The Formation And Function Of The "Mirror" In American Culture

Jacques Lacan's "Mirror Stage" theory analyzes and explores the identification process in the interaction between the infant and the "mirror" and in this process the otherness plays a very important role through the "mirror" in the identification of the infant. Lacan's "Mirror Stage" theory is widely used in the studies of individual culture identification. According to this theory, in the communication between the individual subject and the otherness, the information sent by the otherness cannot directly reach the subject without the filtration of the "mirror". Therefore, the image of the otherness seen by the subject is the image of "the other, with a small o", different from the otherness and presented by the "mirror", which is produced in the interaction between the otherness and the "ego" of the subject.According to the "Mirror Stage" theory, the "ego" or the desire of the individual subject plays an important role in the identification process, which offers a new way and perspective to study the formation of national cultural identity. However, extending Lacan's "Mirror Stage" theory to the studies of the formation of national cultural identity is hardly seen at present.This thesis attempts at first to study the feasibility of extending Lacan's "Mirror Stage" theory to the culture studies of the formation of national cultural identity. Secondly, this thesis will take American cultural identity formation as the case study, and points out that according to the "Mirror Stage" theory and the "Frontier Hypotheses" by American historian Turner, the European culture played the role of "the Other, with a big 0" in the formation of American national cultural identity while the frontier spirits nourished in the Westward Movement played the function of the "ego", which is similar to that of individuals. In the interactive integration of "the Other, with a big 0" with the "ego", the "mirror" necessary in the formation of American cultural identity was thus forged. Finally, this thesis continues to study the culture strategy in American diplomacy after the formation of American national cultural identity and points out that the culture strategy is aimed to forge a "mirror" by the integration of American "soft power"—the culture with strong influence with the "ego" of other nations, to influence other nations' cultural identity formation and thus to safeguard American national interests. Through the comments on American culture strategy since Cold War, this thesis also points out that because the culture strategy of the U.S. is over dependent on the universality of American culture and the advantage of its dissemination and ignores the appealing of the "ego" of other nations, the effect and achievement of this culture strategy is substantially limited.In addition to the introduction and the conclusion, the structure of this thesis can be divided into four chapters.The introduction briefs the theme and the basic structure of the thesis.Chapter One introduces Lacan's "Mirror Stage" theory. Through the illustration of the definition, function of the "mirror" and the way it works, this chapter makes theoretical preparation for extending Lacan's "Mirror Stage" theory to the studies of the formation of national cultural identity.Chapter Two illustrates the great impact of European culture in the formation of American cultural identity. Under the guidance of the new perspective from Lacan's "Mirror Stage" theory, this Chapter points out that the impact of European culture played a role of the "Other, with a big O" in the formation of American cultural identity. Chapter Three points out that the frontier spirits nourished in the Westward Movement played a role of the "ego" in the formation of American cultural identity based on the combining analysis of Lacan's "Mirror Stage" theory and Turner's "Frontier Hypotheses".Chapter Four comments American culture strategy since Cold War and points out the function of the "mirror" in American culture is very limited in the effect of American culture strategy according to the analysis of Lacan's "Mirror Stage" theory and Nye's "Soft Power" theory.