Lacan Noir: Lacan and Afro-pessimism

by David S Marriott

This book explores how Jacques Lacan has influenced Black Studies from the 1950s to the present day, and in turn how a Black Studies framework challenges the topographies of Lacanianism in its understanding of race. David Marriott examines how a contemporary Black Studies perspective might respond to the psychoanalysis of race by taking advantage of the recent revitalization of Lacanianism in its speculative, metaphysical form. While the philosophical side of the debate makes a plea for a new universalism, this book proposes a Lacanian reassessment of the notion of race, a notion distinct from culture, language, religion, and identity. It argues that it is possible to re-establish the theoretical relation between capitalism, anti-blackness, and colonialism, by reassessing the links between Lacanian psychoanalysis and three main domains of black mastery, knowledge, and embodiment. The book offers a strikingly original rereading of the place of Lacan in both Fanon Studies and Afro-pessimism. It will appeal to students and scholars of Black Studies, Cultural Studies, Critical Theory and Philosophy.

Genres: Psychoanalysis

197 pages, Hardcover

Published July 3, 2021

Reviews

[Blaze-Pascal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book cut deep and was challenging on theoretical and personal levels. I think the author makes a very good reading of Fanon and Lacan... in particular where Lacanian theorists are lacking. Being a racialized subject myself, I have found Lacanian theory to be quite insightful, but what Marriott suggests to me is that, Lacan on his own doesn't cut far enough, it doesn't contextualizes the experience of the nègre. I found his analysis of this very convincing, and it hit close to home, making it a very provocative book, and leaving the door open for much more potential Fanon-Lacanian work in the future. I think even Ruti in the Singularity of Being, suggests that authors such as Zizek and Badiou do not reach a universalism which is universal enough. I think this work also contributes to this level of critique toward Zizek, Badiou or even MacGowan. I will be reviewing this text again to gather a more clear conception of the critique he poses and I am grateful for the perspective.

[The Coat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is incredible, as difficult and thought provoking as Lacan, though a student of Marriott's once mentioned he may be "pulling a Hegel" by talking about concepts in general when he really means concepts as they are used by a specific thinker/cannon (e.g. is a critique of ontology actually about ontology writ large, or is it about e.g. Lacan or Kojeve's ontology).

I have been wanting to read something that does a deep Lacanian read of Lacan regarding racialization, and here it is, and it is fascinating, and mind bending, and his writing is a joy and a burden. My questions are not all answered -- perhaps less of them are -- but my mind has genuinely expanded.

[Marcus · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book feels like ur brain is getting steamrolled with negations but there really isnt any other way to talk about what exists beyond language when all u have is… language

[Justine Cheng · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love how well laid out the three sections of this book are. Need to review it to understand the nuances of his claims, but is much more dedicated to thorough close reading than a lot of work on lacan. The chapter on Wilderson is especially attentive, still need to understand his critiques better tho.

[Jared]

The most difficult of all the AP books I've read, but very helpful in the parts I understood. Lacan and Fanon knowledge is prolly a pre requisite here.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now we’re cooking. Rescuing Lacan for today by killing him. 🤲