Psychoanalysis Psychology Essay Research Coursework (Essay Sample)

With reference to your own examples, discuss the importance of narcissism and the Imaginary register to contemporary visual culture.
This essay will discuss the importance of narcissism (the love of self) and the imaginary register to contemporary visual Media Culture. The first part of the essay will define the terms Narcissism and the Imaginary Register. The second part of the essay will look at the role of narcissism in today’s society and culture in reference to examples from digital media such as social networks e.g. Instagram and facebook in reference to models, TV adverts, fashion magazines and the general concept of the ‘selfie’. The third part of the essay will discuss how prominent the role of narcissism is in modern day society with the use of media and technology in connection to the ‘selfie’ culture in reference to Freud’s Narcissus text, Marshall McLuhan author of Understanding Media Extensions of Man, Julia Kristeva author of ‘Narcissus: The New Insanity’ in Tales of Love: 130 and Jacques Lacan’s notion of ‘imaginary register’.
According to Lacan “The realm of the imaginary register is empty speech, the realm of an alienated ego that imagines its meaning is its being, an ego instituted by the Other, the history of the child’s identifications with other Images and signifiers.” (Jacques Lacan, Fundamental Concepts, Register Theory, 2013) According to George Ritzer author of Encyclopedia of Social Theory ‘The imaginary realm of the ego, of consciousness is separated from Real being by a Wall of Language, yet it is Real being that accounts for the incomprehensible feelings and desires the subject attaches to its interactions with others.’
‘The child identifies with a picture of itself as a fully functional and unified body is referred to Freud’s notion of the birth of the ego “mirror stage” which is also known as the imaginary.’ (George Ritzer, Encyclopedia of Social Theory, 2014) However the uncertainty and disparities lays between the child’s notions of itself and his/her vision of wholeness. Therefore the “imaginary” is a myth or considered a fable that conceals the whole or lack. Thus the imagination can be used to help fill in the void that is created by the inaccessible real by constructing images of completeness.