Looking Awry: An Introduction To Jacques Lacan ... -

Lacan’s most famous concept begins in infancy. Between 6 and 18 months, a child sees their reflection and experiences a "jubilant" shock. Before this, the infant feels like a "body in pieces"—a chaotic collection of urges. The mirror offers a unified, stable image.

The realm of language, law, and social structures. Lacan famously stated, "The unconscious is structured like a language." We are born into a "Big Other"—a pre-existing system of symbols and rules that dictates how we speak and what we can desire. Looking Awry: An Introduction to Jacques Lacan ...

For Lacan, desire is never about the object we think we want. We don't want the car, the partner, or the promotion; we want what we think they represent. Lacan’s most famous concept begins in infancy