Is the desire to obtain a degree simply another example of objet petit a - Outline Example

This paper seeks to explore whether the desire to obtain a degree is simply another example of objet petit a or not and in doing so the theoretical perspectives of Lacan on desire and fantasy are also analysed. The objet petit a, in fact, operates due to the fascination of the subject towards the object and the internal and external perspectives of the subject also are significant. It is therefore imperative to analyse the fascination of the subject towards attaining a degree in the case of a person who wishes ardently for this object.

The effects of objet petit a intensify as this fascination grows. However, one should bear in mind that “the object petit a, or at least the fascinating effect the object which bears it has upon the subject who is under its thrall, has no “objective” reality independently of this subject” (Sharpe 2005). Thus, Lacan purports that the subject never losses the object as he/she has never possessed it in reality. On the other hand the objet petit a is the desire for a fundamentally lost object.

An individual who fails to accomplish his long cherished dream of obtaining a degree is subject to the fascinating effect of the object. On the other hand, it is quite evident that the subject cherishes a very strong desire for this fundamentally lost object (objet petit a) towards attaining the degree. One needs to distinguish between Lacan’s conception of fantasy and objet petit a. The fundamental fantasy of an individual stems from “small unconscious rebellions of subjects against the losses that they take themselves to have endured when they acceded to socialization” (Sharpe 2005).

Thus, every individual tends to fantasise a lost object and for Lacan this lost object is nothing but the objet petit a-the object cause of desire. Here, the subject too experiences ‘small unconscious rebellions’ against his loss of the