{"product_id":"formations-of-the-unconscious-the-seminar-of-jacques-lacan-book-v-9780745660387","title":"Formations of the Unconscious: The Seminar of Jacques Lacan, Book V","description":"When I decided to explore the question of \u003ci\u003eWitz\u003c\/i\u003e, or wit, with you this year, I undertook a small enquiry. It will come as no surprise at all that I began by questioning a poet. This is a poet who introduces the dimension of an especially playful wit that runs through his work, as much in his prose as in more poetic forms, and which he brings into play even when he happens to be talking about mathematics, for he is also a mathematician. I am referring to Raymond Queneau. While we were exchanging our first remarks on the matter he told me a joke. It's a joke about exams, about the university entrance exams, if you like. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWe have a candidate and we have an examiner. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e - \"Tell me\", says the examiner, \"about the battle of Marengo.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The candidate pauses for a moment, with a dreamy air. \"The battle of Marengo...? Bodies everywhere  It's terrible... Wounded everywhere  It's horrible...\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"But\", says the examiner, \"Can't you tell me anything more precise about this battle?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The candidate thinks for a moment, then replies, \"A horse rears up on its hind legs and whinnies.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The examiner, surprised, seeks to test him a little further and says, \"In that case, can you tell me about the battle of Fontenoy?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Oh \" says the candidate, \"a horse rears up on its hind legs and whinnies.\" \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe examiner, strategically, asked the candidate to talk about the battle of Trafalgar.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The candidate replies, \"Dead everywhere  A blood bath.... Wounded everywhere  Hundreds of them....\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"But my good man, can't you tell me anything more precise about this battle?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"A horse...\" \"Excuse me, I would have you note that the battle of Trafalgar is a naval battle.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Whoah  Whoah \" says the candidate. \"Back up, Neddy \" The value of this joke is, to my mind, that it enables us to decompose, I believe, what is at stake in a witticism. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e (Extract from Chapter VI)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eJacques Lacan\u003c\/b\u003e (1901-1981) was one of the twentieth-century's most influential thinkers. His many works include \u003ci\u003eÉcrits\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Four Fundamental Concepts of Psychoanalysis\u003c\/i\u003e and the many other volumes of \u003ci\u003eThe Seminar\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Polity Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50376958181650,"sku":"9780745660387","price":21.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_cb90a095-bc38-4cce-b81d-456f4044e7b8.jpg?v=1728611969","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/formations-of-the-unconscious-the-seminar-of-jacques-lacan-book-v-9780745660387","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}