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.

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

85

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 subjectsprecedes 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).

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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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 ]

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 itselfis 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 (idal spculatif) 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 -

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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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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 injunctionactually

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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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

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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-

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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
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Subjection, Resistance, Resignification

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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

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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