Exploring the Gender Identity and Subjectivity from Lacanian Psychoanalysis: A Case Study of Anatomy of a Fall
Abstract
This paper investigates the film Anatomy of a Fall through Lacanian psychoanalysis of subjects to reevaluate gender identity. Delving into the internal conflicts within the subjects, the authors reveal the illusion of subjectivity and the ideological operation of gender discourse. The analysis begins by critiquing two dominant feminist interpretations of the film: re-centralization, which attempts to invert traditional gender hierarchies, and essentialism, which assumes a fixed, inherent femininity. These perspectives, the authors argue, are limited in their understanding of gender identity, which is the signifier constructed by the symbolic order. By applying Lacan’s theories on the formation of the subject, the paper demonstrates how the film’s subjects are captured by the discourse of gender and experience the collapse of their subjectivity. The discussion further positions gender identity as a product of ideological discipline, which conceals the subject’s inherent lack and incompleteness. Through this deconstructive approach, the paper proposes a potential path toward a transcendental subjectivity that transcends the constraints of traditional gender roles and ideological frameworks. Ultimately, this work contributes to a deeper understanding of how ideology shapes and limits identity, offering insights into the possibilities for resisting and reimagining subjectivity within contemporary gender discourse.
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