Superstructure

Abstract

The term “superstructure”, which literally refers to a construction over the floor—which is why it can also be translated as “building”—comes from Marx's famous architectonic metaphor. The different Lacanian discussions deserve an independent analysis, starting with The Freudian Thing of 1955 and Lacan's first reference to “Stalin's Theorem” that brings into question the place of language in the architectural metaphor. During the long period of time Lacan devoted great effort to the formalization of an impossible relation between two levels or heterogenous aspects, and that is where the development of the vel of alienation, the discourse matheme, and topology patiently await the time for their reception by a new generation of Marxist theoreticians, as necessary theoretical inputs to reanimate the old problem of the foundation/superstructure relation.