Nadia Bou Ali

The primary focus is why Foucault – one of the great minds of the 20th Century , a master researcher par excellence – never truly acknowledges his fellow Parisian Lacan (or Freud) work in Psychology .

Foucault criticism stems from the fact that psychoanalysis is a normalizing force ie. the relationship between the analyst and the “subject” is hierarchical as the analyst tries to “normalize” the analysand – to bring subject to whatever is the existing societal norm , rather than finding the true source .

Another critique leveled is the overly dependence on the Freud's theory of suppression - Patriarchal cultures have always held a vice-like grip over sexuality , specially over female sexuality , reprises itself in the psyche subconsciously in hopes of attaining liberation . This was very much true in the Victorian era and then followed by the Industrial revolution 19th Century .Marx and Engels – Economic theory of Division of Labor is extrapolated to the sexual realm, sex is reduced to the “job of reproduction” .ie creating your replacement on the “assembly line” , fermenting discontent .

For Foucault – Psychoanalysis does not go further enough , though he agrees with Lacan .Loved the points make by Joan Copjec , Anne van Leuwen and Mladen Dolar, the book itself is the transcripts of speakers at the American University of Beirut , overall my time was well spent .… (plus d'informations)