Re: lost papyri

Hi All,

For the record, Lacan is neither "passe" nor has he been "absorbed" in
"English departments." In fact, the majority of scholars working in most
English departments, I would wager, still have neither actually read a word
of his nor understood much of anything that can be found in *Ecrits.* And,
at the same time, in many departments there are scholars who are still
working with his re-readings of Freud and the challenges they pose for
language and reading and they are treating the material in new and inventive
ways, even today.

Even in the community of scholars who specialize in what is too easily called
"critical theory," Lacan is still largely unread and misunderstood, even by
many people who claim to be influenced by his work in their readings. But his
name has neither disappeared nor been simply absorbed into the routine
business of theory.

The "fashion-as-fad" narrative that is being invoked (cultural criticism in
"in," Lacan is "out") is a much too convenient story designed to make people
happy and comfortable (and in some cases to allow them to stop reading).
However, it does not accurately reflect the work currently being done in any
number of serious journals, conferences, and departments around the country,
not just with Lacan's work but with many other styles and forms and theories
as well.

(See for instance, the upcoming Fifth Annual University of South Carolina
Comparative Literature Conference: "The Desire of the Analysts:
Psychoanalysis and Cultural Criticism in the Twenty-First Century," February
13-15, 2003.)

All of this can be easily ridiculed, of course. And it's especially easy when
one can do it without feeling compelled to read or discuss any actual writing
in any serious detail, amidst cocktail party chatter and in the attempt to
score "glibness" points.

However, at some point, I think embarrassment must take over. Perhaps the
following is that point:

Jim writes,

"Most of these guys are good for a thorough application of a single idea and
that's it.  Once you get the idea it's time to move on."

This doesn't just indicate a lack of respect for a serious body of detailed
and heterogeneous work, but a lack of respect for serious reading and
writing, which makes me sad. I don't always agree with all of Scottie's
cantankerous barbs, and sometimes they seem to try too hard for dramatic
effect rather than attempting to reach valid conclusions -- but at least he
is not given over to the mind-numbing reductionism and laziness of thought
that resonates in the sentence cited above.

Just a brief interruption.

Carry on,

--John

University of South Florida
Honors College and
English Department

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Received on Mon Sep 2 20:42:58 2002