailed examination of this notion.
Routledge,
1993):
"There is no power that acts, but only a reiterated acting that is power
and the Id become important for Melanie Klein's observations on i n corporation. 14.
Spinoza argues that "everything insofar as it is in itself, en-
204
Notes
to
Pages
31-54
Notes to Pages 55-81
deavors to persist in its o w n being" (p. 135), even as he insists that
205
ed. a n d trans. James Strachey, 24 vols. (London: Hogarth, 1953-74),
"a thing, w h i c h is conditioned to act in a particular manner, has nec-
14: 73-104, for a discussion of the origins of conscience in the repres-
essarily been conditioned by G o d " (p. 61). A u t o n o m y is thus always
sion of homosexuality.
conditioned and, to that extent, subverted by the conditions of its
7. H e r e one can see that Foucault's critique of F r e u d in The His-
o w n possibility. ("The Ethics," Philosophy of Spinoza, trans. R. H. M.
tory of Sexuality, Volume 1
Elwes [New York: Tudor Publishing House], 1934.)
psychoanalysis fails to understand how law produces desire is itself
is partially wrong.
Foucault's view that
a failure to understand the way in w h i c h prohibition is productive. Foucault reserves the term "power" for a productive operation that is
CHAPTER 1
understood not to apply to "law." Yet we see that an insurmountable N O T E : This chapter originally appeared in D a v i d C l a r k e and Tilot-
equivocation between the two terms is p r o d u c e d once law is under-
tama
stood as productive.
Rajan,
eds.,
Intersections:
Nineteenth-Century
temporary Theory (Buffalo: S U N Y Press,
Philosophy
and
Con-
1995). I w o u l d like to thank
W i l l i a m C o n n o l l y a n d Peter Fenves for comments on earlier versions of this essay.
8. S i g m u n d
Freud,
9. Nietzsche,
1. In the following text I refer to this chapter in abbreviated form
Civilization
and
Its
Discontents,
trans.
James
Strachey (New York: N o r t o n , 1977), p. 84. Zur
Généalogie
der
Moral,
411-12;
my
translation.
Kaufman's equivalent is on pp. 162-63.
as "The U n h a p p y Consciousness." English citations are from The Phenomenology of Spirit, trans. A. V. M i l l e r (Oxford: O x f o r d University
CHAPTER 2
Press, 1977); G e r m a n citations are from G . W. F Hegel, Werke in zwanzig Bdnden, vol.
3 (Frankfurt a m M a i n : Suhrkamp, 1980). Page n u m -
bers for later citations w i l l appear in the text. 2. M i c h e l
Foucault,
Discipline
and
Punish:
The
Birth
of
the
Prison
(New York: Pantheon, 1977), p. 30; Surveiller et punir: Naissance de la prison (Paris: G a l l i m a r d ,
1. F r i e d r i c h Nietzsche,
On
the Genealogy of Morals,
trans. Walter
K a u f m a n n (New York: R a n d o m House, 1967), p. 58; Zur Généalogie der
Moral,
in
Nietzsche,
Sdmtliche
Werke:
Kritische
Studienausgabe
in
15
Einzelbànden, ed. G i o r g i o C o l l i and M a z z i n o M o n t i n a r i , vol. 5 (Berlin: de Gruyter, 1988), p. 292.
1975), p. 30. trans. Walter
2. F r i e d r i c h Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil, trans. Walter Kauf-
K a u f m a n n (New York: R a n d o m House, 1967), p. 87; Zur Généalogie
m a n n ( N e w York: R a n d o m House, 1966), p. 25; fenseits von Gut und
der
Base,
3. Friedrich Nietzsche, Moral,
in
Nietzsche,
On
the Genealogy of Morals,
Sdmtliche
Werke:
Kritische
Studienausgabe
in
15
Einzelbànden, ed. G i o r g i o C o l l i and M a z z i n o M o n t i n a r i , vol. 5 (Berlin: de Gruyter, 1988), p. 325.
4. Foucault,
in
Nietzsche,
Sdmtliche
Werke:
Kritische
Studienausgabe
in
15
Einzel-
bànden, ed. G i o r g i o C o l l i a n d M a z z i n o M o n t i n a r i , 5: 32. 3. Ibid., p. 29/36.
Discipline and Punish, p.
30/34.
4. S i g m u n d F r e u d , " O n the M e c h a n i s m of Paranoia," third sec-
5. T h e relevance of the psychoanalytic understanding of the "phan-
tion of "Psycho-Analytic Notes on an Autobiographical A c c o u n t of a
tasmatic" and, in particular, the view of Laplanche a n d Pontalis that
Case of Paranoia (Dementia Paranoides)," The Standard Edition of the
the subject is dissimulated in the scene of phantasy. We might con-
Complete
sider the various stages of progress in the Phenomenology as succes-
Strachey, 24 vols. (London: Hogarth, 1953-74) 12: 31.
sive forms of the phantasmatic, that is, successive ways in w h i c h the subject becomes dissimulated in and as the scene of its action. Standard
Edition
of
the
Complete
Psychological
Works
of
Sigmund
Freud,
Works
of
Sigmund
Freud,
ed.
and
trans.
James
5. S i g m u n d F r e u d , " O n Narcissism: An Introduction," Standard Edition,
6. See S i g m u n d F r e u d , " O n Narcissism: An Introduction," The
Psychological
14:
73-104.
6. S i g m u n d
Freud,
Civilization
and
Its
Strachey (New York: N o r t o n , 1977), p. 84.
Discontents,
trans.
James
204
Notes
to
Pages
31-54
Notes to Pages 55-81
deavors to persist in its o w n being" (p. 135), even as he insists that
205
ed. a n d trans. James Strachey, 24 vols. (London: Hogarth, 1953-74),
"a thing, w h i c h is conditioned to act in a particular manner, has nec-
14: 73-104, for a discussion of the origins of conscience in the repres-
essarily been conditioned by G o d " (p. 61). A u t o n o m y is thus always
sion of homosexuality.
conditioned and, to that extent, subverted by the conditions of its
7. H e r e one can see that Foucault's critique of F r e u d in The His-
o w n possibility. ("The Ethics," Philosophy of Spinoza, trans. R. H. M.
tory of Sexuality, Volume 1
Elwes [New York: Tudor Publishing House], 1934.)
psychoanalysis fails to understand how law produces desire is itself
is partially wrong.
Foucault's view that
a failure to understand the way in w h i c h prohibition is productive. Foucault reserves the term "power" for a productive operation that is
CHAPTER 1
understood not to apply to "law." Yet we see that an insurmountable N O T E : This chapter originally appeared in D a v i d C l a r k e and Tilot-
equivocation between the two terms is p r o d u c e d once law is under-
tama
stood as productive.
Rajan,
eds.,
Intersections:
Nineteenth-Century
temporary Theory (Buffalo: S U N Y Press,
Philosophy
and
Con-
1995). I w o u l d like to thank
W i l l i a m C o n n o l l y a n d Peter Fenves for comments on earlier versions of this essay.
8. S i g m u n d
Freud,
9. Nietzsche,
1. In the following text I refer to this chapter in abbreviated form
Civilization
and
Its
Discontents,
trans.
James
Strachey (New York: N o r t o n , 1977), p. 84. Zur
Généalogie
der
Moral,
411-12;
my
translation.
Kaufman's equivalent is on pp. 162-63.
as "The U n h a p p y Consciousness." English citations are from The Phenomenology of Spirit, trans. A. V. M i l l e r (Oxford: O x f o r d University
CHAPTER 2
Press, 1977); G e r m a n citations are from G . W. F Hegel, Werke in zwanzig Bdnden, vol.
3 (Frankfurt a m M a i n : Suhrkamp, 1980). Page n u m -
bers for later citations w i l l appear in the text. 2. M i c h e l
Foucault,
Discipline
and
Punish:
The
Birth
of
the
Prison
(New York: Pantheon, 1977), p. 30; Surveiller et punir: Naissance de la prison (Paris: G a l l i m a r d ,
1. F r i e d r i c h Nietzsche,
On
the Genealogy of Morals,
trans. Walter
K a u f m a n n (New York: R a n d o m House, 1967), p. 58; Zur Généalogie der
Moral,
in
Nietzsche,
Sdmtliche
Werke:
Kritische
Studienausgabe
in
15
Einzelbànden, ed. G i o r g i o C o l l i and M a z z i n o M o n t i n a r i , vol. 5 (Berlin: de Gruyter, 1988), p. 292.
1975), p. 30. trans. Walter
2. F r i e d r i c h Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil, trans. Walter Kauf-
K a u f m a n n (New York: R a n d o m House, 1967), p. 87; Zur Généalogie
m a n n ( N e w York: R a n d o m House, 1966), p. 25; fenseits von Gut und
der
Base,
3. Friedrich Nietzsche, Moral,
in
Nietzsche,
On
the Genealogy of Morals,
Sdmtliche
Werke:
Kritische
Studienausgabe
in
15
Einzelbànden, ed. G i o r g i o C o l l i and M a z z i n o M o n t i n a r i , vol. 5 (Berlin: de Gruyter, 1988), p. 325.
4. Foucault,
in
Nietzsche,
Sdmtliche
Werke:
Kritische
Studienausgabe
in
15
Einzel-
bànden, ed. G i o r g i o C o l l i a n d M a z z i n o M o n t i n a r i , 5: 32. 3. Ibid., p. 29/36.
Discipline and Punish, p.
30/34.
4. S i g m u n d F r e u d , " O n the M e c h a n i s m of Paranoia," third sec-
5. T h e relevance of the psychoanalytic understanding of the "phan-
tion of "Psycho-Analytic Notes on an Autobiographical A c c o u n t of a
tasmatic" and, in particular, the view of Laplanche a n d Pontalis that
Case of Paranoia (Dementia Paranoides)," The Standard Edition of the
the subject is dissimulated in the scene of phantasy. We might con-
Complete
sider the various stages of progress in the Phenomenology as succes-
Strachey, 24 vols. (London: Hogarth, 1953-74) 12: 31.
sive forms of the phantasmatic, that is, successive ways in w h i c h the subject becomes dissimulated in and as the scene of its action. Standard
Edition
of
the
Complete
Psychological
Works
of
Sigmund
Freud,
Works
of
Sigmund
Freud,
ed.
and
trans.
James
5. S i g m u n d F r e u d , " O n Narcissism: An Introduction," Standard Edition,
6. See S i g m u n d F r e u d , " O n Narcissism: An Introduction," The
Psychological
14:
73-104.
6. S i g m u n d
Freud,
Civilization
and
Its
Strachey (New York: N o r t o n , 1977), p. 84.
Discontents,
trans.
James
2o6
Notes to Pages 84-89
Notes
The Augustinian Imperative
N O T E : T h i s essay was previously published in John Rajchman, ed.,
1
of
my
discussion borrows Bodies
That
Matter:
On
from a n d the
expands u p o n
Discursive
Limits
of "Sex"
( N e w York: Routledge, 1993), pp. 33-36. 2. See Sandra Bartky, Femininity and Domination (New York: Routledge, 1990). 3. M i c h e l
207
90-101
Foucault,
Discipline
and
Punish:
The
Birth
of
the
Prison,
trans. A l a n Sheridan (New York: R a n d o m House, 1979), p. 203; Sur4. It is important to distinguish between the notion of the psyche, w h i c h includes the notion of the unconscious, and that of the subject, whose formation is conditioned by the exclusion of the unconscious. 5. For an extended and rich discussion of how norms work to subjectivate and, in particular, how norms are to be understood as transitive actions, see Pierre Macherey, "Towards a Natural H i s tory of N o r m s " in T i m o t h y J. A r m s t r o n g , trans, and ed., Michel Foucault/Philosopher (Routledge:
N e w York,
1992), p p .
Sage Press,
1993).
176-91.
10. See discussions of the b o d i l y ego in F r e u d , "The Ego a n d the Id,"
The
In the
Standard
Edition
of the
Complete
Psychological
Works
of
74),
19:
26,
and
in
Margaret Whitford,
Feminine (London: Routledge,
11.
Luce Irigaray:
Philosophy
F o r a fuller explanation of Foucault's reworking of Aristotle, "What was at issue was not whether the prison environment
was too harsh or too aseptic, too primitive or too efficient, but its very materiality as an instrument and vector of power," Discipline and Punish,
p.
30;
Surveiller et
punir,
p.
35.
13. See Foucault, "Nietzsche, Genealogy, History," in The Foucault Reader, ed. Paul Rabinow (New York: Pantheon,
14.
1984).
See Z a k i a Pathak a n d Rajeswari Sunder Rajan, "Shahbano," in
Judith Butler and Joan Scott, eds., Feminists Theorize the Political ( N e w York: Routledge, 1992), pp. 257-79. 15.
(Notes
sis," pp. 58-63. On the p r o b l e m of the dynamic relation between
Essays, trans. Ben Brewster ( N e w York: M o n t h l y Review Press,
in
John
Rajchman,
Truth
and
Ethics (New York: Routledge,
Eros:
Foucault,
Lacan,
and
the
Question
of
6. This is not to suggest that psychoanalysis is only to be represented by these two figures, although in this analysis it w i l l be. 7. M i c h e l
Foucault,
The
History
of
Sexuality,
Volume
1:
An
Introduc-
tion, tr. Robert H u r l e y (New York: R a n d o m House, 1978), p. 152; F o u cault, La volonté de savoir (Paris: G a l l i m a r d , 1978), p. 200. 8. T h i s question is raised in a different way by Charles Taylor w h e n he asks whether there is a place for Augustinian "inwardness" in F o u -
Louis Althusser, "Ideology a n d Ideological State Apparatuses Towards
an
Investigation),"
Lenin
and
Philosophy
and
Other
1971),
pp. 170-77. 16.
For an excellent book that appropriates this Althusserian p r o b -
lematic for feminism, see Denise Riley, "Am I That Name? ": Feminism and
1991).
the
see "Bodies that Matter" i n m y Bodies that Matter, pp. 32-36.
Lacan, see Jacques-Alain Miller, " M i c h e l Foucault a n d Psychoanaly-
see the very useful comparative discussion of Foucault and Lacan
in
1991), pp. 53~74-
same volume, for a discussion of Foucault as writing indirectly about
ethical demands a n d the subjectivity to w h i c h they are addressed,
Sigmund
Freud, ed. a n d trans. James Strachey, 24 vols. (London: H o g a r t h , 1953-
12.
1975), p. 202.
veiller et punir: Naissance de la prison (Paris: G a l l i m a r d ,
( N e w b u r y Park, Calif.:
9. See my "Foucault and the Paradox of Bodily Inscriptions," Journal of Philosophy 86, no. 11 (November 1989): 257-79.
(New York: Routledge, 1995).
of Identity
1. T h e following Chapter
Pages
It is also taken up in an interesting way by W i l l i a m C o n n o l l y in his
CHAPTER 3
The Question
to
the
Category
of
'Women
in
History
(Minneapolis:
University
of
M i n n e s o t a Press, 1988). 17.
See Slavoj Z i z e k on the social interpellation of the proper name
in The Sublime Object of Ideology (London: Verso, 1989), pp. 87-102. 18. Jacqueline Rose, Sexuality in the Field of Vision (London: Verso,
1987), pp. 90-91. 19. Foucault, The 20. Foucault,
History of Sexuality, Volume 1, pp.
"The
Subject
and
Power,"
Michel
95-96. Foucault:
Beyond
cault; see his "Foucault on F r e e d o m and Truth," in D a v i d C o u z e n s
Structuralism and Hermeneutics, ed. Hubert L. Dreyfus and Paul Rabi-
H o y , éd., Foucault: A Critical Reader (New York: Blackwell, 1986), p. 99.
now (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1982), p. 212.
2o6
Notes to Pages 84-89
Notes
The Augustinian Imperative
N O T E : T h i s essay was previously published in John Rajchman, ed.,
1
of
my
discussion borrows Bodies
That
Matter:
On
from a n d the
expands u p o n
Discursive
Limits
of "Sex"
( N e w York: Routledge, 1993), pp. 33-36. 2. See Sandra Bartky, Femininity and Domination (New York: Routledge, 1990). 3. M i c h e l
207
90-101
Foucault,
Discipline
and
Punish:
The
Birth
of
the
Prison,
trans. A l a n Sheridan (New York: R a n d o m House, 1979), p. 203; Sur4. It is important to distinguish between the notion of the psyche, w h i c h includes the notion of the unconscious, and that of the subject, whose formation is conditioned by the exclusion of the unconscious. 5. For an extended and rich discussion of how norms work to subjectivate and, in particular, how norms are to be understood as transitive actions, see Pierre Macherey, "Towards a Natural H i s tory of N o r m s " in T i m o t h y J. A r m s t r o n g , trans, and ed., Michel Foucault/Philosopher (Routledge:
N e w York,
1992), p p .
Sage Press,
1993).
176-91.
10. See discussions of the b o d i l y ego in F r e u d , "The Ego a n d the Id,"
The
In the
Standard
Edition
of the
Complete
Psychological
Works
of
74),
19:
26,
and
in
Margaret Whitford,
Feminine (London: Routledge,
11.
Luce Irigaray:
Philosophy
F o r a fuller explanation of Foucault's reworking of Aristotle, "What was at issue was not whether the prison environment
was too harsh or too aseptic, too primitive or too efficient, but its very materiality as an instrument and vector of power," Discipline and Punish,
p.
30;
Surveiller et
punir,
p.
35.
13. See Foucault, "Nietzsche, Genealogy, History," in The Foucault Reader, ed. Paul Rabinow (New York: Pantheon,
14.
1984).
See Z a k i a Pathak a n d Rajeswari Sunder Rajan, "Shahbano," in
Judith Butler and Joan Scott, eds., Feminists Theorize the Political ( N e w York: Routledge, 1992), pp. 257-79. 15.
(Notes
sis," pp. 58-63. On the p r o b l e m of the dynamic relation between
Essays, trans. Ben Brewster ( N e w York: M o n t h l y Review Press,
in
John
Rajchman,
Truth
and
Ethics (New York: Routledge,
Eros:
Foucault,
Lacan,
and
the
Question
of
6. This is not to suggest that psychoanalysis is only to be represented by these two figures, although in this analysis it w i l l be. 7. M i c h e l
Foucault,
The
History
of
Sexuality,
Volume
1:
An
Introduc-
tion, tr. Robert H u r l e y (New York: R a n d o m House, 1978), p. 152; F o u cault, La volonté de savoir (Paris: G a l l i m a r d , 1978), p. 200. 8. T h i s question is raised in a different way by Charles Taylor w h e n he asks whether there is a place for Augustinian "inwardness" in F o u -
Louis Althusser, "Ideology a n d Ideological State Apparatuses Towards
an
Investigation),"
Lenin
and
Philosophy
and
Other
1971),
pp. 170-77. 16.
For an excellent book that appropriates this Althusserian p r o b -
lematic for feminism, see Denise Riley, "Am I That Name? ": Feminism and
1991).
the
see "Bodies that Matter" i n m y Bodies that Matter, pp. 32-36.
Lacan, see Jacques-Alain Miller, " M i c h e l Foucault a n d Psychoanaly-
see the very useful comparative discussion of Foucault and Lacan
in
1991), pp. 53~74-
same volume, for a discussion of Foucault as writing indirectly about
ethical demands a n d the subjectivity to w h i c h they are addressed,
Sigmund
Freud, ed. a n d trans. James Strachey, 24 vols. (London: H o g a r t h , 1953-
12.
1975), p. 202.
veiller et punir: Naissance de la prison (Paris: G a l l i m a r d ,
( N e w b u r y Park, Calif.:
9. See my "Foucault and the Paradox of Bodily Inscriptions," Journal of Philosophy 86, no. 11 (November 1989): 257-79.
(New York: Routledge, 1995).
of Identity
1. T h e following Chapter
Pages
It is also taken up in an interesting way by W i l l i a m C o n n o l l y in his
CHAPTER 3
The Question
to
the
Category
of
'Women
in
History
(Minneapolis:
University
of
M i n n e s o t a Press, 1988). 17.
See Slavoj Z i z e k on the social interpellation of the proper name
in The Sublime Object of Ideology (London: Verso, 1989), pp. 87-102. 18. Jacqueline Rose, Sexuality in the Field of Vision (London: Verso,
1987), pp. 90-91. 19. Foucault, The 20. Foucault,
History of Sexuality, Volume 1, pp.
"The
Subject
and
Power,"
Michel
95-96. Foucault:
Beyond
cault; see his "Foucault on F r e e d o m and Truth," in D a v i d C o u z e n s
Structuralism and Hermeneutics, ed. Hubert L. Dreyfus and Paul Rabi-
H o y , éd., Foucault: A Critical Reader (New York: Blackwell, 1986), p. 99.
now (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1982), p. 212.
208
Notes
to
Pages
Notes
102-9
21. See the preface to Victor Burgin, James D o n a l d , and C o r a
in On
to
Pages
209
109-12
the Genealogy of Morals, linking the first with the capacity to
1986), for a
promise and the second to the problem of internalization and of debt.
psychoanalytic warning against "collapsing" the psychic and the
The distinction appears not to be sustained, as it becomes apparent
Kaplan, eds., Formations of Fantasy (London:
Methuen,
that the being who promises can only stand for his/her future by first
social. 22. In the above, the terms "attachment" and "investment" might
becoming regular, that is, by internalizing the law or, to be precise,
be understood as intentional in the phenomenological sense, that is,
"burning it into the will." Internalization, introduced in the second
as libidinal movements or trajectories w h i c h always take an object.
essay, section 16, involves the turning of the w i l l (or instincts) against
There is no free-floating attachment w h i c h subsequently takes an
itself. In section fifteen, Nietzsche introduces freedom as that w h i c h
object; rather, an attachment is always an attachment to an object,
turns against itself in the making of bad conscience: "This instinct for
where that to w h i c h it is attached alters the attachment itself. T h e
freedom forcibly made l a t e n t . . . this instinct for freedom pushed back
transferability of attachment presupposes that the object to w h i c h an
and repressed, incarcerated within and finally able to discharge and
attachment is made may change, but that the attachment w i l l per-
vent itself only on itself: that, and that alone, is what the bad conscience
sist and w i l l always take some object, and that this action of binding
is in its beginnings" (Friedrich Nietzsche, On the Genealogy of Morals,
to (tied always to a certain warding off) is the constitutive action of
trans. Walter K a u f m a n n and R. J. Hollingdale [New York: R a n d o m
attachment. This notion of attachment seems close to certain efforts
House, 1967], p. 87).
to account for drives in non-biologistic terms (to be distinguished
4. Louis Althusser, "Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses
from efforts that take the biological seriously). Here one might seek
(Notes
recourse to Gilles Deleuze's reading of drives in Masochism: An In-
Essays, trans. Ben Brewster (New York: M o n t h l y Review Press,
terpretation
pp.
of
Coldness
and
Cruelty
(New
tation de Sacher-Masoch [Paris: Minuit,
York:
Braziller,
1971;
Presen-
1967]), in w h i c h he suggests
Towards
127-88;
an
Investigation),"
"Idéologie
et
Lenin
appareils
and
Philosophy
idéologiques
and
d'etat,"
Other
1971), Positions
(Paris: Editions Sociales, 1976), pp. 67-126.
that drives may be understood as the pulsionality of positing or
5. Althusser implicates his o w n writing in the version of ideologi-
valuation. See also Jean Laplanche's recent discussions in w h i c h "the
cal interpellation that he explains: "it is essential to realize that both
drive" becomes indissociable from its cultural articulation: "we think
he who is writing these lines and the reader who reads them are
it necessary to conceive of a dual expository stage: on the one hand,
themselves subjects, and therefore ideological subjects (a tautologi-
the preliminary stage of an organism that is b o u n d to homeostasis
cal proposition, i.e. that the author and the reader of these lines both
and self-preservation, and, on the other hand, the stage of the adult
live 'spontaneously' or 'naturally' in ideology" (ibid., p. 171; p. 110).
cultural w o r l d in w h i c h the infant is immediately and completely i m -
In this remark, Althusser presumes the authoritative capacities of the
mersed," }ean
voice and insists that his writing, to the extent that it is ideological,
Laplanche:
Seduction,
Translation,
Drives,
ed.
John
Fletcher
and M a r t i n Stanton (London: Institute of Contemporary Arts, 1992), p. 187.
addresses its reader as w o u l d a voice. 6. Ibid., p. 177. 7.
CHAPTER 4 1.
See
Walter
See
Kaja
Psychoanalysis
and
Silverman,
Cinema
The
Acoustic
(Bloomington:
Mirror:
Indiana
The
Female
University
Voice
in
Press,
1988). Silverman notes the "theological" dimension of the "voiceBenjamin,
On
the
Origins
of
German
Tragic
Drama,
trans. Peter Osborne (Cambridge: M I T Press, 1987).
over" in film, w h i c h always escapes the viewer's gaze (p. 49). Silverm a n also makes clear that the voice recognized in the cinematic pre-
2. I thank H a y d e n White for this suggestion.
sentation of voice is not only the maternal voice, but a repudiated
3. Nietzsche distinguishes between conscience and bad conscience
dimension of the masculine subject's o w n voice (pp. 80-81). Silver-
208
Notes
to
Pages
Notes
102-9
21. See the preface to Victor Burgin, James D o n a l d , and C o r a
in On
to
Pages
209
109-12
the Genealogy of Morals, linking the first with the capacity to
1986), for a
promise and the second to the problem of internalization and of debt.
psychoanalytic warning against "collapsing" the psychic and the
The distinction appears not to be sustained, as it becomes apparent
Kaplan, eds., Formations of Fantasy (London:
Methuen,
that the being who promises can only stand for his/her future by first
social. 22. In the above, the terms "attachment" and "investment" might
becoming regular, that is, by internalizing the law or, to be precise,
be understood as intentional in the phenomenological sense, that is,
"burning it into the will." Internalization, introduced in the second
as libidinal movements or trajectories w h i c h always take an object.
essay, section 16, involves the turning of the w i l l (or instincts) against
There is no free-floating attachment w h i c h subsequently takes an
itself. In section fifteen, Nietzsche introduces freedom as that w h i c h
object; rather, an attachment is always an attachment to an object,
turns against itself in the making of bad conscience: "This instinct for
where that to w h i c h it is attached alters the attachment itself. T h e
freedom forcibly made l a t e n t . . . this instinct for freedom pushed back
transferability of attachment presupposes that the object to w h i c h an
and repressed, incarcerated within and finally able to discharge and
attachment is made may change, but that the attachment w i l l per-
vent itself only on itself: that, and that alone, is what the bad conscience
sist and w i l l always take some object, and that this action of binding
is in its beginnings" (Friedrich Nietzsche, On the Genealogy of Morals,
to (tied always to a certain warding off) is the constitutive action of
trans. Walter K a u f m a n n and R. J. Hollingdale [New York: R a n d o m
attachment. This notion of attachment seems close to certain efforts
House, 1967], p. 87).
to account for drives in non-biologistic terms (to be distinguished
4. Louis Althusser, "Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses
from efforts that take the biological seriously). Here one might seek
(Notes
recourse to Gilles Deleuze's reading of drives in Masochism: An In-
Essays, trans. Ben Brewster (New York: M o n t h l y Review Press,
terpretation
pp.
of
Coldness
and
Cruelty
(New
tation de Sacher-Masoch [Paris: Minuit,
York:
Braziller,
1971;
Presen-
1967]), in w h i c h he suggests
Towards
127-88;
an
Investigation),"
"Idéologie
et
Lenin
appareils
and
Philosophy
idéologiques
and
d'etat,"
Other
1971), Positions
(Paris: Editions Sociales, 1976), pp. 67-126.
that drives may be understood as the pulsionality of positing or
5. Althusser implicates his o w n writing in the version of ideologi-
valuation. See also Jean Laplanche's recent discussions in w h i c h "the
cal interpellation that he explains: "it is essential to realize that both
drive" becomes indissociable from its cultural articulation: "we think
he who is writing these lines and the reader who reads them are
it necessary to conceive of a dual expository stage: on the one hand,
themselves subjects, and therefore ideological subjects (a tautologi-
the preliminary stage of an organism that is b o u n d to homeostasis
cal proposition, i.e. that the author and the reader of these lines both
and self-preservation, and, on the other hand, the stage of the adult
live 'spontaneously' or 'naturally' in ideology" (ibid., p. 171; p. 110).
cultural w o r l d in w h i c h the infant is immediately and completely i m -
In this remark, Althusser presumes the authoritative capacities of the
mersed," }ean
voice and insists that his writing, to the extent that it is ideological,
Laplanche:
Seduction,
Translation,
Drives,
ed.
John
Fletcher
and M a r t i n Stanton (London: Institute of Contemporary Arts, 1992), p. 187.
addresses its reader as w o u l d a voice. 6. Ibid., p. 177. 7.
CHAPTER 4 1.
See
Walter
See
Kaja
Psychoanalysis
and
Silverman,
Cinema
The
Acoustic
(Bloomington:
Mirror:
Indiana
The
Female
University
Voice
in
Press,
1988). Silverman notes the "theological" dimension of the "voiceBenjamin,
On
the
Origins
of
German
Tragic
Drama,
trans. Peter Osborne (Cambridge: M I T Press, 1987).
over" in film, w h i c h always escapes the viewer's gaze (p. 49). Silverm a n also makes clear that the voice recognized in the cinematic pre-
2. I thank H a y d e n White for this suggestion.
sentation of voice is not only the maternal voice, but a repudiated
3. Nietzsche distinguishes between conscience and bad conscience
dimension of the masculine subject's o w n voice (pp. 80-81). Silver-
210
Notes
to Pages
Notes
113-19
to
Pages
211
120-39
man's analysis sheds light on the "voice" of ideology insofar as the
tence) from the ideas of the i n d i v i d u a l concerned, i.e. from h i m as a
subject w h o turns around already knows the voice to w h i c h he re-
subject with a consciousness w h i c h contains the ideas of his belief.
sponds, suggesting an irreducible ambiguity between the "voice" of
In this way, i.e. by means of the absolutely ideological 'conceptual'
conscience a n d the "voice" of the law.
device (dispositif) thus set up (a subject endowed with a conscious-
8. See
section
I
in
Louis
Althusser,
L'avenir dure
longtemps,
suivi les
9. Louis Althusser and Etienne Balibar, Reading Capital, trans. Ben Brewster (London: Verso, 1970), p. 26; Lire le Capital (Paris: François 10. Jean-Marie Vincent, " L a lecture symptomale chez Althusser," in Futur Antérieur, éd., Sur Althusser: Passages (Paris: Éditions L ' H a r Althusser, "Ideology a n d Ideological State Apparatuses," p. 132;
"Idéologie," p. 72. O n e might usefully compare M a x Weber's The Protestant Ethic
w it h Althusser on this point. In both, labor is effectively guaranteed through a C h r i s t i a n ethic, although in Althusser the religious inflection appears to be more Catholic than Protestant.
See Slavoj Zizek, The Sublime Object of Ideology (London: Verso,
15.
M l a d e n Dolar,
" B e y o n d Interpellation,"
Qui Parle 6,
no.
2
(Spring-Summer 1993): 73-96. T h e English version is a revision of the Autoritt (Vienna: H o r a Verlag,
1990), pp. 66-79,
1991).
16.
Althusser, "Ideology a n d Ideological State Apparatuses," p. 166.
17.
Dolar, "Beyond Interpellation," p. 76.
18. Althusser, "Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses," pp. 169-70; "Idéologie," p. 109. 19.
13. Pierre B o u r d i e u elaborates the concept of the habitus in The Logic of Practice (Stanford: Stanford University Press,
14.
original, "Jenseits der A n r u f u n g , " in Slavoj Zizek, ed., Gestalten der
mattan, 1993), p. 97 (my translation).
12.
follows" (p. 167).
1989), pp. 1-2.
M a s p e r o , 1968).
11.
ness in w h i c h he freely forms or freely recognizes ideas in w h i c h he believes), the (material) attitude of the subject concerned naturally
faits (Paris: Éditions S T O C K / I M E C , 1992).
Dolar, "Beyond Interpellation," p. 78.
20. G i o r g i o
Agamben,
The
Coming
Community,
trans.
Michael
H a r d t (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1993), p. 43.
where he analyzes the embodied rituals of everydayness by w h i c h a given culture produces and sustains belief in its o w n "obviousness."
CHAPTER 5
B o u r d i e u underscores the place of the body, its gestures, its stylistics, its unconscious "knowingness" as the site for the reconstitution of a
N O T E : T h i s paper was first presented at the D i v i s i o n 39 Meetings of
practical sense without w h i c h social reality c o u l d not be constituted.
the A m e r i c a n Psychological Association i n N e w York C i t y i n A p r i l
Bourdieu's notion of the habitus might well be read as a reformula-
1993. It was subsequently published with the replies from a n d to
tion of Althusser's notion of ideology. Whereas Althusser writes that
Adam
ideology constitutes the "obviousness" of the subject, but that this
spectives 5 no. 2 (1995): 165-94.
obviousness is the effect of a dispositif, the same term reemerges in
Phillips
in
Psychoanalytic
1. Sigmund Freud,
Dialogues:
A
journal
Relational
Per-
The Ego and the Id, in The Standard Edition of the
Bourdieu to describe the way in w h i c h a habitus generates certain
Complete
beliefs. F o r B o u r d i e u , dispositions are generative and transposable.
Strachey, 24 vols. (London: H o g a r t h , 1953-74), 9
Psychological
of
Works
of
Sigmund
Freud,
ed. x
and
trans.
James
:
Note in Althusser's "Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses"
2. Presumably, sexuality must be trained away from things, ani-
the inception of this latter reappropriation: " A n i n d i v i d u a l believes in
mals, parts of all of the above, a n d narcissistic attachments of vari-
G o d , or Duty, or Justice, etc. This belief derives (for everyone, i.e. for
ous kinds.
all those w h o live in an ideological representation of ideology, w h i c h
3. The notion of foreclosure has become Lacanian terminology for
reduces ideology to ideas endowed by definition with a spiritual exis-
Freud's notion of Verwerfung. Distinguished from repression under-
210
Notes
to Pages
Notes
113-19
to
Pages
211
120-39
man's analysis sheds light on the "voice" of ideology insofar as the
tence) from the ideas of the i n d i v i d u a l concerned, i.e. from h i m as a
subject w h o turns around already knows the voice to w h i c h he re-
subject with a consciousness w h i c h contains the ideas of his belief.
sponds, suggesting an irreducible ambiguity between the "voice" of
In this way, i.e. by means of the absolutely ideological 'conceptual'
conscience a n d the "voice" of the law.
device (dispositif) thus set up (a subject endowed with a conscious-
8. See
section
I
in
Louis
Althusser,
L'avenir dure
longtemps,
suivi les
9. Louis Althusser and Etienne Balibar, Reading Capital, trans. Ben Brewster (London: Verso, 1970), p. 26; Lire le Capital (Paris: François 10. Jean-Marie Vincent, " L a lecture symptomale chez Althusser," in Futur Antérieur, éd., Sur Althusser: Passages (Paris: Éditions L ' H a r Althusser, "Ideology a n d Ideological State Apparatuses," p. 132;
"Idéologie," p. 72. O n e might usefully compare M a x Weber's The Protestant Ethic
w it h Althusser on this point. In both, labor is effectively guaranteed through a C h r i s t i a n ethic, although in Althusser the religious inflection appears to be more Catholic than Protestant.
See Slavoj Zizek, The Sublime Object of Ideology (London: Verso,
15.
M l a d e n Dolar,
" B e y o n d Interpellation,"
Qui Parle 6,
no.
2
(Spring-Summer 1993): 73-96. T h e English version is a revision of the Autoritt (Vienna: H o r a Verlag,
1990), pp. 66-79,
1991).
16.
Althusser, "Ideology a n d Ideological State Apparatuses," p. 166.
17.
Dolar, "Beyond Interpellation," p. 76.
18. Althusser, "Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses," pp. 169-70; "Idéologie," p. 109. 19.
13. Pierre B o u r d i e u elaborates the concept of the habitus in The Logic of Practice (Stanford: Stanford University Press,
14.
original, "Jenseits der A n r u f u n g , " in Slavoj Zizek, ed., Gestalten der
mattan, 1993), p. 97 (my translation).
12.
follows" (p. 167).
1989), pp. 1-2.
M a s p e r o , 1968).
11.
ness in w h i c h he freely forms or freely recognizes ideas in w h i c h he believes), the (material) attitude of the subject concerned naturally
faits (Paris: Éditions S T O C K / I M E C , 1992).
Dolar, "Beyond Interpellation," p. 78.
20. G i o r g i o
Agamben,
The
Coming
Community,
trans.
Michael
H a r d t (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1993), p. 43.
where he analyzes the embodied rituals of everydayness by w h i c h a given culture produces and sustains belief in its o w n "obviousness."
CHAPTER 5
B o u r d i e u underscores the place of the body, its gestures, its stylistics, its unconscious "knowingness" as the site for the reconstitution of a
N O T E : T h i s paper was first presented at the D i v i s i o n 39 Meetings of
practical sense without w h i c h social reality c o u l d not be constituted.
the A m e r i c a n Psychological Association i n N e w York C i t y i n A p r i l
Bourdieu's notion of the habitus might well be read as a reformula-
1993. It was subsequently published with the replies from a n d to
tion of Althusser's notion of ideology. Whereas Althusser writes that
Adam
ideology constitutes the "obviousness" of the subject, but that this
spectives 5 no. 2 (1995): 165-94.
obviousness is the effect of a dispositif, the same term reemerges in
Phillips
in
Psychoanalytic
1. Sigmund Freud,
Dialogues:
A
journal
Relational
Per-
The Ego and the Id, in The Standard Edition of the
Bourdieu to describe the way in w h i c h a habitus generates certain
Complete
beliefs. F o r B o u r d i e u , dispositions are generative and transposable.
Strachey, 24 vols. (London: H o g a r t h , 1953-74), 9
Psychological
of
Works
of
Sigmund
Freud,
ed. x
and
trans.
James
:
Note in Althusser's "Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses"
2. Presumably, sexuality must be trained away from things, ani-
the inception of this latter reappropriation: " A n i n d i v i d u a l believes in
mals, parts of all of the above, a n d narcissistic attachments of vari-
G o d , or Duty, or Justice, etc. This belief derives (for everyone, i.e. for
ous kinds.
all those w h o live in an ideological representation of ideology, w h i c h
3. The notion of foreclosure has become Lacanian terminology for
reduces ideology to ideas endowed by definition with a spiritual exis-
Freud's notion of Verwerfung. Distinguished from repression under-
212
Notes
to
Pages
140-53
Notes
stood as an action by an already-formed subject, foreclosure is an act of negation that founds and forms the subject. See the entry " F o r c l u -
5. Q u o t e d i n S. D u n n , 6. M a r y Douglas, Purity
to
Pages
213
156-74.
Walking Light (New York: N o r t o n , and
Danger
1993).
(London, Routledge, 1966).
sion" in J. Laplanche and J.-B. Pontalis, Vocabulaire de la psychanalyse (Paris: Presses Universitaires de France, 1967), pp. 163-67. 4. Sigmund F r e u d ,
" M o u r n i n g and Melancholia,"
Standard Edition,
CHAPTER 6
14: 169.
1.
5. S i g m u n d F r e u d , " O n Narcissism: An Introduction," Standard
14:
Edition,
81-82.
ander
6. See F r e u d , Civilization and Its Discontents, trans. James Strachey, (New York: Norton, 1977), pp. 81-92.
Eric
and
Santner,
Stranded
(Ithaca:
Objects:
Mourning,
Memory,
C o r n e l l University Press,
Margarate
Mitscherlich,
The
Inability
and
Film
in
1990), and Alexto
Mourn:
Principles
of Collective Behavior, trans. Beverley R. Placzek ( N e w York: G r o v e Press, 1975). See also, for a feminist account that situates melancho-
7. See "Contagious W o r d : 'Homosexuality' and the Military," in m y Excitable Speech (New York: Routledge, 1996).
8. See m y
See
Postwar Germany
lia within the production of sexual difference, Juliana Schiesari, The Gendering
1993), pp. 169-
Loss
9. T h e following argument is taken from my Bodies That Matter, pp.
tion
Bodies That Matter (New York: Routledge,
in
of
Melancholia:
Feminism,
Renaissance Literature
Psychoanalysis,
and
the
Symbolics
of
(Ithaca: C o r n e l l University Press, 1992).
2. S i g m u n d F r e u d , " M o u r n i n g and Melancholia," The Standard Edi-
77233-36.
Complete
Psychological
Works
of Sigmund
Freud,
ed.
and
trans.
3. H e r e Melanie Klein's trenchant intervention on the relation of
10. See " F r e u d and the Melancholia of G e n d e r " in my Gender Trouble:
of the
James Strachey, 24 vols. (London: Hogarth, 1953-74), 14: 256. Feminism
and
the
Subversion
of Identity
(New
York:
Routledge,
1990).
melancholia to paranoia and manic-depressive states does not carry the analysis far enough. H e r theory tends to rely on tropes of inter-
This is not to suggest that an exclusionary matrix rigorously
nality without asking whether such tropes are the effects of a melan-
distinguishes between how one identifies and how one desires; it is
cholia that they seek to explain. See "A Contribution to the Psycho-
quite possible to have overlapping identification and desire in hetero-
genesis of Manic-Depressive States" (1935) and " M o u r n i n g and Its
sexual or homosexual exchange, or in a bisexual history of sexual
Relation to Manic-Depressive States" (1935) i n The Selected Melanie
practice. Furthermore, "masculinity" and "femininity" do not ex-
Klein, ed. Juliet Mitchell (London: Penguin,
haust the terms for either eroticized identification or desire.
essay on K l e i n and the p r i m a r y status of aggression, see Jacqueline
11.
12. See Douglas C r i m p , " M o u r n i n g and Militancy," October 51 (Winter 1989): 97-107. 13.
Leo
Bersani,
The
Rose's "Negativity in the W o r k of Melanie Klein," in Why War? — Psychoanalysis,
Freudian
Body:
Psychoanalysis
and
Art
(New
Phillips
Reply
In
2. M i k k e l Borch-Jacobsen, The Emotional Tie (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1993); Leo Bersani, The Freudian Body. Freud,
Three
Essays
on
the
History
the
Return
to
Melanie
Klein
(Oxford:
Basil
Unconscious"
the
Standard
(Standard
Edition,
James
Edition,
14:
Strachey
201),
notes
by
Dingvorstellung.
that
Dingvorstellung
appears in The Interpretation of Dreams in the discussion of jokes.
1. F r e u d , The Ego and the Id, 19: 12-59.
3.
and
4. H e r e F r e u d replaces the term Sachvorstellung, used in his essay "The
to
Politics,
Blackwell, 1993), pp. 137-90.
York: C o l u m b i a University Press, 1986), pp. 64-66,112-13. Notes
1986). F o r an excellent
of Sexuality,
125-243. 4. F r e u d , " M o u r n i n g and Melancholia."
Standard
Edition,
7:
The distinction is that between a word-presentation and a thingpresentation. Strachey explains that the latter consists in "the cathexis, if not of the direct memory-images of the thing, at least of remoter memory-traces derived from these" (ibid.). 5. F r e u d concedes as m u c h earlier in the essay w h e n he remarks
212
Notes
to
Pages
140-53
Notes
stood as an action by an already-formed subject, foreclosure is an act of negation that founds and forms the subject. See the entry " F o r c l u -
5. Q u o t e d i n S. D u n n , 6. M a r y Douglas, Purity
to
Pages
213
156-74.
Walking Light (New York: N o r t o n , and
Danger
1993).
(London, Routledge, 1966).
sion" in J. Laplanche and J.-B. Pontalis, Vocabulaire de la psychanalyse (Paris: Presses Universitaires de France, 1967), pp. 163-67. 4. Sigmund F r e u d ,
" M o u r n i n g and Melancholia,"
Standard Edition,
CHAPTER 6
14: 169.
1.
5. S i g m u n d F r e u d , " O n Narcissism: An Introduction," Standard
14:
Edition,
81-82.
ander
6. See F r e u d , Civilization and Its Discontents, trans. James Strachey, (New York: Norton, 1977), pp. 81-92.
Eric
and
Santner,
Stranded
(Ithaca:
Objects:
Mourning,
Memory,
C o r n e l l University Press,
Margarate
Mitscherlich,
The
Inability
and
Film
in
1990), and Alexto
Mourn:
Principles
of Collective Behavior, trans. Beverley R. Placzek ( N e w York: G r o v e Press, 1975). See also, for a feminist account that situates melancho-
7. See "Contagious W o r d : 'Homosexuality' and the Military," in m y Excitable Speech (New York: Routledge, 1996).
8. See m y
See
Postwar Germany
lia within the production of sexual difference, Juliana Schiesari, The Gendering
1993), pp. 169-
Loss
9. T h e following argument is taken from my Bodies That Matter, pp.
tion
Bodies That Matter (New York: Routledge,
in
of
Melancholia:
Feminism,
Renaissance Literature
Psychoanalysis,
and
the
Symbolics
of
(Ithaca: C o r n e l l University Press, 1992).
2. S i g m u n d F r e u d , " M o u r n i n g and Melancholia," The Standard Edi-
77233-36.
Complete
Psychological
Works
of Sigmund
Freud,
ed.
and
trans.
3. H e r e Melanie Klein's trenchant intervention on the relation of
10. See " F r e u d and the Melancholia of G e n d e r " in my Gender Trouble:
of the
James Strachey, 24 vols. (London: Hogarth, 1953-74), 14: 256. Feminism
and
the
Subversion
of Identity
(New
York:
Routledge,
1990).
melancholia to paranoia and manic-depressive states does not carry the analysis far enough. H e r theory tends to rely on tropes of inter-
This is not to suggest that an exclusionary matrix rigorously
nality without asking whether such tropes are the effects of a melan-
distinguishes between how one identifies and how one desires; it is
cholia that they seek to explain. See "A Contribution to the Psycho-
quite possible to have overlapping identification and desire in hetero-
genesis of Manic-Depressive States" (1935) and " M o u r n i n g and Its
sexual or homosexual exchange, or in a bisexual history of sexual
Relation to Manic-Depressive States" (1935) i n The Selected Melanie
practice. Furthermore, "masculinity" and "femininity" do not ex-
Klein, ed. Juliet Mitchell (London: Penguin,
haust the terms for either eroticized identification or desire.
essay on K l e i n and the p r i m a r y status of aggression, see Jacqueline
11.
12. See Douglas C r i m p , " M o u r n i n g and Militancy," October 51 (Winter 1989): 97-107. 13.
Leo
Bersani,
The
Rose's "Negativity in the W o r k of Melanie Klein," in Why War? — Psychoanalysis,
Freudian
Body:
Psychoanalysis
and
Art
(New
Phillips
Reply
In
2. M i k k e l Borch-Jacobsen, The Emotional Tie (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1993); Leo Bersani, The Freudian Body. Freud,
Three
Essays
on
the
History
the
Return
to
Melanie
Klein
(Oxford:
Basil
Unconscious"
the
Standard
(Standard
Edition,
James
Edition,
14:
Strachey
201),
notes
by
Dingvorstellung.
that
Dingvorstellung
appears in The Interpretation of Dreams in the discussion of jokes.
1. F r e u d , The Ego and the Id, 19: 12-59.
3.
and
4. H e r e F r e u d replaces the term Sachvorstellung, used in his essay "The
to
Politics,
Blackwell, 1993), pp. 137-90.
York: C o l u m b i a University Press, 1986), pp. 64-66,112-13. Notes
1986). F o r an excellent
of Sexuality,
125-243. 4. F r e u d , " M o u r n i n g and Melancholia."
Standard
Edition,
7:
The distinction is that between a word-presentation and a thingpresentation. Strachey explains that the latter consists in "the cathexis, if not of the direct memory-images of the thing, at least of remoter memory-traces derived from these" (ibid.). 5. F r e u d concedes as m u c h earlier in the essay w h e n he remarks
214
Notes
to
Pages
174-95
Notes
to Page
215
195
that "the loss of a love object is an excellent opportunity for the a m -
for
bivalence in love-relationships to make itself effective and come into
(New York: Routledge, 1996). Based in quite different psychoanalytic
the open" (250-51). Toward the end of the essay, F r e u d remarks u p o n
views, each has contested the centrality of incorporation and super-
"an essential analogy between m o u r n i n g and melancholia": m o u r n -
egoic functions in the account of internalization.
ing impels the ego to detach from its lost object in order to continue to live, and melancholia, through "the struggle of ambivalence loosen(s) the fixation of the libido to the object by disparaging it" (257). 6. Walter
Benjamin,
The
Origin
of
the
German
Tragic
Drama,
trans.
John Osborne (London: N L B , 1977), pp. 92-97. 7. S i g m u n d F r e u d , "Trauer u n d Melancholie," Psychologie des Unbewussten, 8. See
Studienausgabe Roy
(Frankfurt a. M . : S. Fischer,
Schaefer,
A
New
Language
for
1982), 193-212.
Psychoanalysis
(New
H a v e n : Yale University Press, 1976), p. 177. For a view of fantasy that operates within melancholia, see chapter one of Nicolas A b r a ham
and
Maria
Torok,
The
Shell
and
the
Kernel:
Renewals
of
Psycho-
analysis, tr. and ed. Nicholas T. Rand (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1994). 9. "The image of man's body is the principle of every unity he perceives in objects . . . all the objects of his w o r l d are always structured a r o u n d the wandering shadow of his o w n ego [l'ombre errante de son
propre
moi]"
(Jacques
Lacan,
The
Seminar
of Jacques
Lacan,
Book
II,
trans. Sylvana Tomaselli [ N e w York: W. W. N o r t o n , 1991], p. 166; Le Séminaire, livre II [Paris: Seuil, 1978], p. 198). 10.
Sigmund Freud,
The Ego and the Id, The Standard Edition,
19:
54.
("Wie kommt es nun, dass bei der Melancholie das der Ich zu einer A r t Sammelstàtte der Todestriebe werden kann?") 11. On p r i m a r y mimesis, see M i k k e l Borch-Jacobsen, The Emotional Tie: Psychoanalysis, Mimesis, and Affect
(Stanford:
Stanford
University
Press, 1993). 12.
H o m i K. Bhabha, "Postcolonial Authority and Postmodern
Guilt," in Lawrence Grossberg et al., eds., Cultural Studies: A Reader ( N e w York: Routledge, 1992), pp. 65-66. 13.
Ibid., p. 66.
14.
F r e u d , The Ego and the Id, p. 253.
15.
F r e u d , " M o u r n i n g and Melancholia," p. 254.
16. Jessica Benjamin has argued something similar in Bonds of Love (New York: Pantheon, 1988), and Kaja Silverman has made the case
"heteropathic
identification"
in
The
Threshold
of
the
Visible
World
17. Jacques Derrida, remarks, Humanities Research Institute, U n i versity of California, Irvine, A p r i l 5,1995.
214
Notes
to
Pages
174-95
Notes
to Page
215
195
that "the loss of a love object is an excellent opportunity for the a m -
for
bivalence in love-relationships to make itself effective and come into
(New York: Routledge, 1996). Based in quite different psychoanalytic
the open" (250-51). Toward the end of the essay, F r e u d remarks u p o n
views, each has contested the centrality of incorporation and super-
"an essential analogy between m o u r n i n g and melancholia": m o u r n -
egoic functions in the account of internalization.
ing impels the ego to detach from its lost object in order to continue to live, and melancholia, through "the struggle of ambivalence loosen(s) the fixation of the libido to the object by disparaging it" (257). 6. Walter
Benjamin,
The
Origin
of
the
German
Tragic
Drama,
trans.
John Osborne (London: N L B , 1977), pp. 92-97. 7. S i g m u n d F r e u d , "Trauer u n d Melancholie," Psychologie des Unbewussten, 8. See
Studienausgabe Roy
(Frankfurt a. M . : S. Fischer,
Schaefer,
A
New
Language
for
1982), 193-212.
Psychoanalysis
(New
H a v e n : Yale University Press, 1976), p. 177. For a view of fantasy that operates within melancholia, see chapter one of Nicolas A b r a ham
and
Maria
Torok,
The
Shell
and
the
Kernel:
Renewals
of
Psycho-
analysis, tr. and ed. Nicholas T. Rand (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1994). 9. "The image of man's body is the principle of every unity he perceives in objects . . . all the objects of his w o r l d are always structured a r o u n d the wandering shadow of his o w n ego [l'ombre errante de son
propre
moi]"
(Jacques
Lacan,
The
Seminar
of Jacques
Lacan,
Book
II,
trans. Sylvana Tomaselli [ N e w York: W. W. N o r t o n , 1991], p. 166; Le Séminaire, livre II [Paris: Seuil, 1978], p. 198). 10.
Sigmund Freud,
The Ego and the Id, The Standard Edition,
19:
54.
("Wie kommt es nun, dass bei der Melancholie das der Ich zu einer A r t Sammelstàtte der Todestriebe werden kann?") 11. On p r i m a r y mimesis, see M i k k e l Borch-Jacobsen, The Emotional Tie: Psychoanalysis, Mimesis, and Affect
(Stanford:
Stanford
University
Press, 1993). 12.
H o m i K. Bhabha, "Postcolonial Authority and Postmodern
Guilt," in Lawrence Grossberg et al., eds., Cultural Studies: A Reader ( N e w York: Routledge, 1992), pp. 65-66. 13.
Ibid., p. 66.
14.
F r e u d , The Ego and the Id, p. 253.
15.
F r e u d , " M o u r n i n g and Melancholia," p. 254.
16. Jessica Benjamin has argued something similar in Bonds of Love (New York: Pantheon, 1988), and Kaja Silverman has made the case
"heteropathic
identification"
in
The
Threshold
of
the
Visible
World
17. Jacques Derrida, remarks, Humanities Research Institute, U n i versity of California, Irvine, A p r i l 5,1995.
Index
Abraham, Nicolas, 214118
death, 27, 41-43,142
Agamben, Giorgio, 130-31, 2111120 agency, 10,13-16 AIDS, 27, 138,148, 154
Deleuze, Gilles, 2o8n22 Derrida, Jacques, 195, 215017
Althusser, Louis, 2, 5-6, 30, 95-
96, 106-31, 207ni5, 20904-6, 21008-9, 2 i o n n
desire, 22-23, 39~4°< 61-62,103,
108, 193-94 Dolar, Mladen, 120-26, 2 i m i 5 Douglas, Mary, 159
Aristotle, 90-91, 207ml Bartky, Sandra, 2o6n2 Bhabha, Homi, 190, 214012 Benjamin, Jessica, 2i4ni6 Benjamin, Walter, 174, 208m,
21406 Bersani, Leo, 2i2n3 body, 35-36, 42-43, 47-48, 51,
54-55- 57, 59- 68, 83-87, 89-91 Borch-Jacobsen, Mikkel, 152, 189,
212n2
foreclosure, 8-9, 23 Foucault, Michel, 2-3, 5-7, 16, 18,
25» 31-33* 53/ 58-60, 83-105, 203n6, 204n2, 20404, 20507, 20603, 20607, 207019-20 Freud, Sigmuod, 22, 34, 53, 55-
58, 60-61, 63, 69, 78-82,132-52, 167-95, 20406, 20504-8 grief, 24, 138-40, 145-47 guilt, 25, 73-74,107-9, 118-19,141
Bourdieu, Pierre, 2ion3 Brown, Wendy, 202n2
Hegel, G. W. F., 3, 23, 24, 31-61,
Connolly, William, 20708
homosexuality, 23, 80, 82, 93-94,
176,193 conscience, 18, 22-24, 63-64, 67-
69, 71, 107, 109, 114, 115, 118, 129, 132-33, 172, 181, 183, 185, 188,191-97 Crimp, Douglas, 212012
133-50, 163-66 ioterpellatioo, 106-11,128-29, 1-97 Jones, Eroest, 156
218
Index
Kierkegaard, Soren, 48 Klein, Melanie, 25, 153, 170, 203ni3, 21303 Lacan, Jacques, 87, 94-98, 115, 122, 124,127, 152, 187, 202n2, 203n7, 2 i i n 3 , 21409 Laplanche, Jean, 2 0 4 ^ , 2o8n22 love, 7-8, 25-27, 127-28,168, 171 Macherey, Pierre, 2o6n5 Marcuse, Herbert, 58 masochism, 102 melancholia, 19, 23,133-97 Miller, Jacques-Alain, 2o6n5 Mitscherlich, Alexander and Margarete, 213m norms, 19, 21, 25, 28, 32, 99
Rose, Jacqueline, 97, 207ni8 sadism, 46 Santner, Eric, 213m Schaefer, Roy, 2i4n8 Silverman, Kaja, 20907, 2i4ni6 sociality, 21, 29, 165, 178-79, 181-82, 185, 196, 198 soul, 76, 85-86, 89-91 Spinoza, Benedict de, 27, 62, 203~4ni4 Spivak, Gayatry Chakravorty, 203ni2 sublimation, 92 survival, 7, 28, 193,195-96 Taylor, Charles, 2o6n8 Torok, Maria, 2i4n8 turn, trope of the, 3-4, 68, 76, 81,106-7, H4 5> !30/140-42, 168-69, 189, 193,197-98 _1
paranoia, 27, 80 Pathak, Zakia, 207ni4 performatives, 110,114 Phillips, Adam, 151-65 Pontalis, J.-B., 2 0 4 ^ psychoanalysis, 6-7, 11, 25, 55, 86-87, !38/144-46,156-65,198 Quintillian, Marcus, 201m rage, 180-81,183,190,193,195 Rajan, Rajeswari Sunder, 207ni4 Rajchman, John, 2o6n5 Riley, Denise, 207ni6
Valéry, Paul, 156 Vincent, Jean-Marie, 113-14, 2ionio Weber, Max, 2ioni2 White, Hayden, 201m, 2o8n2 Whitford, Margaret, 207nio will, 63-66, 69-70, 72-73, 76-77 Wittgenstein, Ludwig, 124 Zizek, Slavoj, 207ni7, 2 i m i 4
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Butler, Judith P. T h e psychic life of power : theories in subjection / Judith Butler. p.
cm.
Includes bibliographical references a n d index. ISBN 0-8047-2811-9 (cl.) 1. Self (Philosophy) aspects.
:
ISBN 0-8047-2812-7 (pbk.)
2. Power (Philosophy)
4. Power (Social sciences)
BD438.5.B88
3. Self—Social
I. Title.
1997
126—dc21
96-40851 CIP
® T h i s book is printed on acid-free, recycled paper. O r i g i n a l printing 1997 Last figure below indicates year of this printing:
07 06 05 04 03 02 01
