Alexandre Kojève

Lacanian theory is controversial almost everywhere it goes. Agree or disagree, there is no shortage of discussion on the validity of Lacan’s work. His concept of the “mirror stage” (or phase) is one of the most significant theories in film study. However, the theory itself opens some interesting doors in terms of its definition. In an age where self-definition has become more important than ever, it must be discussed that Lacan’s mirror phase is no longer just one moment in the development of young children—it has become a constantly-experienced trait in humans which provides temporary epiphanic experiences to a reader of a text, and should be defined as such. Visual stimuli is the most effective way to trigger this epiphany. It’s seen countless times in media, through film and theater and art alike; the reader of the text, no matter what the text is, reacts to the piece in a manner with which it relates to them. The exhibit from the film The Artist is Present, for example—many shots of the audience members participating in the performance were of the person sitting across from Marina crying. It’s clear that something in them related to Marina’s presence as if it was the mirror phase’s so-called mirror—however, they’re all fully-grown adults, for the most part. Even when teenagers and younger children participated, they too reacted in this same way; but according to Lacan’s basic theoretical structure, this mirror phase has already passed them by and will no longer carry the…

Jacques Lacan’s theory of development explains how infants mature psychologically. The stages of his concept include the Imaginary, the Mirror, and the Symbolic. The first is where children begin to understand control. Babies learn to manipulate their environment as an extension of their own base needs and desires. There is no separation between the baby and the outside world. Following the discovery of control, infants undergo the Mirror stage, where they learn to recognize their own image…

A young boy named Edmond Dantés turns into a man due to extreme and strenuous circumstances that forces him into manhood. He takes on a new identity, the Count of Monte Cristo and earns possession of a large inheritance. He then gets revenge on those who were responsible for his 14 years in prison. This is one of many important conflicts that occur in, and determine the plot of, The Count of Monte Cristo. Others include Valentine and Maximilian’s love story, Albert and the Count’s duel, and…

Hard Times is a novel written by Charles Dickens which judge the English society and tells us about the social and economic pressures of the 19th century. Hard Times is a Victorian novel and is very realistic. Victorian novels bring about realism in literature. Dickens novels are realistic depiction of Victorian society like class consciousness, rapid urbanization, poverty, child labor etc. Dickens talk about love, aspiration, human passion and Hard Times is a novel written by Charles Dickens…

In the novel, The Count of Monte Cristo, many characters are introduce throughout the story and most of these characters undergo an indentity change at some point during the novel. The main, and by far the most dynamic character, is Edmond Dantès. Dantès is the protagonist of Alexandre Dumas’ classic novel. Edmond lived his life honestly, that is until he was framed for a crime he did not commit. Taking place in Marseilles, France in the 1800’s, Dantès fights for his freedom and pursues many…

Revenge in Dante's life Revenge is a powerful thing to want. It consumes people, and can make them forget the important things going on around them. They think that they are getting justice for themselves. When really sometimes revenge is as pointless as putting out a fire with gas. A man named Edmond Dantes was wrongly imprisoned for 14 years. In those years Dantes sat in a prison called the Château d'If, he thought of many different ways to get revenge on his enemies. The men he thought he…

The word “inferno” means Hell in Italian. Hell is where the main character Dante Alighieri and the ghost of the Roman poet Virgil, who was sent Dante’s deceased loved one Beatrice, travel in order to help Dante get back on the right path. The reason why Dante travels to Hell is because the Ghost of Virgil offers to guide Dante through Hell in order to get to Paradise (Heaven) to purify himself of all his sins. During the journey in Hell, they travel through the Nine Circles of Hell. The Circles…

walks out with even after winning the case is astounding. It is incredibly respectful and, it makes a point that she is self sufficient. She lost her father and mother at a young age, but the way that she kept her composure during the sentence, the sentence that gave her closure and did her justice is miraculous. Being in the presence of someone with so much simplicity and class could fill anyone with wonder, and I am sure that the sophistication radiating from her actions left the courtroom…

Madame de Lafayette examines the theme of jealousy stemming from self-love in her novel, The Princess of Cleves. This idea of self-interested jealousy was studied by multiple intellects of the time, including Thomas Hobbes and Francois de La Rochefoucauld. These men greatly contributed their ideas to the incredibly introspective age of the 1600s, illustrating the idea that the actions a person takes in everyday life are fundamentally ingrained in their own self-interest. Despite being…