Interpassivity

Interpassivity is the act of projecting one's own self onto remote objects, that is, onto people or things, in so doing delegating the sensation to that person or object. Robert Pfaller, professor of philosophy at the university of Linz elaborated the theory of interpassivity within the fields of cultural studies and psychoanalysis.[1]

Examples are paid keening, canned laughter, the Tibetan prayer wheel.[2] Juha Suoranta and Tere Vadén consider however the example of comedies as in some way disengaging:

the true motivation for readymade laughter in TV comedies is interpassivity: I don't have to engage in recognising, sympathising with and interpreting the drama. [3]

References

  1. ^ Robert Pfaller, Illusionen der Anderen, Frankfurt: Suhrkamp 2003
  2. ^ Slavoj Žižek, How to Read Lacan. The Interpassive Subject: Lacan Turns a Prayer Wheel. lacan.com [1]
  3. ^ Juha Suoranta and Tere Vadén (2010). Wikiworld, Pluto Press, p. 133