Bring any experience to mind. It could be as light as buying your egg and cheese sandwich this morning or as heavy as finding out you failed your first major college exam. What would Lacan say about your behavior in this experience? What would Freud say about your memory of this experience?
In this post, I want you to:
First provide an objective summary of a piece of both theories that relates to your experience/anecdote. (Example: According to Lacan, once a child realizes that he has control of his limbs but nothing else, he begins to experience a natural feeling of jealousy and agressivity to others, because he realizes that he can’t control them. According to Freud, our memories are distorted versions of the truth.)
Then, I want you to provide your anecdote/experience in very short terms. (Example: Today I stood in a long line to buy an egg and cheese sandwich at the cart outside Hunter West).
Finally, I want you to relate your anecdote/experience back to Lacan’s ideas and to Freud’s ideas—the ones for which you provided objective summaries. (I’m not giving you examples here because I don’t want to limit your thoughts).
*Don’t forget to comment on at least two of your classmates’ responses. {Yes, this is challenging; with no apologies for the challenge in this prompt, I can’t wait to read your responses!}
Then, I want you to provide your anecdote/experience in very short terms. (Example: Today I stood in a long line to buy an egg and cheese sandwich at the cart outside Hunter West).
Finally, I want you to relate your anecdote/experience back to Lacan’s ideas and to Freud’s ideas—the ones for which you provided objective summaries. (I’m not giving you examples here because I don’t want to limit your thoughts).
*Don’t forget to comment on at least two of your classmates’ responses. {Yes, this is challenging; with no apologies for the challenge in this prompt, I can’t wait to read your responses!}
According to Lacan's theory, a child is the purest, their closest exposure is what they see in regards to their reflection. They have yet to see society's perspective of one's behavior. And according to Freud's theory memories could be easily erased but never forgotten. This morning I woke up extremely mad and cranky, ended up taking my frustrations out on my parents because they were asking me to do so many things and I just flipped not thinking of my actions. My experience relates to Lacan's theory because I saw in my eyes my behavior and how it affected the situation. My behavior made the situation worse. On the other hand my experience relates to Freud's theory because this little memory of my outburst would soon be erased when I get into a better mood, even though it won't be forgotten, it will not be as relevant.
ReplyDeleteI really love your anecdote and how it relates to both of the summaries of the theories you proposed. I totally agree with the fact that memories are not erased, if not forgotten because of their lack of importance. I also feel like it is true that many times you need to reflect on your actions to see the other side of the situation.
DeleteI agree with you on the par where memories can be erased or forgotten because sometimes you don't want to remember bad things in the past so you just have to forget them and move on to more positive memories
DeleteI agree with you regarding Freud's theory because even though it may no be fully erased it'll be forgotten with time. Sometimes some memories may be buried if someone really wants to forget it, but as Thalia said, it helps us reflect and at times may help influence a choice or action in the future.
DeleteI agree with you, and the worst thing is that we often don't really think about how our actions will impact others. It's even worst when you do something and the reaction you get is completely unexpected.
DeleteLacan’s theory concludes that a child's recognition with his or her own image is the gateway to understanding the “others” who surround them. Identifying yourself with the term “I” will then lead you towards communication with others. When studying Freud’s theory on memories, we can summarize his findings by saying that no memories are truly lost, some just happened to be stored away better than others. On Thursday my best friend flew into New York to visit me after not seeing eachother for a while. I had made plans to see him today but unfortunately I had to cancel on him last minute. After telling him that I wouldn't be able to make it today, he told me about the day he had. After listening to what he had gone through I felt terrible for not being besides him like I had promised to be. I can relate this small experience to Lacan’s theory because by making the decision that I did, which was bailing on my friend, I was able to sympathize with his situation. In this case my friend was the “other” and my sympathy was the “communication. My experience also relates to Freud’s theory because I know that my friend is going to move past what happened today but he's never going to forget what he went through.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your perspective on Freud's theory, one's memories are just something so important and cherishable. It doesn't matter how many memories you have, it's human nature for a person to eventually forget about it, because some memories lose their real meaning. As we live our lives we create new memories everyday which means we are filling our memory span with much more relevant memories. There is a concrete relation between your experience and Lacan's theory.
DeleteDanilsa Lendof
ReplyDeleteAccording to Lacan's theory although babies are able to see a reflection of themselves in a mirror they don't really recognize its truly a reflection of themselves until they are older. Also, according to Freud's theory we notice that although some of our memories may be a little bit blurry they are always there and never forgotten. This, morning when I woke up my mom was complaining about a back pain that she had but I payed no attention thinking it was no big deal and left for school. My experience relates to Freud's theory because while sitting in class I kept thinking of this memory over and over again wondering weather my mom was really okay or not. This as well connects to Lacan's theory because I started seeing through my mothers eyes how hard she works and how many sacrifices she makes just to make sure I'm okay although she gets home exhausted, which is something I should be appreciating her everyday.
I agree with you completely and I love how you connected it back to your story with your mom a similar incident occurred with my mom and I and I just loved how I could easily connect with your story. Your statement is right in saying they don't recognize their reflection until the grow up and that memories can and can't be consistent to the exact happening but they won't be forgotten they will travel with you.
DeleteI've also been in that situation where you push something off to the side but then find yourself constantly thinking about it. I think we do this because we tend to make rash decisions at first. Lacan's theory of seeing yourself through the eyes of others is the reason why we find ourselves reflecting on our actions.
DeleteThat also happens to me. Sometimes we don't really realize the sacrifices our parents do for us until we actually put ourselves in their shoes.
DeleteI agree with you, sometimes these memories allow us to understand or at least attempt to understand the situations around us and those around us as well and Nayeli I'm with you on that, sometimes we tend to take things for granted and I wonder if it's certain instances like this where we start to learn to see what others, in this case our parents do for us, and we start to appreciate it.
DeleteI feel that we have all been in that situation before, and you did a great job with your anecdote, and relating it back to Freud and Lancan
DeleteI love your connection to both theories, and how you reflected on your actions after the fact showing behavior changes and you also coming to a realization that your mom is apart of your memories she's been by your side for as long as you could remember therefore she will be considered as a great memory in your life.
ReplyDeleteYour connections to both of these theories really are valid and demonstrate your understanding. I really love the fact you were able to see through your mother's eyes and notice how much you need to value those who are always there for you. I just feel like it is something people really forget to do many times.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Lacan's theory a baby is not impacted by society until it starts to interact with the "others" causing this baby to now be influenced into doing certain things. Since now it is interacting with these "others" leading for it to lose it's true identity. Freud's theory states that memories are something that permanently stick with you, even though as times goes they are forgotten but not erased. Last week I remember being on a packed train, and this women just pushed me aggressively and did not even apologize. This connects to Lacan's theory because this women impacted how I felt at the moment, she made me feel disrespected causing me to move away from her. This also connects to Freud's theory because I will eventually forget this happened, yet the memory sticks with me and impacts the way I feel about public transportation.
ReplyDeleteI love your connection of the theories to your real life events and I totally agree when using public transportation there are always bullies everywhere and they don't apologize yes the feeling you felt will eventually disappear but you will never forget how reckless and rude people using public transportation are.
DeleteI think we've all experience rude passengers on the train, although its annoying and disrespectful we have to control our responses and how we carry ourselves on public transportation because like Lacan says, we tend to be influenced when we are exposed to "others."
DeleteI can relate to you being on a crowded train too. I love the way how you connected Lacan's theory with the rude lady on the train and how it made you feel as a person.
DeleteI agree with you. I can definitely imagine how you feel in crowded trains and being pushed by people because I've been through that same situation. Moments like those are when I tell myself that I need to get a car as soon as I get a job.
DeleteAccording to Lacan’s theory a being a baby is the purest form there is. That is being said because when your baby you don’t get judged or get the perspectives of the society. Although a baby can see their reflection they don’t realize that it’s them because they haven’t yet hit that stage in life but as they get older it will begin to make more sense because what they experienced as a child won’t be forgotten it will travel with them. That ties to Freud’s theory of the fact that what we do throughout our lives yes are memories and can be replaced but they will never be forgotten. A few years ago on a Monday morning I had just woken up and my mom was complaining about her head and knee hurting and when I wake up I don’t like to talk to people or be bothered at all. So when she was complaining about how much pain she was in I just ignored it because I didn’t really think about it and I wasn’t paying attention. Then later whiles I was at school laughing and having fun with my friends I realized that whiles i’m here having fun my mom is in pain at work. Then I got a phone call after school saying my mom was in the hospital and I felt really bad because she tried to tell me and I ignored her with my cranky attitude. Now I realize that she works hard and then to come home and have to take care of three kids is hard so now I try to finish my homework faster and help her with the housework so when she comes home she just has to relax then eat dinner and do whatever else she has to do before bed. As I read through Lacan and Freud’s theory I realized that my what I did I didn’t realize that it would have affected me so much and although it was a little thing and was forgotten in a few days time I know I will never forget that moment and I will always pay more attention to what she has to say because you never know what day might be your last.
ReplyDeleteAccording the Lacan's theory a baby's mind isn't fully aware until interacting with people. One day I came home and I started to do my homework and my mom comes in and she asks me a question and I started giving her so much attitude. After she left I started to realize to myself that I was being rude to her and she was only asking me a simple question. Freud's theory comes in that you can never forget those precious memories that you have. He shows us that memories can be remembered or forgotten depending if it's important or not.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I feel absolutely awful whenever I don't pay enough attention to my parents, or when I don't give them the respect they deserve, even though I have no intention to show any sign of ungratefulness, it comes out unwanted, and even though these memories fade away within hours or days, it always comes back to bother me later on.
DeleteI agree that sometimes when we reflect on a moment is quite different then when the moment happened.
DeleteI totally agree with you on the fact that we tned to usually remember only those memories that were significant to us and I also connect to your situation it happens to me all the time when I disregard something that was probably going to be important.
DeleteAccording to Lacan, a baby is able to recognize itself in a mirror. According to Freud, writing down your memories can keep an unaltered version of it. Back in 2010, when my niece was only five months, I took a picture in the mirror while holding her on my arm. I remember my niece looked shocked when I took the picture. What I didn’t know was if she was shocked because of the flash or because she was able to see herself in the mirror. I feel like Lacan would probably say that my niece was able to recognize herself in the mirror. I think Freud would probably think I’m lying or I changed something about this memory since I never wrote it down.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you because at five you are very young, and probably don't look in the mirror as much as we do, and I like that you chose that anecdote, because it easily relates with both Lancan and Freud
DeleteBabies notice that there is a reflection looking back at them, but they do not understand why that is. Babies are always noticing and reacting to things surrounding them.
DeleteI really like the example you use because its like your niece was left wondering what really happened and couldn't really realize that she was looking at a reflection of herself in the mirror.
DeleteAccording to Lacan, babies learn movement by their reflected environment. According to Freud writing down memories, helps keep an unaltered version, and our actual memory is subject to distortion. Years ago I was at a Mary J. Blige concert, and as my dad pointed the camera at her, she turned around to us and smiled. Lancan would feel that, she eventually learned, by those around her that a camera means she is supposed to smile. Frued would feel that since this happened years ago, my memory may have altered this experience for my benefit.
ReplyDeleteI like your example about how it was her natural reaction to smile.
DeleteAccording to Lacan's theory, a baby is pure and innocent of the standards for themselves and of the world around them and seeing their reflection is the start of exposing the world around them. A few years ago I was trying to get over my fear of swimming by going to the beach, the plan was to spend at least half to most of the trip in the ocean. I remember I was terrified on the way and a bunch of scary thoughts and a memory came to my mind at once, I was starting to freak out again because after having those memories I began to think of over ten things that could happen. When we got there though, my brothers headed straight for the water. I also began to realize how much I used to love swimming and eventually I came to the decision to face my fear head on. For Lacans' theory in a sense, I was starting to become more aware of the world and what could happen.Going back to Frued's theory, our memories are within us and sometimes we may attempt to bury or distort old memories from a while ago, yet they still have a powerful impact on us and our lives. For me my memories on how much I loved swimming, how I learned, all the fun I had, was in a sense the motivation, even if I didn't remember every single detail, because, as Freud says, our memories distort, it still gives us a glimpse of past times which play role for us in the future and now.
ReplyDeleteI feel that we hide what happened to us in the past because it is no longer relevant to us now; therefore, we focus on the future, and what we can control.
DeleteAccording to Lacan's theory, a child is unaware of their surroundings in the world. Once they grow up, they start to acknowledge their surroundings, and they become influenced by other people's action. According to Freud's theory memories could be erased but not forgotten. When I came home from school, I saw that no one was home. I got so scared I freaked out. I didn't know what to do! I called and called multiple times, but no one picked up the phone! In terms of Lacan's theory, I noticed that my actions had led to making a small situation into a bigger one. My behavior was not resolving what was happening, instead I was just overreacting. In terms of Freud's theory, the way I reacted during this situation would vanish; however I would not have forgotten what happened that day.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you because any child is the essence of innocence. They don't know what the outside world is truly like, until they get older, that is. And it's true that whatever people do, sometimes they would forget it and move on to bigger and better things.
DeleteI agree that once they start to notice their surroundings they start to change because of them. However sometimes people can remember other peoples actions incorrectly.
DeleteLancan’s theory states that when children are young, they mirror the actions of others. Which is why it’s important for a child to grow in a healthy environment with the right amount of attention given to them. However, once the child begins to imitate and mirror the things they see, they begin to develop a personality of their own. This is not their own personality of course, but this will be the building block to their future developed personality. A child’s personality is the improved outcome to the adaptation to what they were introduced as children. In some cases, a worst one. We may not necessarily know at what point we began to establish our own ideas or identity. Similar to Freud’s theory of memory, our memory may not be accessible on command, but is still something that we carry with us throughout our lives. The way we behave is the outcome of something that we were once exposed to. However, don’t confuse this with the theory that our personalities are imitated versions of what we were exposed. We often learn from our behavior and our surroundings, and this is what carries over. A child who burns his hands by touching the oven will carry that knowledge forever. Similar to my mother, I am a have a very passive-aggressive way of dealing with arguments and confrontations. As opposed to my father, who is easily angered and offended. He’s a sensitive man with a quick temper. Very gentle when non-irritated, but very quick to catch a temper. I always loathed the way he behaved when angry and aggravated. His sensitivity has caused me to speak to him with care, as if I’m constantly walking on thin ice. It’s hard not to hurt someone’s feelings when they are sensitive, meanwhile you hold little regards towards sensitivity. I often never allow my temper to rise, and not to take everything so personal. My early experiences to my surroundings have in a way shaped my personality and how I developed my own identity.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you because usually what you are is mostly due to the influence around you. And this starts to develop when you are a child. It is natural for a child to imitate whatever they see because that's what they do, and they almost always follow up their parents' and families' examples of the way they are. Eventually the child will grow up and develop a personality of his/her own due to the influence he/she grew up in.
DeleteI agree, children imitate what they see around them and it is important that they grow up in a healthy home. We absorb what is going on around us and that carries into our everyday lives.
DeleteFraud's theory is basically explaining the intelligence of a human child when they first see their own reflection. When they see it for the first time, they are fascinated with what they see, and of course, will never forget about that one moment. It kind of reminded me of my stress during my freshman year of high school. I was always on the shy, awkward side, and it sort of gave me trouble in socializing and fitting in with others because of my different nature. Time after time I began growing more social each year and interacted with people I've never really interacted with, and I became fascinated on how I went from this shy girl to this slightly outgoing girl (I'm still on the quiet side, but I will continue working on it!). Just like Fraud's theory on the child recognizing his/her self reflection, I recognized how capable I was of transforming for the better, and I recognized this sort of ability as something I could do.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great example, I like that you realized that you had the ability to become an outgoing person! I hope this can relates to my idea about Lacan's theory and you can influence other people to become outgoing
DeleteThis is a great example, I like that you realized that you had the ability to become an outgoing person! I hope this can relates to my idea about Lacan's theory and you can influence other people to become outgoing
DeleteIt's a combination of external and internal influence to become a person that you want to be and consider better so it is a very good example.
DeleteLacan's theory suggests that a child growth and development is strongly based on the child's surroundings, he refers to the surroundings as "other". Freud believes that no memory is not corrupted. One day in parent teacher conferences in lower school all the teachers called me a good listener because i was always so quite.This "other" caused me to believe I was actually a good listener and then I believed I should be quite and listen rather than talk. Lacan would point out that the other had a great effect on my development and Freud would point out that this memory is not 100 percent true and there are distortions.
ReplyDeleteI like how you expanded on what surroundings meant.
DeleteI agree, peoples surroundings help form who they are as a person because it influences they way they should act around it
DeleteI agree, peoples surroundings help form who they are as a person because it influences they way they should act around it
DeleteI agree, people around you help you shape your personality, especially if you were young
DeleteLacan's theory is that first kids will imitate their parents then they will develop to see themselves and form into themselves. Fraud's theory is that our brains can retain a lot of memories but some are forgotten due to time. This morning I saw an old friend of mine we started to talk about all of the stupid things we used to do. I realized that I was a jerk back in middle school but now I realize that I have used my memories to shape how I see myself. I had tried to forget about the memories but it still stuck with me just like how Fraud said it.
ReplyDeleteI agree, you never really forget something when it had such an impact of your perception of yourself.
DeleteIt is a good thing that you realized that what you were doing was not right.
DeleteAccording to Lacan’s theory a being a baby is the purest form there is. I agree with this statement because when you are a baby you don't understand how the world works. Babies don't even know that they are being judged by others and because they don't know they don't care. The chid is surrounded by people moving and being active, naturally the baby will copy them because that is what they think is right. If you smile at a baby they will smile back, even though they may not understand what a smile is. When I walked into Starbucks and ordered what some may call a basic white girl drink, green tea, I got called out by someone who I really didn't know that well. I was confused, like it's just green tea from Starbucks but for some odd reason others didn't see it that way. I saw myself as a mundane person for the rest of that day, and all because of some green tea.
ReplyDeleteLacan's theory states a person's innocence and purity is ruined by the behavior of society and his/her surrounding. This is true because when I was in middle school, I was always the goody two-shoes and I never got in trouble or got on any of my teachers bad side. Once I started hanging out with other people in my school, their bad behavior influenced me to do bad things and my reputation of being innocent was tarnished. This shows how society's behavior can influence you and ruin your innocence.
ReplyDeleteI agree with that because the people you hangout with can rub off on you
DeleteMy mom is always moving things around in my room and then I don't know where my things are. I tell her to stop and that I don't go around changing things in her room just because I don't like the way I looks. And then we start arguing even though we have had that argument over and over again. Lacan would say that this experience isn't based on myself and that It couldn''t happen with only me. none of that would have happened if my mom hadn't moved things around. It was based on other people's actions and is external. Freud would say that the memory might not be as truthful as I think because I didn't write it down so it is possible I don't know exactly what happened
ReplyDeleteAccording to Lacan's theory, a baby acts a certain way depending in what surrounding they grew up with and according to Freud's theory our brain keeps getting new memories without erasing the old ones. One day in the train station, I saw this lady was in a hurry and she couldn't find her metro card and I decided to swipe my card for her. She really appreciated it and starting telling me to accept the money she was offering me but I denied it. This relates back to Lacan's theory because my one small step for that lady made her really happy and I realized that small things might make a big difference in someone's life. Freud's theory says relates to this because I will never forget the memory of me making someone's day by doing a small thing.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Lacan's theory, a baby is the only stage of being human where we are not influenced by society because although a baby is able to see and act, the baby isn't able to process what it is actually doing. According to Freud's theory, our old memories must be erased in order for us to replace them with new ones. I was othered by a group because I was alone. Lacan would say that this is a precedent for society being a mirror of each person's identity. On the other hand, Freud would say that the colonizers had their memory of me distorted from what really happened to leave me in isolation.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Lacan's theory, a baby is the only stage of being human where we are not influenced by society because although a baby is able to see and act, the baby isn't able to process what it is actually doing. According to Freud's theory, our old memories must be erased in order for us to replace them with new ones. I was othered by a group because I was alone. Lacan would say that this is a precedent for society being a mirror of each person's identity. On the other hand, Freud would say that the colonizers had their memory of me distorted from what really happened to leave me in isolation.
ReplyDelete