The relationship between Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari's works and Lacanian psychoanalysis is characterized by a complex interplay of influence, critique, and divergence. Deleuze and Guattari engaged with Lacanian psychoanalysis in their collaborative works, notably in "Anti-Oedipus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia" and "A Thousand Plateaus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia," but they also developed their own distinct theoretical framework that diverged significantly from Lacan's psychoanalytic theory. Here are some key aspects of their relationship:
Engagement with Psychoanalysis: Deleuze and Guattari were influenced by psychoanalytic ideas, particularly those of Sigmund Freud and Jacques Lacan. In their writings, they engage with psychoanalytic concepts such as desire, the unconscious, and repression. However, they also sought to move beyond traditional psychoanalytic frameworks, critiquing what they saw as the limitations of Freudian and Lacanian models of subjectivity.
Critique of Oedipalization: One of the central themes of Deleuze and Guattari's work is their critique of the Oedipus complex as formulated by Freud and elaborated upon by Lacan. They argue that the Oedipal structure imposes restrictive norms and repressive mechanisms on individuals, stifling creativity and producing neurotic subjectivities. In "Anti-Oedipus," they propose the concept of the "schizoanalysis" as an alternative to traditional psychoanalysis, aiming to liberate desire from Oedipal constraints.
Desiring Machines and Body without Organs: Deleuze and Guattari introduce the concept of "desiring machines" in their work, which refers to the productive and connective flows of desire that precede and exceed individual subjects. They also develop the concept of the "body without organs," which represents a state of pure potentiality and openness to desire. These concepts challenge the Lacanian emphasis on the symbolic order and the centrality of the Oedipus complex in the formation of subjectivity.
Rhizomatic Thought: Deleuze and Guattari's notion of "rhizomatic thought," which emphasizes non-hierarchical, interconnected modes of thinking, stands in contrast to the more linear and hierarchical structures of thought often associated with Lacanian psychoanalysis. They reject the idea of a unified subject and instead propose a multiplicity of interconnected becomings that resist fixed identities and categories.
Continuing Dialogue: Despite their criticisms of Lacanian psychoanalysis, Deleuze and Guattari maintain a dialogue with psychoanalytic theory throughout their work. They acknowledge the importance of psychoanalytic insights into the unconscious and desire while offering alternative conceptualizations that challenge traditional psychoanalytic frameworks.
Overall, the relationship between Deleuze and Guattari's works and Lacanian psychoanalysis is one of both engagement and critique. While they draw on psychoanalytic concepts in their analysis of desire and subjectivity, they also develop their own innovative theoretical framework that departs significantly from Lacanian psychoanalysis.
