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SIGMUND FREUD AND FETISHISM

Fetishism and Trauma of Birth

  • Discussion on the familial and historical theories around fetishism.
  • Concept that fetishism may be linked to a recollection of the trauma of birth.

Cutting Theory of Neurosis and Psychosis

  • Hypothesis established by Freud:
    • Neurosis: The ego, in service to reality, suppresses an aspect of the id.
    • Psychosis: Results when the ego is induced by the id to detach from reality.
  • Critique of this theory based on analyses of individuals:
    • Two young men, at ages two and ten, disavowed the death of their fathers but did not develop psychosis.
    • This illustrated a potential error in Freud's characterization of neurosis and psychosis, indicating that familiar childhood occurrences are common.
  • Concept of dual mental processes:
    • In both cases, a mental split occurred with one current acknowledging reality while the other adhered to delusion.
    • An example from Freud’s analysis of obsessional neurosis linked oscillation between opposing assumptions.

Revisiting Definitions of Fetishism

  • Evidence of the dual mindset in fetishism concerning women's castration:
    • The fetish itself can signify both the acknowledgment and disavowment of castration.
    • Example provided of a man with a fetish for athletic support that serves both as a sign of castration and denial thereof.
  • Further complexities within fetishistic practices include:
    • The treatment of the fetish by the fetishist may symbolize castration and reflect the mixed emotions towards the fetish object.
  • Comparison to the 'coupeur de nattes' phenomenon indicating the intertwining of affection and hostility.
  • Cultural examples, such as Chinese foot binding, illustrate similar principles; an action symbolizing a reverence for the subjugated female body.

Conclusion on Fetishism

  • Normal prototypes:
    • A man's penis as the prototype of fetishes.
    • A woman's small penis, or clitoris, as the prototype of inferior organs.

FERDINAND DE SAUSSURE: STRUCTURALISM

Background Information

  • De Saussure’s influence as the ‘father of modern linguistics’ credited largely to the posthumously published "Course in General Linguistics" which focused on structuralism.
  • His early educational background and works contribute to the field of linguistics, including modern language studies.

Early Linguistic Insights and Observations

  • Encounter with Sanskrit led to revolutionary thought in European linguistics, recognizing a common ancestor among various languages termed Proto-Indo-European.
  • Saussure studied historical linguistics, eventually leading to a more generalized understanding of language systems.

The Nature of Language According to Saussure

  • Saussure’s dissatisfaction with established linguistic theory laid groundwork for new approaches to understanding language.
  • Proposed ideas regarding the arbitrary nature of signs, suggesting that relationships between words and objects are constructed by social agreement rather than inherent qualities.
  • Saussure's terms:
    • Langage: General human capacity for language.
    • Langue: Specific languages or the abstract system of language.
    • Parole: Actual spoken utterances or concrete examples of language use.

Saussure’s Theory of Signification

  • Structural view posits language as a system of signs with two components:
    • Signifier: The sound-image or the physical representation of the word.
    • Signified: The concept or meaning associated with the signifier.
  • Emphasizes that the relationship between the signifier and the signified is arbitrary—example: the relationship between the word “tree” and its corresponding physical entity does not have a direct, inherent connection.

Principles of Saussurean Linguistics

  • Principle I: The Arbitrary Nature of the Sign
    • The bond between the signifier and the signified is arbitrary and not based on natural relationships.
  • Principle II: The Linear Nature of the Signifier
    • Signifiers are auditory and unfold in time, creating a linear representation distinct from visual symbols.
  • Discussed the nature of value in linguistic terms:
    • A word’s value arises not just from its meaning but from its relations to other words, an important differentiation for understanding language.

Syntagmatic and Associative Relations

  • Syntagmatic Relations: Elements acquired based on linear sequencing, forming combinations such as phrases or sentences.
  • Associative Relations: Words creating connections in memory, forming associative groups outside linear discourse.

Theoretical Contributions to Linguistics

  • Saussure laid foundations for the study of language as well as semiology, later influencing many fields including anthropology, psychoanalysis, and literary studies.
  • Concepts introduced by Saussure profoundly influenced semiotic theories, including but not limited to:
    • Claude Lévi-Strauss’s application of signs in cultural studies.
    • Roland Barthes’s insights into the semiology of various cultural forms.
    • Jacques Derrida’s notions of différance and textual analysis.