(w)riting
Language, in the psychoanalytic theory of Jacques Lacan (1901—1981), operates in the “name of the father” to define the possibilities for human behavior and desire. In the 1980s, many artists and collectives associated with feminism challenged this idea by exploring how text might function outside of a patriarchal context. The artists in this constellation use writing to call attention to inequities, instincts, desires, and vulnerabilities that exceed the paternal function of language.
