reference of "its"
Does "its" in "the alienating other (or mirror) which crucially returns its image to the subject" refer to "the alienating other (or mirror)"?

Text:
‘In the objectification of the scopic drive, there is always the threatened return of the look; in the identification of the Imaginary relation, there is always the alienating other (or mirror) which crucially returns its image to the subject; and in that form of substitution and fixation that is fetishism there is always the trace of loss, absence.’

Question

reference of "its"
Does "its" in "the alienating other (or mirror) which crucially returns its image to the subject" refer to "the alienating other (or mirror)"?

Text:
‘In the objectification of the scopic drive, there is always the threatened return of the look; in the identification of the Imaginary relation, there is always the alienating other (or mirror) which crucially returns its image to the subject; and in that form of substitution and fixation that is fetishism there is always the trace of loss, absence.’

Answer

What else could it refer to?

Answer

Yes, but if you can understand a passage this obscure, you have a better grasp of English than most native speakers. You don't need italki, lol.

I assume this excerpt was taken from some kind of psychological journal or text. I'm a native English speaker with 3 college degrees. I read this three times, and I still don't know understand what they're talking about. However, I know sentence construction, so yes, "its" refers to the alienating other (or mirror).

Answer

Yes. In this sentence I believe the word mirror is used as a synonym for reflection or mirror-image and not the object of a mirror that you find in your bathroom.

Answers · 3

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