Judith Butler - Subjection, Resistance, Resignification

r82 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 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. free. 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 . H e n c e . 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 . the making of a subject. 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. o r p r o d u c e d . . 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 . 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 i n d i v i d u a l i s f o r m e d or. 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 . O n prisoner's i n d i v i d u a l i t y is rendered coherent. 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 . s u b o r d i n a t i n g . m a d e the c o n t r a r y ." This normative ideal inculcated. a s F o u c a u l t insists. 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. l i t e r a l l y . 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 . 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 . totalizes. 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. 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 . 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 . exterior r e l a t i o n of p o w e r . the r e g u l a r i z a - s i m p l e one. i t t h r o u g h his discursively constituted " i d e n t i t y " as prisoner. " 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. a m o d e l o f o b e d i e n c e . 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 . " 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. 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 . 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). is. . 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 . c o n f e s s i o n . 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 . 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. as a k i n d of p r i s o n . i n d e e d . rather. b u t also activates or f o r m s the subject. 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. 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 . the p r i n c i p l e ciple of his o w n subjection. t i o n o f gender. 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 . totalized. as itself a k i n d of s p a t i a l c a p t i v i t y . 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. 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 . the s o u l i s f i g u r e d t i o n . 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. 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 . 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 . I n d e e d .Subjection. 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 . Resistance. i n s p e c t i o n . i n the c i t a t i o n that f o l l o w s . 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. the s o u l is the p o w e r to form subjects. 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 . " i n s o f a r as it is t o t a l i z i n g . 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 . if Foucault . 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. to b e c o m e a c o h e r e n t subject. 86 87 a " s o u l that i m p r i s o n s the b o d y . 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 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 . 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. 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 . 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. 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 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 . then h o w m i g h t he account for psychic b o d y vacates. 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 . w h e n some p r o p o n e n t s 6 First. one of F o u c a u l t . s p e c t i v e within p s y c h o a n a l y s i s . a n d s u l t . a r e - tity. a s i t w e r 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 . 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 . 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 . 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 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 . i n p a r t i c u l a r . 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 i c h the s u p e r . " 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 . " 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 . t h i s subject. 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 . the subject's i d e a l c o r r e - t i q u e . 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 .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. I n the p s y c h e . o n e m i g h t f o r the M o r e o v e r . the i n f e r i o r i t y o f the b o d y . 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). Resistance. T h u s the p s y c h e .Subjection. 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 . 5 This I n w h a t f o l l o w s . i n o r d e r t o m e a s u r e the ego. 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 . acts as p r e c i s e l y s u c h of disciplinary power. 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 . 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 . a s i t w e r e . 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 . 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 .i d e a l . 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. In the last 7 s u b j e c t i o n . 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. 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 . 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 . 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 . 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 . 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 . 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. 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 . 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 . 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 . 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 . 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 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 . 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. 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 . 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 . 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 f t i o n . 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. 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 . 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 . 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 . a n u n d e r m i n i n g of. a s i t w e r e .88 Subjection. 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 . o n e w h i c h is.a b i d i n g subject. 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 . Resistance. 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 . i s d e f i n e d a s r e - in the b o d 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 . 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 . o r the p s y c h e m o r e g e n e r a l l y . 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 . 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 . 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. 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 . " 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 . 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 . 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 . c o n s c i o u s . the d i s c i p l i n a r y i n - tory of Sexuality. 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. o r i s i t a k i n d o f r e s i s t a n c e to. t i o n c o m e s at a cost. 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 . 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 . 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 . 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 . o r p e r v a d e . 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 .90 Subjection. 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 ) . 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 . Resistance. is e s t a b l i s h e d to the extent that (dans la mesure (i. a s u b j e c t i v a t i o n ." 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 . 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 . 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. s i g n i f y u p o n . 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). 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 . 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 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. cultivated. 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 . 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 . 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. I n t h i s f o r m u l a t i o n . To be stituting power? Does it have a v i s u a l i z i n g function. a n d a v o l u m e in perpetual disintegration. I n d e e d . 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 . the t e r m " s i t e " s e e m - t o e x i s t e n c 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 . 1 2 H e n c e . 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 . 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 . b r i n g s i t i n t o b e i n g . " 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. H i s t o r y . a n d invested. I n " N i e t z s c h e . 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. 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 . f o r m s a n d f r a m e s the b o d y . 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 . 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 .e. 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 . 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 . 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 e r e the s o u l a static s u r f a c e or site. 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 . w h i l e d e f l e c t i n g indeed. 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 . shaped. 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 . T h e m a t e r i a l i t y o f the p r i s o n . 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 . 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 n d w h a t i s its c o n - is materialized to the extent that it is invested with power. 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 . In a sense. c o n t o u r . m o r e s p e c i f i c a l l y .. 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 . n o t u n l i k e i n A r i s t o t l e . s t a m p s i t . 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 - . 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 . the s o u l . 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 . 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. 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 n a k i n d o f c o n s t i t u t i v e loss. " 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 . f o r e x a m p l e . 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 . 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 . a n d i f Instead. 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 . s u b o r d i n a t i o n . 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 . 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. 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 . T h e t e r m w h i c h n o t o n l y n a m e s . (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 . a s i t w e r e . 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 . 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 . 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. 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.d i s c o u r s e . the l i m i t s W h i l e there.s u b v e r s i o n .n o r m a l i z a b l e w i l d n e s s . 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.9 2 Subjection. 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 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 . T h i s is. 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. B u t m o r e o f t e n t h a n n o t . its s e l f . I w o u l d suggest. t h e n i s there a n e w a g a i n a n d again). 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 ." 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 . " A h yes. 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. 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 . 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 . effect of p o w e r . i n " r e v e r s e . h o w o r b e c o m e s its i n s t r u m e n t . Resistance. 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 h e n . 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 . 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. 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 . 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. 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 . F o r F o u c a u l t . 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 . 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. i f n o t a l w a y s . 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 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 . 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 . b y i m p l i c 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 e f o r m a t i o n o f t h i s o f c o u r s e . i n d e e d . as a p a r t of p o w e r . s o y o u are that. 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 . 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 . b u t subject i n the m o d e o f a l r e a d y . n o t a p u r e o p p o s i t i o n . 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. 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 . 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 . T h e n a m e F o u c a u l t . i f i t does. a d d r e s s 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!. Yet " i n " o r "of" d i s c o u r s e . o v e r a n d hear. m y n a m e . a radiator w h i c h for a m o m e n t . 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 . 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. 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 . 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 . If. Resistance. 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. 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. i t seems. a s that w h i c h exceeds a n d c o n - but it is in someone's incomprehensible speech. t u r n the o t h e r w a y . 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 . n a m e d . 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 . a n d I am sure it is my name. but it isn't. 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 . 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 . 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. 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 . 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 . 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 . 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 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 . 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 . 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 . 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 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 . " 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. F r o m a psychoanalytic perspective. m i s r e a d the c a l l . 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 . 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 n d e e d . 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. 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 contests l e g i b i l i t y . then. however. p s y c h e i n F o u c a u l t — t h a t is. 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 . 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. 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 . o n e w h i c h i s d i s t i n c t l y different. or worse. or worse. 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. o f d i r e c t l y o p p o s e d to. 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.94 Subjection. Is t h i s a b o d y p u r e someone c o u g h i n g . 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 name emerges. one m i g h t w e l l question nition. c a l l e d the " s i g n c h a i n ." a n d enabling power. it is repeatedly constituted in subjection.) H e r e o p e r a t i o n o f the p s y c h e . T h i s t e m p o - p r o d u c t i o n o f the subject. Resignification Between Freud and Foucault 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 . 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 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 . s y m b o l i c constitution. A s A l t h u s s e r himself insists. b r e a k d o w n . w h e t h e r the e x p e c - a n d s i m p l e . 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 . i f p a r a l y z i n g a n d regressive. 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. a n d yet I d o n o t a d i s o r d e r . i n d e e d the v i o l e n c e . 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. that is. 17 i n s u l t . 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 that n a m e i s c a l l e d . It appears not only in the symptom. installs. 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 . 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 . in slips of the tongue and in forms of sexual pleasure w h i c h are pushed to the sidelines of the norm. 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 . 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. 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 . 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 . w h e t h e r the f o r e c l o s u r e . Resistance. 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. t h e n . but also in dreams. i n a L a c a n i a n v e i n . 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. 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. 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 . . 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 . In The History of Sexuality. h o w e v e r . i m a g i n a r y . . . b e i n g c a l l e d . or development into normality. 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. r e s i s t a n c e c a n n o t b e outside the l a w .Subjection. so there is no stability of sexual identity. 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 . 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 . Because there is no continuity of psychic life. no position for w o m e n (or for men) w h i c h is ever simply achieved. the n a r y . it b e g i n s as a p e r - ume l. 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 . 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 . 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 ) . 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 . . b u t does n o t i m m e d i a t e l y o b e y the law. "Failure" is not a moment to be regretted in a process of adaptation. 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. F o r F o u c a u l t . 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 . also e n abling in some way. there is a resistance to identity at the very heart of psychic life. 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 . I q u o t e a passage preted in a n u m b e r of divergent a n d conflictual ways. 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 . . a t t h i s m o m e n t . 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. "failure" is something endlessly repeated and relived moment by moment throughout our i n d i v i d u a l histories. b u t o n l y a c o u g h i n g passerby. H e n c e .. 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 . T h i s i n s i s t e n c e o n better. c o n t r i b u t e s t o its status q u o . malleable. o f to the i m a g i n a r y . 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. i n its r e s i g n i f i c a t i o n s . T h i s r e p e t i t i o n or. i n that sense. 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. 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 . c o n - there is no single locus of great Refusal. 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 . But this does not mean that they are only a reaction or rebound. 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 . proliferative. solitary. r e g u l a t o r y . improbable. others that are spontaneous. 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 . or pure law of the revolutionary. 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 . 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 . source of all rebellions. each of them a special case: resistances that are possible. 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. I n t h i s sense. I n d e e d . 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 . 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). Resistance. 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. 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 . concerted. 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. 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. s y m b o l i c a d d . 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 . 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 . 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 . or rather. or sacrificial. 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 .p l a c e o f s u b v e r s i o n . 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 . i n g its r e f o r m u l a t i o n . no soul of revolt. by definition. a n d t h i s d e p e n d e n c y of the v i e w . its i n c o m p l e t e character. they can only exist in the strategic field of power relations. still others that are quick to compromise. to a discourse on power. F o r F o u c a u l t . necessary. doomed to perpetual defeat. w h i c h is a field of p r o d u c t i v e . r e c a l l s the effect o f the L a c a n i a n l a w . 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 ." 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 . a n d c o n t e s t a t o r y r e l a t i o n s . w h i c h M o r e o v e r . multiple. or violent. 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 . M a r c u s e i n m i n d . 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 . 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 . forming w i t h respect to the basic domination an underside that is in the end always passive.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 . 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." 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- . 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 . 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. 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. H e n c e .98 Subjection. a n d conflictual. L a c a n i a n f r a m e w o r k . interested. if it does. 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 .c o n s t i t u t i o n . Instead there is a p l u rality of resistances. savage. rampant. 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. 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. " 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 . 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 . 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 . 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. 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. t h e n . Resistance. I n c a l l i n g for a n o v e r t h r o w . . . philosophical problem of our days is not to try to liberate us both from the state. F i r s t .100 Subjection. ethical. Resignification T Between Freud and Foucault 101 tatory modes. a s i t w e r e . 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 .e. I n o t h e r w o r d s . therefore. 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. 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 . I n d e e d . 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 . 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 . o f s u c h a n a r r a n g e m e n t . 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 . b e c o m i n g the I n t h i s sense. T h e m o r e specific i d e n t i t i e s b e c o m e . and from the state's institutions. T h e strategic q u e s t i o n for F o u c a u l t is. 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 . 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? . 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 .. a n d a n o t e d absence p o l i t i c a l subjects. Second. but to refuse what we are. The conclusion w o u l d be that the political. F o r F o u c a u l t . " w h i c h is the simultaneous individualization and totalization of modern power structures. t h e n . 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 . 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. 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 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. . 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. but to liberate us from the state and the type of individualization w h i c h is linked to the state. b u t rather. 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 . 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 . 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. 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 . 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. 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 . w h e r e a s tity. 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. B o t h examples concern. 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 . 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). 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 . social. 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 . 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. a n d s o m i s t a k e s h i m / h e r s e l f . 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 . " 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 . 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 . 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. as we must. 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 . 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 . 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. 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. that is. a o r " i n v e s t m e n t . h o w are w e t o u n d e r s t a n d . s i n c e he/she is. 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 .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. 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 . h o w e v e r . 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 . c i z i n g it). 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. 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 . 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 . 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. 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 . 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 . 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 . 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 . a n d contradiction in terms. 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 . 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.r 102 Subjection. 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 ) . 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 . 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 . f o r i t m a i n t a i n s stage. 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 . 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 . I n d e e d . In t h i s sense. 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 . tempts to produce a n d totalize identity become an abiding I n F r e u d ' s v i e w . 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 . F r e u d ar- o f s t a t 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 . 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. 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. Resistance.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 . 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 . 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 . 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 . 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 . Resistance. 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. 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 . 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. 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. 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 . 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. This w i l l not be an unconscious outside of p o w e r . 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. 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 . 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 . As a further paradox. 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 . t h e n h e m a t i o n — a n d r e . 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 . Resignification Between Freud and Foucault 105 bear. then. t h e n . 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 . w h e n i t i s t i e d t o i d e n t i t y . If. 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 . 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 . 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 . 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 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 . 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 . by w a y of a necessarily alienated narcissism. T h e s e l f .f o r m a t i o n — c a n n o t succeed. 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 .104 Subjection.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. 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 . 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 . a n d s e x u a l i t y . 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 .